Proposal

• The America First Policy Institute published a policy page arguing that the U.S. government should speed AI agent adoption by strengthening security standards and issuing clearer guidance. • The memo says agencies should promote secure-by-design development so AI agents can be used more widely without increasing operational risk. • The proposal matters because AI agents are moving from demos to enterprise and government workflows, where authentication, data handling and tool access create new attack surfaces.

Tehran is said to have made or reiterated some concessions but source in mediator Pakistan appears pessimisticMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran has made a new proposal for a deal to definitively end the war in the Middle East, officials in the region said on Monday, though there was no sign of any immediate breakthrough in the stalled peace negotiations.A ceasefire has paused most violence after six weeks of US-Israeli airstrikes and Iranian retaliation, but there has been little progress since Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support”, and reports in Israeli media suggest a resumption of hostilities is imminent. Continue reading...

• A failed peace proposal over the weekend propelled oil prices and 10-year Treasury yields higher on Monday morning, with equity futures opening modestly lower. • Markets shrugged off geopolitical risks last week as oil declined on Iran ceasefire comments, but renewed tensions reversed that trend amid global energy volatility. • Gas prices rose nationwide, complicating inflation outlook with headline CPI above 3.5% despite easing core PCE, dimming Fed rate cut prospects.

US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockadeMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade of the vital waterway.The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as stupid, and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal. Continue reading...

US president calls Iranian response ‘totally unacceptable’ while Tehran says it will retaliate against any new US strikes or foreign warships in strait of HormuzTrump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire fraysThe US parameters for nuclear talks reportedly included a moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment for up to 20 years; the transfer overseas, possibly to the US, of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads; and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities.According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the HEU stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities. Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's response to a US peace proposal as 'totally unacceptable' on Monday, escalating tensions amid ongoing Middle East conflict. • Tehran warned of new attacks in retaliation, as reported by Asia News Network, heightening fears of prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. • The rejection triggered market volatility across Asia, with investors seeking safe-haven assets amid potential impacts on regional energy security.

• U.S. stock-index futures fell early Monday, with Dow Jones futures down 0.30% at 49,540, Nasdaq 100 futures off 0.03% at 29,324, and S&P 500 futures dropping 0.4% amid rising geopolitical risks. • President Donald Trump called Iran's latest response to the U.S. proposal to end the war 'totally unacceptable,' triggering a surge in oil prices as markets braced for escalation. • The reaction compounds pressure from recent strong NFP data at +312K jobs versus +185K expected, with 2-year Treasury yields watched above 5% for further equity downside.

• MSCI’s Asian equities gauge climbed 1% at the open, with South Korea's market surging as much as 5% to a record high driven by artificial intelligence investment optimism. • Brent crude oil rose 3.6% to nearly $105 per barrel after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to his peace proposal, prolonging tensions and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. • US S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% amid the news, while the momentum strategy favoring recent winners like tech boosted Asian markets despite Middle East risks stoking inflation fears and lifting bond yields.

• US President Donald Trump publicly denounced Iran's reply to a US peace proposal as 'totally unacceptable' amid stalled negotiations in recent weeks. • Iran submitted its 'war-ending' response through Pakistan mediators, while a fragile ceasefire holds despite intermittent Gulf flare-ups and reported drone strikes. • The exchange escalates tensions, with Iran dismissing Trump's rejection as 'irrelevant' and warning countries enforcing US sanctions of 'difficulties' transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

State media says Tehran’s response to peace plan passed to Pakistan as drone strikes or incursions reported in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and IraqIran has said it has replied to a US peace proposal, on a day when a month-old ceasefire showed signs of fraying, with drone strikes reported around the region.Iranian state media reported that the Iranian response had been passed to Pakistani mediators, without giving further details. The announcement came a week after the US presented a peace proposal, which was reported to consist of a one-page 14-point memorandum of understanding that would reopen the strait of Hormuz while setting a framework for further talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. Continue reading...

• The United States is monitoring Iran's reply to a renewed peace proposal following mutual strikes, as reported by Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie. • President Trump pursues a diplomatic deal amid Middle East tensions, with former Iran special representative Brian Hook praising the administration's 'disciplined deterrence' strategy. • The developments signal potential de-escalation in the conflict, highlighting Trump's foreign policy focus on security and negotiation.

