David Brunnstrom

USAID team fired while in Myanmar earthquake zone, ex-official says Three U.S. aid workers were laid off while in Myanmar helping the rescue and recovery from the country's massive earthquake, a former senior staffer said, as the Trump administration's dismantling of foreign aid affects its disaster response.

After travelling to Southeast Asia, the officials were told they would be let go, Marcia Wong, a former official at the U.S. Agency for International Development, told Reuters. #DOGE #musk US aid team fired in #Myanmar #earthquake - www.reuters.com/world/us/usa...

Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election in setback for Trump, Musk Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, CNN and NBC projected, maintaining the court's 4-3 liberal majority in a setback for President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, who had backed her conservative rival.

Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election in setback for Trump, Musk - www.reuters.com/world/us/lib...

Aid rushes into Myanmar after earthquake kills over 1,600, ravages cities Myanmar's neighbours sent warships and aircraft laden with relief materials and rescue personnel on Sunday, as international aid gained steam after a massive earthquake ravaged much of the poor Southeast Asian nation.

Aid rushes into Myanmar after earthquake kills over 1,600, ravages cities - www.reuters.com/business/env...

Myanmar quake death toll nears 700 as international aid starts to arrive International aid began to arrive in Myanmar on Saturday as rescuers searched for survivors after a powerful earthquake devastated the Southeast Asian nation amid concerns the number killed would soar.

Myanmar quake death toll hits 1,000 as international aid starts to arrive - www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

NATO Without America How Europe can run an alliance designed for U.S. control.

Even if the United States does not end up withdrawing from NATO, Trump has already seriously undermined the alliance, writes Ivo Daalder. Now, European leaders must prepare to ensure their future security for themselves.

Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's PM who returns as acting leader? Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was reinstated on Monday as South Korea's acting president, is a technocrat whose experience and reputation as a safe pair of hands transcended party lines and helped him serve in senior posts under five presidents.

Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's PM who returns as acting leader?
reut.rs/4bVjtLY

Japan, China, South Korea meet at geopolitical 'turning point in history' The top diplomats from Japan, China and South Korea met in Tokyo on Saturday, seeking common ground on East Asian security and economic issues amid escalating global uncertainty.

The first gathering of the countries' foreign ministers since 2023 comes as U.S. President Donald Trump upends decades-old alliances, potentially opening the door for China to forge closer ties to countries traditionally aligned with Washington reut.rs/4hJhawU

Philippines' ex-President Rodrigo Duterte arrested at ICC's request over 'drugs war', government says Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was served an Interpol arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on his arrival at Manila's main airport on Tuesday, the government said.

Philippines' ex-President Duterte arrested at ICC's request over 'drugs war', government says  - www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

SpaceX Starship failure prompts diversions, Florida airports ground stops The failure of a SpaceX Starship test flight on Thursday scattered debris over parts of the Caribbean, prompting numerous flight diversions around Turks and Caicos and temporary ground stops at four Florida airports.

Departures at several Florida airports were delayed by an average of 45 minutes due to the #SpaceX incident, the FAA said. www.reuters.com/science/spac...

SpaceX loses control of Starship in space in testing failure Elon Musk's SpaceX lost contact with its Starship rocket in space on Thursday during its eighth test mission, dooming a satellite deployment demonstration in the company's second consecutive Starship failure this year.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX loses control of Starship in latest test failure - www.reuters.com/technology/s...

Polish Cold War hero Walesa writes to Trump expressing 'horror' at Zelenskiy spat Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and Solidarity trade union leader who played a leading role in the fall of Communism, signed a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump expressing "horror" at his argument with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"We consider your expectations regarding showing respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine in its fight with Russia to be offensive," Walesa wrote.
- www.reuters.com/world/polish...

"To the question of Elon Musk, I do believe that the CCP will try and leverage any opportunity," Republican committee chair John Moolenaar said. "Are people going to be looking for that and make sure that his lane is one that is not influencing China policy? I believe that is the case."

US lawmakers warn that China could use Musk to influence Trump The Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives' select committee on China warned on Tuesday that Beijing may try to exert leverage with Elon Musk in a bid to win favorable U.S. policies, and that Washington must counter any such effort.

US lawmakers warn that China could use Musk to influence Trump - www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

The vote at the iPhone maker's annual meeting was seen as a test of shareholder views about the value of DEI programs, which many companies added or beefed up starting in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

Apple investors reject proposal against DEI policies Apple shareholders rejected a proposal against its diversity, equity and inclusion policies at an investor meeting on Tuesday, handing a major victory to the tech giant as opposition against such efforts gains traction in the U.S.

