Shifting Global Alignments and Conflictsactive

President Trump will host Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a working visit at the White House on Thursday, according to a White House official.  The official told The Hill that Trump and Lula will discuss economic and security matters.  Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin told the Brazilian outlet Globo News on Tuesday that Lula…

Health care costs are the top concern among voters who identify with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, according to a new poll — far more than vaccines, pesticides or additives in food. The survey, released Wednesday by KFF, shows how affordability concerns dominate the minds of Americans across the political spectrum. According to the poll,…

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. President Karol Nawrocki’s chief of staff and most senior foreign policy aide have both called on the Polish government to “take advantage” of President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany by seeking to have them redeployed to Poland. Their comments come shortly after Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an opponent of Nawrocki, said that he would not want to “undermine European solidarity” by “poaching” US troops from Germany. However, since then, other government figures have indicated Poland may be open to such a transfer. Szef Biura Polityki Międzynarodowej @prezydentpl @marcin_przydacz in Porannej #RozmowaRMF about increasing the number of US soldiers in Poland: "There is some openness from President @realDonaldTrump to discuss this (…) It would be good if not only @prezydentpl pursued this, but also… pic.twitter.com/eKKl3SEpCr — RozmowaRMF (@Rozmowa_RMF) May 6, 2026 “We have to take advantage of the situation,” Nawrocki’s chief of staff, Zbigniew Bogucki, told broadcaster wPolsce on Tuesday. “This isn’t about poaching, it’s not about acting at someone’s expense; it is firstly in the interests of Poland, and secondly in the interests of…

The Supreme Court’s emergency docket is roaring back.  After a lull in activity, requests for quick action on redistricting, abortion and Big Tech have landed on the justices’ desks.  It’s dominating the agenda as decision season fast approaches for the Supreme Court’s normal docket, a time the justices typically spend working on drafting those opinions.  Louisiana’s congressional map  Last week’s blockbuster Supreme Court decision abating a central Voting Rights Act provision struck down Louisiana’s congressional map. But it left questions…

"The Bandera regime continues its terror against the Russian people," said Leonid Slutsky.

The secretary of State travels to Italy seeking to ease tensions with Europe and the pope

The Conservative-Labour duopoly that governed British politics for the past century appears locked in terminal decline. As a result, voters are no longer presented with a binary choice between opposing economic manifestos.

The small South American nation has experienced a significant increase in its revenue as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

MT Ninemia delivered about 100,000 metric tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia

Romania's Social Democrats have joined forces with the far right to oust the pro-reform government of Ilie Bolojan. The economic impact will be serious; the political cost high. Is the far-right on the brink of power?

Diplomatic relations between the U. S. and Belgium are under renewed pressure after Donald Trump’s envoy lashed out over plans to prosecute two Jewish men who perform ritual circumcisions. “This is a shameful stain on Belgium,” U. S. Ambassador Bill White wrote Wednesday on X, adding that the country would now be considered antisemitic by the world. “The Trump Administration condemns this judicial action,” White added, slamming what he described as “political inaction” by the Belgian government to find a solution. The U. S. ambassador’s comments echo remarks on X earlier Wednesday from Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who described the situation as “a scarlet letter on Belgian society.” The U. S.-Israeli fury comes after the Antwerp prosecutor confirmed it recommended two mohalim be prosecuted following investigations into alleged illegal circumcisions, which must be carried out by a medical professional according to Belgian law. Belgium’s foreign affairs minister immediately hit back at the criticism. “I urge you to exercise greater restraint and to view your role in its proper context,” Maxime Prévot wrote on X, responding to White. “It is inappropriate to publicly criticize a country and tarnish its image simply because you disagree with judicial proceedings. I have already told you this.” The minister added it was “defamatory” to represent the legal proceedings as a push to undermine religious freedom, noting that they had been initiated by “representatives of the Jewish community themselves.” He also invited Sa’ar to a meeting “to put an end to any misinterpretations” on the matter, “since you yourself recently urged against conducting diplomacy via Twitter.” The back-and-forth further strains diplomatic relations between Belgium and the U. S., which were already frayed earlier this year when the ambassador’s criticism of the same investigation led to an outcry over U. S. interference in Belgium’s legal system. The Antwerp prosecutor confirmed to POLITICO that it “considers there to be sufficient evidence to request” that two men be referred to the criminal court. They would be charged with intentional assault or battery against minors and the unlawful practice of medicine. A panel will decide in June whether the case should in fact be sent to trial.

