Leadership

• Asia-Pacific economies are transitioning from digital adoption to global technological leadership by developing domestic large language models and dominating hardware production. • The region now accounts for approximately 72 percent of global semiconductor production and 95 percent of the advanced chips used in AI accelerators. • Major economies are securing digital sovereignty through localized AI programs, such as India’s Sarvam AI, Japan’s NTT Sarashina, and Singapore’s SEA-Lion.

• Nigel Farage addressed the Reform party conference to maintain leadership after officials resigned following reports to police regarding a plot to evade donations laws. • During his speech, Farage accused the Labour party of planning tax increases and called for Andy Burnham to hold a general election. • Farage suggested the party may consider adopting a U.S.-style system of political appointments for judges.

Splits emerge within party after resignation of officials reported to police for apparent plot to evade donations lawNigel Farage sought to shore up his damaged leadership on Friday as he attempted to distance himself from two of his most senior officials reported to the police for apparently plotting to evade the law on foreign donations.As the scandal engulfed Reform UK’s party conference in Birmingham, Farage was forced to suspend his closest aide, Dan Jukes, and head of policy, James Orr, after an undercover investigation by reporters from a group called Verbatim. Continue reading...

The sudden departure of Daniel Driscoll comes after Pentagon chief removed senior officers and blocked promotions, prompting warnings of a leadership crisisA senior Senate Democrat accused Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth of having “hollowed out” the Army’s senior ranks after its top civilian leader resigned after months of internal clashes with Hegseth.No official reason was given for army secretary Daniel Driscoll’s departure after 18 months on the job, while thousands of US soldiers are deployed in the Middle East. In a statement on Monday night, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Driscoll had been “highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda”, citing his work on “readiness and lethality” and his role in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Continue reading...

• Oracle is planning another round of job cuts, with managers currently submitting lists of employees whose roles may be eliminated. • The company aims to reduce its payroll by September 1, coinciding with the start of Oracle's fiscal second quarter. • This move follows a pattern of sudden notifications, with employees fearing a repeat of the "6 am email" used in previous layoffs.

• Circuit Judge J. Kennedy Peabody warned against using government authority to punish dissent, criticism, or perceived political disloyalty during the opening of the 15th Judicial Circuit in River Gee County. • The judge argued that public institutions "bleed" and suffer significantly when administrative decisions are driven by personal interests, resentment, or revenge rather than the law. • This warning highlights the critical need for intolerance and retaliatory leadership to be removed from the exercise of public power to maintain institutional integrity.

• The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced over $1.5 billion in funding for foundational research to bolster American technological leadership. • The investment is being distributed through 12 new notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) targeting both basic and use-inspired scientific inquiry. • According to acting Director Brian Stone, this initiative aims to empower researchers to explore discovery frontiers and accelerate transformational breakthroughs.

• Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reshuffled Iran's military leadership, announcing six new senior appointments. • The leadership shake-up occurs as diplomatic talks regarding the Strait of Hormuz appear to have stalled. • This move signals internal strategic shifts during a period of heightened regional tension and diplomatic deadlock.

• Franklin Templeton has appointed Rene Buehlmann as the new Head of Asia Pacific, with the role becoming effective on September 21, 2026. • Buehlmann will be responsible for overseeing business development, client engagement, and strategic growth across the Asia Pacific region. • A veteran with over 35 years of experience, Buehlmann previously served as the Global CEO of Aberdeen Investments and most recently advised KKR on strategic acquisitions.

• Google is implementing significant leadership changes within its AI division, sparking divergent opinions among tech and business experts regarding DeepMind's future. • A key development is the introduction of "Discovery Loop," a new venture designed to shift AI's role from a research assistant to an autonomous researcher. • The system aims to radically accelerate breakthroughs by enabling AI to independently form hypotheses, conduct experiments, and learn from results.

