Saturday, May 17, 2025

BIG Wrap

U.S. removes tariffs on UK steel and aluminum as Trump, Starmer announce deal

(BBC News) Donald Trump removes the 25% tariff on UK steel and aluminium, and immediately cuts the rate on most car exports from 27.5% to 10% The lower car rate applies to the first 100,000 vehicles exported from the UK to the US each year - 101,000 were exported last year In return, the UK government says it's removing the tariff on ethanol for US goods, and agrees "reciprocal market access on beef" UK PM Keir Starmer called...

Pakistan and India report more attacks

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Pakistan’s military says it has downed 25 Indian drones over its territory, while India says it thwarted a Pakistani drone and missile attack on its military. Heavy exchanges of artillery fire have been reported along the Line of Control dividing India and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India says at least 13 people have been killed and more wounded in Indian-administered Kashmir due to Pakistani fire. India says “Operation Sindoor” targeted “terrorist” infrastructure; Pakistan says missiles hit mosques and killed civilians in a blatant “act of war”. Tensions have...

India fires missiles at Pakistan and Kashmir

(BBC News) India says it has launched missile strikes on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan says three locations were attacked and claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets. India has not confirmed this. India's army said at least seven civilians were killed by Pakistani shelling on its side of the de facto border. Pakistan, meanwhile, said that 26 people have been killed and 46 injured in Indian air strikes...

Israel security cabinet approves plan to ‘capture’ Gaza, official says

(BBC News) Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas which includes the "capture" of Gaza and the holding of its territory, according to an Israeli official. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet had decided on a "forceful operation" to destroy Hamas and rescue its remaining hostages, and that Gaza's 2.1 million population "will be moved, to protect it". He did not say how much territory would be seized...

Trump says he is not considering running for third term

(BBC News) US President Donald Trump has denied that he is considering running for a third presidential term, a move which experts agree is banned under the US Constitution. "I'll be an eight-year president, I'll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important," Trump told NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker in an interview that aired on Sunday. Trump, 78, has previously said that he was "not joking" about wanting to serve...

Netanyahu vows response to Iran after Houthi attack on airport

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to respond to an attack from Yemen’s Houthi rebels that hit Ben Gurion International Airport, adding that Iran would also face consequences from the strike. A ballistic missile launched by the Iran-allied Yemeni rebel group hit the perimeter of the airport on Sunday, damaging a road and a vehicle and causing air traffic to stop, according to photos and footage verified by Al Jazeera. The Israeli...

Uganda’s military chief claims to be holding opposition activist ‘in my basement’

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Uganda’s military chief, the son of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, says he is holding an opposition activist in his basement and threatened violence against him, after the man’s party said he was abducted. Eddie Mutwe went missing on April 27 after being grabbed near the capital Kampala by armed men, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party has said. Mutwe acts as the chief bodyguard for Uganda’s leading opposition figure, Bobi Wine. In a social media...

Update that made ChatGPT ‘sycophant-y’ pulled

(BBC News) OpenAI has pulled a ChatGPT update after users pointed out the chatbot was showering them with praise regardless of what they said. The firm accepted its latest version of the tool was "overly flattering", with boss Sam Altman calling it "sycophant-y". Users have highlighted the potential dangers on social media, with one person describing on Reddit how the chatbot told them it endorsed their decision to stop taking their medication "I am so proud of you, and I honour...

Gaza siege reaches 60th day as U.S. defends Israel at ICJ

(Al Jazeera Media Network) Israel’s total blockade of Gaza has reached its 60th day as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague holds the third day of hearings on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians. No food, water or medical supplies have been allowed into the war-torn Gaza Strip since March 2, days before Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18 to restart the bombardments and ground assaults that have killed more than 52,000 Palestinians in...

Blast at Iranian port kills 28 and injures 800

(BBC News) At least 28 people have been killed and 800 injured in a massive explosion at one of Iran's key ports, authorities say. The blast took place at Shahid Rajaee, the country's largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning. It blew out windows and roofs of nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the blast up to 50 km away. Six people remain unaccounted for,...