EgyptAir flight vanishes, the spread of superbugs and the myth of the British stiff upper lip

An EgyptAir aircraft flying from Paris to Cairo disappeared over the Mediterranean in the early hours of Thursday, raising fears that the flight had fallen victim to the latest in a series of international aviation mishaps.

The flight, which left Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport at 23.09 on Wednesday evening local time, had 56 passengers and 10 crew and security personnel on board, according to the airline, which is owned by the Egyptian state. (FT)

In the news

Fed hints at June Federal Reserve policymakers opened the door to lifting short-term interest rates at their next meeting in June, even as many cautioned that a number of economic hurdles lie in the way of another rise. (FT)

Superbugs to ‘kill every three seconds’ A new report says superbugs could kill someone every three seconds by 2050 unless the world acts now. At the core of the issue is a dearth of new antibiotics and misuse of the ones we have now. (BBC)

‘Unsafe interception’ Two Chinese fighter jets carried out an “unsafe” intercept of a US spy aircraft over the South China Sea, the Pentagon said. According to a US military official, the Navy EP-3 spy plane was forced to descend about 60 metres to avoid a collision. The incident earlier this week comes amid increased tensions between Washington and Beijing over the disputed waters. (FT)

Five things to watch for as oil nears $50 The milestone is in sight for the first time this year, but traders are split over whether the near 80 per cent rally since prices bottomed in January can continue. Here are five things to watch that could dictate the next move in the price of crude, which has also seen a supply glut that is boosting demand for oil storage. (FT)

Netflix and Amazon face EU quota threat The video streaming services could be forced to devote “at least” 20 per cent of their catalogues to European films and TV shows as part of an overhaul of the EU’s broadcasting rules. (FT)

US business turns Democrat Lobbying groups from a wide cross-section of American companies would prefer Democrat Hillary Clinton in the White House over businessman Donald Trump by a ratio of two to one, in one of the clearest signs the controversial Republican is straining ties between the party and its traditional base. Sign up for our daily US politics email here. (FT)

World’s most expensive diamond The 14.62-carat “Oppenheimer Blue” was sold for $58m in Geneva, crushing the previous record for the most expensive diamond ever auctioned. (NYT)

It’s a big day for

Suzuki Shares in Japan’s fourth-biggest carmarker bounced back a day after the Japanese automaker said its fuel testing methods have not complied with domestic standards for more than five years. (FT, NAR)

Nato Foreign ministers gather in Brussels to discuss migrants, trafficking in the Mediterranean, Russia, Nato-EU co-operation and the organisation’s policy toward eastern countries. The meeting comes as a former deputy commander of the alliance warns that it is on course for a war with Moscow. (FT, Guardian)

Food for thought

What North Korea really thinks Relations between Pyongyang and Beijing are often described as being “as close as lips and teeth”. Yet, on the ground there is a deep animosity among North Koreans towards their former comrades across the border. The FT’s Asia editor Jamil Anderlini looks at why relations have deteriorated. (FT)

Can Saudi Aramco fix a one-trick economy? The kingdom is planning a mega IPO and says it can kick its oil “addiction”. But many questions abound over what this means for potential investors. (FT)

Is the ‘stiff upper lip’ still a thing? The British are often portrayed as reserved and unemotional. But is there actually any evidence to support the stereotype? Researchers say the attitude was actually confined to a short period of history from 1870 to 1945 when it suited the public school-educated, imperial power. (BBC)

Send in the clowns (and horses) The passengers at San Diego International Airport are irate. Lengthy security queues have resulted in passengers missing flights and travellers have taken to social media to express their angst. How do the authorities respond? They send in clowns to lighten to mood. (Telegraph)

The lightning capital of the world Residents of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela can expect lightning 300 days a year, with up 200 flashes a minute. It’s so bright, you can read a newspaper in the middle of the night. (NYT)

Bring on the robots Automation should help everyone be better off, as long as there is a fair distribution of the spoils, writes the FT’s Chris Giles. “Anything closer to the robotised high-productivity-growth world is preferable to working until you drop.” (FT)

Video of the day

Trump on women Gillian Tett and Cardiff Garcia discuss Donald Trump’s attitudes to women and the challenge he faces winning over female voters. (FT)