Order

• Präsident Donald J. Trump hat eine Executive Order unterzeichnet, die gezielte Sanktionen gegen mehrere Beamte und Organisationen des Cuba-Regimes verhängt, denen die Administration vorwirft, Unterdrückung und Menschenrechtsverletzungen unterstützt zu haben. • Das White House erklärte, die Maßnahme sende eine Botschaft der Solidarität an kubanische Dissidenten und ergänze umfassendere Bemühungen, Druck auf autoritäre Regime in Latin America auszuüben. • Kritiker im Congress, darunter einige Democrats und sogar einige Republicans, argumentieren, dass der Schritt nach hinten losgehen könnte, da er den Verhandlungsspielraum der U.S. vor anstehenden Verhandlungen über Migration und regionale Sicherheit einschränkt.

Der Stadtrat von Livorno gibt an, dass sich Bewohner nach einem Anstieg der Haustieranzahl über üblen Geruch beschwert haben. Hundebesitzer in einer italienischen Hafenstadt werden künftig verpflichtet sein, den Urin ihrer Haustiere von öffentlichen Plätzen zu entfernen, oder es drohen Bußgelder von bis zu 500 €. Luca Salvetti, der Bürgermeister von Livorno an der toskanischen Küste, führte die Maßnahme nach Beschwerden von Anwohnern über den Geruch von Hundeurin ein, insbesondere in Parks und auf Kinderspielplätzen. Lesen Sie weiter...

• Ein Staatsgericht in Pennsylvania hat Wahlbeamte angewiesen, bis Juni 2026 eine neue Karte der Kongresswahlbezirke zu erstellen, da die derzeitige, von Republikanern unterstützte Karte die Stimmkraft schwarzer und Latino-Gemeinschaften in Philadelphia und Pittsburgh unrechtmäßig verwässert habe. • Der Richter stellte fest, dass die bestehenden Wahlbezirke Wähler aus Minderheiten in einer Handvoll „sicherer“ demokratischer Sitze konzentrierten, was ihren Einfluss in benachbarten, wettbewerbsintensiven Bezirken einschränkte und gegen staatliche Verfassungsgarantien für eine gleichberechtigte Vertretung verstieß. • Die Entscheidung gefährdet die Hoffnungen der Republikaner, im Jahr 2026 eine knappe Mehrheit im Repräsentantenhaus zu behaupten, und könnte die Legislative in ein gerichtlich überwachtes Redistricting-Verfahren zwingen, falls sich die Gesetzgeber nicht auf eine Ersatzkarte einigen können.

• Das US-relevante Cross-Border-Paytech-Startup Latitude hat diese Woche den Stealth-Modus mit einer von NEA angeführten Seed-Finanzierung in Höhe von 8 Millionen US-Dollar verlassen, um langsame und kostspielige geschäftliche Geldtransfers anzugehen. • Die Finanzierung unterstützt Latitudes Mission, internationale Zahlungen zu rationalisieren, und positioniert das Unternehmen als Herausforderer im Fintech-Sektor angesichts der steigenden Nachfrage nach effizienten B2B-Überweisungen. • Der Start fällt mit einem Fintech-Aufschwung im April 2026 zusammen, was das Vertrauen der Investoren in Paytech-Innovationen trotz wirtschaftlicher Unsicherheiten aufgrund von Energiepreisen und der Fed-Politik unterstreicht.

• Das in Framingham, MA ansässige Unternehmen Tortugas Neuroscience hat in einer Kombination aus Seed- und Serie-A-Finanzierung 106 Millionen US-Dollar für niedermolekulare Therapien (Small Molecule Therapies) zur Behandlung neurologischer Erkrankungen eingeworben. • Cure Ventures führte die Seed-Runde an, während The Column Group und AN Venture Partners die Serie-A-Finanzierung am 21. April gemeinsam leiteten. • Die Investition beschleunigt die Entwicklung von Behandlungen auf Basis validierter biologischer Targets und adressiert einen ungedeckten Bedarf im US-Biotech-Sektor.

