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• El Comité de Servicios Armados del Senado ha avanzado una versión preliminar de la Ley de Autorización de la Defensa Nacional que incluye disposiciones para bloquear las reducciones salariales militares automáticas provocadas por ciertas artimañas presupuestarias vinculadas al marco del secuestro presupuestario. • La disposición surge después de que funcionarios del Pentágono advirtieran que los recortes salariales artificiales podrían generar problemas de reclutamiento y retención, y después de que varios grupos de defensa presionaran a los legisladores para derogar permanentemente los límites del secuestro presupuestario. • El senador Adam Smith y otros miembros del comité argumentaron que los miembros del servicio no deben ser daños colaterales en las disputas presupuestarias políticas.

• La gobernadora de Maine, Janet Mills, anunció el jueves que retirará su candidatura planeada al Senado, eliminándose de las primarias demócratas y despejando efectivamente el camino para que el senador estatal Ben Chipman entre en una contienda abierta. • Mills citó consideraciones familiares y el desgaste de una campaña al Senado de alto perfil como razones clave, diciendo que Maine “necesita un liderazgo firme” en la oficina de la gobernadora mientras continúa su segundo mandato. • Su salida reconfigura el mapa político del estado, probablemente ahorrándoles a los demócratas una primaria interna desgastante en un estado que ha tendido al color púrpura en las elecciones nacionales recientes.

El informe provisional de 155 páginas publicado el jueves muestra lo poco que se sabe —y se puede compartir— sobre el tiroteo del 14 de diciembre. Reciba nuestro correo electrónico de noticias de última hora, aplicación gratuita o podcast diario de noticias. Si hay algo que queda claro en el informe provisional de 155 páginas de la comisión real sobre el antisemitismo y la cohesión social, es cuánto de la masacre de Bondi sigue siendo desconocido —y cuán poco de lo que se sabe se puede compartir con el público—. Más de un tercio de las recomendaciones del informe —el cual fue publicado el jueves— eran confidenciales, aunque el gobierno de Albanese tiene previsto implementarlas todas. Continúe leyendo...

Un comité del Senado se dispone a avanzar con la elección de Trump mientras persisten las dudas sobre la independencia de la Fed y el futuro de Powell. Política de EE. UU. en vivo – últimas actualizaciones. Suscríbase al boletín de noticias de última hora de EE. UU. por correo electrónico. Kevin Warsh, la elección de Donald Trump para dirigir la Reserva Federal, está listo para superar un obstáculo procesal clave el miércoles, allanando el camino para suceder a Jerome Powell en las próximas semanas en medio de los esfuerzos sin precedentes de la Casa Blanca por ejercer control sobre el banco central más poderoso del mundo. El comité bancario del Senado tiene previsto votar a las 10:00 a. m. EDT (14:00 GMT) para avanzar en la nominación de Warsh hacia el pleno del Senado, controlado por los republicanos. Se espera que los 13 republicanos del panel apoyen a Warsh después de que Thom Tillis, senador de Carolina del Norte, retirara su oposición tras la decisión del Departamento de Justicia el viernes de finalizar una investigación penal sobre Powell que Tillis consideraba una amenaza para la independencia política de la Fed. Continuar leyendo...

Las declaraciones del president de US probablemente causen incomodidad a los asesores del monarch de UK, quien suele mantenerse neutral. Donald Trump ha insistido en que King Charles coincide con él en que nunca se debe permitir que Iran posea armas nucleares. Trump hizo estas declaraciones en una White House state dinner el martes en honor a la visita de Charles y Camilla, después de que los dos hombres se reunieran para mantener conversaciones bilaterales ese mismo día. Continue reading...

El conflicto con Irán ha entrado en una fase similar a la Guerra Fría, con sanciones financieras e interdicciones navales que han conducido a un tenso punto muerto. Se espera que los precios más altos de la energía persistan, mientras el riesgo de escalada se mantiene. Según se informa, el presidente Trump está evaluando nuevos ataques frente a la intensificación de las sanciones, con el objetivo de obligar a Irán a negociar su programa nuclear.

Dos meses después de que el ataque estadounidense-israelí contra Irán iniciara la guerra, las conversaciones de paz están suspendidas, siendo el control del Estrecho de Ormuz y el futuro del programa nuclear de Irán los dos principales puntos de conflicto.(Image credit: Vahid Salemi)

Australia depende de la capacidad del Reino Unido para entregar nuevos submarinos, pero el informe revela que «ya empiezan a aparecer grietas».

