Politics on Cowlpane

Remaking Hanoi: Vietnam bets on colossal capital renewal to drive growth

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:18 +0000

Originally published by Nikkei Asia Politics

Vacant houses are demolished in Hanoi’s central downtown area, May 6. The city’s ambitious “100-Year Master Plan” aims to transform the capital into a multi-centered metropolitan region, part of Vietnam’s goal of achieving developed-nation status by 2045. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

$2.5tn ‘Master Plan’ to address population boom comes with demolitions, relocations

HANOI – After more than five decades with the giant Red River as a constant, quiet neighbor, Hanoi resident Bui Minh Phuong is bracing for her life to be upended.

DNA cassettes and diamonds: How to capture the global torrent of data

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:16 +0000

Originally published by Nikkei Asia Politics

Researchers seek higher-density, longer-lasting storage solutions

A DNA cassette tape developed by Chinese researchers could theoretically store 3 billion songs. (Southern University of Science and Technology)

TOKYO – As artificial intelligence and social media leave the world awash in far too much data to store on current media such as hard drives, scientists are coming up with unconventional methods to preserve information.

SemiconductorsMemory shortage set to run until 2027 as chipmakers focus on AI

Memory shortage set to run until 2027 as chipmakers focus on AI

Artificial intelligenceAnthropic courts competitors to ease data center crunch

Anthropic courts competitors to ease data center crunch

Tech AsiaRampant AI demand throws the memory chip market into turmoil

Rampant AI demand throws the memory chip market into turmoil

EnergySoftBank aims to make data center batteries without lithium, cobalt

SoftBank aims to make data center batteries without lithium, cobalt

SemiconductorsChina’s CXMT and YMTC to massively expand memory output amid global crunch

China’s CXMT and YMTC to massively expand memory output amid global crunch

Supply ChainTrump administration looks to ease memory chip crunch with supply chain bloc

Trump administration looks to ease memory chip crunch with supply chain bloc

TechnologyIndian lawmaker loses millions of Instagram followers after party switch

Indian lawmaker loses millions of Instagram followers after party switch

TechnologyChina’s Huawei launches ‘world’s thinnest tablet’ and diamond smartwatch

China’s Huawei launches ‘world’s thinnest tablet’ and diamond smartwatch

TechnologyMalaysia grapples with securing real-time payments in the AI era

Malaysia grapples with securing real-time payments in the AI era

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei’s Global Business Bureau.

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Sony Group bets on AI to fuel gaming evolution, CEO says

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:14 +0000

Originally published by Nikkei Asia Politics

Joint venture with TSMC aims to cement Sony’s leading position in sensors

Sony Group President and CEO Hiroki Totoki at the strategy briefing May 8. (Screenshot of Sony Group’s online briefing)

TOKYO – Artificial intelligence can drive the continuing evolution needed in gaming content, said Sony Group President and CEO Hiroki Totoki, adding the technology can help reinvigorate the industry.

CompaniesSony and TSMC partner on next-generation image sensors

Sony and TSMC partner on next-generation image sensors

CompaniesSony-Honda venture to press on after EV called off

Sony-Honda venture to press on after EV called off

Artificial intelligenceSony Group tech can identify original music in AI-generated songs

Sony Group tech can identify original music in AI-generated songs

SemiconductorsJapan to provide Sony with $380m to make image sensors

Japan to provide Sony with $380m to make image sensors

OpinionHow Nintendo and PlayStation will survive the generative AI boom

How Nintendo and PlayStation will survive the generative AI boom

AutomobilesHonda postpones self-driving goal to 2028 as EV retreat takes toll

Honda postpones self-driving goal to 2028 as EV retreat takes toll

InsuranceSony Life faces dozens of suspected fraud cases against customers

Sony Life faces dozens of suspected fraud cases against customers

InflationSony to hike PlayStation 5 prices as memory chip costs surge

Sony to hike PlayStation 5 prices as memory chip costs surge

Latest onMedia & Entertainment

Media & EntertainmentNintendo to hike price of Switch 2 console due to memory chip prices

Nintendo to hike price of Switch 2 console due to memory chip prices

Media & EntertainmentCapsule toys capture overseas visitors in Japan’s latest cultural craze

Capsule toys capture overseas visitors in Japan’s latest cultural craze

Media & EntertainmentEpic Games opens Japan app store for iPhone – with no Japanese games

Epic Games opens Japan app store for iPhone – with no Japanese games

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei’s Global Business Bureau.

