Rejects

Top EU-diplomaat Kaja Kallas stelt dat de Kremlin-vriendelijke voormalige Duitse kanselier niet als onpartijdig kan worden beschouwd

• Kuomintang (KMT) vicevoorzitter Chang Rong-kung ontmoette Wang Huning, China's hoogste functionaris voor Taiwan-zaken, op 11 mei 2026 in Peking, waarbij hij bevestigde dat de cross-strait relaties niet van staat-tot-staat zijn. • Chang benadrukte gedeelde overtuigingen dat het territorium niet verdeeld mag worden en de natie niet verspreid mag raken, zoals geciteerd door Wang tijdens de top die werd gerapporteerd door United Daily News. • De bijeenkomst onderstreept het standpunt van de KMT tegen Taiwan-onafhankelijkheid terwijl zij contact houdt met Peking, te midden van aanhoudende spanningen over de status van Taiwan.

De Amerikaanse president noemt de Iraanse reactie 'totaal onacceptabel', terwijl Teheran stelt dat het zal terugslaan bij nieuwe Amerikaanse aanvallen of buitenlandse oorlogsschepen in de Straat van Hormuz. • Trump noemt de reactie van Iran op het vredesplan 'totaal onacceptabel' terwijl het staakt-het-vuren wankelt • De Amerikaanse kaders voor de nucleaire gesprekken omvatten naar verluidt een moratorium op de Iraanse nucleaire verrijking voor maximaal 20 jaar; de overdracht naar het buitenland, mogelijk naar de VS, van de voorraad hoogverrijkt uranium (HEU) van Iran, dat gebruikt zou kunnen worden voor het maken van kernwapens; en de ontmanteling van Iraanse nucleaire faciliteiten. • Volgens de Wall Street Journal suggereerde het Iraanse tegenvoorstel een korter moratorium, de export van een deel van de HEU-voorraad en het verdunnen van de rest, en een weigering om de ontmanteling van faciliteiten te accepteren. Lees verder...

• Amerikaanse president Donald Trump wees maandag de reactie van Iran op een Amerikaans vredigvoorstel af als 'totaal onacceptabel', wat de spanningen in het voortdurende conflict in het Midden-Oosten laat oplopen. • Teheran waarschuwde voor nieuwe vergeldingsaanvallen, zoals gemeld door Asia News Network, wat de angst voor langdurige verstoringen in de Straat van Hormuz vergroot. • De afwijzing veroorzaakte marktvolatiliteit in Azië, waarbij beleggers zochten naar veilige havens vanwege de potentiële impact op de regionale energiezekerheid.

• Amerikaanse aandelenindex-futures daalden maandagochtend; de Dow Jones futures stonden 0,30% lager op 49.540, Nasdaq 100 futures daalden 0,03% naar 29.324 en S&P 500 futures verloren 0,4% door toenemende geopolitieke risico's. • President Donald Trump noemde de laatste reactie van Iran op het Amerikaanse voorstel om de oorlog te beëindigen 'totaal onaanvaardbaar', wat leidde tot een stijging van de olieprijzen nu markten zich voorbereiden op escalatie. • De reactie vergroot de druk na recente sterke NFP-gegevens van +312K banen tegenover de verwachte +185K, waarbij 2-jarige Treasury-rendementen boven de 5% in de gaten worden gehouden voor verdere neerwaartse druk op aandelen.

• Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, secured 107 seats and gained 5 from Congress, totaling 112, but remains 6 short of the 118 needed for majority. • Governor Rajendra Arlekar is not convinced of TVK's numbers, delaying Vijay's swearing-in as Chief Minister despite his request for time to prove majority. • VCK remains undecided on support, while Left parties and IUML have declined, heightening political uncertainty in the state.

• Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on May 6, 2026, that 'no one can make us surrender' to US pressure during talks with Iraq's Prime Minister. • He urged Washington to remove military threats from the Middle East, reinforcing Iran's resolve amid ongoing conflict. • The IRGC introduced a new 'Hormuz security plan' to block weapons and supplies to US bases in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating strategic tensions.

Pontiff responds after US president accuses him of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ with stance on Iran warMiddle East crisis – live updatesPope Leo has said he has never supported nuclear weapons and that those who criticise him need to speak the truth, in response Donald Trump’s latest tirade accusing him of “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his stance on the Iran war.Speaking to journalists on Tuesday night after leaving the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, the first US-born pontiff said: “The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace.” Continue reading...

• India has rejected Nepal's claim and objection to the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (pilgrimage) scheduled to proceed via the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. • The dispute underscores ongoing border demarcation issues between India and Nepal, specifically regarding the Lipulekh region in the western Himalayas. • The disagreement could impact bilateral relations and regional stability, with implications for trade and cross-border cooperation between the two nations.

