Iniaes

In Washington

The Supreme Court is weighing whether U.S. tech firms can be held liable for allegedly helping Chinese authorities torture a spiritual minority abroad. It is a test of how far legal responsibility can stretch when companies are accused of enabling abuses outside the U.S.

The Justice Department has also charged a former aide to Anthony Fauci with allegedly hiding emails tied to the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. And House Republicans are pushing ahead with a vote to renew Section 702 surveillance powers, even as some members of their own party say they will vote no. Congress, as ever, has found a way to make deadline drama feel routine.

Separately, House Republicans advanced three major bills out of the Rules Committee after a long round of infighting, but their fate on the floor is still uncertain.

In tech and cybersecurity

OpenAI is moving its models to Amazon Web Services after Microsoft dropped Azure exclusivity in their partnership, while keeping a revenue share through 2030. At the same time, OpenAI and Anthropic are both drawing in more big-money cloud backing, with Google reportedly planning an investment of up to $40 billion in Anthropic as demand for AI compute keeps climbing.

Elon Musk also testified in the trial against Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, a feud that could still shape the AI industry’s future, which is impressive for a dispute that already sounds like it was generated by AI.

Beyond the money and the ego, there are growing security concerns. Operational technology firms were left out of special access to powerful new models meant to find vulnerabilities before hackers do, and a Conference Board survey says CIOs are now under more pressure to turn AI governance from theory into actual controls, reporting, and risk management.

On the cyber side, Germany says government accounts were targeted in a suspected Russian Signal phishing campaign, another reminder that encrypted apps are only as secure as the person tapping the link.

In international security

Think tank estimates in the UK say an Iran war could cost the economy £35 billion and raise recession risk this year. The same warning says growth would still be weaker over the next two years even in a best-case scenario.

In the UK as well, convicted terrorist Zahid Iqbal has been recalled to prison over renewed concerns about his release, including a secret phone, deleted call history, a Kubotan weapon, and a 9/11 book. A fresh review is now underway.

In the U.K.

King Charles used his address to the U.S. Congress to underline the long, awkward, still-essential relationship between Britain and America, marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence with a careful message about cooperation in a rough global moment.

Back home, the government is defending its ban on Palestine Action after the High Court ruled it unlawful, saying reversing it would weaken counter-terrorism powers. In Scotland, a court cleared 75-year-old Rose Docherty of charges over an abortion clinic placard, ruling the case did not disclose an offence and ran into free-expression protections. A rare day of legal nuance, which is apparently still permitted.

In the United States

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again by the Trump administration over a social media post featuring seashells arranged as “86 47,” which prosecutors say amounted to a threat against President Trump. Comey says he meant no violence. The case follows an earlier Comey indictment that was thrown out over the prosecutor’s unlawful appointment.

The Pentagon has asked Congress to formally rename it the Department of War, with officials saying the change would cost nearly $52 million and would not significantly affect the 2027 defense budget request. Separately, the Trump administration is cutting off federal funding for fentanyl test strips, ending a harm-reduction practice used to check drugs for contamination.

In Europe and Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will begin opening arms exports through so-called drone deals, but not to every country. The plan would let Kyiv sell some of its battlefield-tested know-how abroad, though the details on who gets access are still unclear.

In Britain

Keir Starmer is facing sharp criticism from Labour MPs over the Mandelson vetting row, with some debating whether to refer him to the privileges committee. The dispute centers on whether he misled MPs last week about pressure on the Foreign Office. Ministers and officials are still sticking to their accounts, because apparently the story needed one more round of parliamentary misery.

In the Middle East

Trump used the royal visit to praise U.S.-U.K. ties, saying Americans have had no closer friends than the British as he welcomed the royals ahead of the king’s speech to Congress. Separately, CNN reported that he has told advisers he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delay talks on Iran’s nuclear program. A White House spokesperson said Trump’s red lines on Iran have been made very clear.

Qatar also weighed in, saying it will not be used as a political punching bag and calling for a comprehensive deal to help secure the Gulf. Doha said it welcomed European partners taking the lead in the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

In tech and security

Hundreds of Google employees have signed a petition urging Sundar Pichai to reject any deal that would let the company’s AI systems be used in classified Pentagon operations. Their warning is simple, if the safeguards are weak, the company could be helping enable unmonitored harm.