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Gourmet mushroom startup finds fertile ground in Bangkok

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:12 +0000

Originally published by Nikkei Asia Politics

Earthling Mushroom Farm grows premium fungi in a lab-like city warehouse

Founded by American brothers Alex and Sam Turner, Bangkok’s Earthling Mushroom Farm grows gourmet fungi for some of the city’s top chefs. (Courtesy of Earthling Mushroom Farm)

BANGKOK – “Mushrooms sit at this really interesting intersection of food, agriculture and science,” says Alex Turner, co-founder of Bangkok’s Earthling Mushroom Farm. This concept is on full display inside a warehouse in the city’s densely populated On Nut district, where the company has built what it says is one of the world’s first urban growing operations for gourmet fungi – and certainly the newest to operate as a tourist attraction.

'Huawei Inside' and everywhere at China's auto show

Sat, 09 May 2026 20:00:09 +0000

Originally published by Nikkei Asia Politics

From parts to software, tech group has become more than just a supplier

Huawei stores sell vehicles along with smartphones. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)

TOKYO – One name came up again and again at the recent Auto China 2026 show in Beijing. Without building a car on its own, Huawei Technologies has become one of the most influential players in the world’s largest auto market.

0% intro APR until 2024 is 100% insane

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:57:39 +0000

Originally published by CNN Politics

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (rates and fees) is designed for people who want some breathing room from interest – whether that means paying down debt or financing a larger purchase. It’s one of the most competitive 0% intro APR cards you’ll find, which can make a real difference if you’re trying to get ahead.

I’ve been a Wells Fargo banking customer and cardholder for years, and I’ve always appreciated how seamless it is to manage payments right from my account. It makes staying on top of debt that much easier.

Margins of Error

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:57:37 +0000

Originally published by CNN Politics

Look closely at almost anything and you’ll find data—lots of it. But what are those numbers really saying about who we are and what we believe? Harry Enten is on a mission to find out.

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Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict is coming to an end

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:54:08 +0000

Originally published by South China Morning Post

The Russian leader added that a meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky was possible only once a lasting peace deal was reached

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he thought the Ukraine conflict was coming to an end.

Russia’s 2022 ‌invasion of Ukraine triggered the most serious crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war.

Ex-minister tells UK cabinet to boot Starmer or she’ll challenge him herself

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:39:19 +0000

Originally published by South China Morning Post

Catherine West’s ultimatum comes amid calls for his resignation after Labour’s crushing defeat in local elections

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reeling from a crushing local election defeat, faced a new setback to his leadership on Saturday when a former minister said she would challenge him for the top job if no one else stepped forward.

Israeli settlers force Palestinian family to exhume and rebury their father

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:16:19 +0000

Originally published by Al Jazeera

A Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank has been forced by Israelisettlers, reportedly under military protection, to dig up their father’s grave and rebury him, which the United Nations is condemning as “appalling and dehumanising”.

Eighty-year-old Hussein Asasa died of natural causes on Friday and was buried shortly after in a cemetery in Asasa village near Jenin.

list 1 of 3Shoot Palestinians, not settlers: Israeli general exposes double standard

Putin says he thinks Ukraine war 'coming to an end'

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:16:00 +0000

Originally published by Deutsche Welle

Russian PresidentVladimir Putinon Saturday hinted that the Ukraine war could soon end.

Speaking to reporters after markingRussia’s Victory Day parade, Putin said: “I think that the ‌matter is coming to an end.”

The comment was made in response to a question about whether Western help to Ukraine went too far.

The Russian leader said: “They started ratcheting up the confrontation with Russia, which continues to this day. I think it is heading to an end, but it’s still a serious matter.”

Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of truce violations

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:07:58 +0000

Originally published by France 24

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday accused the other of violating a a three-day US-brokered ceasefire, which coincides with Russia’s World War II victory celebrations. No major strikes were reported by the warring sites.

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Missing Singaporeans Located Near Mt. Dukono Crater Rim

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:02:30 +0000

Originally published by Al Jazeera

Indonesian authorities locate missing Singaporeans after Mount Dukono eruption.

Indonesian authorities locate missing Singaporeans after Mount Dukono eruption, 20 to 30 meters away from the rim of the main crater.

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Labour MP says she will trigger leadership contest by Monday if cabinet does not launch challenge – ask it happened

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:43:42 +0000

Originally published by The Guardian Politics

Labour MP Catherine West said she will seek to trigger a leadership contest if a cabinet minister does not launch a challenge to the prime minister by Monday.

West, previously a junior Foreign Office minister, said that if no leadership hopeful makes it known that the cabinet will seek to removeKeir Starmer, she will try to get the necessary signatures herself to trigger a leadership contest.

Man City beat Brentford to close gap to Arsenal to two points in title race

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:40:25 +0000

Originally published by Al Jazeera

Manchester City kept their slender Premier League title hopes alive as Jeremy Doku inspired a 3-0 win against Brentford.

Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to prise open Brentford for almost an hour at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

list 1 of 4Olympic water polo resignations cite lack of respect, belittling behaviour
list 2 of 4FIFPRO in ‘landmark’ win as European body admits football calendar failings
list 3 of 4Holders Flamengo see Copa Libertadores match abandoned amid crowd trouble

Kazakhstan strikes gold on day 2 in Astana

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:05:02 +0000

Originally published by Euronews

Day 2 of the Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026 brought gold for the home crowd as Zhalgas Kairolla thrilled Astana. Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo, Danil Lavrentev and Clémence Eme also topped the podium, while Kazakhstan celebrated gold and bronze.

Day 2 of the 2026 Judo Grand Slam in Astana, one of Central Asia’s most architecturally stunning cities. Spectators were eager for another thrilling day of world-class competition. The energy inside the venue did not disappoint.

Tucker Carlson’s pivot

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:01:28 +0000

Originally published by Al Jazeera

From MAGA loyalist to antiwar dissident – is Tucker Carlson’s pivot sincere or a savvy reinvention?

Longtime Donald Trump supporter Tucker Carlson has broken with the president on some key issues, becoming one of the country’s staunchest critics of the US relationship with Israel. Carlson is engaging with voices he once criticised, like The New York Times, and his rising popularity has fueled speculation in Washington, DC that he could try to ride that momentum all the way to the White House.

Syria and Lebanon make ‘significant progress’ at talks on joint interests

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:50:18 +0000

Originally published by Al Jazeera

The leaders of Lebanon and Syria have concluded talks in Damascus focused on joint interests, as both countries pursue a rapprochement following the overthrow of longtime Syrian president,Bashar al-Assad, almost 18 months ago.

On Saturday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said “significant progress” had been made in the discussions with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which covered security, transport, infrastructure, and economic matters.

list 1 of 3Israel’s attacks and pressure sowing seeds for division in tense Lebanon

MPs from Labour’s left to urge Ed Miliband to consider leadership bid

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:43:00 +0000

Originally published by The Guardian Politics

Keir Starmer set to face challenge as former minister says she will trigger race if no cabinet minister comes forward

UK politics live – latest updates

UK politics live – latest updates

MPs from Labour’s left are expected to urge Ed Miliband to consider a leadership bid in the coming days, asKeir Starmerfaced the prospect of a definite challenge from his MPs next week.

Following grim results forLabourin elections on Thursday, former minister Catherine West said that if no cabinet ministers went public by Monday, she would launch a bid to end the impasse.

Could and would Ukraine target Putin?

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:22:35 +0000

Originally published by France 24

A temporary ceasefire takes effect between Russia and Ukraine as President Putin oversees a military parade in Red Square, notably absent of the military hardware and technological might usually on display.

