US administration

US intelligence assessments indicate Saudi Arabia has kept the option of developing nuclear weapons on the table, while senators in Congress are moving to block or constrain a nuclear deal with Riyadh backed by Donald Trump. Critics argue the agreement lacks safeguards against Saudi enrichment, and the intelligence finding is intensifying bipartisan concern over arms proliferation in the Gulf region.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has taken aim at the world's major powers, telling them their influence is weaker than they assume, in remarks widely read as a criticism of Donald Trump. The comment, reported under the phrase 'their power isn't so super', has drawn large attention as observers weigh whether the UN chief was openly challenging the US administration's approach to global affairs.

US aviation authorities briefly halted flights at several busy East Coast airports after a cut fiber optic line disrupted communications. The Federal Aviation Administration paused departures and arrivals while crews worked to restore the connection, causing delays across major hubs. Travelers reported grounded flights and long waits, and the incident has renewed questions about the fragility of the air traffic control system's infrastructure.

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft's software stack built on NixOS, a Linux distribution known for its reproducible configuration approach. The project, presented through the Dawo community platform, reflects growing interest among European public administrations in reducing dependence on US technology vendors and gaining control over their own digital infrastructure.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against the bulk of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, invalidating most of the trade duties his administration put in place. The decision represents a major legal setback for the president's trade policy and removes a central pillar of his economic agenda. Details of the ruling's reasoning and next steps are still emerging.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering restricting or banning diesel fuel exports from the United States, a move that would affect energy markets and allied countries reliant on American refined products. Discussion is focused on how such a restriction could raise domestic fuel prices for consumers while straining supply relationships abroad.

The Trump administration is preparing new sanctions against the International Criminal Court as part of an escalated effort to undermine the tribunal, according to the Wall Street Journal. The measures would target court officials and operations, intensifying a long-running dispute over the ICC's investigations involving the United States and its allies, including probes related to Israel. Critics say the move threatens international justice, while supporters back it as defending US sovereignty.

Donald Trump announced that his administration is rolling back fuel economy standards for cars introduced under Joe Biden. The rules required automakers to improve average vehicle efficiency in the coming years. The rollback is expected to please car manufacturers but draw criticism from climate advocates, as weaker standards typically mean higher fuel consumption and emissions across the US vehicle fleet.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing pointed criticism from Democrats and resistance from some Republicans over the US conflict with Iran and his dismissals of senior Pentagon officials. The disputes center on the administration's Iran strategy and concerns about the removals of top defense leadership, making the Pentagon chief a focal point of congressional tension.

Major US television networks are set to resume covering President Trump after the White House TV pool went dark during a standoff between the administration and CNN, which the White House has excluded from coverage arrangements. Network leaders concluded that an indefinite suspension of pooled coverage would be untenable, even as CNN remains shut out, prompting debate over press access and the precedent of penalising a single outlet.

President Trump is preparing to reverse fuel economy standards for cars put in place under the Biden administration. The move would loosen emissions and mileage requirements for automakers, reversing one of the previous administration's key climate policies. Bloomberg reported the plan, which is expected to affect US vehicle efficiency rules and the broader auto industry's regulatory outlook.

The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting. The decision blocks efforts to impose limits on the use of mailed ballots, preserving broader access to absentee voting for now. The ruling touches one of the most contested issues in American election policy, following years of litigation over voting rules.

President Donald Trump says he has approved new fuel economy standards that roll back regulations put in place under the Biden administration. The move relaxes mileage requirements for US automakers, reversing one of the previous administration's key climate and emissions policies. The announcement is drawing attention for its impact on the auto industry, fuel costs, and US efforts to cut vehicle emissions.

The Trump administration is preparing to significantly weaken US clean car rules, the emissions and fuel-efficiency standards that govern how much pollution new vehicles may produce. The reported plan would roll back one of the country's core climate policies, with major implications for automakers, electric vehicle adoption, and US efforts to cut transportation emissions.

A US judge has ruled against the Trump administration's ban barring certain media outlets from White House access, overturning the restriction. The decision has drawn wide attention, with coverage focusing on press freedom implications and the legal limits of presidential control over media access. Supporters of the ruling frame it as a win for the First Amendment, while critics of judicial intervention are likely to contest it.

Scientists in Germany are preparing to copy and store vast troves of American climate data, fearing the Trump administration could alter, restrict, or remove federal climate records. The effort has been likened to building an ark, preserving scientific information outside the United States in case it becomes unavailable at home, and has drawn attention as researchers weigh risks to publicly funded datasets.

