Geopolitical Tensions and Domestic Scrutinyactive

France finance minister says Hormuz must open, G7 ready to mitigate war fallout

Britain’s foreign office overruled vetting officials in granting Peter Mandelson, a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, the highest level of security clearance, the government said.

Dan Driscoll, the top political appointee in the Army, gave his first public testimony since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out the service’s top officer.

The French government on Thursday called on the U. S. to release an 86-year-old widow of an American G. I. in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detention. Rodolphe Sambou, consul general of France in New Orleans, told The Associated Press that his country’s government has “fully mobilized” to push for the release of Marie-Therese Ross, who has…

Gov's spokesperson says Starmer had no knowledge of the Foreign Office overriding the security recommendation.

First-quarter campaign fundraising reports released this week offer new insights on midterm dynamics with the fight for control of Congress in full swing. Democrats boasted massive hauls in high-stakes House and Senate races over the last three months, according to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, pointing to the party’s momentum as primaries begin to solidify November midterm matchups.  …

Tehran's cyber warfare specialists are continuing to explore new methods to gain an advantage in the ongoing conflict through cyberspace operations.

The recent firing of the Army’s well-respected chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, hovered over the House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing on Thursday, with lawmakers from both sides grilling Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and the Army’s acting chief of staff, Gen. Christopher LaNeve. While President Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request, the U. S. war against Iran, the…

The trans-Himalayan arc, a high-altitude desert landscape spanning from Leh and Lhasa to Gilgit and Thimphu, has long been romanticized as a pristine, stoic wilderness of ice and silence. Yet, today, a grittier and more urgent reality is unfolding within its urban centers. With apricot blossom time, these cities are gearing up for a tourism […] The post Trans-Himalayan net zero is a strategic necessity for Asia appeared first on Asia Times.

WASHINGTON, April 16 (Yonhap) -- U. S. President Donald Trump claimed Thursday th...

President Trump will host a roundtable event in Las Vegas on Thursday to highlight his administration's "no tax on tips" law, just a day after the IRS's tax filing deadline. The law, which was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted last summer, covers more than 60 jobs, including service industry workers such as bartenders.

In May 2025, the US president signed a decree ordering the launch of the first such reactor at a military facility no later than September 30, 2028

A Norwegian research company has revealed an analysis indicating that the escalating attacks and counterattacks involving Iran are causing widespread damage to oil and natural gas facilities in the Middle East, and that the cost of repairs could potentially reach up to $58 billion, or over 9 trillion yen.

President Donald Trump says the Naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is "doing very well." He says a new deal could give the US "free oil." He speaks to reporters at the White House. (Source: Bloomberg)

President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that a potential deal with Iran is "looking very good" and could "happen pretty quickly" as he left Washington for an event on tax breaks in Las Vegas. The president said that he expects that once a deal is done, the price of oil and gas will drop. (Source: Bloomberg)

President Trump told reporters on Thursday that he might visit Islamabad, Pakistan, if a deal is reached there between the U. S. and Iran.  “I would go to Pakistan,” Trump said when asked if he would visit the country, which has played a mediating role between the U. S. and Iran, to seal the deal.  “Pakistan has…

