Fragmenting Global Order and Shifting Alliancesactive

On the one hand, the Netherlands 'expresses understanding' of the reasons behind the United States and Israel’s actions against Iran, while on the other, it seeks to protect its reputation as a global energy hub, Vladimir Tarabrin said

LONDON — Nigel Farage said Thursday he was the victim of a petrol bomb attack last year, and no suspects have been brought to justice. The Reform UK leader told the Telegraph an ignited incendiary device was pushed through his letterbox in early 2025 after years of concern about his security. “It was an outright arson attempt. I wasn’t at home at the time, but when I came back and opened the door I found the damage,” Farage said.  “Luckily, it had burned itself out in the porch, and we think maybe the perpetrators were disturbed in the act. The police were all over it. They did their best but there are no suspects so far.” Farage has been subject to various attacks and has required security for many years. In 2019, he was hit by a milkshake while campaigning in the European elections. It happened again in the 2024 general election, and in that campaign, objects were also thrown at him while he was traveling on an open-top bus. He previously decided not to publicize the petrol bomb attack over fears doing so would force him to increase his security further, admitting “there are huge dangers in this job.” The Reform UK leader, who is touring the U. K. ahead of local elections on May 7, said: “I’m acutely aware of the love for me, but equally the levels of antipathy that exist. “Sometimes things happen when there are cameras there, but there are plenty of times when things don’t make the news, like pints of beer being thrown over me or the attack on my home.” Though online threats against Farage have been reported to the police many times, he said there’s been “no response that I can discern whatsoever and the pretty much point-blank refusal of the British state to help me.” Farage also told the Telegraph he received a seven-figure donation from Christopher Harborne, a crypto billionaire who has donated more than £12 million to Reform, to fund his personal security before re-entering politics. “This money was given to me so that I would be safe and secure for the rest of my life,” Farage said. “I’m very much on my own and will be for the rest of my life, and I have to face up to that grim reality.”

The Russian Security Council believes that the mission's goal is not disarmament but rather to maintain Syria’s rogue state status in order to preserve leverage over the new Damascus regime

The country assured though that it shares the desire to stabilize the global fuel market. Its oil production policy will take into account global supply and demand

Multinational furniture retailer Ikea says it will open its first small-format store in Beijing on Thursday, aiming at convenience and efficiency that analysts believe could lift footfall by bringing the brand closer to consumers amid shifting trends. The move comes after the company shut seven large outlets across mainland China in early February, as it grapples with the country’s rapidly changing consumer trends and declining demand for new-home furnishing amid a sluggish property...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quitting oil cartel Opec after nearly 60 years of membership.

European Commission president calls for diplomacy to end Iran war

👑During his visit to the United States, the UK’s #King #Charles III punctuated serious speeches with a series of #jokes delivered in his own distinctive style, prompting laughter from #US President Donald #Trump and the audience. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸

South Korea is a country that is aging rapidly. More than a fifth of its population is over 65 years old, and the healthcare and social services system is struggling to cope with the needs of all the elderly. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play: in this Asian country, they are using "Talking Buddy," an AI-powered calling service from the company Naver Cloud, which aims to connect with elderly individuals who live alone, are isolated, or are in poverty. The AI communicates with them through personalized conversations that last between two and five minutes. The goal is to alleviate their loneliness, detect any potential health or home emergencies, and, if possible, stimulate their cognitive function to help prevent dementia. "It makes me feel like I haven't been forgotten. That someone is paying attention to me," said Chung Yun-hee, a 70-year-old Korean woman, in an interview with The New York Times. The elderly woman told the media that the AI had saved her life on one occasion. She had woken up drenched in sweat and, as best she could, crawled towards the bathroom to vomit. Then, her phone rang, and a kind (and robotic) voice asked her how she was doing. The woman replied, "Too sick to talk," and hung up. Shortly after, a team arrived at her home to assist her. She was taken to a hospital and, a few hours later, underwent emergency surgery for a severe hernia. "The doctors told me that I could have had serious problems if they had arrived later. They said that..."

Former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama has called on Beijing and Tokyo to work together against “US arrogance”, as the global order is upended by President Donald Trump. Hatoyama, who was Japan’s prime minister from 2009 to 2010, said the two nations should find common ground and work to manage their bilateral relations. “I would argue that Japan and China should jointly confront a self-centred United States and [prevent] the collapse of the world order,” Hatoyama said at an event in Hong...

STRASBOURG — The EU needs more of its own taxes to raise revenue, allowing it to make debt repayments while continuing to fund farmers and regional development without increased contributions from member countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. The EU must agree on its 2028–2034 long-term budget by the end of 2027, though leaders hope to seal a deal by the end of 2026. There will be tense negotiations between EU countries such as Germany, which want to reduce the contributions from national coffers to the common budget, and the European Parliament, which on Wednesday proposed raising the budget beyond the €2 trillion mark. An added complication in these budget talks is that the EU is due to begin repaying the €390 billion it borrowed through common debt for its Covid-19 recovery package. Paying that back will have to be squared with continuing to support farmers, invest in poorer regions and fund industry, innovation and defense. “New own resources are indispensable,” von der Leyen said, using the EU term for raising its own money. “Without them, the choice is stark: higher national contributions or lower spending capacity. In other words, less Europe exactly where Europe needs to do more.” The Commission in July proposed a package of measures that would increase the amount of own resources. It included levies on carbon-intensive imported goods and taxes on carbon emissions produced in the EU, as well as non-recycled electronic waste, tobacco consumption and corporate profits. Together, they would raise €66 billion per year, the Commission says. “This is the only credible way to match Europe’s priorities with Europe’s means,” von der Leyen said Wednesday as she addressed MEPs. In its budget position, the European Parliament calls for taxes on online gambling, tech giants and crypto firms. New tax proposals have traditionally been rebuffed by countries, which oppose Brussels having power over fiscal and taxation policy. However, at a meeting in Cyprus last week, national leaders tasked the Commission with exploring Parliament’s proposed new taxes. Current own resources include customs duties and a levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has yet to launch prosecutions in 34 cases involving mini-storage premises that failed to comply with safety hazard orders, including sites first inspected as far back as 2016, the Audit Commission has said. The commission also revealed on Wednesday that none of the 249 industrial buildings required to improve fire safety measures in their common parts had complied with the orders issued under a law that took effect in 2020. Fire safety at industrial...

