Xi, Trump and the Thucydides trap
A summit of low expectations did at least restore some stability
The main event
Worth reading
Not the busiest stories. The pieces most likely to sharpen the mental model.
A cold peace between the US and China is good enough
Rather than trying to engineer a grand bargain, this is a moment to prevent deterioration
Prepare for a reckoning if Ukraine war ends
Selected from The Times as an argument-led read.
We’re entering a sectarian age — playing to extremes wins votes
Selected from The Times as an argument-led read.
Mothers and Daughters: Two Stories
Responses to a guest essay by Molly Jong-Fast, “I Tried to Become My Mother and Ended Up Becoming Myself.” Also: President Trump in China; a gift to Big Tobacco.
More headlines
Financial Times
UK government will ‘grind to a halt’ amid leadership race, say ministers
Key initiatives at risk of being disrupted as Andy Burnham seeks to replace Keir Starmer in contest that could last months
Financial Times
Labour approves Andy Burnham as potential by-election candidate
Greater Manchester mayor expected to be confirmed as party’s choice in Makerfield next week
Financial Times
Gilts fall as traders brace for Burnham to challenge Starmer
Greater Manchester mayor is lightning rod for concerns over possible loosening of UK’s self-imposed borrowing limits
Financial Times
Britain’s debt cage
As Labour politicians fight over the keys to No 10, the gilt market sets the limits of power
BBC News
What does Makerfield think of by-election and can Burnham win?
Andy Burnham says he will look to stand in the constituency, after Labour MP Josh Simons announces his resignation.
BBC News
Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence, hours after summit with China's Xi
The US president says he wants Beijing and Taipei to "cool down" tensions over the self-governing island.
BBC News
Teenager's family 'heartbroken' by meningitis death
The family of sixth form pupil Lewis Waters post a tribute following his death.
BBC News
Judge declares another mistrial in Harvey Weinstein New York rape charge
It marks the third time a New York jury has considered the case against the 74-year-old disgraced film mogul.
BBC News
Five Italians die during cave scuba dive in Maldives
Four of the Italians were part of a team from the University of Genoa.
The Economist
Who can save the Labour Party?
The Economist
Sir Keir Starmer has failed abjectly. He should go
NYT Europe
German Chancellor, After Iran Spat With Trump, Reports ‘Good’ Phone Call
The call, initiated by Friedrich Merz, came soon after he told young people, “I am a great admirer of America. My admiration...
NYT Europe
Trump’s ‘Learning Curve’ on China Ends With Conciliation at Summit
The president has shifted the foundations of American policy toward China, throwing aside the adversarial approach of recent years.
The Telegraph
The best spa hotels in Cornwall
These spots all have wellness at the forefront – the fact that most are a pebble's throw from a pretty Cornish beach is a lovely bonus
The Telegraph
Marlborough racing tips and best bets for today’s races
Welcome to our racing tips and best bets service provided by Telegraph Sport’s champion tipster – updated here every day
Wales
BBC Wales
Man who threw 'fatal and sickening' punch outside Wetherspoons pub jailed
Kyle O'Callaghan punched Marcus Carpenter so hard he caused his head to "snap backwards".
BBC Wales
Coffee chain sorry for banning teens revising for school exams
Coffi Lab says pupils were not making purchases and bringing food from other vendors.
BBC Wales
First minister spent election result night at Premier Inn after forgetting his keys
After declaring a "new dawn" for Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth spent the night at the budget hotel chain.
BBC Wales
James Corden names 'very, very, very bad' Gavin and Stacey episode
The plot involved a phone call-related misunderstanding between the titular characters.
Sport
BBC Sport · Football
Middlesbrough want Southampton kicked out of play-offs over Spygate
Middlesbrough demand Southampton's expulsion from the Championship play-offs over spying allegations.
BBC Sport · Football
Referee Beaton under police surveillance, says SFA
The SFA say referee John Beaton and his family were put "under police surveillance" in the wake of recent penalty controversy.
BBC Sport · Football
Carrick in talks over two-year Man Utd contract
Manchester United are in negotiations with Michael Carrick over a two-year deal to become head coach on a permanent basis.
BBC Sport · Football
I'm a passionate lad and I love it at Everton - Pickford
Jordan Pickford speaks to Wayne Rooney about Everton, England at the World Cup and becoming number one.
The Race
Alpine creates new role for its ex-FIA signing
The FIA's former head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville has begun his new role at Alpine's F1 team following an enforced period...
The Race · F1
The unusual Red Bull F1 design that's legal - for now
Red Bull's F1 car upgrade package features a "smart and innovative" design that exploits a concession in the rules considered...