In immigration policy

The Trump administration has issued new DHS guidance that could let an immigrant’s public political views count against them in decisions on residency or citizenship. Critics say the policy is too broad and could turn political speech into a liability in the immigration process.

In U.S. crime

An Atlantic County corrections officer has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. Prosecutors said Christopher Piccioni smuggled nicotine, narcotics and cell phones into the Atlantic County Justice Facility for an inmate over several months, and was paid thousands per package. The inmate and his girlfriend have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

In Minneapolis, federal agents raided businesses on Tuesday as part of an investigation into welfare fraud. Authorities say it is another operation tied to the same broader inquiry.

In cybersecurity and devices

Security researchers say electric motorcycles and scooters from Zero Motorcycles and Yadea have vulnerabilities that could affect rider safety, not just data. Separately, a new Windows privilege escalation technique dubbed PhantomRPC has no patch yet, and researchers say it could let an attacker reach SYSTEM access by impersonating a target service. The software, as ever, is keeping its appointment with reality.

In the UK

A former Labour MP says Keir Starmer is in a difficult position ahead of a possible cross-party sleaze probe into whether he misled MPs over Peter Mandelson’s appointment. Downing Street says it is already working through parliamentary processes and calls the push a political stunt.

Separately, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have begun a rare state visit to the United States, the first by a British monarch in nearly 20 years, with both governments hoping the trip smooths a few diplomatic edges.

In business

Deutsche Telekom is reportedly looking to buy the rest of T-Mobile US, after already taking a 53 percent stake. If it happens, it would be a giant deal by any normal standard, and a spectacularly large one by corporate-merger standards.

In the Middle East

Iran says the United States is in no position to dictate policy to other countries as Washington weighs Tehran’s latest peace proposal. U.S. officials have dismissed the offer, and the dispute is already feeding uncertainty in oil markets.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into a U.S. strike in Yemen last year that hit a migrant detention center and killed at least 68 detainees. Amnesty says the attack should be examined as a possible war crime.

In Asia

In Indonesia, rescuers were still searching through the wreckage after two trains collided, killing at least 15 people and injuring 84. Most of the injured were women.

In the UK

Northern Ireland is set to become the first part of the UK to offer free sign language classes for deaf people under 25, along with close family members, guardians, and carers. The bill would put a legal duty on Stormont to provide the classes, which is a fairly direct way of saying this should have happened already.

Separately, the Home Office is appealing the High Court ruling that found the government’s ban on Palestine Action unlawful, so that fight now moves to the next stage of court.

In business and energy

BP says quarterly profits jumped 130 percent to $3.2 billion, beating forecasts after the Iran conflict pushed crude prices higher. The company pointed to stronger oil trading and better midstream results, while critics noted that windfalls tend to arrive just as everyone else is paying more for fuel.

That same regional tension is also keeping the Strait of Hormuz in focus, with Iran saying it could reopen the waterway if the U.S. lifts its blockade. The route carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade in normal times, so this one matters well beyond the Gulf.

In security and crime

An Austrian man, identified as 21-year-old Beran A., has gone on trial over an alleged plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert. Prosecutors say he received training from Islamic State members on handling explosives.

In Los Angeles, former middle school teacher Colleen Jo Matarico has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading no contest to two felony counts involving a minor under 14. The judge also ordered no contact with the victim, and time already served in jail will count toward the sentence.

In Europe

MEP Abir Al-Sahlani is urging EU countries to push for a common EU-wide definition of rape ahead of a Parliament vote. She also said the war in Iran is showing the global order being renegotiated in real time, which is one way to describe a world currently doing several things badly at once.

Elsewhere

Ukraine has summoned Israel’s ambassador over reports of stolen grain shipments, while Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery and triggered what officials described as a massive fire.

In Pima County, Sheriff Chris Nanos has refused to give sworn testimony in a county disciplinary probe, deepening tensions with local officials.

