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Biting the hand that feeds IT — Enterprise Technology News and Analysis

ZTE builds a TCO-optimal AI factory to fuel token economy

ZTE showcased at MWC Shanghai 2026 its comprehensively boost to TPS. Powered by multiple dimensional co-design, deep optimization, and acceleration - from chips, servers, clusters, and AIDC, to software algorithms and scheduling platforms - this innovation empowers customers to build TCO-Optimal AI factories providing robust support for the efficient development of the Token Economy. As large models enter the phase of scaled inference deployment, the "cost per Token" has emerged as the ultimate metric for measuring the commercial value of AI. ZTE proposes that a leap in Token generation efficiency can only be achieved through architectural-level innovation and system-level synergy. To that end, the OEX (Orthogonal Electrical eXchange) architecture based SuperPOD showcased at MWC Shanghai 2026 represents a milestone innovation designed to shatter computing power bottlenecks and maximize energy efficiency. Pioneering the OEX architecture to define the next-generation super-node standard ZTE pioneered the Orthogonal Architecture SuperPOD concept. Its OEX architecture features a midplane-free and zero-cable design to achieve physical decoupling and flexible replacement of core components such as GPUs, CPUs, and switch chips. By supporting mainstream high-speed interconnect protocols like CLink and SUE, it truly realizes "multi-chip synergy, open compatibility, and on-demand optimization". Compared with traditional architectures, OEX-based SuperPOD communication paths are shorter with lower signal loss, significantly improving overall interconnection efficiency, minimizing latency, and enhancing system reliability. ZTE's SuperPOD single rack achieves industry-leading ultra-high-density integration of 128 GPUs, and supports scale up to 16,000 GPUs to build an extra-large-scale cluster. It meets AI training and inference requirements ranging from thousand card to ten thousand card scale, providing a solid foundation for long context, high concurrency agent scenarios. Multi-dimensional optimization to achieve comprehensive improvements in inference efficiency and computing energy efficiency Hardware-software synergy unleashes ultimate efficiency per watt. By leveraging a PD disaggregation and integrating technologies such as network efficiency optimization, operator optimization, and multi level KV cache, performance bottlenecks are overcome and throughput is significantly increased. In close collaboration with multiple manufacturers, heterogeneous mixed inference and system level optimization are advanced on domestic chip platforms, resulting in a comprehensive enhancement of inference efficiency and a notable increase in TPS. Compute-storage-network synergy builds a large scale inference pool. ZTE offers the Full Series AI Server supporting high density deployment with 8 or 16 GPUs per server and 64 or 128 GPUs per rack, adapting to diverse scenarios. The AI-native KV cache is implemented through DPU hardware acceleration that enables direct GPU access to storage, achieving zero-copy data transfer, microsecond-level latency, and PB-scale scalability. Combined with intelligent prefetching and dynamic eviction mechanisms, the cache delivers a hit rate exceeding 70%, significantly boosting inference efficiency. Building an open and evolvable AI infrastructure with ecosystem partners ZTE emphasizes that AI computing power development must balance performance, cost, and sustainable evolution. To achieve this, ZTE's OEX-based SuperPOD adopts a "Pre Integration" model. Through Pre adaptation & Pre integration, the product adaptation and turning cycle is slashed from over one year to within six months, significantly accelerating ecosystem convergence and large-scale commercial rollout. Efficient computing power serves as the bedrock of the Token economy, and ZTE is dedicated to ensuring that every ounce of computing power translates into tangible AI productivity. This showcase fully underscores ZTE's deep technological heritage and innovative strength in intelligent computing infrastructure, while offering customers a definitive, future-proof blueprint for building highly efficient AI factories. Contributed by ZTE.

