Trump back in headlines: new legal, health, and diplomacy twists; met Xi in Beijing as tensions with Iran flare. Former president, Republican, 45th/47th?.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing renewed pressure over constitutional revision amid ongoing eastern conflict involving AFC/M23 rebels. President Tshisekedi has floated revision possibilities; opposition warns of power grabs. Sanctions and mediation efforts continue as clashes threaten elections due in 2028, with regional actors accused of backing rebel groups.
Democratic officials are quietly backing independent candidates in several states, aiming to challenge Republicans in high-profile contests. The strategy involves coordination with the Democratic National Committee and allies, with some independents engaging in group chats to align their campaigns. Nebraska’s Senate race is central, with Cindy Burbank planning to drop out to prevent siphoning support from independent Dan Osborn, who could defeat GOP incumbent Pete Ricketts. Other independents are running in Idaho, South Dakota, and Montana as part of a broader long-term approach.
President Donald Trump has met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing for two days of talks over trade, Taiwan, Iran and energy. The leaders have discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Chinas oil purchases from Iran and military assistance; the White House has said Xi pledged not to send Iran military equipment.
The US president’s Beijing dinner has featured a menu of Huaiyang-inspired dishes, with lobster, roast duck and beef ribs among offerings. Xi Jinping hosts and Elon Musk is seen dining; the menu contrasts with the UK banquet last year. A live blog is available for updates.
New York has reached a budget deal that bars state and local officials from cooperating with ICE, and bars ICE from housing detainees in local jails. The policy also bars wearing masks by law enforcement and provides guardrails on enforcement, with officials arguing it protects residents from federal crackdowns while ICE vows to intensify manpower.
President Donald Trump has completed a three-day visit to China and has left Beijing on 15 May 2026, saying he and Xi Jinping have agreed to deepen economic cooperation and touted several trade deals while reporting little concrete progress on Taiwan or the US‑Israeli war in Iran. Both sides have presented different accounts of commitments and details remain limited.
The Trump administration has escalated a counterterrorism strategy targeting drug cartels in Latin America, with reports of deadly strikes on vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters. Multiple outlets note a lack of public evidence that the vessels carried drugs, while cross-border tensions intensify as regional leaders are urged to act.
Iran’s football federation has declared it will participate in the 2026 World Cup if visas and security assurances are guaranteed for players and officials, amid ongoing tensions after February strikes and visa scrutiny tied to IRGC links.
The Guardian, New York Times, NY Post, The Independent and The New Arab report on Trump’s Beijing visit with Xi Jinping focusing on strategic stability, tariffs and Iran. The talks feature ceremonial pages, guarded language and warnings of a new approach, while both sides seek to reframe their relationship amid ongoing tensions.
The UAE has not publicly commented on reports that it carried out strikes on Iran, including a refinery on Lavan Island, as part of the broader war escalation. Reports cite the Wall Street Journal and other outlets; Reuters notes it has not yet verified the claims. The ceasefire holds, but tensions among Gulf states and Iran are rising.
The investigation into former CIA director John Brennan has gained momentum, with FBI agents interviewing current and former CIA officers about Brennan’s role in producing a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that referenced the Steele dossier. Prosecutors are examining whether Brennan gave false testimony to Congress and how the dossier influenced the report.
Brad Raffensperger has stepped down, creating a governor race spotlight on election oversight. GOP candidates are embracing or echoing former President Trump’s claims about 2020, while Georgia lawmakers push a special session on voting and a potential shift to hand-marked paper ballots. The outcome will shape the state’s voting system by 2028.
The meetings between the U.S. leader and Xi Jinping have been framed as a bid to reset relations as both powers face rising strategic and economic pressures. Xi has emphasized long-term stability, while the U.S. seeks clarity on key issues including trade and regional security.
Prominent quotes from President Trump indicate the focus of U.S. talks with Iran is preventing a nuclear weapon, with inflation and cost of living cited as not guiding the negotiations. Multiple outlets report inflation at 3.8% in April amid war-related energy costs, while U.S. politics look ahead to midterm pressures.
Intelligence assessments indicate Iran has regained substantial access to missile sites and underground facilities along the Strait of Hormuz, challenging public claims that Tehran’s military has been decimated after weeks of conflict. Analysts say Iran can project power and sustain asymmetric warfare while diplomacy stalls.
Israel has instructed legal advisers to consider the "harshest legal action" against The New York Times and columnist Nicholas Kristof after a Times opinion piece published allegations that Israeli forces have committed widespread sexual violence against Palestinians. The Times has defended Kristof; Israel is calling the essay a "blood libel."
The Democratic National Committee has not released its internal autopsy on the 2024 loss, despite donor and ally pressure. DNC Chair Ken Martin continues to withhold the report, while Kamala Harris faces renewed scrutiny as she eyes a potential 2028 bid. The debate over transparency and accountability intensifies within the party.
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to acquire about 14 acres of land in Dona Ana County, near Mount Cristo Rey, to install fencing, lighting, and surveillance near the border. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces is contesting the seizure, arguing it burdens religious exercise and sacred use of the site, which hosts annual pilgrimages. Compulsory possession would be added to ongoing legal battles over border infrastructure.
