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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Trump administration is preparing to announce weaker fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, rolling back requirements that vehicles become more efficient. The move would ease rules imposed to cut gasoline consumption and emissions, and is expected to draw opposition from environmental groups and possibly legal challenges from states, while automakers may welcome reduced compliance costs.

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.

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.

US Energy Secretary said the administration is considering restrictions on diesel exports rather than an outright ban, according to the Wall Street Journal. The remarks come amid tight diesel supplies and high fuel prices, and exporters and fuel-market watchers are likely watching closely for any curbs on shipments abroad.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the Trump administration to resume citizenship checks on voters, a move affecting how states verify voter eligibility. The decision hands a win to administration efforts to tighten voting rules and is expected to draw legal challenges and debate over voter suppression versus election integrity. Political and civil rights groups are closely watching how states implement the checks.

The US Energy Information Administration projects that solar power generation in Texas will overtake coal-fired generation in 2026. The forecast reflects rapid solar capacity additions across the state and continued declines in coal output. It would mark a significant milestone in the shift of the Texas grid, one of the largest power markets in the country, away from fossil fuels.

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.

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 allowed expanded voter-citizenship checks to resume ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The decision permits states to proceed with verifying the citizenship status of registered voters, a move supporters say protects election integrity and critics warn could purge eligible voters from the rolls. The ruling is set to shape voting access debates heading into the midterms.

The Trump administration is moving to redirect unallocated CHIPS Act funds while relying on tariff threats rather than subsidies to push chipmaking onshore. TSMC retained its $6.6 billion federal grant, but pressure from tariff threats led it to raise its total US investment pledge from $65 billion to more than $165 billion. Commentators note this shifts reshoring costs onto private capital, though tariffs are seen as a far slower route to building semiconductor capacity than direct subsidies.

President Trump held a private dinner at the White House with Dario Amodei, chief executive of AI company Anthropic. The meeting between the president and one of the leading figures in artificial intelligence is drawing attention to the administration's approach to the AI industry. Commentators are speculating about what the unusual sit-down signals for future policy toward frontier AI developers.