Latest Episode
May 12 0800 UTC Brief
In UK markets
Used petrol and diesel cars still dominate the UK second-hand market, making up 88.2% of sales in the first quarter. More than two million used cars changed hands, but the market still slipped 0.2% year on year and ended 12 straight quarters of growth. Used battery EV sales rose 32% to nearly 87,000, though they were still only 4.3% of the market. The industry says that should prompt a rethink on the pace of the transition, while the government is still calling the used EV numbers a record high. The numbers, in other words, are doing that awkward thing where they support both alarm and reassurance.
UK government borrowing costs also jumped at the open, with 30-year gilt yields up 10 basis points to 5.78% and 10-year yields up 8.5 basis points to 5.089%. The pound fell 0.5% against the dollar.
In UK public services
Analysts say it is hard to verify whether Palantir is complying with the terms of its NHS contract, adding to concerns about oversight and security in the health service. Separately, parish councils across England are set to raise £941 million next year through local tax precepts, an 8.2% increase. Around nine million households already pay the charge on top of council tax, and the average Band D parish precept has now reached £100 for the first time.
In UK politics
Darren Jones said Keir Starmer is listening to colleagues as pressure builds ahead of a critical cabinet meeting. He would not say whether Starmer will remain in post, and did not rule out the prime minister setting out a resignation timetable.
In Ukraine
Food shortages are worsening on the front lines, with photos showing emaciated Ukrainian troops and reports that Russian soldiers are also receiving meager rations. The supply crisis is adding more strain to an already brutal war.
In sports
Scottish track cyclist Katie Archibald has announced her immediate retirement. The 32-year-old won Olympic gold in Rio and Tokyo, along with multiple world, European and Commonwealth titles, and will not compete in July’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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