The ongoing Iran War continues to cause significant global economic impact, with soaring oil prices, the UK facing recession risks, and surging US gas prices, while the UAE's departure from OPEC and new sanctions on Iranian oil exports reshape Middle Eastern alliances and fuel peace talk complexities.

• Justice department claims Comey made ‘threat to kill’ Trump as it announces charges against former FBI director – live — The Guardian -
• UK faces £35bn hit and risk of recession this year over impact of Iran war, thinktank warns — The Guardian -
• Amid Iran War and Tensions with Neighbors, U.A.E. Goes Its Own Way — New York Times World -

• Britain Summons Iran’s Ambassador Over Message to Iranians in U.K. — New York Times World -
• The Small U.K. Agency That’s a 911 for Ships in the Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Treasury Issues More Sanctions on Iranian Oil Exports — New York Times World -
• Middle East crisis: Trump hits back at German chancellor after Merz said Iran was ‘humiliating’ US – as it happened — The Guardian -
• How the UAE’s decision to leave Opec could recast the Middle East — The Guardian -
• Iraq’s Prime Minister-Designate Thrust Into U.S.-Iran Power Struggle — New York Times World -
• No 10 dismisses Reeves’s reported plan for freeze on private rents — The Guardian -
• Met investigating suspected arson attack on north London memorial wall — The Guardian -
• UAE Says It Will Leave OPEC as Iran War Strains Oil Markets — New York Times World -
• US gas prices surge to highest level in four years, averaging $4.15 a gallon — The Guardian -
• Palestine Action ban created ‘culture of fear’, UK appeal court hears — The Guardian -
• In Iran, Cheetah Sightings Offer Rare Spots of Hope Amid War — New York Times World -
• United Arab Emirates to quit oil cartel Opec — BBC World -
• Hezbollah drone strikes target Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon — The Guardian -
• UAE quits Opec in win for Trump as oil cartel weakened — The Guardian -
• First Fully Loaded L.N.G. Tanker Since War Began Appears to Have Crossed the Strait — New York Times World -
• Russian oligarch’s superyacht allowed through strait of Hormuz, source says — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the U.S.-Iran Peace Talks — New York Times World -
• Europe’s smaller airports ‘under threat’ if fuel shortages cause many cancellations — The Guardian -
• Luxury Yacht Linked to Russian Oligarch Passes Through Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Russian superyacht sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade — BBC World -
• Russian superyacht sails through Strait of Hormuz despite blockade — BBC World -
• BP profits more than double as oil prices soar in Iran war — The Guardian -
• Middle East crisis could cost world $1tn while oil firms make ‘obscene’ profit, analysis finds — The Guardian -
• JD Vance’s key role in Iran talks presents him with a thorny predicament — The Guardian -
• Fuel Crisis Creates Commuter Crush in the Philippines — New York Times World -
• Lebanon accuses Israel of committing ‘ecocide’ in country since 2023 — The Guardian -
• The Art of the Nuclear Deal — New York Times World -
• Israel’s direction poses ‘existential threat’ to Judaism, UK’s leading progressive rabbis warn — The Guardian -

The Trump administration faces legal challenges with former FBI Director Comey charged with threatening the President and a suspect in the White House press dinner shooting facing assassination charges, while policy decisions on wind energy and EPA science draw scrutiny amid ongoing debates about political violence and media criticism.

• Comey charged with threatening Trump's life in Instagram post — BBC World -
• Justice department claims Comey made ‘threat to kill’ Trump as it announces charges against former FBI director – live — The Guardian -
• Trump administration blocks US wind energy projects in switch to oil and gas — The Guardian -

