Geopolitical Instability and Domestic Discordactive

For 2026, the salary adjustments will range from 6% to 7%, depending on the size of the company. Companies with between one and ten employees will have a 6% increase, as will those with between 11 and 50 employees, while companies with more than 50 employees will apply increases of up to 7%. In 2027, the increases will follow a similar structure, with adjustments of up to 7.5% for companies with a larger number of employees. However, experts warn that these increases will only have a real effect if their implementation is guaranteed. #COHEPStatement Agreement on the minimum wage for 2026 and 2027 in Honduras. 🇭🇳 pic.twitter.com/eXJ4GUVc7l — COHEP (@COHEPHonduras) April 28, 2026 The issue of the minimum wage in Honduras is closely linked to labor informality and the limited capacity of the state to enforce regulations. In many cases, workers in the informal sector or in small businesses do not have effective mechanisms to demand compliance with their labor rights. In this regard, the government insists that sanctions will be a key element in correcting this situation. "Companies that do not comply with the payment of the minimum wage will be sanctioned," warned Puerto, emphasizing that the fines are calculated based on the economic damage caused. Labor analysts believe that the challenge lies not only in applying sanctions, but also in promoting a culture of compliance...

The United Nations is bloated, costly, badly in need of reform, and too often works against US interests, but pulling out of the international organisation would see China expand its influence and leave Washington at a major disadvantage, according to testimony before a House oversight committee on Wednesday. The hearing came as the administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed an “America first” overhaul of international funding, leaving the UN, over the past 18 months, at what...

Michael Allen, Managing Director of Beacon Global Strategies and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, says the US should "give it time" for a Strait of Hormuz blockade to pressure Iran economically, even as such efforts "work slowly." He speaks with Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)

Trump faced backlash for confusing details about Ukraine and Iran during a White House Q&A.

President Donald Trump said the US is reviewing its troop levels in Germany and will decide shortly whether to reduce that number, escalating tensions between the countries over the war in Iran.

"You are not alone!" "You are not alone!" This is how deputies from the Morena party expressed their support for Rubén Rocha Moya on October 24, 2024, when he appeared before the Chamber of Deputies, after Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada published a letter a few days earlier in which he claimed that on the day of his arrest (July 25, 2024), he had planned to meet with the governor of Sinaloa. At that event, the state governor acknowledged that the state under his leadership was experiencing "a difficult time," and confessed that he did not have a clear idea of when the violence in that state would end. "We are living through a difficult time. We are working for the well-being of the people of Sinaloa to address this complicated situation... we still don't have a clear idea of when it will end. The authorities are still engaged in addressing the situation," he stated. Also read: US announces charges against Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa; the charges relate to drug trafficking and crimes related to firearms. The local governor asserted that the conflict currently taking place in Sinaloa "originated on July 25, when Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada was arrested." He detailed that following this event, a confrontation began between groups of organized crime, and he assured that it is being contained with the support of the federal government. "President Claudia Sheinbaum has continued to provide significant support. We, as a state government, could not withstand these attacks from the groups without the police..."

Oleg Stepanov noted that these actions would "extract yet another sum of money" from taxpayers' pockets.

Federal investigators say they believe the man who carried out a mass shooting at Brown University and later killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor did not act randomly. Instead, former Brown student Claudio Neves Valente, 48, appeared to target places and people for what they represented in his own life – institutions and individuals he associated with personal failure, missed opportunity and perceived injustice. In a detailed behavioural assessment released on Wednesday, the...

The international order is being shaken by wave after wave of crises. The US-China rivalry has spread far beyond tariffs and technology controls into critical minerals, energy, supply chains and even the normative architecture of global governance. Onto this structural turbulence have been layered the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Iran war – conflicts whose reverberations […] The post Seoul pivots southward again, restructuring for strategic autonomy appeared first on Asia Times.

