Skip to main content
Already an Insider?Join
Intrigue

Daily flyovers

Latest news for 15 May 2026

Quick hits of consequential news from all corners of the world.

  1. 01

    UNITED KINGDOM

    Here we go (again).

    Another day, another “PM Starmer under pressure!” headline: now a young Labour MP is resigning so that popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham can run for his seat then challenge Starmer for leadership of not just the party, but the nation. Meanwhile, a tax probe has cleared Starmer’s former deputy Angela Rayner of wrongdoing, meaning she could also challenge Starmer for the top job. (Politico)

    Comment: Merits aside, it’s more demand on bandwidth the Brits can’t spare.

  2. 02

    SOLOMON ISLANDS

    New leader, who dis?

    Perennial opposition figure Matthew Wale has emerged as the new prime minister, a week after his predecessor fell in a no-confidence vote. Wale has previously pledged to publish — though not revoke — the secret 2022 security pact with China. (ABC)

    Comment: His seemingly moderating approach to China partly reflects a more practical approach to local coalition-building, essential to any local PM’s survival.

  3. 03

    TAJIKISTAN

    Good neighbours.

    Just prior to Trump’s visit, Tajikistan’s President Rahmon appeared in Beijing to sign a high-level Treaty on Permanent Good-Neighborliness. (CGTN)

    Comment: The move cements China’s growing dominance in Tajikistan (replacing Russia), and adds another brick to Beijing’s wall of partnerships across Central Asia.

  4. 04

    LATVIA

    PM resigns.

    The centre-right PM Silina has stepped down amid a political crisis triggered by wayward Ukrainian drones crashing into Latvian territory — she had fired her defence minister, prompting his Progressive party to pull its support. (BBC)

    Comment: The fallout seems less about the drones, and more around the government’s failure to anticipate risks and warn residents.

  5. 05

    UAE

    Who’s lying?

    The UAE is flatly denying a statement from Netanyahu’s office that the Israeli PM secretly met the UAE’s president (MBZ) in the UAE at the height of the Iran war — a chat Israel said delivered an unspecified “historic breakthrough.” (Bloomberg $)

    Comment: Someone’s fibbing, and it’s more likely the Emiratis here: they’re touchy about their Israel ties not just at home or in this region, but at this moment (Gaza, Iran). The more interesting question is why Israel went public: sensing Emirati hedging as the war drags on, Netanyahu probably sought to impose costs on anyone wanting it both ways. Regardless, it all exposes the limits of the Israel-Emirati rapprochement.

  6. 06

    NICARAGUA

    Group project.

    Russia’s Putin has signed into law a military cooperation pact with Nicaragua, promising joint training and intelligence sharing. (Americas Quarterly)

    Comment: Putin is signalling that if the US meddles near Russia, Russia will meddle near the US. As for Nicaragua? One of the region’s few remaining leftist autocrats, Ortega is probably hoping to strengthen his hand before DC shifts its sights his way.

  7. 07

    INDIA

    Sunken ship.

    Delhi has condemned the sinking of an Indian-flagged wooden cargo ship off Oman, though has stopped short of naming names. (Independent)

    Comment: The location, method (drone), and timing hint at Iranian-backed proxies.