• The E.P.A.’s Lost Science — New York Times World -
• US regulator to review Disney broadcast licences after Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania Trump — BBC World -
• US to issue ‘America250’ passports featuring Donald Trump’s image — The Guardian -
• Former Fauci aide charged with concealing Covid records — The Guardian -
• FCC orders review of ABC licenses after Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania Trump joke — The Guardian -
• Justice department files new criminal charges against ex-FBI director Comey — The Guardian -
• 'It's bizarre': Californians grapple with revelation that suspected Trump gunman was neighbour — BBC World -
• GM expecting $500m Trump tariff refund, boosting its 2026 earnings outlook — The Guardian -
• Federal agents again target Minnesota amid alleged fraud crackdown at daycares — The Guardian -
• US tells embassies to deny visas to applicants who say they fear return to home country — The Guardian -
• Jimmy Kimmel rejects White House criticism over Melania widow joke — BBC World -
• John Hinckley Jr calls Trump shooting at same hotel he shot Reagan ‘spooky’ — The Guardian -
• Journalist Katie Phang sues acting attorney general Todd Blanche over Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Trump’s attempt to crush clean energy progress not going to plan, experts say — The Guardian -
• First Thing: White House dinner suspect charged with attempted assassination — The Guardian -
• Press dinner shooting conspiracy theories spread in era of fractured politics — The Guardian -
• George Clooney condemns Washington shooting and calls on citizens to ‘truly make America great again’ — The Guardian -
• Jimmy Kimmel defends Melania ‘widow’ joke after the Trumps call for him to be fired — The Guardian -
• Inside Trump press dinner shooting suspect's court appearance — BBC World -
• Trump fires independent board overseeing National Science Foundation — The Guardian -
• FBI affidavit quotes White House press dinner shooting suspect expressing rage at ‘a pedophile, rapist and traitor’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Suspect charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at press dinner — The Guardian -
• What we're learning about suspected Washington press dinner gunman — BBC World -
• Suspect charged with attempted assassination of Trump at Washington dinner — BBC World -
• Suspect charged with attempted assassination of Trump at Washington dinner — BBC World -
• US political violence generates a familiar cycle - this time it's in overdrive — BBC World -
• US political violence generates a familiar cycle - this time it's in overdrive — BBC World -

Key political debates in the UK involve Prime Minister Starmer avoiding an inquiry into Peter Mandelson's vetting and No 10 dismissing plans for a private rent freeze, while the country faces demographic shifts with projected deaths outnumbering births and ongoing discussions about social media limits and the future of media freedom.

• Teaching in classes grouped by ability does not hamper progress of less able pupils, study finds — The Guardian -
• Deaths projected to outnumber births in UK every year from 2026 — The Guardian -
• Starmer sees off major Labour rebellion over call for Mandelson inquiry — The Guardian -

• No 10 dismisses Reeves’s reported plan for freeze on private rents — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Starmer avoids privileges committee inquiry into vetting of Peter Mandelson – as it happened — The Guardian -
• America has special relationship with Israel now, UK’s new US ambassador says — The Guardian -
• Singing activists disrupt NatWest meeting over ‘climate backtracking’ — The Guardian -
• McSweeney admits pressuring Foreign Office to expedite Mandelson role — The Guardian -
• Man who heckled Shabana Mahmood dismisses ‘laughable’ white liberal claim — The Guardian -
• Barclays cuts back risky lending after £228m hit from UK mortgage firm MFS — The Guardian -
• Shares in buy-to-let mortgage lenders fall after report Reeves plans rent freeze — The Guardian -
• Ministers open-minded on shape of UK social media limits, Phillipson says — The Guardian -
• Calls for ‘student premium’ to support disadvantaged young people after GCSEs — The Guardian -
• Tuesday briefing: Can a deeply divided UK agree on an assisted dying bill? — The Guardian -
• Media freedom ‘under sustained attack’ across EU as public trust drops, report finds — The Guardian -
• Welsh Labour faces ‘existential’ change as party braces for May election defeat — The Guardian -
• Victorian Society publishes list of most endangered buildings in England and Wales — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules buffer should be ‘significantly larger’, say peers — The Guardian -

King Charles's state visit to the US, hosted by President Trump, involved speeches praising NATO and the UK-US "special relationship", though it also highlighted public disinterest and criticism regarding meetings with Epstein abuse survivors.

• King Charles praises Nato and urges defence of Ukraine in key speech during Trump visit — The Guardian -
• The British public have taken a dim view of the king’s visit. — New York Times World -
• Trump hails ‘special relationship’ during ceremonial welcome for King Charles’s state visit — The Guardian -

• Virginia Giuffre’s brother criticizes King Charles III for not meeting survivors of Epstein abuse — The Guardian -
• What to Know About King Charles and Queen Camilla’s U.S. State Visit Hosted by Trump — New York Times World -
• UK and US always find ways to come together, King Charles to tell Congress — The Guardian -
• 8 Memorable Moments From Past British Royal Visits to the U.S. — New York Times World -

Global security concerns include Russia's Africa Corps claims of preventing a coup in Mali, escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, alongside a resurgence of Somali piracy and a US-brokered prisoner swap between Belarus and Poland.