Lawmakers to convene for special session to redraw state supreme court districts at building with racist history When Mississippi lawmakers met in 1861 and voted to secede from the union in an effort to continue enslaving people, they did so in what is now known as the Old Capitol Museum. From 1839 to 1903, lawmakers met at a building that witnessed some of the state’s most racist history. And now, on 20 May, when members of Mississippi’s house convene for a special session to redraw state supreme court districts, they will do so at the Old Capitol, ostensibly because of renovations in the house chamber. Continue reading...

Lutnick has acknowledged he visited Epstein’s island with his family in 2012 after earlier claiming he severed ties in 2005 Sign up for the Breaking News US email A majority of Indiana Republican legislators whose opponents were backed by Donald Trump lost their primaries on Tuesday, giving the president wins in a deep-red state just months after lawmakers there rejected his redistricting plan. Of the seven Trump-endorsed challengers to state senate candidates, at least five won. Continue reading...

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is seeking to charge two unnamed individuals over a 1.1 billion ringgit (US$278 million) semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, as former economy minister Rafizi Ramli returned for a third day of questioning in the same probe. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the investigation was nearing completion after officers recorded statements from 22 witnesses, including Rafizi and his former aide, political analyst James...

Reform UK has surged in polls largely due to its campaign against immigration and has vowed a wave of mass deportations if it wins the next general election in 2029.

The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders on Wednesday for more than a dozen towns in Lebanon, citing potential attacks against the country. This comes despite the ceasefire in effect since mid-April, which has been marked by continued Israeli attacks and drone launches by the Lebanese group. The Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli military, Avichai Adrai, stated in a brief statement published on social media that the order affects the towns of Kauzariya al Siuad, Gasaniya, Mazraat al Daudiya, Budias, Raihan, Zlaya, Bazuriya, Haruf, Habush, Ansariya, Qalué, and Deir al Zehrani. "Due to violations of the ceasefire agreement by the terrorist group Hezbollah, the military is compelled to take action against it with force," he stated, before urging the residents of these towns to "immediately evacuate their homes" and move away from their houses "to a distance of no less than one kilometer." "Anyone who is near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and their combat equipment is putting their life in danger," Adrai warned, after the Israeli military stated that it had launched attacks against 25 alleged targets linked to the Lebanese group in the past 24 hours. The last major outbreak of hostilities occurred on March 2, when Hezbollah launched projectiles against Israel in response to the assassination of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during an offensive launched on the 2nd...

More than 400 cancer patients are set to benefit from Hong Kong health authorities’ decision to subsidise a leukaemia drug, and will go from paying up to HK$500,000 (US$63,800) a year for treatment to forking out just HK$240. The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that it began subsidising the medication, Dasatinib, in April, with the government expected to set aside an additional HK$49 million in annual spending to help cover the cost. As part of the move, Dasatinib was reclassified from a...

An Indian citizen working as a technology professional in the US is considering resigning and moving to India because of stress and depression caused by a negative work environment.

