King ‘grasped in both hands’ the risk of US state visit and address to Congress, aide says

A senior palace aide has revealed that the King "grasped in both hands" the "risk and challenge" of his recent state visit to the United States, but will not dwell on its perceived success.

The trip, which included a "high-stakes" address to Congress, represented Charles’s most significant diplomatic test to date, yet also served as a crucial opportunity to advance palace objectives at the request of the Government.

Much attention has been paid to the personal rapport between the King and Donald Trump, with the aide involved in the visit confirming the two men "get on very well."

The aide added that "the warmth that you see in public is absolutely the warmth you see in private."

When questioned if Trump having a warmer relationship with the King than the Prime Minister was awkward, the aide clarified: "It’s not a competition between the King and the Government.

The King is there to support the Government, to help the Government. It was at the Government’s request, of course, that he undertook this visit."

The King’s address to Congress was widely interpreted as a subtle challenge to some of Mr Trump’s known positions, particularly on Ukraine, Nato, adherence to international rules, and climate change.

However, the aide stressed that the King was guided by "truth" and his "conscience" in delivering a speech that resonated with both Republicans and Democrats, stating its contents were "a measure of how much he personally cares."

Ahead of the visit, Downing Street’s request for the King to travel was seen as a "throw of the dice," aimed at mending the UK-US special relationship following Mr Trump’s repeated criticisms of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the war in Iran.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey had previously voiced concerns about Charles potentially being embarrassed by Mr Trump, advocating for the trip’s cancellation.

Reflecting on the journey, a senior palace aide remarked: "What looked like risk and challenge was also a phenomenal opportunity. One that was grasped in both hands by the King and we shall leave you to conclude what the outcome of that was."

The aide further explained the King’s forward-looking nature: "He’s not a man to dwell long on what some may consider yesterday’s successes, he is always looking towards tomorrow’s opportunities, so generally we’ve tried to encourage him to feel positive – and he has – about the way that the American leg in particular has gone in particular, but his mind is already on what he can achieve next rather than what he achieved this week."

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The monarchy’s "soft power diplomacy" is considered its most potent tool in supporting the UK’s international interests. During the four-day visit, Mr Trump appeared to be won over, repeatedly praising "fantastic" Charles.

A significant gesture came from Mr Trump, who lifted tariffs on Scottish whisky following an intervention by the Queen and King.

Discussing the bond between the two leaders and their spouses, the aide noted: "They get on very well. And it’s not just the King and the president. It’s all four of them with each other."

Despite potential complexities in the bilateral relationship, the aide described it as an "unlikely" but successful pairing, reiterating: "the warmth that you see in public is absolutely the warmth you see in private." The meeting in the Oval Office was characterised by "laughter" alongside serious discussions.

During his speech in Congress’ Hall of the House, Republicans and Democrats rose to applaud 12 times as the King underscored the importance of Nato, support for Ukraine, the value of European partners, and the need to reduce global conflicts – all key priorities for Sir Keir’s Government.

The New York Times observed: "Beneath King Charles’s jokes and decorum, some subtle rebuttals to Trump, King Charles III gently pushed back against President Trump’s attacks on Britain and Nato, and he spoke of the importance of checks and balances."

The aide acknowledged the "high-stakes address to Congress," adding: "First, what the King says will always be guided by the truth. Two, it will be guided by conscience. And three, they’re all observable facts. Everything that is in that speech is an observable fact. And so, I think we felt very comfortable with the King speaking as he did."

The positive reception to the US speech and the strong rapport between the president and the King are believed to have placed the special relationship on a firmer footing, particularly significant during the 250th anniversary year of American independence.

The aide reiterated the King’s supportive role: "The King is there to support the Government, to help the Government. It was at the Government’s request, of course, that he undertook this visit." They added that "The King and the Queen have been able to help the Government in any way and to get the relationship perhaps more widely understood by a wider number of people without some of the noise of current affairs."

Following his US engagements, Charles embarked on a solo trip to Bermuda, concluding on Saturday, to celebrate the island’s culture and achievements.

The aide commented: "The King has greatly enjoyed it. It has been very busy and the crowds have been so huge they have made us extremely late, but no-one minds about that when you feel that you’re doing some good here, showing that this island matters to Britain, because it certainly matters to the King."

Despite continuing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, Charles remains steadfast in his duties. "This is a man who is absolutely driven by duty. Driven by service," the aide affirmed.

byNeo

in

May 03, 2026

King ‘grasped in both hands’ the risk of US state visit and address to Congress, aide says

A senior palace aide has revealed that the King "grasped in both hands" the "risk and challenge" of his recent stat...