Ukraine will receive EUR 6 billion by the end of the second quarter 2026 to purchase domestically produced drones for its Defense Forces as part of a €90 billion loan.

TOKYO — As the US-Israeli war on Iran drags on indefinitely, Asia is realizing the extent to which 2026 is a major game-changer for a region that had been “the main driver of global growth.” This is the International Monetary Fund’s characterization. But what a difference two months of hostilities in the Middle East make for […] The post Asia’s oil shock nightmare has only just begun appeared first on Asia Times.

Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war and are cutting flights. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has taken a huge chunk of oil supplies off the market, sending the price of jet fuel soaring and triggering fears of shortages that could force airlines to cancel flights.

Britain's King Charles and Donald Trump hailed their countries' longstanding ties at a White House state dinner Tuesday -- despite the US president claiming the monarch agreed with him on Iran's nuclear weapons.

The Regime: "For us, the war is not over with the ceasefire."

King Charles III marked the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain with gratitude that the two countries united to build “one of the most consequential alliances in human history” while urging “that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking.” Speaking Tuesday to a joint session of the U. S. Congress, Charles repeatedly highlighted the historical and cultural ties that he said have cemented an enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom. But even as he spoke in unifying, optimistic terms, he delivered a series of nuanced warnings encouraging leaders in the U. S. to remain collaborative and engaged in global affairs. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson reports from Washington DC.

French fighter pilots deployed in the Middle East have been assisting in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. Commander Quentin, Captain Louis and Lieutenant Enzo were initially sent to the region as part of counterterrorism operations. But on February 28, as the conflict escalated, their mission took a new turn. Now back from deployment, they are speaking publicly for the first time about their experience.

OPEC faces a double crisis as it manages both the energy shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the departure of the UAE. Also in this edition: Airbus reports some disappointing quarterly results. Plus, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is sentenced to $5.5 billion in fines for its role in the deadly opioid crisis in the US.

New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday an application to install a statue commemorating so-called “comfort women” enslaved by Japan before and during World War II after Tokyo suggested it could harm diplomatic relations. Japan forced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China and Southeast Asia into sexual slavery from 1932 until 1945 and the issue remains a sore point in Tokyo’s relations with its neighbours. The Korean Garden Trust had sought to install a statue honouring the survivors at...

Federal Reserve officials are expected to leave interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, holding the benchmark rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75% for a third consecutive meeting. Investors will be looking for clues about how long the Fed is willing to maintain its patient posture, as well as what Chair Jerome Powell says about his future at the central bank. Bloomberg's Jill Disis reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Luis Montenegro noted that dialogue with Russia is essential for resolving ongoing conflicts

Hong Kong authorities have failed to meet targets on the supply and construction of youth hostels, with the number of flats offered accounting for only 44 per cent of what was intended, an audit report has found. The Audit Commission on Wednesday released its report reviewing the government’s development and management of the facilities under the Youth Hostel Scheme, which covered seven hostels, including two that had been completed and were in operation. The review found that as of December...

Europe is losing nearly €500 million a day as the Middle East conflict drives up fossil fuel costs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, as turmoil in the Persian Gulf continues to rattle global energy markets. “In just 60 days of conflict, our bill for fossil fuel imports has increased by over €27 billion, without a single molecule of additional energy,” she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that U. S. President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, a strategy aimed at squeezing Tehran’s economy by restricting shipping to and from its ports. The approach risks further disrupting oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a quarter of global oil trade and significant volumes of natural gas and fertilizers flow. Von der Leyen framed the conflict as further proof that the EU should accelerate its shift away from imported fossil fuels and electrify faster. “The way forward is obvious. We must reduce our overdependency on imported fossil fuels and boost our home-grown, affordable, clean energy supply. From renewables to nuclear, in full respect of technology neutrality,” she said. Von der Leyen said the Commission will present an Electrification Action Plan by the summer, including an “ambitious” EU-wide target. A draft Commission agenda seen by POLITICO showed the plan is now expected on June 10, alongside a broader strategy on strengthening energy security. The Commission president renewed calls for faster progress on the EU’s Grids Package, which is currently being negotiated by EU lawmakers and governments and aims to upgrade infrastructure to handle more renewable power and rising electricity demand. She also urged closer coordination on diesel and jet fuel reserves, oil stock releases and output from refineries, measures which are part of Brussels’ broader response to the energy crisis unveiled by the Commission last Wednesday.

Buffer zones occupy a grey area in international humanitarian law, as rules around them in contemporary warfare are not particularly clear.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is visiting Vietnam from May 1-3 and Australia from May 3-5, with energy security, critical minerals and China’s maritime posture expected on the agenda. The most consequential element may be a foreign policy address she is expected to deliver in Hanoi, setting out a revised version of Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy. […] The post Takaichi on a mission to remake Japan’s place in Asia appeared first on Asia Times.

"Our bond is unbreakable; we are determined to face the future together."