Elastic stretches workforce 7% thinner as AI does more of the heavy lifting

Elastic, whose products include Elasticsearch and Kibana, has announced an "approximately" 7 percent reduction in its workforce. In a blog post, CEO Ash Kulkarni thanked employees for their hard work as he announced the layoffs. He stated that the customer-facing sales team would continue to grow, but for others, "advances in AI and automation are letting us operate with leaner teams." Kulkarni also noted that engineering, "where the nature of the work is evolving fastest," would be split into three core areas, each led by a senior leader who will report directly to him. Last month, Elastic announced its Q4 FY 2026 figures, which included a total revenue of $451 million, an increase of 16 percent year-over-year. It's been an interesting few years for Elastic. In 2021, the company announced the adoption of the Server Side Public License (SSPL) in an effort to stop cloud providers from offering its software as a service. It had formerly used the more permissive Apache 2.0 license. The reaction was swift: Amazon Web Services (AWS) forked Elasticsearch and Kibana, calling it OpenSearch. OpenSearch was later transferred to the Linux Foundation. For those who haven't come across the company's wares, Elasticsearch is a distributed search and analytics engine, and Kibana is a data visualization tool. In 2024, shortly before the transfer of OpenSearch, Elastic announced that it was adding the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPL) as an option. CTO Shay Banon said at the time: "I am so happy to be able to call Elasticsearch Open Source again." Kulkarni said: "The industry is changing. Advances in AI, automation, and technology are reshaping how work gets done, and we're changing with them." Part of the change, it appears, is laying off a chunk of the workforce. "We're shifting our pace of innovation," he stated, "simplifying how we operate, and investing in new skills. That's what this reorganization is for: a simpler structure, with fewer layers, less complexity, and less friction." In its last 10-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company stated it had a total of 4,019 employees. Slightly less than 300 Elasticians stand to be shown the door depending on what "approximately 7 percent" ends up being. In its SEC 8-K filing [PDF] last night, the company said in addition to the 7 percent workforce reduction, it "plans to continue hiring in key strategic areas and locations, including continuing to grow headcount in customer-facing go-to-market functions." It said that overall, it expects "total headcount to grow this fiscal year compared to last fiscal year." The Register asked Elastic for a breakdown of the figures, and will update this piece should the company provide more information. ®

ZTE CDO Cui Li at MWC Shanghai 2026: unlocking value and embracing uncertainty in the AI era

