Global Tensions and US Scrutinyactive

The move against Manus AI is Beijing’s most aggressive step yet to stanch the loss of AI talent to the U. S., setting up a complicated legal and political fight.

US president says there’s ‘no reason to meet’ Tehran unless they agree never to have nuclear weapons. Welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East. Donald Trump has said Iran can telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to the war and that it must agree never to have a nuclear weapon, while Pakistan’s leaders have sought to revive the stalled peace talks between Washington and Tehran. Iran gave the US a new proposal on reopening the strait and ending the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, according to the news site Axios. The US state department and White House did not immediately comment on the Sunday report, which cited an unnamed US official and two sources. Araghchi’s talks with Pakistani officials on Sunday had included “implementing a new legal regime over the strait of Hormuz, receiving compensation, guaranteeing no renewed military aggression by warmongers and lifting the naval blockade”, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. In the talks with Omani leader Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Araghchi called for a regional security framework free of outside interference. Araghchi would meet with Putin “in continuation of the diplomatic jihad to advance the country’s interests and amid external threats”, Iran’s envoy in Russia, Kazem Jalali, said on X. Two US air force C-17s carrying security staff, equipment and vehicles used to protect US officials flew out of Pakistan after the latest diplomatic trip…

15 years after he became the subject of a “running joke”, Trump he returned to the same hotel for the same annual event, and was rushed out amid gunfire

Questions over Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s health, amplified by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte, have reached the Supreme Court, turning a dispute over presidential fitness into a rare test of constitutional disclosure. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave Marcos 10 days, or until early May, to disclose his state of health. The court was reacting to an “urgent petition” for a “writ of mandamus” filed by political allies and supporters of former president Rodrigo...

Alleged shooter expected to appear in federal court and could be charged with trying to assassinate Trump The suspected gunman who tried to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner was expected to appear in federal court to face criminal charges on Monday. The alleged shooter, identified by law enforcement agencies as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance in southern California, faces charges including assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer. Continue reading...

A messy fight over whether the U. S. government can conduct warrantless surveillance of American citizens could come down to whether four Democrats endorse Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s latest plan. Johnson was stymied this month when he attempted to push through a reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The roadblock came thanks to opposition from most Democrats, plus 20 hard-right members of the GOP caucus. The four Democrats are Reps. Gottheimer, Suozzi, Gluesenkamp Perez, and Golden Still, four Democrats crossed party lines to vote for a procedural motion to advance the bill, despite instructions from House Democratic leaders to the contrary. Whether those four support Johnson during a vote this week could prove crucial. The four Democrats are Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Tom Suozzi of New Jersey, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Jared Golden of Maine, who is not seeking reelection this year. None responded to requests for comment. One advocate said the outcome of the vote could hinge on their decision. Related Democrats Might Save Mike Johnson’s Push to Give Trump Domestic Spying Power “It all comes down to those four and where they are going to land,” said Hajar Hammado, a senior policy adviser at the left-leaning advocacy group Demand Progress, “and if they are going to continue to try to hand Trump and Stephen Miller warrantless surveillance authorities without any sort of checks or reforms that make sure they’re not violating civil liberties.” Given the skepticism of hard-right Republican lawmakers, Johnson needs every vote he can muster. On Thursday, he put forward a new proposal to extend the law for three years, with additional layers of oversight and auditing. No Warrant Requirement The latest proposal does not address reformers’ highest priority: a warrant requirement that would force FBI agents and National Security Agency analysts to get a court order before they search for information on Americans from ostensibly “foreign” communications — material collected abroad as the NSA scoops up emails, text messages, and the like. Kia Hamadanchy, a senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, said Johnson’s latest proposal does little to change existing law. Under Johnson’s proposal, searches would be reviewed after the fact by a privacy officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and potentially later by an inspector general. “This just follows the old pattern of adding layer after layer of oversight,” he said. “The idea that the inspector general of the intelligence community is going to stand up to Trump on any sort of abuses is just not going to happen.” “The idea that the inspector general of the intelligence community is going to stand up to Trump on any sort of abuses is just not going to happen.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York threw cold water on the idea of Democratic leadership formally supporting Johnson during a press conference Thursday before the latest draft was released. He said it would be “extremely difficult” for Democrats to find common ground with Republicans on the issue so long as Kash Patel — who has been embroiled in controversy over allegations about his drinking habits — remains director of the FBI. Johnson may not need to make major concessions to bring a handful of Democrats over to his side. A large group of centrists has signaled that they would support a “clean” extension of FISA — without major reforms — if it comes to the House floor. But they have so far followed the advice of Jeffries to oppose a procedural vote to bring the bill to the floor. On April 17, the smaller group of four Democrats took the additional step of crossing party lines to support Johnson on the procedural vote, which ultimately failed, thanks only to hard-right members of the GOP. Freedom Caucus Flip? After that defeat, Johnson secured a short, 10-day extension of the spying law to come up with new legislation. Members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus hope to use the next vote series to secure their long-standing, and unrelated, goal of banning a central bank digital currency. Related Palantir Is Helping Trump’s IRS Conduct “Massive-Scale” Data Mining Advocates are warily watching that debate. They worry that the digital currency ban could win over enough right-wing Republicans to hand Johnson a victory — a strategy that only works if the four Democrats continue to play along. Progressive groups outside Congress are already targeting the four with an aggressive pressure campaign. One group, Fight for the Future, has dubbed them “the Fascist Four.” Another supporter of existing law, House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes, D-Conn., told Politico on Thursday that he has gotten an earful from constituents who oppose extending it without a warrant requirement. “I’ve been taking a ton of risk, I’ve been doing a ton of explanations,” Himes said. Himes said he has been talking to individual Republicans to craft a compromise, but Johnson’s leadership team has not engaged with him. The post Meet the Four Democrats Who’ll Decide If Trump Gets His Domestic Spying Law appeared first on The Intercept.

Chinese authorities on Monday condemned the attack that occurred during the Correspondent's Dinner held on Saturday in Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, and rejected any "act of violence." These words come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that political violence has "always been present" in the country. Following the shooting that occurred over the weekend, which prompted the immediate evacuation of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance by the Secret Service, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, stated that Beijing is "closely following the developments." "We always oppose and condemn illegal acts of violence," he said, according to reports from the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua. His comments come shortly after international leaders condemned another episode of violence surrounding Trump, as had previously occurred during the failed attempt to assassinate him in 2024 at a rally in Pennsylvania. Among them are the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and her foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who emphasized that "political violence has no place in a democracy." Also commenting was the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, who stated that "violence is never the answer" and that "humanity will only progress through..."