In Washington and the courts

The Supreme Court seemed split over whether police overreached when they used a geofence warrant to pull Google location data in a Virginia bank robbery case. The justices wrestled with how much privacy people really give up by using location services, and whether the ruling should set a narrower rule for digital searches. Meanwhile, the court is also weighing President Trump’s bid to end protections for Haitians, Syrians, and people from more than a dozen other countries, a decision that could ripple well beyond the named plaintiffs.

On Capitol Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson says he wants changes to the Senate-passed Homeland Security funding bill, which keeps the department open but leaves ICE and CBP unfunded. In Washington, the investigation into Saturday’s shooting near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is still unfolding, with a federal complaint saying suspect Cole Allen sent a manifesto to family and friends before the alleged breach attempt. Also, King Charles III is set to address Congress and call the U.S.-UK relationship one of reconciliation and renewal, because apparently history does occasionally agree to a press release.

In crime and security

Jay Bryant has pleaded guilty in the 2002 murder case of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay, admitting he helped others get into the building before the ambush. Separately, investigators are still piecing together what happened in the shooting at the Washington Hilton, including new questions about the Secret Service vest worn by one agent during the attack.

In Britain and Asia

In England and Wales, police chiefs say they have now recorded the first teenage suicide linked to domestic abuse, and they warn that suicides tied to domestic violence have outnumbered homicides for the third straight year. The same reporting says violent pornography and “toxic” influencers are feeding abusive behavior among teens, a grim trend that needs more than slogans. A separate survey says half of England’s headteachers report parts of their schools are unusable or unsafe, with leaks, mold, asbestos, broken boilers, and fire doors all doing their best to fill in for basic infrastructure.

In Indonesia, police are investigating allegations that dozens of children were mistreated at a childcare center in Yogyakarta, a case that has drawn national attention.

In U.S. news

Philadelphia police have released new images of the suspects wanted in the attack on a Temple University student at a dorm last week. The investigation is still ongoing.

Separately, a New York Times report says the Trump EPA has nearly dismantled its independent science office in just one year, gutting a unit that studied issues like fertility, asthma, wildfires, drinking water, and climate change.

In business

Delaware’s largest rooftop solar project is now online at Delmarva Corrugated Packaging in Kent County. It is expected to supply about 30 percent of the company’s daily power needs, cut costs, and ease pressure on the regional grid. State and nonprofit leaders say projects like this could help bring more businesses into rooftop solar as costs fall and battery storage improves.

In Britain, Morrisons chief executive has agreed to meet Sean Egan, the store manager who was sacked after confronting a serial shoplifter at the company’s Aldridge branch in Walsall. The company says staff must follow safety rules and not detain thieves. Public anger over the firing has already produced protests, a sizable fundraiser, and a letter from Egan’s MP, because apparently basic questions about safety and common sense still need a customer service escalation.

In tech and AI

More than 600 Google employees are urging Sundar Pichai to reject any deal that would let the company’s AI be used in classified Pentagon work. In their letter, they warn about the same risks that pushed Anthropic out of military work earlier this year.

Meantime, an investigation says a little-known AI news site called The Wire by Acutus appears to use AI agents posing as human reporters to gather quotes and generate stories, with much of the review process handled automatically in under a minute. The report also points to possible links with OpenAI, though those connections are not proven. A separate study on digital platforms found that half of the world’s largest platforms still fail to meet minimum transparency standards for advertising data, making it harder to track political ads, fraud, and other online nonsense dressed up as marketing.

In foreign affairs

Ukraine has summoned Israel’s ambassador over a vessel carrying grain Kyiv says was stolen from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and is headed for Haifa. Ukraine says Israel should not allow the shipment to dock and unload, warning of a possible diplomatic crisis if it does.

In U.S. news

A federal watchdog fight is heading to court after Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the Freedom of the Press Foundation sued to block the Trump administration’s move to relax rules for preserving presidential records. They say the change creates a real risk that records could be destroyed or sold, which is, inconveniently, the whole point of having records in the first place.

The Justice Department is also expanding the list of federal execution methods to include firing squads, electrocution, and gas asphyxiation, part of President Trump’s effort to revive capital punishment in his second term.

