USA - Donald Trump would leap at the opportunity and, in an era of heightened tensions, it would tie us more closely to the US. If true, the proposed offer of associate Commonwealth membership to the United States, post-Brexit and in the era of the Trump tariffs, would be a masterstroke. Donald Trump responded favourably to rumours King Charles will formally offer the US the opportunity to become the next member of the 56-strong international association during the President's next State visit to Britain. While largely symbolic, that symbolism would cement UK-US ties in a heightened era of global tensions. As the Commonwealth is comprised of former British colonies, it would not be illogical to offer membership to the US. Little wonder Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote in response: "A Commonwealth with the USA would complete the alliance of the English-speaking peoples and help prevent the spread of CCP [Chinese Communist Party] influence."

GERMANY - A new Express documentary reveals how German Neo-Nazis are gaining traction with young people as memories of World War Two fade. Germany is in crisis as an increasing number of young people are turning to the far-Right - and even Neo-Nazi groups. As those with living memories of Adolf Hitler’s terrifying reign grow increasingly scarce, fascists are exploiting social media to question some of the worst atrocities and accuse the Allies of ‘war crimes.’ The re-emergence of the extremism, particularly in East Germany, comes as hard-Right political party Alternative for Germany or AfD gains a foothold in mainstream politics. At last month’s general election the party, who’ve attracted support from billionaire Elon Musk, finished second behind the conservative Christian Democratic Union. It is a result which has sent shockwaves through the nation which has historically been resistant to groups on the hard-Right.

UK - The law exists to be broken. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no such thing as a society without lawbreakers. That said, the vast majority of us do follow the law, and we expect others to do the same; this is the unspoken bond of a high-trust society. But what happens when an increasing percentage of the population begins to ignore the law altogether? And what happens when our bodies of power fail to control them? Answer: You get the UK.

GERMANY - Research links Roman rule to regional differences in personality and wellbeing, with a 1,900-year-old border still shaping the Germany of today. It is commonplace to assert that the old boundary between capitalist West Germany and the socialist East can still be seen on virtually every statistical map, ranging from how people vote, how regularly they eat sausages and what they cook on Christmas Eve. Yet a study has suggested that the legacy of the Berlin Wall is a mere flash in the pan compared to a divide that is nearly 1,900 years older. If you really want to understand how modern Germany is structured, it argued, you should look instead to the ancient frontier of Roman rule.

GERMANY - To live within the Roman Empire has, it appears, conferred an advantage that has endured almost two thousand years. Those now living within the limes set by the empire at its height — from Hadrian’s Wall to the sands of the Sahara — are significantly less neurotic, more agreeable, open-minded and easy-going and live longer than the ruder natives to the north and east. And of nowhere, a Dutch professor of economic psychology has found, is this more true than of Germany.

UK - By rushing out artificial intelligence, we are making ourselves more vulnerable than ever. Using technology that has more holes than a Swiss cheese, we’ve never been in worse shape to enter a new cold war. And we’re about to make it a whole lot worse. Cyber threats to UK Plc have increased sharply in recent months. Late last year the National Cyber Security Centre warned how Russia’s APT29 hackers were targeting areas that businesses had left exposed to the internet. The big new tech fad of 2025, agentic AI, makes this exponentially worse.

IRAN - There is a point of optimism as US President Donald Trump embarks on his second term in office: His administration has clearly distinguished between the Islamic Republic regime and the Iranian people. Gradually, the world has begun to recognize that the brutal, occupying regime of corrupt, bloodthirsty, and anti-civilization clerics is fundamentally distinct from the noble, intelligent, and dignified people of Iran.

