Position

• Susie Wiles, Capo Staff di Trump, ha recuperato il proprio incarico in mezzo a segnalate lotte di potere interne alla White House e test di lealtà. • Il reintegro avviene dopo settimane di incertezza, mettendo in luce le tensioni tra i vertici dell'amministrazione. • La mossa sottolinea l'ossessione di Trump per la lealtà, stabilizzando potenzialmente le operazioni ma rischiando di alimentare ulteriori divisioni tra le fazioni in vista delle midterm.

• China Daily evidenzia la Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), il più grande accordo di libero scambio al mondo, come elemento sempre più vitale per sostenere la crescita in tutta l'Asia in un contesto di incertezze globali. • Coprendo il 30% del PIL e della popolazione mondiale, l'RCEP facilita una maggiore integrazione della catena di approvvigionamento e la riduzione delle tariffe tra i 15 paesi membri, tra cui Cina, Giappone, Corea del Sud, i paesi ASEAN e l'Australia. • L'espansione delle regole commerciali del patto sostiene la resilienza contro le guerre commerciali e i rallentamenti economici, incrementando il commercio intra-asiatico di un valore stimato tra il 10% e il 15% nei settori chiave.

• ISS e Glass Lewis sostengono la risoluzione degli azionisti a causa dei timori sul potere esercitato da Jamie Dimon, che ricopre entrambi i ruoli • Gli investitori di JP Morgan sono stati esortati a votare a favore della scissione del ruolo di amministratore delegato e di presidente della banca più grande d'America, tra i timori per il potere esercitato dal suo boss miliardario Jamie Dimon. • ISS e Glass Lewis, che forniscono consulenza ad alcuni dei più grandi gestori di fondi al mondo su come votare nelle assemblee annuali degli investitori, hanno dato il loro sostegno a una risoluzione degli azionisti che garantirebbe che due persone diverse ricoprano le cariche di presidente e amministratore delegato "il prima possibile".

• Il leader conservatore dell'opposizione Han Dong-hoon, l'8 maggio 2026, ha lanciato un feroce attacco contro il presidente progressista Lee Jae-myung e il suo Partito Democratico al potere. • Ha criticato le aggressive campagne legali del governo che utilizzano procuratori speciali contro l'ex presidente Yoon Suk-yeol e i suoi collaboratori. • I piani chiave del Partito Democratico includono lo scioglimento del servizio della procura e l'ampliamento massiccio della composizione della Corte Suprema per consolidare l'influenza giudiziaria.

• Susie Wiles, Capo di Gabinetto del Presidente Trump, ha recuperato il proprio posto di lavoro in seguito ai recenti tumulti della Casa Bianca, secondo quanto riportato da Politico l'8 maggio 2026. • Il reintegro stabilizza la leadership dell'amministrazione in mezzo a controversie relative al personale e dibattiti sulle politiche. • Il ritorno di Wiles è considerato cruciale per mantenere l'agenda di Trump, in particolare nelle strategie per le elezioni di metà mandato.

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...

Exclusive: Resistance to equity, diversion and inclusion drives affects hiring chances of people with convictions, says charityMore than a third of HR decision-makers in the UK said they have faced pushback against equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives over the past year, according to new research.The new YouGov poll, carried out for the national employment charity Working Chance, surveyed 565 HR decision-makers and found that resistance towards EDI was on the rise. Continue reading...

• Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has retained her position following internal White House restructuring amid ongoing political upheaval. • Wiles' continued tenure signals stability in the administration's senior leadership despite recent personnel shifts. • The decision reflects Trump's confidence in her management of day-to-day White House operations.

• Anthropic's valuation skyrocketed from $61B to $900B in approximately 14 months, reflecting unprecedented investor interest in the AI company's capabilities and growth trajectory. • The valuation surge is driven by strong revenue performance and investor confidence in Anthropic's AI models and research, positioning it as a formidable competitor to OpenAI in the generative AI market. • The rapid ascent demonstrates the intensifying capital competition in frontier AI development, with major investors backing multiple AI startups to hedge bets on the technology's transformative potential.

• Venezuelan security forces restricted opposition parties from entering their campaign headquarters on Monday, raising fresh concerns about democratic conduct ahead of this year's presidential elections. • The blockade prevented opposition candidates and staff from gathering electoral signatures and organizing voter outreach efforts, significantly hampering their campaign infrastructure. • International observers from the Organization of American States expressed alarm over the move, calling it a violation of political freedoms and warning it could undermine the legitimacy of upcoming elections.

• The New York Giants selected edge rusher Arvell Reese with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing a key defensive need. • Reese represents the Giants' investment in strengthening their defensive line and pass rush capabilities. • The selection highlights New York's priorities heading into the new NFL season.

Internal email proposes US should reassess support for UK claim to islands because of lack of support for Iran warUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK’s position on the Falklands is resolute and unchanging, Downing Street has insisted, after a leaked Pentagon internal email proposed the US should reassess its support for Britain’s claim to the islands because of a lack of support over Iran.Keir Starmer’s spokesperson did not push back against the likely veracity of the email but insisted that the UK’s defence and security relationship with the US remained extremely strong. Continue reading...