Burnham said his wife, Marie-France van Heel, took some persuading after he ran and lost in contests in 2010 and 2015Andy Burnham has revealed his wife’s dismayed reaction when he told her he wanted to make another attempt at becoming Labour leader.Burnham said that his wife, Marie-France van Heel, had been surprised by his decision to run, having lost contests in 2010 and 2015 to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn respectively. Continue reading...

Hartman residents asked for declaration after infighting exacerbated water crisis and all town leaders resignedA small town in south-eastern Colorado was recently declared abandoned after all of its local public leaders resigned amid a drinking water supply crisis.The office of Colorado’s secretary of state, Jena Griswold, announced the fate of Hartman on 29 July, a little more than a month after being advised in writing that the town “had lacked chlorine in its water for [more than] one month and the water was not potable and ‘smells horrible’”, according to public documents. Continue reading...

World-class venue puts renewed focus on staff wellbeing under new head chef after René Redzepi stepped down and apologised for his behaviourThe Copenhagen restaurant Noma – often ranked among the world’s best – is preparing to reopen next week under new leadership for the first time since its star chef and co-founder, René Redzepi, stepped down amid accusations of physical and psychological abuse.The new executive head chef, Pablo Soto, who has worked at the restaurant for nearly a decade, said while it remained “the same Noma” there had been some significant changes. Along with a new, evolving monthly menu to replace its previous seasonal one, he said there was now a heightened focus on enabling employees to live full lives. Continue reading...

• GlobalFoundries has signed a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce to receive a $300 million award under the CHIPS R&D program. • The funding is dedicated to accelerating U.S. leadership in silicon photonics, which provides the critical optical technologies necessary for AI and high-performance computing. • This initiative aims to strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities amidst volatile geopolitical tensions, including trade conflicts with China and instability in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Premier announces she is stepping down from the top job ahead of expected spill, says her deputy has her ‘unqualified support’ The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has announced her resignation from the top job, after a tumultuous 48 hours for Labor just four months out from the state election.Allan on Monday had vowed to challenge for the leadership after a group of MPs told her she no longer had the support of caucus and urged her to stand down, and the deputy premier, Ben Carroll, confirmed he would nominate for the Labor leadership. Continue reading...

Minister says Victorian premier ‘not going anywhere’ and describes leaking of Sunday night meeting as attempt to build momentum for spillThe Victorian Labor premier, Jacinta Allan, is expected to face a leadership challenge when state parliament resumes this week.Just four months out from a state election, factional conveners from Labor’s left and right met on Sunday night to discuss whether Allan still had the support of a majority of the caucus. It is understood the group agreed she did not. Continue reading...

From TikTok appearances to ‘sugar rush’ policies, new prime minister is taking different approach to predecessorSix weeks ago Andy Burnham was not even an MP; now the former mayor of Greater Manchester is the most important political figure in Britain. After orchestrating a bloodless coup against Keir Starmer, in which he was crowned as Labour leader unopposed, the new prime minister has started his tenure in Downing Street with some eye-catching policies and a radically different approach to communication. A week into the job, how do their leadership styles compare? Continue reading...

• At the CIO 100 Leadership Live event in New York, IT executives discussed transitioning from initial AI pilots to achieving measurable returns on investment (ROI). • Speakers emphasized that successful AI integration requires a combination of solid IT fundamentals, strong business alignment, and the linking of data to decision-making processes. • This shift is critical as it necessitates the redesign of decision rights, the development of new funding models, and stricter accountability to keep pace with the "agentic economy."

• Lee Jae-myung urged the Democratic Party of Korea to reconsider a decision to increase registration deposits for candidates in the upcoming leadership election. • The call for reconsideration follows concerns that higher financial barriers could undermine equal access to political participation. • This move is significant as it highlights a tension between party administrative rules and the principle of inclusive political competition.

• BestMediaInfo.com reported a series of high-level leadership changes across the media, marketing, and corporate sectors from the previous week. • Dentsu appointed Ajay Gupte as the new Chief Operating Officer for South Asia to collaborate with CEO Harsha Razdan on strategic priorities. • Gupte brings over ten years of specialized experience in business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate strategy from roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co., EY, and Avendus Capital.

