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Lead: Schools as a Pipeline to JoblessnessPeter Hyman, former adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, told the Guardian that the UK education system is acting as a “pipeline” to worklessness for a large cohort of young people. In launching the report Inside the Mind of a Young NEET, he called for urgent, radical reforms – including a ban on social media for under‑16s – to stop a “national scandal” of youth who are not in education, employment or training.Hyman’s Call for Radical Education ReformThe ex‑headteacher argued that the current system traps young people in a “rejection economy” where schools, employers and social‑media platforms all fail them. He urged ministers to overhaul curricula, increase vocational pathways, and create real‑world youth hubs that give teenagers alternatives to endless screen time.NEET Statistics Highlight a Growing Crisis12.8% of 16‑24‑year‑olds are classified as NEET in 2026, up sharply from post‑pandemic lows.Almost 1 million young people are currently NEET – the highest level in more than a decade.The NEET rate peaked at 16.8% in 2012 after the 2008 financial crash.The UK now has the third‑highest rate of NEETs among Europe’s richest countries.Broader Socio‑Economic ImpactAnalysts warn that the surge in youth joblessness compounds existing mental‑health challenges, creating a self‑reinforcing vortex of poverty, loneliness and economic shock. The report links the rise to a combination of factors – Covid‑19 disruptions, social‑media addiction, and a labour market that increasingly rewards experience that NEETs cannot obtain.Looking Ahead: Potential Policy ShiftsWith Alan Milburn set to publish a related government‑commissioned report next week, pressure is mounting for the UK to act. Possible outcomes include a statutory ban on social‑media use for children under 16, expanded vocational training programmes, and the establishment of community “youth hubs” that provide work experience and social connection. If implemented, these measures could curb the NEET surge and restore a clearer pathway from school to sustainable employment.

President Rodrigo Paz announced a cabinet reshuffle in response to escalating street protests, signaling a tactical shift to quell dissent while preserving his right‑wing agenda.Cabinet Reorganisation Proposed by President Rodrigo PazDuring a Wednesday press conference, Rodrigo Paz stated that a new lineup of ministers will be appointed to "listen" to the public and restore stability. He emphasized the need for a government capable of addressing the grievances of farmers, labourers, miners and teachers who have taken to the streets.Announcement date: 2026‑05‑20Key demand: reversal or moderation of fuel‑subsidy cutsTargeted ministries: finance, interior, and social developmentEconomic Context of Bolivia’s Deepening CrisisSince taking office in November, the Paz administration has pursued aggressive free‑market reforms, including controversial cuts to fuel subsidies, plunging the country into one of its worst economic downturns in decades. While no specific figures were disclosed, the austerity measures have triggered widespread hardship and fuelled the protests.Political Stakes and Regional ReactionsThe reshuffle occurs amid accusations that former president Evo Morales is stoking unrest while facing a statutory‑rape arrest warrant. Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo framed the demonstrations as anti‑democratic, and the United States, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, publicly backed Rodrigo Paz's government. Conversely, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the protests as a "popular insurrection" and warned against expelling Colombia’s ambassador.Outlook for Bolivia’s Political StabilityIf the new cabinet can deliver tangible economic relief, the protests may subside and the government could consolidate its right‑wing agenda. However, continued backing of Morales by his supporters and external diplomatic friction could reignite unrest, making Bolivia’s near‑future highly uncertain.

The LeadOpenAI says its new general‑purpose reasoning model has produced an original proof that disproves the famous geometry conjecture posed by Paul Erdős in 1946, ending an 80‑year open problem.OpenAI Announces Disproof of Erdős’s 1946 Geometry ConjectureThe company released a pre‑print and companion remarks signed by mathematicians Noga Alon, Melanie Wood and Thomas Bloom. The proof introduces a completely new family of constructions that outperform the long‑standing “square‑grid” belief.Timeline of Claims and CorrectionsJuly 2025: Former VP Kevil Weil tweeted that “GPT‑5 found solutions to 10 unsolved Erdős problems”.Later 2025: Critics including Yann LeCun and Demis Hassabis called the claim a misrepresentation; Weil removed the post.May 20, 2026: OpenAI publishes the new disproof, backed by external experts.Why This Disproof Could Redefine AI‑Driven ResearchThe breakthrough demonstrates that an AI system can autonomously manage long, intricate chains of reasoning and synthesize ideas across mathematical sub‑fields, a capability that researchers argue could translate to breakthroughs in biology, physics, engineering and medicine.What Comes Next for AI in Fundamental ScienceExperts anticipate a surge in AI‑assisted exploration of other long‑standing conjectures. If the model’s reasoning can be generalized, we may see a new era where AI acts as a co‑discoverer rather than a tool.