Far-right Republicans in the House, including many members of the Freedom Caucus, revealed the price of their support for a controversial surveillance law this week: a ban on the unrelated and hypothetical possibility that the U. S. government might one day issue digital currency. Twenty Republicans who opposed a procedural vote earlier this month flipped their position on Wednesday to allow a vote on a three-year extension of the law that allows government agents to search Americans’ communications without a warrant. Not all the Republicans voted for the final version of the bill, which passed 235–191, but they were crucial in giving Johnson a hand on an initial procedural vote. Related Meet the Four Democrats Who’ll Decide If Trump Gets His Domestic Spying Law The final bill drew the support of dozens of Democrats, who backed it despite the polarizing central bank digital currency ban. One of the most prominent backers was Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, who gave a floor speech in support. “We are spending some time now talking to those who want a bill that shows you can have both security and liberty.” Now that it includes a digital currency ban, however, the House version of the law faces dim prospects in the Senate. The upshot of Johnson’s maneuvering may be that the Senate has the final say on surveillance reforms. Longtime privacy champion Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told The Intercept that the versions of reauthorization on the table — one a three-year “clean” extension offered by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and the other the House version with the digital currency ban — were both “deeply flawed and unacceptable.” Instead, he is pitching colleagues on requiring a warrant before government agents can search through foreign surveillance databases for the communications of Americans. “We are spending some time now talking to those who want a bill that shows you can have both security and liberty,” Wyden said, “and they are not mutually exclusive.” Extending Deadline The high-stakes deliberations are happening against the backdrop of a looming deadline to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which underpins much of the National Security Agency’s global surveillance apparatus. The law authorizes much of the most valuable surveillance populating intelligence agency reports. It has also been abused hundreds of thousands of times by officials at the FBI to scour through Americans’ communications. Related FBI’s Warrantless Search Ruled Unconstitutional in a Blow to Government Spying Johnson tried and failed to secure an extension of the law with minor tweaks earlier this month. Conservatives joined Democrats in opposing that push, and Congress ultimately wound up passing a short-term extension of the law that expires Friday. The deadline is manufactured, many reformers say. A secretive intelligence court has already granted the government yearlong orders allowing it to continue scooping up information from private providers. The Senate was set to hold its own vote on the surveillance bill Tuesday but wound up postponing it. In a floor speech, Wyden chalked the delay up to skepticism from senators about the bill in its current form. He called for discussions about reforms. The nature of those negotiations remained up in the air Wednesday. Some senators said it was possible that Congress would pass another short-term extension of the law. On Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, told The Intercept, “The last thing I heard is that there was going to be another extension to give us more time to figure it out and get the House to decide what they want to do.” “Dead On Arrival” in Senate Wyden and other reformers have long pushed for a warrant requirement before government agents can search NSA databases for information on Americans. They say the need for reform is only more urgent now that artificial intelligence has made combing through those databases easier than ever. They are pushing back against long-held skepticism from members of Congress who contend that requiring agents to get a court order would be too unwieldy in practice. Related “Terrorist”: How ICE Weaponized 9/11’s Scarlet Letter In an email to colleagues, for example, Himes, of the House Intelligence Committee, said that he would vote to reauthorize FISA “because it is essential to keeping our country and our constituents safe from terrorists, cartels, spies, state-sponsored hackers, and other national security threats.” Himes said on the House floor later that the process leading up to the vote on Wednesday was flawed. “We are where we are, and it is a binary choice. And allowing this authority to expire, which I think we are close to, is not an option,” he said. “The reality is we are further along in real reform than we have been since I have been in public service.” Wyden expressed optimism, citing the bipartisan coalition that has so far stymied President Donald Trump’s demand for a clean extension. “The reality is, we are further along in real reform than we have been since I have been in public service,” he said. Whatever version of the law the Senate settles on, it likely will not involve a central bank digital currency ban. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S. D., has already described that idea as “dead on arrival.” “That’s messing around with a very important national security issue,” King said of the ban. Johnson Saves Face Still, the ban gave Johnson a crucial boost in securing House passage of his own version of the FISA law. The ban on government-issued digital currency took aim at a boogeyman of the far right that is nowhere close to becoming reality. Related You Will Never Send Money Digitally Without a Private Company — If the GOP Gets Its Way For years, conservatives have fretted over the idea that the U. S. Federal Reserve could launch a digital currency that could be traded electronically. Currently, there is no way for ordinary Americans to exchange money through electronic means without the help of a private intermediary, such as PayPal or Visa. A central bank digital currency would give people an option to pass money without the for-profit companies involved. The Federal Reserve never came close to implementing a digital currency under President Joe Biden, however, and one of Trump’s first acts upon taking office was to issue an executive order aimed at banning research into them. While conservatives have raised concerns that a central bank digital currency could allow the government to surveil Americans’ every transaction, the issue is distinct from the foreign surveillance law that lays out the NSA’s powers. Before the bill reached the floor, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, unsuccessfully attempted to strip out the central bank digital currency ban during a House Rules Committee hearing on Tuesday. “Republicans are obsessed with random, fringe issues,” McGovern said, “instead of doing literally anything to bring down the cost of living.” The post Mike Johnson Used Crypto Catnip to Get Freedom Caucus Support for Domestic Spy Law appeared first on The Intercept.

A new poll shows that about 6 in 10 Americans say they avoid news about President Trump. The Media Insight Project survey released Wednesday found that 31 percent of respondents often actively avoid news stories about Trump, and 32 percent say they sometimes avoid Trump news. Eighteen percent of those polled say they rarely avoid…

Organisers of a Gaza-bound aid mission say their vessels are being intercepted by Israeli military speedboats.

The UN's top human rights official, Volker Türk, denounced on Wednesday that the Iranian regime has executed at least 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 since the beginning of the conflict with the United States and Israel on February 28th. He described this as a brutal crackdown that adds to the already severe humanitarian impact of the conflict. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), nine of those executed were linked to the January 2026 protests, ten were sentenced to death for their alleged affiliation with opposition groups, and two were executed on charges of espionage. "I am horrified that, in addition to the already serious effects of the conflict, the authorities continue to deprive the Iranian people of their rights in such a brutal manner," Türk said, according to a statement from the OHCHR. Türk demanded that Tehran immediately halt all executions, establish a moratorium on the death penalty, and release all those arbitrarily detained. The organization warned that many of those arrested, including minors, remain at risk of the death penalty due to Iran's broad interpretation of national security crimes, with expedited legal proceedings and convictions based, in at least nine cases, on confessions obtained under coercion and, in some cases, broadcast on state television. The conditions of detention are alarming. Numerous detainees have…

The U. N. nuclear watchdog suspects that roughly half of Tehran’s stockpile is still at its Isfahan facility.

A US government filing reveals that only 338 individuals have submitted formal requests for the expedited residency program.

Congressional Democrats clashed with the U.S. Secretary of Defense regarding the war and military spending during a rare public hearing.

Can tourism be considered successful if arrivals increase, but the local communities – the very soul of the destination – feel strained and excluded? Too often, tourism success is measured in arrivals, occupancy and revenue. These numbers matter. But they tell only a fraction of the story. We must ask: who is this success really for? Traditional growth metrics are no longer sufficient to protect the residents who host the world or the workers who power the experience. To prevent cultural...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Jerome Powell for his decision to stay on the Federal Reserve Board after he steps down as the US central bank’s chair, saying it amounts to a break with Fed tradition.