President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Iran "doesn't know how to sign a non-nuclear deal" and needs to "get smart soon." His comments follow the US signaling that it will maintain a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as it attempts to restrict Tehran's oil exports and force it to return to negotiations. Bloomberg's Joumanna Bercetche reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Scientific research has revealed that the Turkana Rift, a tectonic basin in eastern Africa, has entered a critical phase of thinning of the Earth's crust, suggesting that the region is closer to continental separation than previously estimated, according to the specialized portal Science Daily. This advancement in the rifting process—the progressive opening of a fracture in the Earth's crust—, documented in the scientific journal Nature Communications, has long-term geological implications and provides a new perspective on the fossil record that characterizes the area. According to the analysis of seismic data led by Christian Rowan, a doctoral student at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, the "necking"—the drastic reduction in the thickness of the Earth's crust—is already in an advanced stage: the crust in the central sector of the rift is only 13 kilometers thick, compared to the more than 35 kilometers of the adjacent areas. This condition favors the continuation of the fracture and anticipates the formation of a new ocean over millions of years. The separation of the African and Somali plates—which progresses at a rate of 4.7 millimeters per year—increases volcanic activity and the accumulation of sediments, factors that have shaped both the current landscape and the fossil record of the region. The team achieved these results by combining analyses…

Jasmir Urbina was scammed and then deported. Across the U. S., immigration scams have spiked amid President Donald Trump’s mass deportation effort. Photo courtesy of Jasmir Urbina As an asylum-seeker living in the U. S., Jasmir Urbina worried as she watched violence break out amid the military-style immigration sweeps across the country. Then she read about legal residents being arrested at immigration court and wondered when federal agents would set their sights on her city. Urbina had fled Nicaragua in 2022 and legally resided with her husband, a fellow asylum-seeker, in New Orleans while reporting to immigration agents for check-ins as she awaited her day in court. Finally, the date was approaching, in late November 2025. Days later, the Trump administration would flood the region with federal officers in “Operation Swamp Sweep.” Urbina, 35, began searching for a Spanish speaker who could help her, and said she stumbled on a Facebook post advertising the services of Catholic Charities, a prominent aid organization whose services include assisting immigrants. After a few clicks, she connected via WhatsApp with “Susan Millan,” who claimed to have a law degree. The woman’s photo looked professional, showing a small library in the blurry background, according to a screenshot Urbina shared with ProPublica. The asylum-seeker said she discussed her predicament with the woman she thought was an attorney. Millan told Urbina the ordeal could be settled over a virtual hearing with U. S. immigration authorities. Millan sprinkled in details about her own life — a sick husband, two kids, a supportive church — so Urbina felt comfortable. In an interview, Urbina said she completed paperwork to be sent to U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, for a fee. Millan’s organization asked her for documentation, including five character references; for another fee, it would submit these up the line. Through the payment app Zelle, Urbina and her husband paid nearly $10,000, according to her financial records, money they had set aside to buy their first home. On Nov. 21, Urbina made the case that a “credible fear” was keeping her from going home. In the virtual hearing, which lasted five minutes, she said she spoke to a man dressed in a green uniform, stitched with what looked like government insignia, seated in front of an American flag. A day later, via WhatsApp, Millan told her she “won residency.” Her documents would be in the mail. In an instant, Urbina’s fears had been assuaged. She asked if she should still attend her court date, Nov. 24. “No, don’t worry,” she remembers the woman replying. “There’s no need.” But when Urbina asked to speak with someone in a message to Millan’s phone number the next day, according to screenshots she shared with ProPublica, the WhatsApp chat fell silent. After two days, she suspected she’d been duped and wrote in anger: “God is with us and He fights for His children; today you messed with the wrong person and you will get your payment from the Most High, you cowards.” There was no attorney named Susan Millan associated with Catholic Charities, and the deceit was just one example of hundreds that the group has become aware of when desperate immigrants eventually reach the real organization. “There’s a reason why we have a good reputation,” said Chris Ross, vice president of migration and refugee resettlement services at Catholic Charities. “And so for someone to be trading on that goodwill with nefarious intent is very frustrating.” Urbina had fallen prey to “notario fraud,” in which scammers provide legal advice, often by saying they’re public notaries or other legal professionals. In many Latin American countries, a public notary is the equivalent of a lawyer, and notario fraudsters rely on this mistranslation to fake credentials. Urbina shared documents that detail how she was lured into the scam, and ProPublica corroborated her story with her husband and Catholic Charities. After Urbina told local and federal authorities she had been tricked out of her day in court, Immigration and Customs Enforcement switched her scheduled December virtual check-in to an in-person meeting. When she showed up, agents arrested her. In January, she said, officers shackled her hands and feet and loaded her on a plane to Nicaragua. She’d been scammed, then deported. A spokesperson with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to questions about Urbina’s case but said, “Anyone caught impersonating a federal immigration agent will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” New Orleans police did not answer ProPublica’s questions about a complaint she filed. Scams like those that destroyed Urbina’s dreams are on the rise, federal data analyzed by ProPublica shows, as profiteers seize on the fear and confusion wrought by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Complaints of immigration scams have doubled since Trump was elected, ProPublica found in analyzing more than 6,200 complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission by victims and advocates over the last five years. From the start of 2021 through the election in fall of 2024, the FTC — the nation’s top consumer protection agency — fielded about 960 immigration complaints per year, such as reports of fake attorneys offering services or people impersonating federal officers. In 2025, the commission received nearly 2,000 complaints. In all, at least $94.4 million was reported stolen in complaints to the FTC over five years. That number is certainly an undercount, as not all immigrants report wrongdoing for fear of deportation, and not every report included dollar amounts. The spike in complaints is so severe that many states and legal organizations have alerted the public about them. California’s and North Carolina’s attorneys general released statements in late 2025, as did the American Bar Association and AARP. In June 2025, the New York City Council passed legislation increasing notario fraud penalties, and a similar law passed in Florida. “Immigration scammers contribute to a lawless environment, undermining our immigration system,” said Zach Kahler, a spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency Urbina falsely thought had awarded her residency. Online, the agency provides guides on how to spot immigration fraud and warns consumers that it does not use WhatsApp. The agency tells people who think they’ve been scammed to complain to the FTC. Old Problem, New Sophistication Scams targeting those mired in the U. S. immigration system are not new, but advocates say predators have become more sophisticated, using technologies like artificial intelligence and targeted ads. At the same time, immigrants have become increasingly anxious about speedy mass deportations, creating a bonanza for those looking to cash in. “I believe AI is being utilized in these scams pretty effectively. People think they’re talking to a real person, or the logos and stuff look pretty professional to the untrained eye,” said Ross, of Catholic Charities. Many victims say they were duped by scammers who had professional-looking photos, wore immigration uniforms and staged realistic virtual hearings. A review of the image of the person named Millan who was supposedly helping Urbina suggests that it was AI-generated. Ross added: “The biggest thing is the desperation — that’s really what’s driving this.” In San Diego, attorneys working for the city have been impersonated by scammers. City Attorney Heather Ferbert told ProPublica her office has forwarded these cases to the FBI and warned residents to be on the lookout for advertisements that promise a government official or lawyer can help with immigration proceedings. The FBI declined to comment. “When you add the title and you add the government weight behind it — the city attorney’s office, the district attorney’s office, for example — the targets are sort of lulled,” Ferbert said. “We’ve heard stories where they promise that they can solve their immigration problems for them. No real lawyer is ever going to promise an outcome to you.” Other scams extend beyond impersonating lawyers. The FTC complaints include a case in which people posing as Department of Homeland Security immigration officers received more than $600,000 from a family by claiming one of the relatives’ identities had been stolen and they needed to pay to protect it. In West Virginia, a “federal agent” threatened to deport a college student who was close to graduating unless they paid nearly $4,000 in gift cards. “They claimed that if I did not comply immediately, I would be arrested, detained or deported,” wrote the student, who was legally residing in the U. S. on a student visa. The student, whose name was not disclosed in federal data, used prepaid Dollar General gift cards and then went broke and turned to family for help. Immigrants from India and Bangladesh were told they had failed to update a necessary form and would be arrested and deported immediately unless they shared their Social Security numbers. Other scammers claimed the government had intercepted packages full of money and drugs addressed to immigrants, who were told to make a payment or face arrest. “Well-Oiled Machine” Most victims find the fake attorneys advertising on Facebook or TikTok. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has pledged to delete scam accounts and announced new tools to track them. Charity Anastasio, practice and ethics counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the ads are often pay-per-click and targeted at Spanish-speaking users. “They’ve designed such a well-oiled machine,” Anastasio said. The ads appealed to those in deportation proceedings, clinging to any means to stay in the U. S., but also those who may have wanted to get their paperwork in order ahead of Trump’s crackdown, said Adonia Simpson, an attorney with the American Bar Association. “A lot of people are trying to preemptively get representation to see what their options are,” Simpson told ProPublica. “The enforcement has been a big driver. It’s caused a lot of people to be very fearful.” The White House declined to comment. In October 2024, 56-year-old José Aguilar, who had been granted temporary protected status under George W. Bush’s administration, was in just that position when he came upon a Facebook ad. The advertiser claimed to work for Jorge Rivera, a well-known Miami immigration attorney, and promised Aguilar they could get him permanent residency. It would take $15,000. ProPublica sought comment from the real Rivera, who is not accused of wrongdoing; he did not respond. A leather factory worker in Minnesota who had fled El Salvador, Aguilar cobbled together the money in installments through loans from friends and that year’s tax refund. Over several months, he had four video calls with the fake attorney and two calls with immigration agent impersonators. He was initially skeptical but became convinced when they sent him videos of residency cards with the Citizenship and Immigration Services logo. “Don’t try to deceive me, because I’m borrowing money, I’m a man of faith, and I’m a person who has had a heart transplant, so I can’t get angry because it hurts me,” Aguilar remembered saying. “No, don’t worry, sir,” Aguilar said the scammer responded. “This is real. It’s super real.” During one of their last conversations, Aguilar says the scammer appealed to their shared Christian faith, thanking God for approving the paperwork and earning him residency. By February 2025, the scammers had stopped responding. A month later, Aguilar realized he was probably never going to get the residency cards and contacted an attorney who confirmed he had been duped. Aguilar, who has two young daughters, says his famil…

