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Ukrainian President Zelensky: Ukrainian peace negotiators held substantive talks in the United States.

On May 8th, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on the Standardized Application and Innovative Development of Intelligent Agents." The document proposes cultivating open-source innovation capabilities. It guides domestic AI open-source communities to strengthen their intelligent agent deployment and promote compatibility and adaptation of intelligent agents with open-source chips, operating systems, and large-scale open-source models. It also encourages enterprises, universities, and research institutions to actively participate in open-source projects related to intelligent agent frameworks, interaction interfaces, and toolchains, promoting the integrated development of technological systems and accelerating the enhancement of international influence.

On May 8th, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on the Standardized Application and Innovative Development of Intelligent Agents." The document proposes promoting the application of intelligent agents in internet applications and services to optimize the experience of online shopping, navigation, bill payment, and daily office work. It also promotes the coordinated development of intelligent agents with terminal devices such as mobile phones, computers, automobiles, home appliances, wearables, and consumer robots to enhance their ability to complete tasks across applications and devices. Furthermore, it aims to improve the customer service capabilities of intelligent agents, providing 24/7 consultation, appointment, and after-sales services. The document also encourages the development of embodied intelligent agents for guidance, cleaning, warehousing, and distribution to improve the operational efficiency of commercial establishments such as catering, retail, accommodation, and logistics. Finally, it explores the use of embodied intelligent agents to provide low-cost services such as housekeeping, elderly care, childcare, and disability assistance.

European Commission: High oil prices should not be considered an exceptional situation.

The European Commission has issued guidance to the EU's transport and tourism sectors in response to ongoing fuel supply disruptions.

The statement indicated that the Libyan Zawiya refinery had completely shut down due to clashes near the facilities.

On May 8, US President Trump posted a picture stating that oil prices have fallen by 25%, or $30 per barrel, to $90 per barrel since the Biden administration took office.

Kremlin: The EU is preparing for potential talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly stated his willingness to negotiate with anyone.

Kremlin: Ukraine continues to attack civilian infrastructure.

Kremlin: Russia is prepared to engage in dialogue with Europe, but will not initiate it.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency: Iran has seized the oil tanker "Ocean Koi".

On May 8th, a team led by Michael Hartnett of Bank of America stated that U.S. stocks are on the verge of recording double-digit gains for the fourth consecutive year, a rare occurrence that has only happened a handful of times in history. The S&P 500 currently corresponds to an annualized gain of approximately 20%. Such sustained rallies have previously only occurred during World War II, the years of peace following the war, and the bubble phase of 1995-1999. The latest surge, fueled by a frenzy of capital spending on artificial intelligence, has further propelled the stock market, but the gains have been very narrow. Now, other sectors are also beginning to show stronger upward momentum. Hartnett and his team believe that, supported by the resilience of the U.S. economy, small-cap stocks, emerging markets, and commodities are "all approaching a long-term bull market turning point." The Bank of America team expects materials stocks to be among the next strong performers. Although this sector currently accounts for only 2% of the S&P 500, near a 30-year low, this is expected to change. Geopolitical competition over resources, increased military spending, the surge in capital expenditures on artificial intelligence, and efforts to address the housing shortage will make the materials sector a "new bull market protagonist."

Federal Reserve Governor Tim Cook declined to comment on the economic or monetary policy outlook while speaking at a digital asset conference in Senegal.

May 8th - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered a major early defeat in Friday's election, highlighting strong voter dissatisfaction with his government and casting a shadow over his political future. In regions where results have been announced, Starmer's Labour Party saw a significant drop in support, including traditional strongholds in the former industrial areas of central and northern England, as well as parts of London. The main beneficiary of the election was Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant populist Reform Party, which won over 200 seats in England and is poised to become the main opposition force to the pro-independence Scottish National Party and the Party of Wales in Scotland and Wales. The elections in England's 136 local councils, along with those in Scotland and Wales, represent the most crucial test of public opinion before the next general election in 2029. Labour MPs have stated that if the party performs poorly in Scotland, loses power in Wales, and fails to retain its majority of approximately 2,500 uncontested seats in England, Starmer will face renewed pressure to resign or set a timetable for his departure. Preliminary results indicate that Britain's traditional two-party system is continuing to crumble, transitioning towards a multi-party democracy, which analysts call one of the biggest changes British politics has undergone in the past century.

On May 8th, Shimao Group (00813.HK) announced in Hong Kong that for the four months ended April 30, 2026, the Group's cumulative contracted sales amounted to approximately RMB 5.731 billion, with a cumulative contracted sales area of 469,696 square meters. The average selling price for the four months ended April 30, 2026 was RMB 12,201 per square meter. In April 2026, the Group's contracted sales amounted to approximately RMB 1.208 billion, with a contracted sales area of 96,271 square meters. The average selling price in April 2026 was RMB 12,548 per square meter.

According to Tanker Trackers: Over the past two days, three empty Iranian oil tankers have broken through the US blockade and returned to Iran.

Market news: Baidu's (09888.HK) chip division, Kunlun Core, plans to list in Hong Kong with a target valuation of US$14.7 billion.

On May 8th, a conference was held in Beijing to release and promote the series of national standards for "Intelligent Classification of Artificial Intelligence Terminals." Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, attended and addressed the meeting. The meeting emphasized that the formulation and implementation of the "Intelligent Classification of Artificial Intelligence Terminals" series of national standards is of significant practical importance for standardizing the evaluation of terminal intelligence, driving product iteration and upgrading, and ensuring a positive user experience. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will work with relevant departments to further implement the "Artificial Intelligence+" initiative, accelerate the cultivation of new forms of intelligent economy, and promote the innovative development of the artificial intelligence terminal industry.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advises operators to be aware of differences in fuel properties (especially since JetA has a higher pour point than JetA-1).