Geopolitical Uncertainty and Economic Stasisactive

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.

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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.

A top-floor residence at High Peak in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels West neighbourhood has sold for HK$420 million (US$53.7 million) as activity in Hong Kong’s high-end housing segment remains heated after a strong first quarter. The penthouse unit at 23 Po Shan Road sold to a company called Shine Action on April 8, Land Registry records showed. The buyer is believed to be a mainland resident, based on the name of Shine Action’s director in the Companies Registry, Zheng Jiang. Momentum at the pinnacle...

The United Arab Emirates’ authorities intend to balance their budgets

The group recruited children from Finland for a camp in Crimea while receiving employment support from the City of Helsinki.

Nail Latypov also pointed out strong ties with the republic in the area of ​​technical cooperation

Hong Kong authorities have rolled out a fresh package of measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reeling from the global fuel crisis and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including a 21 per cent increase in available bank lending to HK$450 billion (US$78.43 billion). The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the city’s de facto central bank, on Wednesday said the measures for the SMEs were designed to improve access to financing, strengthen their business resilience,...

This step is beneficial for the EU, the source noted

China is flexing its dominance over the global supply chain – claiming the world’s largest reserves of 14 essential minerals, including rare earths and graphite – while preparing to ramp up exploration through the end of the decade. The Ministry of Natural Resources disclosed the information at a monthly media briefing on Wednesday, vowing that China would continue accelerating its search for minerals during the 15th five-year plan period spanning 2026 to 2030. The message underscores Beijing’s...