An Israeli army vehicle moves near destroyed houses in Southern Lebanon, seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on April 15, 2026. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a temporary ceasefire agreement had been reached between Israel and Lebanon. The 10-day ceasefire, set to begin at 5 p.m. ET, will reportedly see a pause to Israel’s relentless assault on southern Lebanon, which has displaced over 1.2 million people and killed at least 2,000 since early March. Any news of reduced annihilation by Israeli and U. S. forces in the region is, of course, to be welcomed. Just a week ago, Trump was threatening to wipe out the whole civilization of Iran. In Lebanon, Israel has targeted civilian infrastructure like hospitals and demolished villages and homes with ferocity. In the Israeli context. however, the very meaning of “ceasefire” has been irreparably degraded. This is the lesson of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Under the conditions of an alleged ceasefire in Gaza since October, Israel has killed over 765 Palestinians in the Strip and injured over 2,000 — while maintaining a ground occupation of at least half the territory. Related Israel Agrees to Stop Bombing Lebanon — So It Can Keep Bombing Gaza Those concerned about Israeli occupation and ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, too, have little reason to believe a ceasefire will see an end to Israel’s expansionist violence. None of this is a secret. “Israel has no plans to withdraw its military from southern Lebanon during the announced 10 day ceasefire,” an Israeli security official confirmed to Reuters. Israeli officials frame unambiguous expansion into Lebanon’s territory as the creation of a security “buffer zone.” The plan to maintain control of southern Lebanon is an open one, with a long history, imbued with renewed fervor by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist government. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that, even after the current war ends, Israel intends to maintain control over the territory up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and that all villages near Israel’s ever-moving border would be destroyed. “[T]he policy of occupying and annexing south Lebanon up to the Litani River has long held influence among parts of the Israeli government,” wrote Mireille Rebeiz, chair of Middle East Studies at Dickinson College.  She noted that it “dates back to influential Zionist leaders — secular and religious alike — before Israeli independence in 1948.” Related “I Want to Occupy”: Inside the Israeli Movement Pushing to Raze and Settle Southern Lebanon Israel has invaded Lebanon seven times in the last half century. Between 1978 and 2000, Israel maintained an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon — the occupation Hezbollah was formed to fight. It’s worth stressing, too, that while Israel and the U. S. describe the war as one against Hezbollah, it is being waged against the Lebanese people. Much like it is an unacceptable euphemism to describe Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as a war with Hamas. Lebanese journalist Lylla Younes told “Democracy Now!” that in southern Lebanon, as in Gaza, Israel is carrying out a “scorched-earth campaign,” destroying whole villages, mosques, and cultural sites. Her family’s village in the southern border region was bombed earlier this week. “What the world should know is that we will return to these villages, and when we do, we’ll return to rubble, and it will be an immense process of rebuilding,” she said. That is, if return is possible at all. Hezbollah, for its part, will not be fighting through the ceasefire, the group’s representatives had said. “We will be respecting the ceasefire and we will deal with it cautiously,” said Ibrahim Moussawi, a member of the Lebanese Parliament and a Hezbollah spokesperson. He added that “it should hopefully be a beginning of a course of the Israeli withdrawal from our occupied territories.” Related The Forever Spoiler: Netanyahu Has Been Blowing Up Diplomacy With Iran for Decades Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on X on Thursday that he has “full hope” that the Lebanese civilians displaced from the south will be able to return to their homes. It is an optimism at direct odds with Israel’s open commitment to annexation — and it is a hollow hope in the face of what we’re seeing in Gaza. “Israeli forces continue their violent attacks and expand their military control of the Strip,” noted Médecins Sans Frontières in a report last week. “Living conditions of Palestinians remain dire, while Israel continues to deliberately obstruct aid, which is translating into entirely preventable deaths.” The humanitarian medical aid group put it plainly: “This is not a ceasefire.” This cannot be what “ceasefire” gets to mean. The post Don’t Trust the Lebanon Ceasefire When Israel Keeps Killing in Gaza appeared first on The Intercept.

Proposed backing could lower borrowing costs; Milei administration faces major July repayments and is seeking fresh international support. Leer más

Criticism of the Federal Reserve chair nominee's financial holdings will further complicate next week's confirmation hearings.

The officer was charged with assault leading to death, in the case of a man who was accused by Bahraini authorities of espionage during a domestic crackdown tied to the war in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that he has accepted a temporary ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon, but insisted that any final peace agreement will depend on the complete dismantling of Hezbollah. "We have the opportunity to achieve a historic agreement with Lebanon," Netanyahu stated in a televised address, while emphasizing that Israel's main demand remains that the Iran-backed terrorist group "must be dismantled." Netanyahu reiterated that the Israeli military will not grant Hezbollah freedom of movement and will maintain a broad "security zone" under military control by Tel Aviv, which will extend to the border with Syria. "We have not accepted Hezbollah's demand to withdraw our forces to the international border. We will remain present in southern Lebanon with an extensive security zone," the Prime Minister declared. He added that the military presence and control of the area are essential to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping and launching attacks against northern Israel. The Prime Minister emphasized that cooperation with Washington is crucial to ensuring Israeli security and maintaining pressure on Tehran and its allies in the region. "President Trump told me that he is determined to continue the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities," Netanyahu stated. The agreed-upon ceasefire, which will begin at 21:00 GMT…

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday repeated a prayer used by an air rescue group, which draws inspiration from a scene in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction." During a Pentagon service, Hegseth said the prayer—called CSAR 25:17, an apparent reference to Ezekiel 25:17 in the Bible—was recited during a mission to recover the pilot of a…

Our business reporter Peter Eavis breaks down how American military ships have blocked Iranian-linked vessels from using the Strait of Hormuz as the U. S. encourages other vessels to make the passage.