Five years ago, a Nevada state senator helped kill a crypto tycoon’s vision of a blockchain city in the Reno desert. Now, that lawmaker is running for higher office, and the crypto mogul is bankrolling her primary opponent to the tune of millions. The battle playing out in the state attorney general’s race is one example of many of the crypto sector trying to elect industry-friendly officials. In Nevada, it’s also a story of an eccentric multimillionaire whose money threatens the political ascent of a woman who helped deny his dream. The spending by crypto entrepreneur Jeffrey Berns is “meaningful money, especially at this early stage in the primary,” said Kenneth Miller, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “And we don’t know if this only represents an initial investment and will be followed up by more.” Spending Big Berns has donated at least $2.5 million since 2023 to a political action committee controlled by Nevada State Treasurer Zach Conine, who is running for attorney general against state Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. That is more than twice the $1.2 million that Conine received from individual donors to his personal campaign account over the same period. After receiving money from Berns, Conine’s PAC in turn donated more than $1.8 million to a newly created campaign outfit called Safe and Strong Nevada PAC, which rolled out a website and video advertisement attacking Cannizzaro. Both Cannizzaro and Conine are Democrats on the June 9 primary ballot. They have settled on similar campaign themes as fighters who will take on President Donald Trump — a reliable message in an election year with an energized Democratic base. “It is not typical for a campaign to be almost entirely propped up by one wealthy megadonor.” Neither candidate has made cryptocurrencies a focus of their campaigns. Yet Berns’s donations make him by far the largest donor to Conine’s campaign organizations. Miller, the political science professor, said the scale of Berns’s donations reflected a larger trend. “All semblance of constraints on political donations have eroded away in the past couple decades, and the amount of money it takes to be impactful in a Nevada primary election is well within reach for a lot of wealthy individuals,” he said. “Campaigns around the country often have one or two super PACs involved that are funded by one or just a handful of people. It is not typical for a campaign to be almost entirely propped up by one wealthy megadonor, but it does happen sometimes.” A Dream Denied While Berns did not respond to a request for comment on why he is intervening in the race, he has a tangled history with Cannizzaro. Five years ago, she helped kill his vision of building what his company called a “smart city” near Reno. Berns was formerly a California plaintiff’s lawyer who won huge settlements taking on the banking industry. He was also an early investor in the Ether token, a leading competitor to bitcoin. His multiplying fortune allowed him buy waterfront properties in ritzy destinations including Lake Tahoe, where he bought and sold a $47.5 million mansion, and Turks and Caicos, where he recently listed for sale at $35 million a beachfront property that was once featured on the Netflix reality dating show “Too Hot to Handle.” He also founded a company called Blockchains, which in 2018 purchased 67,000 acres of land in Storey County in northern Nevada near the Tesla “Gigafactory” for the sum of $170 million. Storey County has flexible development rules, but not flexible enough for Berns. Instead, he and his company wanted to build an entire city running on blockchain that operated independently from the county. “I want to create a place where we can rethink things. Where we can democratize democracy,” Berns told the BBC. Berns won the support of a critical backer: then-Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat who endorsed the idea in his 2021 State of the State address. Opponents noted that Berns had donated tens of thousands of dollars to Sisolak and smelled an end-run around regular democratic governance. They also raised concerns about more mundane issues such as lost tax revenue and water rights. The idea would have needed approval from the Nevada Legislature. Berns’s push for legislative approval was damaged by the revelation that he was being sued by his children’s nanny for allegedly trying to force her into a sexual tryst with him and his wife. Berns said the plaintiff was a disgruntled former employee, and he settled the case the next year without admitting wrongdoing, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. Despite Sisolak’s support, the smart city idea was ultimately doomed to die the bureaucratic death of a study committee. One of the key players who helped kill the proposal was Cannizzaro, the state’s first female Senate majority leader. A lobbyist involved in the discussions confirmed that Cannizzaro was instrumental in shelving the idea. In a statement, her campaign also said that she opposed the idea. “Like nearly all of her legislative colleagues in both parties, Majority Leader Cannizzaro was extremely skeptical of the idea of letting private corporations run their own governments and siphon off millions of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Peter Koltak, a campaign spokesperson. “Ultimately, she informed the Governor’s staff and the bill’s supporters that there wouldn’t be legislative support for the concept.” Berns was so disappointed by the process that his company pulled out of the study process, prompting its staff to declare that there was no point in exploring the idea further. Berns Shifts Gears While Berns vastly expanded his wealth by investing in cryptocurrency, he is not a household name in the industry. Many of the wealthiest crypto companies and venture capital firms have backed a national super PAC called Fairshake that has hundreds of millions to spend on federal elections. Berns has not donated to that effort, federal campaign finance records show. Instead, he has focused his giving on Nevada, supporting politicians on both sides of the aisle. Berns gave $5,000 to Republican Gov. Joseph Lombardo in 2024 and $250,000 to the Democratic Party of Washoe County in 2022, campaign finance records show. He also gave $5,000 to Cannizzaro in 2020 before the smart city proposal died in the legislature. Despite the pushback the smart city proposal drew, it has not made him a particularly controversial donor. “In Las Vegas, not a month goes by without an artist’s rendering of a proposed resort, arena, or other project popping up,” said Miller. “Some of them happen, and many of them don’t. I don’t expect that the smart city proposal left much of an impression on many Nevada voters.” While neither Conine nor Berns responded to questions about the latter’s donations, Conine has signaled that he is friendly to crypto. During the smart city debate, Conine promoted the idea of allowing government entities to accept payments in stablecoin. In 2024, he attended an event sponsored by a crypto industry trade group. Cannizzaro, for her part, does not appear to have staked out any major public positions on the crypto industry. Since the start of 2024, she has raised $2.2 million between her personal campaign account and a PAC she controls. Her campaign said she will not be deterred by Berns’s spending. “Leader Cannizzaro has always defended Nevada from big corporations and wealthy special interests, and an unaccountable tech billionaire dumping his millions into this race is certainly not going to stop her,” said Koltak, the spokesperson. The post She Opposed His Plan for a Blockchain City. Now He’s Bankrolling Her Primary Opponent. appeared first on The Intercept.

