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The Leadership Challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, fighting for his political survival after dozens of his own MPs called for him to resign, promised to press ahead with plans to reform the country before an expected meeting with his potential leadership rival Wes Streeting, the health secretary. Calls for Resignation Starmer has so far defied calls to quit from Labour MPs, who blame him for heavy losses in local elections last week and say he has failed to deliver reforms since coming to power in a landslide 2024 election victory. More than 80, or almost a quarter, of the prime minister's elected MPs have called for Starmer to go, and four junior ministers have resigned in protest. The Meeting with Streeting The meeting in Downing Street will take place before King Charles gives a speech at the opening of parliament – a grand ceremony led by him and used by the government to set out its political priorities and legislative agenda for the year ahead. A public statement is not expected to follow the Streeting-Starmer meeting to keep the attention on the speech, according to British media reports. The Future of Starmer's Leadership Despite the turmoil, Starmer will take part in parliament's grand opening on Wednesday. He said in a statement on Tuesday evening: 'Britain stands at a pivotal moment: To press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer country or turn back to the chaos and instability of the past.' The implementation of the government's plans remains uncertain, and if Starmer were to be removed, his successor would not be bound to follow the same plan.

Lead: Massive Street Demonstrations Across ArgentinaTens of thousands of Argentines converged in major cities on Tuesday to denounce the Javier Milei administration’s cuts to the public university system, a cornerstone of the nation’s tuition‑free higher‑education model.Thousands Take to Streets as Milei’s Cuts Target Tuition‑Free UniversitiesProtesters marched from central Buenos Aires toward the presidential palace, chanting against budget shortfalls that they claim undermine the foundations of higher education. The public university system has been tuition‑free since 1949 and has produced five Nobel laureates.Estimated protest size: tens of thousands nationwide.Key locations: Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario.Government stance: Alejandro Alvarez, undersecretary for university policy, called the march “completely political”.Budget Shortfalls and Salary Declines Highlight Fiscal StrainCongress approved a law last year to finance operating costs and raise academic salaries in line with soaring inflation, but the Milei government has refused implementation and is challenging the legislation in court.University operating‑cost financing law: passed 2025.Real‑term professor salaries have fallen by about one‑third since Milei took office in late 2023.Unemployment and real wages are also declining, contributing to sliding approval ratings for Milei.Erosion of Higher‑Education Foundations Threatens Social MobilityThe cuts strike at a system that has historically enabled social mobility and scientific achievement. Public anger is amplified by corruption allegations surrounding Manuel Adorni, Milei’s cabinet chief, whose alleged lavish spending contrasts sharply with his official salary.Public universities: tuition‑free, historically elite‑producing.Corruption probe: media reports on extravagant expenses by Adorni.Political climate: protests include a broad cross‑section of ages and political leanings.Future Trajectory: Potential Escalation and Policy Reversal ScenariosIf the government continues to block the financing law, protests may intensify, potentially forcing a legislative or judicial reversal. Conversely, a negotiated settlement could restore funding, stabilizing university salaries and tempering social unrest.

