With just six months before mid-term elections in which Trump’s Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are riding high in public opinion polls
International News via Reuters:
The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of the military’s price tag for the conflict.
With just six months before mid-term elections in which Trump’s Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are riding high in public opinion polls as they attempt to link the unpopular Iran war with affordability.
Jules Hurst, who is performing the duties of the comptroller, told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee that most of that money was for munitions.
Hurst did not detail what that cost estimate included and whether it took into account the projected costs of rebuilding and repairing base infrastructure in the Middle East damaged in the conflict.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, responded to Hurst: “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number.”
The United States started carrying out strikes against Iran on Feb.28 and the two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire. The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East, including keeping three aircraft carriers in the region.
Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict and hundreds wounded.
Disruptions in shipments of oil and natural gas since the war started have caused a run-up in U.S. gasoline prices and agricultural products such as fertilizers, on top of the long list of other high consumer prices.
Trump’s popularity has taken a beating since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28 that has led to a surge in gasoline prices.
Just 34% of Americans approve of the U.S. conflict with Iran, down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Ismail Shakil; editing by Michelle Nichols and Caitlin Webber
The royal visit to lower Manhattan came at a time of tensions between Britain and the U.S., with President Donald Trump having criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer
International News via Reuters:
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla commemorated victims of the September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attack on New York City on Wednesday, laying a floral bouquet at the memorial where the World Trade Center’s twin towers once stood.
The royal visit to lower Manhattan came at a time of tensions between Britain and the U.S., with President Donald Trump having criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the UK to declining to join the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
Michael Bloomberg, a former New York City mayor, walked the king and queen to one of the reflecting pools that outline the footprints of the 110-story towers destroyed when al Qaeda militants flew two planes into the skyscrapers.
Charles laid a bouquet of white lilacs, daffodils and peonies on the bronze parapet surrounding the pool, engraved with the names of those killed in the attack.
‘SOLIDARITY’
A note accompanying the flowers, in the king’s handwriting, read: “We honour the memory of all those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001, and stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of such profound loss. Charles R Camilla R.”
The three stood silently before heading into a canopy to meet with guests including relatives of some of the nearly 2,800 people killed in New York that day.
The king also spoke with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the ceremony and met the governors of New York and New Jersey.
Britain was an immediate and staunch supporter of the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks, which also included a plane crashed into the Pentagon and another downed in a Pennsylvania field by passengers who battled hijackers, launching a years-long “war on terror.” King Charles referred to September 11 during his speech to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, saying “we answered the call together.”
Charles stressed the historical military and cultural ties between Britain and the U.S., as well as the importance of NATO at a time when Trump has been critical of the Western military alliance’s reluctance to provide military assistance in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
IRAN TENSIONS
At a White House state dinner on Tuesday night, Trump said Charles agreed with him that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. The king is not a spokesman for the UK government and it could not be confirmed that Charles made the statement to Trump.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Wednesday that “The King is naturally mindful of his government’s longstanding and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”
Britain was one of the countries alongside the U.S. that negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which sharply limited Tehran’s nuclear programs and opened them to inspectors, until Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first White House term.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.
CHICKENS IN HARLEM
The royal couple’s four-day state visit to the U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of America’s declaration of independence from British rule.
After the 9/11 memorial, King Charles fed chickens and spoke with young children in Harlem during a visit to a grassroots community group that created a sustainable after-school urban farming initiative to combat food insecurity. Such projects have been a passion of the king for decades.
“Do you like eggs?” Charles asked with a smile, leaning down to hear a child’s soft response.
One employee asked Charles if he would like to feed the chickens.
“Yes please,” the king responded.
Meanwhile, Camilla greeted another group of children at a New York Public Library event celebrating the 100th birthday of A.A. Milne’s fictional character Winnie-the-Pooh on behalf of her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room.
The queen’s library visit will include 100 guests from the British and U.S. literary, cultural and publishing worlds, the palace said. Camilla will then meet with representatives of domestic violence charities in the area.
Reporting by Jonathan Allen, Tim Reid and Maria Tsvetkova, Additonal reporting by Michael Holden in London; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Tim Reid; Editing by Scott Malone, Lincoln Feast, Keith Weir, Chris Reese, Alistair Bell and Nick Zieminski
At a press conference today, Curtis Dickinson announced his bid to lead the PLP
Curtis Dickinson has officially declared his candidacy for leadership of the Progressive Labour Party.
He says he is entering the race because he believes he is “prepared to lead with clarity, discipline and purpose”.