In a statement to the press at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ceasefire in Lebanon includes Hezbollah. He also indicated that the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Lebanon might meet in Washington within the next two weeks. Regarding the progress of negotiations with Iran, he said that Tehran has agreed to transfer its enriched uranium reserves to the United States. The President affirmed that negotiations between the two countries are progressing and that the parties are "close" to reaching a peace agreement to end six weeks of conflict. Trump explained that Iran "has agreed to return the 'nuclear dust' to us," referring to the material that, according to the U.S. government, could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. The President emphasized: "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon because the entire country would be in danger." During his appearance, Trump highlighted the progress made in the talks: "We are making progress in the negotiations with Iran," he assured the media. He added that the new Iranian leaders are "very reasonable" and are now willing to accept conditions that they previously rejected. "Iran wants to reach an agreement," he stated. The President emphasized that the economic blockade imposed by the United States has prevented Iran from conducting international business, which would have facilitated a change in...

The suspect accused of attempting to murder OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed interest in "Luigi'ing" technology leaders in an online chat late last year, seemingly referring to Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Health CEO Brian Thompson. A team member of the podcast "The Last Invention" first made contact with the suspect, Daniel…

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the House minority whip, said Thursday that she had never heard a "rumor" about alleged misconduct by former Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). "I personally did not even hear a rumor about Eric Swalwell or Tony Gonzales until the allegations came out," she told host Kate Bolduan on "CNN…"

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday criticized those who "manipulate religion" for political and military gain amid a feud with President Trump. "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," the pontiff said in Cameroon.

A new U-S-born Pope on a first-ever visit to Cameroon’s restive English-speaking northwest, and who’s not turning the other cheek: “Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”, Pope Leo declared on Thursday in Bamenda. The message was the same when he landed Wednesday in Yaoundé and while it may sound like a rebuttal to a critical U-S president who’s an ocean away, it's first a pointed message to the leader in the room hosting Leo… 93-year old Paul Biya, only the second head of state Cameroon’s known since independence from France in 1960.

Maria Zakharova empasized that Lebanon was also part of the deal

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said on Thursday night that a key suspect in a corruption scandal that has sparked public outrage in the Philippines has been arrested in the Czech Republic and that efforts were under way to repatriate the former lawmaker. Zaldy Co, who resigned from the House of Representatives in September after being implicated in financial anomalies involving flood control projects, was detained by authorities in Prague after crossing into the Central European...

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Washington's actions contribute to the further escalation of the conflict and lead to corresponding economic consequences.

The next EU Council meeting at the foreign ministers' level will take place in Luxembourg on April 21

Restrictions were introduced by the US administration in April 2022

US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll gave an assesment during a hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations

His comments come as French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting talks in Paris on Friday with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz once there is a ceasefire.

Pope Leo XIV warned "the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" on Thursday, escalating his war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump. While the American pope did not name Trump directly, he publicly condemned global leaders who use religion to justify war. "Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," Leo told a gathering at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, on the fourth day of his pilgrimage to four African countries. Members of the Trump administration have portrayed the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran as a religious crusade. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month claimed troops participating in the operation were being protected by "the providence of our almighty God." On Thursday he erroneously cited a Bible verse while describing the rescue of a downed pilot, compared reporters to the self-righteous Pharisees of the Bible, and said U.S. troops were fighting "in the name of Jesus Christ." The religious references have irked the pope, who has been one of the war’s most vocal opponents. "God does not bless any conflict," the pontiff wrote on X earlier this month. "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs." Trump lashed out at the pope last Sunday, when he took to Truth Social to call Leo "wea…

Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday, after Israel’s continued bombing of its neighbor emerged as a major sticking point in the U. S.’s talks with Iran over the broader conflict. “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote. ”These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P. M. EST.” Trump’s announcement raises significant unanswered questions over the details of the agreement. Israel’s bombing campaign — which has rocked Beirut and other Lebanese cities — is part of its long-running conflict with the Hezbollah militant group and not the country’s military forces. The Lebanese government has little control over the group, so a ceasefire with the country’s official representation does not necessarily mean an end to the war. Trump added that he is dispatching Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine to work with the two countries on continued negotiations. The president said in a subsequent post that he was inviting Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for a summit. The embassies of Israel and Lebanon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Netanyahu, who has been strongly criticized by allies in Europe for continuing to strike Lebanon even after the U. S. and Iran reached their temporary ceasefire in early April, committed to peace talks with Beirut last week. But a halt in fighting, even if temporary, could prove a crucial stepping stone for U. S. interlocutors. Iran, whose leadership insisted Lebanon had been included in the ceasefire deal it negotiated with the Americans, continued to strike at targets across the Middle East as Israel attacked Beirut. “If the U S. wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on X last week. “We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it.” Trump said Wednesday on Fox Business that peace with Iran could come “very soon” if “they’re smart.” His optimism came even after peace talks in Pakistan fell apart last weekend, with Vice President JD Vance telling reporters that the Iranians had refused to pledge that they would no longer pursue the development of a nuclear weapon. “The leaders they have — and now it’s a new regime — and we find them pretty reasonable to be honest with you, by comparison pretty reasonable,” he said. “It really is a new regime.”

The ceasefire will enter into force at 9 p.m. GMT

The pontiff denounced global military spending and accused leaders of fueling war, while escalating his public confrontation with Donald Trump over the conflict in Iran.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Thursday addressed the firing of the service’s former chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, saying he deeply respects the ousted officer but that civilian officials “get to pick the leaders that they want.” “I was in North Carolina when Gen. George was asked to put in his resignation paperwork, with my…

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo revealed her itinerary for her visit to the "progressive governments" summit in Barcelona, Spain, where she will hold meetings with heads of state and visit a supercomputer. During her morning press conference in the Treasury Hall of the National Palace, Sheinbaum Pardo explained that she will fly to Spain this Thursday evening and then make a stop in Madrid to board another flight to Barcelona. She detailed that she will hold meetings with heads of state such as Pedro Sánchez, the President of Spain; Gustavo Petro, of Colombia; Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, of Brazil; and Yamandú Orsi, of Uruguay. Also read: Sheinbaum in Barcelona before Washington "There will be some bilateral meetings with the presidents, and then the meeting where we will all be present," she said. The federal leader also indicated that she will visit the supercomputer in Barcelona, as part of an agreement established with the Mexican government, "which already has several projects underway using the supercomputer's model, including data on water, meteorological data, and other data being processed." Furthermore, she specified that she will only be in Barcelona for a day and a half and will arrive in Mexico on Sunday. Join our channel! EL UNIVERSAL is now on Whatsapp! Stay informed about the most important news of the day, opinion pieces, entertainment, trends, and more, all from your mobile device. nro/apr

Trump made the announcement after he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran-backed Hezbollah has not yet commented on the reported truce. DW has more.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Hungary's incoming leader, Péter Magyar, invited him to Hungary, which would undermine Magyar's pledges to uphold international law.

A BBC Verify analysis revealed that more than 1,400 buildings have been destroyed by Israel in Lebanon since March 2nd.

White House Budget Director Russ Vought told senators on Thursday that the White House is still working on a request to send to Congress for funding the military conflict with Iran, which is estimated to cost more than $10 billion per week. When asked by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) about when the White House…

The U. S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Thursday approved the project to construct President Trump’s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch, to be located between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, forward. The commission reviewed the Interior Department’s submitted plans to build an arch in Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, a human-made, National Park Service-ran…

US military footage released Wednesday shows its latest strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing three people.

Donald Trump may be forced to throw Pete Hegseth under the bus for the Iran war fiasco, as his talking points are not sticking with voters and his own supporters.