• El ex primer ministro afirma que las políticas perderán apoyo si no se mantienen los precios bajos, mientras que Malcolm Turnbull señala algunos progresos en EE. UU. • Kevin Rudd ha calificado como "desafortunados" los recortes de Donald Trump al apoyo de las industrias ecológicas, advirtiendo que los australianos concluirían que la transición limpia es una "estafa" (bullshit) si no ofrece beneficios tangibles en sus vidas. • Sin embargo, en algunos de sus primeros comentarios tras finalizar su mandato como embajador de Australia en EE. UU., el ex primer ministro señaló que las políticas climáticas tendrían permanencia si logran ofrecer precios asequibles, un suministro energético fiable y nuevas oportunidades laborales.

• Iran has announced the resumption of uranium enrichment to 80% purity at its Natanz facility, signaling a breakdown in ongoing ceasefire negotiations with the United States. • International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors confirmed the announcement on Friday; Iran's move violates terms of previous diplomatic agreements and heightens regional security concerns. • The escalation comes as negotiators report deadlocked talks over sanctions relief, with both sides blaming the other for refusing compromise on nuclear program restrictions.

• A military confrontation along the Kashmir border escalated Friday when Pakistani forces fired on Indian positions near Uri, killing 12 Indian soldiers and wounding 18 others in the deadliest incident in two years, Pakistani military sources confirmed. • India's military responded with retaliatory strikes, with New Delhi claiming to have neutralized three Pakistani military positions; Pakistan denied casualties on its side but acknowledged defensive operations. • Regional analysts expressed alarm that the incident could spiral into broader conflict, warning both nations possess nuclear arsenals and recent diplomatic tensions have left few de-escalation channels open.

In February 2025, a cheap Russian drone tore through Chornobyl’s confinement shelter. Workers warn the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident is not safe yetThe dosimeter clipped to your chest ticks faster the moment you step off the designated path inside the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. Step back, and it slows again – an invisible line between clean ground and contamination.Above rises the “new safe confinement” (NSC) – the largest, movable steel structure ever built, taller than the Statue of Liberty, wider than the Colosseum, its arch curving overhead like an aircraft hangar built for giant planes. Continue reading...

Lack of a sustained plan to end the war has convinced US allies that the White House is running out of ideasNearly eight weeks after Donald Trump launched his assault on Iran, the White House has shifted from a strategy of shock-and-awe bombardments and leadership decapitation to a plan of sustained economic pressure as it tests the wills of a regime practiced over decades at wars of attrition.Since the negotiations stalled, the White House has begun to shift its messaging to say it is willing to wait to strike a more durable deal with Iran – despite the growing economic toll inflicted on the world economy by the closure of the strait of Hormuz. The reason, senior officials have said, is because of the joint US-Israeli strikes were so successful that they have fractured Iran’s leadership and prevented a new consolidation of power. Continue reading...

• North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile from its western region Tuesday evening, the sixth such test in the past three months despite frozen nuclear diplomacy with the US. • US officials assessed the missile demonstrated improved guidance systems, suggesting continued weapons development despite economic sanctions and international isolation. • The test complicates efforts to restart dialogue, with South Korea calling for emergency trilateral talks involving Japan to address escalating regional security threats.

Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, also found not guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour towards Tarryn BairdA man has been cleared of waging a campaign of domestic abuse and sexual violence on his wife, who went on to take her own life.Christopher Trybus, 43, was charged with manslaughter, as well as with two counts of rape and coercive and controlling behaviour, but was found not guilty after a seven-week trial at Winchester crown court. Continue reading...

Unwanted vessels left to decay release fibreglass shards into the water, harming marine life. Steve Green – with his trusty van Cecil – is determined to clean things upSteve Green, a boat engineer from Cornwall, was pulled over by the police just before Christmas. He was driving a decrepit-looking VW campervan and towing an even more dilapidated yacht up to Truro. He hadn’t broken any laws, but he admits that Cecil the campervan, which runs on donated chip oil from local pubs and has a crane and a winch on the front, “wasn’t quite what VW intended”.Green (and Cecil) are on a mission to rid the beautiful hidden creeks of Cornwall’s Helford and Fal rivers of 166 abandoned fibreglass yachts, which are leaking plastic and toxins into the predominantly marine waters. Marine biologists have likened the thousands of shards of fibreglass they have found embedded in the flesh of sea-creatures in areas with wrecks such as these to asbestos, a substance known to have a noxious effect on humans.Green uses a detachable crane system at the front of his van to move around bags of plastic after they have been weighed. Cecil is upholstered in recycled denim Continue reading...