ZTE announced that Cui Li, the company's Chief Development Officer, delivered a keynote speech titled "Unlocking Value and Embracing Uncertainty in the AI Era" at MWC Shanghai 2026. Cui Li noted that the world is undergoing a profound paradigm shift. AI is iterating at a breakneck pace and generating more customized demands, where the "one-size-fits-all" model is no longer applicable. We are now in an era where uncertainty is the only certainty. In this time of change, ZTE put forward the "All in AI, AI for All" strategy. Specifically, the company aims to unlock AI value to the fullest—deeply embedding AI-native capabilities into products and solutions to achieve a great leap in value delivery, and advancing the agile evolution toward a data-driven organization that features human-machine collaboration. Meanwhile, to address uncertainty, ZTE is committed to building a resilient AI system capable of agile actions and fast evolution from four key dimensions: openness and decoupling, flexible scaling, extreme synergy, and scenarios first. Looking into a future of human-AI symbiosis, ZTE will remain steadfast in its role as a value contributor in the ecosystem, and make continuous innovations and breakthroughs, to create a brighter future with global partners. Below is the full transcript of Cui Li's keynote speech: It's a great honor to meet you again here at MWC Shanghai. Last year at this venue, we explored how tech surge was reshaping the boundaries of industries under the title "Digital and Intelligent Evolution: Usher in a New Era of AI Civilization". While a year later, agentic AI is emerging as a dominant force driving industrial upgrading, redefining the business logic, and transforming how we collaborate. So today, I'll elaborate on how we can fully unlock value and embrace uncertainty in the AI era. Undoubtedly, we're now in an era where uncertainty is the only certainty. From a global perspective, the macro environment is undergoing profound transformation, and AI revolution and energy transition are redefining the underlying logic of industry competition. Against this backdrop, the global industries are moving from "efficiency first" to "efficiency + resilience"—where short-term volatility and long-term structural adjustments converge, reshaping the global economic and technological landscape. From a tech perspective, AI keeps iterating at a breakneck pace. As for software, large AI models evolve monthly or even weekly, with major capability leaps every six months. And we're seeing the profound transition from conversational AI toward agentic AI and embodied AI. Hardware upgrade is also accelerating. Companies like NVIDIA roll out new architectures every two years and update flagship chips annually, continuously expanding compute supply. Meanwhile, huge gains in inference efficiency are transforming cost structures, and the competition between open-source and closed-source models is advancing the democratization of AI. As we can see, compressed tech iteration cycles give rise to new application scenarios, while posing higher requirements on companies in choosing the right tech roadmap, setting an appropriate pace for asset updates, and aligning talent capabilities. In addition, markets are segmenting at an unprecedented pace. AI is generating more customized demands, and the "one-size-fits-all" model is no longer applicable. On the consumer side, the long-tail demand is exploding, driven by personalized recommendation algorithms, and niche brands are breaking through against all odds via content marketing in e-commerce platforms. In production, the "small order, fast supply" model becomes the norm powered by flexible manufacturing and AI quality inspection. Meanwhile, emotional economy and experience economy are rising fast, as evidenced by the exponential growth of segmented markets like AI pet, emotional healing, and silver hair technology. Under such trends, the traditional economies of scale are being disrupted, and a new business paradigm is taking shape, where niche is the new mainstream. Amidst such market uncertainty, innovation is the only way forward. In this time of change, we advocate for deeply embedding AI-native capabilities into our products and solutions to achieve a great leap in value delivery, while advancing the agile evolution toward a data-driven organization featuring human-machine collaboration. Also, we should fully take into account the exponential factors of AI iteration—namely, keep our architecture flexible and open, leave room for dynamic resource reallocation, and thus build a resilient system that is capable of addressing uncertainty. After over three years of AI sprints, model capabilities have continuously improved. Large AI models already perform at or beyond PhD level, especially good at info-heavy, super-uncertain tasks. Agents move from passive information processing and reasoning to active interaction and execution, steadily advancing toward continuous learning and self-evolution. This raises a fundamental question: how intelligent does a model really need to be? For most consumers, today's models are already overkill; yet for developers and enterprises, there is still a considerable gap in using AI well. ZTE's proposition is clear: unlock AI value to the fullest. We are upgrading products, solutions, and platforms, building full-stack, all-scenario intelligent computing solutions driven by end-to-end TCO optimization, and fully accelerating the company-wide intelligent transformation. In 2025, ZTE proposed the "All in AI, AI for All" strategy. At the core of it lies our commitment to fully unlocking AI value. To start with, with an AI-native mindset, we are redefining telecom networks and our offerings for enterprises, homes, and consumers. In connectivity, we bring intelligence to our products and solutions, such as AIR MAX and lossless WAN, while harnessing agentic AI and digital twins to accelerate the evolution toward L4 autonomous networks. For enterprises, our all-in-one gateway, integrating optical connectivity, video security, computing, and storage, delivers plug-and-play simplicity, making AI adoption effortless for small and micro-sized enterprises. For homes, we have partnered with operators to develop AI smart displays—an AI hub covering education, entertainment, eldercare, and home security. The cumulative shipments already exceed 3 million units. For consumers, our AI-native phones and AI Cloud PC WorkBuddy bring brand-new intelligent experiences. In computing, we focus on end-to-end TCO optimization and stay committed to building a homegrown, open AI ecosystem. At the core capability layer, we deliver full-range, system-level AI chip capabilities that enable optimal selection. This is empowered by our in-house switch chips for high-speed intra-HBD/cross-HBD interconnects, domain-specific CPUs, DPUs, and NICs, alongside the adaptation and optimization for various mainstream GPUs. As for infrastructure, we provide a full-stack intelligent computing solution that brings together computing, high-speed network, and green IDC—all designed to deliver the optimal TCO. Regarding platforms, we are building an AIOS and an agent hub, supporting elastic scheduling of intelligent computing resources, training and inference acceleration, and rapid agent development. At the application layer, based on the "1+N+X" model (one foundation model, N domain-specific models, and X scenario-based applications), we have delivered more than 1,000 AI projects