The Trump-Xi Summit: A Pivotal Moment in US-China Relations Donald Trump's state visit to China this week – the first by the US president in nearly a decade – comes amid a time of geopolitical upheaval, a new and intractable conflict in the Middle East, and a sometimes rocky relationship between the world's two major superpowers. There is much for Trump and Xi Jinping to discuss, but a few key issues are likely to dominate the agenda. Five Critical Issues on the Summit Agenda The high-stakes meeting between the two leaders addresses several pressing matters that could reshape the global landscape: The Iran Conflict and Hormuz Strait Crisis Trump is eager for China to lean on Tehran to advance peace talks and reopen the strait of Hormuz. To now, Beijing has sat back and watched the US struggle against Iran, at least publicly. But with about half of China's crude oil imports passing through the strait, Xi does want the waterway unblocked. China knows its exports will suffer if a global recession results from an oil supply crisis. Complicating the picture, the US this week put sanctions on several Chinese firms accused of assisting Iranian oil shipments and supplying satellite imagery allegedly used in Iranian military operations, claims that Beijing denied. Trump's arrival comes after Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, visited Beijing last week. Taiwan: The Flashpoint in US-China Relations Beijing is keen to push the US on Taiwan, with Trump saying he is prepared to raise the issue of arms sales to the island, which China claims as a breakaway territory despite never having ruled it. In December, Trump authorised an $11bn arms package for Taiwan, the largest weapons sale ever to the island, but no shipments have been made yet. Xi may seek changes in how the US refers to Taiwan. Ideally, from the perspective of Beijing, this would be a statement from Washington "opposing" Taiwan's independence rather than "not supporting" it. Taiwan will be watching closely. Just two weeks ago, China's foreign minister in a phone call with Marco Rubio urged the US to "make the right choices" on Taiwan. With Trump known to veer off script, John Kirby, a former US state department and Pentagon spokesperson cautioned: "They just have to be so extraordinarily precise when you're talking about Taiwan because, quite frankly, the stakes are enormously high." The AI Cold War: Technological Supremacy at Stake China and the US are locked into a race on artificial intelligence that is becoming something of a technological cold war. In April, the White House accused China of stealing US AI labs' intellectual property on an industrial scale, claims Beijing denied. Meanwhile, Beijing has been frustrated by Washington's reluctance to allow Nvidia to export its most powerful processing chips to China. In January, the White House said Nvidia could export its second most powerful chip, the H200, but no shipments have been sent yet. Analysts and ethics leaders hope Trump and Xi will discuss non-binding AI guidelines, including sharing information about AI misuse and safety, which are seen as critical guardrails amid the advent of AI weaponry and military adoption. Trade War: Rare Earth Minerals and Economic Leverage Trump has repeatedly threatened China over trade, imposing tariffs above 140% last year. But Xi held some cards of his own and did not fold. Instead, China blocked exports of its rare earth minerals and magnets to the US. Trump, finally, backed down. The US has depleted notable levels of its weapons arsenal in the war against Iran, with many weaponry components requiring critical minerals that are linked to supply chains dominated by China. China is expected to announce purchases related to Boeing airplanes, American agriculture and energy, US officials have said. In turn, Beijing wants the US to ease curbs on exports of advanced semiconductors. Beijing also wants to reduce barriers to investment in the US, and hopes to establish a Board of Investment to match the Trump-back Board of Trade. Fentanyl: The Drug War and Political Posturing Fentanyl is a key item on Trump's agenda this week, Politico reported, citing an administration official granted anonymity to preview the closed-door sessions. The US has long accused Chinese businesses of knowingly supplying the chemical precursors to Mexican cartels who use them to make the drug. Trump knows that being seen to press China hard over fentanyl and precursors plays well with his Maga base. But Trump lost important leverage on the fentanyl front when China defied his tariffs threats. In March, the US and China clashed over fentanyl and trade at a UN drugs meeting. China wants to be removed from the state department's annual list of "major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries", due to be updated in September.

Morning Snapshot: UK Bond Market Bruised by Political Turbulence Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. The UK bond market is bruised this morning after a day of political turbulence drove up Britain’s borrowing costs. Rising Yields: 10‑Year Gilt Above 5% – Highest Since 1998 UK long‑term bond yields hit their highest levels in 28 years on Tuesday, pushing the 10‑year gilt yield back above 5%, the highest level since 1998. Numbers at a Glance: Yield Spike and Borrowing Cost Implications 10‑year gilt yield: > 5% (first time above 5% since 1998) Yield rise triggered by fears of a left‑leaning Labour government and potential fiscal expansion. Higher yields mean investors demand greater compensation, increasing the cost of borrowing for the UK Treasury. Political Shockwaves: Labour Leadership Uncertainty and Reform’s Rise Investors are wary that a shift to the left under Keir Starmer could lead to higher spending and larger deficits. At the same time, the prospect of Nigel Farage entering Downing Street after Reform’s gains in the recent local elections adds another layer of uncertainty. Senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya of Swissquote notes that the market is "grappling with their own political shakeups" and that the combination of fiscal concerns and inflation outlook is driving yields up. Market strategist Bill Blain of Wind Shift Capital cautions that investors may not view Reform as a "safe pair of hands" for managing the bond market and public spending. Looking Ahead: What the King’s Speech Could Mean for Debt Markets The UK government will outline its legislative agenda in the King’s Speech later today, which could provide some respite for Keir Starmer amid ministerial resignations and calls for his departure. 10am BST: IEA monthly oil market report 10am BST: Eurozone GDP report (latest estimate for Q1 2026) 1.30pm BST: US producer prices inflation report for April 3pm BST: Bank of England policymaker Catherine L. Mann to release speech on “The UK’s international exposures and vulnerabilities”