UK - Telegram, the Russian-speaking world’s favourite social media channel, has done more than just show drone footage in Ukraine and explosions around Moscow. It has become a recruiting tool for Kremlin agents to commit acts of sabotage. Over the past few years, adverts promising to pay petty criminals to attack sites around Europe have sprung up and some have even responded. It’s not clear how many have accepted. In the UK, there have already been a few arrests under the new National Security Act including one in 2024 for helping Russia. Sabotage as a service is not new and it’s far too soon to tell what’s happened at Heathrow, but while the counter-terrorism police (CTP) are doing their work we need to ensure UK resilience is defended.

UK - Europe's military powers are planning to 'share the burden' in preparation for Donald Trump's withdrawal from the treaty. Europe's military powers are planning to "share the burden" of the continent's defence, of which the US currently contributes 15.8% with an annual spend of $3.5 billion. The US also deploys between 80,000 and 100,000 soldiers in Europe. According to a report from the Financial Times (FT), Europe's major powers will pitch a managed transfer, which will take place over the next five to 10 years, to Donald Trump's administration ahead of NATO's summit in The Hague this summer.

USA - President Donald Trump has signalled a willingness to see the United States join Britain’s Commonwealth, a voluntary association comprised of mostly former British colonies led by King Charles III. A report from the top-selling Sun newspaper in Britain claimed that President Trump would be presented with an offer from King Charles during his historic second state visit to the UK to join the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth is a network of 56 nations, primarily drawn from former members of the British Empire, which aims to promote “mutually advantageous” relationships between independent nations based on shared heritage and common values.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has reached out directly to President Donald J Trump with a historic proposal: help defeat a brutal rebel force terrorizing his nation, and in return, America will gain direct access to one of the world’s richest untapped troves of critical minerals — worth an estimated $24 trillion. According to a letter obtained by The Wall Street Journal, President Tshisekedi offered Trump exclusive mining opportunities through the newly launched US Sovereign Wealth Fund, a Trump-led initiative aimed at reshaping global investment through pro-American partnerships. “Your election has ushered in the golden age for America,” Tshisekedi wrote. “Our partnership would provide the US with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper and tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

FRANCE - "The Luxeuil air base is about to be upgraded in an unprecedented way and regain its full role in France’s nuclear deterrent,” Macron said. “By 2035, Luxeuil will be the first base to host the next version of the Rafale and its hypersonic nuclear missiles,” the president announced. He added that the garrison will double in size to nearly 2,000 military and civilian personnel to accommodate two Rafale squadrons. The government will spend €1.5 billion ($1.64 billion) to modernize the base and speed up Rafale orders. Russia has condemned the EU’s “militarization” programs as reckless and escalatory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier this month that “confrontational rhetoric and confrontational plans that we are now seeing in Brussels and in European capitals could hamper finding a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."

HUNGARY - Opponents of the new law ignited colored smoke bombs inside the Hungarian parliament in a bid to disrupt the vote. The Hungarian parliament has passed a law that effectively bans LGBTQ pride events nationwide. Opposition members attempted to derail the vote on Tuesday by setting off smoke bombs within the chamber. Passed in a 136-27 vote, the law broadens an existing ban on exposing minors to LGBTQ-themed content to encompass public assemblies. It also grants police the authority to film attendees for identification. Participants of outlawed gatherings face potential fines exceeding $500 under the new regulations. The legislation was fast-tracked through an expedited process just a day after its introduction. Support came primarily from the ruling Fidesz party and its minority coalition partner, the Christian Democrats.

GERMANY - Support for the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has soared to its highest level in over a year as the recent election-winning centre-right party continues caving to the demands of leftist parties. There is apparently growing dissatisfaction with the outcome of last month’s elections in Germany, after which the so-called conservative Union of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) opted to seek a partnership with the election-losing Social Democrats rather than pairing with the AfD.

UK - A primary school has scrapped its annual Easter celebration and service in order to “respect diverse religious beliefs”. The announcement has been criticised in online comments, with one suggesting that Christmas celebrations will be cancelled next. Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hants, sent a letter to parents and carers informing them that neither their Easter Bonnet Parade nor their Easter Service would be held this year.