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US-UK relations
Right now: King Charles addresses the US Congress – urges support for Ukraine

Right now, Britain's King Charles is speaking before the US Congress. He is met with repeated standing ovations.

The King makes several jokes and elicits laughter from the members, including an Oscar Wilde quote:

- We have almost everything in common with the US, except the language.

He also condemns the shooting during the correspondents' dinner in Washington DC.

- Let me say with rock-solid determination: Such acts of violence will never succeed, he says, to the cheers of Congress.

The King praises the bond between the US and the UK. He calls it “priceless, eternal, irreplaceable and indestructible” and adds that it should not only be based on historical achievements.

The transatlantic partnership is more important than ever in today’s turbulent times, he continues.

King Charles also calls on Congress to continue supporting Ukraine.

– It is needed to ensure a just and lasting peace.

He also talks about the importance of nature conservation, which has long been a matter of concern to him.

It is the first time a British monarch has addressed the US Congress in 35 years.

Middle East Crisis  Peace Talks
Trump: German Chancellor Doesn't Know What He's Talking About

Donald Trump is counterattacking after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's harsh criticism.

In a post on Truth Social, he accuses Merz of wanting Iran to have nuclear weapons, and repeats the message that he is doing something about Iran that other presidents and countries should have done a long time ago.

"No wonder Germany is doing so badly, both economically and in other ways!" adds the president.

Yesterday, Merz said in a speech to high school students that the US "clearly" lacked strategy when it entered the war, and that Iran was stronger than the Americans thought.

- An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, he added.

The German Chancellor, who was initially cautiously positive about the offensive against Iran, has gradually become more frustrated with the economic pain the war is causing Germany. 

Trump’s USA Trump Critics Indicted
Former FBI Director Indicted for Seashell Image

The US Department of Justice has filed a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, American media reports.

The reason is a picture Comey posted on Instagram last year. It depicted seashells forming the numbers “86 47”. Under the picture, Comey wrote, “awesome shell formation on my boardwalk.”

“86” is American slang, mainly in the restaurant industry, for throwing out or getting rid of someone or something. Donald Trump is the 47th president. The picture was interpreted by Trump as an assassination threat against him.

Trump is, according to a long list of sources, putting heavy pressure on his attorney generals to prosecute his political enemies. Comey investigated Russian election interference and possible links to the Trump campaign before Trump fired him in 2017. Last year, he was indicted for lying to Congress, but the case was dropped. 

The Russian invasion  The world’s response
Sources: Top US diplomat in Ukraine resigns

Julie Davis, the US chargé d’affaires in Ukraine, will leave her post in the coming weeks, sources with knowledge of the matter told the Financial Times.

She is said to have become frustrated with the Trump administration’s reduced support for the country. Her predecessor, Bridget Brink, resigned for the same reason last April.

Davis, who served as ambassador to Cyprus in parallel with her role in Kyiv, is now reportedly considering ending her three-decade diplomatic career.