Meanwhile, the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting is expected in court Monday, with early indications that he may have been targeting President Trump and other top officials. Separately, gunfire broke out just after midnight during Little 500 weekend celebrations near Indiana University in Bloomington, where officers heard what they believed were multiple shots on Kirkwood Avenue.

In Europe

The European Union is negotiating a deal that could give U.S. authorities access to national police databases across much of the bloc, in exchange for preserving visa-free travel. Brussels is trying to decide how much access it is willing to grant before the travel rules change.

Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary says two or three European airlines could go bankrupt this winter, naming Wizz Air and airBaltic as carriers he thinks are at risk.

In the UK, more than 30 children’s toys have been recalled since January after tests found asbestos contamination, with products pulled from shelves at major retailers including Tesco, Primark, Aldi, M&S, Argos, Asda, Matalan, Smyths Toys and The Entertainer. Parents are being told to stop using any recalled items and check the government recall list.

And in Scotland, John Swinney plans to push for a vote on independence powers on the first day of the next parliament, even if the SNP falls short of an overall majority. The arithmetic, as ever, remains the least romantic part of the romance.

In Africa

In Chad, a dispute over access to water escalated into reprisal attacks that killed at least 42 people, according to the government. Authorities say the army has since stepped in and the situation is now under control, which is what passes for good news in a place where water rights have turned lethal.

In South Africa, the government is trying to recruit nuclear engineers and other specialists from abroad as it pushes ahead with plans to add 5,200 megawatts of nuclear power by 2039. Officials say the local skills base is too thin for the job right now, and the project is still moving through hearings, site reviews, and some local resistance.

In Washington

U.S. investigators are still examining the weekend shooting outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, with the suspect due in court and officials trying to determine whether President Trump was the target. The Secret Service agent wounded in the attack has been released after his bulletproof vest did its very unglamorous job. Meanwhile, talks with Iran appear to have collapsed, and the White House is now expected to brief senior security officials on next steps.

In U.S. news

The Education Department has started notifying more than 7.5 million federal student loan borrowers in the now-defunct SAVE plan that they need to pick a new lawful repayment option, or they will be moved into a standard repayment plan automatically. Separately, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 64 percent of Americans think babies born in the U.S. should automatically get citizenship, as the Supreme Court prepares to weigh President Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship.

In business

Burjeel Holdings has delayed a planned $1.5 billion Islamic bond sale because of the Iran war and the market volatility that followed. The Abu Dhabi-listed hospital group says it is waiting for calmer conditions before trying again, while also keeping supplies stocked and emergency rooms on standby, because apparently geopolitics now comes with a hospital operations checklist.

In the UK

Police and emergency services had a busy night. In County Durham, the A1(M) remains shut in both directions after a serious crash left two men in hospital, one critically ill. In Kent, a 63-year-old motorcyclist died after his Harley-Davidson hit the central reservation on the M2. And in Gravesend, Kent Police say two men and three boys have been charged after reports that a teenage girl was raped at a private property.

Separately, police say a man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a fire at Pink Punters, an LGBTQ+ nightclub near Milton Keynes. Officers are urging people not to speculate, which, in a world of instant opinions, is almost nostalgic.

In Northern Ireland, police are investigating a car bomb outside a station in Dunmurry, near Belfast. Two minors were evacuated from the area, and the New IRA is suspected.

In the Middle East

Lebanese minister Kamal Shehadi says the Israel-Hezbollah truce is fraying, and that both sides are drifting back to the tactics they used before the ceasefire. In a separate but related strain on the region, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is now hitting Europe’s energy security, with tanker traffic disrupted and flows of Gulf LNG and oil reduced or halted.

In the U.S.

Donald Trump lashed out at CBS correspondent Norah O'Donnell during a 60 Minutes interview after she quoted passages from the alleged manifesto of the gunman who attacked the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Trump called her a disgrace. The interview was airing on a channel that still seems surprised by the concept of a president speaking in capital letters.

Also in Washington, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are visiting the United States at a tense moment in the relationship with London, as the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary and Congress prepares to hear from the king.

In Asia

North Korea has opened a memorial museum honoring troops it sent to fight for Russia in Ukraine, according to state media. It is a stark reminder that the war’s reach is still widening, even when the front line does not.