House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to pass several major pieces of legislation, but party infighting has complicated his job -- and by extension the GOP's agenda.

The war in Iran is fueling a resurgence in maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, according to a European Union naval force patrolling the region.

His activity on social media shows how the eco-populist bristles at criticism

There is a certain irony in seeing some of the world’s richest countries quietly ask the United States for financial relief. For decades, the Gulf monarchies cultivated an image of inexhaustible wealth: sovereign funds the size of nations, skylines raised from desert sands and hydrocarbon revenues so vast that deficits seemed like a problem for […] The post King Dollar still reigns supreme in liquidity-starved Gulf appeared first on Asia Times.

The United States' M1 Abrams tanks are ranked second on the list, and Israel's Merkava V is third.

Taiwan and Germany reported robust bilateral trade growth in the first quarter of 2026, signaling reinforced high-tech supply-chain ties with global implications for AI-driven manufacturing and semiconductors. Rising Taiwanese electronics exports and targeted German machinery shipments suggest deeper industrial cooperation that could affect international technology sourcing and production networks.

The Prime Minister will face Kemi Badenoch and other MPs at the final Prime Minister's Questions of the 2024-26 parliamentary session. Good morning. Originally, Keir Starmer had hoped there would be no need for Prime Minister's Questions today, but we have one, and it will definitely be the last of the 2024-26 parliamentary session. It will be an opportunity for Starmer to reflect on all the legislation passed. There is some relief that the government easily won the vote on Kemi Badenoch's call for Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee. Here is our overnight story by Pippa Crerar, Ben Quinn, and Jessica Elgot. Continue reading...

India’s response to the unfolding crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has, so far, been restrained. That restraint was not accidental but reflected a conscious adherence to strategic autonomy at a time when the situation was still evolving, outcomes were uncertain, and premature alignment carried significant risks. For weeks, New Delhi chose to stay engaged […] The post India’s Hormuz restraint is running out of time appeared first on Asia Times.

Regarding the potential military operation in Iran, even prominent figures within the MAGA movement, a strong base of support for President Trump, have been voicing sharp criticism. President Trump's approval ratings are showing a downward trend. According to a U.S. political information website, based on an average of various polls and surveys released by different media outlets and research companies as of the 28th, the percentage of people who answered "do not support" President Trump is at its highest level since the beginning of his second term.