A Novel of Female Defiance"Yes, you will leave this place," the chorus of child protagonists in a community of sex workers say at the start of Tahmima Anam's incantatory and fiery new novel of female defiance, Uprising. "This story will save your life," we were told three times in Deepa Anappara's 2020 debut, also featuring precarious children dwelling in the margins. What is the distance between imagination and action, lived realities and dreams? How can solidarities be forged in such circumstances? Uprising holds within its pages some answers and a deep conviction – for a better life, a more just world – and then reaches out and fights for it.The Island Community and Its OppressionAs a journalist, Anam visited the infamous "floating brothel" Banishanta in Bangladesh; her new novel, set on an isolated island "at the end of the country, in the middle of a river that emptied into the sea", fictionalises the island's community and ecological precarity. Here, a generation of daughters grow up watching their mothers trapped in sex work – "we knew that the work was something that was paid for in money, and also in bodies" – and wish a different life for themselves. The women are controlled by the cruel Amma, who was once herself sold into sex trafficking. The victim becomes the perpetrator – and the children are discerning enough to know that their mothers are "not here because they had done something bad, but because something bad had been done to them". The first lesson of the island? No one is coming to save you – and living here changes you, as inexorably as the rising tides.The island is a prison. The mothers are ghosts of their former selves. The children, witnessing the "sexing", are all too grown up, stripped of their innocence. By the time they are born, their mothers' memories have faded "like paint in the sun"; they live on the island "tied to" their daughters. What, or who, will it take to break free from these chains?Feminism and Climate Crisis in LiteratureWhen the waters rise, customers stay away. The mothers speculate: "the swirling river was keeping the smaller boats from making the journey"; "the land was cursed". In a last-ditch attempt to lure men back for business, Amma sends for a new girl. Little does she know that Kusum Khan's arrival will signal the beginning of the end. A girl from the city with a history of participating in protests against the Dictator, she doesn't acquiesce to the island's rules, as the others have been conditioned to; instead, she sows the seeds for what will grow into a life-altering act of resistance. The children start to believe that she is their saviour – maybe even Bon Bibi, a legendary guardian of the forest. A different life seems graspable, just beyond the island's shore. When the titular uprising at last arrives, it summons an all-consuming storm, washing over the island. And the reader, too, is ready to join the revolution – their fist in the open air.Uprising is a feminist novel ("here they were: a wall of women") and a protest novel ("The moment Kusum entered the protest, she felt as if she was becoming a small organ in a living, breathing thing"). It is a coming-of-age novel, and a response to the climate crisis; a story of sisterhood protecting, and failing to protect; of structural inequality and the rotten core of patriarchal corruption; of unlucky women in an unfair world. "When the men came to reclaim the island, we stood rooted in place with our eyes closed, unable to watch. We stood rooted in place with our eyes open, unable to stop watching." While the mothers and daughters in Anam's fictional world are victims of specific generational violence, this observation can be applied to humanity at large: we are all watching – frozen, complicit – as injustices rise the world over.The Power of Rage and Radical HopeThrough her unwaveringly political and unflinchingly forthright novel, Anam shows the power of rage and radical hope. A new world can burn bright from the fires of injustice – and here, it's the mothers that hold the match.

Why Labor Opted for a Partial Negative Gearing RetentionIn a video released alongside the 2026 budget, Treasury Minister Jim Chalmers clarified that the Labor Party chose not to abolish negative gearing outright but to retain it in a limited form. The move is presented as a compromise between fiscal responsibility and the political imperative to support property investors.Chalmers' Explanation in the Budget VideoThe video highlighted three core arguments:Revenue Impact: A full repeal would shave billions off projected tax receipts, widening the budget deficit.Housing Supply: Negative gearing encourages investment in rental properties, which helps keep rental vacancy rates low.Electoral Considerations: Property owners constitute a key voter bloc in marginal seats.Budget Numbers Behind the DecisionThe 2026 budget projects a surplus of AUD 12.4 billion after accounting for existing tax measures. A total repeal of negative gearing was estimated to erode that surplus by roughly 5‑6 %, pushing the government toward a modest deficit. By scaling back the deduction to properties with annual losses below AUD 5,000, the Treasury expects to retain most of the fiscal headroom.Broader Political and Market ImpactRetaining a trimmed version of negative gearing sends several signals:It reassures investors that the government will not introduce abrupt policy shocks, stabilising the Australian housing market.It placates the Labor base in outer‑urban electorates where property investment is a significant income source.It leaves the door open for future reforms, such as tightening eligibility criteria or introducing a phased phase‑out.Outlook for Tax Policy and Housing AffordabilityAnalysts anticipate that the next budget cycle will revisit negative gearing as part of a broader tax‑fairness agenda. If fiscal pressures intensify, Labour may consider a gradual reduction rather than an immediate repeal, aiming to mitigate any sharp correction in property prices while still moving toward a more progressive tax system.