Diplomatic efforts continuing despite fighting in and around contested strait of Hormuz in recent daysMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has said that Washington is expecting a response from Iran on Friday to its proposals for an interim deal to end the conflict in the Middle East, as Iran accused the US of breaching the increasingly fragile ceasefire announced last month.In recent days there have been the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the contested strait of Hormuz since the informal truce began. The rise in violence followed Donald Trump’s announcement – then rapid pause – of a new naval mission aimed at opening the strategic waterway. Continue reading...

• A new U.S. diplomatic proposal to Iran offers potential 'good news' for American gas prices by easing Strait of Hormuz blockade fears. • Analyst John Smith noted the deal could stabilize oil flows, projecting a 10-15 cent per gallon drop if accepted. • Amid ongoing U.S.-Iran frictions, this initiative matters for reducing inflation pressures and supporting consumers hit by recent spikes.

• The Trump White House moved to distance itself from proposed tighter AI regulation, signaling the administration's preference for lighter regulatory frameworks, according to May 7-8, 2026 reporting. • The administration's position reflects ongoing ideological divisions within the federal government about appropriate levels of AI oversight and innovation policy. • Tech industry advocates and some Republicans support the White House's stance, while AI safety advocates continue pushing for stronger regulatory measures.

• US President Donald Trump announced on May 7, 2026, that negotiations with Iran have progressed significantly in the last 24 hours, predicting a quick deal to formally end the ongoing war. • The US peace proposal, under review by Tehran, calls for a one-page memorandum to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease sanctions, and limit Iran's nuclear activities, though it omits missile program curbs and proxy support restrictions. • Iranian officials responded cautiously, with a foreign ministry spokesperson pledging an official reply and lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei calling the offer unrealistic and US-biased; Trump paused a naval mission to reopen shipping lanes amid Saudi opposition.

The US and Iran have offered conflicting messages over the likelihood of a deal being reached imminentlyMorning and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.The US and Iran have offered conflicting messages over the state of negotiations to end the war, with Donald Trump signalling the talks were “very good” and a deal “very possible”.News of a possible deal followed Trump’s abrupt U-turn on a US military operation to guide ships out of the strait of Hormuz, dubbed “Project Freedom”. Trump said the decision to pause the mission on Tuesday – two days after it was launched – was to give peace a chance, but NBC reported that it was suspended after Saudi Arabia refused to allow the US military to use its bases and airspace to carry out the operation. US officials told the American broadcaster that Gulf allies were caught off guard by the sudden announcement of Project Freedom, and that it had angered the leadership in Saudi Arabia.The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, that the US’s behaviour had “deviated the path of diplomacy towards threats, pressure and sanctions” and that Tehran could not trust Washington. In a statement carried by the Iranian state-run Press TV, Pezeshkian said Iran had entered into dialogue with the US twice and “on both occasions, military aggression against Iran took place concurrently with the negotiations. Such behaviour is effectively like ‘stabbing from behind’”.Iran has denied any involvement in damage to a South Korean-operated vessel in the strait of Hormuz, which suffered an explosion and fire on Monday. Trump blamed the incident on an Iranian attack, while South Korea’s foreign ministry said the cause of the fire would only be confirmed after the vessel is inspected. The Iran embassy in Seoul issued a statement this morning rejecting the allegations, saying safe passage through the waterway requires strict adherence to Iranian regulations.The damage and destruction inflicted on US military sites across the Middle East during the war is far larger than what has been publicly acknowledged by the Trump administration or previously reported, according to analysis by the Washington Post. Reviewing satellite imagery, the newspaper found Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 US structures or pieces of equipment, including hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft and key radar, communications and air defence equipment. The US Central Command declined to comment on the report.In Lebanon, where a ceasefire has demonstrably failed to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, three people were killed this morning in Israeli strikes on Nabatieh south of the country, according to the official Lebanese National News Agency. The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was seriously injured by an explosive-laden Hezbollah drone in southern Lebanon yesterday. It did not say where the attack took place.In Gaza, where another ceasefire appears to be fraying, an Israeli airstrike has killed Azzam Khalil al-Hayya, the son of Hamas political bureau leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, according to senior Hamas official Basim Naim. Azzam succumbed to his injuries this morning after being struck in an Israeli attack last night, Reuters reported. He is the fourth son of Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief to have been killed in Israeli attacks. Continue reading...