Mr Dickinson described his vision for the party as “simple but powerful” – a united PLP, a trusted government, and a Bermuda that is not only stable but full of opportunity.
He added that the next general election will not be won on history alone, but on voters’ confidence in leadership, direction, and readiness to govern.
Mr. Dickinson thanked Premier David Burt for his service and acknowledged fellow candidate Jason Hayward, saying his decision to run is “a sign of a healthy party …one that is thinking about its future”.
The former finance minister also pointed to his experience, noting he was entrusted with guiding the country through crisis during his time in the post.
He said his qualifications for leadership include disciplined and thoughtful decision-making, an unwavering commitment to integrity, and an ambitious vision for the country’s future.
Media were limited to one question each during the announcement.
The former Finance Minister came up short when he challenged David Burt for the party leadership in October 2022.
Mr Dickinson claimed just over a third of the ballot, with PLP MPs and delegates voting 97 to 56 in favour of the Premier.
Before the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran at the end of February, attacks globally on such facilities and staff averaged about 3.7 per day, but that has now increased to 4.3, the WHO said
International News via Reuters:
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that attacks on healthcare facilities and staff are increasing globally, with a notable uptick recorded since the recent conflict in the Middle East began.
Before the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran at the end of February, attacks globally on such facilities and staff averaged about 3.7 per day, but that has now increased to 4.3, the WHO said.
“This is clearly showing that healthcare is the target,” Altaf Musani, the Director of Emergency Health Interventions at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva.
The attacks include airstrikes and shelling of hospitals and clinics as well as arrests and intimidation of healthcare workers.
“When healthcare is needed most, it is being attacked… These attacks are having a deep impact on functionality,” Musani said.
Since the recent conflict in the Middle East began, 50 hospitals and private healthcare centres have been closed and 16 hospitals have been damaged across the region, according to the WHO.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has repeatedly denounced the attacks and has called for accountability, highlighted the case of Lebanon where 149 attacks on healthcare have been identified.
More than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon since March 2, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired on Israeli positions and triggered a retaliatory Israeli air and ground campaign. The United Nations Human Rights office said last month that Israeli strikes on civilians including healthcare workers in Lebanon may amount to war crimes.
Israel has repeatedly denied that it targets healthcare workers and says it is targeting Hezbollah sites.
There have also been 26 reported attacks on healthcare sites in Iran since the end of February, Ghebreyesus added.
Attacks on healthcare sites have also deeply impacted healthcare provision in Gaza, which currently has only one fully functioning hospital, and in Sudan, where only 54% of hospitals are fully operational, the WHO said.
Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Hugh Lawson
Police said the two victims, one in his 70s and one in his 30s, were both in a stable condition in hospital
International News via Reuters:
Two Jewish men were stabbed in north London on Wednesday by an attacker who ran down a street targeting Jews in what police said was being treated as a terrorist incident.
Police said the two victims, one in his 70s and one in his 30s, were both in a stable condition in hospital, and officers, some of whom were also attacked, had arrested a 45-year-old man after stopping him by using a Taser stun gun.
The latest in a spate of UK antisemitic attacks has drawn demands for urgent action from Jewish community leaders in London and from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli president amid concerns about the safety of Britain’s 290,000 Jews.
The suspect, who is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder, had a history of serious violence and mental health issues, London’s police chief Mark Rowley said in a statement at the scene.
More resources have been promised across the country to protect communities, but in a sign of the anger and fear, Rowley was heckled by a crowd at the scene who called for him to resign, shouting “you’ve failed”.
ISRAEL’S PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ACTION
Unverified footage of Wednesday’s incident posted on social media appeared to show a man in a traditional Jewish skullcap being attacked by an assailant with a knife as he stood at a bus stop.
The suspect had tried to stab police officers, police said, although none were injured. The social media footage later showed officers repeatedly kicking the suspect as they attempted to take the knife away from him.
The stabbings follow a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in recent weeks in the capital, while last October two people and an attacker were killed after a man drove at a synagogue in the northern English city of Manchester.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the British government needed more than just words to face down such “hatred”, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog said urgent action was needed after it became “dangerous to openly walk the streets as a Jew” in London.
Starmer, whose government has previously promised extra funding to boost security for Jewish communities, said: “The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling”.
A spokesperson for King Charles said the monarch was “being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community”.
‘UNDERSTANDABLE WHY JEWISH LONDONERS FEEL AFRAID’
Rowley said he would discuss with the government what more help could be made available.
“It is completely understandable why Jewish Londoners feel afraid. Jewish communities are understandably angry. There’s been too many attacks,” he said.