TOKYO — The Philippines’ shock inflation spike in April is a serious warning sign — an economic canary in the coal mine that shouldn’t be ignored. The 7.2% year-on-year jump is roughly double the first-quarter 3.4% growth rate. Clearly, the Philippines falling into the stagflation zone wasn’t on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s 2026 Bingo card. The predicament […] The post Philippines first to lose a grip on Iran war-stoked inflation appeared first on Asia Times.

According to the news outlet, the US leadership’s decision to suspend Operation Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz is linked to progress in the negotiations

At the opening of the Russian pavilion: "There is something truly morbid and irrational about the EU's obsession with persecuting Russian culture and art."

A French container ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, injuring several crew members, amid U. S. President Donald Trump’s on-and-off guarantee of escorting commercial vessels through the critical waterway. French shipping giant CMA CGM confirmed to POLITICO that its vessel, the San Antonio, was targeted, as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has frayed in recent days. “The CMA CGM Group confirms that one of its vessels … was the target of an attack yesterday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in injuries among crew members and damage to the vessel,” the company said in a statement, adding that injured seafarers have been evacuated and are receiving medical care. The vessel switched off its tracking signal before entering the strait, leaving the exact location of the strike unclear. The incident follows Trump’s announcement that the U. S. would guide ships safely through Hormuz under “Project Freedom,” a plan to escort vessels out of the critical waterway. On Tuesday night, however, he said the U. S. would pause support for ships transiting the strait “for a short time,” citing “great progress” in negotiations with Iran. French government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said: “The strikes that targeted a CMA CGM vessel clearly show that the situation remains dangerous. The ship was not flying the French flag. As things stand, France was therefore in no way targeted. Both the Iranians and the Americans must understand that it is in the common interest for traffic to resume freely.” The attack comes amid a string of incidents flagged by the U. K. Maritime Trade Operations over the past week. On Tuesday, a cargo vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the strait. A day earlier, a vessel was reported on fire near the United Arab Emirates coast. On Sunday, a tanker was struck by projectiles off Fujairah, UAE, while a separate bulk carrier reported an attack by multiple small vessels near Iranian waters. Lars Jensen, CEO of maritime consultancy Vespucci Maritime, said the volatile situation means that even if corridors reopen, many operators are likely to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach before resuming normal routes. Victor Goury-Laffont contributed to this report.

The President of Iran, Masud Pezeshkian, has reiterated that Tehran "will not yield to unilateral demands" and has called on the United States to "withdraw its military threats" against the country in order to make progress in the Pakistan-mediated talks aimed at reaching an agreement that would end the conflict in the Middle East, which was triggered by the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran. Pezeshkian told the designated Prime Minister of Iraq, Ali al-Zaidi, that "yielding to unilateral demands is impossible." "Tehran will never surrender to harassment or military threats, especially those originating from U.S. bases in the region," he stated. In this regard, he pointed to the "enormous contradiction in U.S. policies" and criticized Washington for maintaining "a campaign of maximum pressure while demanding negotiations," before reiterating that Iran "will never seek a nuclear program for military purposes." Furthermore, he emphasized that Tehran "is fully prepared to resolve all regional disputes with Islamic nations through constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding," while promising its "unwavering support" for Iraq and advocating for "Islamic unity," according to a statement released by his office. "Muslims have already surrendered to the Almighty; no one else will force us to..."

US liquefied petroleum gas exports increased to a record 3.3 million barrels per day in April

The company began operations in Helsinki on Wednesday and is headed to Espoo and Tampere later this month.