across over 18 industries such as telecom, manufacturing, and power grid. At the terminal layer, we have launched innovative products including AI-native phones, AI cloud PCs, and AI smart displays, creating an intelligent home hub that integrates networks, computing, displays, and agents. This is how we promote scenario-based application and truly realize AI for all. Regarding organizational evolution, building on the digital transformation initiated in 2016, ZTE has achieved comprehensive intelligent upgrade across key areas, including R&D, marketing, operations, and supply chain. In R&D, we have successfully advanced from "Chip + Equipment" to "Chip + Equipment + Large AI Model", and are now accelerating toward "human-machine collaboration". In marketing, we have created "agile small teams within a large enterprise" to break down organizational and process barriers, and strengthen process reengineering and cross-enterprise IT system interconnection, thereby ensuring fast response and efficient execution. In operations, our in-house Co-Claw has been deployed across the company. As an enterprise-grade agent platform compared to OpenClaw, Co-Claw has been significantly enhanced in compliance, security, reliability, and integration with internal systems. Deeply embedded into our core systems, it can effectively execute high-frequency tasks, including document management, contract analysis, fault ticketing, event creation, and R&D collaboration. Over the past three years, innovations in AI algorithms and architectures have exploded, with landmark advancements such as MoE, MLA, quantization, distillation, attention mechanism optimizations, and ultra-long context windows. Different algorithms require tailored hardware to achieve optimal cost-performance, while system and hardware architectures typically follow a 2 to 3-year refresh cycle. This calls for keen foresight and built-in flexibility across solution development, architectural design, investment deployment, and operations management to secure medium- and long-term competitiveness. Drawing on our experience, ZTE advocates "embracing uncertainty". We are building a resilient system capable of agile actions and fast evolution from four key dimensions: openness and decoupling, flexible scaling, extreme synergy, and scenarios first. First, openness and decoupling. Given AI's rapid evolution, only openness and decoupling allow us to fully internalize the latest industry innovations and practices. That's why, in the intelligent computing field, ZTE remains committed to decoupling hardware from software, models from platforms, and training from inference. For hardware, our solutions support different GPU and CPU combos for optimal performance and compatibility, while delivering software-hardware co-optimization to maximize tokens per watt. Additionally, ZTE's platform is fully compatible with over 200 models, enabling efficient heterogeneous resource management and deep software-hardware synergy. It also accelerates the full lifecycle from model development to application with one-click deployment and seamless migration. For applications, our product packages support high-quality data synthesis, one-click rapid fine-tuning, intelligent generation of knowledge graphs, tacit knowledge mining, minute-level agent building, and autonomous tool evolution. Notably, ZTE's Co-Sight AI agent factory has been open-sourced. Second, flexible scaling. Take ZTE's AI server portfolio as an example. It spans standard 8-GPU/16-GPU nodes, SuperPOD, and modular solutions. The SuperPOD, built on an innovative OEX architecture, packs 64 or even 128 GPUs into a single rack. In cluster-level scaling, our modular design allows seamless expansion all the way to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of GPUs. For our customers, this means they can scale incrementally rather than all at once. This approach significantly slows down hardware depreciation and maximizes the long-term ROI. Third, extreme synergy. For computing-network convergence, through scale-up, we boost computing density to up to 16,000 GPUs; through scale-out, we expand clusters beyond 100,000 GPUs via optical interconnects and electrical switching. This truly strengthens computing power through advanced networks. For computing and storage, our in-house switch chips guarantee high running efficiency, while our Dinghai DPU chips enable Pod-level shared memory, delivering microsecond latency and PB-scale expansion for KV cache. In computing-power coordination, operation strategies can be dynamically adjusted based on grid loads—enabling elastic power supply and intelligent energy saving. The rack power density scales flexibly from 8 to 120 kW. And our cold-plate liquid cooling solution reduces the PUE to 1.15, making green and sustainable development a tangible reality. Finally, scenarios first. We emphasize tailoring solutions to the unique requirements of each scenario and application—because the best fit delivers optimal cost effectiveness. To date, ZTE's intelligent computing solutions, including AI all-in-one machines, have empowered more than 18 vertical industries. Together with over 1,000 ecosystem partners, we have delivered over 100 best use cases, charting a path from pilot projects to industry-wide adoption. Here are some examples: At ZTE Nanjing Binjiang Base, our integrated intelligent operations system has shortened order scheduling cycles by 80% and improved per capita output by 81%. In the Yunnan Sunho Aluminum factory, ZTE's Co-Claw, as an intelligent hub, enables millisecond load regulation, with capacity utilization exceeding 99% and aluminum distribution efficiency up by 30%. At the Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Balasu Coal Mine, four digital employees have been deployed, accumulating more than 60 AI skills. This has accelerated major hazard identification to the minute level, reduced technical report generation to just 5 minutes, and lowered the proportion of repetitive operational and management tasks to below 15%, significantly improving production safety and operational efficiency. The future has already arrived. We are entering a new stage of civilization that is defined by "human-AI symbiosis". Through the profound synergy of computing, networks, energy, and algorithms, AI is seamlessly embedded into every facet of social operations—much like a vast, intelligent organism. In this living system, 6G serves as the "neural fibers", enabling millisecond information transmission; computing power is the "heart", pumping energy to sustain the entire system; energy functions as the "blood", which is intelligently scheduled and circulates in an endless cycle; and algorithms represent the "genes", which define the shape of the entire system and where it evolves. Looking ahead, research into continuous learning and self-evolution will further propel the system toward higher-level intelligence. For ZTE, we firmly believe that though the road is long, every step forward brings us closer to our destination. Our commitment is to fully unlock AI value and embrace uncertainty with agile iteration. We also believe that harmony lies in diversity and prosperity lies in symbiosis—and that only through open collaboration can we build an ecosystem that is stronger and truly thrives. ZTE will remain steadfast in its role as a value contributor in the ecosystem, and make continuous innovations and breakthroughs, to create a brighter future with global partners. Contributed by ZTE.

