Political

• Iraakse wetgevers hebben donderdag een nieuwe regering goedgekeurd onder leiding van zakenman Ali al-Zaidi, waarmee een einde komt aan maandenlange impasse in Bagdad. • Het mediakantoor van de premier verklaarde dat het parlement vertrouwen heeft gegeven aan het kabinet-Zaidi, terwijl het staatnieuwsagentschap INA meldde dat een absolute meerderheid 14 ministeriële nominaties steunde. • Zaidi, die met 40 jaar wordt beschreven als de jongste premier van Irak, werd op 27 april gekozen na toenemende druk om een stabiel bestuur te herstellen.

• Een hoogprofielgevecht staat gepland voor 4 juli, aangekondigd door organisator White in een interview op dinsdag, met deelname van prominente politieke persoonlijkheden. • Het evenement trekt de aandacht door sport en politiek te mengen tijdens de vieringen van Independence Day. • Het zou de fondsenwerving voor gerelateerde campagnes kunnen stimuleren terwijl het een nationaal publiek entertaint.

Exclusief: Poging om niet-gebonden partij te registreren met identieke naam als grassroots-groep volgt op plan van Avi Yemini om 'Free Palestine party' te gebruiken om stemmen naar One Nation te sluizen Krijg onze breaking news e-mail, gratis app of dagelijkse nieuwspodcast Muslim Votes Matter (MVM) heeft een klacht ingediend bij de Victorian Electoral Commission over een anonieme poging om een politieke partij onder dezelfde naam te registreren voorafgaand aan de staatsverkiezingen, waarbij de groep beschuldigt de kiezers doelbewust te misleiden. MVM werd vóór de federale verkiezingen van 2025 opgericht als een grassroots-belangenbehartigings- en lobbybeweging, als reactie op zorgen over het gebrek aan politieke vertegenwoordiging voor moslims en minderheidsgroepen in Australië. Lees verder...

• Benjamin Netanyahu, de langstzittende premier van Israël, heeft de rechtse Likud-partij naar een politieke dominantie geleid, die het landschap voor Arabische burgers heeft vormgegeven. • Palestijnen in Israël worden geconfronteerd met toenemende marginalisering onder het leiderschap van Netanyahu terwijl de Knesset-verkiezingen naderen. • De dominantie van Likud roept zorgen op over de impact van het beleid op de vertegenwoordiging en rechten van minderheden.

• De permanente vertegenwoordiger van China bij de VN, Fu Cong, benadrukte hoe het conflict in Sudan en de instabiliteit in Zuid-Sudan het politieke proces in het gebied Abyei belemmeren. • De situatie ter plaatse blijft somber op zowel veiligheids- als humanitair vlak in beide landen, wat de vertragingen in de onderhandelingen verergert. • Deze stagnatie bedreigt de stabiliteit in de regio op de lange termijn, wat invloed heeft op de Amerikaanse belangen bij het bestrijden van instabiliteit en de humanitaire hulpverlening in Afrika.

• De sappige roddelwebsite jaagt op politici en volgt vakantierende leden van het Congres

De echtgenote van de premier, die hem begeleidde naar de stembussen, volgt in de voetsporen van een lange reeks vrouwen die de blazer inzetten wanneer de inzet hoog is.

• Advocaten van het netwerk hebben in een juridische motion krachtig geprotesteerd tegen het onderzoek van de FCC naar de talkshow The View • Advocaten die een ABC-station vertegenwoordigen, hebben de Federal Communications Commission (FCC) beschuldigd van het straffen van het netwerk voor politieke doeleinden in een fel wordede aanval op het onderzoek van de door Trump gecontroleerde commissie naar de populaire talkshow The View. • In een juridische motion die donderdag werd ingediend, verzette KTRK-TV, een in Houston gevestigd lokaal televisiestation in eigendom van ABC, zich krachtig tegen het FCC-onderzoek en beschuldigde het ogenschijnlijk onafhankelijke agentschap van acties die "dreigen decennia aan vastgestelde wetgeving en praktijken omver te werpen en kritische, beschermde spraak te ontmoedigen, zowel met betrekking tot The View als in bredere zin". Lees verder...