Acht lokale Rundfunk𝗹izenzen werden überprüft, nachdem das Weiße Haus den Late-Night-Moderator wegen einer Bemerkung angriff Melden Sie sich für die Breaking News US-E-Mail an, um Newsletter-Benachrichtigungen in Ihrem Postfach zu erhalten Die oberste Medienaufsichtsbehörde der USA gab am Dienstag bekannt, dass sie die Überprüfung von acht lokalen Rundfunk𝗹izenzen von ABC beschleunigt – ein Schritt, den Kritiker als klares Beispiel für politische und regulatorische Vergeltungsmaßnahmen gegen einen unbeliebten Sender sehen. Die Ankündigung der Federal Communications Commission (FCC) erfolgt, nachdem das Weiße Haus einen umfassenden Angriff gegen den ABC-Late-Night-Moderator Jimmy Kimmel gestartet hatte, aufgrund eines Witzes, den er letzte Woche über Melania Trump machte. Weiterlesen...

Foreign affairs minister begins another diplomatic tour to secure Australia’s fuel and energy supply chains. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning, Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:The foreign minister, Penny Wong, will travel to Japan today, part of a diplomatic trip to secure fuel supplies that will also include visits to China and South Korea. She said the effort will help “ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner”. Continue reading...

Alex Greenwich says inquest crucial to understand what failures led to Bikram Lama’s death and avoid similar deaths Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales attorney-general, Michael Daley, has been urged to order an inquest into the death of Nepali rough sleeper Bikram Lama in Hyde Park.The death of Lama – who was also known as “the birdman” for his love of the area’s pigeons – has prompted widespread calls for change, after Guardian Australia revealed last week that the young migrant’s body lay unnoticed for up to a week in bushes near a busy thoroughfare into St James station. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office on April 25, 2026, enacting the 'World's Most Powerful Reset' to address national security and economic stability. • The orders grant the administration vast new powers over the U.S. economy and financial system, potentially altering the Federal Reserve's role amid foreign threats. • The actions have triggered fierce debate over constitutional authority, with volatile reactions from Democrats and Republicans, and shockwaves in global markets.

• Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have launched joint military exercises involving 8,000 NATO troops in response to Russian force mobilization along the eastern border, marking the largest Baltic-focused NATO drill this year. • Russian military intelligence reports indicate approximately 35,000 Russian troops have gathered near the Belarus-Poland border; NATO commanders assess this as a potential preparation for military action. • Pentagon officials have authorized increased US military presence in the region, with 2,500 additional American troops authorized for rapid deployment if tensions escalate further.

• A military confrontation along the Kashmir border escalated Friday when Pakistani forces fired on Indian positions near Uri, killing 12 Indian soldiers and wounding 18 others in the deadliest incident in two years, Pakistani military sources confirmed. • India's military responded with retaliatory strikes, with New Delhi claiming to have neutralized three Pakistani military positions; Pakistan denied casualties on its side but acknowledged defensive operations. • Regional analysts expressed alarm that the incident could spiral into broader conflict, warning both nations possess nuclear arsenals and recent diplomatic tensions have left few de-escalation channels open.

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office, dubbed the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' targeting U.S. economic stability and national security. • The orders grant the administration expanded powers over the economy and financial system, including potential alterations to the Federal Reserve's role amid foreign threats. • The actions have triggered market volatility, fierce partisan debate, and questions over constitutional authority from Democrats and some Republicans.

• President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite access to treatments for patients with serious mental illness. • The FDA is accelerating its review process for mental health therapies in response to the directive. • This policy shift aims to reduce barriers to treatment approval and expand therapeutic options for affected patients.

• President Trump issued a controversial 'shoot and kill' order targeting boats placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran escalate, marking an intensification of military posturing in the critical shipping lane. • Congress was briefed that removing all mines from the strait could take up to six months, creating significant concerns about extended disruptions to global energy supplies and trade. • The Chevron CEO warned of potential air travel disruptions due to expected jet fuel shortages resulting from the ongoing tensions and potential blockade of the strategic waterway.

