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• Il divieto della Cina alle esportazioni di prodotti petroliferi, a seguito degli attacchi statunitensi e israeliani all'Iran e della chiusura dello Stretto di Hormuz, ha ridotto le forniture di carburante per i vicini asiatici, aumentando il potere contrattuale di Pechino a partire dal 9 maggio 2026. • I paesi asiatici a corto di carburante si rivolgono alla Cina per ottenere forniture di cherosene per aerei, benzina e diesel, mentre Pechino promuove le proprie tecnologie di energia rinnovabile. • L'attuale guerra in Iran ha permesso alla Cina di negoziare da una posizione di forza, approfondendo la propria influenza nella regione in un contesto di prolungate carenze energetiche.

• Google is investing $1.5 billion in a data hub in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), signaling India's emergence as a global AI powerhouse. • The project focuses on advanced AI infrastructure to support data center expansion and cloud services. • This investment underscores India's strategic importance in Google's global AI strategy amid rising demand.

• Platforms like Netflix are championing theatrical outcasts such as Nukkad Naatak, Haq, Kennedy, and Dhadak 2, transforming them into global hits. • Monika Shergill of Netflix highlights how streaming provides new life to small-budget indie films previously overlooked in theaters. • These regional and indie stories gain international audiences, bridging gaps for underreported Indian cinema.

Candidates will get funding for midterm races in battleground states, amid Republican push to revise voting mapsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocratic officials added eight new candidates to their slate of top contenders vying to reclaim a Democratic House majority during midterm elections this fall.The candidates will receive a boost in fundraising and campaign support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as part of a “Red to Blue” program that seeks to help competitive candidates win elections in battleground states. Continue reading...

• Mainland Chinese companies surged to second-largest investors in Singapore's fixed assets in 2025, capturing 21% of S$14.16 billion (US$11.07 billion) total, up from 2.5% the prior year amid the city-state's safe-haven appeal. • Key deals included CNQC Realty (Prime), Forsea Residence, and Jianan Realty Investments buying a 145,500 sq ft Dover Drive site for S$951 million in Q1 2026, projected to yield 625 residential units. • Europe held top spot at 25% while US share dropped to 17.3% from 55.5%; other transactions featured SingHaiyi Group and Haiyi Holdings acquiring Bayshore Road parcel for S$658.9 million (515 units) and Qingjian Realty group's S$315 million Media Circle buy (345 flats).

• The Department of Justice announced last week it loosened legal restrictions on medical marijuana, aiming to expand research and treatment options across the US. • This policy shift is expected to facilitate more clinical studies and access for patients in states with medical programs. • The change addresses longstanding barriers to federally approved marijuana research, potentially accelerating therapeutic developments.

Vote comes on same day the US supreme court rolls back a key provision of the Voting Rights ActThe Florida legislature approved a new congressional map intended to maximize Republicans’ advantage in the state as part of the national redistricting battle that Donald Trump launched before this year’s midterms.The vote came just two days after the governor, Ron DeSantis, unveiled his proposal and the same day the US supreme court rolled back a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The decision could make it harder for Democrats to challenge Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts in ways that limit the influence of voters of color. Continue reading...

Results suggest radiotracer maraciclatide can ‘light up’ condition on scan and reduce need for investigative surgeryA non-invasive scan for endometriosis has shown promising results in a trial, boosting hopes for far quicker diagnosis.The trial, which included 19 women with the condition, suggests that an experimental radiotracer, called maraciclatide, can “light up” endometriosis on a scan. The current need for a surgical investigation is seen as a major obstacle to timely diagnosis, with women in England typically waiting nearly a decade. Continue reading...