Keir Starmer Urges Prince Andrew to Testify in U.S. Epstein Investigation 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Minnesota Judge Rejects Bid to Halt Trump Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis 
Zelenskiy Awaits U.S. Details as Ukraine Prepares for Possible Peace Talks Next Week 
Faith Leaders Arrested on Capitol Hill During Protest Against Trump Immigration Policies and ICE Funding 
Trump Says Fed Pick Kevin Warsh Could Win Democratic Support in Senate Confirmation 
Trump Family Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Over IRS Tax Disclosure 
Trump Administration Expands Global Gag Rule, Restricting U.S. Foreign Aid to Diversity and Gender Programs 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Syria-Kurdish Ceasefire Marks Historic Step Toward National Unity 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
Christian Menefee Wins Texas Special Election, Narrowing GOP House Majority 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Trump Warns UK and Canada Against Deepening Business Ties With China 
Kevin Warsh’s Fed Nomination Raises Questions Over Corporate Ties and U.S.–South Korea Trade Tensions 
Tensions are rising between nations over the South China Sea as China takes increasingly bolder actions to assert control over the region. Satellite images have revealed that a Chinese ship was seen following the UK carrier groups in the disputed waters.
Satellite photos have shown Beijing increasingly trying to assert its control over the South China Sea, as a Chinese ship was seen following the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and a UK carrier strike group into the waters. This recent move comes months after China threatened to expel any ships that sail too close on the islands it claims to have control over. The HMS Queen Elizabeth has been expected to sail through the South China Sea in a round-the-world tour as part of its maiden voyage.
The UK Carrier Strike Group 21, on the other hand, entered the region through the Bashi channel Monday. Both the carrier group and the HMS Queen Elizabeth took part in joint navy exercises with several countries.
Chinese state-owned media outlet Global Times has previously said that they will carry out their own naval exercises at the same time as the UK and other countries. The warning to the UK also follows an incident where China expelled a US ship, claiming that it illegally entered the waters it controls in the region. The US at the time responded that they were exercising their freedom of navigation rights around the Paracel Islands and that the Chinese military’s claims were false.
China’s claims of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea have since angered the surrounding countries, and an international ruling rejected the sweeping claims, citing that there is no basis under international law. China’s sweeping claims also overlap with those of the surrounding countries including Taiwan.
The US and a few other western countries have shown support towards other countries, especially Taiwan, the island nation that China also claims to have sovereignty over. Australia is one of the nations that has shown support towards Taiwan, and China has since threatened Australia with conflict. However, it appears that China now needs the help of Australia as Beijing has been suffering from power shortages, resulting in asking other countries to import coal.
This comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping made a new energy restriction in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. Paired with the weather and skyrocketing demand for Chinese goods, the country faces an energy crisis.