Honda has announced a new growth strategy in response to a sharp drop in EV demand. The company is reallocating resources toward hybrid models and updating its Japan, North America, and India plans, with 15 new hybrids by 2030 and cost cuts aimed at a 10% efficiency gain. Losses from EV restructuring have prompted a broader rethink of its lineup.
The United States has been reviewing its European troop presence amid moves to redeploy 4,000 forces from a rotation planned for Poland. No formal notification to Congress has occurred, and the Pentagon has not issued a public statement. The troop reshuffle follows a broader plan to pull 5,000 troops from Germany, with the aim of encouraging European allies to shoulder more defense responsibilities.
Shetland’s Viking wind farm has connected to the UK grid and is expanding with new projects in offshore wind, green hydrogen, and synthetic fuels. Local community groups and councils are pressing for tangible benefits as the region pivots from oil and gas to renewable energy.
A Science study has found that large-scale, sudden cuts to USAID funding have correlated with a significant rise in conflict in Africa’s USAID-dependent regions. Researchers say the abrupt withdrawal disrupted contracts, staffing and procurement, and note the finding shows the effect of an unexpected disruption rather than that aid alone reduces conflict.
The summit in Beijing has highlighted enduring tensions over Taiwan. Xi warns that Taiwan is the key issue in China‑US relations, while Trump emphasizes a stable path forward. Both sides describe talks as productive but signal no breakthrough on Taiwan, Iran, or trade.
The leaders of the US and China have met in Beijing as Trump and Xi discuss Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and a possible path to ending the war. While Trump says they have agreed on broader objectives—no Iranian nuclear weapon and an open strait—no concrete plan has emerged, and Washington signals skepticism about Beijing’s leverage.
President Trump has claimed that China will purchase 200 Boeing jets during talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing, though no public confirmation has been issued by China or Boeing. The agreement, if realized, would mark a major shift for Boeing and for U.S.-China trade relations, with the total value and mix of aircraft still unclear.
Armed attackers have abducted a number of students from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba, Borno State, as classes were underway. Reports say some students escaped while many were seized; authorities are assessing numbers and coordinating with security forces. Separately, a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation has claimed the death of ISIS global deputy Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.
U.S. prosecutors have unsealed a criminal complaint charging Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al‑Saadi, alleging he organised or supported nearly 18–20 attacks across Europe, Canada and the United States tied to Iran‑backed Kataib Hezbollah and the IRGC. He has appeared in Manhattan federal court and is being detained pending trial.
The U.S. Department of Justice has coordinated with Texas authorities to secure a $10 million settlement from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The hospital has allegedly billed Medicaid for gender-affirming treatments restricted by state law. As part of the agreement, the hospital will fire five doctors, revoke their privileges, amend bylaws, and establish a no-charge detransition clinic for five years.
Federal prosecutors in Miami have signaled an imminent indictment against Raul Castro, the 94-year-old former Cuban president and brother of Fidel Castro, over the 1996 shootdown of four Brothers to the Rescue planes. The indictment would require a grand jury's approval and follows a months-long investigation. The move comes as U.S.-Cuba tensions have risen amid a broader push by Washington to pressure Havana.
Israeli strikes in Gaza City have targeted Hamas' military wing commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad, with officials saying he is the group’s top military leader in Gaza. While some reports confirm the strike, Hamas has not publicly acknowledged Haddad’s death. The broader Gaza conflict and fragile ceasefire talks persist amid continuing casualties.
The United States is exploring a formal request to Israel to transfer part of the Palestinian Authority’s withheld tax revenue to Trump’s Board of Peace, funding a Gaza reconstruction plan and related PA reforms. The figure cited is around $5 billion withheld by Israel, with a broader plan estimated at $70 billion.
At Cannes, Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described civilian deaths in Iran as extremely cruel and tragic while promoting Parallel Tales. He has lived outside Iran since 2023 and says two tragic events—civilians killed in war and protesters shot by security forces—are deeply painful and will not be forgotten.
Sen. Bill Cassidy is in a three-way Republican primary in Louisiana, facing John Fleming and Julia Letlow after Trump endorsed Letlow. The race could go to a June 27 runoff, with Cassidy seeking a path back after voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment. The seat is expected to stay Republican regardless of the runoff outcome.
The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian report that Donald Trump has announced a joint US-Nigerian operation has killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a top ISIS leader. The White House-linked posts credit Nigerian forces and American support, while Nigeria confirms involvement and states the compound was near Lake Chad. The US has previously deployed troops to Nigeria for training and support, with no combat role stated by Abuja.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a pipeline agreement with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, signaling a federal shift toward Alberta’s oil export ambitions while a separate secession debate looms amid regional tensions and court rulings on referendum legality.
Putin has announced a visit to China to meet Xi Jinping, with discussions expected on strengthening the Moscow-Beijing partnership, exchange of views on international issues, and a joint declaration. The trip also includes talks on economic cooperation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, timed to align with regional diplomacy and following the US-China summit.
The Vatican has confirmed Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 trip, including a stop at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters and a broader European tour that will also take him to Lourdes and Spain. The visit marks Leo’s fourth foreign voyage this year and signals a focus on European faith communities.
Al-Minuki, a key ISWAP figure linked to ISIL and responsible for media, finances and weapon development, has been killed in a Nigerian military operation in the Lake Chad Basin, in what Nigeria and the United States describe as a joint effort.