Deputy director of the China Institute of International Studies Dong Manyuan pointed out that "despite signs of war fatigue on both sides, reaching an agreement on core issues still appears to take time, and neither party has yet reached the point of making final concessions"

The European Union warned the continent may spend years grappling with fallout from the US-Israeli war in Iran, signaling that an energy price spike will not abate soon.

During the White House state dinner on Tuesday evening, King Charles III highlighted “one of the most consequential alliances in human history” in a largely jovial and lighthearted speech.

Preliminary investigation into compliance with regulations designed to protect minors.

Hong Kong will introduce a two-month subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by taxis, minibuses and school buses from May, amid soaring fuel prices, while a previously announced diesel subsidy will take effect on Thursday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday that the interdepartmental task force monitoring fuel price movements had proposed a 50 HK cents per litre subsidy for two months, starting in May, to alleviate operational pressure on taxis and minibuses, among...

François Picard is pleased to welcome Merijn Tinga, Biologist, Artist, Activist, affectionately known as the Plastic Soup Surfer. He joins us, not only as a scientist or activist, but as someone who spends hours a day on the water, experiencing directly the forces we so often abstract away. From the surfboard, everything becomes clear: "You become one with the wind, with the waves… you have one focus.” And yet, back on land, "you're immersed by this throwaway culture".

Being a Malaysian Indian is apparently a good indication that you are unlikely to fall for a scam. Police have found that potential victims from the ethnic group are more than likely to frustrate scammers with a barrage of questions. Malaysians lost an estimated 2.7 billion ringgit (US$684 million) to online scams last year alone, according to data from cybersecurity firm Fortinet Malaysia – a 76 per cent increase from the previous year – as syndicates adopt increasingly sophisticated methods...

Members of the Japan Confederation of A-Bomb and H-Bomb Sufferers (JAC), who are participating in the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) Review Conference held in the United States, exchanged opinions with local university students and others, advocating for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

Brussels is looking for a long-term fix, putting both renewables and nuclear back on the table after the Strait of Hormuz closure sent energy bills soaring. Watch the video!

Analysts say that Moscow could offer a 'lifeline' but logistical issues, costs offer little incentive in the long-run.

Labor is facing pressure to abolish group voting tickets as Avi Yemini outlines a plan to direct votes to conservative parties in the state election. A right-wing provocateur's plan to register the "Free Palestine party" and use it to channel votes to conservative parties in Victoria's state election has reignited concerns about the state's voting system. Avi Yemini, a former Israeli soldier and self-proclaimed investigative journalist who creates content for his YouTube channel Rebel News Australia, announced on Tuesday plans to register the party, which he said would "direct our preferences to parties that want to free Palestine from Hamas" in the November election.

Exclusive: Cambridge research finds socioenvironmental stressors may influence body’s ability to function healthily in pregnancy Stress from racism and deprivation could explain why black women are more likely to die during childbirth, a study has found. Researchers reviewed 44 existing studies that examined three physiological pathways associated with worse pregnancy outcomes: oxidative stress, inflammation, and uteroplacental vascular resistance, and found black women had higher levels of the three metrics. Continue reading...

In this edition of the Secrecy Tracker: how Big Tech’s fingerprints ended up on data centre secrecy laws, the European Court of Justice’s €1.2m website "disaster," and the irony of a closed-door event celebrating transparency. Plus, the EU Ombudsman is facing an AI-fuelled complaint surge.

The president is celebrating investments he made in his first term that needed years to pay off, as he continues to seek “American dominance in space.”

Instead of smuggling drugs, the cartels send ‘cooks’ to produce them in laboratories hidden in villages in the Polish regions of Pomerania or Podlaskie.

Supermicro's new 32.8-acre Silicon Valley campus will add hundreds of US positions and expand domestic production of AI infrastructure, signaling increased US capacity for enterprises and cloud providers worldwide. The expansion may affect global AI deployment timelines and supply-chain choices by boosting domestic system design, manufacturing, testing, and distribution capabilities.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned this Tuesday that it will use "new trump cards" if the United States attacks Iran again. This comes amid ongoing disputes in the negotiation process aimed at reaching an agreement, following the offensive launched on February 28 by Israeli and U.S. forces against the Islamic Republic. "If the United States makes another miscalculation and attacks the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Navy of the Revolutionary Guard will use its new winning strategies, including the intelligent selection of targets, and will destroy the massive ships of the criminal regime with the fury of its anger, rendering them inoperable," said Mohamad Akbarzadeh, deputy political director of the aforementioned military branch, in statements reported by the Iranian agency Fars. He also emphasized that, should such an event occur, Iranian authorities would also use "their other instruments of power on other fronts of resistance." This could refer to attacks on U.S. bases and interests in the region, as well as the renewed involvement of pro-Iranian militias in the conflict, such as those belonging to the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which are closely linked to the security apparatus of Baghdad. Akbarzadeh made these statements from a cemetery in the city of Minab, where ceremonies were held to commemorate the 155 victims of…

The former FBI Director, James Comey, who was targeted by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been charged with threatening the president. While some claim that images posted by the former director on social media suggest an intent to harm the president, the former director maintains his innocence.

Ukraine's air defense forces neutralized 154 out of 171 drones that Russian forces used to attack Ukraine overnight.