Green party leader also accuses rightwing media of politically motivated attacks as popularity grows Zack Polanski has said he was wrong to describe himself as a British Red Cross spokesperson, and that intensified media scrutiny of the Green party reflected fears of its rising popularity and support for wealth taxes. Polanski described himself as a British Red Cross spokesperson while campaigning for the party leadership, the Times revealed. The claim was also mentioned on his personal website in 2020 when he said he was “really proud of the work we do”. Continue reading...

Liechtenstein is joining the expanded partial agreement on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Dmitry Kuzyakin added that the Ukrainian armed forces have "opened a new international business" training anyone interested in using combat drones

Jordan Linden sentenced to 18 months for string of crimes committed over 10 years between 2011 and 2021 A former SNP council leader has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against young men and teenagers as young as 14. Jordan Linden, once considered a rising star in the SNP, was convicted of five sexual assaults on young men after a trial at Falkirk sheriff court in March, which heard that the SNP had “downplayed or ignored” complaints about his behaviour. Continue reading...

Sébastien Lecornu plans to unveil new measures to support economic activity. He said the sustained rise in oil prices means France must 'change scale,' even if it makes the country's already tough budget situation more complicated.

According to the report, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic called on the American side to return to the agreements reached in August 2025

Leonid Ivlev pointed out that Vladimir Zelensky's words are worthless

Iranian Red Crescent Society Secretary General Meysam Afshar added that during the conflict with the US and Israel, Iran received humanitarian aid from at least 18 countries

A German naval vessel named Fulda is in the Mediterranean, ready to perform the one task necessary for the Strait of Hormuz to physically reopen: to locate and clear the mines that Iran planted and has since lost track of, the mines that the US Pentagon told Congress could take six months to remove. France and Britain […] The post Rubio is right about Iran’s economic nuke — that’s the problem appeared first on Asia Times.

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds strong support for Democrats this midterm season. It also shows increasing concern about the war in Iran and the economy, particularly the price of gas. (Image credit: Spencer Platt)

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry said Wednesday it held a working-l...

Republicans in Indiana’s Senate tested voters’ tolerance for defying the president. Most lost in primaries amid a wave of threats, campaign cash and popular backlash.

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- Iran on Wednesday denied any military involvement in a ...

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears manager Kim Won-hyong admits he had some r...

President Trump successfully ousted several Indiana Republicans who blocked a redistricting push in that state, but growing dissatisfaction with Trump's agenda gave Democrats an opening in Ohio.

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds strong support for Democrats this midterm season. It also shows increasing con

Kremlin-installed officials said the Tuesday night attack targeted Dzhankoi, a town in the north of the peninsula that is home to a military airbase.

Plans to be included in king’s speech will allow tougher action against proxies for foreign powers such as Iran UK politics live – latest updates Offenders who commit antisemitic attacks backed by foreign powers such as Iran will face 14 years in prison under legislation to be included in the king’s speech next week. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, will be given the power under the National Security Act to designate proxy groups, such as those thought to be behind the recent attacks on the Jewish community, as a foreign intelligence service. Continue reading...

An image circulating online and on social media shows the prime minister in her underwear, a composite created with AI. Meloni reposted it, urging Italians to be vigilant. Opposition parties respond with both solidarity and criticism.

It was the perfect split-screen for the race to succeed Donald Trump – so long as your name is Marco Rubio and not J. D. Vance. In a packed White House briefing room, journalists shouted over each other in a bid to get a question from the US secretary of state. At the same time Vice-President Vance – Rubio’s most likely rival for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination – was hundreds of kilometres away from the action at a political fundraiser in Oklahoma. “Guys, this is chaos,” said Rubio as...

Fewer than 5 percent of flights in Hong Kong were cancelled in May and June combined, and approximately 1 percent during the peak travel period in July, according to the Airport Authority. This occurred despite a global fuel crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East. The authority added that it would review charges to alleviate the burden on the industry. Responding to questions from a lawmaker, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan stated on Wednesday that these figures were compiled by the authority, which operates Hong Kong International Airport.

The groups are considered to be prone to violence and are accused by prosecutors of forming a criminal organization. Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz has completed his first year as chancellor. More on DW.

Asia’s next food crisis is under way. After the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed, sending shock waves across energy, fertiliser and food systems. Fuel, freight and fertiliser costs are rising sharply, amplified by skyrocketing insurance premiums – feeding directly into the price of every tonne of fertiliser that still reaches the market. The scale of disruption reflects the strait’s outsize role in global trade. It carries around one-third of globally...