Ministers hope tobacco and vapes bill, which will become law next week, will create a ‘smoke-free generation’A bill banning anyone born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the UK has completed its progress through parliament in a move that ministers hope will create a “smoke-free generation”.Under the tobacco and vapes bill anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to be legally sold tobacco across the UK, in an effort to save lives and reduce the burden on the NHS. Continue reading...

Washington reportedly limits satellite data after minister spoke publicly about suspected facility in North KoreaThe US has partly restricted intelligence sharing with South Korea after the country’s unification minister publicly identified a suspected North Korean nuclear site, according to reports in South Korean media.Chung Dong-young told lawmakers in March that North Korea was operating uranium enrichment facilities in Kusong, a north-western area that had not previously been officially confirmed as a nuclear site alongside the known facilities at Yongbyon and Kangson. Continue reading...

The 82-year-old was accused of abusing girls in the 1960s but was acquitted in Perth despite judge finding the alleged victim was telling the truthGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former champion footballer Barry Cable has been acquitted of a slew of historical child sexual abuse charges despite a judge finding the alleged victim was likely telling the truth.The 82-year-old faced a judge-only criminal trial over allegations he abused a girl aged about eight or nine at his family home in the late 1960s. Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump warned Iran of 'no more Mr Nice Guy' and threatened new strikes if no deal is agreed by Wednesday, following stalled talks over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz until the US lifts its blockade, with Revolutionary Guard navy confirming the move amid risks to global oil shipments; 13 US service members killed in related conflict. • Negotiations in Islamabad saw US propose 20-year Iranian nuclear suspension, countered by Iran's 3-5 year halt offer; Tehran reports progress but fundamental gaps remain per speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

• President Trump signals he will not extend Iran's ceasefire deadline if a comprehensive deal is not reached by Wednesday, warning of renewed military action including 'dropping bombs' if negotiations fail. • Trump declares the Strait of Hormuz now open due to a U.S. Navy blockade and pointedly rejects NATO's offer of assistance, highlighting America's unilateral stance in Middle East tensions. • The escalating pressure on Iran represents a significant shift in Trump administration foreign policy and challenges traditional alliance structures in addressing regional security threats.

The defence minister insists that increases in spending did not happen because of thinktanks, retired generals ‘or washed-up bureaucrats’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIf there’s anyone who knows just how much pressure Donald Trump is heaping on allies to lift defence spending, it’s Richard Marles.The message was received loud and clear when he met his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Singapore nearly a year ago. Continue reading...

Pyongyang making ‘very serious’ progress on producing weapons, with rapid rise in activity at main nuclear complexNorth Korea has made “very serious” progress in its ability to produce more nuclear weapons, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has warned, in another sign that the regime is seeking to use its nuclear arsenal to ensure its survival.North Korea is thought to have assembled about 50 nuclear warheads, although some experts are sceptical of its claims that it is able to miniaturise them so they can be attached to long-range ballistic missiles. Continue reading...

Chancellor ‘frustrated and angry’ at decision to attack Iran ‘without being clear what the objectives are’UK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesRachel Reeves has hit out at the “folly” of Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran without a clear exit plan.Speaking to the Mirror before a trip to Washington for the International Monetary Fund spring meeting, the UK chancellor renewed her criticism of the war, which has pushed up oil prices and threatens a new jump in inflation across the west. Continue reading...

Lisa Nandy says there are no grounds to refer Axel Springer deal to Ofcom, ending almost three years of uncertainty for titlesBusiness live – latest updatesThe culture secretary has cleared Axel Springer’s £575m takeover of the Telegraph, paving the way for the end of almost three years of uncertainty over the ownership of the titles.Lisa Nandy said that she does not believe there are grounds to intervene and refer the deal to the media regulator, Ofcom, for an in-depth regulatory investigation. Continue reading...

• President Trump announced on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and intercept any vessel that has paid tolls to Iran to transit the strait safely, following the failure of 21-hour nuclear negotiations. • Vice President JD Vance confirmed in Islamabad that no agreement was reached, with Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear program cited as the primary sticking point. • Iran's state-affiliated Fars news agency reported the country has no plan for a next round of negotiations, marking a significant escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

• Vice President JD Vance announced at a press conference in Pakistan on April 12 that 21 hours of negotiations with Iran have concluded without reaching an agreement, with the primary sticking point being Iran's refusal to abandon its nuclear program. • Vance characterized the lack of progress as "bad news for Iran," while Iran's state-affiliated Fars news agency reported that Tehran has "no plan for a next round of negotiations" according to sources close to the negotiating team. • The failed talks carry significant implications for Middle East stability and global security, with experts examining how the diplomatic breakdown affects ongoing regional conflicts and US-Iran relations.