Policy

• Gouverneur van Californië Gavin Newsom vraagt staatswetgevers om ambitieuze klimaat- en energiewetgeving aan te nemen, met nog één week voordat zij terugkeren naar Sacramento voor de formele sessies. • Het pakket van de gouverneur bevat naar verluidt bepalingen voor het versnellen van de adoptie van hernieuwbare energie, het aanpakken van de veerkracht van het elektriciteitsnet en het nakomen van de klimaatverplichtingen van de staat. • Newsom staat onder aanzienlijke druk om klimaatleiderschap te tonen nu Californië te maken krijgt met energie-uitdagingen die verband houden met verstoringen op de oliemarkt door conflicten.

• Taiwanese functionarissen vrezen dat zelfs subtiele retorische wijzigingen van president Trump met betrekking tot het Taiwan-beleid de decennialang bestaande status quo in de Straat van Taiwan kunnen destabiliseren, nu Trump zich voorbereidt op een top met de Chinese president Xi Jinping op 14 en 15 mei in Peking. • Een functionaris van het Witte Huis bevestigde dat het Amerikaanse beleid ten opzichte van Taiwan ongewijzigd blijft, gebaseerd op de Taiwan Relations Act, drie gezamenlijke communiqué's tussen de VS en de Volksrepubliek China, en de Six Assurances aan Taiwan, waarbij geen wijzigingen zijn aangekondigd. • Chinese wetenschappers suggereren dat Peking druk zal uitoefenen op Trump om het verklarende beleid te verschuiven — waarbij wordt gestreefd naar expliciete oppositie tegen de onafhankelijkheid van Taiwan in plaats van de huidige formulering van "geen steun" — en zullen Amerikaanse voorafgaande onderhandelingen over wapenverkopen nastreven, beide grote afwijkingen van het vastgestelde beleid.

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.

Club chief says ‘anodyne acknowledgements’ can be ‘overworked’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.The RSL has announced it will review its guidance on welcome to country addresses at Anzac Day services after Indigenous leaders were booed at three dawn services on Saturday. Continue reading...

The gambling crisis ‘demands a public health response’ and should be regulated like alcohol or tobacco, expert says Gambling addiction is spiraling “out of control” in the US, a leading campaigner for stricter guardrails has warned, as experts from around the world are set to gather in Boston to push for more regulation of the industry.The rapid expansion of online gambling, prediction markets and sports betting platforms, “demands a public health response”, according to Harry Levant, director of gambling policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), urging policymakers to intervene. Continue reading...

• Governments of Spain, Brazil, and Mexico issued a joint statement on Saturday expressing deep concern over the grave humanitarian crisis in Cuba and calling for immediate measures to alleviate suffering faced by the Cuban people. • The statement follows US President Trump's recent indication of shifting focus from the Iran war to Cuba, with a senior US delegation sent last week to Havana to negotiate a deal addressing the island's crisis. • This diplomatic push highlights growing international attention to Cuba's deteriorating conditions, potentially signaling a US pivot that could reshape regional geopolitics and aid flows.

The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuseSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereIs this how a national scheme to cut climate pollution is supposed to work?Australian government data released this week shows emissions from Australian coalmines increased last financial year. About 80% of the coalmines pumped more into the atmosphere than their government-imposed limit.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...

Petition started by workers gained more than 7,300 signatures after CEO said flags would be removedA San Francisco-based coffee chain that sparked backlash with a policy to remove Pride flags from their stores has reversed its decision over a week later.“I made a mistake and I am sincerely sorry,” said Mahesh Sadarangani, the chief executive of Philz Coffee, in a statement on Friday. “The Pride flag is a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don’t always find that in the world, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone who walks into a Philz.” Continue reading...

Burke says Taylor chasing votes lost to One Nation while cricket great urges opposition to admit policy would discriminate against MuslimsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor’s plans to favour immigration from liberal democracies would fundamentally change the character of the nation, Labor has warned, challenging the Coalition to explain where existing deportation powers are insufficient.Home affairs minister Tony Burke lashed Taylor’s new hardline policy, which was unveiled on Tuesday, accusing the Coalition of chasing voters who are moving to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Continue reading...

Premier says policy will give road users a ‘real alternative’ that’s cheaper than petrolElectric truck development and building more stations to charge them will be core pillars of a state’s revamped electric vehicle strategy designed to ease the pressure of rising fuel costs.The NSW government unveiled its 2026 EV strategy on Tuesday in an effort to give confidence to motorists hesitant about switching from their increasingly pricey petrol cars. Continue reading...

Orbán is out in Hungary and talks have failed to end the war in Iran – ill-fated roadtrip has been setback for Maga aimsShortly before JD Vance’s ill-fated week crisscrossing the world, Donald Trump asked him during a private Easter brunch about how the Iran negotiations were shaping up. “If it doesn’t happen, I’m blaming JD Vance,” Trump said to laughs in the room. “If it does happen, I’m taking full credit.”The joke at Vance’s expense contained an unfortunate nugget of truth: this is not an administration that rewards failure. Continue reading...

• Medi-Cal immigrant enrollment is declining, with researchers attributing the drop directly to Trump administration policies. • The reduction affects healthcare access for immigrant populations in California, exacerbating public health challenges. • This trend highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration policies and state-level health programs serving vulnerable groups.