• Watch: Elderly woman rescued by robot from Ukraine's frontline — BBC World -
• Prisoner Swap Between Belarus, Poland and Other Nations Frees 10 — New York Times World -
• Russia claims its Africa Corps group prevented coup in Mali after rebels seize towns — The Guardian -

• Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Artillery Strike on a University — New York Times World -
• What next for Mali's junta after shock of rebel offensive? — BBC World -
• Fears of resurgence in Somali piracy after three vessels hijacked in a week — The Guardian -
• IS says it was behind deadly Nigeria attack on football pitch — BBC World -
• Journalist Andrzej Poczobut freed as part of US-brokered Polish-Belarusian prisoner swap – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Third Ukrainian strike hits Russian oil refinery and prompts evacuations — BBC World -
• Journalist Andrzej Poczobut freed from prison in Belarus in US-brokered swap deal — The Guardian -
• Ukraine accuses Israel of receiving shipments of grain 'stolen' by Russia — BBC World -
• Internet Restrictions Spur Russians to Openly Question Putin’s Moves — New York Times World -
• Taking power in Mali might be a stretch but insurgents can force hand of weakened regime — The Guardian -
• Sudan paramilitary leaders acquired £17.7m property portfolio in Dubai, investigation reveals — The Guardian -
• IS says it was behind deadly Nigeria attack on football pitch — BBC World -

Major crime news includes an arrest in a 30-year-old cold case murder in the US, Mexican officials investigating a cartel raid where CIA officers died, and the conviction of ex-actor Nathan Chasing Horse for sexual assault, alongside arrests of Buddhist monks for drug trafficking in Sri Lanka and a controversy over dirty gold at US and Canadian mints.

• Man arrested in ‘one of most heinous, notorious cold cases’ more than 30 years after mother’s murder — The Guardian -
• Dirty Gold — New York Times World -
• Mexico Says 4 Foreigners Were at Cartel Raid Where 2 C.I.A. Officers Died — New York Times World -

• How Drug Cartel Gold Ends Up at the U.S. Mint — New York Times World -
• 89-year-old man arrested over Athens double shooting — The Guardian -
• US soldier pleads not guilty to charges of betting on Nicolás Maduro’s ouster — The Guardian -
• Ex-TV showgirl's pardon at centre of widening Italian scandal — BBC World -
• Sri Lanka Arrests 22 Monks After 240 Pounds of Cannabis Found in Luggage — New York Times World -
• How We Traced U.S. Government Gold to a Drug Cartel — New York Times World -
• Ex-actor Nathan Chasing Horse jailed for at least 37 years for sexual assault — BBC World -
• Suspected gunman aged 89 held in Greece after five wounded — BBC World -
• Suspected gunman aged 89 held in Greece after five wounded — BBC World -
• Sri Lanka police arrest 22 Buddhist monks after 110kg of cannabis found in luggage — The Guardian -
• Beekeeper jailed after releasing insects on authorities trying to evict her friend — The Guardian -
• Mexican special forces arrest top commander of cartel and his alleged money launderer — The Guardian -
• Ron Paul Saw The U.S. Mint’s Gold Problems Coming — New York Times World -
• Nathan Chasing Horse sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault — The Guardian -

The tech world is abuzz with the Elon Musk v OpenAI trial beginning and Google signing a classified AI deal with the US Pentagon, while South Korea utilizes AI for elder care and Japan Airlines trials humanoid robots as ground handlers.

• Musk says basis of charitable giving at stake in OpenAI lawsuit — BBC World -
• Google reportedly signs classified AI deal with US Pentagon — The Guardian -
• Opening arguments begin in Elon Musk and Sam Altman courtroom showdown — The Guardian -

• The personal pettiness of the Elon Musk v OpenAI trial — The Guardian -
• How South Korea Uses A.I. to Check on Its Elderly — New York Times World -
• Japan Airlines trials humanoid robots as ground handlers — BBC World -
• Humanoid robots to become baggage handlers in Japan airport experiment — The Guardian -

Australia faces domestic challenges including debates over Indigenous welfare for flood evacuees and criticism of federal inaction on victim-survivor rights, while political polls show shifting leadership approval and the Aukus nuclear submarine plan faces UK funding concerns.