The president of the Senate's Coordination Committee (Jucopo), Ignacio Mier Velazco, stated that it is the responsibility of the Mexican state to defend the sovereignty of our country, as it is a principle that "cannot be mortgaged or outsourced." During the report on legislative activities presented by Senator Cynthia López Castro, and referring to the presence of CIA agents in Chihuahua between April 17th and 19th, Mier Velazco warned that "Mexico is a federation, not composed of 32 republics, and the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States is clear." He emphasized that our country is democratic, plural, and representative, but that "it is our responsibility, within the separation of powers enshrined in Article 40 of the Constitution, to defend the sovereignty of Mexico." Also read: U.S. points fingers at Mexican politicians, Los Angeles Times claims; does not rule out charges for alleged ties to cartels. "Yesterday, it became clear that we can defend it together, keeping in mind that the sovereign power lies with the people, that the sovereignty of Mexico is not a matter of political creativity, nor is it outsourced, and that there are not 32 republics," Mier Velazco concluded. The president of the Jucopo and coordinator of the Morena parliamentary group in the Senate insisted that the sovereignty of Mexico belongs exclusively to the Mexican state. Join our channel! EL UNIVERSAL is now on Whatsapp! Find out the latest news from your mobile device…

Low-flying drones, disrupted radio communications, and boats maneuvering at high speed within the fleet. "We are in international waters."

President Donald Trump projected confidence that a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war would come “relatively quickly” after a phone call with President Vladimir Putin Wednesday in which the two leaders discussed their nation’s respective conflicts with Kyiv and Tehran. “I think he’d like to see a solution,” Trump told reporters in an Oval Office press conference. “I can tell you. And that’s good.” Both men are facing difficulties in their country’s respective wars. Russian troops are mired in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, with Ukrainian drones shelling key energy infrastructure. In light of the fighting, Putin scaled back the country’s famed annual Victory Day parade set for May 9. The imposing tanks that annually proceed through Moscow’s Red Square will not be a part of the festivities this year. Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to articulate his vision for the war with Iran, as rising gas prices threaten to undermine Republicans’ affordability message ahead of the coming midterm elections. In the call, Putin told Trump about plans to call a temporary ceasefire to mark the celebration, according to TASS, a Russian state media organization. Trump teased word of the pause in fighting in his press conference. “I suggested a little bit of a ceasefire, and I think he might do that,” Trump told reporters. “He might announce something having to do with it.” Putin also expressed a desire to play an active role in Iran, Trump said, which he quickly rebuffed. “He told me he’d like to be involved with the enrichment if he can help us get it,” Trump told reporters. “I said, I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine. To me, that would be more important.” Trump floated the possibility that the Iran war could wind down “on a similar timetable” as Russia’s now four-year-long incursion in Ukraine. In the meantime, conversations to end the fighting are ongoing, he said. “They’ve come a long way,” he said of the Iranians. “The question is whether or not they’re going to go far enough. So at this moment, there will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons.”

A team of Iranian football officials left Canada before the start of this week's FIFA Congress due to the "inappropriate behaviour" of immigration officials at Toronto airport, Iranian media reported Wednesday. The Iranian federation's president is a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which is a designated terror group in Canada.

Donald Trump says he would prefer Russian leader's involvement "with ending the war with Ukraine"

Earlier, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Putin had informed his US counterpart during a phone call of his willingness to declare a ceasefire for the period of Victory Day celebrations

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla commemorated victims of the September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attack on New York on Wednesday, laying a floral bouquet at the memorial where the World Trade Centre’s twin towers once stood. The royal visit to lower Manhattan came at a time of tensions between Britain and the US, with President Donald Trump having criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he says is his lack of help in ‌the US and Israel’s war with Iran. Michael Bloomberg, a former New...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone this Wednesday for over ninety minutes in a conversation described by the Kremlin as "frank and businesslike," during which Putin proposed declaring a ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day, May 9th. Trump supported the initiative and expressed his belief that a broader agreement to end the war is "relatively close." The call was initiated by Moscow and is the first public communication between the two leaders since March 9th, when Trump reported a similar conversation, nine days after the start of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran. Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov briefed the press on the content of the call. According to his account, Putin informed Trump of Russia's willingness to declare a truce during the celebrations commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Trump actively welcomed the proposal and noted that the anniversary represents "a shared victory." From the Oval Office, where he was meeting with the astronauts of the Artemis II mission, Trump confirmed to reporters that he had had "a very positive conversation" focused on Ukraine. "I think we will find a solution relatively quickly, hopefully," he added. The proposal follows the pattern of temporary ceasefires unilaterally declared by Moscow in recent times...

The NHK Symphony Orchestra held a performance in Singapore on the evening of the 29th, marking its first visit to the city in 24 years. A large crowd of citizens gathered to enjoy the powerful and impressive performance by the orchestra.

Former Fox News host and New Jersey Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano on Wednesday said the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey would likely be tossed out.  “I think Comey’s people will move to dismiss it, that it’s protected speech, and I think that motion will be granted,” Napolitano said during an appearance on…

There were highly charged scenes as former senior regime official, Atef Najib, appeared before a Damascus court.

WASHINGTON.- U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he had discussed a possible ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We had a good conversation, I've known him for a long time," Trump said. Trump, speaking to reporters while meeting with the astronauts of the Artemis mission in the Oval Office, said that he suggested "a small truce" in the war in Ukraine during his phone call with the Russian leader. "And I think it could happen," Trump said, and then asked the reporters if Putin had announced a ceasefire. Trump said that Putin had offered to help with the issue of Iran's enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal that would end the conflict with Iran, but "I told him that I would much prefer that he get involved in ending the war with Ukraine." Putin's Response Shortly after Trump's statements, Putin effectively proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine for May 9th, the day Russia celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, according to a Kremlin report. According to statements from his diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov, Putin told Trump that he is willing "to declare a ceasefire during the celebrations of Victory Day," he told reporters, although he did not specify the duration of the measure. He added that Trump has "actively supported...

The defense secretary sought to rebut lawmakers’ criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict, which has cost about $25 billion so far.

The United States dealt a major blow to its bilateral relationship with Mexico on Wednesday by formally accusing Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa, of having ties to drug‑trafficking organizations. According to a filing made public by the Department of Justice, the U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York alleges that several state officials conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import large quantities of narcotics into the U. S. in exchange for political support and bribes. Among those charged is Senator Enrique Inzunza, who is a member of the ruling Morena party. Seguir leyendo

Rubén Rocha and other state officials allegedly conspired with Sinaloa cartel kingpins to smuggle narcotics into the U. S. in exchange for political support and bribes.