Pete Hegseth argued that a ceasefire agreement with Iran more than three weeks ago ‘means the 60 day clock pauses, or stops’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHello and welcome to our live coverage of the day.Today marks 60 days since the Trump administration notified Congress that it was carrying out strikes on Iran – meaning that under the War Powers Act of 1973, today is the deadline for Donald Trump to either end the Iran war or seek congressional authorization to extend it.Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington DC, released edited security-camera video of the incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner amid questions about whether or not the suspected gunman, Cole Allen, fired his weapon before being subdued. While the video shows four muzzles flashes from the agent’s gun as he fired at Allen, it was not immediately clear that it does show Allen discharging his weapon after he pointed it at the agent.Sean Curran, the director of the US Secret Service, told Fox News that Allen was stopped not by secret service gunfire, but by a box used to transport a metal detector, which he tripped over.Congress has passed a 45-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a law that grants US intelligence agencies warrantless spying powers.Trump has threatened to withdraw troops from Spain and Italy, two countries that countries have been vocally critical of his war in the Middle East. This comes after Trump suggested reviewing US military presence in Germany after the country’s chancellor said America was being “humiliated” by Iran. Continue reading...

State’s police minister says buyback ‘doesn’t focus on keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals’, leaving NSW only clear supporter of planGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland has rejected key recommendations from the Bondi royal commission’s interim report, insisting plans for a national gun buyback will not keep weapons “out of the hands of terrorists and criminals”.The report, handed down by commissioner Virginia Bell on Thursday, raised doubts about whether efforts to establish a national gun register after the 2022 police killings at Wieambilla in Queensland had been “unduly leisurely”. Bell recommended the federal government and the states speed up a jointly funded weapons buyback scheme. Continue reading...

Ruling is blow to Office for Students after it issued fine for handling of protests over professor’s trans rights viewsSussex University has overturned a £585,000 fine by England’s higher education watchdog after the high court rejected claims the university had breached free speech regulations involving its former professor Kathleen Stock.The ruling is a damaging blow to the credibility and management of the Office for Students, after the court rejected the regulator’s lengthy investigation into Sussex’s handling of the protests aimed at Stock over her views on transgender rights and her subsequent resignation in 2021. Continue reading...

The Pitch Perfect actor is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actor of Wilson’s directorial debut, The DebHollywood star Rebel Wilson has rejected an “absolutely outrageous” accusation that she dumped her phone to avoid handing over key communications in a defamation case.The Pitch Perfect star is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the 27-year-old lead actor of the musical comedy The Deb. Continue reading...

• U.S. stock futures fell 0.46% Monday morning as Iran declined to engage in peace talks with the Trump administration, escalating geopolitical tensions. • Oil prices climbed to $95 per barrel, up from $86 three days prior, reflecting market concerns over potential supply disruptions from the Iran conflict. • Despite the geopolitical headwinds, markets have shown resilience with strong corporate earnings growth at 17% annually offsetting valuation pressures.

Resolution needed two more votes to pass, but Democrats now appear solidified in oppositionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that would have prevented further military action against Iran, as Democrats united against continued US involvement in the conflict amid peace talks that have yet to make a breakthrough.The resolution introduced by Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, failed by a vote of 213-214, with one Republican member voting present. It required at least two more votes to pass, as tied votes fail in the House. Continue reading...

PM responds to warnings by former Nato chief George Robertson, saying defence spending is increasing rapidlyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has said he does not agree with George Robertson’s comments about the government’s “corrosive complacency” on defence funding, as the prime minister faced sustained pressure on the issue.Questioned in the Commons about the warnings by Robertson, the former Labour defence secretary and Nato chief who co-authored a defence review for the government, Starmer insisted that defence spending was increasing rapidly. Continue reading...

Panel’s decision a blow to progressives who are unhappy with group’s involvement in Democratic contestsUS politics – live updatesSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxWhen it comes to addressing how the party should deal with Israel, the Democratic establishment went to their favorite answer: no thanks.The Democratic National Committee’s resolutions committee voted on Thursday to kill a measure targeting the pro-Israel lobby group Aipac and deferred two further resolutions on Middle East policy to a working group that critics say exists mainly to avoid difficult decisions. Continue reading...

Iran launches missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait after US president says regime will face ‘all hell’Search for missing US crew member of downed fighter jet enters second dayIran has rejected Donald Trump’s demand that the regime cut a deal in 48 hours or face “all hell”.On Saturday, the US president posted on social media: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” referring to an ultimatum issued on 26 March.The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that Israel attacked Iran’s petrochemical plants after reports from Iranian media saying at least five people were killed in an attack on the Mahshahr petrochemical zone.US search and rescue efforts for the missing second crew member of the downed F-15E fighter jet continued into a second day as Iran came under heavy bombing. A pilot had been rescued on Friday after the F-15E Strike Eagle became the first US plane to be downed over Iran during the five-week-long war.American and Israeli fighter jets targeted multiple strategic and civilian sites inside Iran’s capital on Friday afternoon, including Shahid Beheshti University, one of the country’s leading academic institutions, Iranian state media reported.The death toll in Lebanon has reached 1,422 since the conflict with Israel began on 2 March, according to data from the Lebanese health ministry and reported by the Associated Press. In just the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed 54 people and wounded 156.The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that its air defense forces successfully intercepted eight ballistic missiles and 19 drones over the last 24 hours. However, on Sunday a fire has erupted in the Shuwaikh oil sector complex that houses the oil ministry and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation headquarters, after a drone attack, and Kuwaiti state media reported that two power and water desalination plants sustained “significant material damage” after being attacked by Iranian drones.A Lebanese security source at the main crossing between Syria and Lebanon, said they were evacuating the crossing after Israel threatened to attack it. The Israeli military said on Saturday it would strike an area near the Masnaa crossing urging residents to evacuate immediately as it continued its attacks across Lebanon.Residents of southern Lebanon’s Kfar Hatta were told on social media by Israel to immediately leave the area, and warned that the Israeli military would soon act “with force” in the area. Continue reading...