Executive order to speed access to psychedelic treatments likely to have limited legal impact despite high-profile pushThe Trump administration issued an executive order earlier this month to accelerate access to psychedelic medication for people with “serious mental illnesses,” but experts say the order is more likely to make a difference symbolically than legally.“Policymakers and the medical field have long struggled to address the burden of suicide and serious mental illness rates in America,” the order reads, noting that some people do not respond to available treatments. Continue reading...

US president claims ‘total control’ of strait of Hormuz despite Iranian seizure of two ships and report warning it could take months to clear waterway of minesTrump claims US has total control over strait of Hormuz after Iran seizes two container shipsAnalysis: Trump may talk of regime infighting, but Iran seems united by strategy born of warHello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.Donald Trump has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the strait of Hormuz and claimed that US minesweepers “are clearing the strait right now” amid the standoff over the key waterway.Trump said the US had “hit about 75% of our targets” in Iran and that a deal had not yet been reached because Iran was “in turmoil”. Trump added to reporters in the Oval Office that he would not use a nuclear weapon against Iran as the conflict continues without a clear end in sight.Trump also said the US had “total control over the strait of Hormuz” – a claim that has drawn scepticism in the face of Iran’s seizure of two container ships and a US report warning it could take six months to clear the strait of mines.Israel’s killing of a Lebanese journalist in a strike has been met with international outrage as Lebanon’s prime minister described the attack as a “war crime”. Amal Khalil, 43, was killed in what colleagues described as a sustained attack by Israeli forces, with rescuers attempting to dig her out of the rubble of a building also targeted and prevented from providing life-saving assistance.Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said there were no “hardliners” or “moderates” in Iran, responding a Trump claim there was internal division in Iran’s leadership. Separately, Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said Iranian state institutions “continue to act with unity, purpose and discipline”.Italian sports officials say Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup after a suggestion to that effect by a Trump administration official. Sports minister Andrea Abodi said “it’s not a good idea” while finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the suggestion “shameful”. The US said it had no objections to Iranian players participating in the Cup but they would not be allowed to bring along people with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.Pope Leo XIV urged the US and Iran to return to talks to end the war and condemned capital punishment, calling for a new “culture of peace” to replace the recourse to violence.It remained unclear if the US and Iran would hold another round of talks in Pakistan amid efforts from mediators there towards a peace deal. Continue reading...

Force says it is ‘confident there was no offence’ and condemns ‘shameful’ behaviour by protestersThe investigation into reports of a rape outside a church in Epsom that led to widespread public disorder will close as police are “confident there was no offence”.Surrey police received a report on Saturday 11 April that a woman had been raped near a church in the early hours of the morning after leaving Labyrinth nightclub in Epsom. Continue reading...

Republicans deploy measure known as budget reconciliation to push through plan without backing from Democrats during lengthy late-night voteHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The Senate voted to adopt a $70bn budget plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol as part of a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies.Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs.The Pentagon announced, without explanation, that “Secretary of the Navy John C Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately”. The head of the US navy, which is now enforcing a wartime blockade of Iranian ports, was replaced by a former Maga political candidate, Hung Cao, now acting secretary of the navy.The surprise announcement brought renewed attention to Cao’s 2023 comments that that “witchcraft” had “taken over” Monterey, California.Virginia’s attorney general, Jay Jones, promised to appeal an injunction issued by a circuit court judge that temporarily blocks the state from certifying the results of the Tuesday’s redistricting referendum.As jet fuel prices spike amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by Donald Trump’s war on Iran, two Republican senators, Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, denounced a proposed US government bailout of budget carrier Spirit Airlines.Representative David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, has died at the age of 80. He is the fifth member of Congress to die in office within the last year. Continue reading...

• Military delegations from Pakistan and India held their first formal border security talks in 18 months in Islamabad, marking a significant thaw in bilateral tensions following last year's cross-border skirmishes. • Both nations agreed to reinstate a communication hotline between military commanders and establish a joint investigation committee for monitoring ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. • The US quietly supported the initiative through backdoor diplomacy, viewing improved India-Pakistan relations as essential for regional stability and counterterrorism cooperation in Afghanistan.