Iran says the ‘ball is in the United States’ court’ as Trump says he is likely to reject new proposal from TehranDonald Trump said on Saturday he was going to review a new peace proposal from Tehran but cast doubt over its prospects, saying Iran had not yet “paid a big enough price”.Two semiofficial Iranian news outlets, Tasnim and Fars, believed to be close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said Iran had sent the US a new 14-point proposal via Pakistan. Continue reading...

• Pakistan has received an amended peace proposal from Iran as it serves as a crucial backchannel mediator in ongoing US-Iran negotiations, reflecting diplomatic efforts to resolve escalating tensions. • The development indicates continued high-level diplomatic engagement despite stalled formal negotiations and previous ceasefire attempts, with Pakistan playing a strategic intermediary role in the Middle East crisis. • Successful mediation efforts could have significant implications for global markets, crude oil prices, and regional stability, directly affecting India's energy security and economic growth prospects.

Wilderness Society says changes undermined intent of national standards intended to reverse decline of plants, animals and ecosystemsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGreen groups have accused the Albanese government of watering down a proposal to protect threatened species and ecosystems.National environmental standards were the key plank of reforms to Australia’s nature laws, passed by the parliament in November. Continue reading...

Lee Zeldin claims before Senate that Trump administration plan will make Environmental Protection Agency ‘more efficient’Senate Democrats accused the Trump administration of abandoning the Environmental Protection Agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment at a congressional hearing Wednesday, slamming agency leadership over a proposal to cut its budget in half.Lee Zeldin’s appearance before the Senate environment committee was the EPA administrator’s last of three budget hearings this week where he argued for sharply reduced funding for the agency, which already has seen its staffing reduced to its lowest level in decades under his leadership. During much of the week, the former Republican congressman from New York took an aggressive approach, responding to Democrats in the House and Senate with his own questions and at times accusing them of being unprepared or failing to care about the EPA’s record. Continue reading...

U.S. President Donald Trump is unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal on resolving the two-month war, a U.S. official said, dampening hopes for a resolution to the conflict that has disrupted energy supplies, fuelled inflation, and killed thousands.

Iran's foreign minister arrived in Russia on Monday, after a whirlwind weekend of diplomacy, seeking to gain political leverage and foreign backing as peace talks with the U.S. remain on hold.(Image credit: Dmitry Lovetsky)

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Islamabad on April 27, 2026, to push a new proposal through Pakistani mediators aimed at ending the US-Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. • The proposal reached the White House, but President Trump canceled planned envoy visits by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, citing lack of progress, while indirect talks continue. • Araghchi headed to Moscow for talks with President Putin after blaming the US for failed peace efforts; Russia urged Washington to abandon ultimatums in Vienna negotiations.

Proposal for a one-time 5% tax on billionaires in the state is opposed by Silicon Valley tech titans and Gavin NewsomProponents of a proposal to levy a one-time tax on California billionaires say they’ve gathered enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot in November.The campaign says it has collected more than 1.5m signatures, according to a statement. Continue reading...

A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member statesThe EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force. Speaking after a meeting between EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, she told reporters: “We didn’t see that today, but these discussions will continue.” Continue reading...

Mediators want both sides to agree to suspend hostilities but Tehran warns peace talks ‘incompatible with threats’Middle East crisis – live updatesProposals for an immediate ceasefire have been circulated to Washington and Tehran in an attempt to halt the five-week-old war and stave off an extraordinary threat issued by Donald Trump to bomb Iran’s power plants.Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey want both sides to agree to suspend hostilities and reopen the strait of Hormuz, to be followed by a period of detailed negotiations intended to reach a more complete peace agreement. Continue reading...

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on April 4, 2026, to discuss a potential ceasefire framework for the Russia-Ukraine war amid escalating frontline clashes. • The proposal includes Russian troop withdrawal from Donbas regions captured since 2022 and $50 billion in reconstruction aid funded by frozen Russian assets, as outlined in leaked diplomatic cables. • Diplomats emphasized the plan's role in preventing NATO direct involvement, with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stating, 'This is our best chance to freeze the conflict without capitulation.'

Effort to curb grade inflation, by limiting top marks to 20% of students in a course, is opposed by most studentsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHarvard’s faculty is set to vote next week on a faculty committee proposal to cap the number of A grades per course in an effort to curb grade inflation.The proposal, which was first reported earlier this year by the Harvard Crimson, Harvard’s student newspaper, would cap A grades to 20% of students in a course, with an allowance for four additional As. It also would introduce a new internal “average percentile rank” system, which would rely on raw scores rather than grade point average (GPA) to determine honors and awards. Continue reading...