LONDON — King Charles made an open appeal for reconciliation between Britain and the United States on Tuesday, as he tried to revive Keir Starmer’s ability to speak to Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine. The British monarch used his joint address to Congress Tuesday to speak of how NATO members had “answered the call together” after 9/11, adding: “Today, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people — in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.” The unusually direct remarks for a head of state who must carefully choose his words come at a time when the U. S.-Israel war in Iran has opened a major rift in Trump’s relationship with Starmer, and curbed communications between Downing Street and the White House. Charles’ trip has been seen in London as a high-stakes bid to repair the damage that’s played out in Truth Social jibes and press conference attacks. Starmer has long tried to keep Trump close to make representations on behalf of Ukraine, as it continues to fend off Russia years after the full-scale invasion. U. K. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell — who has played a central role in the strategy and whose U. S. links are well-known — has faced difficulties in speaking to the Trump administration since strikes on Iran began, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Like others in this piece, they were granted anonymity to discuss topics they weren’t authorized to discuss publicly. Dialogue between the two administrations has suffered because the White House’s attention is focused elsewhere, and in retaliation for the British stance on Iran, the same people said. One of the people briefed, a U. K. government official, said that Powell “doesn’t know who to call anymore” since U. S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff — who had been representing Trump in Ukraine negotiations — is now expending most of his efforts on Iran. A second individual with close links to the U. S. said that the administration was “being vindictive” because of Britain’s refusal to support the war in Iran. They added that Powell’s efforts to discuss Ukraine were “hurting” him and that his U. S. counterparts are now “icing him out a little bit.” The third person, a Whitehall official, said Powell’s reach into the White House had “taken a knock” but said the U. S. State Department and British Foreign Office were still working well together. A No.10 official disputed this characterization, stressing that the intelligence and military relationship is “functioning every day as usual,” and pointing out that Powell was in attendance for a recent meeting between U. S. Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U. K. Deputy PM David Lammy. However, it remains unclear how Trump regards efforts by allies to restart talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. Inside the U. S. administration, some aides could not recall the last time the topic of Russia-Ukraine peace talks came up. “Iran has definitely become the primary focus,” said a senior White House official. The president’s top two envoys involved in dialogue with Russia and Ukraine, Witkoff and Jared Kushner, “are working mostly on Iran,” the official continued, although they acknowledged that some communication with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts has continued to take place. The same White House official also acknowledged that the president’s interest in working with NATO colleagues on Ukraine has diminished due to his very public frustration with European allies over their refusal to join the U. S. war against Iran. As well as insulting Starmer, Trump upbraided NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a White House meeting and presented him with a “naughty and nice” list that split member countries into two categories, based on their level of defense spending and future commitments. But a second White House official who confirmed that the president remains furious with many European allies cautioned against concluding that he would not re-engage on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine once the Iran conflict is resolved. “Just because he’s not focused on it at the moment doesn’t mean it’s not still an important priority,” the second official said. One European diplomat close to peace talks acknowledged the frosty atmosphere, but denied there were any “serious difficulties” with the U. K. speaking to the U. S. about Ukraine. Starmer told parliament last month: “No matter what other international events, the U. K.’s support for Ukraine will not waver.” A government spokesperson said: “We engage regularly with the U. S. at all levels because we share a deep and longstanding partnership on intelligence, defence and security.”

China’s top market regulator is intensifying its crackdown on debt-laden “zombie companies” – rolling out a pilot programme in seven economic hubs to facilitate the forced exit of unprofitable firms often propped up by government subsidies or bank loans. The move signals a broadening of Beijing’s campaign against local protectionism and the low-quality vicious competition that officials say results in neijuan, or “involution”. With a change to China’s Company Law, the State Administration for...

Donald Trump recalled his late mother's fondness for King Charles during a speech related to preparations for America's 250th anniversary.

Iran has offered to end its control over the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade of the country and ending the war, a proposal that would postpone discussions about the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, according to the AP news agency. It seems unlikely that U.S. President Donald Trump will accept the offer, which was conveyed to the Americans by Pakistan and would leave unresolved the disagreements that led the United States and Israel to go to war on February 28th. Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to dismiss any agreement that excludes Iran's nuclear program. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources within the administration, Donald Trump and his national security advisors are skeptical of Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and suspend nuclear negotiations. The Russian ambassador to the United Nations accused Western countries of hypocrisy during a Security Council meeting on Monday and stated that Iran has every right to limit traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. "An attempt was made to attribute all the responsibility to Iran, as if this country had attacked its neighbors and was deliberately obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," said Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia. "In times of war, a coastal state that is under attack can..."

Qatar has introduced new measures to maintain market stability and reinforce investor confidence as regional tensions weigh on economic sentiment.

Thailand’s vision for a land bridge splits opinion: some see it as a crucial new Asian trade route for a global economy held hostage by geography, while others view it as an expensive and environmentally ruinous distraction for a kingdom with plenty already on its plate. But to its backers, the proposed road and rail corridor, bookended by ports on the Gulf of Thailand and another 90km (56 miles) away on the Andaman Sea, to bypass a vital chokepoint, has never felt more urgent. Iran’s virtual...

Badge holders and caregivers report being harassed, filmed, and threatened by strangers who believe they are faking a disability. People with disabilities who use blue badges to carry out their daily lives have reported being harassed, questioned, and even assaulted, as anti-benefits rhetoric becomes more prevalent in the UK. Approximately 3 million people in the UK now have a blue badge, including 1 in 15 adults in England. The number of people who qualify for the scheme – which allows drivers to park in more accessible spaces – has led some to warn of misuse and fraud.

China’s new law on Industrial and Supply Chain Security, which took effect immediately in early April, introduces a significant new layer of regulatory oversight targeting cross-border industrial activity and global supply chains. It will inevitably have far-reaching implications for multinational corporations operating in China. While formally presented as a framework to safeguard supply chain security […] The post Decouple from China? Beijing now has a law against it appeared first on Asia Times.

A coalition of Republican lawmakers has introduced a bill aiming to reform the H-1B visa program, reducing annual visas from 65,000 to 25,000.

Demand for advanced chips at TSMC is tightening amid the AI boom, with its 3nm process becoming increasingly congested as major customers compete for limited capacity.

US: North Carolina labour official backs federal rule to hike H-1B wages

Iran’s deputy defence minister said the country understands global concerns about current restrictions on the key shipping route.

The two-day segment of ministers and senior officials marks the political centerpiece of the First Conference on Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels, where more than 50 countries have been discussing how to move away from oil, gas and coal.

Business leaders, Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries and Trump family members attended the white-tie festivities at the White House.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the passports being issued will feature a portrait of former President Trump alongside excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. The media is reporting that this is the first time a portrait of a living former president has been included on a U.S. passport.