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Hantavirus outbreak: UK to isolate cruise ship passengers in ex-Covid hospital

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:15:25 +0000

Originally published by South China Morning Post

There are around 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland, on board the MV Hondius

UK health authorities are gearing up to receive about 24 people from a virus-hit cruise ship, who will be isolated in a hospital once used for Covid-19 patients, NHS officials said Saturday.

Cattle theft in Germany: organised gangs target farms

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:48:56 +0000

Originally published by Euronews

Livestock theft is becoming a problem in German agriculture, with entire herds disappearing overnight in some cases. In addition to financial losses, the offences also have an emotional impact on farmers. Investigators believe that organised gangs from abroad are involved.

A farmer from Raddusch in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district reported to the police on Friday morning that his herd of 48 cattle had been stolen from the pasture. The loss is estimated at around 75,000 euros.

Labour MP threatens Starmer with leadership challenge after election rout

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:46:07 +0000

Originally published by Financial Times World

Catherine West says she has 10 backers as deputy leader Lucy Powell warns challengers not to provoke a contest

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Hantavirus: WHO chief reassures Tenerife residents as Spain prepares for cruise ship's arrival

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:46:00 +0000

Originally published by Deutsche Welle

What you need to know

Spanish authorities are preparing to receive the MV Hondius, which is set to arrive at Tenerife in the Canary Islands early on Sunday morning

Spanish authorities are preparing to receive the MV Hondius, which is set to arrive at Tenerife in the Canary Islands early on Sunday morning

The World Health Organization’s chief Tedros stresses that the ‘risk for the population of Canary Islands and globally remains low’

The World Health Organization’s chief Tedros stresses that the ‘risk for the population of Canary Islands and globally remains low’

‘I’ll talk to work on Monday’: what happens when a ‘paper candidate’ actually wins?

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:38:07 +0000

Originally published by The Guardian Politics

Tyrone Scott, who didn’t think he had a hope in the election, wants to help the Greens rebuild ‘community cohesion’ in Hackney

You would expect most political candidates who pull off a shock win to celebrate their victory, maybe with a glass of bubbly and excitement for the challenges of elected office ahead. But on Friday, as thousands of new councillors celebrated their triumphs, some surprise victors were less than pleased.

Niger suspends nine French media outlets over alleged threats to public order

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Originally published by Euronews

On Tuesday Burkina Faso, an ally of neighbouring Niger and Mali within the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), all led by military juntas, banned the broadcast of TV5 Monde.

Niger, ruled by a junta hostile to Western countries, on Friday suspended nine French media outlets that could “seriously endanger public order”.

A statement broadcast on state television said the suspended media had repeatedly broadcast content “likely to seriously endanger public order, national unity, social cohesion and the stability of institutions” in Niger.

Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:24:42 +0000

Originally published by The Guardian Politics

SNP leader wants to ensure voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ‘are heard loud and clear’

John Swinney has said he plans to work with the nationalist first ministers in Wales andNorthern Irelandin a coordinated opposition to Labour’s policies on the cost of living and UK government spending.

The Scottish National party leader said he had spoken to Michelle O’Neill, theSinn Féinfirst minister of Northern Ireland, on Friday night after she had called to congratulate him on his party’s “emphatic” victory in the Holyrood elections.

Ukrainians mark end of WWII amid fragile ceasefire with Russia

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:19:56 +0000

Originally published by France 24

As a temporary ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia comes into effect, residents across Ukraine reflect on the enduring toll of war and the uncertainty of peace. In Zaporizhzhia, mourners at a World War II memorial drew parallels between past and present suffering, while others in Kharkiv and Kyiv e

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'End of an era': EU flag outside parliament signals shift in Hungary

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:10:21 +0000

Originally published by France 24

Hungary may be entering a new political phase as the European Union flag appeared alongside the national flag outside parliament, symbolising a potential shift in the country’s long-standing confrontation with Brussels. FRANCE 24 International Affairs Editor Shirley Sippon said the change comes afte

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Trump administration pulls Covid-19 vaccine safety studies amid political row

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:05:58 +0000

Originally published by Euronews

The developments come as the Trump administration sees a marked rise in the influence of anti-vaccine figures and movements, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, which fuelled a wave of conspiracy theories and misleading health information.

