Policy

• The AI competition between the US and China has shifted from a struggle over microchips to a strategic battle for top artificial intelligence talent. • Major US tech firms, including Apple, Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft, are facing challenges as tightening US immigration policies discourage foreign experts. • This policy shift is prompting brilliant Chinese scientists to leave Silicon Valley and return to Beijing, potentially transferring critical AI knowledge and visions.

• Indian stock market indices climbed in early trade on Friday, with the BSE Sensex rising 269.93 points to 74,629.94 and the NSE Nifty increasing by 62.4 points to 23,478.95. • The upward movement comes as investors position themselves ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upcoming monetary policy decision. • This activity reflects market anticipation regarding potential interest rate changes or policy shifts that could impact economic growth and liquidity.

• European Pravda provides analysis and reporting on Ukraine's integration with the EU and NATO, focusing on international relations and Western policy. • Recent explainers examine the impact of Denmark's government changes under pro-Ukraine Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and potential EU rule changes for Ukrainian refugees. • These developments are critical as they influence the level of diplomatic support and legal protections available to Ukrainians during the ongoing conflict.

Hanson’s party is leading in the polls, but it has a long way to go before being recognised as a serious political outfitGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen sent out to do a cleanup job, it usually helps to not make the mess even worse.It took One Nation six separate attempts over nearly 24 hours to clarify the basic details of their policy on foreign ownership of housing. Between Thursday night and Friday afternoon, the story turned from bizarre to farcical, with attempts to clarify the policy just making the situation murkier as Australians watched:a Barnaby Joyce interview;a quick do-over on Sky News on Thursday;a Pauline Hanson social media update on Friday morning;a Sean Bell interview, again on Sky, on Friday;and then a 2GB spot;before a written press release from Bell on Friday afternoon Continue reading...

Sky News host Andrew Bolt says MP ‘had no idea what Pauline Hanson’s policy was’ after politician said permanent residents could have homes ‘repossessed’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBarnaby Joyce has corrected himself regarding a key One Nation housing policy after telling Sky News his party would force permanent residents to become citizens or risk having their home repossessed.The Sky News host Andrew Bolt, who interviewed Joyce on Thursday night, later told viewers the bungle demonstrated Pauline Hanson’s party was “literally making up policy as it goes along”. Continue reading...

• The Canadian Department of Canadian Heritage ordered the CRTC to review its policy requiring streaming services to increase spending on local content. • The government aims to prevent these new regulatory costs from being passed on to consumers through higher subscription fees during a period of high cost-of-living pressure. • While the official reason focuses on consumer pricing, experts warn that the requirements could further strain Canada's trade relationship with the United States.

• President Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party is poised for a major victory in South Korea's local elections, expected to win 11 of 16 municipal races. • This shift follows the political collapse of the PPP, led by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and sentenced to life in prison after attempting to impose martial law in 2024. • The victory is significant as Lee seeks to pivot South Korea's foreign policy by improving relations with China and North Korea while preserving ties with Japan.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is undergoing a significant leadership transition, replacing key top officials during a period of economic instability. • This reshuffle occurs as the bank attempts to balance fragile economic growth and persistent inflation risks against rising political tensions across Europe. • The transition is critical because central bank independence relies on the public perception that monetary policy remains insulated from political influence.

• ECB board member Piero Cipollone stated on February 18, 2026, that the euro's growth in the global currency market has been circumstantial rather than strategic. • He argued that the European Union must implement deliberate policy actions to actively increase the euro's international market share. • This shift is significant as it suggests the ECB is moving toward a more proactive approach to enhance the currency's global influence and stability.

Instead of relying on tax-enhanced speculation, investors must now look at established properties based on actual profitability – leaving space for first home buyers Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor decades, Australia’s property market has been defined by relentless price rises, reinforcing the old adage that real estate investment is “as safe as houses”.There’s now a wrinkle in that wisdom. Continue reading...

Nawaf Salam says Israel collectively punishing southern Lebanon and forcing people ‘into exile’ but defends security talks with Tel AvivLebanon’s prime minister accused Israel on Saturday of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” in his country’s south, urging a halt to the fighting as Israel carried out fresh airstrikes and issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen locations.A day after the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his forces had advanced deeper into Lebanon, his counterpart Nawaf Salam warned the country was facing a “dangerous” escalation, and called for “a swift and real ceasefire”. Continue reading...

• Dr. Katherine Szarama recently served as the acting director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) for less than three weeks. • CBER is the critical division within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration responsible for overseeing the approval process for vaccines. • This leadership transition occurs amidst a biweekly policy series conducted in partnership with CIDRAP at the University of Minnesota.

• Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said on May 29 that inflation progress “appears to have stalled,” with total PCE inflation at 3.8% in April and core PCE at 3.3%. • She said the U.S. economy has remained resilient, but noted the labor market is vulnerable to shocks and that growth has slowed since last summer. • The remarks matter because they reinforce the debate inside the Fed over how long to keep rates restrictive while inflation remains above the 2% target.

• Europe is facing a critical "AI compute gap" characterized by a lack of domestic infrastructure, chips, and energy resources. • The issue has shifted from a software challenge to an industrial policy test, as companies in smaller EU nations lack the same access to compute power as those in major hubs like Paris or Munich. • This gap is significant because AI development follows a cycle where greater scale attracts better researchers, who in turn build more powerful models.

