US administration

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to the United States on Friday, departing Washington after talks with the Biden administration. Senior US government officials saw him off at the airport, where a 21-gun salute was fired. The send-off is being noted as a ceremonial gesture, with observers weighing what the visit signals for future US-China relations.

President Trump says he expects talks with Iran to begin this week, telling Axios this shortly after his administration turned down an Iranian proposal. The comments point to renewed diplomatic activity between Washington and Tehran despite the rejected offer. Officials and observers will be watching whether the talks materialise and what terms the US is now seeking.

US intelligence assessments indicate Saudi Arabia retains the option to pursue nuclear weapons, while US senators are moving to challenge a nuclear cooperation deal pursued under the Trump administration. The report raises concerns in Congress about safeguards and the precedent a deal could set for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, amid ongoing debate over US-Saudi relations.

A US judge has overturned a White House media ban imposed under Donald Trump, ruling against the administration's attempt to exclude certain news organisations from access. The decision is being widely reported by major outlets including BBC News and is drawing significant attention, with many seeing it as a key test of press freedom and the limits of presidential control over media access.

Sudan is effectively governed by two rival powers, with the army-backed administration controlling much of the formal state apparatus while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces rules territory under its control. Washington has signalled it recognises neither side as legitimate constitutional governance, leaving the country with authorities but no internationally endorsed government.

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft's software stack, built on NixOS, the reproducible Linux-based operating system. The project, associated with the DAWO community platform, aims to reduce dependence on proprietary vendors in public administration. The move fits a broader European push for digital sovereignty and open-source adoption in government IT.

A US judge has ruled against President Trump's ban on certain media outlets from White House coverage, overturning the restriction. The decision restores access for the affected news organisations and touches on press freedom and the limits of presidential power over media access. The ruling is drawing wide attention as a significant check on the administration's handling of the press.

France 24 has released an international investigation into the Trump administration's migrant policy, focusing on deportations of migrants to African countries. The report examines how people are being removed to nations they have no connection to, and the consequences for those deported. The story is drawing wide attention as US deportation practices continue to spark global debate.

The incoming Trump administration's NATO ambassador says Ukraine's attacks inside Russia are increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin to move toward the negotiating table. The comment underscores the new US administration's argument that sustained Ukrainian military pressure could help bring the war to an end through diplomacy rather than battlefield escalation.

Mike Waltz said Iranian negotiators asked for 'everything up front' in talks before President Trump rejected a proposed ceasefire. The comment sheds light on why negotiations over halting hostilities fell apart, with the US arguing the Iranian terms amounted to demanding concessions before any agreement in return. The remarks are fueling debate over whether diplomacy was given a genuine chance.

The US-led Board of Peace has announced that UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, will have no role in Gaza going forward. The statement marks a significant decision about the administration of humanitarian aid and services in the territory, and is likely to draw strong reactions from the UN, Palestinian representatives and humanitarian organisations.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against most of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, striking them down in a decision with wide-ranging trade and legal implications. The ruling limits the administration's use of tariff powers and is drawing attention for its impact on US trade policy and presidential authority.

Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran was not negotiating 'in good faith' to end the war. The claim, reported by the Guardian, places the blame for continued hostilities on Tehran and signals the Trump administration's hardening stance as diplomacy fails to halt the conflict, a story being widely shared across world news circles.

President Trump is moving to withhold roughly $800 million in funding that Congress had already approved, according to reports carried by Reuters and multiple US newspapers. The effort raises fresh questions over executive authority and the separation of powers, as lawmakers from both parties weigh whether the administration can refuse to spend money explicitly appropriated by Congress.

Dario Amodei, chief executive of AI company Anthropic, is set to have dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting brings together a leading figure in artificial intelligence with an administration that has been actively shaping US policy on AI regulation and development. Observers are watching for what the encounter could signal about the tech industry's relationship with the government.

The Trump administration is preparing new sanctions against the International Criminal Court as part of an escalating effort to undermine the Hague-based tribunal. The measures follow earlier punitive steps over the court's investigations involving Israeli and US officials. The move has drawn criticism from human rights groups and US allies who warn it threatens international justice, while supporters argue the court unfairly targets America and its partners.

Cuba has denounced United States sanctions as 'collective punishment' amid renewed pressure from the Trump administration, while Trump predicted a deal could be reached. Havana's criticism highlights rising tensions over the US embargo and broader regional disputes. The clash comes as the US steps up economic measures against the island.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of voters. The decision lets states run citizenship checks on voter rolls through the federal system, a move likely to reignite debate over election integrity measures and the risk of eligible voters being wrongly flagged or purged.

