US AND CANADA

Photo Credit; Getty Image

President Donald Trump has announced the removal of all tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports to mark the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States.

The President also stated he would lift barriers preventing Scotland and the state of Kentucky from collaborating on whisky and bourbon production. The UK government has confirmed that this policy applies to all whisky categories, including Irish whiskey

Industry representatives said distillers would be able to "breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector".

Trump said the Royal visit "got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking".

The King and Queen spent four days in the US on a state visit hosted by Trump where they visited Washington DC, New York and Virginia before they left on Thursday.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called it "tremendous news for Scotland".

Swinney added: "Millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy.” He said Scotland was grateful to the King for the key role he played.

In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said the move was "in honour of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful country".

He said the tariffs and restrictions related to "Scotland's ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important industries within Scotland and Kentucky", and noted how the two areas were linked through the use of wooden barrels.

The main customer for Kentucky's used bourbon barrels is the Scotch industry, which has been importing around £200m-worth each year.

At a press conference later on Thursday, Trump added: "I just took all the restrictions off, so Scotland and Kentucky can start dealing again.

"And I did it in honour of the King and Queen who just left.”

The Scottish and UK governments had both lobbied for the current 10% tariff rate to be reduced or removed on the basis it would benefit both Scottish and US distillers.

Tariffs for exports to the US, introduced under the Trump administration and adding 10% to importers' costs, hit sales in Scotland's whisky industry's biggest export market.

Graeme Littlejohn, director of strategy for the Scotch Whisky Association, said they were "delighted".

Photo Credit; Getty images

Kimmel has responded after Melania Trump and President Donald Trump criticized a joke he made on his late night show sparking calls for him to be removed from ABC.

He said he was sorry for the fear and disruption linked to the White House Correspondents Dinner incident but insisted he was not apologizing for the joke itself.

Photo Credit; Getty Images

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for the return of the historic Koh i Noor diamond to India just hours before meeting King Charles III at an event in New York City. The meeting took place during a ceremony commemorating victims of the September 11 attacks.

Speaking at a press conference before the event, Mamdani said that if given the opportunity to speak privately with the King he would encourage him to return the

Photo Credit; Getty Images

The family of social media influencer Ashly Robinson, widely known as Ashlee Jenae, revealed this week that her remains have been returned to her home state of New Jersey. However, the emotional homecoming has been marred by a troubling discovery that Robinson’s body arrived without any of her personal belongings, including the engagement ring she had been wearing just days before her death in Zanzibar.

Speaking to media outlets on April 28, 2026, Robinson’s father, Harry Robinson, confirmed that his daughter’s remains arrived on U.S. soil on Friday, April 25. He expressed shock and confusion upon learning that none of her property, which included luxury items and her recent engagement jewelry, accompanied the casket. “The ring is gone, her clothes are gone, her bags are gone,” Mr. Robinson told reporters. “We have no answers as to why her body was sent back alone.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance after Vance expressed support for reducing American military assistance to Ukraine, arguing that the move ultimately benefits Russia during its ongoing war.

Photo Credit; Getty Images

King Charles and Queen Camilla are on a state visit to the US despite security concerns after the alleged asassination attempt on Donald Trump. The US President and other senior politicians were evacuated from a Washington press dinner on Saturday night after shots were fired in the hotel venue. But King Charles and Queen Camilla landed as planned on Monday night, April 27, after some operational changes were made to ensure the visit runs smoothly.

They were driven in a motorcade to meet Trump and the First Lady for afternoon tea as part of plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence. They proceeded to the White House, where they were greeted by Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The four stood briefly for photographers before retreating inside for a private tea.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to authorities on Wednesday to face a charge of threatening the life of President Donald Trump. The case involves an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read "86 47." Prosecutors interpret the number "86" as slang for "eliminating" or "getting rid of," while "47" refers to Trump as the 47th president. Comey has denied the allegations, claiming he was unaware of the numbers' meaning and describing the prosecution as politically motivated.

Photo Credit;Getty Image

President Donald Trump is unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal aimed at resolving the two-month-old conflict, according to a U.S. official.

The disagreement centers on Iran’s plan to set aside discussions regarding its nuclear program until the war has concluded and disputes over Gulf shipping are fully resolved.

“That is unlikely to satisfy the U.S., which says nuclear issues must be dealt with from the outset, and Trump was unhappy with Iran's proposal for that reason,” a U.S. official stated on the condition of anonymity following the president's Monday briefing with advisers.