Jet fuel supply could become a problem for the aviation industry. Passengers should expect disruption beyond higher prices.

Eurozone wage growth is set to slow this year, despite the rise in energy prices that has accompanied the conflict in the Middle East, according to the European Central Bank.

The number of people with at least $30 million (€25.7m) in wealth is growing across Europe. Germany has by far the most ultra-rich, and continues to add more.

The Green party leader said he hosted fundraisers for the Red Cross but acknowledges that he should not have described himself as a spokesperson for the organization. Good morning. Zack Polanski was largely unknown until he became the Green party leader last September, and since then, as his party has risen in the polls, there has been intense scrutiny of his pre-political career. The most well-known embarrassing revelation about his past is that he once told a woman he could enlarge her breasts if she listened to his hypnotherapy pitch. Nigel Farage, who also leads a disruptive party enjoying spectacular success, has scandals in his past as well, and Polanski's allies would argue that they are worse. Farage accepted a £5 million donation from a political supporter that he did not declare, he has still not provided a satisfactory explanation as to how his partner was able to afford to buy a home in Farage's Clacton constituency, and arguably he told 30 million women that he could enlarge the size of their bank balances if they listened to his spiel on Brexit. Guardian readers can decide for themselves who is more questionable. But, as we tell our children, life isn't fair. And it certainly isn't fair for left-wing politicians campaigning in an environment where the right-wing media have considerable influence. Polanski discovered that again last night when the Times printed a story with various claims about him, the main one relating to an allegation that he had embellished his CV. Here is our version by Jessica…

The targets were a weapons storage facility and structures used for military purposes

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in his meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. “Regarding the strait issue, the international community shares a common concern over restoring normal safe passage through the strait,” Beijing’s top diplomat said on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “China hopes that the parties concerned will respond promptly to the strong calls of the...

Ukraine said overnight drone and missile attacks showed the Kremlin had rejected Kyiv’s offer of a truce, raising the stakes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand for a ceasefire during the annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.

The price of natural gas and oil has decreased, although oil prices remain above $100.

Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the war unleashed by the US is a clear violation of international law

The SSU has detained the head of the Zhytomyr Regional Territorial Recruitment Center, who extorted money from a local businessman in exchange for not conscripting his employees.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News On the eve of a hugely significant set of local and national elections – who has the momentum and who is staring into an electoral abyss? Sam and Anne pore over the final voting intention polls before the elections – covering England, Scotland and Wales. Have the latest headlines for Reform and the Greens done any damage? Meanwhile, as part of a series of leader interviews on Sky News, Sam has been speaking to the Conservatives’ Kemi Badenoch. How will she be judged at this election and what does success look like for her party? Plus, Anne has some details from the Keir Starmer camp on how they plan to deal with the aftermath of the coming days. You can find all the candidates standing in the elections across England, Scotland and Wales here. Sam and Anne will return for two special debrief episodes on Friday and Sunday as the votes come in across the country.

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder says President Donald Trump could go ahead with a 25% tariff on European cars and trucks "relatively soon" if there is no progress on the bloc's ratification of a a trade deal that the two sides initially reached last July. Puzder talks with Bloomberg's Oliver Crook in Brussels. (Source: Bloomberg)

On Monday, Moscow announced a ceasefire during its World War II victory celebrations over 9 May, while Kyiv has said it would halt fire on 6 May.

The United States has concluded the Operation Epic Fury military operation against Iran and has moved on to a new phase of operations in the Middle East.

US president pauses 'Project Freedom' to work on 'final agreement' with Tehran; stocks also surge on AI optimism. Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets, and the world economy. Asian stock markets reached record highs, following Wall Street's lead, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed "great progress" towards a "final agreement" with Tehran. "At the request of Pakistan and other countries, the tremendous military success we have had during the campaign against the country of Iran, and, additionally, the fact that great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran." Investors are buying and continue to add to positions in companies expected to perform well in 2026. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but technology continues to attract the majority of investment, particularly in Apple and memory-related companies. 9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April. 9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April. 1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April. Continue reading...

China’s top diplomat was meeting with Iran’s foreign minister, the first senior Iranian official to visit Beijing since the war began.