The New York Times, citing an official at the US Department of Health and Human Services, revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has in recent months halted the publication of scientific studies that confirm the safety of a number of vaccines.

Venice Biennale opens with protests against Russia and Israel

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:01:59 +0000

Originally published by Euronews

For the first time, Biennale workers went on strike on Friday over Russia’s and Israel’s presence at the kermesse, with twenty pavilions closed on the eve of the public opening.

The 61st Venice Biennale International Art Exhibitionopens on Saturday, 9 May. The kermesse opened its doors in a climate of exceptional political pressure that turned the last day of pre-opening into a marathon of protests.

The Biennale will remain open to the public until the end of November 2026, but its opening was marred by tensions reflecting the current global rifts between ongoing conflicts and social demands.

European nations dispatch planes to evacuate citizens from hantavirus-hit cruise ship

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:01:23 +0000

Originally published by France 24

Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands will send planes to evacuate their citizens aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, Spain’s interior minister said on Saturday, adding that transport will also be arranged by the European Union, the US and the UK

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Starmer brings in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman to ease pressure on him to resign

Sat, 09 May 2026 15:12:38 +0000

Originally published by The Guardian Politics

Brown to advise on global finance, while Harman will focus on social and economic improvements for women and girls

UK politics live – latest updates

UK politics live – latest updates

Full results from England, Scotland and Wales

Full results from England, Scotland and Wales

Keir Starmer has brought in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as advisers in a move to ease the mounting pressure on the prime minister to resign after thedisastrous election resultsfor Labour.

I will serve - not rule over Hungary, says new PM

Sat, 09 May 2026 15:12:04 +0000

Originally published by BBC News

Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, has been sworn in, almost a month after he steered his Tisza party to a landslide victory, sweeping away 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán.

“I will not rule over Hungary - I will serve my country,” Magyar said after he took the oath of office in parliament.

Tisza holds 141 seats out of 199 in the new parliament - up from zero, a result of the party being founded just two years ago.

Pedestrian dies in US after being hit by Frontier Airlines plane at Denver airport

Sat, 09 May 2026 15:00:32 +0000

Originally published by South China Morning Post

Over 230 passengers and crew had to evacuate on the runway after the incident, during take-off, sparked an engine fire

A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during take-off, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

Spanish island braces for arrival of Hantavirus cruise ship

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:58:08 +0000

Originally published by Le Monde

The MV Hondius, hit by a hantavirus outbreak, is set to anchor off Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, on Sunday. About 80 passengers will be evacuated by Zodiac boats and immediately repatriated by plane. The operation is being overseen by the World Health Organization’s director general.

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Greens score some urban goals but undershoot the wider target

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:45:36 +0000

Originally published by Financial Times World

Insurgents celebrate mayoral success in Hackney and Lewisham but fall short in large swaths of London

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Australia's right-wing One Nation party scores historic parliamentary win

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:36:21 +0000

Originally published by BBC News

Australia’s One Nation party has won its first-ever lower-house seat in what is being seen as an important test for the right-wing populist party.

With most ballots counted, One-Nation candidate David Farley has won an unassailable 60% of the primary vote in Farrer, a vast regional constituency in New South Wales. Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is far behind.

The contest was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley, who quit when she was ousted as leader of the opposition conservative Liberal Party.

WHO chief reassures Tenerife residents ahead of arrival of virus-hit cruise ship

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:31:24 +0000

Originally published by BBC News

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure residents of Tenerife that their risk of infection is low ahead of the arrival of a cruise ship on which an outbreak of hantavirus occurred.

Tedros Ghebreyesus stressed that “this is not another Covid” and that there were no symptomatic passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius, in a personal message to people on the Canary Island.

Hungary’s new PM Peter Magyar sworn in, ending Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule

Sat, 09 May 2026 14:24:17 +0000

Originally published by South China Morning Post

Magyar’s centre-right party defeated authoritarian Orban last month, which will allow it to roll back many of his policies

Hungary’s Peter Magyar took his oath of office on Saturday to become the country’s new prime minister, ending Viktor Orban’s 16 years of autocratic rule.

Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party defeated Orban’s nationalist-populist Fidesz in a stunning blow last month, gaining more votes and seats in Parliament than any other party in Hungary’s post-Communist history.

For Struggling JetBlue, Spirit’s Demise May Offer an Opportunity

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:28:45 +0000

Originally published by New York Times Politics

JetBlue Airways is adding flights at Spirit Airlines’ former home airport as it tries to turn a profit again.

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Hungary: Peter Magyar sworn in as prime minister

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:07:00 +0000

Originally published by Deutsche Welle

Conservative ‌Peter Magyar ⁠was ⁠sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister on ‌Saturday.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza partydefeated Viktor Orban’s right-wing populist Fideszby a landslide last month, ending his 16-year rule.

“Hungarian people have given us a mandate to put an end to decades of drifting,” Magyar said. “They have given us a mandate to open a new chapter in Hungary’s history. Not only to change the government, but to change the system as well. To start again.”

Australian far-right party wins first lower house seat

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:03:00 +0000

Originally published by Deutsche Welle

Australia’sfar-rightOne Nation party won a key by-election on Saturday in a rural seat that had been held by traditional conservatives for more than half a century.

Preliminary results showed its candidate, David Farley, was on track to win 59.1%, defeating the incumbent center-right Liberal Party by a wide margin.

It marks the first time One Nation has won a lower house seat in the federal parliament.

Russia celebrates Victory Day with lackluster parade

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:58:17 +0000

Originally published by Le Monde

Fears of Ukrainian drone attacks kept the military parade on Red Square modest in scale. The three-day truce between Moscow and Kyiv was only finalized the previous evening.

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Tariffs or not? How EU is dealing with US 'dealmaking'

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:39:00 +0000

Originally published by Deutsche Welle

When the trade ministers of the so-called Group of Seven, or G7, nations met in Paris this week, they were supposed to be talking about the most pressing issues facing global trade, including critical minerals and the impact of the Iran war.

Instead, the meeting was overshadowed by threats made by US President Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on imports of European vehicles.

Trump made the threats earlier this week and has justified them by arguing that the European Union — members France, Germany and Italy also belong to the G7 — hasn’t fulfilled its obligations under a previous US-EU tariff deal known as the Turnberry Agreement.

Magyar formally elected Hungarian prime minister

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:22:29 +0000

Originally published by Le Monde

Péter Magyar was sworn in on Saturday, after his landslide victory over nationalist and anti-EU Viktor Orban in the April 12 general election.

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Putin denounces Nato at scaled-back Victory Day parade

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:18:58 +0000

Originally published by BBC News

Vladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow’s Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato.

Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel, the Russian president said he was fighting a “just” war and called Ukraine an “aggressive force” that is being “armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato”.

His remarks come amid muted celebrations across Russia to mark the nation’s biggest national holiday, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

French Socialists fracture over presidential primary

Sat, 09 May 2026 11:55:04 +0000

Originally published by Le Monde

Boris Vallaud, leader of the Socialists in the Assemblée Nationale, announced his resignation from the party leadership on Friday. He accused Socialist head Olivier Faure of pursuing ‘a strategy of isolation and deadlock’ ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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Tory election losses cast doubt on Badenoch’s confidence

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:09 +0000

Originally published by Financial Times World

The wide electoral appeal that once propelled Boris Johnson to power continues to be dismantled by Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats

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US economy persists through trade uncertainty

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:05 +0000

Originally published by Le Monde

Even though growth and labor market figures are heading in the right direction, the Trump administration’s erratic policies, particularly the president’s ongoing trade war, have hindered economic activity.

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DOJ sees fallout after push to prosecute former FBI director James Comey

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Originally published by Washington Post Politics

Several prosecutors have left the Justice Department, others are considering doing so, and at least one major case has been disrupted.

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Is Marco Rubio the Happiest Cabinet Member?

Sat, 09 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Originally published by The Atlantic Politics

It’s a low bar, perhaps, but no one in the Trump administration seems to be having more fun at the moment than Marco Rubio. Last weekend, he was acting as a DJ at a family wedding, headphones to his ear with head and hand pumping to the beat. Midweek, the secretary of state was at the podium in the White House briefing room, spitting rap lyrics and cracking jokes. (“Two more questions!” he said, before entertaining seven more.) And toward the end of the week, he was in Vatican City, being escorted through marble hallways by members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard for an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who has been criticized by the president and vice president.