The Leadership Challenge Keir Starmer will not lead his party into the next general election, Labour-supporting unions have predicted, in an intervention that threatens to further destabilise the prime minister after a damaging few days. The Unions' Statement The 11 Labour-affiliated unions – which include Unite, Unison and the GMB – are expected to issue a joint statement on Wednesday saying “at some stage” the party will have to put a plan in place to elect a new leader. Unions divided over whether to call for Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure Some union leaders have urged Starmer to quit, with Unite’s Sharon Graham saying the “writing is on the wall” for the prime minister The Impact on Starmer's Leadership Starmer was increasingly confident that he had seen off the immediate threat to his job on Tuesday after a challenge from Wes Streeting failed to materialise despite several of the health secretary’s allies quitting the government. However, his fragile authority has been weakened by the resignation of four ministers – three of them close allies of Streeting – in what appeared to be an orchestrated move. The Future of the Party In their draft statement, which is due to be released on Wednesday, the union general secretaries wrote: “Labour’s affiliated unions have been clear that Labour cannot continue on its current path. “Whilst we recognise progress has been made, such as aspects of the Employment Rights Act and the increase in the minimum wage, the results at the election last week were devastating. “Labour is not doing enough to deliver the change that working people voted for at the general election. The Prediction It's clear that the prime minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new Leader.

The Official Rebuttals from Mexico and the CIA Mexico’s government and the CIA issued statements on Tuesday denying a CNN report that U.S. intelligence agents participated in targeted killings of alleged cartel members in Mexico. CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons called the story “false and salacious,” while Mexico’s Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch said the nation “categorically rejects” any notion of foreign lethal operations on its soil. Alleged CIA‑Backed Assassinations: What CNN Reported CNN cited unnamed sources claiming CIA operatives “directly participated” in several attacks since last year, including a March car explosion that killed Francisco Beltran, described as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Operations allegedly ranged from “passive intelligence sharing” to “direct participation in assassination operations.” The focus was said to be on mid‑level cartel figures. Numbers Behind the Controversy: Reported Deaths and Designations 190+ people killed in U.S. air strikes targeting drug‑trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, according to the Trump administration. Nine Latin‑American drug gangs, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have been labeled “terrorist organisations” by the United States. Two alleged CIA operatives died in a car crash after a counter‑narcotics raid, prompting the latest scrutiny. Diplomatic Fallout and Sovereignty Concerns The allegations have intensified existing friction between Washington and Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum recently threatened sanctions against Chihuahua officials for allowing CIA involvement in raids on clandestine labs. Mexico’s 2020 law requires foreign agents to share information with the government and denies them diplomatic immunity, underscoring the sovereignty debate. What Lies Ahead: Potential Shifts in U.S.–Mexico Security Cooperation Both sides stress that cooperation “exists, is important, and has yielded relevant results,” yet future joint operations may be conditioned on stricter oversight and transparent information‑sharing protocols. Analysts warn that continued public denial without independent verification could erode mutual trust, potentially prompting Mexico to seek alternative security partners or renegotiate existing agreements.

Study Shows Fetal Exposure to Vegetable Flavours Influences Post‑Birth PreferencesThe research team gave pregnant volunteers powdered kale or carrot capsules during the third trimester and later measured their children’s facial reactions to the same smells. Reactions were recorded via ultrasound before birth, repeated at three weeks, and again when the children were about three years old.Methodology: Kale and Carrot Powder Capsules Administered to Expectant MothersParticipants were asked to swallow a capsule each day containing either kale or carrot powder. The study avoided large volumes of juice, which many volunteers found unpalatable, opting for a low‑cost capsule format.Capsules administered in late pregnancy (around 32 weeks gestation).Initial chemosensory response captured with ultrasound imaging.Follow‑up assessments at 3 weeks and 3 years post‑birth.Sample Size and Observed Reactions Reveal Early Flavor MemoryAlthough the cohort was modest, the findings were consistent:12 children were observed at age three.Infants exposed to carrot powder smiled when presented with a carrot scent and grimaced at kale, and vice‑versa for the kale group.The same preference pattern was evident in the ultrasound scans before birth.These results suggest that flavour exposure in utero can create a durable chemosensory memory.Potential Public‑Health Benefits of Early Dietary ConditioningIf replicated on a larger scale, the approach could offer a low‑cost strategy for improving population nutrition:Reducing childhood resistance to vegetables may lower long‑term risks of obesity and diet‑related diseases.Capsules are inexpensive and could be integrated into routine prenatal supplements.The concept is adaptable to different cultural diets, as noted by the researchers’ interest in fish‑rich Japanese diets.Next Steps: Larger Trials and Cross‑Cultural ApplicationsThe authors acknowledge the need for a bigger, funded study to confirm the effect across diverse populations. Future research aims to:Expand the sample size to hundreds of mother‑child pairs.Test additional flavours and odourants, including artificial sweeteners.Explore policy pathways for incorporating flavour‑exposure capsules into prenatal care guidelines.Published in Developmental Psychobiology, the paper titled “Do Human Fetuses Form Long‑Lasting Chemosensory Memories?” opens a new avenue for early nutritional interventions.