King Charles' state visit to the U. S. will go ahead as planned on ​Monday despite a shooting at a White House dinner attended by President Donald Trump, Buckingham Palace said after discussions with U. S. officials. The four-day trip - which is to include a private meeting with Trump and an address to Congress marking 250 years since U. S. independence — is intended to reinforce the strained U. S.-British relationship ‌amid differences over the Iran war.

Investigators on Sunday said the gunman who tried to storm a gala dinner attended by Donald Trump planned to assassinate the US president and multiple top officials, as they continue to probe suspects exact motives. France 24's Andrew Hillier has the latest.

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. A Polish influencer has broken the world record for charity fundraising during a live stream. Piotr Garkowski, who uses the pseudonym Łatwogang, raised over 251 million zloty (€59.1 million) for children’s cancer treatment during a nine-day stream that ended on Sunday. The fundraiser had an initial goal of raising 500,000 zloty, but ended up smashing the Guinness World Record of €16.6 million, set by two French streamers last year, after various Polish celebrities and companies joined the effort. Łatwogang called it a “miracle” and praised those involved, while the Cancer Fighters foundation, for which he raised the money, described it as a “great opportunity” to help but one that comes with “massive responsibility” to ensure the money is spent transparently. ❤️ | Właśnie dobiegł końca 9-dniowy charytatywny stream Łatwogang dla dzieci chorych na raka. Łącznie udało się uzbierać ponad 250 mln zł! pic.twitter.com/F9P8vxL3mh — 🌐 ᴛʜᴇᴘᴏʟᴀɴᴅɴᴇᴡs 🌐 (@thepolandnews_) April 26, 2026 The event was inspired by a song in support of cancer patients, recorded by Polish rapper Bedoes 2115 and an 11-year-girl cancer patient named Maja, who is being supported by Cancer Fighters. After hearing the song, Łatwogang told his followers that he would raise funds through a live stream, with its duration based on the number of likes one of his TikTok posts would receive, with one like corresponding to one second of streaming. The post ended up amassing enough likes for nine days of constant streaming. At its peak, around 1.5 million people were watching the stream, reports news outlet Gazeta.pl. Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads Various Polish celebrities, including football star Robert Lewandowski, actor Cezary Pazura, and pop singer Dawid Podsiadło, joined the effort. Some of them made special performances during the stream, while others shaved their heads in a gesture of solidarity with patients, . Lewandowski and his wife Anna Lewandowska together donated around 1 million zloty, while Podsiadło contributed around 200,000 zloty. Many companies also offerd support, with XTB, a brokerage firm, donating around 6.3 million zloty and Zen.com, a financial technogy company, contributing 5.6 million zloty, reports financial news service Money.pl Robert Lewandowski pojawił się na charytatywnym streamie u Łatwogang pic.twitter.com/Q5WMIGAcVq — FAST INFO (@FastInfo) April 23, 2026 In comments to Polskie Radio, Łatwogang described the fundraiser as a “miracle,” downplayed his role in it, and praised contributors and the resilience of children fighting cancer. “I believe that only they should be spoken of as people who have done something great,” he said, referring to the young patients as “little warriors”. After the fundraiser was complete, Cancer Fighters thanked donors for the “enormous trust” they had put in the charity. They said that, in the coming days, they would launch a dedicated website that would provide details about how the funds would be spent. “This amount represents not only a great opportunity to help, but also a huge responsibility,” wrote the charity, which said that it would conduct an analysis to ensure that patients who are in immediate need of help would be first to receive the funds. Wspólnie zebraliśmy już ponad 210 MILIONÓW ZŁOTYCH ‼️ To moment, którego nie da się potraktować jak zwykłego wyniku zbiórki. To ogromne zaufanie, które ludzie przekazali tej akcji, Fundacji Cancer Fighters, nam oraz wszystkim osobom zaangażowanym w jej realizację. Dlatego… pic.twitter.com/buHMtQ55pA — Cancer Fighters (@fundacjacancer) April 26, 2026 Many media outlets have reported that Łatwogang broke a fundraising record set by US YouTube celebrity MrBeast, who has the platform’s most-followed channel. In August last year, he raised over $12 million (€10.2 million) to support access to clean water. But Guinness World Records notes that the most ever raised in a live stream was $19.5 million by French streamers Adrien Nougaret and Alexandre Dachary in September last year. Earlier this year, Poland’s biggest annual charity fundraiser, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP), raised a total of almost 263.5 million zloty, which will go towards buying equipment for children’s medical care. Poland’s biggest annual charity fundraiser, WOŚP, has once again broken its record. By the end of tonight's grand finale, it had brought in just over 183 million zloty (€43.5 million) in donations, which will go towards children’s healthcare https://t.co/ga3QDXktnT — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 25, 2026 Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: Łatwogang/YouTube (screenshot)

Emily Thornberry says foreign affairs committee already looking into issue and more documents are due to be published Good morning. Kemi Badenoch is trying to get Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, to give MPs a vote on a proposal to get the Commons privileges committee to investigate allegations that Keir Starmer lied to MPs in statements he made to them about the vetting of Peter Mandelson. Other opposition parties may be backing her, but we don’t know for sure because the process is relatively secret; MPs have to write a private letter to the speaker, who then decides whether this is a serious request that should be decided by the Commons as a whole, or a frivolous complaint that should be ignored. (We do know that Karl Turner has written to the speaker about this too, but only because he was daft enough to post his letter on social media last week.) Today we are likely to find out whether or not Hoyle is agreeing to a Commons vote. Boris Johnson was referred to the privileges committee over allegations that he lied to MPs about Partygate (allegations the committee concluded were justified). Badenoch wants to make the case that Starmer is just as dishonest as Johnson. He isn’t, by any stretch, and the claims that Starmer lied to MPs about Mandelson are spurious; they relate to contest intepretations of political language of the kind that are commonplace in parliamentary debate. But the fact that this has even become a live consideration for the speaker is a big win for the Tories. The fact that Kemi Badenoch has changed the accusations she is levelling against the PM on an almost daily basis as her claims have failed to stand up to scrutiny shows what this is really about. This is a nakedly political stunt with no substance ahead of the May elections. Any comparison with Boris Johnson is absurd. When parliament referred that matter to the privileges committee, a police investigation had directly disproved his categoric statements that he knew nothing about the breach of lockdown rules. I suppose our constituents might ask [if a privileges committee goes ahead], have we got the balance right between holding the government to account and seemingly squabbling amongst ourselves when there is so much else going on that perhaps parliament ought to be focusing on as well. I have to say, a really truthful position is, why the rush at the moment? Has it got anything to do with local elections? Continue reading...