Xi Jinping could seek to use relationship with Tehran as leverage in talks with US president, analysts say

The protest highlights a pattern of systemic mismanagement and "administrative apathy" that has left educators without basic compensation.

Something big happened in the world of AI the other day: Sam Altman, founder and CEO of OpenAI, and probably the person who’s most commonly regarded as the face of the industry, declared that the purpose of AI is not to take people’s jobs: And he recently called AI CEOs “tone-deaf” for declaring that AI is going to […] The post AI chiefs in a big ‘jobocalypse’ messaging swerve appeared first on Asia Times.

France’s judiciary is set to rule on Wednesday in a long-running investigation linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, as prosecutors and civil parties seek the indictment of Rwanda’s former first lady Agathe Habyarimana.

Four paintings linked to one of the world’s most audacious financial frauds stood on easels at Malaysia’s anti-corruption headquarters on Wednesday: a Picasso, a Miro, a Balthus and an Ultrillo – all allegedly bought with money stolen from the Malaysian people. The unveiling of the works at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya marked the first public showing of artworks recovered from the multibillion-dollar Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal since...

Vietnam has ordered a clampdown on intellectual property violations, targeting a 20% increase in enforcement cases after the country was pegged as a top concern on a US watch list.

Plus, more on emerging markets

Donald Trump has reignited his public attacks on Pope Leo, claiming he supports Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

China may be preparing to supply Pakistan with a stealth fighter that could give Islamabad a new edge in striking deep into India—and unsettle an already fragile nuclear balance. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China’s state broadcaster has signaled that the country may be preparing to export its J-35A fifth-generation […] The post China’s J-35AE for Pakistan risks nuclear escalation with India appeared first on Asia Times.

US president says he will briefly pause Project Freedom after just one day; Rubio says US has achieved objectives of Iran operation; Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi flies to China Trump puts ‘Project Freedom’ on hold, saying he hopes to finalise deal with Iran Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for talks in Beijing on Wednesday, China’s Xinhua news agency reported, without giving details on the discussion. Iran’s Fars news agency earlier said Araghchi would “discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments with his Chinese counterpart”. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the military objectives of so-called “Operation Epic Fury” have concluded and the offensive stage of the war with Iran is “over”. Speaking at the White House press briefing, Rubio insisted that ongoing US military action in the strait of Hormuz is “defensive” in nature and a separate operation, in line with the Trump administration’s argument that it doesn’t need approval from Congress to continue the war against Iran. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” he told reporters, urging Iran to “make the sensible choice” and negotiate a deal. With the status of the ceasefire in doubt, Donald Trump declined to say what would constitute a violation, telling reporters only that Iran knows “what not to do”. It comes amid rising tensions after both sides exchanged fire in the strait of Hormuz on Monday. “Well, you’ll find out because I’ll let you know,” the US president said. “They know what to do, or what not to do more importantly.” Before Trump’s announcement on Tuesday evening, his defense secretary Pete Hegseth insisted that “Project Freedom” had allowed the US to gain control of the strait, despite Iran claiming it has actually strengthened its control of the waterway, and thousands of cargo ships remain stranded there. Continue reading...

Frustration bubbles with the United States ahead of the leaders’ gathering in Cebu.

Numerous women have shared their experiences to raise awareness about placenta accreta spectrum. Women have had to undergo major emergency surgery, including hysterectomies, because medical staff failed to detect a rare but potentially fatal pregnancy complication. Many women have come forward to share their stories about how they were affected by placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) since the launch in February of a campaign to raise awareness among NHS staff and expectant mothers about the dangers it poses. Continue reading...

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both expressed a need for China to leverage its tight relations with Tehran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz for “their own interests”.

Japan’s prime minister touched down in Australia on Sunday with a set of shared anxieties – about Trump, China and the fragility of supply chains that the two insular nations have long relied upon – to which she sought some small relief. By the time she departed, Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had signed an economic security pact, unlocked nearly US$1 billion in critical minerals funding and laid the groundwork for what observers describe as the most comprehensive...

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a publication that noted that airlines around the world are canceling flights at an unprecedented rate.

The pro-European Union coalition of Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has collapsed after a vote of no confidence.