The battle over the next long-term EU budget has begun. The EU's institutions have staked out their positions and are seeking significantly more funding, but it is the 27 member states that will ultimately decide.

WASHINGTON.- The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most modern in the U.S. Navy, is preparing to leave the Middle East and return to its base in Virginia after more than ten months of continuous operations, making it one of the longest deployments in recent U.S. naval history. According to The Washington Post, the ship's departure – confirmed by U.S. officials – represents a relief for its more than 4,500 crew members, but at the same time, it signifies a significant reduction in military power deployed in the region, at a time when negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled. The Gerald R. Ford, which was previously deployed in the Caribbean during operations that led to the attempted capture of Nicolás Maduro, is currently one of three U.S. aircraft carriers in the region. While the ship is operating in the Red Sea, the other two – the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS George H.W. Bush – remain in the Arabian Sea, where they are participating in a naval blockade aimed at curbing oil and goods exports from Iranian ports. The ship is expected to return to the United States around mid-May. By then, it will have accumulated more than 300 days at sea, significantly exceeding typical deployments, which usually last between six and seven months to maintain maintenance cycles. This extreme operational tempo has taken its toll. The aircraft carrier…

The governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa and a number of other current and former officials were accused by US prosecutors with conspiring with cartel leaders to import drugs into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.

According to the Kremlin, Putin stated that he was ready "to declare a ceasefire for the duration of Victory Day celebrations," and Trump actively supported this initiative.

A former White House lawyer has raised concerns about Donald Trump's cognitive health, pointing to signs of mental decline and behavioral changes.

President Trump on Wednesday said he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call for a ceasefire in Ukraine and also discussed the U. S. war against Iran. Trump said that Putin offered to help with “enrichment,” presumably a reference for Russia to take about 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium, the fuel needed for a…

Ahead of the EU-Armenia summit, joining us from Armenia’s newly inaugurated embassy in Paris, France 24's François Picard welcomes Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, who presents a country at a pivotal juncture: one defined by the simultaneous consolidation of peace and strategic repositioning. He asserts that “we now have peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” framing it not as a symbolic declaration but as an emerging reality, further underscored by the intention to “institutionalise this peace.”

On the 29th, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation to discuss the situations in Iran and Ukraine. According to Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to the Russian President, President Putin informed President Trump that his decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran was the correct one, stating that "this will provide an opportunity for negotiations and will contribute to the overall stabilization of the situation." The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, and President Putin reportedly stated that he was prepared to declare a ceasefire in conjunction with the "Victory Day" celebrations next month, which commemorate the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Joining us from Armenia’s newly inaugurated embassy in Paris, France 24's François Picard welcomes Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, who presents a country at a pivotal juncture: one defined by the simultaneous consolidation of peace and strategic repositioning. He asserts that “we now have peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” framing it not as a symbolic declaration but as an emerging reality, further underscored by the intention to “institutionalise this peace.” Mirzoyan situates this development within a broader historical shift. After “decades and decades” during which “Armenia was under blockade,” the country is now seeking to redefine its regional role. Crucially, he reframes this transformation in cooperative rather than competitive terms: “This is not about competition, it’s about unblocking the South Caucasus.” In his account, Armenia’s future lies in connectivity, supported by ambitious plans for “huge infrastructure - railways, electricity grids, oil and gas pipelines” - positioning the country as “a critical chain in the Middle Corridor” linking Europe and Asia. Yet this forward-looking vision is tempered by the enduring legacy of conflict. While the “wounds of this war are still fresh” following Azerbaijan’s brutal invasion and seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, Mirzoyan underscores a deliberate national pivot toward the future. “It’s not easy to forget, and there is no necessity to forget,” he explains. “We will, of course, remember. But we also should analyse… that our nation… should now focus on the present and future rather than remain in the past.” He points to a landscape of emerging opportunity: “There are so many new opportunities in Armenia… infrastructure… AI… data centres, modern schools, education, universities.” On the domestic and geopolitical front, Mirzoyan emphasizes the democratic and societal dimensions of Armenia’s trajectory. He maintains that the people of Armenia “strongly support the peace agenda” and “have European aspirations,” framing closer ties with the European Union as both a political direction and a societal choice. In outlining Armenia’s regional environment, the minister adopts a notably calibrated tone. Alongside the newly established peace with Azerbaijan, he highlights “very productive dialogue” with Türkiye aimed at normalising relations, describes ties with Georgia as “brilliant” and “brotherly,” and characterises relations with Iran as “very normal neighbourly relations,” while expressing concern over ongoing regional instability. Relations with Russia, however, are presented more cautiously: acknowledging “frustration regarding Russia’s role,” he nevertheless insists that Armenia “definitely” does not seek conflict and intends to maintain “normal friendly relations.” Ultimately, Mirzoyan grounds his analysis in the principle of sovereignty, asserting that “no one in the world has the right to interfere” in Armenia’s democratic processes and that the “choice of people” must be respected. His remarks portray a state navigating between memory and momentum, seeking to anchor itself through peace, connectivity, and democratic legitimacy in an increasingly fluid regional order.

The Russian president stated that it should give negotiations a chance and help stabilize the situation in general, Yury Ushakov said

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N. Y.) on Wednesday ripped what he called the Supreme Court’s “awful decision” to strike down a voting map in Louisiana, which critics cast as a serious blow to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The court in a 6-3 ruling held that creating majority-minority districts can result in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering,…

The decision was made with a vote of 8 in favor and 4 against. This was the final meeting of the Powell era.

Jurors convict the man on a charge of conspiring to provide material support to an ISIS group, but it’s a rare setback in a high-profile terrorism case.

