Latest Episode
May 11 1200 UTC Brief
In UK politics
Catherine West has stepped back from forcing an immediate Labour leadership contest after Keir Starmer’s reset speech. She still called it “too little, too late”, but instead of trying to gather the 81 MP nominations needed to trigger a challenge, she now wants a letter asking No 10 for a timetable for Starmer to go. That lowers the pressure for now, though it probably does not end it.
In Washington and Taiwan
Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping is arriving at a sensitive moment for Taiwan, which is under renewed pressure from Beijing. Trump approved an $11 billion arms package for the island in December, but delivery has not yet moved ahead, and he says he discussed the sale with Xi. The usual reassuring diplomacy, with an arms package sitting in the middle of it.
In tech and business
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang told Carnegie Mellon graduates they are starting their careers at the beginning of the AI revolution, which is a flattering way to describe a labor market where AI is also helping thin the ranks elsewhere in tech. Meanwhile, Cloudflare said it is cutting 1,100 jobs in an AI-driven restructuring even after beating revenue and earnings forecasts, and its shares still fell more than 20%.
In Europe
Greece has unveiled a new plan to curb overtourism, attract investment, and protect sensitive areas, with ministers saying tourism must continue without stripping the islands of what makes them distinct. In Sweden, police say two people were arrested over alleged exports of military goods to Russia in breach of sanctions. And Norway has paused funding to the U.N. Environment Programme, adding pressure to already stalled talks on a global plastics treaty.
In health and travel
Two passengers from the MV Hondius have tested positive for hantavirus after the cruise ship was evacuated in the Canary Islands, and a third passenger is showing symptoms. One French woman’s condition has worsened in hospital, and some of the American passengers flown to Nebraska are being monitored or quarantined. Health officials say the wider public risk remains low, but the outbreak has already killed three people.
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