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Trump administration cites national security to halt US wind farm projects, FT reports

May 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has brought U.S. onshore wind development to a halt, citing ‌national security concerns, the Financial Times reported on ‌Sunday.

Approvals for about 165 onshore wind projects on private lands are being ​held up by the Pentagon, FT said, citing the American Clean Power Association and people close to the matter.

The affected projects include wind farms that were awaiting final sign-off, others ‌in the middle of ⁠negotiations and some that typically would not require oversight by the Pentagon, the FT said.

Reuters ⁠could not immediately verify the report.

The American Clean Power Association and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment ​by Reuters.

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Since ​August 2025, wind developers ​have faced a mix of ‌setbacks, including a lack of expected communication from the Pentagon, canceled meetings with no chance to reschedule, and being told that applications are no longer being processed, FT reported, citing people with knowledge of the situation.

Letters sent to ‌developers in early April said the ​Pentagon was reviewing its processes for ​evaluating the impact ​of energy projects on national security, according to ‌the newspaper.

The Trump administration has ​previously faced lawsuits ​after pausing wind projects after it cited new classified national security risks from radar interference.

Wind developers have ​faced repeated disruptions ‌under Trump, who says wind turbines are ugly, expensive ​and inefficient.

(Reporting by Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru;Editing by ​Tomasz Janowski and Will Dunham)

byNeo

in

May 03, 2026

Trump administration cites national security to halt US wind farm projects, FT reports

May 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration has brought U.S. onshore wind development to a halt, citing ‌national sec...

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Invasive mussels wreak havoc across US. Feds are desperate for a fix.

Hundreds of invasive species that swim, crawl, float, fly or multiply cost the nation billions every year in damages and control efforts.

Officials are constantly challenged to find new ways to address these non-native plants, pests and other species that arrive and thrive. Among the more costly invaders in freshwater lakes and waterways area group of voracious musselsthat first appeared in the U.S. more than 30 years ago.

Zebra musselsandquagga musselscan wreak havoc on waterways, fouling pipes and other submerged equipment at dams, hydropower plants, docks and harbors. Spending on efforts to repair damages and control or eradicate the mussels is estimated at $1 billion a year.

The mussels are moved from place to place in the ballast water of vessels, primarily through recreational boats, which also spread other aquatic pests and plants, such as hydrilla and water hyacinths, according to federal documents.

Wanting to step up their efforts to battle an array of aquatic invaders, federal agencies have launched a$550,000 prize challengeto solicit help in eliminating the risk of the mussels spreading. The Bureau of Reclamation under the Department of the Interior is coordinating the challenge with NASA.

They hope to inspire innovative solutions to block the mussels and other aquatic invasives from entering or leaving a boat's ballast, so they aren't being transferred from one water body to another. "Just some way to inactivate them," said Christine VanZomeren, prize competition program administrator.

"We're really focused on implementation," VanZomeren said. "We're looking for physical prototypes that can reduce the spread of invasive, aquatic species."

"While existing watercraft inspection and decontamination programs are effective, they are time- and labor-intensive, creating challenges during peak boating seasons,"according to an agency news release.

How do the mussels work?

Zebra mussels were the first to arrive in 1988 and are now found in 32 states. Quagga mussels arrived just a few years later and are now found in 19 states. A third species, the golden mussel, was detected in California in 2024 and is expected to be equally troublesome.

"The mussels can attach to pretty much any hard surface," then grow and multiply, said biologist Sherri Pucherelli, who works at the bureau's technical services center, and conducts research related to aquatic invasives.

They attach themselves by root-like protein threads to submerged equipment and infrastructure at dams, flood gates, marinas and other waterfront industry facilities. That causes "a lot of increased maintenance," Pucherelli said. They can damage boat engines and block pipes and cooling water intakes at hydropower plants, allowing generators to overheat.

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Adding to the difficulty, the mussels' offspring are microscopic and can travel in water sight unseen.

The mussels also can attach themselves to native mussels, which can be a fatal attraction for the natives, and to turtles. Pucherelli said they affect entire ecosystems in lakes, with impacts that cascade across the entire food web. Filter feeders, they can consume so much plankton that they starve other native species. When they die, their empty shells clutter beaches and cause additional obstructions to filters and equipment when they wind up downstream.

Government agencies have employed an array of methods to try to control the spread of the mussels, in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. Many states require boat inspections and decontaminations, but that can lead to local backups and delays during busy summer boating seasons.

In some cases, divers go in to remove them one by one. In a few isolated locations, when aggressive actions were taken shortly after the mussels were detected, fledgling populations were eradicated.That worked in Lake Waco in Texas,for example, and alonga rocky reef at Sleeping Bear DunesNational Lakeshore in Michigan. In Utah, a dip tank method has been used to clean boats with hot water.

