Politics

• Trump Taps Wall Street Top Cop Clayton as Intelligence Chief
  President Donald Trump said he is nominating Jay Clayton to be the next director of national intelligence, following backlash over his selection of housing regulator Bill Pulte to serve in the role on an acting basis.
• Pentagon Says ‘No Hazard’ After Earlier Air Quality Alert
  A Defense Department spokesman said there was “no hazard” present at the iconic Pentagon building after an air-quality alert earlier on Thursday prompted a shelter-in-place order for part of the iconic building.
• Supreme Court Shields Investment Funds From Shareholder Lawsuits
  The US Supreme Court shielded funds from some investor lawsuits, ruling that an 86-year-old federal statute doesn’t authorize shareholders to sue over bylaws and management decisions.
• UAE and Iran Meet Face-to-Face to Try to Deescalate Tensions
  Senior national security officials from the United Arab Emirates and Iran held a face-to-face meeting for the first time since the start of the US-Israeli war against Tehran, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
• UK Defense Secretary’s Ugly Exit Shatters Starmer’s Legacy
  In a rousing speech in Munich in February, Keir Starmer vowed to “spend more, faster” to counter the threat from Russia. Four months later, his defense secretary quit over the embattled UK premier’s failure to follow through, destroying his best shot at a lasting legacy.
• Nigeria Pins Security Hopes on Standing Up Regional Police Units, Report Says
  Nigerian lawmakers passed a bill that will allow states to set up their own police units in a bid to tackle rising insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation, according to local broadcaster Channels TV.
• UK Defense Chief Quits With Attack on Starmer Over Spending
  Defence Secretary John Healey quit the UK government after a months-long spending row with the Treasury came to a head, in a move that dramatically dents Keir Starmer’s authority just as rivals are lining up to challenge for his job.
• Europeans to Seek Trump Buy-In at G7 for Talks With Russia
  European leaders aim to use meetings with Donald Trump at a Group of Seven summit in France next week to get the US President on board with plans to push for new peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.
• Europe Is Finally, Slowly Getting Its Act Together
  Europe is shaking itself awake.
• Cepeda Seeks Criminal Charges For Rival in Colombia Election
  Colombian presidential candidate Iván Cepeda said he will seek criminal charges against his opponent Abelardo de la Espriella over allegations he received funds from illegal armed groups.
• Trump Has ‘Odd’ Relationship With FIFA President, Lineker Says
  Donald Trump has a “very peculiar, very odd” relationship with Gianni Infantino, according to football pundit Gary Lineker, who criticized the head of football’s governing body for creating and awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to the US president.
• Fujimori Takes Thin Lead in Final Stretch of Peru Vote Count
  Conservative Keiko Fujimori retook a razor-thin lead in Peru’s tight presidential runoff in its final stretch, as strong support from Peruvians living abroad put her within a hair of winning the country’s top job.
• EU Budget Plan Shrinks as Wealthier States Push Back on Spending
  European Union leaders are set to discuss a smaller long-term budget when they meet next week, as richer countries balk at footing the bill for most of the bloc’s enlarged spending plan.
• EU Powers Skeptical of Budget Leeway for Energy Crisis Aid
  Several European Union countries are expressing concerns about the bloc’s move to loosen budget rules as the Iran war squeezes markets, arguing the continent may be eroding its fiscal discipline.
• India Bought Russian Oil From 2022 on US Request, Minister Says
  India bought oil from Russia 2022 onwards because it was cheap and available, and did so at the request of the US to keep global oil prices low, India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar said.