President Trump announced that his administration has ended an electric vehicle rule introduced under Joe Biden and has updated federal fuel economy standards. The move signals a continued rollback of Biden-era climate and emissions policies affecting automakers. Commentary is focused on what the changes mean for the US auto industry, consumers and the country's climate commitments.

Indian media is debating whether the US tariff file against India has stalled, with commentators crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomacy for a possible change in Washington's approach. The discussion centres on trade tensions between India and the Trump administration and whether New Delhi's negotiating efforts have softened the American position on tariffs.

The Trump administration is moving to cancel roughly $810 million in previously approved federal funding using a little-known budgetary maneuver called a 'pocket rescission'. The move is drawing attention because it tests the limits of presidential authority over money already appropriated by Congress, reviving debate over executive power and the separation of powers in US budget politics.

Iran has been pursuing an intensified diplomatic push while the Trump administration's new fuel standards have drawn attention, making both key stories in this week's political news roundup. The items are being covered together in a review of the week's main developments in US and international politics, alongside other political headlines.

President Trump announced new fuel economy standards that he says end the 'EV mandate,' rolling back requirements that pushed automakers toward electric vehicles. The move reverses stricter rules adopted under the Biden administration and gives manufacturers more flexibility to sell gasoline-powered cars. The announcement is drawing attention from the auto industry, environmental groups, and drivers watching how it will affect vehicle prices and EV adoption in the US.

Germany is creating a digital repository, described as a 'Noah's Ark', to back up American climate data amid fears the Trump administration could alter or delete federal scientific records. The initiative would safeguard datasets from US agencies so researchers worldwide can continue accessing them. Observers say the move reflects growing international concern about the reliability of US government climate science and a broader effort to protect open scientific data.

The Trump administration has approved lower fuel economy targets for US vehicles, moving away from stricter emissions standards set under President Biden. Trump criticised the previous rules as an 'EV mandate' that forced automakers toward electric vehicles. The decision is expected to ease pressure on carmakers while drawing criticism from environmental groups who argue it will increase emissions and slow the transition to cleaner transport.

A Maricopa County official spoke about how the county is working to address public mistrust in election security. The comments come as election offices across Arizona and the US continue facing skepticism about vote counting and administration. The official outlined measures being taken to reassure voters that elections in the county are run securely and transparently.

Moonshot AI, the Chinese artificial intelligence firm behind the Kimi models, is reportedly seeking access to additional Nvidia Blackwell chips. The report comes roughly a week after a Trump administration official flagged a potential breach of US export controls on advanced semiconductors. The case highlights ongoing tension between Washington's restrictions on cutting-edge chip exports to China and Chinese AI companies' demand for leading-edge hardware to train their models.

US President Donald Trump made comments addressing the war with Iran, his relationship with the media, and US policy toward Cuba. He criticised press coverage of his administration while defending his approach to the Iran conflict and repeating his hardline stance on the Cuban government. The remarks come as the Iran conflict remains a central focus of international attention.

Germany is creating a digital archive to preserve American climate data that researchers fear could be removed or altered under the Trump administration. The project, described as a digital Noah's Ark, would store US government climate datasets outside the United States. Scientists say safeguarding records on temperatures, emissions and extreme weather is vital for ongoing research, and the initiative reflects growing concern that federal climate information may no longer be reliably maintained.

Major US television networks are set to resume coverage of President Trump, even as the White House continues to leave CNN out of access. The exclusion of one major network while others return to covering the administration has drawn attention to questions about press access and how news organizations are handling coverage of the president. The New York Times reported the development.

The Trump administration is moving to lower federal fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, rolling back efficiency requirements that had been set to tighten over the coming years. Automakers and environmental groups are expected to clash over the change: manufacturers may welcome reduced compliance costs, while critics warn it will raise gasoline consumption and emissions. The move marks a significant shift in US vehicle policy.

Thirty-eight international organisations have backed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's sanctions regime targeting International Criminal Court officials and those assisting the court. The suit was originally filed by four US organisations, which argue the sanctions are unlawful. The broad international support highlights growing opposition to measures that critics say hinder war crimes accountability.

The Energy Department under President Trump is reportedly broadening its activities beyond the United States, adopting a more international posture. Details remain limited beyond the headline claim, but the report touches on how US energy policy and diplomacy are being projected abroad, a topic drawing attention given the administration's emphasis on energy production and exports.

Politico reports on growing friction between the Trump administration and Anthropic over the direction of US artificial intelligence policy. The president had pushed an aggressive agenda to accelerate AI development with minimal regulation, but Anthropic has emerged as a significant obstacle, pushing back on the administration's approach. The story is drawing wide attention and debate about the balance between innovation and AI safety.