Alexey Pushkov noted that, despite years of sanctions pressure, Iran had not only developed missile technology and accumulated significant stockpiles of enriched uranium, but also "created a resilience potential that the American ‘hyperpower’ cannot surpass

SEJONG, April 27 (Yonhap) -- The end of the war between the United States and Ir...

Hundreds of senior staff in territory benefit from nearly £30,000-a-year grant per child not available to staff in group’s other hubs HSBC is reportedly reviewing a perk that covers school fees for bankers in Hong Kong as part of a big overhaul of the bank under chief executive Georges Elhedery. Europe’s largest bank is considering whether to scrap the perk for new employees or make changes to total compensation, Bloomberg News reported. No decisions have been made yet. Continue reading...

Bill that failed to pass in this parliamentary session did not fulfil why most people say they support it

The parties will discuss pressing issues of international and regional security, as well as further cooperation between defense ministries within the SCO format

India’s planned purchase of Russian ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles aims to counter Pakistan’s China-backed air network but exposes deeper integration and escalation challenges. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that India has signed a US$1.2 billion deal to acquire around 300 Russian R-37M ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles, with deliveries expected within 12 to 18 […] The post India turns to Russian missiles to counter China-backed Pakistan appeared first on Asia Times.

The 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held every five years, is set to begin Monday in New York in a tense atmosphere. In addition to the war waged against Iran by the US and Israel, all pillars of the treaty have become fragile.

Abbas Araghchi's arrival in Russia comes after his trips to Oman and Pakistan, where he met with officials trying to mediate an end to the conflict.

Europe’s far-right has mastered the language of war but abandoned the reality of defence. While populists preach sovereignty, their voters refuse to serve. This 'peace through weakness' is a dangerous delusion that leaves the continent vulnerable. It is time to call their bluff.

Araghchi discussed with Pakistani leaders “in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on”.

Suspect in Saturday evening’s shooting – Cole Tomas Allen – expected to be formally charged in court today. Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. The suspected gunman in the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday evening, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, is due to appear in court later today. He is expected to be formally charged with using a firearm during a violent crime and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Continue reading...

A US president can order a military operation without congressional approval, but only for 60 days. After that they must seek formal approval from Congress. For the Iran war, this deadline expires on May 1.

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has dropped his legal bid to serve the remainder of his corruption sentence under house arrest, closing off a closely watched appeal tied to his 2024 royal pardon. Najib, 72, is serving a six-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison after his original 12-year term for the misappropriation of 42 million ringgit (US$10.6 million) from SRC International was halved by the Pardons Board in 2024. SRC International was formerly a unit of 1MDB, the state fund at...

France’s prisons are edging closer to a breaking point, with one of the country’s main prison guard unions calling for strike action to force what it says are long-overdue reforms.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News Can the King save the UK-US special relationship? As the King touches down in Washington for a state visit, Anne – who was at the White House correspondent’s dinner – describes the moment a security incident plunged the night into chaos. With a critical three days ahead, Sam and Anne discuss the high-stakes diplomacy facing Britain and whether the strained relationship could be reset. Back in Westminster, with parliament days from prorogation, Sam runs through the key government bills hanging in the balance and previews a major day at the Foreign Affairs Committee, as the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal rumbles on. Plus, with 10 days to go until the local elections, and elections in Scotland and Wales, what options does Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have on the table after polling day? **A message from Amazon: Over 10,000 electric vehicles will be making Amazon deliveries across Europe by the end of 2026. Delivering change where it matters: on your doorstep. Learn more at aboutamazon.co.uk/sustainability.**

King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit comes amid US–UK tensions and the 250th anniversary of US independence.

Oz Pearlman said he was "standing next to" US President Donald Trump, and his "first thought" was: "Are we about to die?"

Air Defense Forces shot down 74 of the 94 drones used by Russian invaders to attack Ukraine since the evening of April 26.

A Taiwanese court on Monday sentenced a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing employee to 10 years in prison over the theft of trade secrets.

Twenty-two Sri Lankan monks returning from Thailand were arrested on Sunday at the main international airport with 110kg (242lbs) of powerful cannabis, officials said. A Sri Lanka Customs spokesman said the group, returning home after a four-day holiday in the Thai capital, had kush – a potent, plant-based strain of cannabis – hidden in their luggage. “Each carried about five kilos of the narcotic concealed within false walls in their luggage,” the spokesman said, adding that the monks had been...

Interview with Nick Thomas-Symonds: "We will not rejoin the European Union, but the world has changed. In areas like defense, security, and trade, if we cooperate, we will all be stronger. The Erasmus program has been reinstated, and soon there will be opportunities for young people from both blocs to participate, but under two conditions."

European markets set to open higher on Monday morning, despite talks between Iran and the US stalling.

Beijing has threatened unspecified retaliation over concerns that a bill designed to strengthen the bloc's industry will harm its companies.

Xu Zewei accused of industrial espionage over suspected effort to steal Covid-19 vaccine secrets

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in St. Petersburg on Monday, where he is scheduled to hold talks with high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, as diplomatic efforts continue to facilitate peace talks between Tehran and Washington following the cancellation of planned contacts in Pakistan. The Iranian Foreign Ministry reported Araghchi's arrival via Telegram. According to the statement, Araghchi arrived in the Russian city after visiting Oman, following trips to Islamabad, as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining a dialogue channel between Iran and the United States. Upon his arrival, Araghchi told Iranian media that he was traveling to Russia "with the aim of continuing close consultations between Tehran and Moscow on regional and international issues." He also stated that his meeting with Putin, scheduled for later, "will be a good opportunity to discuss the developments in the war and review the current situation." "I believe that these consultations and the coordination between the two countries in this regard are of particular importance," he added. The Iranian minister also referred to his recent visits to Pakistan and Oman. According to the state-run IRNA agency, Araghchi stated that his trip to Islamabad was "very productive" and included "good consultations." During those meetings, he specified that…

In today’s newsletter: After the dramatic events of Saturday night, White House security arrangements are under scrutiny and political violence is once again in the spotlight Good morning. On Saturday night the annual Washington ritual of the White House correspondents’ dinner descended into chaos as the US president and first lady were evacuated after the event was interrupted by gunfire. Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed Donald Trump and members of his cabinet out of the room. The president and his wife were unharmed, and a suspect is in custody – identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from southern California. In today’s newsletter, I will bring you the latest updates on what we know about the incident. First, the headlines. UK politics | Labour figures from across rival factions have begun circulating informal proposals for an “orderly transition” of power away from Keir Starmer, the Guardian understands, shifting their discussions from whether the prime minister could be removed to how. Europe news | Private jets laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Viktor Orbán’s years in power have been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad. Trade | UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style “trade bazooka” to protect Britain’s economic interests in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump. Middle East | Hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the US faded further on Sunday, amid a deepening sense of a deadlock in the nearly two-month-long conflict. Science | Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change’s impacts likely contributes to the broad global drop in fertility. Continue reading...