"The whole range of large-scale initiatives in the economy, as the presidents noted, has already been discussed specifically between representatives of our nations," Yury Ushakov added

"The presidents agreed to continue staying in touch personally and at the level of their aides and representatives," Yury Ushakov said

The U.S. Federal Reserve (FRB) held a meeting to decide on monetary policy, and on the 29th, it announced that it would not lower interest rates and would maintain the current policy interest rate. This marks the third consecutive meeting where the Fed has decided against a rate cut, and it is believed to be a move to guard against the risk of inflation accelerating again, amid persistently high oil prices due to the situation in Iran. This meeting is expected to be the last one under the leadership of Chairman Powell, whose term ends next month. Attention will be focused on what Chairman Powell will say in a subsequent press conference regarding the impact of the Iran situation and the monetary policy stance of Kevin Warsh, who has been nominated as the next chairman.

(END)

Several warning signs are emerging, leading some to wonder if we are entering the early stages of another financial crisis.

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply limited the use of race in drawing electoral districts, in a decision that could reshape congressional maps nationwide and boost Republican prospects ahead of midterm elections. In a 6-3 ruling split along ideological lines, the conservative-dominated court struck down a map that creates a second majority-black district in Louisiana, finding it amounted to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander despite being drawn to comply with the 1965 Voting Rights...

A phone call took place between the two presidents. The anniversary falls on May 9th.

Prosecutors say a 2025 seashell photo posted by the former FBI director was a call for violence against Trump.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, making it more difficult for minorities to challenge electoral maps based on racial discrimination, under this landmark civil rights law. This decision represents a victory for Republicans in Louisiana and the administration of President Donald Trump. In a 6-3 ruling, driven by the conservative members of the court, the justices blocked a congressional district map that would have given Louisiana a second majority-Black district. The three liberal justices and some legal experts condemned the decision, calling it a weakening of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which was enacted by Congress to prohibit electoral maps that would dilute the voting power of minority groups. BREAKING: The Supreme Court struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, weakening a landmark voting rights law's protections against discrimination in redistricting. https://t.co/bzYNbFduSA — The Associated Press (@AP) April 29, 2026 The conservative majority of the court determined that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, was based too heavily on racial criteria. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, had described the district as a "snake" that stretches for over 320 kilometers and connects parts of the Shreveport area, Al...

California's political landscape is heating up with the race for governor, the fight for control of the U. S. House of Representatives, and the potential presidential race in 2028, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris as leading contenders.

Rival parties demand investigation as Tory party chair refers Reform UK leader to commissioner over gift from crypto tycoon Exclusive: Farage given undisclosed £5m by crypto tyoon Analysis: Farage’s attempt to get ahead of story raises more questions Nigel Farage has been referred to parliament’s standards watchdog after the Guardian revealed he received an undeclared £5m gift from a party donor. The referral was made by the Conservative party citing rules that require MPs to declare any “personal benefit” they have received in the 12 months before taking office, and to do so within a month of being elected. Continue reading...

The two-month war with Iran has cost about US$25 billion, a Pentagon official told lawmakers on Wednesday, as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended a record $1.5 trillion military budget that faces backlash from Democrats. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon’s chief financial officer, offered the first official estimate of the cost of the war in Iran. He said that most of the US$25 billion in spending went towards ammunition, but the US...

According to the report, Washington has effectively rejected Tehran's proposed three-stage plan, under which Iran is prepared to negotiate with the US.

Amidst the internal discussions within Morena regarding the gubernatorial candidacy in Nuevo León, Senator Waldo Fernández of the PVEM (Green Party) stated his position on the process and announced that he will register as a candidate to obtain the nomination. In an interview at the Senate of the Republic, Fernández praised the consolidation of the alliance between Morena, the Labor Party, and the Green Ecological Party of Mexico, believing that unity will be crucial for competing effectively in the state. He recalled that the support of these political forces was decisive in his own election to the Senate, and emphasized that repeating this formula is essential. In this context, he also highlighted the inclusion of Citlalli Hernández in the leadership of the party's internal operations, particularly in the commission responsible for electoral processes, which creates conditions for an orderly and cohesive process. Also read: Tatiana Clouthier seeks the governorship of Nuevo León; "I am the most prepared," she claims. The senator announced that on June 22nd, he will formally register within Morena's internal process to lead the party's efforts in Nuevo León, and emphasized that his participation will focus on building consensus and strengthening the unity of the movement. "Unity will be the main factor in removing McPrian from Nuevo León," he stated. During the interview, he was questioned about the controversy generated by the absence of the governor of Chihuahua...

End of an era looms for Jay Powell as Kevin Warsh closes in on taking over as chair of world’s most important central bank

British startup Lumai is productizing its lens-based optical computer for matrix-multiply acceleration in AI inference. This is the first time an optical computing system has successfully run

Blackstone and Anthropic are partnering to use AI to overhaul private equity-owned sectors, potentially leading to mass unemployment, while an AI tax paid with stock could help to share the rewards of AI with the public and give them a greater voice in corporate governance.

Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, denied connections to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after his name was referenced in files on Epstein published by the Department of Justice.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called on Iranians to preserve unity in order to thwart the enemies’ plans and prevent the country from falling apart

New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert says EPA chief Lee Zeldin has rescinded regulations, cut or eliminated departments and terminated the jobs of many scientists. Trump calls Zeldin "our secret weapon."