Apple shareholders vote to keep its diversity policies - www.reuters.com/technology/a...

German Election 2025 Live: Far-right AfD second in polls as voters set to shift rightwards The far-right AfD likely will score its best ever result as Europe's ailing economic powerhouse lurches rightwards. The conservative CDU/CSU bloc is set to win, but will be unlikely to secure a majority.

German Election 2025 Live: Far-right AfD second in polls as voters set to shift rightwards - www.reuters.com/world/german...

After Reuters published its story, @elonmusk posted on X that the article was “false” and “Reuters is lying.” Contacted by Reuters for specifics, Musk did not immediately respond. A Reuters spokesperson said the news agency stands by its reporting.

Exclusive: US could cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet services over minerals, say sources During a Thursday meeting, Ukraine was told it faced imminent shutoff of the service if it did not reach a deal on critical minerals, a source said.

www.reuters.com/business/us-...

Exclusive: Office overseeing Afghan resettlement in US told to start planning closure, sources say The State Department office overseeing the resettlement of Afghans in the United States has been told to develop plans to close by April, according to a U.S. official, a leading advocate and two sources familiar with the directive, a move that could deny up to an estimated 200,000 people new lives in America.

Exclusive: Office overseeing Afghan resettlement in US told to start planning closure, sources say - www.reuters.com/world/office...

Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms Officers appear to have rejected every application from former Afghan commandos who fought alongside them.

UK Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms. Special Forces officers appear to have rejected every application referred to them for sponsorship, despite the #Afghan units having fought alongside the British.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

“The situation is rendered more serious because Mr Musk now occupies a position within a Trump administration in the USA that has over the past several weeks engaged in an assault on scientific research," the letter said.

UK's Royal Society to discuss fellows' behaviours amid Musk controversy The Royal Society scientific academy said it would hold a meeting to discuss principles around the public pronouncements and behaviours of its fellows after thousands of scientists expressed their concerns over Elon Musk's continued membership.

UK's Royal Society to discuss fellows' behaviours amid Musk controversy - www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks...

Summary:
- Russian, U.S. officials to meet in Saudi Arabia in coming days
- Zelenskiy says #Ukraine not invited
- Europe will not have seat at talks, Trump envoy says
- Rubio, Lavrov speak on Ukraine, future U.S.-Russia meeting

Trump team to start Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia Zelenskiy wants a U.S.-Europe joint strategy before any meeting with Putin and Trump.

US, Russia to meet in Saudi Arabia over Ukraine war www.reuters.com/world/trump-...

Insight: Elon Musk’s tactics frustrate some senior White House officials As tech billionaire Elon Musk expands his influence over more than a dozen U.S. federal agencies, frustration is growing among some top aides to President Donald Trump, who want more coordination from Musk's team as he slashes the U.S. government, according to four people aware of the tensions.

Elon Musk's tactics frustrate some White House senior officials - www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Burmese refugee dies after discharge from shut US-funded clinic, says family A Burmese refugee with lung problems died after she was discharged from a U.S.-funded hospital on the Myanmar-Thai border that was ordered to close as a result of U.S. President Donald Trump's freeze on foreign aid, her family said.

Burmese refugee dies after discharge from shut US-funded clinic, says family - www.reuters.com/world/asia-p... #usaid @reuters.com

Bill Gates and the New Trumpian Tech Oligarchs The Microsoft founder discusses vaccine skepticism, his fellow-billionaires’ political pivots, and his dinner with the President at Mar-a-Lago.

Bill Gates and the New Trumpian Tech Oligarchs. The Microsoft founder discusses vaccine skepticism, his fellow-billionaires’ political pivots, and his dinner at Mar-a-Lago
www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-...

Trump says Americans could feel 'pain' in trade war with Mexico, Canada, China President Donald Trump said on Sunday the sweeping tariffs that he has imposed on Mexico, Canada and China may cause "some pain" for Americans, as Wall Street and the largest U.S. trading partners signaled hope that the trade war would not last long.

Trump says Americans could feel 'pain' in trade war with Mexico, Canada, China - www.reuters.com/world/trump-...

Musk aides lock workers out of OPM computer systems - www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...

Tariff hikes unnerve Wall Street, markets prepare for fresh jolt Analysts expect a selloff in stocks and other high-risk assets.

The risk of a global trade war could hurt U.S. corporate profits and pressure inflation, potentially upending U.S. interest-ratecut expectations and further weakening currencies such as the Canadian dollar and China's yuan reut.rs/40WkEXC