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Daily news brief — 8 May 2026

10 stories · 10 sources · 5 minute read

01world

China Defies US Sanctions, Orders Firms to Continue Buying Iranian Oil

Beijing has instructed Chinese refiners, including independent 'teapot' facilities, to continue purchasing Iranian crude oil despite renewed US sanctions pressure. The move signals China's direct defiance of Washington's energy policy and deepens existing economic tensions between the two powers.

Why it matters

The standoff tests the reach of US sanctions and could reshape global oil flows, with implications for energy markets and US-China relations.

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Sources

  • ABP Live
02world

Polls Close in UK as Voters Set to Punish Starmer's Labour Government

Polls have closed in the UK amid signs of a significant voter backlash against Keir Starmer's Labour government. Results are expected to reshape Britain's political landscape, with Labour facing notable losses.

Why it matters

Early electoral defeats for a sitting government can signal weakening public confidence and shift policy priorities ahead of future national votes.

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Sources

  • AFP
03world

Zelensky Warns of Escalating Threats Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

President Zelensky has issued serious warnings about escalating threats as fighting continues in Ukraine. New developments on the ground and in the international arena are adding strain to global security efforts.

Why it matters

Shifts in the Ukraine conflict carry wide implications for international stability, alliances, and diplomatic efforts toward resolution.

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Sources

  • The Straits Times

“Why it matters” for the rest of today's stories is available in the Fivly app.

04business

Sammaan Capital Announces $500M Merger with Fintech Peer

Sammaan Capital has announced a $500 million merger with a fintech peer, aiming to strengthen its digital lending capabilities. The deal is expected to drive 25% revenue growth, with regulatory approval anticipated by Q3 2026.

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Sources

  • Economic Times
05markets

Badger Infrastructure Pricing C$300 Million Senior Unsecured Notes Amid Strong Market Demand

Badger Infrastructure has priced C$300 million in senior unsecured notes, strengthening its balance sheet. The offering reflects strong investor demand in the energy services sector and supports the company's infrastructure expansion plans.

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Sources

  • Business Insider
06tech

OpenAI Launches GPT-5 with Multimodal Capabilities and 10x Speed Boost

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, its latest AI model featuring integrated video understanding and real-time processing speeds ten times faster than its predecessor. The model is currently available to enterprise users.

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Sources

  • The Verge
07ai

Data Centre Cooling Emerges as Critical Factor in AI Infrastructure Strategy

Frost & Sullivan's new whitepaper identifies cooling solutions as strategically essential for data centres managing AI workloads. As large-scale AI deployment intensifies energy demands, thermal management has become a core infrastructure consideration.

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Sources

  • PRNewswire
08tech

Apple Announces Vision Pro 2 with Under-Display Cameras and AR Advancements

Apple has unveiled the Vision Pro 2, featuring under-display cameras and improved AR passthrough technology. The headset is priced at $2,499 and is set to begin shipping next month.

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Sources

  • Bloomberg
09ai

Physical AI Gains Momentum as New Application Area in AI Research

Researchers are turning attention to 'physical AI,' systems designed to act within real-world environments. This marks a meaningful shift beyond software-based AI toward machines that perceive and interact with the physical world.

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Sources

  • DIR
10health

Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine Shows Superior Efficacy in Late-Stage Trial

Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine outperformed standard flu shots in late-stage clinical trials. The technology, similar to that used in COVID-19 vaccines, allows faster updates to match circulating strains each season.

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Sources

  • NBC News