Recent incidents of common crime on the streets of Panama City, at any time of day, are causing concern among the members of the Panamanian Association of Hotels (APATEL), who have expressed their worry about this increasingly serious situation. These crimes are now occurring in areas with high tourist traffic, and they have warned about the potential negative repercussions this could have on the country's international image. Just a few days ago, two tourists were brutally assaulted by three criminals as they were allegedly leaving a hotel on the busy Avenida Balboa, and they received no assistance from any security personnel, which is often noticeably absent. Images of the assault were circulated on various social media platforms. The hotel association pointed out that these incidents not only affect public safety but also directly impact Panama's image as a safe destination, a quality that, they said, has been built up over years through joint efforts between the public and private sectors. "Tourism is highly sensitive to security. Each incident of this nature has a multiplier effect that goes beyond the specific event, impacting the visitor's confidence, the destination's reputation, and its competitiveness compared to other markets in the region," the organization stated in a release. In this context, APATEL made a respectful, but firm, appeal to the Panamanian authorities to...

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music The European Commission is unveiling its new anti-poverty strategy today. The only problem is … it doesn’t include any new cash. On the pod, Zoya and Ryan discuss how the EU executive is justifying the lack of new funding in this plan. They also look at how likely the bloc is to reach its target of eradicating poverty by 2050 (spoiler alert: not very likely). That’s not the only strategy on the agenda today. The Commission will also present its guidelines on addressing homelessness. To better understand the housing crisis, Zoya speaks with the President of the Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő, who is in Brussels for a plenary session. She explains why consulting with cities and local governments is key to tackling the issue. And finally: We’re talking about Mythos, Anthropic’s new AI model that has everyone bent out of shape. We explain why the EU is particularly on edge. Do you have thoughts on the EU’s need for AI regulation? Send a message to our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Neither the former deputy Labour leader nor her rivals have a clear path to replacing Sir Keir Starmer

According to UNICEF, hundreds of children in conflict zones in the Middle East lost their lives during the first month of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, while thousands were injured and more than a million were forced to flee their homes.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a proposed amendment to the regulations requiring listed companies to submit quarterly financial reports. The proposed change would allow companies to choose to submit reports every six months instead. While the aim is to reduce the burden on companies, some investors are concerned that this could lead to a decrease in the frequency of information disclosure.

The world is entering a phase of transformations that are undermining the foundations of the international order established after World War II, while Ukraine is demonstrating unprecedented resilience in resisting aggression.

For German consumer Erik Böhme, a first visit to the Beijing auto show was an eye-opener – the world’s largest car exhibition showcased a vast array of electric vehicle (EV) brands, many already gaining traction in Europe. “I think there will be more Chinese brands coming and being successful in Europe,” said Böhme, a freelance automotive consultant who spent two days at the event, which ran through May 3. Böhme was among 250 foreign media, clients and social media influencers invited by Geely...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the deepfake photo as a political attack.

This weekend, two Iranian Very Large Crude Carriers – HUGE and DERYA – successfully navigated the US Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and passed through Indonesia’s Lombok Strait, carrying 3.8 million barrels of crude destined for desperate Asian markets. Opponents of US President Donald Trump’s war on Iran celebrated the VLCC’s accomplishment on […] The post Trump’s leaky Hormuz blockade needs Malacca control to work appeared first on Asia Times.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition looks to have averted losing control of key Negeri Sembilan state after the United Malays National Organisation agreed to maintain its alliance despite its assembly members bolting from the state government.

Obscure Chinese firms are openly shipping dual-use goods such as engines and batteries, defying American controls.

Inflation is surging again, pushing the Euribor rate upwards. With the gap between fixed and variable interest rates narrowing, for those buying a home today, the certainty of a fixed monthly payment is becoming the most prudent choice.

In a recent assessment of the semiconductor landscape, GlobalFoundries emphasized the critical need for supply chain resilience amid a "fragmented geopolitical environment." The company is positioning its three-continent manufacturing presence—spanning the US, Germany, and Singapore—as a strategic solution for global customers seeking to mitigate the risks associated with concentrated production.

Power semiconductor maker Eris Technology reported consolidated revenue of NT$250 million (US$7.9 million) in April 2026, a company record and up 19% from a year earlier, executives said, as demand tied to AI robots and AI servers began moving from sampling into volume ramp-up. The company said the April result followed 16 months of operational adjustment and signaled a return to a growth track driven by new AI and edge product lines.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared a company-wide email informing employees of the firm’s decision to lay off 14% of its workforce.