Charity says starting specialised care after first miscarriage instead of third reduces risk of future losses Giving women access to specialised care after their first miscarriage could prevent about 10,000 pregnancy losses a year across the UK, according to a study. Currently, women in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible for specialist care on the NHS for early baby losses after they have had a minimum of three miscarriages. Continue reading...

Founder of Citadel says some investors may not have realised they cannot quickly withdraw all their money from funds

Extra funds mean majors can now in theory increase exploration without cutting shareholder returns

European countries want to accelerate the shift to solar, wind and other energy sources whose supply chains are dominated by China

President Donald Trump praised the defense relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom in his remarks at the state dinner, stating that the two nations share "unconquerable courage." He claimed the king supported his effort to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, although the U.K. has publicly refused to provide full military support for the U.S. and Israeli operation against Iran. “From the trenches of World War I to the beaches of Normandy, from the frozen hills of Korea to the scorching sands of North Africa and the Middle East, and we’re doing a little Middle East work right now,” Trump said. “And we’re never going to let that opponent ever — Charles agrees with me, even more than I do — we’re never going let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. Our countries have stood together, defiant, triumphant against the forces of communism, fascism and tyranny.” “History has known no more powerful force than the combination of American patriotism and British pride,” he added. He said it’s “only natural” to begin the 250th anniversary celebration of American independence with a tribute to the U.K., while noting that the U.S.-U.K. relationship has grown into a unique friendship since 1776. “The same audacity that called a small island kingdom to rule the seven seas, and rule them you did, inspired the children of 13 American colonies to explore a great frontier and a very, very dangerous frontier, and settle what was known as …

On April 22, Indonesia’s finance minister went off-topic during a symposium and raised the possibility of tolling the Strait of Malacca in light of the current Hormuz crisis, drawing swift rejections from the foreign ministers of Singapore, Malaysia and even Indonesia. All appealed to norms like the “freedom of navigation” or the “right of transit […] The post Toll the Malacca Strait — and price out American hegemony appeared first on Asia Times.

King Charles III, speaking after President Donald Trump, hailed the NATO alliance and the U. S.-U. K. trade and defense relationship to combat growing global challenges. “Our people have fought and fallen together in defense of the values we cherish across the ocean and from coast to coast. We have traded, innovated and created together. We’ve stood together through the best and worst of times,” the king said. “However, the challenges we now face from those who wish us harm across the world, to balancing the risks and opportunities of powerful new technologies, to the threats to the very international rules that have allowed us to trade and have kept power in balance for 80 years.” He also said that “freedom is under attack” because of the Russia invasion into Ukraine. “Today, our partnerships in NATO and AUKUS deepen our technological and military cooperation and ensure that together we can meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and contested world,” the king said. Charles also came to the state dinner with no shortage of jokes about the past U. S.-U. K. relationship. He called the president’s second term “historic” and said it’s a pleasure to “be back in this wonderful building, the heart of your democracy.” He quipped that he noticed the “readjustments to the East Wing,” adding that the British made their own attempt at “real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814” when British forces burned the White House building. He also called out the states and cities, including Charleston and Annapolis, named after British monarchs, and gifted Trump a bell that hung on HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine that fought in the Battle of the Pacific in World War II, quipping: “should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring.”

UK King Charles gave US President Donald Trump a taste of his own medicine at a White House state dinner on Tuesday when he joked that without the British, Americans would be speaking French. As the heads of state traded jokes during their dinner toasts, Charles referenced previous comments by Trump aimed at European allies he accuses of freeloading on defence since World War II. “You recently commented, Mr President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be...

Asia's economies, which rely heavily on oil imports, are likely to benefit from the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) withdrawal from OPEC, although the ongoing closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz may not provide any immediate relief from soaring prices, analysts say. Global oil prices continued to surge on Wednesday, with benchmark Brent crude oil prices reaching US$111 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approaching US$100 a barrel. Before the Iran war, Brent was trading around US$70 a barrel, while WTI was about US$65.

Mojtaba Ferdowsi Pour says that Tehran does not plan to discuss its missile program or the so-called "Axis of Resistance" during negotiations with the US

President of the European Council António Costa has invited Canada as a guest to participate in the next summit of the European Political Community, which will take place in Yerevan in May.

During a state dinner at the White House, US President Donald Trump said that Britain's King Charles III had agreed that Iran could not possess nuclear weapons. Trump also said that Iran had been "militarily defeated."

Southwest Airlines partners with America250 to celebrate US 250th anniversary with new livery Independence One.

King Charles' four-day state visit, which began on April 27, is intended, in part, to foster relationships between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Google has pledged up to US$40 billion to Anthropic — US$10 billion upfront and US$30 billion contingent — reshaping global AI competition by tying compute access to funding. For international enterprises and policymakers, the deal signals that cloud providers are increasingly using capital to secure AI customers and influence which models dominate the next phase of AI development.

A global surge in artificial intelligence computing is accelerating demand for advanced semiconductors and reinforcing Taiwan's near-term economic momentum, even as leading indicators soften.

The victim had protested against the widening role of the military, which activists say is reminiscent of the country’s decades-long dictatorship.

President Trump on Tuesday said King Charles III “agrees” that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.  “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now, as you might know, and we’re doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever—Charles agrees with me even…

As the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran enters its second month, a fragile ceasefire has tempered immediate market shocks, yet economists warn that prolonged tensions could still ripple through global energy and trade. For Taiwan, however, strong export momentum — driven by surging demand for AI and semiconductor technologies — has so far cushioned the impact.

Europe's climate extremes have hit new highs — but renewables are now supplying nearly half of the continent's electricity.