In a tragic and mysterious ancient custom in China, unmarried girls were chosen as brides by a legendary "Cave God" and sent to live in caves, where they would fast to death as a form of sacrifice. The practice, known as Luo Hua Dong Nv, is a folk legend from the Miao communities in Xiangxi, located in western Hunan province in southern China. It is an ancient practice that no longer exists, and its origins are unclear. The custom has been described as a "marriage between humans and deities," and...

Iran's foreign minister is continuing his diplomatic drive amid the war against his country with a trip to Russia. It comes after planned talks with the US in Pakistan were canceled.

The ruling administration of Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state is at the brink of collapse after a key ally withdrew support on Monday in a spat that has shone the spotlight on increasingly fragile ties within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government. Anwar has been facing growing pushback from allies and critics alike in recent months, ahead of national polls due in less than two years. Parties across the aisle are doubling down on contentious issues to bolster support from their...

Denis Pushilin said that Russian forces moved fast at some stages but the process had slowed down and the enemy tried to counterattack

From Portugal’s Atlantic coast to Catalonia’s new gravel routes, the top European cycling trips for 2026 focus on accessible distances and slower, more immersive travel.

Abbas Araghchi also pointed to constant bilateral talks between Iran and Russia

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center, unauthorized individuals have seized control of a cargo vessel, which has been redirected into territorial waters.

A Taiwanese court handed down its harshest ruling yet in a semiconductor trade secret case on Monday, sentencing a former TSMC engineer to 10 years in prison and fining Japanese equipment giant Tokyo Electron (TEL) NT$150 million (approximately US$4.6 million) for stealing advanced chipmaking secrets — marking the first time a corporation has been penalized under Taiwan's National Security Act.

The US is the clear global leader of data centres, with more than double the EU total. Germany and the UK rank ahead of China. Euronews Next takes a closer look at the number of data centres and the factors driving investment.

Electric vehicle sales are surging in many markets as conflict drives up the cost of running petrol and diesel vehicles.

"However, negotiations on nuclear issues must be postponed to a date to be determined."

“There are two tragedies in life,” the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said. “One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” It’s easy to see King Charles III, the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, as a tragic figure. The king waited 73 long years to ascend the royal throne. Now three-and-a-half years into the job he craved his whole life, Charles faces myriad challenges: poor health, advancing years, estrangement from his California-dwelling son, and the Epstein-sized scandal enveloping his younger brother. And now this. What should have been a pinnacle moment in his reign — a state visit to America with all the pomp and ceremony that Washington can muster — has morphed into something much more serious: a high-stakes diplomatic mission to save Britain’s most important alliance. It’s hard for Americans to appreciate the importance of the trans-Atlantic relationship in Britain. While Pete Hegseth cracks jokes about the once “big, bad Royal Navy,” Brits have long known the state of the nation’s armed forces is depressingly underpowered. But this never much mattered, given the endlessly touted “special relationship” with the United States. Images of FDR and Winston Churchill sharing cocktails; Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher locked in embrace; Bill Clinton and Tony Blair as the West’s bright young things; form part of a postwar national mythology. The bond is unbreakable, Brits have told themselves for 80 years. No nation is closer to the U. S. This special relationship — partly real, partly imagined — has allowed an entire generation in Britain to grow up feeling untouchable, safe under the impenetrable shield of the U. S. military umbrella. When anti-Brexit campaigners tried to warn in 2016 that leaving the EU would be a risk to national security, they were laughed out of town. Europe doesn’t keep us safe, the Brexiteers said, convincingly. That job belongs to NATO — the most successful defensive alliance in modern history. Sure enough, Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016. Donald Trump was elected president four months later. It’s taken another decade of turmoil to bring us to this point, but NATO now looks holed below the water line. It’s a “paper tiger,” Trump has said repeatedly over recent weeks, dropping hint after hint that he may no longer adhere to NATO’s central tenet — that an attack on any one of its members is an attack on all. With a violent, aggressive Russia waging all-out war upon a European neighbor, this is not the abstract threat it once was. Trump is angry at every NATO country, for none came to his assistance after he launched his own war of aggression upon Iran. But he has reserved particular ire for Britain, whose prime minister Keir Starmer equivocated when Trump asked to use British air bases to fly his bombing missions. “We will remember,” a furious Trump responded in one of many Truth Social outbursts. “We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won!” The president has given multiple interviews to British news outlets to hammer his point home. The relationship with Starmer — once warm and friendly — appears damaged beyond repair. Trump lost respect for the prime minister when he responded to the president’s request by saying he would need to consult his Cabinet. (In Britain’s parliamentary system of government, the Cabinet is the senior-decision-making body, and the prime minister the chair. But Trump has little time for constitutional norms.) “You don’t have to worry about a team,” Trump says he told Starmer. “You’re the prime minister. You can make a decision.” Even as he pounds on the hapless prime minister — “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump has repeatedly noted — the president’s respect for Britain’s royal family endures. Trump eulogized Charles’ late mother, Elizabeth II, with whom he spent time during his first term in office. Trump has gloried in the royal grandeur of two state visits to the U. K. And since returning to power 15 months ago, the president has struck up a surprisingly strong relationship with Charles. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last month. “It will be TERRIFIC!” Opposition voices in Britain, particularly on the populist left, have called for the trip to be cancelled, suggesting Trump no longer deserves the honor of a royal visit. But that was never going to happen; the British state needs this trip, and needs it to go well. And so it is with Charles that the nation’s hope for a détente lies — a 77-year-old unelected, unappointed leader of the British upper classes, whose only qualification is being a member of the most famously dysfunctional family on the planet. Yet somehow, it’s fallen to him to make peace with President Trump. At first glance, the pair have little in common — indeed, the juxtaposition of the brash, motormouthed New York real estate developer with the painfully awkward English aristocrat has the makings of a decent sitcom. In political terms, too, they are miles apart. Charles has spent decades campaigning for more environmental regulations; Trump has spent his career blitzing through them. Charles has protested Britain’s proposed immigration clampdowns; Trump has shown little interest in limiting mass deportations. And yet these two heads of state are more alike than they seem. Boomers in the original sense, they were both born into enormous wealth in the late 1940s, growing up in the sort of strange, privileged, distant households which rarely produce well-rounded adults. Both waited a long, long time for their ascent to political power. And while their political outlooks are wildly different, they share a sense of nostalgia, an instinctive hankering for distinctive, distant pasts. We see it in Charles’ wistful paeons to the English countryside; and — very differently — in Trump’s forever war upon progressive cultural shifts, and his attempts to rehabilitate ’80s cultural icons. We see it in both men’s shared love of classical architecture. Perhaps they can bond over Trump’s new White House columns. Or perhaps not. Any diplomatic mission to the Trump White House is fraught with peril, as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can testify. And hosting British royals comes with an added layer of bewildering protocol. Kings and queens are easily embarrassed — embarrassment being a fate worse than death in British society. Trump unwittingly created a minor scandal during his state visit to Britain in 2018, breaking protocol by walking in front of the queen. He was later criticised for putting a hand on her shoulder, much as Michelle Obama had done before. In other words, the bar for getting it wrong is pretty low. And this is a president who regularly clears that low bar with glee. Only last month he was making on-camera jokes about Pearl Harbor to the Japanese prime minister. Before that he was mocking French President Emmanuel Macron’s relationship with his wife. Trump’s filter, if there ever was one, is increasingly non-existent. Will he be able to avoid cracking jokes about Prince Harry — or indeed Prince Andrew — in front of the king? Charles, too, is well capable of a diplomatic faux pas. He can be famously grumpy, and has shown public flashes of anger in a way his mother never did. Everyone in Britain remembers the legendary hot mic moment when he badmouthed the BBC’s royal correspondent. He went viral in 2022 for his repeated irritation at malfunctioning pens. A blow-up between these two septuagenarians is hardly out of the question. Yet there are reasons for Brits to be hopeful. Trump instinctively loves history, power and monarchy in all its forms. He loves being seen with grand, global figures; he loves the respect; he wants these visits to go well. He’s also well capable of abrupt foreign policy U-turns — in January he was threatening Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, with death and destruction; one positive phone call later, and they were the best of friends at the White House. Sir Peter Westmacott, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Washington from 2012 to 2016, says that fortunately for Charles, the dynamics of a state visit tend to work in Britain’s favor. Heads of state around the world — Trump included — are typically pleased and flattered to find themselves treated as a grand dignitary on a par with the British royal family. “They like the idea that the king — or previously Queen Elizabeth — is their real opposite number,” he said. “Trump has tended to be on best behavior. He seems to like dressing up in his white tie, and all the pomp and ceremony.” Westmacott agreed the so-called special relationship is “not in great shape” and described the timing of the visit as “problematic” for Charles, with Trump still berating the U. K. on social media. But he is optimistic the trip will go well regardless. “Trump seems to keep his attitudes toward king and country on the one hand, and toward Starmer and the government on the other, in separate compartments,” he said. “That offers opportunities to remind him of the importance of the relationship, and of how much the U. S. and U. K. can and already do together.” The intriguing question is whether Charles, in private, might go further. Could the king seek to engage seriously with Trump on issues close to his nation’s heart, such as NATO and Ukraine; or indeed close to his own, such as the natural environment? Queen Elizabeth II was famously taciturn about anything resembling government business, and her political views remained a mystery. But her son’s views on a range of subjects are already well known, and he retains a keen interest in world affairs, regularly meeting, for example, with Zelenskyy. “I don’t think [Charles] will feel he’s carrying a brief for the British government; that isn’t the monarch’s job,” Westmacott said. “And yet. This is a monarch who is extremely well-informed about and interested in global issues, which I am sure he would be up for discussing privately.” Such conversations would bring an added element of risk to the visit, given Trump’s combustible nature, but potentially offer a far higher reward. And who from Britain is better placed than Charles to deliver difficult messages to the president? The royal family remains the U. K.’s ultimate soft power play, still intriguing and beguiling America after all these years. Charles himself has decades of diplomatic experience under his belt, working as an envoy for Britain in more than 100 different countries over 56 years as prince and king. He will rarely have encountered anyone quite like Trump, and the stakes for a royal visit to Washington may never have been higher. But then little in Charles’ royal career has been easy. And still he endures. The whole world will be watching as he tries to pull this one off.