President Donald Trump plans to take his economic pitch on the road to western US states, as the White House grapples with an increasingly unpopular war with Iran ahead of the November midterm elections.

The revamp to Hong Kong’s HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare concession scheme for the elderly and disabled carried a HK$90 million price tag, with the government paying two-thirds, a Legislative Council finance committee paper revealed on Wednesday. It also showed that about 220 beneficiaries averaged more than 240 trips a month – equivalent to more than eight trips daily – with one hitting as many as 20 trips a day, in the first year of real-name registration. The government adjusted the scheme...

Hundreds of migrants from Bangladesh, including Rohingya refugees, are feared dead after a boat to Malaysia overturned.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) on Wednesday defended President Trump's criticism of Pope Leo XIV, after the two men had a public disagreement over the weekend regarding the U.S. operation in Iran. "I don't want to see the Pope as a politician. The president—we know his leadership style. He's going to stand strong for…

BERLIN — Germany has signaled it is ready to deploy minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, but only as part of a potential international mission. The issue is expected to be discussed on Friday in Paris, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, U. K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. According to a German government official, the federal government is “prepared to make a German contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation.” That could include “mine clearance or maritime reconnaissance.” The minesweeping plan was first reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung. Merz reiterated his government’s position after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Berlin on Thursday. He stressed that Germany is “fundamentally ready” to help secure shipping routes, but only under strict conditions. Those include a stable ceasefire, a mandate within a system of collective security — “preferably” from the United Nations — and formal approval by both the federal government and the Bundestag. Merz underlined that Berlin remains “far away” from such a decision. The signal comes as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is in effect but has yet to fully stabilize the situation in the strait, where Iran blocked traffic and the U. S. responded by blocking Iranian vessels. U. S. President Donald Trump has pushed NATO allies to move quickly, demanding commitments “within days” following his meeting with alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte in early April. However, allies have been leery of getting involved in any combat action in the war started by Trump without consulting them.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said a resigned lawmaker at the center of a corruption scandal involving flood infrastructure has been arrested.

A fire broke out at a refinery in Australia on the evening of the 15th, which produces 10% of the country's fuel demand. This incident raises concerns about further disruptions, especially given the already unstable supply of petroleum products due to the situation in Iran.

The crushing electoral defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, despite massive support from Washington, underscores the failure of Donald Trump's ideological campaign in Europe. The gap is widening inexorably, writes Le Monde columnist Sylvie Kauffmann.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes, including energy production. But the figures and statistics paint a different picture.

Pentagon chief Hegseth has warned that US forces are ready to restart combat if Iran rejects a deal. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Pakistan's army chief has met parliament speaker Ghalibaf. DW has more.

According to the statement, the US decision to end its military mission in Syria is linked to changing circumstances

Google homepage opens and searches can be performed, but links to websites are not clickable

The pontiff did not specifically name the president during his speech in Cameroon. He sharply criticized those who manipulate religion "for their own military, economic, or political gain."

WASHINGTON. – If the United States and Iran fail to reach an agreement soon to end the war or extend the ceasefire, which expires next week, the U.S. government is preparing to shift its military campaign towards a more economically focused effort, aimed at crippling Tehran rather than relying solely on bombing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters at a press conference at the White House on Wednesday that the United States plans to intensify economic pressure on Iran, and noted that the new measures will be the "financial equivalent" of a bombing campaign. The threat of secondary economic sanctions against countries that do business with individuals, companies, and vessels under Iranian control – including allies like the United Arab Emirates and competitors like China – represents an escalation of the sanctions that the United States is already imposing. "We have warned companies, we have warned countries that, if they are buying Iranian oil, if there is Iranian money deposited in their banks, we are now prepared to apply secondary sanctions, which is a very severe measure. And the Iranians must know that this will be the financial equivalent of what we have seen in kinetic activities," Bessent said. Bessent's comments came as the United States indicated that it was considering holding a second round of…

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has apologized in an interview published Wednesday over tweets she made as a teenager. Duwaji was criticized after old tweets unearthed in March showed her using the n word, a gay slur and hurling insults at Israel. Duwaji was criticized after old tweets unearthed in…