Budget airline says change will take effect from November and will give passengers more time to clear securityRyanair will close airport check-in desks 20 minutes earlier to avoid passengers missing flights, it has announced, amid concern over border queues in Europe.The budget airline, which carries 200 million passengers annually, will require all passengers dropping bags or checking in at the airport to do so one hour before take-off rather than the current 40-minute deadline. Continue reading...

The rural Texas region, long spared, is being fast-tracked for the border wall amid bipartisan oppositionTractors suddenly appeared at the entrance to Chispa Road near the US-Mexico border in rural Big Bend, Texas, in late March. Contractors informed Yolanda Alvarado, a cattle rancher, that they were starting work to upgrade the rough county dirt road there into a “highway” – the first step needed for semi trucks to haul the 30-foot steel pillars used to build Donald Trump’s border barrier.“That fence line, that’s where the wall is going to be,” said Alvarado, hopping out of the front seat of her flatbed truck at the gate to the family property located directly along the path of the proposed wall. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office, described by the White House as the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' impacting the US economy and financial system. • The orders invoke national security protocols to grant the administration new powers over the Federal Reserve and address economic stability amid foreign threats. • The actions triggered fierce bipartisan debate over constitutional authority, volatile market reactions, and shockwaves globally.

• President Trump signed an executive order directing federal regulators to fast-track FDA review of psychedelic drugs including psilocybin and ibogaine for treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. • The order allocates $50 million in federal funds to states implementing or developing psychedelic treatment programs as part of a federal-state partnership initiative. • Trump highlighted that over 14 million American adults have serious mental illness, with approximately 8 million on prescription medication, framing psychedelics as addressing a national mental health crisis including suicide prevention.

• President issues executive order on April 18, 2026, to speed medical treatments for serious mental illness using psychedelic drugs including ibogaine compounds. • Order highlights clinical studies showing potential for patients with persistent conditions unresponsive to standard therapies. • Directs federal agencies to prioritize research, approvals, and access to innovative mental health interventions nationwide.

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office, with the White House describing them as the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' reportedly granting the administration vast new powers over the U.S. economy and financial system. • The orders are grounded in national security protocols and reportedly address economic stability and foreign threats, with details remaining tightly controlled by the White House. • The executive action has triggered fierce debate over presidential constitutional authority and sparked volatile political reactions from both Democrats and Republicans across the political spectrum.

• Artillery and small arms fire erupted along the Line of Control in Kashmir on April 17-18, marking the first significant border clash in eight months and resulting in at least 12 reported casualties on both sides. • Pakistan accused Indian forces of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement with unprovoked shelling near the Siachen Glacier region; India's military claimed Pakistan-based militants initiated the exchange. • Both nations mobilized additional military units to their shared border; analysts warn the escalation could undermine fragile diplomatic channels reopened in late 2025.

Former SAS corporal allegedly placed man on his knees and ordered fellow soldier to shoot him, according to statement of factsAustralian soldiers have told prosecutors they executed unarmed civilians at the orders of Ben Roberts-Smith or in complicity with him, according to a statement of facts tendered to the New South Wales local court.Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient and once one of Australia’s most lionised soldiers, faces five charges of the war crime of murder, allegedly committed while he served in the Australian SAS in Afghanistan.Each victim was unarmed and present in a location where Roberts-Smith could reasonably have suspected insurgents to be located;Each offence was committed in a situation where there was no active engagements with enemy forces and the Australian Defence Force was in control of the environment;Evidence was planted or falsely associated with each deceased to enhance reporting that each of the killings were within the lawful rules of engagement;Each deceased was handcuffed, detained for a period, and questioned prior to their execution;None of the deceased was killed in a situation where the Australian Defence Force did not have effective control of the battlespace. Continue reading...

• HBO Max greenlit 'Euphoria' Season 3 on April 16, committing to 16 episodes filming starts July 2026, starring Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi. • Creator Sam Levinson promises 'adulting consequences' in post-college storyline, addressing fan delays since 2022 finale. • The renewal, valued at $20 million per episode, cements 'Euphoria' as Max's top series with 40 million viewers per season.