The Race
Brown escalates team alliance crusade in letter to FIA
As Mercedes' interest in an Alpine stake revives tensions over team alliances, McLaren boss Zak Brown calls on the FIA...
Formula 1 Official
How Round 8 & 9 of the Sim Racing World Championship went
It was a fascinating Round 8 and 9 of the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship – here is a recap form yesterday’s action.
Formula 1 Official
Alpine name new Deputy Technical Director
Alpine have announced the appointment of Jason Somerville as their new Deputy Technical Director, in a move that further...
ESPN Cricinfo
Marsh onslaught, Akash three-for dent CSK's playoffs chances
LSG's rampaging win wasn't enough to drag them up from the foot of the points table but pushed CSK down one position
ESPN Cricinfo
Dawkins, Northeast thrive as Stokes suffers through the sickness
England skipper deepens Crawley gloom but endures tough day at Beckenham
Science
New Scientist
First test of CO2 removal with green sand finds no harm to marine life
Adding olivine to the ocean could remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and a pilot project in New York state found no signs of...
New Scientist
SpaceX is about to launch tallest and most powerful rocket in history
A record-breaking new version of Starship, due to launch within days, could form the basis of NASA's ambitious Artemis...
New Scientist
Cleaning up air pollution could weaken vital AMOC ocean current
Global warming already threatens to destabilise the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and new research shows that...
New Scientist
CAR T-cell therapy bolstered by stiffening up cancer cells first
CAR T-cell therapy has been hugely successful in treating certain types of tumours, and stiffening up cancer cells beforehand...
Nature
Even mild blows to the head disrupt the microbiome
Nature, Published online: 15 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01504-w Some bacterial species became less abundant in the guts...
Nature
Briefing Chat: Hantavirus — what this outbreak reveals about the disease
Nature, Published online: 15 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01575-9 Nature staff discuss some of the week's top science news.
Nature
Bespoke DNA vaccine offers hope for treatment of notorious brain cancer
Nature, Published online: 15 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01503-x The personalized treatment encourages the immune system...
Nature
Exclusive: NIH ousts infectious-disease leaders as COVID scientists face US charges
Nature, Published online: 15 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01558-w Eight of the top ten officials at the US National...
Technology
The Verge
One of Intel’s fastest desktop CPUs is $50 off
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus was billed by the company in late March as one of its “fastest gaming desktop processor...
The Verge
AI radio hosts demonstrate why AI can’t be trusted alone
Andon Labs has been running a series of experiments in which AI agents run businesses without human intervention. Its latest...
The Verge
Does Trump Mobile know how many stripes are on the American flag?
Where's the Trump phone? We're going to keep talking about it every week. We've reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump...
The Verge
Google updates its spam rules to include attempts to ‘manipulate’ AI
Google updated its spam policy to mark attempts to "manipulate" its AI model in search results as spam, including results in...
Techcrunch
Silicon Valley’s vacationland needs a new energy provider just as AI is driving prices up
Lake Tahoe, Silicon Valley's favorite ski spot, is about to get hit with higher energy prices as AI drives demand for electricity.
Techcrunch
Tesla reveals two Robotaxi crashes involving teleoperators
Newly un-redacted crash reports reveal some of the troubles Tesla has had as it tries to scale its robotaxis.
Techcrunch
OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance, will let you connect bank accounts
Once users connect their accounts, they will see a dashboard of their portfolio performance, spending, subscriptions, and...
Techcrunch
Power prices are up 76% on America’s biggest grid, and a watchdog is pointing fingers
The price spike is a reminder of a deeper problem: The U.S. power grid was not designed for the electricity demands of an...
Wired
Spencer Pratt Is Creating Panic Over ‘Super Meth.’ It’s Not Even Real
The LA mayoral candidate and former reality TV star is fueling his campaign with fears about an ultra-potent meth. Experts say...
Wired
Greg Brockman Officially Takes Control of OpenAI’s Products in Latest Shake-Up
OpenAI is once again reorganizing its executive ranks as part of its effort to unify ChatGPT and Codex into one core product...
Hacker News · 264 pts
Project Gutenberg – keeps getting better
Hacker News · 212 pts
A 0-click exploit chain for the Pixel 10
Hacker News · 19 pts
I designed a nibble-oriented CPU in Verilog to build a scientific calculator
Hacker News · 40 pts
Image-blaster: Creates 3D environments, SFX, and meshes from a single image
Hacker News · 197 pts
O(x)Caml in Space
Hacker News · 393 pts
Explore Wikipedia Like a Windows XP Desktop
Papers
Computer science
Mixed Integer Goal Programming for Personalized Meal Optimization with User-Defined Serving Granularity
Computer science
A Two-Dimensional Framework for AI Agent Design Patterns: Cognitive Function and Execution Topology
Congenital Heart Block