The Guardian

Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice

‘Like swimming through the air’: my thrilling role in Giselle with the Royal Ballet’s wheelchair dancers

I use a wheelchair and yearn to dance like I did when I was a kid. Could I possibly hold my own in a class run by inspirational disabled dance star Kate Stanforth and the Royal Ballet?

From ballroom to hip-hop, I tried many different dance classes growing up, but nothing ever stuck for too long. My body never found its rhythm to any music, I quickly became exhausted from any physical exertion, and I concluded I must just not have been made for exercise.

My theory was confirmed when I was 13 – and I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), which is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease that causes nerve damage, muscle weakness and mobility loss. Now, aged 29, I use a wheelchair and a lot of my coordination has been eroded. I still love to dance but it’s increasingly rare I get the chance.

Continue reading...

Sali Hughes on beauty: feeling the heat? A face mist – and fan – will help you keep your cool

Finding the weather too hot to handle? It will be a breeze with one of these soothing sprays

I wrote this from very sunny Corfu, while Britain enjoyed – or suffered, depending on your tolerance – a full-blown heatwave. Dyson’s new HushJet Mini Cool personal fan (£99.99) temporarily sold out (since restocked), and questions about Shark’s viral new ChillPill 3-in-1 Fan, Mist & InstaChill System (£129.99) were racking up in my DMs.

I happened to have the latter with me (so do many of you – it’s sold out in the prettier colours), and while it’s nice to look at and works well, it’s quite fiddly to switch the different heads.

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Muse: The Wow! Signal review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week

(Warner)
From Count Dracula organ to choirs crying in Latin, the Devon band are scenery-chewingly preposterous​ yet nuanced on this epic about extraterrestrial life

Barely three minutes of Muse’s 10th album has elapsed before a choir make an appearance: a choir that isn’t singing so much as chanting in Latin, like something you might hear on the soundtrack to an occult-themed horror film. “Sanctus!” they cry. “Dominus!” And, inevitably, “Lucifer!”

The choir are harder to hear than you might think, battling as they are against everything else that’s going on during The Wow! Signal’s opening track, The Dark Forest: a cantering electronic bassline not a million miles removed from those you used to get on the hi-NRG records that soundtracked mid-80s gay clubs; a string section sawing away as if their lives depended on it; a distorted electric guitar playing frantic prog-metal arpeggios; and frontman Matt Bellamy wildly emoting through a chanson-like vocal melody: “Stars extinguish themselves in fear!” he sings. “We will all beg for extinction!”

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‘People shouldn’t expect there will be water in their taps every day’: why is St Lucia running out of water?

Despite millions of dollars of investment, crumbling infrastructure and erratic rainfall are pushing the Caribbean island to the brink

When St Lucia’s rainy season began in May, Madeleine Solomon, 55, breathed a sigh of relief. For months, she had been feeling the squeeze of an intermittent water supply that disrupted normal hygiene and food preparation, forcing families like hers to rely on water tanks, rainwater harvesting and bottled water bought from private companies.

“I’m thanking God every day because our situation was really bad,” she says.

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Crisis looms for Pope Leo as splinter sect seeks to ordain far-right bishops

Conflict threatens to worsen mounting tensions between the Vatican and rightwing Catholics in the US and globally

A far-right Catholic sect’s plan to ordain its own bishops on the first day of July has placed it on a collision course with the Vatican – posing a possible crisis for Pope Leo a little over a year into his papacy, and straining the Roman Catholic church’s already fraught relationship with rightwing and traditionalist Catholics in the US and elsewhere.

Founded in Switzerland in 1970 to oppose liberalizing reforms in the Catholic church, the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) has gained significant followings in the US, France, Argentina and other countries. The order, which has a large base of operations in Kansas, claims that more than half a million people worldwide attend its masses, though these numbers are difficult to verify. It counts nearly 1,500 priests, seminarians and other vocational members among its members.

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Ice, ice, baby: four fab frozen desserts, from fruit splits to semifreddos

Beat the heat with pistachio sammies, fruit lollies, mint chocolate semifreddo and green-tea ice-box cake

During a recent traffic jam, on a day so hot it felt stagnant and seemingly eternal, I found myself in a private reverie of superiority. My fellow drivers, slumped in their baking metal shells, were observers to my good fortune: a homemade blackcurrant and white peach ice lolly – sharp and fruity, with a delicate almond flavour (the result of having used slightly underripe peaches) – plucked from the freezer in a rare moment of foresight. I licked it with the conviction that it was the only object of desire between Elephant and Castle and Acton Central in London. Ice lollies are fab(!) You will need silicone moulds and some wooden sticks.

Kitty Travers is owner of La Grotta Ices in London, and author of La Grotta Ices, published by Vintage at £25. To order a copy, go to guardianbookshop.com.

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Starmer says he wants to ensure disruption during transition to Burnham government ‘absolutely minimised’ – UK politics live

PM says: ‘I love this country, I want this country to thrive, and I shall do everything I can to make sure it’s a success and thrives’

In her Q&A this morning Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, confirmed that she wants the government to approve the licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea.

She said:

I’ve been very clear that I think that the North Sea is a crucial asset for the UK, and that oil and gas will be an important part of our energy mix for years to come. And I’m very keen to make sure that we use that resource, to ensure our energy security.

There are decisions to be made shortly on both Rosebank and Jackdaw. Those are quasi-judicial decisions. But in our manifesto two years ago, we committed to honour existing licences, and I hope that we do.