President Donald Trump has announced he is rolling back fuel economy standards for cars introduced under the Biden administration. The rules, which required automakers to improve vehicle efficiency, had been a target of the administration's broader effort to undo former President Joe Biden's climate and environmental policies.

The Trump administration is pursuing changes to US election rules that critics say are designed to benefit the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. Le Monde reports the effort as an attempt to reshape voting procedures and districting to the administration's advantage. The moves are drawing scrutiny over their implications for the fairness of the 2026 contests.

President Donald Trump said he has approved new fuel economy standards that roll back rules put in place during the Biden administration. The move would loosen requirements on carmakers for vehicle efficiency. The announcement is drawing attention from the auto industry and environmental groups, who are weighing the impact on emissions, vehicle prices and US climate commitments.

Donald Trump is touting the strength of the US economy while simultaneously lashing out at news outlets he calls 'fake news', as part of an ongoing feud with the media. His remarks combine claims of economic success with accusations that coverage of his administration is unfairly negative, keeping his clashes with the press in the spotlight.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing pointed criticism from Democrats and resistance from some Republicans over the US conflict with Iran and his dismissals of senior Pentagon officials. The disputes center on the administration's Iran strategy and concerns about the removals of top defense leadership, making the Pentagon chief a focal point of congressional tension.

Republican Representative Turner said there are 'not a lot of options' for President Trump when it comes to Iran, a sober assessment of the US position amid escalating tensions. The remarks highlight concern within the president's own party about how to respond to Iran's nuclear programme and regional activity without triggering a wider conflict.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration may, for the time being, use its revamped federal voter eligibility database. The decision allows the administration to proceed with checks aimed at verifying voter eligibility while legal challenges continue in lower courts. News outlets including AP News and NewsNation are covering the ruling, which is likely to intensify debate over federal involvement in election administration and voter access.

The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting, dealing a setback to efforts to tighten voting rules ahead of elections. The decision means existing mail-in voting procedures can continue. The ruling lands amid ongoing national debate over election rules and voting access, and is drawing strong reactions from both supporters and critics of the administration's push.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to run voter citizenship checks using the federal SAVE database ahead of the midterm elections. The decision lets election officials verify the citizenship status of registered voters against federal records. Supporters say it protects election integrity, while voting-rights groups warn it could lead to eligible voters being wrongly flagged or purged from rolls close to the vote.

Major US television networks are preparing to resume coverage of President Trump after the White House TV pool went dark amid a standoff between the administration and CNN, which has been excluded from access. Network leaders consider an indefinite suspension of coverage untenable, and are moving to restart broadcasts even as CNN remains shut out, raising fresh questions about press access and fairness.

The Trump administration is preparing to sharply roll back US clean car rules, the emissions and fuel-efficiency standards that govern how polluting new vehicles can be. Major outlets including the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer report the plan, which would mark one of the biggest reversals of federal climate policy for the auto industry and is likely to trigger legal fights and debate over costs for drivers and manufacturers.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of registered voters. The decision permits election officials to cross-check voter rolls against immigration records, a move backers say protects election integrity and critics warn could lead to eligible voters being wrongfully purged. The ruling is drawing sharp reactions from voting rights groups and election officials across the country.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that Trump administration officials may use a federal immigration database to cross-check voter registration records. The decision allows states and federal officials to verify voter eligibility using immigration status data, a move supporters call a safeguard against noncitizen voting and critics warn could wrongly purge eligible voters. The ruling is expected to intensify ongoing legal and political battles over election integrity and voting access ahead of upcoming elections.

The Trump administration is moving to lower federal fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, rolling back efficiency requirements that had been set to tighten over the coming years. Automakers and environmental groups are expected to clash over the change: manufacturers may welcome reduced compliance costs, while critics warn it will raise gasoline consumption and emissions. The move marks a significant shift in US vehicle policy.

Speakers from Global South countries voiced support for Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly, pushing back against the US embargo and Trump administration policy. The remarks came as part of the annual UN debate, where ending the US embargo against Cuba has long drawn near-unanimous backing from member states. The footage, produced by news collective Belly of the Beast, highlights those statements and the divide between Washington and much of the world over Cuba policy.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Federal Reserve should maintain an 'open mind' on interest rates as the US economy accelerates. His comments signal the administration's push for looser monetary policy, putting pressure on the Fed as it weighs whether to continue cutting rates amid stronger-than-expected growth data.