UK urged not to exploit poor countries in rush for critical minerals

Civil society groups call on government to address risk of neocolonial exploitation in its supply chain strategy

The risk of neocolonial exploitation in the global rush for critical minerals must be addressed by the government as it formulates its official supply chain strategy, say civil society campaigners.

They have said the scrabble for access is being greenwashed as wealthier economies around the world attempt to line up a host of minerals that are essential to the manufacture of hi-tech products, including cobalt, lithium and nickel.

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Royal Navy commander removed from job over sexual allegations

Lt Cdr Martyn Mayger, who took charge of HMS Tyne in February, under investigation over sexual allegations

A Royal Navy commander has been removed from his role less than three months into post while he is investigated over sexual allegations.

Lt Cdr Martyn Mayger took charge of HMS Tyne, a warship that operates in UK and European waters on security tasks, in February.

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Trump’s Pledge to the Middle East: No More ‘Lectures on How to Live’ – The New York Times

  1. Trump’s Pledge to the Middle East: No More ‘Lectures on How to Live’  The New York Times
  2. Trump tosses previous taboos in reorientation of Mideast foreign policy  The Washington Post
  3. Iranian minister says Trump’s Tehran accusations are 'pure deception'  ABC News
  4. Trump says Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon" but adds he wants to "make a deal"  CBS News
  5. Trump, speaking in Saudi Arabia, says he wants Iran deal, will add more countries to Abraham Accords  Fox News
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RFK Jr orders mifepristone review as anti-abortion groups push for ban

Health secretary cites ‘new data’ that emerged from flawed study conservatives are using to pressure US government

The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, said on Wednesday that he had directed the FDA to review the regulations around the abortion pill mifepristone.

The review, he said, was necessary due to “new data” – data that emerged from a flawed analysis that top US anti-abortion groups are now using to pressure the Trump administration to reimpose restrictions on the abortion pill, if not pull it from the market entirely.

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Trump joined by dozens of CEOs during his Middle East trip – CNBC

  1. Trump joined by dozens of CEOs during his Middle East trip  CNBC
  2. The Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns  NBC News
  3. US-Saudi $142 Billion Defense Deal Sparks Questions, Few Answers  Bloomberg.com
  4. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures Historic $600 Billion Investment Commitment in Saudi Arabia  The White House (.gov)
  5. Fighter jets, chandeliers, a Cybertruck: See the pomp of Trump's Middle East visit  USA Today
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California governor seeks to exclude undocumented from Medicaid program

Measure targeting immigrants is to help close added $12bn deficit that Newsom blamed on ‘Trump slump’

The California governor, Gavin Newsom, wants his state to stop enrolling more low-income immigrants without legal status in a state-funded healthcare program starting in 2026 and begin charging a monthly premium the following year to those already enrolled.

It is one of several measures proposed by Newsom on Wednesday to help close an additional $12bn deficit, a budget shortcoming the Democratic governor squarely placed on the shoulders of the “Trump slump”.

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RFK Jr tells Congress ‘people shouldn’t take medical advice from me’

Health secretary demurs on questions about vaccine stance and defends Republican plans to cut healthcare

The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, refused to say whether he would vaccinate his children if he had to choose today, and defended Republicans’ proposal to cut healthcare to fund tax cut extensions.

Kennedy’s back-to-back testimonies before House and Senate committees were his first appearances before lawmakers since his confirmation in February. The secretary was called to discuss Donald Trump’s proposed budget, which would impose disproportionately large cuts to scientific enterprises at the health department.

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TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream in Mexico – CNN

  1. TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream in Mexico  CNN
  2. TikTok influencer shot dead while livestreaming in Mexico at hair salon  The Independent
  3. Mexican beauty influencer shot dead during TikTok live stream  The Guardian
  4. Mexico: Beauty influencer shot dead while live on TikTok  DW
  5. Valeria Márquez, TikTok Influencer, Shot Dead During Live Stream in Mexico  The New York Times
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Israel agrees to resume Gaza aid after two month freeze, foundation says – Axios

  1. Israel agrees to resume Gaza aid after two month freeze, foundation says  Axios
  2. Witkoff: Hamas is afraid of Trump - and the truth is, they should be  The Jerusalem Post
  3. US confirms plan for private firms to deliver Gaza aid despite UN alarm  BBC
  4. ‘Weaponising aid’: New plan calls for private contractors to take over from UN in Gaza  France 24
  5. US-backed aid group to start work in Gaza by end of May under heavily criticized plan  Reuters
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Elon Musk shows he still has the White House’s ear on Trump’s Middle East trip

Although Musk has pivoted from Doge, the Saudi summit shows how he’s retaining proximity to the US president

Over the course of an eight-minute interview, Elon Musk touted his numerous businesses and vision of a “Star Trek future” while telling the crowd that his Tesla Optimus robots had performed a dance for Donald Trump and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, to the tune of YMCA. He also announced that Starlink, his satellite internet company, had struck a deal for use in Saudi Arabia for maritime and aviation usage; looking to the near future, he expressed his desire to bring Tesla’s self-driving robotaxis to the country.

“We could not be more appreciative of having a lifetime partner and a friend like you, Elon, to the Kingdom,” Saudi Arabia’s minister of communications and IT, Abdullah Alswaha, told Musk.

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Canadian PM criticises UK invitation to Trump for second state visit

Mark Carney says Canadians ‘not very impressed’ after Keir Starmer delivered invitation to US president in February

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has criticised Britain’s invitation to Donald Trump for a second state visit, saying it undermined his government’s effort to project a united front against the US president’s talk of annexing Canada.

Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly said he wants Canada to become the 51st US state, a suggestion that has angered Canadians and left Britain trying to tread a fine line between the two North American countries.

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