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Rome airports threaten to suspend new EU passport system to avoid summer ‘disaster’

Airports CEO says letting non-EU passengers skip entry-exit system would be only way to avoid peak season travel chaos

Rome’s airports will have to suspend the EU’s new digital border system for non-EU citizens to avoid a “disaster” during the peak tourism summer months, according to the head of the airports company.

Marco Troncone said that allowing passengers to skip the biometric entry-exit system (EES) was the only way of avoiding travel chaos over the summer amid warnings from other European airport officials.

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Wel.nl

Minder lezen, Meer weten.

Nederland stuurt reddingsteam naar Venezuela na aardbevingen

DEN HAAG (ANP) - Een Nederlands reddingsteam gaat naar Venezuela voor hulp na de aardbevingen die het land hebben getroffen. Dat meldt het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken. Het Urban Search and Rescue-team gaat die kant op met reddingswerkers, honden en materieel. Venezuela heeft Nederland gevraagd om hulp.


Maatschappelijk Impact Team vaste adviseur bij volgende pandemie

DEN HAAG (ANP) - Bij een toekomstige pandemie zal het kabinet zich niet alleen laten adviseren door virologen en medici, maar ook door experts die de maatschappelijke impact van maatregelen als lockdowns kunnen inschatten. Dat valt te lezen in het Landelijk Crisisplan Infectieziekten dat het kabinet naar de Tweede Kamer heeft gestuurd. In de nieuwe crisisstructuur wordt het Maatschappelijk Impact Team (MIT) een van de vaste adviseurs van het kabinet.

Een woordvoerder van zorgminister Sophie Hermans (Volksgezondheid, VVD) licht toe dat deze toevoeging aan het crisisdraaiboek een "geleerde les" is van de coronapandemie.

Aanvankelijk leunde het kabinet zwaar op de adviezen van het Outbreak Management Team, bestaande uit medici en virologen. Gaandeweg klonk de kritiek steeds luider dat bij maatregelen als lockdowns en schoolsluitingen ook moet worden meegewogen wat de maatschappelijke gevolgen zijn. Bij de verhoren door de parlementaire enquêtecommissie Corona is dit ook vaak genoemd.


Maatschappelijk Impact Team vaste adviseur bij volgende pandemie

DEN HAAG (ANP) - Bij een toekomstige pandemie zal het kabinet zich niet alleen laten adviseren door virologen en medici, maar ook door experts die de maatschappelijke impact van maatregelen als lockdowns kunnen inschatten. Dat valt te lezen in het Landelijk Crisisplan Infectieziekten dat het kabinet naar de Tweede Kamer heeft gestuurd. In de nieuwe crisisstructuur wordt het Maatschappelijk Impact Team (MIT) een van de vaste adviseurs van het kabinet.

Een woordvoerder van zorgminister Sophie Hermans (Volksgezondheid, VVD) licht toe dat deze toevoeging aan het crisisdraaiboek een "geleerde les" is van de coronapandemie.

Aanvankelijk leunde het kabinet zwaar op de adviezen van het Outbreak Management Team (OMT), bestaande uit medici en virologen. Gaandeweg klonk de kritiek steeds luider dat bij maatregelen als lockdowns, schoolsluitingen en avondklokken ook moet worden meegewogen wat de maatschappelijke gevolgen zijn.

Onderwijsongelijkheid

Naar aanleiding van die kritiek werd in de nadagen van de coronapandemie het MIT opgericht. Dit team van deskundigen zoals economen, sociologen en gedragsdeskundigen adviseerde het kabinet over de maatschappelijke en economische impact van maatregelen. Het team is na het einde van de pandemie in de 'waakstand' gezet.

Bij de verhoren door de parlementaire enquêtecommissie Corona is het een veelgenoemde les dat in de toekomst meer oog moet zijn voor maatschappelijke gevolgen van maatregelen. Kinderombudsvrouw Margrite Kalverboer zei deze week nog dat het kabinet weinig stil heeft gestaan bij de gevolgen voor kinderen. Volgens kinderarts en voorzitter van de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Kindergeneeskunde Károly Illy leidden de schoolsluitingen tot onderwijsongelijkheid en psychische klachten als angststoornissen en depressie.


Deel Kamer blijft kritisch op plan voor vrouwengezondheid

DEN HAAG (ANP) - Meerdere partijen blijven kritisch over het plan van minister Sophie Hermans (VVD) voor het verbeteren van vrouwengezondheid. De gezondheidsminister publiceerde donderdag de uitwerking ervan, maar volgens Lisa Vliegenthart van PRO en Sarah Dobbe ontbreken het geld en de concrete aanpak om de problemen echt aan te pakken.

