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The home secretary says the "incentives" will deliver a "significant saving to the taxpayer".

The war in Iran has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, pulling in U.S. allies and bystanders alike. The big picture: Since the U.S. strikes began on Saturday, Iran has retaliated against Israel and multiple Gulf states, plunging the region further into chaos. U.S. embassies across the region remain on high alert, with the State Department urging Americans to leave immediately. Here's what we know about the countries involved. Countries involved with Iran war United States: President Trum

Trade court directs customs to repay importers with interest after supreme court ruled tariffs unlawful A US trade court judge on Wednesday ordered the government to begin paying potentially billions of dollars in refunds to importers who paid tariffs that the supreme court said last month were collected illegally. Richard Eaton, a judge of the US Court of International Trade in Manhattan, ordered the government to finalize the cost of bringing millions of shipments into the US without assessing

Nigel Farage helps the party launch its Senedd election manifesto, including a 1p income tax cut.

The dollar is so back. The U.S. currency — subject to a good deal of bad press for the past year or so — has strengthened in value against other currencies since the Iran war began. Why it matters: It's not that people are falling in love with America again. It's more as if investors are running for safety toward the best option. And, like it or not, that's still the U.S. dollar. The big picture: The spike in oil prices was the catalyst for a major global market disruption that's only beginning

The chair of the independent commission on adult social care also says the care system relies on the exploitation of its workforce.

The latest donations received by Nigel Farage's party includes £3m from crypto investor Christopher Harborne.

“She has been and has felt like a woman on an island,” says one operative.

In less than one week, the Iran war has produced a remarkable string of combat firsts that pull back the curtain on an American military boosted by AI and stocked with upgraded weapons. Why it matters: Some of America's defense-tech advancements have been on full display during Operation Epic Fury. The Trump administration has been happy to confirm — and flex — the results. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that Washington is "punching" Tehran while it's down,

"Turn Texas blue" has been more of a punchline than a battle cry in the Lone Star State lately, but Democrats' enthusiastic turnout in Tuesday's Senate primary has given them hope for November. Why it matters: In counties across Texas, Democratic voters made up a dramatically larger percentage of the electorate than in 2024 — with big increases in hot battlegrounds such as mostly Hispanic South Texas and the well-off suburbs of North Texas. Zoom in: Democrats and what appeared to be a significa

Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw owes his defeat in this week's Republican primary to a billionaire megadonor who was hellbent on ending Crenshaw's career, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: Texas banker Robert Marling's role in funding an anti-Crenshaw advertising blitz starkly illustrates how a lone billionaire can banish a member of Congress. In this case, Marling's clout meant Crenshaw was the first House incumbent to be ousted in 2026. Crenshaw lost to Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, a hard-line cons

A top trade court ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to start refunding tariffs to U.S. businesses. Why it matters: The order is the most significant to date in what is expected to be a politically fraught, and possibly lengthy, process of getting hundreds of billions of dollars back to importers. It comes roughly two weeks after the Supreme Court smacked down many of the tariffs that President Trump has imposed since taking office. What they're saying: "We want to work out a metho

Militants from several Kurdish Iranian factions are preparing for a possible ground offensive against Iran's regime in the northwestern part of the country, according to U.S. and Israeli officials and a senior official in one of the factions. Why it matters: A Kurdish ground offensive coordinated with the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Tehran could increase pressure on the regime and encourage an internal rebellion that could spread to other parts of Iran. Driving the news: Six days be

Venezuela's state-owned mining company on Monday inked a multimillion-dollar deal to sell as many as 1,000 kilograms of gold destined for U.S. markets, two sources familiar with the deal tell Axios. Why it matters: The arrangement shows the tightening commercial bounds between Venezuela and the U.S. after President Trump ousted that nation's indicted socialist dictator and exerted de facto control over its oil-rich petroleum company. Zoom in: The gold deal requires state-owned company Minerven

The U.S. and Israel's war with Iran is likely to impact people around the world as tensions escalate around the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway on Iran's southern coast, where traffic has ground to a halt. Why it matters: Trade disruptions along this key waterway on Iran's southern coast that handles 25% of the world's maritime oil trade and 20% of liquefied natural gas shipments will likely produce a domino effect across the global economy. About 33% of the world's fertilizers, including sulfur

John Cornyn and his allies are trying to turn a surprising lead over firebrand Ken Paxton into a decisive presidential nod.