Malaysian immigration authorities say they have uncovered an Indonesian migrant-smuggling syndicate that moved people from sea crossings to a more elaborate route through Singapore and southern Thailand. The raid, carried out before dawn on Saturday at two major transport terminals in Kuala Lumpur, led to the arrest of 11 Indonesians, including a suspected transporter, and the seizure of a Mazda CX-5 believed to have been used to move migrants to their next stop. Immigration director general...

The Republican senator who had effectively blocked confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve said on Sunday he was dropping his opposition after the Department of Justice ended its investigation of the current central bank chair.

The US Southern Command added that intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Europe is staring down a familiar and unwelcome set of circumstances: rising energy prices, slowing growth and growing political pressure. As the fallout from the U. S.-Israeli war with Iran ripples through global markets, EU governments are scrambling to cushion the blow — with far fewer tools than they had when the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the last energy crisis. Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by Nick Vinocur to unpack what this new economic shock could mean — not just for households, but for Europe’s political center. Also on the pod: German conservatives turn up the heat on Ursula von der Leyen — and Belgium looks to keep the lights on in its shops a little longer. Got a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Not since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, traveled to Washington after the Suez Crisis has a visit by the British monarch come at such a fraught time in Anglo-American relations.

With King Charles III and Queen Camilla set to arrive for a state visit with President Trump, we look back at some major moments in previous royal trips to the United States.

The king faces possibly his most important ever speech and a thin-skinned president, in the shadow of the Sussexes and the Epstein scandal. What could go wrong? On his high-stakes four-day state visit to the US, King Charles will have to walk a diplomatic tightrope as the guest of an erratic Donald Trump against the backdrop of Iran and security concerns after Saturday night’s shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner. Many challenges lie ahead as he takes up his UK government-decreed task to “reaffirm and renew” bilateral ties amid a worsening “special relationship” on the 250th anniversary of American independence. Continue reading...

Even on the sidelines, Ankara faces blowback.

Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most formidable political rivals announced on Sunday that they are joining forces in an effort to unseat his coalition government in the upcoming elections expected later this year. The former prime ministers – right-wing politician Naftali Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid – issued statements announcing the merger of their parties, Bennett 2026 and There is a Future. "We are standing here together for the sake of our children. The State of Israel must change direction,"...