• Federale functionarissen onderzoeken ten minste vier verdachte transacties die mogelijk gekoppeld zijn aan voorkennis over ontwikkelingen tussen de VS en Iran. • Bronnen bevestigen dat de transacties grote posities in olie futures betroffen voorafgaand aan de recente spanningen in de Straat van Hormuz. • Dit onderzoek benadrukt de risico's van marktmisbruik tijdens wereldwijde conflicten, met implicaties voor financiële regelgeving.

The chief justice defends court’s impartiality after decisions on abortion, presidential immunity and voting rightsUS chief justice John Roberts has insisted supreme court judges are not “political actors” amid outrage over its recent decision undermining the Voting Right Act, and other moves that have benefited Donald Trump and his allies.“I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides,” Roberts told a conference for judges and lawyers in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. “I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do.” Continue reading...

• DMK leaders Kanimozhi NVN Somu and TKS Elangovan sharply criticized Congress for extending support to TVK, warning it will be 'wiped out everywhere'. • The reaction follows Congress breaking pre-poll ties with DMK, providing 5 MLAs to help TVK reach 112 seats short of majority. • DMK views the move as betrayal amid hung assembly, fueling accusations as rivals like AIADMK explore counter-alliances.

• Singapore has completed a comprehensive review of its political salary framework but deferred any final decision citing impacts from the ongoing Middle East conflict. • The announcement was made by Minister Chan Chun Sing, highlighting caution amid global economic uncertainties affecting the city-state's finances. • This deferral reflects Singapore's policy of linking political remuneration to economic performance and national circumstances during crises.

• The BJP and its coalition allies have expanded their territorial control to 21 of India's 28 states, representing unprecedented political consolidation and establishing the party in a more dominant national position than at any point since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. • From the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal, India's political map is now overwhelmingly controlled by the BJP, with only Jharkhand remaining as a lone opposition-governed state in major regions, reflecting near-total electoral saturation. • Political analysts describe this expansion as more than electoral success—it constitutes political saturation, raising fundamental questions about whether India is moving toward an opposition-diminished political order.

The third day of hearings of the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion heard further evidence from Jewish AustraliansFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastViolent antisemitic abuse was allowed to proliferate across a Jewish political candidate’s social media as part of a broader trend designed to intimidate Jewish Australians from public life, a royal commission has heard.Joshua Kirsh launched a campaign as an independent candidate for the New South Wales upper house in late 2025 but found his advertisements online bombarded by antisemitic tropes, abuse and threats. Continue reading...

Inquiry set up by rightwing politician recommends merging major channels and slashing TV entertainment budgets by 75%French politicians on the left and centre have criticised a parliament inquiry report that recommends sweeping cuts to public broadcasting, with a row over culture wars building before next year’s presidential election.State broadcasting is a key topic in the run-up to April’s vote, with the far right, which is leading in the polls, highly critical of public TV and radio and vowing to privatise it. Continue reading...

• 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.

As major parties once again spruik budget night events at thousands of dollars a ticket, some MPs say they resent the ritzy social galasGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThey’re dismissed as boring, little more than a “selfie” opportunity for economy nerds – or even labelled a threat to democracy.But as budget week approaches, the major parties are once again spruiking fundraising dinners and drinks for their most loyal followers – and slugging them for thousands of dollars. Continue reading...

Republicans blame Biden administration block on JetBlue deal; Democrats point to fuel price surge amid Iran warSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email US airlines and government officials battled on Saturday to deal with stranded passengers and stricken employees after discount carrier Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations – and a political and business blame game got under way over the collapse of the low-cost carrier.“If you have a flight scheduled with Spirit Airlines, don’t show up at the airport; there will be no one here to assist you,” the US secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, warned at a press conference after laying out measures for customers booked with the Florida-based company to obtain refunds or find discounted flights on other airlines. Continue reading...

• Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty closed lower after intraday swings, pressured by spiking crude oil prices above $90/barrel. • Foreign investor outflows accelerated to ₹15,000 crore in April, exacerbating downside in banking and energy sectors. • Auto and FMCG stocks like Maruti Suzuki and ITC provided limited support amid broader risk aversion.

• The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera in a case involving alleged derogatory remarks against a Union minister. • The court flagged possible political motivations behind the FIR filed against Khera, raising questions about the timing and intent of the legal action. • This ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress ahead of key elections, potentially influencing public discourse on judicial independence.

• Market experts identify fundamentally strong value stocks as attractive investment opportunities following recent market corrections driven by geopolitical tensions and crude oil price volatility. • Analysts recommend disciplined investors focus on quality companies trading at depressed valuations rather than panic-driven selling, viewing current market weakness as potential entry points for long-term wealth creation. • Selective turnaround stocks and NBFC sector opportunities are highlighted as potential beneficiaries of market recovery, with emphasis on portfolio construction based on fundamental strength rather than technical indicators.

• A bipartisan advisory panel convened under President Biden’s tech‑regulation agenda delivered a draft report recommending that Congress ban politically targeted digital ads that spread “clearly false or misleading information” about voting procedures, candidates, or ballot access. • The panel, whose members include former FEC commissioners and civil‑rights leaders, argues that such ads undermine trust in elections and disproportionately affect voters of color, urging platforms to adopt stricter labeling and ad‑library rules. • The proposal sparks backlash from free‑speech advocates, who warn that any government‑defined standard for political misinformation could chill legitimate debate and benefit incumbent parties.

• The Justice Department announced an expanded criminal investigation into fundraising and expenditure patterns of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and related political action committees, focusing on compliance with federal campaign finance and foreign‑donor laws. • Investigators are examining at least a dozen large donations that may have been routed through shell corporate accounts or foreign‑linked entities, according to law‑enforcement officials briefed on the probe. • White House spokespeople framed the action as part of “routine post‑election review,” while Trump allies accuse the department of partisan bias and warn that any charges could ignite a political firestorm ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Decision gives mapmakers in Republican states power to crack districts into pieces and dilute votes into oblivionThe Voting Rights Act was a political peace compact written in John Lewis’s blood.The Callais v Landry decision by the US supreme court, which set aside much of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, whitewashed that blood from history, along with that of thousands of other Americans who fought segregationist white supremacists at lunch counters and bus stations and courthouses for political equality. Continue reading...

Chief minister Aminuddin Harun says he would continue in his post for now, even though he no longer enjoys majority support in the 36-seat state assembly in light of UMNO’s move over his handling of a crisis involving the state’s monarchy.

Conservatives expected to push for privileges committee involvement in a Commons vote on MondayA series of senior Labour figures have dismissed calls for a new investigation into what Keir Starmer told MPs about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as political point scoring, before a possible Commons vote on the issue.The Conservatives have called for the cross-party privileges committee, the remit of which includes examining whether MPs broke rules, to look at whether the prime minister misled parliament when he said normal procedures were followed with Mandelson’s appointment. Continue reading...

• President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner due to a nearby shooting incident on April 25, 2026. • NBC News' Garrett Haake questioned Trump on the trend of political violence in the U.S., to which he replied, 'No country is immune'. • The event highlights ongoing concerns about security at political gatherings and increasing incidents of violence.

• US stocks recently reached an all-time high even as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran dominate headlines, suggesting investor confidence in economic fundamentals. • The market surge occurs amid what analysts describe as a major market disruption cycle, with oil shocks and other disruptions rattling investors before receding. • The disconnect between headline risks and market performance highlights investor focus on sustained economic growth and underlying corporate fundamentals over short-term geopolitical concerns.