PM says predecessor misunderstands government’s successes and ‘very different’ situation compared with 1997Keir Starmer has dismissed Tony’s Blair’s argument that his government is on the wrong track, saying he is implementing the policies needed for today, not the very different situation faced by Blair in 1997.“You won’t be surprised to know that I don’t agree with much that Tony says about what the government is doing,” Starmer said during a visit to an apprentice training centre in west London. Continue reading...

• U.S. stocks were subdued in choppy trading on May 27, with the Dow slightly higher while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were little changed as investors waited for clarity on Middle East negotiations. • The live market coverage said sector moves were mixed, with AI-linked and chip stocks continuing to outperform even as several large-cap technology names slipped. • The moves matter because Wall Street is balancing earnings-driven stock selection against macro risks, including geopolitical uncertainty and interest-rate expectations.

Former PM urges party to take a step back and ‘analyse the world’ amid speculation over Keir Starmer’s leadershipUK politics live – latest updatesTony Blair has continued his attack on the Labour government, saying it should be about “policy first, politics second”.Hours after he published a scathing essay in which he warned that the party’s “almost infinite capacity for self-delusion” meant it was likely to lose the next election, the former prime minister said it should “take a step back, analyse the world.” Continue reading...

• Ongoing peace talks between the US and Iran are creating volatility across global financial markets and influencing oil price fluctuations. • Investors are closely monitoring key economic indicators, specifically inflation rates and consumer confidence, to gauge market stability. • These geopolitical tensions are directly impacting the strategic policy decisions of central banks regarding monetary control.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the growth of India's startup ecosystem, which now includes 2.3 lakh recognized startups. • The government is accelerating growth through new policy initiatives, funding mechanisms, incubation programs, and strategic global collaborations. • These efforts leverage international platforms, including BRICS and Europe-India partnerships, to foster technological advancement and youth-led innovation.

Definition of green facilities made in 2022, before release of ChatGPT, says Action to Protect Rural ScotlandA Scottish government policy designed to encourage datacentres to build in Scotland could lead to a massive volume of carbon emissions being ignored, according to an analysis by a Scottish charity.“Green datacentres” are at the heart of Scotland’s ambitions to develop economically. Enshrined in national policy, they are part of a larger, UK-wide effort to attract big AI investment to Scotland. Continue reading...

One Nation proposal would abolish offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity in new projects in a move the Coalition says is ‘borrowed from Venezuela’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation has vowed to replace the contentious offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity stakes in new ventures under an interventionist policy designed to extract “vastly greater returns” for Australian taxpayers from the resource.The proposal for the commonwealth to co-own gas projects drew a mix of criticism and cynicism from the government, industry and the Coalition, which accused One Nation of importing ideas from Venezuela. Continue reading...

• The Department of Homeland Security appointed a new acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, marking a leadership change during the administration's ongoing immigration policy overhaul. • The appointment comes as the administration pursues significant changes to immigration enforcement and detention practices, including closure of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center. • The move reflects broader reorganization at DHS as the agency implements new detention and deportation protocols.

Christian Schmidt says the multi-ethnic nation may fall apart thanks to pressure from the US and RussiaThe UN high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina has warned about the possible destruction of the multi-ethnic state after he was forced to resign in a policy clash with the US, seemingly complicated by the commercial interests of a firm linked to Donald Trump Jr that is seeking to make investments in the region.German Christian Democrat politician Christian Schmidt is set to explain his resignation in a scheduled meeting with the UN security council in New York on Tuesday, where he will also warn about the fragility of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has made clear he believes his post should be maintained by saying he will stay on until his successor is appointed. Continue reading...

• California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking state legislators to pass ambitious climate and energy legislation with a week remaining before they return to Sacramento to begin formal sessions. • The governor's package reportedly includes provisions for accelerating renewable energy adoption, addressing power grid resilience, and meeting state climate commitments. • Newsom faces significant pressure to demonstrate climate leadership as California confronts energy challenges linked to conflict-related oil market disruptions.

• Taiwanese officials worry that even subtle rhetorical changes from President Trump regarding Taiwan policy could destabilize the decades-long cross-strait status quo, as Trump prepares for a May 14-15 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. • A White House official reaffirmed that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, based on the Taiwan Relations Act, three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiques, and Six Assurances to Taiwan, with no alterations announced. • Chinese scholars suggest Beijing will pressure Trump to shift declaratory policy—pushing for explicit opposition to Taiwan independence rather than current "not supporting" language—and seek U.S. pre-negotiation on arms sales, both major departures from established policy.

Organisers of nationwide protest say its aim is to stop the government turning young Germans into ‘cannon fodder’Tens of thousands of pupils across Germany are expected to boycott the classroom and take to the streets in a nationwide protest organisers say is to stop the government’s rearmament policy turning young people into “cannon fodder”.Despite threats from teachers’ associations and education ministries, which have said anyone who demonstrates during school hours could risk penalties and even expulsion, organisers say they expect the number of participants at Friday’s school strike to be at least as high as the estimated 50,000 who attended each of the first two. Continue reading...

• Singapore hosted a gathering of global leaders at Capella Singapore to examine the economic and policy impacts of artificial intelligence deployment worldwide. • The event focused on how governments and organizations can implement AI responsibly while fostering innovation and maintaining digital competitiveness in their respective markets. • This policy-focused dialogue reflects Singapore's strategic positioning as a regional hub for technology governance and AI ethics discussions in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 5044 into law on April 28, 2026, expanding the state health commissioner's authority to issue vaccine recommendations independent of federal guidance. • The bill includes provisions clarifying the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which had sparked significant controversy during legislative debates. • The law also prevents insurance companies from penalizing clinicians who treat patients declining vaccines, protecting physician practice autonomy.