• India's Reserve Bank of India began its 3-day monetary policy meeting on April 7th, with the decision scheduled for announcement on April 8th, affecting regional market sentiment. • A CNBC TV18 poll indicates market consensus expects no change to repo rates in the upcoming policy decision, suggesting the RBI will maintain its current monetary stance. • The policy meeting comes amid mixed signals from Indian corporate earnings, with HDFC Bank reporting business growth above expectations while Kotak Mahindra Bank fell short.

Democrat Tammy Duckworth writes letter to TSA calling on agency to reinstate the shoes-off airport security policyNine months after US airports allowed passengers to pass through scanners without taking off their shoes, rescinding the stringent policy after almost two decades, a top senator claimed the “reckless” move could put passengers in danger.The policy amounts to a “potentially catastrophic security deficiency”, according to Tammy Duckworth, Democrat for Illinois, and ranking member of the Senate commerce, science and transportation (CST) aviation subcommittee. Continue reading...

Sacking of Simon Dudley is latest distraction at a time when party is keen to show it is serious contender for governmentIt was a week that started with a candid admission from Nigel Farage when asked if his party’s vetting process was now finally up to scratch. “I accept that at the last general election, basically there was no vetting really,” the Reform UK leader said after the latest of what a senior colleague had described as a “series of abhorrent incidents”.The latest had involved a Welsh Senedd candidate, Corey Edwards, who was forced to step down after a picture of him appearing to do a Nazi salute surfaced online. Continue reading...

• The White House issued 'A National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,' outlining legislative recommendations to advance U.S. AI priorities. • This follows the July 2025 'America’s AI Action Plan' with over 90 policy actions across innovation, infrastructure, and international security, seeking business input on slowing regulations. • The framework may limit funding to states with AI-restrictive rules, positioning the U.S. as the global AI leader.

• The White House issued its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence on March 20, 2026, guiding U.S. AI development. • CSIS experts Navin Girishankar and Aalok Mehta discussed the framework's implications in a rapid round-up. • The policy shapes U.S. AI leadership, influencing industry investments and regulations.

• Tech giants including Meta and Google spent over $39 million in 2025 to influence California politics on AI and crypto, per CalMatters analysis released March 27, 2026. • Meta alone invested $4.6 million lobbying against AI regulations, its highest ever since 2010. • This surge precedes high-stakes 2026 elections, including California's open governor race, signaling intensified Big Tech political engagement.

• Costa Rica signed a pact on March 27, 2026, to accept 25 migrants deported from the US each week, as part of President Trump's third-country deportation initiative overseen by special envoy Christine Noim. • The agreement advances the Shield of the Americas policy amid broader US immigration enforcement tied to geopolitical pressures. • This development supports US efforts to manage migration flows during escalating Middle East conflicts.

• Health plans' reliance on downcoding programs to cut physician reimbursements prompts state-level reforms highlighted in AMA's March 27, 2026 State Advocacy Update. • These practices harm doctors' earnings and patient care quality, leading policymakers to intervene for fairer payment systems. • The update covers top advocacy stories from March 2026, emphasizing protections for physicians amid ongoing reimbursement battles.

• On March 20, 2026, the White House issued a four-page National Policy Framework on Artificial Intelligence, recommending Congress preempt state laws interfering with a minimally burdensome federal standard while protecting children and consumers. • The framework prioritizes seven areas, including stronger parental controls for kids, letting courts decide AI training on copyrighted works, and requiring companies to cover data center energy costs without raising residential bills. • It references the March 2026 Ratepayer Protection Pledge by tech firms and calls for streamlined permitting and resources for small businesses; Democrats responded with the GUARDRAILS Act to block a related Trump executive order.

• On March 20, 2026, the White House issued the National Policy Framework for AI, urging Congress to preempt state laws and promote innovation. • Framework emphasizes five principles: child safety, communities, creators, censorship prevention, and U.S. competitiveness, building on December 2025 executive order. • Recommendations include protections against AI scams, workforce training via land-grant institutions, and free speech safeguards for AI outputs.

• NASA released initiatives on March 24, 2026, to advance America's National Space Policy, including an RFI for payloads supporting 2027-2028 lunar flights and the Rosalind Franklin Rover launch to Mars in 2028 with a mass spectrometer for organic matter analysis. • A new Earth science mission launching next year will measure convective storm dynamics to predict extreme weather up to six hours in advance; near-term lunar payloads include VIPER rover and LuSEE-Night, with up to 30 robotic landings from 2027. • These efforts ensure U.S. presence in low Earth orbit, expedite lunar science via commercial partnerships, and release new Saturn images from James Webb and Hubble telescopes, underpinning future Moon and Mars exploration.

• U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled on Friday to block the Pentagon's policy mandating media outlets pledge not to gather information without defense officials' formal authorization, siding with The New York Times. • Friedman wrote, 'Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation’s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech.' • The decision upholds First Amendment principles amid tensions over government transparency during the shutdown and foreign policy escalations.

• The Trump administration published a national AI policy framework on March 20, 2026, calling for unified federal principles over state-level regulations. • The plan seeks to remove innovation barriers, assign oversight to existing agencies, and streamline AI infrastructure permitting. • Proposal faces Democratic criticism for potentially weakening consumer protections and state oversight.

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced rescission of its Statement of Policy on Qualifications for Failed Bank Acquisitions, effective March 23, 2026. • The move simplifies regulatory approach to bank resolutions amid ongoing financial policy adjustments under the Trump administration.