The race between Reps. Al Green (D-Texas) and Christian Menefee (D-Texas) for a Houston-based U.S. House seat quickly went from largely cordial to venomous on Wednesday after the two were forced into a head-to-head primary. Why it matters: Green and Menefee will now have to spend the next 12 weeks campaigning against each other while simultaneously serving together in Congress. "I am challenging Mr. Menefee to a debate ... right away, but I also challenge him to come to work," Green told Axios

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's comments to staff disparaging the Trump administration could blow up chances of a resolution between the AI company and the Pentagon, an administration official tells Axios. Why it matters: Rival OpenAI — and lawmakers across party lines — are pushing for an agreement, as the Pentagon's threat to designate Anthropic a supply chain risk looms. Driving the news: The Information reported that Amodei sent a memo to staff last Friday saying President Trump disliked Ant

The House Oversight Committee voted on a bipartisan basis Wednesday to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Why it matters: It's the latest step in the committee's monthslong probe into Epstein, and comes as lawmakers have grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi's handling of the release of the Epstein files. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) offered the subpoena. Every Democrat — plus GOP Reps. Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Scot

President Trump and tech CEOs expressed confidence Wednesday that they can contain soaring electricity rates with a new data center pledge that formalizes and expands on what companies already are doing. Why it matters: With rising power bills turning AI and data centers into an election-year issue, Trump — who campaigned on a promise to cut costs — is eager to show he's trying to protect consumers. Skeptical Democrats and some energy observers, however, say that far more than voluntary pledges

Progressive groups are preparing to primary any House Democrat who votes against a War Powers Resolution constraining the Trump administration from carrying out military operations in Iran, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The threat raises the stakes of a highly charged Thursday vote that has split a group of hawkish Democratic centrists from the rest of their party. "Any Democrat voting against this resolution is really voting against the base of the party, and it will be a very politically

In multiple Latino-majority counties, more people cast Democratic votes on Tuesday than voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.

President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Senate race, a source with knowledge of the talks tells Axios. Why it matters: Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that whoever he doesn't endorse in the runoff between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton should drop out of the race. The background: Cornyn and Paxton finished first and second place in Tuesday's primary, but neither reached the majority threshold to avoid a May 26 runoff. That sets the stage for

Experts have warned that if oil and gas prices remains elevated it could make goods and services more expensive.

Some five days into the sprawling Middle East conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, significantly more Americans disapprove than approve of the attacks across several polls. The big picture: President Trump has offered a mixed bag of motivations for the strikes and his plans to resolve the rapidly escalating conflict that has killed six U.S. service members. If early polling is any indication, the White House's reasoning isn't resonating with Americans. Case in point: Nearly six in

The UK is still working closely with the US, the government insists, after President Trump said the relationship was "obviously not what it was”.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico of Austin defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas. Why it matters: Talarico's victory sets the stage for a battle royal that promises to be among the most expensive contests of the year, as Democrats hope President Trump's unpopularity translates to red-state victories. It also further raises the profile of Talarico, a media darling who has framed his argument against Republicans in terms of his Christi

It comes after Trump criticised the PM for refusing to allow the use of UK bases in the initial US-Israel strikes.

New private sector data shows signs of life for a labor market that's stabilizing after a dismal year for hiring. Why it matters: It's a welcome development in an economy digesting global trade uncertainty, fast-moving AI technological advancements and a new geopolitical shock. Yet just two sectors are carrying the entire labor market, making hiring more fragile than the headline numbers suggest. What they're saying: "In our data, job market growth is gaining traction. In employment terms, Feb

One House Republican lost his seat outright in Texas' primary elections Tuesday night, and four other House members will face grueling, 12-week runoff campaigns. Why it matters: While short of a full-on wipeout, it's not the kind of result that instills confidence in lawmakers who are trying to withstand the anti-incumbency wave roiling both parties right now. A staggering 30 House Democrats are facing at least one primary challenger who has raised $100,000 or more. A dozen of them have been ou