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World politics, law and policy updates
Portugal Announces €11 Million to Promote Inland Tourism
Portugal is putting €11 million into projects meant to support nature, food, wellness, and cultural tourism in the country’s inland regions. The goal is to pull more visitors away from Lisbon and Porto and spread tourism more evenly across the country.
What Was the Iran Nuclear Deal Trump Abandoned in Search of Better Terms?
In 2018, Trump pulled the United States out of the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear agreement, calling it “the worst deal ever” and saying he wanted tougher terms.
England to ban smartphone use in schools by law
The British government says it will pass legislation to bar smartphones from schools in England, part of a wider debate over whether social media should also face restrictions.
El Salvador holds mass trial for nearly 500 alleged gang members
El Salvador is holding a mass trial involving nearly 500 people accused of gang membership. The case is a major step in the country’s broad crackdown on gangs, and it raises the usual questions about due process when a courtroom starts operating at stadium scale.
Armenia and Azerbaijan Begin Modest Trade as Tensions Ease
Early signs of economic contact are emerging between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with export data pointing to a modest resumption of trade after years of strained ties.
Zelensky Calls It Disrespectful That U.S. Envoys Have Not Visited Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says it is disrespectful that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have traveled to Moscow several times but never to Kyiv. The comment adds another small but pointed wrinkle to the diplomacy: apparently, even in international negotiations, the guest list matters.
£1 Million ‘Accessible’ Route Still Requires 15 Stone Steps and Stiles
A redeveloped bridle path described as accessible is drawing criticism because users still have to climb down 15 stone steps to reach it and cross stiles. For a route that cost £1 million, the accessibility promise appears to have taken a scenic detour through common sense.
Men Found Guilty in Church Drive-By Murder Case
Michelle Sadio was at a wake in north-west London when shots were fired from a car at mourners outside a church. Men have now been found guilty in the killing.
M27 reopens after two years of roadworks, but 50mph limits stay in place
The M27 has reopened between junctions 5 and 7 after more than two years of improvement work, including a new low-noise surface, drainage upgrades and safety changes in the central reservation. National Highways is keeping temporary 50mph limits in place while final testing and recommissioning continue, with the restrictions expected to remain until mid-June.
Trump's Approval Rating Falls Again
A new Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll finds President Trump with 35% approval and 61% disapproval among U.S. adults, for a net rating of minus 26. Not great numbers, unless the goal is to collect disapproval like it’s a hobby.
Sargent Shriver’s Newly Found Memoir Describes the War on Poverty
A recently discovered memoir by Sargent Shriver offers a first-person account of the War on Poverty, revisiting how the program was described at the time and why that language still resonates today.
Bahrain’s Bapco Uses AI to Extract More Oil From Existing Wells
Bahrain’s state energy company Bapco is partnering with SLB and AI startup Geminus to use machine learning to optimize oil flow through existing wells and pipelines in real time. The companies say the system can run faster than traditional methods, and an early pilot showed measurable results within 12 months. Bapco will keep its raw data and any models trained on it under the deal.
PGA Tour to drop Hawaii from its 2027 schedule
The PGA Tour has announced it will end its Hawaii Swing from 2027, removing both The Sentry at Kapalua and the Sony Open at Waialae from the calendar. The move ends a long-running season-opening tradition in Hawaii and has drawn criticism from fans, while the Tour says it will release more details on the 2027 schedule later.
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