The Rise of AI Misinformation in Elections The Electoral Commission has called for new legal controls over misinformation from AI chatbots, after a thinktank found they had made serious mistakes during the recent Scottish election. The Study's Findings The thinktank Demos said its investigation had found that AI services gave voters misinformation to 34% of the questions it posed, which it said raised worrying questions about the lack of regulation of AI platforms in the UK. ChatGPT gave wrong information in 46% of its answers, including making up an expenses scandal. Replika had errors in 56% of its answers, inventing a date for a made-up expenses scandal and accusations of nepotism by a candidate. Google Gemini was wrong in 22% of cases, including saying a candidate had not taken a position on assisted dying when they were a supporter. The Impact of AI Misinformation Vijay Rangarajan, the Electoral Commission’s chief executive, said voters want accurate information to help them engage with democracy and it is concerning that AI tools have made the spread of false or misleading information dramatically faster and more accessible than ever. The Call for Regulation The Electoral Commission is pressing ministers to introduce legislation to make AI companies more accountable, including clearer duties on AI platforms to protect voters against misinformation and ensure algorithms do not mislead voters. The Future of AI Regulation Azzurra Moores, an associate director at Demos, said ministers could quickly introduce legal requirements to make AI companies liable under UK defamation and electoral law, introduce mandatory safeguards on accuracy, and force AI firms to allow researchers to independently test how their internal data and training sets worked.

The Prevalence of Plastic Litter Plastic food wrappers, bottles, lids, and caps are by far the most common items of litter found on the world’s shorelines, a study has found. Researchers looked at data from more than 5,300 surveys of coastal litter to produce the first global analysis of its kind. The Global Extent of the Problem The information collected spanned 94 countries, and the team was able to extrapolate from that data to include estimates for another 18 countries. Food and drink-related plastics turned up in coastal litter in 93% of those places. No other form of litter was as prevalent. Regional Variations in Litter There were, however, some regional variations. Plastic bags, for example, were consistently prevalent in Asia. The study also noted that a ban on plastic bags did not necessarily mean a country had less of such waste – poor policy enforcement or other countries exporting their waste was suggested as a reason for this. The Impact of Plastic Pollution Efforts to establish an international treaty to tackle plastic pollution are in turmoil. The chair of the treaty talks stepped down in October after allegations of behind-the-scenes pressure from the UN’s environment programme, which is overseeing the talks. It also emerged this month that the programme’s largest donor, Norway, was reviewing its funding for the body. Solutions to Address Plastic Pollution Richard Thompson, the founder of the University of Plymouth’s international marine litter research unit, said policymakers could address plastic pollution by ensuring plastics were only used for essential purposes, and that people could increasingly opt for refillable food and drink containers. Tamara Galloway, a professor of ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter, noted that current economic models tended to treat many forms of plastic as disposable, and suggested reframing it as ‘plastic-lost-value’ to guide policymakers in their efforts to mitigate it.

Early‑stage evidence from a University of Bristol randomised controlled trial suggests that the anti‑inflammatory drug tocilizumab may improve symptoms in patients with moderate‑to‑severe depression who have not responded to standard antidepressants.Trial Overview: Testing Tocilizumab for Treatment‑Resistant DepressionThe study examined whether blocking the IL‑6R receptor could alleviate depressive symptoms. Key design elements:Participants: 30 adults with moderate‑to‑severe depression unresponsive to conventional medication.Intervention: Intravenous tocilizumab versus placebo.Duration: four‑week double‑blind period.Outcomes measured: depression severity, fatigue, state anxiety, and quality of life.Key Numbers: Sample Size, Remission Rates, and NNTAlthough the trial was not powered to reach statistical significance, observed trends were notable:Depression remission: 54% in the tocilizumab group vs 31% in the placebo group.Number Needed to Treat (NNT): 5, meaning five patients would need treatment for one additional remission.For comparison, the NNT for first‑line SSRIs is approximately 7.The lack of robust statistical proof reflects the small cohort, underscoring the need for larger studies.Potential Shift in Depression Treatment ParadigmsResearchers describe the trial as an “important milestone” because it is:One of the first randomised trials to test immunotherapy for depression.The inaugural study targeting the IL‑6R pathway in this context.A proof‑of‑concept for selecting patients based on biological markers.Given that up to one‑third of depressed patients do not improve with existing pharmacotherapies, a biologically driven approach could expand therapeutic options and move psychiatry toward more personalised care.What Comes Next: Larger Studies and Clinical ImplicationsThe investigators plan to:Conduct larger, multi‑centre trials to confirm efficacy and safety.Explore longer treatment durations and dosage optimisation.Assess whether IL‑6R blockade can be combined with existing antidepressants.If subsequent trials replicate these findings, immunotherapy could become a viable adjunct or alternative for treatment‑resistant depression, potentially reshaping clinical guidelines and drug development pipelines.