Glenn Harvey for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune When Texas dedicated $22 million to host the 2017 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, state officials expected a return on their investment. But a state analysis after the Patriots’ thrilling comeback win said it was “impossible” to tell if Texas taxpayers broke even on their investments. If anything, Texas came up $14 million short, according to a breakdown of tax revenues in the same analysis. Texas taxpayers likely will be on the hook again when Houston and Dallas welcome the FIFA World Cup this June and July. The cities are among 11 in the U. S. that have agreed to shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars in costs for the soccer tournament, subsidizing a World Cup expected to generate $11 billion in profits for FIFA. Host cities and their local organizing committees will pay for security at the matches, cover the cost of retrofitting their stadiums to better accommodate soccer and operate fan festivals in addition to the main matches. Originally, they were supposed to pay to transport FIFA officials to all matches, as well, though that requirement has been waived, according to Houston organizers. The cities get little tangible benefit in return. They do not see a slice of game-day revenues from ticket sales, concessions and merchandise, or parking. Even selling tickets or suites in exchange for corporate sponsorships — usually a key revenue generator for local organizers — was restricted by FIFA this year. Cities had to agree to FIFA’s demands before the U. S., Mexico and Canada even submitted their bid in 2017 to host the World Cup, and many of those host city contracts remain secret. Now, as the event nears, some cities are questioning whether those agreements will leave them paying for more than they get in return. “Everybody signed an agreement that was very, very one-sided,” said Alan Rothenberg, who is on the Los Angeles host committee for the 2026 World Cup and was the president of U. S. Soccer the last time the country hosted the tournament in 1994. Then, some host cities would get a slice of game-day revenues, such as a share of the money made from selling food and drinks at the matches. U. S. Soccer also covered the bill for security at the games and other organizing expenses, Rothenberg said. That helped cities take in more money than they spent, making hosting a more attractive endeavor. This time around, the agreement was so lopsided that at least one city, Chicago, withdrew during the bidding. And in some cities that moved forward, concerns have grown as the matches near. Officials in Foxborough, Massachusetts, threatened in February to withhold permits for the matches unless FIFA or the owner of the Patriots committed to paying $7.8 million in security costs ahead of time. Foxborough ultimately approved the permits after local World Cup organizers agreed to pay the bill in advance. “At this point, I think a lot of people are looking at Chicago and thinking they were the smart ones,” Rothenberg said. “They looked at the terms of the agreement and said, ‘No, thanks.’ I don’t think anybody in the 11 host cities thought it would be as tough as it seems to be.” Re-created for legibility by the Houston Chronicle The World Cup contracts place full responsibility for “overall safety and security” and “all taxes, duties and levies” on the host cities. Re-created for legibility by the Houston Chronicle FIFA did not respond to questions about those criticisms. Instead, it provided a written response stating that it is working closely with its host sponsors and expects cities to benefit. “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is projected to generate significant economic activity across Canada, Mexico and the United States, spanning tourism, hospitality, employment and long-term global visibility,” said Jhamie Chin, a FIFA spokesperson. The host cities use external nonprofits to organize and run the tournament’s logistics and raise money for the costs of hosting. Chris Canetti, who runs Houston’s host committee, said the city’s organizers have been able to overcome any challenges the contract has presented. “This event is going to have a substantial economic impact on our region, from hundreds of thousands of visitors coming through,” Canetti said. “We’re making an investment in that. I think this is good for our community at the end of the day.” The Houston Chronicle sought to better understand the agreements cities made with FIFA and their implications for taxpayers by reviewing records from all U. S. host cities. Most refused to hand over the contracts, including Houston, which argued that releasing the documents would undercut its ability to negotiate for future events; Dallas did not oppose the release but sent the request to the Texas attorney general to allow third parties to object if they wanted. The two cities asked the Texas attorney general for permission to keep them out of the public’s view. The attorney general’s office ruled that Houston and Dallas must release their contracts, though they were allowed to redact key financial figures, including how much FIFA is paying to rent stadiums for the event. The Chronicle reviewed the two Texas contracts, along with those of four other host sites — Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia and Seattle — that made their agreements available. Together, the contracts show that almost all of the costs for organizing the tournament fall on the cities, whose ability to collect revenue is limited. Those agreements, according to Rothenberg and other experts, lock host cities out of prospective revenues more than ever, leaving FIFA with a larger share of the revenue. Fans cheer as teams are announced during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Houston in December. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Texas Taxpayers on the Hook In Houston, at least, most of the organizing costs are not expected to be borne by local governments. “The host committee holds the contract with FIFA. We are 100% responsible for finding the funding to cover all of those expenses, and none of that comes from the city or the county,” Canetti said about the agreements. The contracts do not make clear who is on the hook if the host committee cannot cover the costs. Canetti said he is confident Houston’s committee will have more money than it needs for the expenses, and any surplus funds would be donated to charitable efforts. The host committee that Canetti runs uses a mix of revenue generated from corporate sponsorships, the money FIFA pays to rent NRG Stadium and subsidies from state and federal governments. That includes $65 million from the federal government to help Houston pay for security, part of a broader $625 million investment by American taxpayers in the World Cup. The committee also expects to draw tens of millions of dollars from Texas’ Major Events Reimbursement Program, an offshoot of the state’s Event Trust Funds established in 1999 when Texas was vying to host the Olympics. Canetti did not reveal the precise amount Houston believes it will receive, and the Chronicle is still waiting for the governor’s office to respond to records requests for its communications with the committee. Chris Canetti, president of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston host committee, speaks during a press conference. Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle The reimbursement fund was key to ensuring Houston did not lose money when it hosted the Super Bowl. It is expected to be a difference-maker again in covering World Cup costs, helping ensure Houston and Dallas are in a better position than other host cities that don’t receive state money. But it means Texas taxpayers bear a significant share of the costs. Kelly Dowe, the city’s finance director when it hosted the Super Bowl in 2017, assumed the city would be left with the costs. He was surprised when the host committee for that event effectively paid the full bill, in large part with $22 million in state funds. But these big events, while a boon to specific industries like hotels, bars and restaurants, are hardly a driver in a city’s budget. “It doesn’t make money for the city, per se,” Dowe said. “You’re glad to break even.” Texas has made available about $263 million since 2015 to help cities cover the costs of dozens of events, subsidizing everything from a Super Bowl to Junior Olympics and cutting horse competitions. But program administrators have consistently struggled to verify that the events are creating a positive return on investment for taxpayers. Under the program, cities seeking to host competitive sporting events apply for state funding, using estimates of how much they think revenue from sales, liquor and other state taxes will increase as a result of an event. That amount forms the basis of how much money the city is eligible for, and then it can submit expenses for reimbursement after the event. That included $21.9 million to Houston’s Super Bowl in 2017, $23 million to Austin’s Formula 1 United States Grand Prix event in 2019 and $31 million to the same event in 2021. As the program grew, it began drawing criticism from across the political spectrum. Then-state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, pushed a bill in 2013 to audit the program, saying, “We’re handing these things out like candy.” The bill did not pass, but state auditors reviewed the program in 2015. The audit suggested that officials in the Texas comptroller’s office, which originally administered the program, were not vetting the number of out-of-town visitors stringently enough to ensure an economic benefit. It also found they were not verifying that invoices sent by cities were directly related to the events they were hosting. The comptroller’s office added rules in late 2014 clarifying what kinds of spending would be allowable for reimbursement, and, in 2015, the Legislature moved the trust funds to the governor’s office of economic development and tourism. But the move has not made it any easier for the state officials who administer the program to distill complicated economic data, and they continue to write in their reports that they cannot tell whether the events bring a positive impact. In 2020, five years after the program was transferred to the governor’s office, the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation, which has been a strong supporter of Gov. Greg Abbott, released a report criticizing the program, saying its vision “points to a misunderstanding of how economies work.” Andrew Mahaleris, an Abbott spokesperson, said the governor’s office commissioned an economic impact analysis for the 2024 fiscal year that showed 840,000 nonlocal visitors spending more than $615 million in Texas, with a positive economic impact of more than $1.2 billion. It’s unclear how the numbers in that study were calculated, and Mahaleris did not respond to requests to provide the study to the Chronicle. “Event Trust Funds are critical tools that help Texas communities attract events to the state,” Mahaleris said. When state officials review the taxes they collect after the events, they come to a different conclusion. State officials are limited in the types of economic indicators they assess. For example, they look at the amount of sales taxes collected in cities and counties, but that data does not identify how much comes from out-of-state visitors for the specific events the state is subsidizing. “Houston is a giant economy, a region as big as some states,” said Dowe, the former Houston finance director. “As big a deal as the Super Bowl or the World Cup would be, it doesn’t move the overall economy as much as other factors — manufacturing, oil and gas, the refining that goes on at the ship channel. Any movement on those would far outweigh the noise in the signal from the World Cup.” After every one of the last 40 events the state program h…

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

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

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

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

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

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

European Commission president calls for diplomacy to end Iran war

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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