Position

• The European Innovation Council (EIC) has released its Impact Report 2026, detailing the region's progress in the deep tech sector. • The report highlights Europe's increasing capacity to scale frontier technologies and influence their development on a global scale. • This development is significant as it positions Europe as a competitive global hub for high-tech innovation and industrial scaling.

Violence flares before protests on Thursday over president’s decision to remain in office after his term expiredGovernment troops and militias allied with the opposition have exchanged fire in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, damaging property and forcing some civilians to flee.The violence flared up ahead of planned protests on Thursday over president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to remain in office after his term expired in May. In March, parliament backed constitutional changes that could allow Mohamud to extend his term by a year and push back an election. Continue reading...

• Pritam Singh, leader of Singapore's Workers' Party (WP), is facing internal party friction and a potential cadre challenge. • A special conference has been scheduled to test Singh's leadership and address the growing cracks within the party's ranks. • While analysts believe Singh is likely to survive the challenge, observers warn that prolonged infighting could jeopardize the WP's recent electoral gains.

• Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi called for renewed unity among Global South nations during a visit to Seoul, South Korea. • Mudavadi criticized the current state of international relations, arguing that diplomacy is being treated as a transaction and national sovereignty as a negotiable property. • He highlighted persistent global threats, including climate change, humanitarian crises, and unequal development, drawing parallels to challenges faced during Ban Ki-moon's UN tenure.

• Candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party are making final campaign pushes in the Yongin and Seongnam mayoral races ahead of the June 3 local elections. • In Yongin, Democratic candidate Hyun Keun-taek and People Power Party candidate Lee Sang-il are locked in a fierce battle, with Hyun urging voters to choose a "future-oriented" leader during a Monday press conference. • The contests are centered on critical regional development issues, specifically the growth of the semiconductor industry and urban redevelopment projects.

• The People Power Party has filed an election law complaint against President Lee Jae-myung following a dispute over marked ballots. • The Democratic Party has dismissed the legal action, characterizing the complaint as "political theater" intended to disrupt the political landscape. • This legal clash intensifies tensions ahead of South Korea's local elections, which serve as a critical early measure of public support for Lee's administration.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is introducing new indicators to assess the global appeal of the euro by analyzing currency exposures within the euro area's international investment position. • Data from 2024 reveals that the euro area accounted for approximately one-fifth of global cross-border assets and liabilities, totaling around €175 trillion. • This analysis is critical for understanding the single currency's role in international finance and its ability to maintain price stability and purchasing power.

• Finance ministers from the six largest European economies (E6) are seeking a unified stance on a European Commission proposal regarding capital market supervision. • German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil announced the initiative on Thursday, May 28, in Berlin. • This coordination is critical for the E6 to exert collective influence over the regulatory framework governing European financial markets.

• The BJP has criticized the INDIA bloc, calling for "self-introspection" after the Supreme Court upheld the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. • BJP spokesperson Trivedi stated that the apex court clarified the SIR is essential for ensuring free and fair elections and falls within the Election Commission's constitutional jurisdiction. • The ruling is a significant blow to the opposition's challenges against the electoral roll revision process in the state.

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday to uphold the Election Commission's authority to carry out the S.I.R. exercise. • This judicial decision serves as a significant legal setback for opposition parties who had challenged the commission's power. • The ruling is critical as it reinforces the Election Commission's regulatory control over electoral processes and administrative exercises.

Water cannon also used at rally addressed by Özgür Özel who has been dismissed from office despite being electedRiot police in Turkey have fired teargas and water cannon to break up a rally called by ousted opposition leader Özgür Özel, days after a court dismissed him from office.The protest in Izmir on Tuesday came two days after riot police battered their way into the main opposition CHP’s headquarters in the capital, Ankara, firing teargas and beating party members before throwing them out, Özel told AFP on Sunday. Continue reading...

Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the late shah, are clashing with those who oppose a return of monarchyWearing a bucket hat, a blue Adidas hoodie and khaki shorts, Tony Mohraz, also known as 021kid, chest-bumps a friend in front of a memorial wall in Golders Green, in north London.Photographs can be seen behind him of those who were killed protesting against the Iranian regime. As a large lion and sun flag used in Iran before the Islamic revolution is waved overhead, Mohraz starts to rap. Continue reading...

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has released balance of payments and international investment position statistics for the euro area and its member nations. • The data highlights consistency in financial reporting, with 13 countries showing discrepancies below 1% of GDP and 14 countries maintaining discrepancies below 2% of GDP on the financial account side. • These statistics are critical for monitoring the economic stability and purchasing power of the single currency across the European Union.

Dr Sharmila Chandran suspended until 20 September as Royal Australasian College of Physicians agrees to work with regulator to meet its obligationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe charities regulator has suspended the president-elect of one of Australia’s oldest medical colleges for allegedly contravening a direction from the NSW work health and safety watchdog. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) on Monday issued a notice suspending Dr Sharmila Chandran as a responsible person of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, which is a registered charity, until 20 September. SafeWork NSW advised that Chandran’s alleged failure to comply with a directive not to contact RACP staff was exposing them to “immediate and serious risks” to their psychological health and safety, the ACNC said in a public statement.The intervention follows months of conflict within the RACP’s board, which culminated in an extraordinary general meeting last month to which police were called. Continue reading...

• Nigeria's major opposition parties are facing internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections, renewing calls for the adoption of independent candidacy. • The push is framed as a potential way to broaden political participation and reduce the influence of party gatekeepers over nominations. • Advocates say allowing candidates to run without party backing could open the system to more competition, while critics warn it may weaken party organization.