• Austria has rejected multiple US requests for military overflights of its territory since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, 2026. • The decision underscores Vienna's strict neutrality policy, complicating US logistics for regional operations against Iranian targets. • This refusal highlights growing European divisions on supporting US actions, potentially delaying reinforcements to Middle East bases.

Head of committee says it was appropriate for government to seek guidance on way out of £330m deal with US data companyClaims by Palantir that concerns over the US data analytics company’s multimillion-pound NHS contract are “ideologically motivated” have been rejected by the chair of a parliamentary committee.It was also appropriate for the government to seek guidance on activating a break contract in the deal, said Chi Onwurah, a Labour MP who heads the science, innovation and technology select committee. Continue reading...

Heathrow wanted changes to fund multi-billion pound upgrade, but airlines had warned steep rises would be passed on to passengersBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK aviation regulator has partially rejected plans by Heathrow to significantly raise its landing fees to fund a multi-billion pound upgrade, arguing the airport can still invest without steep hikes to ticket prices.The Civil Aviation Authority said the average charge per passenger should rise from £28.40 to £28.80 between 2027 and 2031. Continue reading...

Force issues strongly worded rebuttal after Tory former cabinet minister alleges ‘egregious failures’ in call for reviewThe police force that conducted the investigation into Lucy Letby has made a strongly worded public statement rejecting criticism after David Davis called in parliament for a review of the case.The Conservative former cabinet minister, who last year said that Letby had suffered “a clear miscarriage of justice”, said Cheshire constabulary had approached the investigation into deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester hospital with too much focus on suspecting Letby, and made “egregious failures” in not following guidelines and best practice, including in the appointment of expert witnesses. Continue reading...

Iran’s foreign minister has said Tehran has ‘no intention of negotiating for now’. Plus, the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusionGood morning.Iran dismissed a US ceasefire proposal on Wednesday and responded with its own negotiation plan as intermediaries sought to keep diplomatic channels between the warring countries open.What is the toll? The US-Israel war on Iran has killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, more than 1,500 in Iran and 16 in Israel, according to each country’s authorities. More than a dozen deaths have been reported in the West Bank and Gulf Arab states. Experts warn there has been a collapse in healthcare access.This is a developing story. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.What did the Los Angeles plaintiff allege? The 20-year-old woman testified that she became addicted to YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, which she said harmed her wellbeing. She blamed the platforms for her experience of body dysmorphic disorder and social phobia in her adolescence.How much will the companies pay the plaintiff? The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case damages of $6m, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer responds after Kemi Badenoch spokesperson says she ‘raised eyebrow’ in relation to theft of aide’s phoneKeir Starmer has said it is “far-fetched” to suggest that the theft of his former chief of staff’s mobile phone is somehow connected to a subsequent push for the release of documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.Downing Street has come under pressure to say whether key messages between Morgan McSweeney and the former ambassador were lost after it emerged that the government-issue phone was stolen last year. Continue reading...

• Iran's military dismissed US diplomatic overtures and launched intensified attacks on Israel and Gulf targets on March 25, with one Iranian drone striking Kuwait International Airport and igniting a fuel tank fire, while multiple drones were also intercepted in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. • Iran maintained its control over the Strait of Hormuz and allowed safe passage only to vessels not involved in "aggression," while continuing daily missile and drone attacks against Israel that Israeli forces said they intercepted with missile defense systems. • Despite the military escalation, Iranian officials remained concerned about Israeli airstrikes that have reportedly killed senior Iranian officials, and Pakistan offered to mediate between the US and Iran as international parties sought de-escalation.

• On March 18, 2026, the CDC released a notice finding insufficient evidence to add Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane (Anti-GBM) Glomerulonephritis to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions after receiving a petition from the WTC Health Program Administrator. • The decision highlights ongoing evaluations of conditions potentially linked to 9/11 exposures for covered responders and survivors. • This ruling impacts thousands of WTC Health Program participants seeking coverage for emerging renal diseases.

Under new Taliban laws, a husband is allowed to beat his wife as long as it is not done with ‘obscene force’, which the woman must prove in courtThe shocking level of physical violence against women permitted under the Taliban’s new laws has been revealed this week by the case of a woman in northern Afghanistan, who said she was beaten with a cable wire by her husband and told by a judge: “You want a divorce just because of that? … A little anger and a few beatings won’t kill you.”Farzana* said her husband was quick-tempered and often resorted to beating her. He regularly humiliated her and called her “disabled”, she said, because her right leg was slightly shorter than the left. She had tolerated the abuse for the sake of their children, but one evening, she said, his violence went too far. Continue reading...