Feds hope to reward innovation for battling invasives

"Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species remains one of the most urgent natural resource challenges facing the western United States,"says a website devoted to the prize challenge.

With the prize program, federal officials are seeking "novel solutions" that would either kill the mussels and larvae or exclude them, but not generate hazardous waste, cause damages to vessels or create safety risks. The program is based on previous competitions that successfully implemented solutions for other challenges, such as the development and implementation of a way to speed up a federal computer model, VanZomeren said.

The first phase of the mussel challenge is written proposals to describe a novel, non-harmful method for dealing with the mussels and boat inspections. The challenge is coordinated by a tournament lab at NASA’sCenter of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, which assists with crowdsourcing across the federal government.

Up to six winning papers will receive up to $25,000 each. Then, in a "Shark Tank" style event, participants will pitch their ideas to a panel of professionals. Up to three $50,000 prizes will then be awarded for prototype development.

The final competition will award up to three prizes, including $125,000 for the winning concept. Concept papers for the challenge, which opened in late February, are due May 29, 2026.

What can you do to prevent the spread of mussels and other aquatic invaders?

Federal and state agencies haveurged boaters to take the following steps:

• Before entering the water, clean all plants, animals, sand and mud from the boat, trailer, props and anchor. Wash your boat off with warm, soapy water when you leave the water.

• Drain all water from your boat, including the motor, bilge, live-well, and other compartments before you arrive. Leave the bilge plug out during transport (in some states, this is required by law).

• Don't take water from live wells and bait buckets to any other water body. Empty on land and dispose of leftover bait in the trash.

• Allow everything to dry for at least five days or wipe down with a towel before reuse.

Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate change, wildlife and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Invasive mussels wreak havoc as feds offer cash prize for a fix

byNeo

in

May 03, 2026

Invasive mussels wreak havoc across US. Feds are desperate for a fix.

Hundreds of invasive species that swim, crawl, float, fly or multiply cost the nation billions every year in damages and control effort...

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Graham Linehan has conviction for damaging trans activist’s phone overturned

Father Tedco-creatorGraham Linehanhas had his conviction fordamaging a transgender activist’s mobile phoneoverturned, following an appeal hearing atSouthwark Crown Court.

Linehan, 57, wasfound guilty of criminal damageafter aconfrontation with Sophia Brooksoutside the Battle Of Ideas conference in Westminster on 19 October 2024.

However, Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples ruled on Friday that his conviction for criminal damage should be overturned.

Linehan, who attended the two-day hearing at Southwark Crown Court in person, smiled and turned to supporters sitting in the public gallery when the verdict was handed down.

The judge, who was assisted in the proceedings by two magistrates, said: “Having considered all the evidence before us, we cannot be sure that the damage to the complainant’sphonewas caused by Mr Linehan on the evening of the 19th of October 2024.

“We therefore found Mr Linehan not guilty of the offence.”

Ms Brooks, who was aged 17 at the time of the incident, told the appeal hearing on Friday that she approached Linehan and began recording him because she wanted “an apology and explanation” from him.

The comedy writer, now known for his outspoken views against transgender rights, had called her a “domestic terrorist” on social media, the court heard.

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“I wanted a response. I wanted to know why he thought it was acceptable to call teenagers a domestic terrorist, and to shame him into an apology,” Ms Brooks said.

Linehan’s lawyer Sarah Vine KC, cross-examining Ms Brooks, told the complainant her purpose in approaching and filming Linehan was to “provoke a reaction”.

Ms Brooks denied that, saying: “I wanted to shame him, not upset him, and not in the hope of a reaction – in the hope of an apology or an explanation, or both.”

During their confrontation outside the conference, Linehan was recorded calling Ms Brooks a “sissy porn-watching scumbag”, a “groomer” and a “disgusting incel”, to which Ms Brooks replied: “You’re the incel, you’re divorced.”

Another video played in court on Thursday appeared to show Linehangrabbing or slapping the complainant’s phone out of her hands.

Last November, District Judge Briony Clarke also cleared Linehan of harassing Ms Brooks with a series of social media posts before and after the incident.

She said his posts were “deeply unpleasant, insulting and even unnecessary”, but did not amount to “oppressive” conduct.

The Bafta-winning writer was accused of harassment for branding Ms Brooks a “domestic terrorist”, a “groomer” and an “incel” in social media posts too.

byNeo

in

May 02, 2026

Graham Linehan has conviction for damaging trans activist’s phone overturned

Father Tedco-creatorGraham Linehanhas had his conviction fordamaging a transgender activist’s mobile phoneoverturned, following an appe...

Read More