BERLIN — Germany’s economy is flatlining, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is blaming everyone but himself. The chancellor was elected on a promise to jolt Germany’s enervated economy back to life, but one year on, he and his conservative-led government have failed to do so. As Merz’s dismay grows and his popularity plummets, he is increasingly lashing out at factors beyond his immediate control — from the war in Iran to what his government casts as heavy-handed regulation and waste in Brussels. The chancellor this week chose an unlikely place to vent his frustration: on the stage of a high school auditorium in his home region in rural western Germany. A subdued Merz told students the U. S. had been “humiliated” by Iran’s regime, lacks a strategy for ending the war, and has left peace talks empty-handed — causing significant economic damage to Germany given the resulting surge in energy prices. “It’s costing us a lot of money — a lot of taxpayer money — and it’s costing us a lot of economic strength,” Merz said. “This war against Iran has a direct impact on our economic performance, and for that reason it must be brought to an end as soon as possible.” It was Merz’s fiercest attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war yet, and it prompted rhetorical retaliation from U. S. President, who, in a Truth Social post Tuesday, claimed the chancellor is “OK” with the regime in Tehran having a nuclear weapon. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Trump wrote. “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!” For Merz, who has sought to keep friendly relations with Trump, the rebuke likely reflects a clear political calculus. Trump and the war are deeply unpopular in Germany, making them expedient targets for the chancellor. The same logic underpins Merz’s attacks on Brussels: Railing against red tape — from AI rules to public spending — plays particularly well among business leaders at home while shifting blame outward. At a trade fair in Hannover earlier this month, the chancellor said he would push to “exempt industrial AI ​from the current regulatory straitjacket” imposed by the EU. Merz’s conservatives have also launched an effort to get European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to slash regulations more aggressively, while the chancellor has also pushed back strongly against her budget plans, calling instead for “across-the-board cuts in all sections” of the EU executive’s proposal. Merz’s attacks on Brussels are part of a bid to placate German industry leaders, who blame excessive EU regulation for a loss of competitiveness. Four in five German firms complain that bureaucracy has increased over the past three years, according to a survey of 1,000 companies by the German Economic Institute. More than 90 percent want EU rules scaled back. “Only as a strong economic hub can we be a strong international player,” Stefan Berger, a German conservative MEP focused on the economy, told POLITICO. “In this situation, it makes sense to look to Brussels, scrutinize some existing regulations and cut through unnecessary red tape so that European companies can focus more on production and less on paperwork.” Merz’s attempts to pin the blame abroad have a great deal to do with his limited domestic options and sinking popularity. The chancellor this week, for the first time, fell to last place in polling firm INSA’s popularity ranking of Germany’s 20 most prominent politicians. Meanwhile, only 15 percent of Germans said they are satisfied with Merz’s centrist coalition, according to Germany’s benchmark ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll released early this month, a new low. As dissatisfaction with Merz’s government grows, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party — which has been hitting the government hard on the economy and high energy prices — has surged to new heights in polls, and is now the most popular force in German politics, according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has surged to new heights in polls. | Heiko Rebsch/picture alliance via Getty Images ‘The cause lies with us’ The trouble for Merz is that he has no easy domestic political options for immediately stimulating Germany’s export-oriented economy in the face of strong global headwinds that have hampered growth, from the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine to Trump’s trade wars. Last week the German economy ministry slashed its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing the fallout of the war in the Middle East. A historic move by Merz and his allies to unleash hundreds of billions of euros in borrowing for infrastructure and defense last year — widely referred to as an economic “bazooka” at the time — failed to produce the economic blast many in his centrist coalition had hoped for. That’s partly because Germany’s government has redirected the bulk of funds originally earmarked for infrastructure into covering budget gaps, according to reports last month from two leading research institutes. At the same time, defense spending doesn’t stimulate economic growth to the same degree as other forms of investment. Germany’s coalition also can’t borrow its way out of the economic rut, and in fact has been slashing costs. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is set to present his draft 2027 budget framework for which he had to find cuts across ministries to close a budgetary gap of around €34 billion. That leaves Merz facing the large structural reforms he and his center-left coalition partners in the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have vowed to undertake, but have repeatedly delayed. Those include far-reaching changes to control spiraling health care costs, and overhauls of the tax and pension systems to ease the financial burden on employees and businesses. Merz’s cabinet is expected to agree on the first of these packages, the health care reform, on Wednesday, but his ideologically conflicted coalition remains at odds over key aspects of the tax and pension overhauls. That’s particularly the case after the SPD suffered heavy losses in two recent state elections, which ramped up pressure on party leaders to retrench and refocus on their base. “I will block any attempts to roll back workers’ rights,” Bärbel Bas, one of the SPD’s national leaders, said this week. The spending plans and the reform packages still require parliamentary approval, with lawmakers facing thorny negotiations over the coming months. The stakes are high: Germany’s previous left-leaning government led by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed in 2024 over spending disagreements and budget constraints. While German business leaders broadly support Merz’s effort to scale back EU regulation — and see eye-to-eye with the chancellor on the need for a U. S.-Israeli peace deal with Iran to bring down energy costs — many still blame domestic politicians for repeatedly failing to understake structural reforms. “We are no longer competitive as a business location,” Peter Leibinger, president of the Federation of German Industries business association, said earlier this month at the Hannover trade fair. Geopolitical developments like the Iran war didn’t cause the country’s economic malaise, they merely exacerbated it, Leibinger added. “The cause lies with us,” he said. Nette Nöstlinger contributed reporting.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are headed toward a summit next month with a shared desire to stabilize ties. That calm is being tested as both leaders rush to shore up strategic vulnerabilities over Iranian oil and AI.

Financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for a third straight meeting next Tuesday •Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Inflation jumped to 4.6% in the year to March, from 3.7% the month before, in what experts say is the start of an Iran war-linked fuel shock that will ripple through the economy over coming months. Financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for a third straight meeting next Tuesday, as officials struggle to manage the “nightmare scenario” of containing inflation even as growth is expected to slow sharply. Continue reading...

US Iran war LIVE updates: Donald Trump said King Charles III agrees Iran must not get nuclear weapons during his US visit, where the monarch urged unity with allies. Trump has been critical of the UK on their stance on Iran. Meanwhile, Israel-Hezbollah clashes continue despite a ceasefire.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House for a state dinner in the East Room.