Detectives are examining whether the arson incidents over the last month have possible Iranian links, amid warnings from security officials that Iran has sought to use criminal proxies to carry out hostile activity in the UK.
On Tuesday, Britain summoned the Iranian ambassador over what it called the Iranian embassy’s “unacceptable and inflammatory” comments on social media.
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI), which has said it was behind some of the London arson attacks and other similar ones across Europe, claimed responsibility on social media for Wednesday’s stabbings.
Police have previously said they were assessing such online claims but have not confirmed their authenticity.
“We know that some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organisations and hostile states,” Rowley said.
SPATE OF ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS
Over the last month, officers have arrested more than two dozen people as part of investigations into attacks on Jewish-linked premises, including the torching of Jewish ambulances, in an area close to where Wednesday’s stabbings took place, and attempted arson attacks on synagogues.
Golders Green in north London is home to a large Jewish population and has been the location of several of the attacks, along with sites near to the Israeli embassy in west London.
Antisemitic attacks have risen around the world since the October 2023 Hamas assault on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza, including a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach that killed 15 people in December last year.
Britain has seen a similar rise and since the Manchester attack in England, Jewish communities have stepped up their private security.
Reporting by Sarah Young, Sam Tabahriti and Michael Holden; Additional reporting by Muvija M; Editing by William James, Kate Holton and Alison Williams
U.S. government data showed a bigger weekly draw in crude inventories than expected, which also put upward pressure on U.S. crude
International News via Reuters:
Oil prices rose more than 6% on Wednesday to the highest in nearly a month, as deadlocked U.S.-Iran negotiations made investors more concerned about prolonged disruptions to Middle Eastern supply.
U.S. government data showed a bigger weekly draw in crude inventories than expected, which also put upward pressure on U.S. crude.
Brent crude futures for June rose $7.07, or 6.4%, to $118.33 a barrel by 12:08 a.m. ET, climbing for an eighth day to the highest level since March 31. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for June rose $6.34, or 6.3%, to $105.19 a barrel, the highest since April 13.
A White House official said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked U.S. oil companies about ways to mitigate the impact of a potentially months-long U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, adding to concerns that disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supply could be prolonged.
Over $50 billion worth of crude oil supply had been lost since the start of the Iran war, according to Reuters calculations as of mid-April.
“If Trump is prepared to extend the blockade, supply disruptions would worsen further and continue to push oil prices higher,” said Haitong Futures analyst Yang An.
Signs of tightening supply have started to show in the United States. Energy Information Administration data showed U.S. crude stocks fell over 6 million barrels last week, versus analysts’ estimate of just over 200,000 barrels. [EIA/S]
Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has notified some customers they could load two crude grades outside of the Gulf next month because the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, according to two people with knowledge of the matter and a notice seen by Reuters.
INVESTORS ASSESS UAE LEAVING OPEC
Investors were also assessing ramifications of the United Arab Emirates’ decision to quit OPEC, though analysts did not expect any major near-term impact on the market.
“Producers in the region will continue to bring whatever they can to market, and production limits are not, in practice, constraining output currently,” said Investec head of commodities Callum Macpherson.
“Looking further ahead, it is well known that there has been tension over the UAE’s production limits, and the possibility of leaving OPEC+ has been there for some time. In that sense, the move is not surprising, but the timing is notable given the wider backdrop in the region.”
Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in London, Sam Li in Beijing and Siyi Liu in SingaporeEditing by David Goodman, David Gregorio and Chris Reese
The U.N. has warned it was nearing effective bankruptcy, driven largely by delayed or withheld contributions from major donors, with the United States — its largest funder — frequently in arrears
International News via Reuters:
The United Nations is facing a critical moment with its financial sustainability under threat and it should do “less with less”, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan said on Wednesday, as she campaigns to become the next U.N. secretary‑general.
The U.N. has warned it was nearing effective bankruptcy, driven largely by delayed or withheld contributions from major donors, with the United States — its largest funder — frequently in arrears.
“I think that we are in a very difficult moment,” Grynspan, a former Costa Rican Vice President, told Reuters and Bloomberg in an interview in Paris, as she campaigns in countries sitting on the U.N. Security Council.
She warned that uncertainty over member state payments was crippling the organisation’s ability to plan: “I think that the financial sustainability of the budget of the U.N. is at stake.”
“I don’t think we should do more with less. I think that we have to do less with less – and focus more,” she said.
Four candidates are vying to succeed Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres from the start of next year, with the winner inheriting an organisation whose stature has diminished amid great‑power rivalry and U.S. criticism of multilateralism.
