Syrian security forces have arrested 10 former officials linked to the deposed Assad regime in Daraa, Aleppo, and Idlib provinces. The Interior Ministry stated the operations aim to bring individuals accused of crimes and abuses against Syrians to justice, including a former military commander and a prison guard.
Former official Bian Qingzu stated that the 2026 US midterm elections will significantly impact China-US relations, noting "anti-Trump sentiment" and the potential Democratic Party gains in Congress.
A Spanish judge has requested financial information from tax authorities and banks concerning the PSOE and PSC parties, as well as former socialist official Gaspar Zarrías, as part of the 'Caso Leire' investigation into a alleged plot to destabilize judicial cases.
Indonesian President Prabowo acknowledged violations within a billion-dollar school nutrition program aimed at eradicating malnutrition. He stated he was forced to replace trusted individuals and warned the initiative should not be used for self-enrichment, amid public sarcasm on social media.
The White House plans to install its official app on government-issued devices, raising cybersecurity concerns among former officials. Critics warn of potential backdoor access and data sharing risks, while the White House states it provides direct access to administration content.
Brexit negotiators warn the UK would not regain its past special terms if it sought to rejoin the EU. Senior Labour figures have discussed future re-entry, but former officials stress membership would be on "normal terms," requiring the pooling of sovereignty.
Yulia Mendel says people who represented Ukraine at the negotiations "agreed for everything"
The Philippines has approved new Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on April 22 to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies in combating organised crime. The SOPs address gaps exposed during earlier raids, including difficulties in coordinating evidence, freezing assets, identifying trafficking victims and building cases against operators who left few physical traces. Analysts and former officials warn the bigger test will be whether the new playbook can keep pace with criminal networks already moving from large Pogo compounds into more elusive operations.
A former diplomat has warned of inadequate summit preparation ahead of the rescheduled US-China meeting originally planned for late March, now set for mid-May. The delay was caused by the US-Israel war on Iran. Despite concerns about progress on complex security issues, business leaders like Roberta Lipson of United Family Healthcare express confidence in achieving trade wins including soybean and aircraft orders.
Some current and former officials see a lowering of long-accepted standards.
Hong Kong should take a more proactive approach to removing barriers hindering the cross-border flow of people, capital, goods and data with neighbouring Shenzhen, analysts have said, as the new leadership of the mainland China tech hub signals a fresh push for deeper integration. The calls for action followed the appointment of Jin Lei, an economist and former official in Sichuan province, as Shenzhen’s Communist Party chief last month, succeeding Meng Fanli, who has since been named the...