Google DeepMind's Shift in Labor Relations Google DeepMind, the artificial intelligence arm of Google, has agreed to enter formal talks with UK tech workers that could lead to trade union representation. This move comes amid growing staff concerns about the use of its AI by the US and Israeli governments' defence and intelligence. The Concerns Driving Unionization Hundreds of workers have signed petitions raising concerns about the application of the technology, with concern rising since the company's 2025 decision to drop a promise not to allow its technologies to be used in harmful weapons or surveillance that violated international norms. The Impact of AI on Labor Rights The move comes as Google is facing a court challenge from a DeepMind AI researcher of Palestinian heritage who alleges he was wrongfully dismissed after protesting against its work for the Israeli government. Israeli officials have credited Google's cloud computing with enabling 'phenomenal things [to] happen in combat' during the Gaza conflict. The Path Forward Google DeepMind declined to voluntarily recognise the unions for collective bargaining purposes, but said in a staff email on Wednesday that talks at Acas 'may lead to a formal ballot in a few months' time, giving all eligible employees the opportunity to vote on whether they want to be represented by the unions.' The Future of AI Development and Labor Relations A CWU source said: 'It's a concession that they need to address some of the serious issues on the shop floor. There's clearly a groundswell of opinion about the contracts they are expected to serve, for example the relationship with drone technology and the Israeli government and the relationship with the US military. This is definitely a step forward and they are not just shutting this off.'

A Fresh, Chaotic Comedy Shakes Up British TVBBC’s Proper Ladies, a ten‑minute short set in a faith school, has ignited a social‑media frenzy for its “messy, chaotic, and funny” take on teenage life, drawing comparisons to Derry Girls and Some Girls.Inside “Proper Ladies”: A 10‑Minute Short About Muslim SchoolgirlsCreated by writer Sabrina Ali and based on her award‑winning stage play Dugsi Dayz, the short follows four detention‑room girls—prefect Salma (played by Samira Tahlil), entrepreneur Munira (Ebada Hassan), fashion‑focused Yasmin, and emo‑leaning Hani (Kosar Ali)—as they navigate rivalries, rebellion and absurd antics.Key scenes include a monologue about a fire‑alarm cover‑up and a subplot involving laxatives slipped into a teacher’s drink.The headteacher, portrayed by Mark Silcox, is humorously revealed to wear a toupee.Executive producer Michaela Coel supported the adaptation, offering Ali a place in her River Library writing sanctuary.Social Media Buzz and Viewer EngagementThe short’s first fan edit amassed 100,000 likes, signalling strong audience resonance. However, the cast also endured a wave of racist and Islamophobic abuse online, prompting some members to step back from social platforms.Redefining Muslim and Black Representation on ScreenAli aims to shift how Black and Muslim characters are positioned, using comedy to allow audiences to “recognise something human” without feeling instructed. She highlights the importance of open casting calls that attracted first‑time actors, expanding access to the industry.What’s Next for “Proper Ladies” and Similar StoriesThe pilot is currently in development for a full series, potentially charting a four‑year journey from stage to screen. Its success could encourage more authentic, diverse comedies in British television and inspire further investment in under‑represented voices.

The Rise of AI Chatbot Usage People are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for advice on their personal and social lives. But researchers and even some AI companies are beginning to worry that some users are becoming overly dependent on their chatbots. Share Your Experience The Guardian wants to hear from individuals who have used AI chatbots to make significant decisions and regretted it. The form provided allows users to share their experiences anonymously, if desired. Understanding the Impact This inquiry aims to shed light on the potential consequences of relying on AI chatbots for personal and social decisions. By sharing their stories, individuals can help researchers and AI companies better understand the implications of AI dependency. How to Share Your Story Users can share their experiences through the provided form. The form allows for anonymous submissions. Fields include name, location, age/background, details of the decision, and reasons for regret. Ensuring Privacy and Security The Guardian assures that all responses will be secure and encrypted, with only the Guardian having access to the contributions. Personal data will be deleted when no longer required for the purpose of the feature.