On April 25, shooting took place at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner with Donald Trump in attendance

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music In Berlin-Schöneberg trifft sich heute der Union-Fraktionsvorstand der Union am Gasometer. Dort, wo der Koalitionsvertrag unterschrieben wurde. Zu Gast ist EU-Kommissionschefin Ursula von der Leyen. Gordon Repinski und Rasmus Buchsteiner analysieren den großen Druck unter dem Schwarz-Rot inzwischen steht und wie sie abwenden muss, das Schicksal der Ampel zu erleiden. Welchen Ausweg gibt es aus permanenten Streit und Lähmung bei den so wichtigen Reformen? Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht die SPD-Abgeordnete Rasha Nasr über die gereizte Stimmung zwischen den Partnern. Sie erklärt, warum die SPD trotz Reformbereitschaft keine sozialen Kernwerte opfern will und warum sie Friedrich Merz’ Führungsstil kritisch gegenübersteht. Was als glanzvolle Gala in Washington geplant war, endete in einer Evakuierung. Bei einem versuchten Attentat auf US-Präsident Donald Trump fielen am Samstagabend Schüsse am Sicherheits-Checkpoint. Helge Fuhst, Chefredakteur von WELT und der Premium-Gruppe, war live im Saal und berichtet von den dramatischen Momenten unter den Tischen, der Ungewissheit über mögliche Mittäter und Trumps Reaktion nach dem Abbruch der Veranstaltung. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. ⁠Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.⁠ Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: ⁠@gordon.repinski⁠ | X: ⁠@GordonRepinski⁠. POLITICO Deutschland – ein Angebot der Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH Axel-Springer-Straße 65, 10888 Berlin Tel: +49 (30) 2591 0 ⁠information@axelspringer.de⁠ Sitz: Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg, HRB 196159 B USt-IdNr: DE 214 852 390 Geschäftsführer: Carolin Hulshoff Pol, Mathias Sanchez Luna

The lawsuit marks an implosion in a relationship that once seemed mutually beneficial. Mr Sun was the first major backer of WLFI, helping it to gain momentum.

Across Russia, internet access has been severely restricted. Authorities attribute this to national security concerns. However, among citizens, there is growing discontent with these limitations.

This week in New York, diplomats from almost every nation will convene for a four-week review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the most comprehensive nuclear arms agreement in the world. The stakes could hardly be higher. Russia, Israel and the United States, all nuclear-armed, are conducting illegal wars of aggression […] The post Only one way to stop accelerating nuclear arms race appeared first on Asia Times.

Military video shows boat moving swiftly in water before explosion leaves it in flames The US military said on Sunday three men were killed when it struck a boat it claimed was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This latest strike – which follows dozens of similar attacks on alleged drug boats in recent months – brings the US campaign’s death toll to at least 185, according to a tally compiled by Agence France-Presse. Continue reading...

President Trump and First Lady Melania will still host King Charles III and Queen Camilla amid security concerns following a shooting at the WHCD.

Geneva is full of rumors about the record profits made by oil market players. The legal framework in which they operate has drawn criticism and sparked calls for tighter regulation.

Global outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) leader ASE Technology Holding (ASEH) held its 2025 ASE Supplier Award ceremony, inviting more than 100 suppliers of packaging and testing equipment, raw materials, components, and processing, along with its subsidiaries Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL), and Universal Scientific Industrial (USI).

Israel sent “an Iron Dome air defense system with troops to operate it,” the report said, citing two Israeli officials and one US official.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday, Russian state media reported. Russia and Tehran, who are both subject to fierce Western sanctions, have developed an increasingly close relationship in recent years. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that 14 people died on Sunday in Israeli attacks in the south of the country, despite the recently extended ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran. In a statement, the ministry indicated that among the deceased were two women and two children.

Satellite images taken reveal the Israeli military's massive scale of damage to towns in south Lebanon.

Budget airlines are banding together to ask the White House for a relief plan worth $2.5 billion in exchange for convertible equity stakes in the carriers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

US Iran war LIVE updates: On February 28, the US and Israel bombed Tehran and assassinated their top officials. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases across the Gulf. It also moved to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary April truce has failed to hold.

BRUSSELS ― Europe's leaders have a new fear: Donald Trump's standoff with Iran is about to turn from an economic shock into a political crisis for the bloc's fragile center. With energy prices climbing and growth sputtering, pro-EU governments are bracing for a crisis they have little power to stop — and that could rip through the bloc's already weakened political mainstream. Across Europe, unpopular incumbents are facing a populist backlash that could strike hard enough next year in France to propel National Rally to victory, putting the far right in the Élysée Palace and sending shockwaves around the world. “Energy costs are cascading into food, transport and housing, hitting lower- and middle-income households hardest,” Seamus Boland, president of the European Economic and Social Committee, which brings together trade unions from across Europe and advises the European Commission on economic and labor policy, told POLITICO. “Politically, that creates space for distrust — not just of national governments, but of European institutions’ ability to shield citizens from external shocks. It risks accelerating support for more protectionist or inward-looking approaches.” France is the biggest prize. But it is not the signal in Europe that the center is crumbling. In Bulgaria, the April 20 victory of Kremlin-friendly ex-president Rumen Radev has set incumbents around Europe on edge. In Romania, a coalition crisis could soon sweep pro-EU Prime Minister Ilie…