• President Prabowo faces a critical leadership test at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Manila, where he aims to reclaim Indonesia's traditional role as a regional powerhouse. • A primary objective for the Indonesian leader is to break the ongoing diplomatic deadlock regarding the violent crisis and political instability in Myanmar. • The summit serves as a high-stakes opportunity for Prabowo to silence critics and demonstrate his ability to navigate complex geopolitical tensions within Southeast Asia.

Appearing on a podcast with the far-right UK activist who goes by the name Tommy Robinson, Hanson makes evidence-free claims about migrantsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson has used an interview with the far-right British activist Tommy Robinson to blame the end of the White Australia policy for creating what she sees as problems with migration and said her daughter, Lee Hanson, was the future of One Nation.The One Nation leader, who is visiting the UK for a series of conference appearances and a holiday with her billionaire benefactor Gina Rinehart, appeared on an episode of Robinson’s podcast on Friday, repeating unsubstantiated claims about the spread of sharia law and accusing Muslim communities, without evidence, of rorting the national disability insurance scheme. Continue reading...

The outgoing Labour leader will have final talks with his senior ministers in No 10 before taking his last PMQsGood morning. Everyone likes a leaving do and today it’s Keir Starmer’s, or at least his parliamentary one. If the colleague who is going is someone you like and admire, then the chance to see them thanked and celebrated is welcome. And if the colleague who is going is someone that you don’t like, or who has stayed too long, then that’s even better. At a good leaving do, there are also decent jokes. And, in politics, a final PMQs is one of the rare moments when even opponents tend to be polite and respectful (which is something people watching from outside the circus tend to like).Starmer is chairing his last cabinet meeting this morning, and taking his final PMQs at noon. Doubtless he has had a chance to study how his predecessors handled this challenge, and he may have read what Tony Blair said on the day he left the Commons – worth quoting again because it is a good summary for those of us who think politics is still a worthy calling.Some may belittle politics but we who are engaged in it know that it is where people stand tall. Although I know that it has many harsh contentions, it is still the arena that sets the heart beating a little faster. If it is, on occasions, the place of low skulduggery, it is more often the place for the pursuit of noble causes. I wish everyone, friend or foe, well. That is that. The end. Continue reading...

• The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has approved a contentious change to its national convention rules despite ongoing internal infighting. • The party will now implement a ranked-choice voting system to elect its new leader during the upcoming convention in August. • This rule change is significant as it alters the mechanism for leadership selection, potentially shifting the power dynamics within the party.

• U.S. and Iranian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Oman this Saturday to discuss a potential peace deal amid escalating regional tensions. • The UAE Defense Ministry reported that its air defense systems intercepted a missile and drone attack launched by Iran, while Bahrain issued emergency shelter alerts for its residents. • Israel and the U.S. are increasing pressure on Tehran following reports of explosions in multiple areas and concerns over stability in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Padival has joined a new leadership role, transitioning from Bank of America where he spent over seven years. • In his previous position, Padival led the Consumer Internet Investment Banking practice and brings nearly 20 years of experience in finance, M&A, and corporate strategy. • His professional background includes prior leadership stints at Quess Corp, Altisource, Avendus Capital, and Cyient.

• Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has formally entered the race for the Democratic Party (DP) leadership, creating a competitive four-way contest. • The election is marked by significant tension between the pro-Lee Jae-myung and pro-Jung factions as they vie for control of the party. • This race serves as a critical test of Lee Jae-myung’s influence, as the DP seeks accountability following mixed results in the June elections.

Met confirms inquiry after elections watchdog referred allegations that donations in 2024 were from foreign sourcePolice have launched an investigation into £37,500 of donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog.The Metropolitan police confirmed on Wednesday they were undertaking an inquiry after the Guardian revealed in April that they were assessing the evidence about donations to Jenrick, who has since joined Reform UK. Continue reading...