Main points<\/p>\n
Katie Mellett – 3 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Charles and Camilla tell US \u2018thank you for the warmth of your welcome\u2019![\"From](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/75RJBRNVADGMR3L7REGI3B3TOQ.jpg\")
From right: first lady Melania Trump, president Donald Trump, King Charles and Queen Camilla watch a pass in review from a balcony of the White House during an arrival ceremony in Washington, April 28th, 2026. Photograph: Kenny Holston\/The New York Times<\/p>\n
King Charles and Queen Camilla said they have left a piece of their heart behind in the United States in a message to the nation\u2019s people.<\/p>\n
Their four-day state visit to the US ended on Thursday with an overwhelmingly positive response from president Donald Trump, who lifted tariffs on Scottish whisky.<\/p>\n
In a message posted to social media, the couple said: \u201cFarewell and thank you for the warmth of your welcome and the kind support you gave us throughout our first visit to the US as King and Queen, in this, your special anniversary year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe leave a piece of our (heart emoji) behind and take a little of yours back home with us. Until the next time\u2026 God Bless America.” – PA<\/p>\n
Katie Mellett – 18 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Iran war may cause food shortages in Africa, world\u2019s largest fertiliser firm says<\/p>\n
The Iran war could have \u201cdramatic consequences\u201d, causing food shortages and price rises in some of Africa\u2019s poorest and most vulnerable communities, the head of the world\u2019s largest fertiliser company has said.<\/p>\n
Svein Tore Holsether, the chief executive of Yara International, said world leaders needed to guard against soaring prices and shortages of fertiliser causing a de facto global auction that would leave the poorest countries, particularly in Africa, scrambling for supplies they could ill afford.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing we can do now is raise the alarm on what we are seeing right now \u2013 that there is a risk of a global auction on fertiliser that means it becomes unaffordable for those most vulnerable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfrica is actually quite well positioned to be a major food producer, not only for self-sufficiency, but even for exports to the rest of the world, but the reality is that they are massive food importers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we need to be aware in this part of the world of the potential consequences that if we get to a global auction on food, there will not be a famine in Europe \u2013 but we need to be aware of who we are taking the food away from.\u201d – Guardian<\/p>\n
Katie Mellett – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n
\u2018Let them play\u2019: Trump gives blessing for Iran to play in World Cup<\/p>\n
Donald Trump has given his blessing to Iran competing in the US during this summer\u2019s World Cup, stating: \u201cLet them play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s <\/a>participation in the finals has been uncertain since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the country on February 28th.<\/p>\n FIFA <\/a>president Gianni Infantino<\/a> has repeatedly insisted Iran would play as scheduled, with all three of their group games taking place in the US, and confirmed again at FIFA\u2019s Congress on Thursday that this would be the case.<\/p>\n Trump was asked about Infantino\u2019s comments in a media briefing later on Thursday, and said: \u201cWell if Gianni said it, I\u2019m okay.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino \u2013 that\u2019s a piece of work.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what would happen if Iran won, Trump replied: \u201cIf they win we\u2019ll have to worry about that. I\u2019m going to have to worry about that one.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he\u2019s a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, \u2018you do whatever you want\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can have them, you don\u2019t have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?\u201d<\/p>\n The reporter who posed the initial question said he had no idea.<\/p>\n Trump replied: \u201cIt would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Iran would face the US in the last 32 in Dallas if both teams finished second in their respective groups.<\/p>\n Trump has previously said it would be \u201cinappropriate\u201d for Iran to play \u201cfor their own life and safety\u201d. <\/a>– Reuters<\/p>\n Katie Mellett – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n US president hails \u2018incredible\u2019 blockade as oil prices surge<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump<\/a> said he was sticking with a naval blockade of Iranian ports amid concerns the vital Strait of Hormuz would not reopen anytime soon.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir economy is crashing, the blockade is incredible,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House. \u201cTheir economy is a disaster. So we\u2019ll see how long they hold out.\u201d<\/p>\n Oil prices steadied after surging on Thursday with little sign that Washington and Tehran were moving closer to an accord, as the US doubled down on a blockade and strident comments from Iran\u2019s new leader.<\/p>\n Brent futures initially rose to $126 a barrel \u2014 their highest level since the conflict began \u2014 before ending the session near $114. Early Friday, Brent for July delivery was trading at about $111 a barrel.<\/p>\n Traders are factoring in the possibility of a return to hostilities and a prolonged shutdown of the strait, which is crucial for global oil and gas flows but has been effectively shut since the US and Israel started the war <\/a>on February 28th.<\/p>\n Pump prices across parts of the US are also rising sharply, with the national average at fresh highs and retail petrol in California soaring above $6 a gallon. That\u2019s increasingly becoming a concern for Trump\u2019s Republican party heading into the midterm elections.<\/p>\n Katie Mellett – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n Trump administration says hostilities in Iran \u2018terminated\u2019 A US-Iran c<\/a>easefire that began in early April has \u201cterminated\u201d hostilities between the two sides for the purposes of \u200can approaching congressional war powers deadline, a senior official of Donald Trump\u2019<\/a>s administration said on Thursday.<\/p>\n The US president faced a deadline on \u200bFriday to end the Iran war or make the case to Congress for extending it, but the date was most likely to pass without altering the course of the war.<\/p>\n \u201cFor War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began \u200bon Saturday, February 28, have terminated,” said the official, describing the administration\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n There has been no exchange of fire between \u2060the US armed forces and Iran since a ceasefire began more than three weeks \u200cago, \u200cthe \u200bofficial added.<\/p>\n Earlier, analysts and congressional aides had said they expected Trump to notify Congress that he planned a 30-day extension or to disregard the \u2060deadline, with the administration arguing the ceasefire \u200bmarked an end to the conflict.<\/p>\n The 1973 law \u200ballows the president 60 days to wage military action before ending it, seeking authorisation from Congress \u200cor asking for a 30-day extension on \u200bgrounds of \u201cunavoidable military necessity\u201d for the safety of the armed forces.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MWGGGLH54SJWXHOMHFWUKQYG7I.jpg\")
A sign displays the price of unleaded petrol at a Shell gas station in Seattle, Washington state in the US.\u00a0Photograph: David Ryder\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3JLLK2LOFNXE653S5USYCS7GWE.jpg\")
US president Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington on Thursday. Photograph: Kenny Holston\/The New York Times<\/p>\n