LONDON — When King Charles III lands in the U. S. on Monday, his aides will be carrying a heavy ring binder lined with thick, textured paper. Among reams of timings, briefings and biographies will likely be a condensed list of key objectives, the result of months of planning with the British government, expanded upon in the margins with handwritten scribbles from the monarch’s red felt-tip pen. It will not have been easy to write. Trump had already strained his relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the limit with volleys against the prime minister’s stances on the Iran war, immigration and oil and gas drilling; some U. K. politicians called for Charles not to go at all. Now, his visit will take place amid heightened security tensions after a shooting at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Charles will likely touch on the shooting in his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, according to a royal aide not authorized to speak publicly. The king has poured work into it personally. While reports have suggested the speech will last 20 minutes, two other people familiar with the planning said they expected it to run to about half an hour — far exceeding the 12-minute speech his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave during a U. S. visit in 1991. “You can say a lot in 30 minutes in Congress,” said one of the two people cited above. But as with all royal visits, Charles’ more contentious messages will be delivered mostly in code, the real politics simmering behind the scenes. Both sides are at pains to stress this trip is merely a 250th-birthday present to the U. S., and there will be no substantive announcements. The Trump administration has assured British counterparts they can expect little focus on policy, despite the president holding an Oval Office meeting with Charles — the U. K. head of state, though not the head of government — on Tuesday. Yet in conversations with POLITICO, 15 current and former U. K. and U. S. officials familiar with the process — many of them granted anonymity to discuss it — painted a vivid picture of a visit heavily planned and guided by the British state with political and policy implications that run deep. Leadership threats by Starmer’s own party have also raised questions among U. K. officials about how far Charles should keep himself — in Trump’s eyes — distinct from the prime minister who requested he go. In all, the bar for success is now so low in Britain’s eyes that the aim is quite simple: Mend some fences and make Trump smile. ‘That didn’t happen by accident’ Monarchs pick their interventions with care, while Trump seems to careen wildly into his. Both those factors will limit Charles’ room to influence the president. One person familiar with the preparations said: “There is a feeling that the king can probably advance maybe one issue, so the question is what that issue will be.” President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose relationship has been strained to the limit, speak during a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war on October 13, 2025. | Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/Getty Images A prime candidate is the war in Ukraine, from which the president has spent months distracted by the upcoming midterm elections and the ongoing U. S.-Israeli war with Iran. The grinding conflict between Kyiv and Moscow sits in the center of the Venn diagram of British diplomatic aims that are also close to the king’s heart. “It is the thing the king really cares about,” said the same person quoted above. “More than tech or the other elements of the relationship.” (The royal aide quoted earlier in this story responded: “I would be very wary of speculative assumptions about the king’s supposed views on any given matter, which usually owe more to feverish gossip in Westminster saloon bars than the inner thoughts of the sovereign.”) The monarch also appears likely to emphasize Britain’s commitment to the two nations’ defense ties — which include NATO moves to fend off Russia in the Arctic — as the president questions the alliance’s future. A trip to Arlington Cemetery is on the agenda, and Starmer’s official spokesperson said Friday: “We’ve got one of the most important security and defense relationships, if not the closest that the world has ever seen.” While British officials downplayed a leaked Pentagon email Friday suggesting the U. S. could review its recognition of U. K. sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, any mention of it by Trump during the visit would put rocket boosters under the story. And there are deeper questions about defense — among them, how quickly Britain will accelerate toward its target (influenced by Trump) of spending 3.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035. Former NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said last week that the future relationship with the U. S. would depend on Britain showing it is moving decisively toward the 3.5 percent goal. “Discussions I’ve had since last week indicate that that is the direction that they’re going in,” he told the Chatham House foreign affairs think tank in London. Charles will have Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper by his side for almost the entire four-day visit, including traveling on the same plane. She plans to break off from the royal delegation to discuss hard politics with U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday. The king’s messaging is a bit subtler. During Trump’s U. K. state visit in September, First Lady Melania Trump wore a yellow dress while Queen Camilla wore a blue dress, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. “That didn’t happen by accident,” said a person with knowledge of that visit. The royals’ style is “show don’t tell,” added Simon Case, who has held jobs in both wings of the British establishment — first as Prince William’s private secretary, then as head of the U. K. civil service. He added: “Royal visits use symbolism and images to communicate meaning more than they use words.” Sometimes Charles’ more potent messages will hide in plain sight, though. During the state banquet for Trump in September, the king praised the AUKUS submarine partnership between the U. S., U. K. and Australia as setting a “benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration.” A month later Trump — whose administration had reviewed the pact — said it was going “full steam ahead.” The first person familiar with the preparations said it had been a deliberate — and therefore successful — intervention designed to nudge the president. Topics best avoided There’s one thing that unites Trump, Starmer and Charles — none of them want to talk about the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Local government workers preparing for King Charles’ visit put up the Union Jack after mistakenly placing the Australian flag along 17th Street next to the White House in Washington DC on April 24, 2026. | Andrew Leyden/Getty Images Police are investigating the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and former U. K. Ambassador to the U. S. Peter Mandelson over claims each of them separately passed sensitive material to Epstein. (Both deny wrongdoing.) Buckingham Palace has rebuffed calls from campaigners for the king or Queen Camilla — a campaigner on violence against women and girls — to meet Epstein’s victims on their visit. Hours before Charles’ speech to Congress, the U. K. parliament will hear for the first time from Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who resigned in February having previously pushed for Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador. Starmer appointed Mandelson despite knowing of his past friendship with Epstein, and Downing Street has struggled to contain the scandal that will continue to play out this week in Westminster hearings while the king is in Washington. The issue dearest to Charles’ heart — the environment — is also likely to be firmly off the table. The king used a Commonwealth summit in 2024 to call for action to combat the “existential threat of climate change.” It is hard to imagine him repeating those words this week. And it is difficult to picture the king holding forth about Trump’s new White House ballroom, though his zeal for preserving traditional architectural styles is well-known. Charles once sank a proposed extension to London’s National Gallery by calling it a “monstrous carbuncle.” ‘Cover to re-engage on trade’ There will be plenty of real policy machinations behind the public pomp. Starmer’s Special Envoy to the U. S. Varun Chandra is joining the royal visit, three people familiar with planning said, and was due to fly out ahead of the king on Sunday. Chandra, a former finance executive and political special adviser in Downing Street, has made regular trips to the U. S. in an attempt to unstick the details of two separate deals on technology and trade that Starmer and Trump struck last year. The “economic prosperity deal” promised to lower U. S. tariffs on cars, aerospace and steel in exchange for beef and bioethanol access, but despite some progress in areas such as pharma tariffs, key elements of the original deal remain unfulfilled. The separate tech agreement also hangs in the balance. Trump threatened on Friday to impose a “big tariff” in retaliation for the U. K.’s digital services tax, which affects several large U. S. tech firms. Charles is vanishingly unlikely to unstick any details, and nor would he intend to. The long list of reasons includes that technical negotiations are ill-suited to subtle royal diplomacy and that Charles’ priorities lie elsewhere. “I just can’t imagine for a moment that the king is going to start talking about trade,” said Duncan Edwards, CEO of BritishAmerican Business, a transatlantic networking group. All is not lost, however; Edwards predicted that Chandra and Christian Turner, Britain’s new Ambassador to the U. S., “will be absolutely using the cover that the king gives to re-engage on trade,” including once Charles is safely home. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who will accompany the king for much of the U. S. trip, speaks to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi during their meeting in Tokyo on April 20. | Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Both sides will be “trying to move ahead on certain issues,” added one U. S. official. The same U. S. official stressed that mending fences will be “first and foremost” in people’s minds. A former senior No. 10 official added: “My priority would be to stem the bleeding and ensure that when Trump is phoned up by random journalists in the middle of the night he stops setting these red lines for the prime minister.” ‘Deliberately shrouded in mystery’ All the planning happens under the thin pretense that royal visits are all the business of Buckingham Palace. The reality is that Charles’ visit is happening on government advice, and has been planned for months by Whitehall and palace aides in a succession of private briefings and meetings. A “royal visits committee” comprising royal staff, Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office and Department for Business and Trade looks through hundreds of options. “Once they agree a place they start going through logistics, objectives and deliverables,” said a second person familiar with the preparations. Turner met U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the visit last week, while Cooper met U. S. Ambassador to the U. K. Warren Stephens. “It’s deliberately shrouded in mystery,” added the senior former No. 10 official quoted above. “It’s not meant to look like it’s all planned out by the government with the palace, but it is.” The king receives notes in a red box, like those given to U. K. ministers, and — although he has been involved personally in writing his speech to Congress — circulated copies of it to a …

Iran has given the US a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war that includes putting off nuclear negotiations, Axios reported, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge the matter.

