The BYD factory being built in Szeged, Hungary, is facing scrutiny after reports of EU labour laws being violated among the Chinese migrant workforce Multilingual signs in most airports in the EU opt for English, but in Hungary, there is also Chinese, making it easy for migrant workers flying in to staff China’s first electric car plant in Europe – due to open in 2027.The third language was introduced in 2019 as the recently ousted leader Viktor Orbán embarked on a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with China, positioning himself as its most reliable friend in Europe. Continue reading...

12 May 2026 05:00 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

Prospect of flight cancellations and petrol shortages prompt people to switch from air and road to rail and busThe Middle East crisis, now in its 11th week, has resulted in higher fuel prices for drivers and prompted fears of jet fuel shortages, rising air fares and cancelled flights.Given the uncertain outlook, prospect of higher travel costs and potential disruption, we asked whether people had changed their holiday plans. Continue reading...

12 May 2026 08:00 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

It is the most extracted solid material on Earth – but this extraction can threaten ecosystems and livelihoodsMalé is one of the world’s most overcrowded cities, but it faces double pressure. As well as a growing population, the capital of the Maldives is also threatened by rising sea levels. Owing to climate breakdown, its living space is shrinking.So the justification for a land reclamation project seemed clear. Take sand from elsewhere in the archipelago and use it to build up the land available for Malé’s people. What could go wrong? After all, it’s only sand, right? Continue reading...

12 May 2026 10:00 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

Employees are now whispering to AI voice dictation tools rather than clacking the keys. Will ‘voicepilling’ make everyone more productive – or just more annoying?Name: Voicepilled.Age: Reid Hoffman first declared himself “voicepilled” in the autumn of last year. Continue reading...

12 May 2026 14:00 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

From supermarkets to corner shops, live facial recognition could be coming to retailers near you. Jessica Murray on the AI systems increasingly used by the police and storesLive facial recognition is being hailed as a powerful new frontier in the fight against crime, not only by police but by private companies too. Retailers from supermarkets to corner shops hope it will help them fight back against shoplifting.But the Guardian’s social affairs correspondent, Jessica Murray, points out that it will also expand surveillance into more and more public spaces. And the technology doesn’t always get it right. Continue reading...

13 May 2026 02:00 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

On the eve of Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing, co-hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine how the US president’s approach to relations with Xi Jinping has changed since he first ran for office, and what both leaders expect to get from the meeting. They also look at the tech CEOs travelling with Trump, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook, and why trade will be such a focus of the visit.Also: how did Trump’s ballroom blow out to its billion-dollar price tag? And who will pay for it? Continue reading...

13 May 2026 06:07 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Alexander Abnos and Leander Schaerlaeckens to preview the World Cup with one month to go until kick offRate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.On today’s podcast: With a month to go until the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, we’re joined by two experts in the US to discuss ticket prices, Iran, visas, ICE, Donald Trump, Gianni Infantino, public transport and general enthusiasm for the tournament. Continue reading...

13 May 2026 13:33 ✍️ RSS THE GUARDIAN