Which Trump Tariffs Are in Place, in the Works or Ruled Illegal

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:24 +0000

Originally published by New York Times Politics

The president has reworked his tariffs repeatedly — sometimes because they have been declared illegal — with more updates still to come.

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How Republicans Gained an Edge on the Midterm House Map Over 10 Days

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:23 +0000

Originally published by New York Times Politics

Republicans are charging ahead in the nation’s redistricting race, and showing new bullishness after months of growing midterm fears.

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Redistricting Ruling in Virginia Adds to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Headaches

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:20 +0000

Originally published by New York Times Politics

Gov. Abigail Spanberger had initially been skeptical of the push for new maps, but as the state’s leading Democrat she had a political stake in its fate.

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How Minority Districts Fueled the G.O.P.’s Southern Ascendancy in Congress

Sat, 09 May 2026 09:02:01 +0000

Originally published by New York Times Politics

The “majority-minority” House districts struck down by the Supreme Court last week sent a surge of Black and Hispanic lawmakers to Congress. They also opened opportunities for the G.O.P.

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Iran accuses US of 'reckless military adventure'

Sat, 09 May 2026 06:13:30 +0000

Originally published by BBC News

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of opting for a “reckless military adventure” every time a “diplomatic solution is on the table”.

Iranians would “never bow to pressure”, Araghchi said in a post on X, a day after each side accused the other of launching attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and as the US fired on more Iranian vessels.

Despite the clashes, Trump said the ceasefire was intact. It is meant to enable talks to end the war that the US and Israel launched in February.

Photo London 2026

Sat, 09 May 2026 04:02:03 +0000

Originally published by Financial Times World

To mark this year’s fair, we invited four artists to show us the capital through their eyes. Plus: feminist photo collage, Thomas Duffield on father-son relations and an interview with The Photographer’s Gallery director

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Senate Debates Sweeping Climate Bill Amid Party Divisions

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Senate opened a marathon session on Friday to debate a sweeping climate and energy bill that proponents call the most significant environmental legislation in a generation — but which faces an uncertain path amid deep party divisions and pressure from moderate Democrats.

The 1,200-page bill includes $780 billion in clean energy incentives, a national carbon pricing framework, and aggressive targets to slash emissions by 55% before 2040. Supporters argue it would reshape the American economy while positioning the country as a leader in the global green transition.

The GOP’s Stunningly Swift Gerrymandering Drive

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:37:11 +0000

Originally published by The Atlantic Politics

For more thanfour decades, the Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee stood as a bulwark, ensuring that the Black voters who compose a majority of the city of Memphis could choose their representative in Washington. With a nod from the Supreme Court, the state’s ruling Republicans took barely a week to wipe that district off the map.

Tennessee yesterday enacted legislation that splits much of Memphis among three separate districts, diluting the votes of Black residents and all but guaranteeing Republicans an additional House seat. The move was the first, and surely not the last, GOP legislative response to the Supreme Court’s decision last week gutting enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. Across the South, Republicans are rushing to redraw congressional districts that, because of the Court’s 6–3 ruling inLouisiana v. Callais, they believe they are no longer required to reserve for nonwhite voters, who predominantly cast ballots for Democrats.

Southeast Asian Leaders Tackle Iran War Vulnerabilities

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:18:54 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Policy

Global market shocks spark calls for a regional power grid and emergency fuel stockpile.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking atSoutheast Asia’s response to theIran war, the uncertain future ofBritain’s Labour Party, and allegations of attacks in theStrait of Hormuz.

A ‘Bare Bones’ Summit

The leaders’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is traditionally filled with a level of pomp and pageantry befitting regional pride. But this year, the bloc took a “bare bones” approach to its confab to reflect the dire economic straits that the Iran war has inflicted on much of the world.

What in the World?