The leader of Morena and president of the Senate's Coordination Committee (Jucopo), Ignacio Mier Velazco, criticized the National Action Party (PAN) for defending the Governor of Chihuahua, María Eugenia Campos, and rejected the idea that this was a political attack against the state governor. He stated that the PAN members "forget one detail: the Constitution is not optional." On social media, Mier Velazco responded to statements made by the PAN leader, Jorge Romero Herrera, who claimed that the federal government and Morena are carrying out a smear campaign, instead of acknowledging the success of their strategy to combat organized crime. The Morena senator warned that the presence of foreign agents without federal permission is a direct violation of our sovereignty, and he recalled that Article 89 of the Constitution explicitly states that national security is the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Executive. Also read: Angel Boligán, cartoonist for EL UNIVERSAL, wins the International Cartoon and Caricature Competition; his illustration "The Will of the People" is recognized. "No state can act as an independent republic to negotiate operations involving foreign agents. This is not a 'smear campaign,' it is about legality. What was the price for allowing this intrusion?" questioned the parliamentary leader. "Accountability is an obligation, not a persecution. Mexico deserves respect. Fulfilling the constitutional mandate does not..."

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Sunday killed 14 people, the deadliest day since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war came into force over a week ago. It came as Israel and the Iran-backed group traded fresh accusations of breaching the fragile truce, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the military was “vigorously” targeting Hezbollah and the group vowing to keep responding to “violations”. Israel’s military has carried out repeated strikes...

Caught between wars, US Afghan allies trapped in Qatar without safe exit

Some defenders of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, including National Guard soldiers, remain in Russian captivity.

Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Mike Collins (R-Ga.) traded barbs while former college football coach Derek Dooley largely stayed above the fray during Sunday’s Georgia Senate GOP primary debate — one day before early voting begins. Carter, Collins and Dooley alongside former Senate candidate John Coyne and retired Brig. Gen. Jonathan McColumn are vying for the Republican nomination to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff…

Efforts to resume peace talks over the Iran war stalled after US President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by his top envoys and the Islamic Republic said it won’t negotiate so long as it’s being threatened. Bloomberg's Laura Davison reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

The book "From a Distance: Stories of Salvadoran Displacement in Australia," published in 2025 by Tania Cañas and Glenda Mejía, collects testimonies from the Salvadoran diaspora in Oceania. Among these stories, the account of Reina stands out. She experienced a peaceful childhood in Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, but her life changed dramatically in the late 1980s when violence forced her family into exile. This experience, marked by uprooting, adaptation, and overcoming challenges, represents an example of resilience in the face of migratory adversity. Born and raised in Zacatecoluca, Reina grew up with her five siblings in a home led by hardworking parents. Her father, a judicial employee and a pioneer in introducing technologies like the photocopier to the town, and her mother, a renowned seamstress, provided their children with a childhood surrounded by trees, family gatherings, and games in nature. "Our fun was going to our grandmother's house, climbing trees, and eating fresh fruit," Reina recalls in the testimony collected in "From a Distance." The family's tranquility was disrupted in 1988 when her father was the victim of a violent attack that nearly cost him his life. This all occurred amidst the civil war that plagued the Central American country for 12 years. The fear of further attacks and the increasing insecurity led the family to seek refuge abroad. A path into the unknown According to the narrative…

Iran has insisted that any future negotiations remain indirect, with Pakistani officials acting as intermediaries.

Veteran executive Jay Chen, who helped build Japanese group’s China business, left after links to start-ups surfaced

Cole Allen, the accused shooter at WHCD, sent a manifesto detailing his justification and 'rules of engagement' before the attack, criticizing US leadership.

With the “special relationship” on the rocks, the U. K.’s ties with President Trump now rest on a charm offensive by King George III’s great-great-great-great-great grandson.

Iran's foreign minister heads to Russia as Trump says Iranian leaders can call on the phone if they want to talk.

Police officers in the Dnipropetrovsk region came under Russian fire while heading to the settlement of Pokrovske to evacuate civilians.

As AI infrastructure and industrial electricity use rise, Taiwan's shifting power landscape has far-reaching global implications for supply reliability, corporate competitiveness, and carbon-cost exposure. Companies worldwide with local operations or supply chains tied to Taiwanese manufacturing may face higher energy prices, tighter grid constraints, and increased demand for behind-the-meter energy storage and power-quality solutions.

Global Wi-Fi router shipments are increasingly driven by telecom operators' upgrade cycles and tender deployments rather than consumer demand, with traditional seasonality continuing to weaken. Since 2025, the market has shown a pattern of weaker peak seasons and firmer off-seasons.

US President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is using the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday to try to pressure preservationists to drop their lawsuit over his planned US$400 million ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House. “It’s time to build the ballroom,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said plainly on Sunday on social media, posting a letter in which Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate gave the National Trust for Historic...

At its first-quarter 2026 earnings call, Tesla set out a clear shift in strategy: moving the auto industry away from ownership toward a usage-based mobility model. By aligning software, hardware, and manufacturing capacity, the company is repositioning its vehicles not just as products, but as assets within a service-driven ecosystem.

Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) said on April 24 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saronic, a US unmanned surface vessel (USV) developer, to develop autonomous maritime systems.

There were no security checks to enter the hotel, and no identification was required. The only metal detector was located near the ballroom.

Seated at table 219 at the Hilton in Washington for the traditional correspondents' dinner at the White House. After the initial uproar, one of the diners throws us to the ground: "It's the only way to save us." Some cry, others pray. The agents manage to evacuate the tycoon.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth stated in a Sunday interview that the "upward pressure" on oil prices, driven by the conflict in Iran, is "likely to continue" as the war enters its second full month. "We are in a period where there has been a significant reduction in supply, and we are facing this upward pressure..."

Global military spending climbed to nearly $2.9 trillion in 2025, marking an 11th straight year of growth as rising insecurity and rearmament boosted defence budgets, researchers said on Monday. The United States, China and Russia accounted for $1.48 trillion, over half the total, SIPRI said.

Rescue teams off the north coast of France saved at least 119 people attempting to make the journey across the Channel from France to the UK. Last Thursday, the two countries signed a new 3-year deal to stop undocumented migrants from making the risky crossing.