• Australia news live: $1.5m boost for EV network; markets braced for inflation shock — The Guardian -
• Evacuees from flooded remote Indigenous areas in NT housed in compound likened to ‘a prison camp’ — The Guardian -
• Brittany Higgins criticises federal inaction as Victoria moves to protect victim-survivors’ counselling records — The Guardian -

• Guardian Essential poll: more Australians approve of Hanson’s party leadership than Albanese or Taylor’s — The Guardian -
• Northern Beaches hospital handed to NSW government, ending troubled public-private partnership — The Guardian -
• ‘Culture of misogyny’: teacher surrounded by hundreds of students and pelted with food at elite Brisbane boys’ school, court told — The Guardian -
• What happened when Rebel Wilson gave evidence in court? — BBC World -
• Adelaide writers’ week sacrificed to save city’s prestigious arts festival, documents show — The Guardian -
• ‘Shortcomings and failures’ could sink Aukus nuclear submarines plan, UK inquiry warns — The Guardian -
• Author of novel depicting toddler role-play spared jail after being convicted of writing child abuse material — The Guardian -
• Shadow minister says Australia ‘ill-prepared’ for conflict – as it happened — The Guardian -
• After blows to his anti-protest laws, Minns considers retreat from ‘globalise the intifada’ ban — The Guardian -
• Tech giants face new levy to pay for Australian news as Meta calls position ‘simply wrong’ — The Guardian -
• Rebel Wilson tells defamation trial she was not behind websites that attacked producer — The Guardian -
• David Brat, Ayn Rand expert who once argued Christianity and capitalism should merge, named as US ambassador to Australia — The Guardian -

Diverse social and cultural news includes European Parliament's push for a consent-based definition of rape, Cuban citizens seeking compensation for seized properties, a successful rescue attempt of a stranded whale in Germany, and reports on a foiled attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.

• Beverley Martyn, spirited British folk singer, dies aged 79 — The Guardian -
• European parliament urges EU to draw up standardised consent-based definition of rape — The Guardian -
• They Lost Their Homes in Cuba to the Communist Government. Will They Ever Get Them Back? — New York Times World -

• Teen mariachi trio detained by ICE to open for Kacey Musgraves in Texas — The Guardian -
• Stranded whale Timmy swims on to barge in German rescue attempt — The Guardian -
• Indian billionaire's son offers to save Escobar's hippos — BBC World -
• Man Pleads Guilty to Planning Attack at Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna — New York Times World -
• Austrian man pleads guilty to plotting attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna — The Guardian -
• Antiquities dealer who exposed thefts at British Museum dies aged 61 — The Guardian -
• Michael smashes UK records for biggest biopic opening — The Guardian -
• 'I jumped around the house': Sabastian Sawe's parents celebrate marathon record — BBC World -
• Man admits plotting attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna — BBC World -
• Man admits plotting attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna — BBC World -
• ‘Protected for another century’: experts lift 15-tonne foremast from HMS Victory — The Guardian -
• Raghu Rai, Photographer Who Captured Modern India, Dies at 83 — New York Times World -
• Baby on board: US woman gives birth on Delta flight — The Guardian -
• Canada’s New Route to Citizenship Has Thousands of Americans Lining Up to Apply — New York Times World -

Global economic and business news highlights Canada's projected economic growth and deficit reduction, concerns that Deloitte and Zoom's reduced parental leave benefits may hurt them long-term, and US activists planning a May Day economic blackout.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney Says Canada’s Economy Is Expected to Grow and Deficit to Fall — New York Times World -
• Deloitte and Zoom’s trims to parental-leave benefits may hurt them in long run, experts say — The Guardian -
• US activists plan May Day economic blackout: ‘No school, no work, no shopping’ — The Guardian -

Major infrastructure and accident news includes Australia's boost for its EV network, a path cleared for Everest climbers after a massive ice block, and fatal train collisions in Indonesia prompting urgent rescue efforts, while Mexico City's airport prepares for the World Cup.

• Australia news live: $1.5m boost for EV network; markets braced for inflation shock — The Guardian -
• Path cleared for Everest climbers after huge ice block — BBC World -
• One year after Spain’s blackout, its shift to renewables and grid evolution power on — The Guardian -

• Will Mexico City's airport be ready for the World Cup? — BBC World -
• BBC reports from scene of fatal Indonesia train crash — BBC World -
• Trains Collide in Indonesia, Killing at Least 14 and Injuring Dozens — New York Times World -
• Rescuers race to free survivors trapped inside train after fatal Indonesia crash — BBC World -
• Rescuers race to free survivors trapped inside train after fatal Indonesia crash — BBC World -
• Train collision in Indonesia kills 14 as rescuers work to reach survivors — The Guardian -