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:18:08 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Policy

Test yourself on the week of May 2: The U.S. announces a drawdown in Germany, Taiwan’s president concludes a foreign visit, and Sudan lobs accusations at Ethiopia.

Obviously, we all spent this week watching highlights from Shakira’s weekend performance in Rio de Janeiro. But did you remember to follow along with this week’s newsier stories? Find out with our international quiz!

Have feedback? Email[email protected]to let me know your thoughts.

A Foreign Correspondent of Animal Kingdoms

Fri, 08 May 2026 19:09:31 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Policy

How a headstrong field biologist helped birth the worldwide conservation movement.

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It’s not just humans that aresufferingfrom the Trump administration’s destruction of the U.S. Agency for International Development. For nearly 40 years, USAID was one of the top global funders ofinternational conservation. In December 2024, shortly before its demise, then-USAID director Samantha Power launched the agency’s sweeping newbiodiversity policy, which emphasized locally led development and climate resilience as guiding principles for a$350 millionannual conservation portfolio.

How to Choose a Gift for Trump

Fri, 08 May 2026 19:00:36 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Policy

An expert in diplomatic gift-giving describes the use and abuse of official presents.

Foreign & Public Diplomacy

Ongoing reports and analysis

Protocol officials in the world’s foreign ministries all have horror stories about diplomatic gifts. Like choosing a present for a particularly hard-to-please relative, they can be difficult to get right, offering opportunities for missteps and misunderstandings. For foreign leaders and their teams preparing for meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, discussions about what to say are likely to be accompanied by fraught discussions about what to give.

A Confused ‘Animal Farm’ for a Confused Time

Fri, 08 May 2026 18:30:48 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Policy

What the latest Orwell adaptation says about our politics.

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Some authors make such an impact they become adjectives. Without even reading their work most know what “Byronic,” “Dickensian,” and “Kafkaesque” suggest, but no term is as chilling as “Orwellian.” It connotes a dystopian society ruled by a ruthless and manipulative government that suspends its misinformed populace in fear while under constant surveillance. These themes of course permeate George Orwell’s final major work,1984, but these dark seeds are also found in the “fairy story” (its original subtitle) that he published four years earlier:Animal Farm, a novella still taught to middle school kids.

Democrats Might Actually Win Iowa

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:26:03 +0000

Originally published by The Atlantic Politics

Updated on May 8 at 5:24 p.m. ET

There area few ways to think about Iowa. You might imagine America’s 29th state as the land of corn and pigs (20 million hogs can’t be wrong,reads my favorite T-shirt for sale at the Eastern Iowa Airport). Maybe you associate it withField of Dreams, Caitlin Clark, or the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.

You might also picture Iowa as flat, like a pancake. But you would be wrong. Iowa is not even in the top five flattest U.S. states, which is a fact I was considering last month as I watched Josh Turek size up a daunting set of stairs in a hilly Cedar Rapids neighborhood. After a moment’s consideration, the 47-year-old Democrat, who uses a wheelchair, shook his head, deciding against it. It would be the only house that Turek would skip that afternoon as he knocked on doors in the warm spring sunlight. At all the other homes, he followed the same elaborate routine without appearing to break a sweat: lowering his body out of his chair and onto the ground; hoisting himself backwards up a step using just his arms; yanking the wheelchair up after him; and repeating that until he reached the doorbell, which is when he would announce, “Hi! I’m Josh Turek, and I’m running for the U.S. Senate!”

America and the Gulf Still Need Each Other

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Affairs

How U.S. Partnerships Can Survive the War in Iran

Daniel Benaimand Elisa Ewers

DANIEL BENAIMis Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute. During the Biden administration, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs.

ELISA EWERSis a Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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America and the Gulf Still Need Each Other

How U.S. Partnerships Can Survive the War in Iran

Why China Waits

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Originally published by Foreign Affairs

Beijing Is Playing a Long Game on Taiwan

Amanda Hsiao and Bonnie S. Glaser

AMANDA HSIAOis a Director in Eurasia Group’s China practice.

BONNIE S. GLASERis Managing Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

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Beijing Is Playing a Long Game on Taiwan

Amanda HsiaoandBonnie S. Glaser

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