An economist born to parents who fled Europe after World War Two and the current head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Grynspan, 70, said the U.N. had been absent from too many conflicts and should be willing to take more risks by proposing mediation more often, even if it is initially rejected.
She also said the organisation should partner more with non‑governmental groups and the private sector and act more as an “enabler.”
“Not everything has to happen within the U.N.,” she said.
Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump, a fierce critic of the U.N., she said the organisation should be “less defensive” in the face of criticism.
“I will take from what Donald Trump said in the General Assembly the phrase that he said: The U.N. has potential, but it’s not living up to the potential,” she said.
On whether the organisation faces an existential crisis, Grynspan struck a note of guarded optimism.
“If it’s a life or death moment for the U.N., I have my doubts,” she said. “Most of it comes from the conviction that the world is better with the U.N. than without it. I am running because I believe in the charter, I believe in the principles of the U.N.”
Cardiff City are confident of securing goalkeeper Nathan Trott on a permanent basis following a standout season that propelled the club back into the Championship.
The 27-year-old, who arrived on loan from Copenhagen last summer, has been a cornerstone of the Bluebirds’ promotion charge, appearing in 41 League One fixtures. Cardiff secured an instant return to the second tier with three games to spare, and they now look set to trigger a £1.5 million purchase clause embedded in his initial loan agreement.
Trott’s impact in South Wales has extended far beyond traditional shot-stopping. His comfort on the ball proved pivotal for head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, allowing Cardiff to implement an expansive, possession-based style that has dismantled League One opposition this term.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him a nomination for the club’s Player of the Season award. While Trott remains under contract with Copenhagen until 2028, it is understood that positive talks have already taken place with the former England youth international regarding a long-term future at the Cardiff City Stadium.
With promotion estimated to be worth an immediate uplift of between £7 million and £10 million, securing Trott would represent a significant first piece of business as Cardiff prepare for the physical and tactical demands of the Championship.
The Bluebirds will look to cap off their successful campaign when they travel to Mansfield Town for their final League One fixture this Saturday.
The curtain has fallen on a remarkable collegiate chapter for Bermudian tennis standout Alexcie Burrows, as her career reached its conclusion at the 2026 CIAA Women’s Tennis Championships. In a poignant final outing, Burrows shared the courts with fellow Bermudians Airez Gilbert-Simons and Nadhira Durham, underscoring the island’s growing influence in the U.S. collegiate system.
For Burrows, the journey at Virginia State University was nothing short of transformative. Having first joined the program as a team manager, she defied the odds to earn a roster spot, eventually rising to become team captain. Her final act as a Trojan was marked by the Coach’s Choice Award for 2026, a fitting addition to a mantle that already includes a Northern Division Championship and three All-Conference selections.
Reflecting on her tenure, Burrows described herself as a “girl from a small island” blessed with an opportunity that evolved beyond her wildest expectations.
“Tennis taught me about growth, discipline, and believing in myself when I didn’t fully see it,” she shared.
Her legacy extends far beyond the baseline. A high-honour student-athlete, Burrows balanced elite academic standards with a playing career that saw her named Most Improved in 2024 and MVP in 2025. As she walks away from the university ranks, she does so as a blueprint for Caribbean athletes, proving that with patience and persistence, a managerial role can indeed turn into a captaincy.
The National Sports Centre was the stage for a masterclass in youth athletics this week as Saltus Grammar School claimed the overall title at the 2026 Middle School Track and Field Championships. Amassing a combined 591.50 points, Saltus demonstrated a level of depth that left the chasing pack in their wake, fending off a resilient Whitney Institute Middle School and Warwick Academy.
While Saltus powered to the Female Team Division title, it was Whitney Institute who broke the clean sweep, showcasing their own athletic prowess to secure the Male Team Division crown.
The high-octane atmosphere was defined by two historic, record-breaking runs. In the Under 13 Girls 1500 Metres, Colette Durkin of Warwick Academy etched her name into the history books, clocking a record 5:09.67 in a breathtaking finish. Not to be outdone, the Saltus Over 13 Girls 4×100 Metre relay team shattered the previous mark, stopping the clock at a blistering 51.97 seconds.
Individual brilliance was equally evident, with Jasmine Reid-Rubaine and Xander Romeo both securing perfect 30-point scores in their respective divisions. As the curtain falls on the 2026 championships, the record-breaking times and exceptional point tallies serve as a vivid reminder of the burgeoning talent currently rising through the Bermudian school system.
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