King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for high-profile US state visit
The British monarch’s US visit underscores shared history amid strained ties and tensions over the Iran conflict.
Top Foreign Office official ‘felt pressure’ for ‘rapid outcome’ on Mandelson vetting
Ian Collard tells MPs he had not seen UKSV assessment summary before briefing Olly Robbins on clearance
A top Foreign Office security official who played a key role in granting Peter Mandelson’s vetting clearance “felt pressure to deliver a rapid outcome” because of contacts from Downing Street, MPs have been told.
In testimony relayed to parliament via the Foreign Office (FCDO), Ian Collard said he had not seen the assessment summary produced by the vetting agency when he gave an oral briefing to Olly Robbins, the department’s former permanent secretary. Instead, Collard had received an oral briefing from a member of the FCDO’s personnel security team.
Continue reading...Mandelson and McSweeney: a partnership forged on winning and crushing the Labour left
Former chief of staff who helped bring Mandelson out of Labour shadows for Washington post to be questioned by MPs on vetting process
Like many Labour stories, Peter Mandelson’s and Morgan McSweeney’s both start at Lambeth council.
Mandelson was in his mid-20s. It was 1979, and he was a new councillor under the leadership of “Red” Ted Knight. He came to despise the local party, describing the Lambeth Labour party’s leadership as “contributing very little to the economic development of south London, instead politicising everything, attacking the police and the Tory government, and making the council go broke.”
Continue reading...Hezbollah and Israel swap threats and strikes across Lebanon’s border
Iran-linked group reiterates defiance; Israeli defence minister threatens to ‘burn all of Lebanon'.
MAGA-Curious CBS Boss Claims a New Scalp After Clash – The Daily Beast
- MAGA-Curious CBS Boss Claims a New Scalp After Clash The Daily Beast
- CBS reportedly ousts London chief over clash with Bari Weiss on Gaza coverage Haaretz
- Shayndi Raice Will Take Foreign Editor Role at CBS News Variety
- CBS News London Bureau Chief Claire Day To Depart; Network Plans Foreign Editor Role Deadline
- Bari’s London Calling status.news
Fatal Hezbollah attack exposes gaps in IDF preparedness for first-person view drones – The Times of Israel
- Fatal Hezbollah attack exposes gaps in IDF preparedness for first-person view drones The Times of Israel
- Israel Air Force pilots took off under fire, bypassing commander in Lebanon helicopter attack The Jerusalem Post
- IDF soldier severely wounded as Hezbollah drones target troops in southern Lebanon The Times of Israel
- Two Israeli Soldiers Wounded, One Seriously, in 'Explosive' Drone Strike in Southern Lebanon, IDF Says Haaretz
- Operation Roaring Lion: Hezbollah’s FPV campaign against the IDF Calibre Defence
Starmer tells MPs to ‘fight together’ before critical day for his premiership
The prime minister faces a standards investigation over Mandelson affair and testimony from Morgan McSweeney
Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs to “stick together and fight together” as ministers launched a massive operation to shore up his fragile position before a critical day for his premiership.
The prime minister faces the double threat of a standards investigation into his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US and potentially damaging testimony from Morgan McSweeney, his former chief of staff.
Continue reading...South Sudan says 14 killed in plane crash near Juba – Reuters
- South Sudan says 14 killed in plane crash near Juba Reuters
- Plane crashes on the outskirts of South Sudan’s capital, killing 14 people AP News
- Plane crash in South Sudan kills all 15 on board BBC
- Plane crashes near South Sudan’s Juba, killing all 14 on board Al Jazeera
- Plane crashes on the outskirts of South Sudan's capital, killing 14 people ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
Elon Musk trial against Sam Altman to reveal OpenAI power struggle
The trial’s outcome could sway the balance of power in AI, and jury selection starts on Monday.
Thousands held by paramilitary RSF in Sudan’s el-Fasher: NGO
Hundreds of women and children among those detained by the rebel group, says Sudan Doctors Network.
Archaeologists at Pompeii use AI to reconstruct the face of a man killed in the volcano’s eruption – AP News
What people in Beirut think about the Lebanon-Israel negotiations
Lebanese leaders were in Washington earlier this month for the first direct negotiations with Israel in over 30 years.
Iraqi president names Shia bloc candidate Ali al-Zaidi as PM-designate
Choice of al-Zaidi breaks a months-long deadlock after Trump opposed appointment of pro-Iran former PM al-Maliki.
Violence escalates in Colombia with dozens of attacks before presidential vote – AP News
- Violence escalates in Colombia with dozens of attacks before presidential vote AP News
- Colombia offers record $1.4m-reward for rebel it blames for deadly bomb attack BBC
- Highway bombing in Colombia kills at least 14 amid a ‘wave’ of attacks CNN
- Explosive device kills 20 and injures dozens on a bus in southwestern Colombia as violence persists NBC News
- Bomb blast on Colombia highway leaves 21 dead amid pre-election violence The Guardian
Timeline: The highs and lows of the US-UK ‘special relationship’
Tensions between the allies punctuate King Charles's US visit, designed to strengthen the UK-US partnership.
Insurgent alliance strikes at heart of Mali’s junta, exposing limits of Russian protection – France 24
- Insurgent alliance strikes at heart of Mali’s junta, exposing limits of Russian protection France 24
- Mali military leader makes first appearance since attacks, office says Reuters
- Russia claims its Africa Corps group prevented coup in Mali after rebels seize towns The Guardian
- Defense chief is killed as jihadis and rebels seize towns and military bases in Mali NBC News
- Mali Rebels Strike Major Blow Against Junta and Russia’s Africa Corps The New York Times
US is being ‘humiliated’ by Iran’s leadership, says Friedrich Merz
German chancellor suggests Trump administration is being outwitted at negotiating table by Tehran
The US is being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership, according to Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, who suggested the Trump administration was being outwitted at the negotiating table by Tehran.
Two days ago Donald Trump cancelled a trip by US negotiators to Islamabad for indirect talks with an Iranian delegation. A previous round in the Pakistani capital two weeks earlier, when JD Vance, the American vice-president, led the US delegation, broke up without progress.
Continue reading...Canada’s Carney launches a sovereign wealth fund. What is it?
The fund - which Canadians can invest in directly - will help pay for major infrastructure projects in the country, the prime minister says.
One Ukrainian drone maker carried out 11,473 strikes in March, and took out 43% of Russia’s Molniya drones – Euromaidan Press
- One Ukrainian drone maker carried out 11,473 strikes in March, and took out 43% of Russia's Molniya drones Euromaidan Press
- Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone Reuters
- Ukraine says it shot down 33,000 Russian drones in March, a monthly record NBC News
- ‘It’s like scoring a goal’: how Ukraine’s cheap drones take out Shaheds The Times
- Ukraine's Soviet-era 'Shahed hunter' turboprop plane is launching interceptor drones from the sky Business Insider
US press gala shooting suspect charged with attempting to kill Trump
Prosecutor says Cole Tomas Allen 'attempted to assassinate the president of the United States' in Saturday attack.