Amidst stalled negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran, President Trump remains steadfast in his hardline stance towards Iran. While the United States has consistently maintained a tough approach towards Iran, one of the underlying factors that likely contributes to this is an event that occurred 47 years ago, which served as the catalyst for the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"This will be at least 190 million tons with an increase by 1.7% against the level of 2025," Deputy CEO Irina Magnushevskaya said

The Iran war has already cost the Pentagon $25 billion, a top Defense Department official said Wednesday, providing the first official price tag for a U. S. military campaign that has stretched two months. Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst gave the figure during a House Armed Services Committee hearing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs chair Gen. Dan Caine on the department’s budget. It’s the most specific number the Trump administration has attached to an effort that, despite a recent ceasefire, has no clear end. “Approximately [to] this day, we’re spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury, most of that in munitions,” Hurst said. “There is part of that, it’s obviously [operations and maintenance] and equipment replacement.” But that figure falls far behind many outside estimates, given the torrid pace of air and sea operations and the costs to restock expensive air defenses. It is also dwarfed by reports that the administration could seek hundreds of billions of dollars to cover the Middle East campaign. Hurst told attendees at a March defense summit in Washington that the first week of the Iran war cost roughly $11 billion. The $25 billion price tag comes as administration officials discuss a supplemental request of up to $200 million to pay for the conflict and weapons replenishment. Officials, though, have stressed publicly that they haven’t yet settled on a price tag for a supplemental request. The Pentagon is expected to submit a supplemental funding request soon. Hurst told lawmakers the administration will make it “once we have a full assessment of the cost of the conflict.” Ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who asked about the war’s cost, appeared surprised by the Pentagon budget chief’s specificity. “I’m glad you answered that question, because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number,” Smith told Hurst. “So if you could get those details over to us, that would be great.” The hearing, ostensibly about the administration’s 2027 budget request, quickly turned to Iran and whether the military conflict has produced any real strategic wins for America. “As we sit here today, Iran’s nuclear program is exactly what it was before this war started,” Smith said. “They have not lost their capacity to inflict pain. They still have a ballistic missile program. They’re still able to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.” But Hegseth preemptively hit skeptics of the war. “The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats,” he said, “and some Republicans.”

The Cabinet has greenlit a health care draft law designed to lower insurance rates. The bill heads to parliament next, but doctors' associations and patient protection advocates say it amounts to austerity measures.

A 45-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident in north London.

The US Supreme Court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to limit the use of the Voting Rights Act to create predominantly Black or Hispanic election districts. The justices rejected a Louisiana congressional map that was drawn with a second majority-Black district after a lower court found an earlier map to be discriminatory. Michael McKee reports on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

The Arcadia Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in the U.S. capital, has filed a legal and ethical action against the Washington administration to block the use of resources belonging to the Venezuelan state for the payment of the private defense costs of Nicolás Maduro Moros and Cilia Flores. This measure is a direct response to the recent decision by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which, through OFAC licenses, authorized the Venezuelan state to divert public funds to cover the legal fees of the former leader and his wife, both under federal custody since January 2026. The argument: Public assets vs. Private defense Arcadia argues that Venezuela's sovereign assets are public property, and their use for a personal criminal matter, such as a drug trafficking trial, lacks legal justification. In its communication, the foundation demands that Washington establish a "limiting principle," arguing that allowing this payment sets a dangerous precedent where state funds could be used arbitrarily for the private benefit of former officials accused of serious crimes. "It is unacceptable that a decision of this nature should be carried out in silence, through licenses and administrative procedures, while the Venezuelan people are once again reduced to being mere spectators of the disposition of their own assets," a statement from the organization reads. Gi…

Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Dr. Garret J. Martin, Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer, and Co-Director of the Transatlantic Policy Center, at the School of International Service at American University. The US-UK transatlantic relationship is currently experiencing a period of unprecedented tension. While diplomatic efforts, such as a state visit from King Charles, can help maintain dialogue, they cannot mend the widening transatlantic divide caused by growing uncertainty regarding America's alliances with NATO and Europe, and the "special relationship" with the UK.

The US Supreme Court limited the use of the Voting Rights Act to create predominantly Black or Hispanic election districts in a major constitutional ruling that buttresses Republican efforts to keep control of the House in this year’s midterms and beyond. Voting 6-3 along ideological lines, the justices rejected a Louisiana congressional map that was drawn with a second majority-Black district after a lower court found an earlier map to be discriminatory. Bloomberg Law Host June Grasso discusses the ruling with Paul Sweeney and Scarlet Fu on Bloomberg Intelligence. (Source: Bloomberg)

The former FBI director denied that a photo he posted of seashells spelling “86 47” was intended to threaten the president. He has vowed to fight the case.

A press photo of a US protective agent responding to a gunman breaching security during last weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has ignited debate within America’s firearms community. The controversy centres not on the agent’s actions, but on what appeared to be a Chinese-made Holosun red dot sight mounted on her Glock pistol. The image, which spread rapidly across firearms forums after being shared on social media, shows a plain-clothes agent with her weapon drawn as US...

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has officially requested that Israel seize a Russian ship allegedly carrying a cargo of Ukrainian grain that was stolen. This is the latest in a series of demands from Kyiv to Tel Aviv, criticizing its inaction in addressing this situation, and comes after the European Union threatened sanctions. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, stated that all relevant documentation has been submitted to the appropriate Israeli authorities, who have been asked to inspect and seize the ship "Panoramitis," its cargo, and its documentation, as well as to question the members of the crew. According to Ukrainian authorities, the ship, which is headed for the port of Haifa in northern Israel, is carrying a cargo of grain originating from territories in eastern Ukraine that are currently under Russian control since the start of the invasion in February 2022. "Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale aggression, more than 1.7 million tons of agricultural products, with a total value exceeding 20 billion hryvnias (approximately $380 million), have been illegally exported from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the prosecutor denounced. "The era of impunity for looting under foreign flags is over," Kravchenko emphasized, warning that they will continue to identify each vessel involved in this type of illegal activity.