Deputy PM says the public will not forgive weeks of internal debate on the EU and Labour leadership, warning it will play into Reform’s handsGood morning. Harold Wilson was right; a week is a long time etc etc. Seven days ago, the biggest threat to Keir Starmer was a half-baked challenge from Catherine West. A week on, with Andy Burnham on a viable path back to Westminster within the next few weeks, it now seems more likely than not that Burnham will be prime minister by the autumn, perhaps earlier, and that Keir Starmer will be out.We are likely to hear from Starmer himself this morning. In the meantime, David Lammy, the deputy PM, has been doing a broadcast round. As Peter Walker reports, Lammy has insisted that Starmer is not about to set out a timetable for his departure. Continue reading...

• Nepal’s opposition parties moved in Kathmandu to block all eight ordinances introduced by the government, escalating political and legal pressure on the ruling side. • The article says the fight centers on measures pushed by the government and now facing an organized effort in the National Assembly to strike them down. • The dispute matters because ordinances are a fast-track tool, and rejecting them would weaken the government’s ability to govern by decree and could deepen parliamentary gridlock.

• House Republicans are pressing forward with modifications to a Senate-passed housing package on May 12, even after President Trump urged passage of the original version without changes. • The effort coincides with administration pushes for $1 billion in security funding within a larger party-line spending package focused on immigration enforcement, potentially supporting Trump's ballroom project. • Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to secure backing, amid Trump's June 1 deadline for lawmakers to clear the legislation.

• Susie Wiles, Trump’s Chief of Staff, secured her job back amid reported internal White House power struggles and loyalty tests. • The reinstatement follows weeks of uncertainty, highlighting tensions within the administration's top ranks. • Move underscores Trump’s fixation on loyalty, potentially stabilizing operations but risking further factional divides ahead of midterms.

• China Daily highlights the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade agreement, as increasingly vital for anchoring growth across Asia amid global uncertainties. • Covering 30% of global GDP and population, RCEP facilitates deeper supply chain integration and tariff reductions among 15 member nations including China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN countries, and Australia. • The pact's expansion of trade rules supports resilience against trade wars and economic slowdowns, boosting intra-Asian commerce by an estimated 10-15% in key sectors.

SS and Glass Lewis back shareholder resolution amid fears over power wielded by Jamie Dimon, who holds both rolesInvestors in JP Morgan have been urged to vote in favour of splitting the role of chief executive and chair at America’s largest bank, amid concerns over the power wielded by its billionaire boss Jamie Dimon.ISS and Glass Lewis, which issue advice to some of the world’s biggest fund managers on how to vote at annual investor meetings, have thrown their weight behind a shareholder resolution that would ensure two separate people hold the office of chair and chief executive “as soon as possible”. Investors are due to vote on the resolution at the bank’s annual general meeting on 19 May. Continue reading...

• Conservative opposition leader Han Dong-hoon on May 8, 2026, launched a fierce attack against progressive President Lee Jae-myung and his ruling Democratic Party. • He criticized the government's aggressive legal campaigns using special counsels against former President Yoon Suk-yeol and associates. • Key Democratic Party plans include dissolving the prosecution service and expanding the Supreme Court bench massively to consolidate judicial influence.

• Susie Wiles, President Trump's Chief of Staff, secured her job back following recent White House turmoil, per Politico reports on May 8, 2026. • The reinstatement stabilizes the administration's leadership amid staffing controversies and policy debates. • Wiles' return is viewed as crucial for maintaining Trump's agenda, particularly in midterm election strategies.

British Medical Association says review into gender identity services was ‘robust’ after previously rejecting findingsThe trade union representing doctors across the UK has dropped its opposition to the findings of the Cass review of gender identity services across the NHS.The British Medical Association (BMA) had previously rejected the findings of the landmark review of transgender healthcare, with the medical body refusing to endorse the report’s findings. Continue reading...

• Consul General Pratik Mathur stated in Caixin Global that India is emerging as a global AI system-builder, showcased at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. • IndiaAI initiative forms a full-stack ecosystem including compute, data, models, skills, startups, and governance, beyond typical R&D grants. • A nationally accessible GPU backbone democratizes AI development, preventing monopolization by large firms.

• The Bharatiya Janata Party expanded its electoral dominance across India's political map, strengthening its presence in large parts of the country and leaving only a handful of states under opposition rule following the 2026 assembly election results. • The BJP's continued electoral momentum, coupled with strong performances in states like Assam under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, reinforces the party's structural dominance ahead of upcoming state elections. • Growing cracks emerged within the opposition INDIA bloc following the elections, with significant disagreements over issues like women's reservation-linked legislation undermining coalition unity and strategy.

The Olympic Games minister, Tim Mander, and the child safety minister, Amanda Camm say they were not in a relationship when they were sworn inFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland’s opposition has accused the LNP government of being in an “integrity crisis” over an allegedly undisclosed affair between two ministers and has urged the government to show how the pair are avoiding conflicts of interest.But one prominent political commentator has warned Labor’s attack strategy may backfire – saying the issue “would not even make the list of things to be tested in the pub”. Continue reading...

War has combined with battered economy to leave Tehran wondering how hardline it can afford to beIran may not be choking like a stuffed pig as Donald Trump predicted, but its economy is in serious difficulty as a combination of a massive war-damages bill, inflation, currency devaluation, unemployment and a contraction in oil revenues combine to leave the political elite worrying how hardline they can afford to be with their US negotiators. One estimate circulating in Iran’s media suggests the damage to the economy from the US-Israeli attacks is nine times the value of the Iranian budget last year.The UN Development Programme has estimated that 4.1 million more Iranians could fall into poverty. Continue reading...