From nuclear peace talks to surging oil prices, here’s some notable news of the past week.
April 27: The 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons begins.
Continuing until May 22, the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, began on April 27 at the United Nations Headquarter in New York City. On Day 1, delegates emphasized that another failed conference following the inability to adopt the Final Outcome Document in both the 2015 and 2022 Review Conferences would increase the risk of another arms-race. On Day 2, state parties discussed nuclear disarmament, deterrence and security with some citing NATO expansion and U.S. military posture as deteriorating strategic stability of the NPT. These three topics were further debated on Day 3, with discourse surrounding Iran and the political strain of the treaty. On the last day before the weekend, the ambassadors focused on the compensation and rehabilitation of areas affected by past nuclear tests. Read more for live updates of the conference.
April 27: King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the White House.
In preparation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, marking the first visit of a British monarch in almost two decades. The President and His Majesty expressed admiration for each other and their respective countries, as Trump toasted to America’s British heritage and King Charles gave Trump a personal gift, according to an article on the official White House website. Although there were some mishaps, such as displaying the Union flag upside down and hanging Australian flags, according to an article by the Independent, this initial greeting displayed America’s appreciation for Britain and vice versa, which would be a common theme for the next three days of the royal couple’s stay in the U.S.
April 29: The Supreme Court declares Louisiana’s new redistricting map unconstitutional in ruling of Louisiana v. Callais.
In a 6-3 bipartisan vote, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that Louisiana’s 2024 election map, which created a second majority-Black congressional district, was “an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” This came from a reinterpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was originally put in place during the Civil Rights Movement to prevent the discrimination “on the basis of race, color or language minority status” in voting practices. Many believe this change dismisses the original purpose of the voting act and will allow some states to further dilute minority voting power. UCLA Professor of Law Rick Hasen said in an article by NPR, “What’s left of the Voting Rights Act is a hollow shell of what it was before.” In fact, lawmakers in states like Tennessee and Georgia called for new redistricting shortly after this ruling.
April 29-30: USAC and Daily Bruin host 2026-27 election debates.
From 7-10 p.m. on April 29 and 30, Round 1 and 2, respectively, of candidate debates for the 2026-27 school year were held in the De Neve Auditorium. On Wednesday, the debates featured the candidates running for President, General Representative, External Vice President, Academic Affairs Commissioner, Community Service Commissioner and Cultural Affairs Commissioner as well as debates surrounding the Bruin Success Referendum and Bruin Bash Referendum. On Thursday, candidates for Internal Vice President, Financial Supports Commissioner, Transfer Student Representative, Campus Events Commissioner, Facilities Commissioner, Student Wellness Commissioner and International Student Representative discussed their platforms. The Bruin Life Undergraduate Experience Referendum and the constitutional amendments were also debated. Voting opens at 8 a.m. on May 8, and undergraduate students can vote on MyUCLA under the elections tab.
April 30: Trump signs legislation which ends a 76-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
On April 30, Trump signed a Senate-approved and unanimously House-approved bill, ending the longest shutdown of a federal department in U.S. history. According to an article by CBS News, this bill will fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, with the exception of the department’s immigration enforcement agencies, which were largely unaffected by the shutdown. After funding expired on Feb. 14, the Coast Guard, FEMA and TSA struggled to maintain operations, while ICE and Border Patrol remained operational due to receiving tens of billions of dollars in funding in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While the bill reopened the DHS, it also involved creating a reconciliation budget for ICE and Border Patrol.
May 1: The United Arab Emirates officially leaves OPEC and OPEC+.
Announced on April 28, the UAE officially left the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and its broader alliance OPEC+, on May 1. Being the third-largest producer following Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Minister of Energy Suhail Al Mazrouei said the UAE has goals of producing 5 million barrels per day by 2027 and wanted “more freedom of action to pursue that goal,” with more flexibility to respond to the markets, according to an article by CNBC. This announcement follows weeks of missile and drone attacks on the UAE by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, which greatly impacted the UAE’s ability to export oil. Al Mazrouei added, “Our exit at this time is the right time for it, because it will have a minimum impact on the price and it will have a minimum impact on our friends at OPEC and OPEC+.”
May 1: California average for gas surpasses $6 per gallon for the first time in almost four years.
In a report released on Friday, the American Automobile Association reported that Californians were paying an average of $6.06 per gallon, compared to the national average of $4.39, according to an article by The Guardian. Nationwide gas prices have risen since the beginning of the U.S. war with Iran, as the country has seen a 44% increase in prices since February. With high taxes and reliance on imported petroleum, Chief Oil Analyst at Dow Jones Energy, Denton Cinquegrana, said, “California is arguably the state most impacted by the strait of Hormuz in the United States, which has been largely insulated from the events.”
May 2-3: American Indian Student Association hosts UCLA’s 41st annual Pow Wow.
Featuring dancing and singing contests and the Ms. UCLA POW WOW Pageant, UCLA’s 41st annual Pow Wow hosted by the American Indian Student Association took place at the Wallis Annenberg Stadium on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and May 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open to the public, this celebration featured dances, student organizations, traditional Native American food and speeches from members of the community such as the outgoing Pow Wow Princess Lucy Antell-Hoye. For more information, see @bruinspowwow on Instagram.
May 3: Peace talks for war in Iran are uncertain.
As of Sunday, to Israel’s Kan News, Trump expressed his disapproval of Iran’s 14-point peace plan asking the U.S. to withdraw its forces near the Iran border, end the naval blockade of Iranian ports, cease all hostilities including Israel in Lebanon and reach a settlement in thirty days, according to an article by the BBC. Furthermore, Trump announced “Project Freedom” starting May 4, posting on Truth Social, “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.” Read more for live updates on the Iran War.