The State Department has shifted its public image in favor of explicit Christian messaging and iconography and away from secular and multicultural causes, an analysis by The Intercept of the department’s Instagram posts has found. Posts marking Passover, Good Friday, and Easter in 2026 included explicitly religious messaging, including imagery of Christian crosses and references to “Christ’s sacrifice” and the Resurrection. The Intercept’s analysis, which catalogued of the department’s Instagram posts from 2020 through early 2026, found these posts show a clear change in messaging not only from the Biden years, but also from President Donald Trump’s first term. “From a digital diplomacy point of view, this looks like more than a change in images. It suggests a shift in how the U. S. government is presenting itself online,” said Corneliu Bjola, a professor of digital diplomacy at the University of Oxford. “In earlier years, posts projected a broad and inclusive image — what you might call ‘the shiny city on the hill.’ The 2026 pattern points to a narrower and more controlled message about strength and authority — ‘fortress America.’” Long considered the government’s primary diplomatic arm, the State Department historically used its account to highlight a wide range of international, cultural, and religious observances. In 2020, under the leadership of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the State Department used its account to mark holidays and observances including Juneteenth, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Yom Kippur, and Kwanzaa. Since Secretary of State Marco Rubio assumed his role, observance-related posts have been limited to Christian and Jewish holidays, including one that featured an impassioned speech by Rubio describing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The account has not marked major Islamic holidays or other widely observed cultural events that it routinely highlighted in prior years. Federal agencies have already faced scrutiny over controversial social media posts. The Department of Homeland Security has recently drawn scrutiny for using a neo-Nazi-linked song in a recruiting post, and the Department of Labor has faced criticism for social media imagery depicting an all-white, all-male workforce in a 1950s-style campaign, including a post that read, “One Homeland. One People. One Heritage. Remember who you are, American.” Meanwhile, the State Department has moved away from posts highlighting multiculturalism in the United States and abroad. Under Pompeo, the State Department made posts highlighting initiatives such as the International Religious Freedom Alliance and women’s empowerment efforts. The account also recognized events such as World Press Freedom Day, World Refugee Day, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the International Day of Reflection on the Rwanda Genocide, among others. The range narrows significantly under Rubio. Posts during this period place greater emphasis on borders, sovereignty, and enforcement, alongside a more limited set of cultural and religious observances. In September 2025, the account featured a video of Rubio meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, as the war in Gaza continued, a conflict that human rights groups and some international observers have described as a genocide. Related Trump’s Orwellian Board of Peace Consists Entirely of Human Rights Abusers In 2025, posts marking observances were limited to a small set of holidays and commemorations, including International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Christmas, and D-Day. Several posts emphasized religious or national themes, including a Columbus Day post that referenced “glory to God and country.” The posts have also shifted to heavily feature the likeness of President Donald Trump. In early 2026, roughly 40 percent of posts included Trump’s image, a higher share than during either the Biden administration or Trump’s first term. On Tuesday, The Bulwark reported that the State Department is finalizing plans to include President Donald Trump’s image in a redesigned U. S. passport. Asked why the account no longer marks a broader range of international and religious observances, including major Islamic holidays that had been featured in prior years, a State Department spokesperson said the content reflects the priorities of the current administration. “Our content reflects the priorities of the current administration, including a renewed focus on seriousness and diplomacy.” “Obviously, the president is featured prominently in our posts. He sets U. S. foreign policy, and the State Department’s role is to execute and communicate that agenda,” the spokesperson said. “Our content reflects the priorities of the current administration, including a renewed focus on seriousness and diplomacy. Decisions about what to highlight, including observances, are made by communications professionals.” Related He Tweeted Charlie Kirk “Won’t Be Remembered as a Hero.” The State Dept. Revoked His Visa. Rather than highlighting diplomatic events or cultural observances, the account frequently features stylized graphics of Trump and administration officials alongside slogans emphasizing immigration enforcement, national sovereignty and security. Some posts resemble campaign messaging, including phrases such as “Send Them Back” and “This Is Our Hemisphere,” as well as graphics touting policy outcomes like visa revocations. Former U. S. diplomats and public diplomacy officials told The Intercept the shift marks a break from long-standing norms that have historically emphasized nonpartisan messaging and broad cultural representation in official government communications. Daniel Kreiss, a political communication scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the shift reflects a broader pattern across government agencies. “The cultural and religious diversity that represents all of America — and frankly, for the State Department, the world — is no longer being represented, based on your data, in favor of overrepresenting what the administration cares about,” Kreiss said. “It’s sending a key public signal that these agencies are operating faithfully to the president and his coalition.” The shift, experts say, is not just about what the United States chooses to show the world, but also what it no longer does. In digital diplomacy, what is omitted can be as consequential as what is shown. The post Marco Rubio Is Rebranding the State Department as Explicitly Christian appeared first on The Intercept.

The British monarch's visit to the United States, and especially his speech on Tuesday before Congress, carries symbolic weight for all Europeans committed to the rule of law and the preservation of balanced ties with the US.

In the two months since the fatal attack, the U.S. Department of Defense has only stated that the incident is under investigation.

Chinese chip designers Cambricon Technologies and MetaX Integrated Circuits reported substantial growth in the first quarter, as the artificial intelligence boom, lingering US export-control risks and China’s self-sufficiency push drove the country’s demand for home-grown computing power. Cambricon’s first-quarter revenue jumped 160 per cent from a year earlier to 2.89 billion yuan (US$423 million), while profit soared 185 per cent to 1 billion yuan, the company said in a filing on...

The EU Commission also unveiled plans to subsidise up to 70 percent of the extra cost of fuel caused by the Iran war for farmers, fishers and road hauliers.

