US steps back from Russia-Ukraine peace talks
The US will no longer “fly around the world at the drop of a hat” to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, a state department official has said.
Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the US State Department, has said the country is changing “the methodology of how we contribute” to the conflict as she said “we will not be the mediators.”
While affirming the country remained committed to helping between the two countries, the state official said: “it is now between the two parties” to present “concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end.”
This comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Fox News interview on Thursday Night that either there would need to be a breakthrough towards peace “very soon”, or President Trump would have to make a decision about how much time the US would dedicate to the conflict.
“This is not our war”, he added.
Ukraine’s government is due to ratify the “historic” minerals deal which was reached on Wednesday following months of negotiations. The deal includes no security guarantees but implies America will have a greater interest in protecting its investment in the country.
White House proposes huge federal cuts
Donald Trump’s ousted National Security Adviser Mike Waltz faces fresh controversy after being spotted using Signal on his cell phone during a cabinet meeting.
New photographs show Waltz using the messaging app in Wednesday’s meeting, a day before he was replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and, instead, tapped as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Rubio appeared to be among those who Waltz had recently texted on the app. Vance, Gabbard and Rubio were among senior officials embroiled in the original Signalgate scandal in March.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung attempted to defuse the incident, stating: “Signal is an approved app that is loaded onto our government phones.”
Just after midnight Friday, a U.S. tariff exemption that spurred the rise of Chinese e-commerce companies such as Shein and Temu was eliminated, that left American online shoppers facing higher prices. The major shipping loophole, known as the de minimis exemption, allowed goods worth under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free if sent directly to consumers or small businesses.
Suspect claims he was ‘asked to take the blame’ for chopping down tree
One of two former friends on trial for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree had a “fascination” with the Sycamore Gap tree and thought it would make a good trophy, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.
Prosecutor Richard Wright KC put it to Daniel Graham that Adam Carruthers had a “strange interest” in the tree.
Mr Wright said: “He talked about it in the sense of it would be a good trophy.” Graham replied: “I suppose so, yeah.”
Graham told the court the other man asked him to take the blame because his mental-health issues would ensure he was treated leniently.
He also said Carruthers had rung him the morning after the tree was felled and claimed to be responsible.
On the fourth day of the trial, he said his co-accused had spoken of wanting to cut down the tree beside Hadrian’s Wall and ordering a chainsaw he said was “big enough” for the job.
Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, each deny two counts of criminal damage to the Northumberland sycamore and to the Roman Wall during Storm Agnes in September 2023.
O’Sullivan loses session 8-0 against Zhao in World Championship semis
Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a damaging morning in his bid for a history-writing eighth snooker world title at the Crucible Theatre today as Zhao Xintong secured every frame in the early session in Sheffield.
The pair had matched each other in Thursday’s opening session to close at 4-4, but Zhao surged into a 12-4 lead with a fine display of potting, capitalising on regular opportunities offered by an error-ridden O’Sullivan. The pair will be back on the baize later in the evening with the seven-time world champion needing to launch a mighty fightback to retain hope of reaching Sunday’s decider.
In the other semi-final, the world No 1 Judd Trump led Mark Williams 5-3 overnight after coming out on top of a scrappy evening session in which neither player found much fluency – that is until Trump’s closing century break that may give the World No 1 momentum as they resume this afternoon.
Follow the score between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong and all the key action from the World Snooker Championship below.
Uefa confirm Europa League final stance if Man United play Tottenham
The Europa League final in Bilbao will not be moved if Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur on May 21.
Both teams are in a strong position to contend for the trophy after winning the first legs of their semi-finals on Thursday night, with United beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 away from home and Tottenham earning a 3-1 advantage over Bodo/Glimt ahead of next week’s return leg in Norway.
An all-English final would give two of the Premier League’s underperforming teams a chance to save their seasons and gain direct access to next year’s Champions League. United are in 14th place in the Premier League and Tottenham, who have not won a trophy since 2008, are 16th.
However, there is no chance that a Manchester United-Tottenham final could be moved to an English venue, with Bilbao’s San Mames stadium awarded the rights to host the Europa League final way back in 2021, the same year that Uefa decided the Basque city would host the 2024 Women’s Champions League final.
The San Mames has an official capacity of 53,289 but demand for tickets from Manchester United and Tottenham supporters will be far higher than what both teams would be allocated if they reach the final.
Uefa has confirmed that the two teams who reach the final will receive up to 15,000 tickets each, with a further 11,000 tickets up for general sale and the remainder offered to hospitality and sponsors.
And, as has been the case for recent all-English European finals between Manchester City and Chelsea in 2021 (Porto), Liverpool and Tottenham in 2019 (Madrid) and Arsenal and Chelsea in 2019 (Baku), the final will be played in Bilbao regardless of who advances.
Athletic Bilbao were dreaming of appearing in the Europa League final at their home stadium but United produced their finest performance under Ruben Amorim to win 3-0 against the 10-man hosts.
Tottenham were in a commanding position against Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt but their late goal means there remains some danger for Ange Postecoglou’s side before a potentially tricky trip to the Arctic Circle next week.