House Republicans are floating a two-month extension of the nation’s warrantless spy powers as the clean, 18-month extension requested by President Trump hits a wall within the right wing of the GOP, according to three sources familiar. The two-month extension would buy the House time to debate a series of reforms pitched by the party’s…

The two-year social justice project with the International Labour Organization will focus on three main coffee sourcing countries: Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought will testify before the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday morning on President Trump’s fiscal 2027 White House budget request. The request calls for $1.5 trillion in defense spending — roughly 42 percent higher than 2026 — and proposes cutting non-defense spending by $73 billion. The funding cuts, according to the memo, impact “woke,…

According to the Central Bank analysts, conflict protraction may increase logistics costs and prices for import and export goods, which is a significant proinflationary risks

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun is reportedly downplaying a statement by President Trump announcing direct talks between Beirut and Jerusalem, another key area in the U.S. and Israel's conflict against Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly called Aoun on Thursday and "affirmed" that the U.S. is urging Israel to halt attacks against Hezbollah.

The French government on Thursday said it was pushing for the release of an 86-year-old French citizen who has been detained by ICE since early April. Marie-Thérèse Ross, who is now widowed, moved to the US last year to marry her sweetheart from the 1950s.

As the war continues in Lebanon, so do the waves of displacement. Thousands of families are leaving their homes, and searching for temporary shelter in a country already straining under the weight of war. Government aid is limited, so private groups are stepping in to fill the gap and ease the suffering. FRANCE 24’s Abdelkader Dermas and Cyril Payen report from Beirut.

The United States will blockade Iranian ports for "as long as it takes," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday, threatening renewed strikes if Tehran does not make a deal. "If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon. Watch our replay.

The Trump administration will present President Trump’s proposal for a Triumphal Arch project to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Thursday morning. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced during Wednesday’s press briefing that the Interior Department would soon submit plans to begin construction of the 250-foot arch in Memorial Circle on Columbia Island…

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, provided an update on the U.S.-imposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that so far, 13 ships have turned around and not passed through the passage. "The captains of all these ships made the wise decision not to attempt transit or run this blockade,"…

Swedish private equity firm’s non-binding approach rebuffed as shares in FTSE 100 group surge

The ECJ has ruled that online gamblers can seek compensation if they lost money when gambling was illegal in their home country, even if the laws have since changed. This could pave the way for others to reclaim losses.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that he is monitoring the situation in Lebanon and the establishment of a ceasefire there

Pope Leo condemned leaders who spend billions on wars, stating that the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants," in unusually forceful remarks in Cameroon on Thursday, following another attack on him by US President Donald Trump on social media. Leo, the first US pope, also criticized leaders who use religious language to justify wars and urged a "decisive change of course" during a meeting in the largest city in Cameroon's anglophone regions, where a simmering conflict dating back nearly a decade has left...

According to Denis Alipov, current contradictions "should be regarded as a working, a natural working process, a natural situation, since the BRICS is not any formal organization"

Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that counter-drone systems are to be deployed along the borders with Russia and Belarus

The comments follow a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump, who called the Pope weak on crime.

Alexander Stepanov specified that a regional military-industrial cluster is effectively being created, with the UK, Germany, and France as key players in the market

Beijing has raised the limit on banks’ overseas lending – a move that analysts say will support Chinese firms in outbound investment expansions while helping to stabilise the yuan. Regulators raised the overseas-loan leverage ratio for foreign banks in China and their joint ventures with Chinese lenders from 0.5 to 1.5 on Wednesday, according to a statement published by the central bank and the foreign exchange regulator. In a separate statement, the regulators said that the new rules would...

They don’t appear ready to raise borrowing costs just yet, even with inflation set to pick up across the continent.

Israel and Lebanon leaders set for historic talks after 34 years of silence, aiming to ease tensions amid ongoing conflict.

Particular attention was paid to prospects for expanding cooperation in such sports as football, badminton, rhythmic gymnastics and freestyle wrestling

Sri Lanka had been refusing to send back the Iranian Navy personnel, including survivors from a warship that the United States torpedoed, during active hostilities.

Under the new guidance, which remains in effect until at least May 15, Russian carriers can operate flights to Israeli airports between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. Moscow time.