LONDON — The U. K. and its northern allies have pledged to develop a new naval partnership aimed at repelling Russian advances in the High North. First Sea Lord Gwyn Jenkins — the head of the Royal Navy — said Wednesday he had signed a declaration of intent with his counterparts from Nordic, Baltic and other Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) countries last week to bring together a “multinational maritime force.” Jenkins acknowledged that the U. K. has a “global responsibility” encompassing the Middle East, but said that as the navy modernizes it “will be geared towards the North Atlantic.” “This is where our long-term focus must remain, where Russian service and subsurface activity continues to pose a systems challenge,” he added. Addressing an audience at the defense think tank RUSI, Jenkins stressed that the JEF alliance must “deepen and evolve” in order to “generate the collective combat power necessary.” The navy chief tried to address widespread criticism that the force had been unprepared to deploy in response to the Iran war, saying: “I’m here to show you that the Royal Navy is already rising to the challenge in front of us.” Strains on Britain’s maritime resources were laid bare by the debacle of HMS Dragon’s deployment to the Mediterranean to defend Cyprus, which took several weeks to reach its destination and left the U. K. with only one other destroyer in service, which is committed to a separate Carrier Strike Group mission in the High North. Jenkins said that he is focusing his efforts on rapidly equipping the navy with uncrewed systems to sit alongside crewed vessels — such as the minehunting robots promised for the Strait of Hormuz — in order to meet the threats identified last year by the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine will testify before the House Armed Services Committee on President Trump’s defense budget request for fiscal 2027. Hegseth has argued the $1.5 trillion price tag, a roughly 40 percent increase from 2026 levels, would send a “message to the world” in reestablishing…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sought to cool tensions Wednesday with U. S. President Donald Trump, insisting their relationship remains strong despite a sharp public spat over the Iran war. “The personal relationship between the American president and me remains, in my view, as good as ever,” Merz said at a press conference. “We are still, to put it in American English, on good speaking terms.” The chancellor framed his recent criticism of the conflict in the Middle East as a response to the war’s fallout, rather than Trump’s leadership. “We are suffering considerably in Germany and in Europe from the consequences of … the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, pointing to rising energy costs and economic strain. The conciliatory tone follows a direct attack from Trump late Tuesday. “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” the U. S. president wrote on Truth Social. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Trump warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would leave “the whole World … held hostage,” before turning to Germany’s economy: “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!” Merz’s attempt to steady the relationship comes after he sharpened his position regarding Washington. When the war began on Feb. 28, the chancellor broadly backed America’s aims — but as the conflict dragged on, his tone has hardened. On Monday, he said during a school visit in western Germany that the U. S. was being “humiliated” by Iran and had entered the war without a viable exit strategy, comparing the situation to past issues in Afghanistan and Iraq. Merz also lamented that the conflict was detrimental to Germany’s economy, saying that it was “costing us a great deal of money.” Berlin has also pushed back operationally. Germany rejected U. S. calls for transatlantic military involvement, insisting the conflict “is not NATO’s war,” and has only offered a limited role — including minesweepers to help secure the Strait of Hormuz — once fighting ends.

Supply chain disruptions, higher energy and freight prices, and reliance on Chinese APIs are squeezing margins, raising the risk of higher drug prices and potential shortages.

Even if the immediate phase of conflict subsides, the Gulf is unlikely to return to the status quo. For Asia, the central question is no longer simply whether the Strait of Hormuz is open. It is whether the waterway remains reliable, predictable and politically insulated from coercion. That distinction now matters more than ever. For China and other major Asian importers, it is a question of whether energy flows, shipping routes and sanctions exposure are increasingly being shaped by a crisis...

According to Der Spiegel, the German cabinet's approval of Boris Ruge's nomination is considered a formality.

A total of 21 people have been executed, and more than 4,000 have been arrested in Iran for political or national security reasons since the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28, the United Nations stated on Wednesday. Following the attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran, which triggered the conflict, "at least nine people have been executed in connection with the January 2026 protests, ten for alleged membership in opposition groups, and two for espionage," announced the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The agency specified that, during the same period, more than 4,000 people were arrested "on charges related to national security." "Many of those detained have been victims of enforced disappearances, torture, or other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, particularly confessions obtained under duress—sometimes televised—and mock executions," the UN agency added. "I am deeply concerned to note that, in addition to the serious consequences of the conflict, the authorities continue to violate the rights of the Iranian people in a brutal and ruthless manner," said the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in a statement. "I call on the authorities to halt all executions, establish a moratorium on the death penalty, fully guarantee the respect for the rights of the defense and the right to a fair trial, and release..."

A group of 22 Buddhist monks returning from a trip to Thailand were arrested at Sri Lanka's international airport for carrying more than 110 kilograms of cannabis. The religious figures were intercepted at Bandaranaike International Airport, in the capital city of Colombo, with suitcases that each contained more than five kilograms, representing the largest drug seizure ever recorded at that terminal. According to CNN, the police operation took place last Saturday following a confidential tip. The drugs were hidden inside the luggage, in specially modified compartments. The street value of the drugs exceeded US$3.45 million. The group of men—mostly young monks in training—had traveled to Thailand on April 22, with tickets and accommodations paid for by a sponsor who remains anonymous. The Narcotics Bureau of the Sri Lankan Police is now investigating whether these activities are linked to local drug trafficking networks. Cannabis is an illegal substance in the South Asian nation, and Sri Lanka imposes severe penalties for drug-related offenses. The country's airports have implemented technology to detect illicit items. Convictions for drug trafficking can be punished with fines, imprisonment, or even the death penalty. The suspects, whose identities have not been released by the authorities, were turned over to the police and appeared before a judge.

The UN rights office reports executions, mass arrests and a sweeping crackdown in Iran during the war, with thousands detained. Meanwhile, the country's currency has hit a record low. DW has the latest.

The King and the US president exchanged several jokes during their speeches at a state banquet.

British police on Wednesday declared the stabbing of two men in the largely Jewish neighbourhood of Golders Green in north London a terrorist incident. The two Jewish men were in stable condition and a suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The stabbing was the latest in a series of attacks targeting the Jewish community in the UK.

The TV channel noted that countries, including Qatar, Ecuador, and Angola, have withdrawn from the group in previous years.

As missile threats grow more numerous, diverse and technologically sophisticated, a recent US Senate hearing has exposed mounting concerns that the US’s homeland missile defenses are increasingly misaligned with the realities of modern warfare. Assistant Secretary of Defense Marc Berkowitz delivered a stark assessment of current homeland capabilities, stating that the US relies on a […] The post Trump’s Golden Dome exposed as false sense of security appeared first on Asia Times.