Rosemarie Milsom, who formed and runs Newcastle writers festival, will take over from Louise Adler after the literary festival imploded over invitation to Randa Abdel-FattahIn January, as the implosion of Adelaide writers’ week made headlines around Australia and the world, Rosemarie Milsom was watching closely.The Adelaide festival board, which oversees AWW, had overridden the literary festival’s director, Louise Adler, and disinvited the Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah over past comments she’d made about Israel and Zionism. This decision resulted not in a quieter, less-controversial festival as the board members may have hoped, but a boycott by 200-odd writers, the resignation of Adler – followed by the whole board – a potential defamation lawsuit against the South Australian premier and the collapse of AWW. Continue reading...

• Venezuela's government issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Carlos Mendoza, accusing him of inciting foreign intervention, shortly after he met with US State Department officials in neighboring Colombia. • US officials condemned the warrant as politically motivated persecution, calling for Mendoza's immediate release and warning of further diplomatic consequences if he is detained. • The incident escalates tensions between Washington and Caracas, with human rights organizations documenting increased arrests of political opponents and independent journalists under President Maduro's administration.

• Susie Wiles has been reinstated as President Trump’s Chief of Staff after a brief ouster amid internal White House tensions. • Her return stabilizes key operations as the administration navigates midterm preparations and policy pushes. • Wiles' pro-Trump influence is expected to shape staffing and strategy through 2026 elections.

• Venezuelan authorities arrested opposition coalition leader Juan Carlos López on Friday on unspecified treason charges, immediately drawing condemnation from the US State Department and international human rights organizations. • The arrest coincides with leaked documents suggesting López coordinated with US officials regarding potential sanctions strategies, which the Maduro government claims constitutes betrayal of national interests. • The US Ambassador to the UN called for López's immediate release and warned of additional sanctions against Venezuela if detention continues, escalating diplomatic friction in the region.

Exiled leader to revive push for change amid US backing of Delcy Rodríguez and delays to democratic transitionVenezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, will seek to revive her push for political change with a rally in Madrid on Saturday, having found herself sidelined by Donald Trump after the abduction of the president Nicolás Maduro.“Venezuela will be free,” the Nobel peace prize winner insisted in an interview on the eve of this weekend’s demonstration in the Puerta del Sol square, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Continue reading...

• The American College of Emergency Physicians reports a record 3,058 positions filled in emergency medicine residencies, signaling rebound from pandemic-era lows. • More applicants matched into emergency medicine than ever before, as of March 18, 2026. • This surge addresses physician shortages in high-demand ERs across US hospitals.

• Venezuela's opposition coalition announced victory in April 10 municipal elections, claiming to have won majorities in 200+ municipalities, though the National Electoral Council has delayed official results release. • International election observers from the Carter Center and UN raised concerns about transparency and irregularities in voting procedures, with some polling stations reporting technical malfunctions. • The disputed results threaten to deepen political crisis in the oil-rich nation already facing severe economic collapse and humanitarian crisis, with potential for renewed street protests and international diplomatic intervention.

Win for Tisza party ends rightwing populist’s 16-year grip on power and will likely reshape country’s relationship with EUHungary election liveHungary’s opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, has won the general election, ending leader Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power, in a result that is likely to rattle the White House and reshape the country’s relationship with the EU.Less than three hours after polls closed on Sunday, Orbán conceded defeat after what he described as a “painful” election result. Continue reading...

• Taiwan's opposition leader has met with China's President Xi Jinping in what observers describe as a significant diplomatic engagement focused on reducing cross-strait tensions. • Both the Taiwanese delegation and Chinese leadership have publicly called for peaceful resolution of their longstanding disputes, signaling potential openness to dialogue amid broader global geopolitical instability. • The meeting occurs within the context of increased international focus on regional stability, with major powers seeking to prevent additional conflicts from erupting during the ongoing US-Iran crisis.

Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with critics accusing her of being too close to ChinaIn a rare meeting with Taiwan’s opposition leader, China’s president, Xi Jinping, declared that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.The meeting in Beijing between Xi and Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), is the first such contact in a decade. The visit has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with Cheng’s critics accusing her of being too close to China, a country that many in Taiwan see as a threat. Continue reading...

• Venezuelan authorities arrested prominent opposition figure Carlos Moreno on April 5 on charges widely viewed as politically motivated; his detention marks the fourth major opposition arrest this year. • Moreno led a coalition pushing for democratic reforms and transparency; human rights groups documented allegations of torture during detention and denied him legal representation for 36 hours. • The US condemned the arrest, stating it violates international norms and democratic principles; the State Department threatened additional sanctions targeting regime officials if arrests continue.

• California has enacted new artificial intelligence regulations in direct defiance of calls from the Trump administration to limit AI oversight. • The state-level regulations represent a significant divergence from federal policy direction and reinforce California's role as a technology policy leader. • The move reflects ongoing tensions between state governments and federal authorities over AI governance and corporate accountability.