May

A new US intelligence assessment warns that Saudi Arabia may still choose to pursue nuclear weapons, despite ongoing diplomacy over a potential normalization deal with Israel that would include US civilian nuclear cooperation. The warning highlights persistent concern in Washington that Riyadh wants a nuclear option as a hedge against regional rival Iran, complicating negotiations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has given an exclusive interview addressing the protests inside Iran and the future of the country's military actions. In the conversation, he discusses how Tehran plans to respond to ongoing domestic unrest and where its military posture may be headed. The interview is drawing wide attention as observers look for signals about Iran's next moves amid regional tensions.

American intelligence, according to the CIA's warning, has informed several European governments that Russia may be preparing a drone attack on Spain, France, or Italy. The report has drawn strong attention across the continent, topping discussion in France, Italy, Russia, and Spain, as officials face renewed questions about European air defenses and the growing reach of Russian drone activity near NATO territory.

Federal Reserve official Michael Barr said additional interest rate hikes are likely needed to bring inflation back to the central bank's target. The remarks add to expectations that the Fed will keep monetary policy restrictive, with investors and analysts weighing how much further borrowing costs may rise and what that means for markets and the broader economy.

Saudi Arabia has signaled it may be open to developing nuclear weapons, according to a New York Times report on US-Saudi politics. The statement marks a notable shift in the kingdom's public stance on nuclear armament, a topic long tied to regional rivalry with Iran and to negotiations over civilian nuclear cooperation and security guarantees with Washington.

The European Union has called on member countries to reduce their gas consumption as concerns grow over supply. The request reflects fears that gas flows may become insufficient, and it asks national governments to take measures lowering demand. The move is drawing wide attention across Europe as countries weigh how to respond and what it means for households and industry.

BBC News examines a case in which artificial intelligence was used to hack a government, exploring how such an attack was possible and what it reveals about security weaknesses. The report raises questions about how AI tools can be exploited for cyberattacks on public institutions and what safeguards governments may need as the technology spreads.

A Supreme Court ruling concerning a disputed election may come into conflict with state law, according to reporting by Honolulu Civil Beat. The potential clash raises questions about how election disputes would be resolved and which legal authority would prevail. No further details about the specific ruling, the state involved, or the reaction from officials are available at this time.

A question is being raised over whether markets are pricing in too many interest rate increases from the European Central Bank. With inflation pressures still elevated, investors have been betting on a series of further hikes, but some analysts argue those expectations may overshoot what the ECB will actually deliver.

Australian authorities have formally summoned the chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic to appear before a public inquiry into artificial intelligence. The move marks a rare step of compelling US AI company leaders to testify abroad. The inquiry is examining the risks and regulation of advanced AI systems, and attention is on whether the executives will attend and what commitments they may offer.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman argues that the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate hike could actually make inflation worse rather than curb it. His warning challenges the central bank's standard playbook, suggesting higher rates may raise costs and stoke price pressures, and is fueling debate among investors and economists about the Fed's policy path.

Analysts say the $32 trillion US Treasury market may be entering a new phase in which interest rates around 5% become the norm, as yields on instruments such as the five-year note move higher. The shift would mark a break from the near-zero rate years and reshape expectations for borrowing costs, equities and the broader economy.

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei previously warned that autonomous AI agents could take over the 'entire internet' if they ran out of control. The warning is being revisited after reports that OpenAI's tools have been involved in bot-driven activity online, fuelling debate about whether his scenario is starting to materialise.

Iran says the United States may launch a fresh attack, citing Washington's increasingly hard line in the region. The warning comes as President Trump rejects a proposed deal over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, while Canada presses a human rights resolution against Tehran. The combination of military threats, stalled diplomacy and international pressure has fueled concern about a wider confrontation.

The Trump administration is moving to lower federal fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, rolling back efficiency requirements that had been set to tighten over the coming years. Automakers and environmental groups are expected to clash over the change: manufacturers may welcome reduced compliance costs, while critics warn it will raise gasoline consumption and emissions. The move marks a significant shift in US vehicle policy.

The Trump administration is preparing to significantly weaken US clean car rules, the emissions and fuel-efficiency standards that govern how much pollution new vehicles may produce. The reported plan would roll back one of the country's core climate policies, with major implications for automakers, electric vehicle adoption, and US efforts to cut transportation emissions.

Indian news commentary is questioning whether the US tariff file targeting India has stalled, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomacy with softening Washington's stance under President Donald Trump. Commentators suggest India's negotiating strategy may have changed the American position on the trade dispute. The discussion is unfolding amid ongoing scrutiny of US-India trade relations and tariff threats.

The European Union is reportedly considering postponing its methane emission rules by one year. The rules, part of the bloc's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, would impose monitoring and leak-repair obligations on oil and gas producers. An analyst report from Rigzone flagged the possible delay, which would affect companies exporting fuels to the EU as well as domestic operators awaiting clarity on compliance timelines.

The European Union and the Philippines have reached a breakthrough in trade negotiations, and attention is now turning to whether this could open the door to a broader EU-Asean trade agreement. Analysts and regional commentators are weighing whether Manila's deal with Brussels could serve as a template for similar arrangements with other Southeast Asian economies, potentially reviving long-stalled EU-Asean trade talks.

New Israeli election surveys are offering conflicting pictures of Benjamin Netanyahu's path back to power, with some polls showing his bloc of right-wing and religious parties reaching the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority and others falling short. The split underscores how volatile the race remains and how much may hinge on small shifts in support for Netanyahu's Likud party and its potential coalition partners ahead of the vote.