"De nationale werkagenda is zoals wij hadden verwacht teleurstellend", aldus Vliegenthart. Dobbe: "Wat daarin staat, is echt niet genoeg. Er staan echt te weinig concrete acties in. Wel doelen en ambities, maar niet wat er gaat gebeuren om die te halen."

In de werkagenda staat dat gezondheidsklachten van vrouwen beter herkend en erkend moeten worden. Ook moet breder naar vrouwengezondheid worden gekeken dan nu het geval is. Dat moet volgens het ministerie onder meer gebeuren door onderzoeken meer te richten op vrouwen dan op mannen. Daar zou geen extra geld voor nodig zijn.


Tien geldfouten die je koopkracht ongemerkt opeten – maak jij er ook een paar?

Veel Nederlanders hebben anno 2026 het gevoel dat hun geld verdampt: de prijzen stijgen, de loonstrook lijkt niet mee te doen en aan het einde van de maand is de rekening alweer rood. Dat heeft óók te maken met inflatie en hogere vaste lasten, maar niet alleen. Een deel van de pijn zit in een paar taaie geldfouten die we massaal blijven maken. Niet spectaculair, wel dodelijk voor je koopkracht: geen buffer, geen overzicht, een bos aan abonnementen en toeslagen die je nooit aanvraagt. Wie ze één voor één fileert, ziet dat veel “geldproblemen” minder onvermijdelijk zijn dan ze voelen – en dat een paar saaie ingrepen meer opleveren dan de zoveelste side hustle‑guru op TikTok.

1. Leven op gevoel, niet op cijfers

We “denken” ongeveer te weten wat er binnenkomt en wat eruit gaat – en daar gaat het al mis. Zonder keihard overzicht van inkomsten, vaste lasten en dagelijkse uitgaven is elk financieel gesprek een gok. Wie zijn situatie niet doorrekent, laat de bankrekening sturen in plaats van andersom. Dat is comfortabel zolang het goed gaat, maar desastreus zodra de prijzen oplopen of er een tegenslag komt.

2. Geen buffer: elke tegenslag wordt een crisis

De kapotte wasmachine, de tandartsrekening, de naheffing: ze komen altijd “ongelegen”, maar nooit onverwacht. Toch leeft een grote groep Nederlanders zonder praktische buffer, waardoor elke tegenvaller direct in roodstand, flitslening of incasso eindigt. Dat voelt als pech, maar is meestal gewoon beleid: maandelijks alles uitgeven en hopen dat het goed gaat. Koopkrachtverlies begint niet bij de inflatiecijfers, maar bij het ontbreken van die saaie noodspaarpot.

3. Vaste lasten als heilige huisjes

Huur, energie, verzekeringen, telefoon: het zijn de rekeningen die “nu eenmaal zo zijn”. Alleen: juist daar ligt de grootste winst. Wie nooit vergelijkt, polisvoorwaarden doorloopt of dubbele dekking wegsnijdt, betaalt jarenlang meer dan nodig. Bedrijven rekenen erop dat je niet oplet en de automatische incasso wel zijn werk doet. De consument die wél oplet, wint elke maand stilletjes koopkracht terug – zonder een euro extra te verdienen.

4. De abonnementen‑eroderende werking van comfort

Elke streamingdienst kost “maar een tientje”, elk loterijtje “maar een paar euro”, elk clubje “maar één keer per maand”. Samen vormen die kleintjes een permanente lek in je budget. Het pijnlijke is: veel daarvan gebruik je nauwelijks. Maar opzeggen voelt lastig, gedoe, bijna alsof je een stukje identiteit inlevert. Intussen verdwijnt er ongemerkt een vakantie per jaar in de digitale prullenbak van ongebruikte abonnementen.

5. Zogenaamd “te trots” voor toeslagen

In een land waar toeslagenstelsels de ene na de andere parlementaire enquête opleveren, is het niet gek dat mensen huiverig zijn om er gebruik van te maken. Maar wie uit trots, schaamte of wantrouwen geen huur- of zorgtoeslag aanvraagt terwijl hij er wél recht op heeft, laat gewoon geld liggen. Dat is moreel netjes, financieel dom. Er is niets heldhaftigs aan vrijwillig minder koopkracht accepteren dan waar je wettelijk aanspraak op hebt.

6. De struisvogelstrategie bij beginnende geldproblemen

De eerste aanmaning gaat ongeopend in de la, de tweede “komt wel een keer”, de derde zorgt voor een dichtklappend keelgat. Pas als de deurwaarder in zicht komt, wordt er gebeld. Dat patroon is menselijk, maar desastreus: juist in de fase van beginnende problemen kun je nog afspraken maken, uitstel regelen, regelingen vinden. Wie te laat reageert, wordt gestraft met boetes en incassokosten – pure, vermijdbare koopkrachtvernietiging.