Iran’s reported use of a Chinese-built satellite, combined with alleged Russian intelligence support, signals a shift toward a new model of warfare in which commercially enabled space assets reshape how US forces are tracked and targeted. Reuters reported that Iran covertly obtained a Chinese-made TEE-01B spy satellite to improve its capacity to observe and potentially […] The post China’s satellite boost gives Iran a US targeting edge appeared first on Asia Times.

Hong Kong police have arrested five people accused of stealing more than 445 items of clothing worth HK$113,000 (US$14,400) from multiple outlets of Japanese retail chain Muji. Officers from Yau Tsim police district said they had received a string of shoplifting reports since earlier this year that involved large quantities of apparel taken from a retail chain, with a source naming the business as Muji. The Japanese retail chain is known for its minimalist “no-brand quality goods”...

The blackout has become the longest nationwide internet disruption ever recorded worldwide

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) expects a revenue surge of more than 30 per cent in 2026 as the world’s largest contract chipmaker “pulls in all equipment” to ramp up supply, as management downplayed the impact of memory price hikes and Middle East tensions. During its first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, company executives voiced optimism for the year ahead anchored by the global AI frenzy, attributing the expected revenue surge to strong demand for artificial intelligence and...

The Bosnian Serb war criminal, Ratko Mladic, who is serving a life sentence in The Hague, reportedly suffered a mild stroke and his health is deteriorating, according to information provided by his son to the Bosnian Serb public television channel on Wednesday. Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment by a UN tribunal in 2017 for genocide and war crimes committed during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. The Bosnian Serb military commander, known as the "Butcher of Bosnia," was found guilty, in particular, for his role in the siege of Sarajevo – during which snipers fired on civilians in what survivors and prosecutors described as "human safaris" – and the Srebrenica massacre of 1995, in which 8,000 Muslim Bosnian men and boys were killed, an event considered genocide by international justice. On Wednesday, his son, Darko Mladic, told the RTRS television channel that he had received preliminary information about his father's health on Friday, when he was contacted by a doctor authorized by the UN. "She briefly explained that they believe it was a silent (mild) stroke, that he had been transferred to a civilian hospital, and that he returned (to the prison) after undergoing scans and examinations," he said. According to Darko Mladic, his father's condition is worsening day by day. "The situation is very serious." The family is still awaiting the medical documentation from The Hague so that doctors can…

Chinese authorities have refrained from commenting on the recent statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding an exchange of letters with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. In the letters, the Asian leader reportedly confirmed to Trump that Beijing does not provide military assistance to Iran in the context of the war that began on February 28th. "Regarding the situation in Iran, China has made its firm position clear on more than one occasion," said Guo Jiakun, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement where he avoided clarifying whether the Chinese leader had conveyed these messages to his American counterpart. "Regarding the details that have been mentioned, I do not have information on that," he said in response to questions from journalists. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that in a letter to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, he asked him not to send military assistance to Iran in the context of the war, to which the Asian leader responded that he was not doing so. "I wrote him a letter asking him not to do it. And he wrote me a letter saying, in essence, that he wasn't," Trump summarized regarding the military assistance from the Asian giant to Tehran, about which various reports have been published in American media. Before traveling to China, where he is expected to make an official visit in May, Trump insisted that while...

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia about Trump's inconsistent timeline to end the war with Iran and Democrats' efforts to restrain presidential war powers.

In justifying the war they launched on Iran at the end of February, the US and Israel said they wanted to ensure the country wasn’t able to build nuclear weapons. North Korea, another state alienated from the West, has long had these capabilities, and has recently significantly increased its capacity to produce such arms, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Due to the impact of the situation in Iran, there have been numerous cases where the cost of procuring materials necessary for business operations has increased, or it has become difficult to obtain the materials themselves. On the other hand, TOTO, a major manufacturer of housing equipment that has suspended orders for products like system baths, has announced a plan to gradually resume accepting new orders, demonstrating efforts to ensure a stable supply of products.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered a sharp critique of US President Donald Trump in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, published on Thursday, stating that world leaders should seek respect rather than rule by fear. "Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country," Lula told El Pais, referring to the president's public threat on April 7 to wipe out Iranian civilization as part of the US-Israeli war on Iran. "He wasn't elected for that, and his...