7. Inflatie als natuurkracht, niet als signaal

Inflatie voelt als een soort weerbericht: het gebeurt nu eenmaal. Maar in de supermarkt is het gewoon een uitnodiging om je gedrag te herzien. Wie in een jaar tijd 3–4 procent prijsstijging accepteert zonder merken, winkels of gewoonten aan te passen, laat dagelijks geld liggen. Je hoeft geen extreme koopjesjager te worden, maar bewust boodschappen doen – minder impulsen, meer alternatieven – is één van de weinige plekken waar je inflatie direct kunt terugvechten.

8. Dure maanden doen alsof ze je overvallen

Kerst, vakanties, gemeentelijke aanslagen en verzekeringspremies komen hooguit onverwacht voor wie weigert een jaaroverzicht te maken. Als je wéét dat maart en december traditioneel duur zijn, kun je daar het hele jaar op voorsorteren. Niet plannen betekent dat dure maanden standaard eindigen in “even de creditcard pakken” – met rente en aflossing als stille vijand van je koopkracht in de rest van het jaar.

9. Zwijgen over geld – tot het echt misgaat

Nederlanders praten liever over politiek, woningmarkt en pensioenstelsel dan over hun eigen bankrekening. Zolang het stil blijft, lijkt er niets aan de hand – tot het opeens misgaat en schaamte de drempel naar hulp nog hoger maakt. Ironisch genoeg is vroegtijdig praten juist de goedkoopste interventie: familie, vrienden, gemeente, hulpinstanties kunnen mee kijken, meedenken en meeregelen. Wie blijft zwijgen, betaalt de rekening alleen.

10. Geen systeem, wel goede voornemens

De kern van al deze fouten: we hebben wél doelen (“meer sparen”, “minder stress”), maar geen systeem. Zonder vaste momenten voor administratie, automatische spaaropdrachten en duidelijke budgetten blijft elke maand een geïmproviseerd gevecht met dezelfde problemen. Het politieke debat gaat over koopkrachtplaatjes, maar in de praktijk bepaalt je persoonlijke systeem of je meebeweegt met die cijfers of eronder zakt. Wie dat systeem opzet, wint niet alleen euro’s, maar ook rust.


CPB: Wereldhandel neemt toe ondanks onrust in het Midden-Oosten

DEN HAAG (ANP) - De wereldhandel is in april met 0,7 procent toegenomen. Dat blijkt uit de wereldhandelsmonitor van het Centraal Planbureau (CPB). In maart was de wereldhandel nog afgenomen, maar in april is het effect van de onrust in het Midden-Oosten beperkt.

Het effect van de oorlog in het Midden-Oosten op de wereldhandel lijkt zich te beperken tot verminderde uit- en invoer van de Golfregio. Met name in China en opkomend Azië neemt de export toe. Volgens het rapport hangt dit samen met het Chinese Nieuwjaar. Als gevolg daarvan is er in maart tijdelijk minder geëxporteerd en kwam het niveau van export lager uit dan eind 2025. Door de toename in april is het niveau van de export nu weer hoger dan tijdens de Europese jaarwisseling.

Daarnaast lijken de hoge energieprijzen nog geen effect te hebben op de wereldhandel, stelt het CPB. De eurozone, het Verenigd Koninkrijk en de Verenigde Staten exporteerden meer. De sterke vraag naar AI-gerelateerde elektronica houdt de wereldhandel volgens het CPB juist op peil.


Beleggers: nieuw debacle bij Philips niet uit te sluiten

AMSTERDAM (ANP) - Een nieuw debacle bij Philips zoals de apneu-affaire is niet uit te sluiten. Dat zeggen advocaten van beleggers die een diepgaand onderzoek willen naar het medisch-technologische concern. Ze beschuldigen het bedrijf ervan de markt te laat te hebben ingelicht over een probleem met afbrokkelend schuim dat in 2021 leidde tot de terugroepactie van miljoenen beademingsapparaten voor apneu-patiënten, met grote verliezen en een gedaalde beurskoers als gevolg.

Ze wijzen erop dat bij de Amerikaanse Philips-dochter voor beademingsapparaten al in 2015 klachten bekend waren. Eerder kreeg dit onderdeel al een waarschuwing van toezichthouder FDA dat de afhandeling van klachten niet op orde was. Ook na de kostbare terugroepactie heeft Philips waarschuwingen gekregen dat het kwaliteitsmanagement niet op orde was.

Vertegenwoordigers van beleggers, waaronder de Vereniging Effectenbezitters (VEB), stellen het medisch-technologische bedrijf aansprakelijk voor de schade die ze hebben geleden. Philips heeft altijd ontkend dat het beleggers te weinig informatie heeft gegeven.


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