• Republicans are using a legislative maneuver that would bypass a Senate filibuster to send billions of dollars to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to POLITICO reports from Washington on May 1, 2026.
• The move is intended to strengthen ICE enforcement capacity amid President Trump’s fixation on keeping a Republican House majority in the upcoming midterms and comes as the administration faces criticism over border and deportation policies.
• Critics warn the approach could cement highly restrictive immigration enforcement for years, while the GOP argues it will bolster security and hold the administration to its campaign promises.
Pete Hegseth argued that a ceasefire agreement with Iran more than three weeks ago ‘means the 60 day clock pauses, or stops’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHello and welcome to our live coverage of the day.Today marks 60 days since the Trump administration notified Congress that it was carrying out strikes on Iran – meaning that under the War Powers Act of 1973, today is the deadline for Donald Trump to either end the Iran war or seek congressional authorization to extend it.Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington DC, released edited security-camera video of the incident at the White House correspondents’ dinner amid questions about whether or not the suspected gunman, Cole Allen, fired his weapon before being subdued. While the video shows four muzzles flashes from the agent’s gun as he fired at Allen, it was not immediately clear that it does show Allen discharging his weapon after he pointed it at the agent.Sean Curran, the director of the US Secret Service, told Fox News that Allen was stopped not by secret service gunfire, but by a box used to transport a metal detector, which he tripped over.Congress has passed a 45-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a law that grants US intelligence agencies warrantless spying powers.Trump has threatened to withdraw troops from Spain and Italy, two countries that countries have been vocally critical of his war in the Middle East. This comes after Trump suggested reviewing US military presence in Germany after the country’s chancellor said America was being “humiliated” by Iran. Continue reading...
• Gas prices have surged above $4 per gallon and flights skyrocketed as the Strait of Hormuz blockade impacts energy markets amid the US-Israel war with Iran, eroding Trump's key political advantage.
• More than three-quarters of registered voters—including over half of Republicans and 82% of independents—now blame Trump for the cost-of-living crisis affecting fuel, groceries, housing, and healthcare.
• Trump's second-term approval ratings have fallen far faster than previous presidents after a government shutdown, tariffs, and the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning the war is fueling inflation.
Reuters-Ipsos, AP-NORC and NBC polls show approval in mid-30s, with economy, Iran and immigration concernsUS politics live – latest updatesA trio of political polls indicate public approval of Donald Trump’s management of the US economy, immigration and the Iran conflict is slipping, flashing warning lights for Trump-aligned Republican candidates with six months to go until the US midterm elections.Polls by Reuters-Ipsos poll, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC had the president’s approval rating hovering in the mid-30s, at 36%, 35% and 33% respectively, which are near his lowest numbers. Continue reading...
• The president requires congressional approval to extend a 30-day federal takeover of unspecified operations beyond the initial period.
• Lawmakers from both parties debate the scope, with costs projected at millions in taxpayer funds.
• Extension could set precedent for future interventions, raising federalism concerns among states.
Advocates expressed alarm as new project drills deeper into ocean bed, pointing to company’s failures at Deepwater Horizon spillSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxEnvironmental groups have sued the Trump administration over its approval of BP’s huge new ultra-deep oil drilling project in the Gulf of Mexico, 16 years to the day since the company’s Deepwater Horizon disaster caused the worst oil spill in US history. Continue reading...
The former ballet dancer said Chalamet’s comments were ‘reckless’ in an interview with the New York Times in which she also discussed her violent childhoodActor and former ballet dancer Charlize Theron has joined the chorus of disapproval aimed at Timothée Chalamet over his remarks that appeared to disrespect performers of ballet and opera.In an interview with the New York Times, Theron said: “Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day,” adding: “That was a very reckless comment on two art forms that we need to lift up constantly because, yes, they do have a hard time. But in 10 years, AI is going to be able to do Timothée’s job, but it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live.” Continue reading...
Researchers say ‘magic mushrooms’ can help with traumatic symptoms, but urge caution as states expand accessSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAfter three combat deployments in Afghanistan, during which he suffered traumatic brain injuries from concussive blasts, army ranger Jesse Gould developed post-traumatic stress disorder and said he “drank almost every night to cope”.In times of hardship, veterans sometimes turn to “medication and talk therapy, but it tends to be more of a maintenance program than actually overcoming it”, Gould said, but added that at age 38, “I was still very young. I didn’t want to be on medication the rest of my life.” Continue reading...
Record high set on Monday and raised on Tuesday, with 14.4GW of electricity generated in sunny spring weatherBritain’s sunny spring weather powered the grid to new solar energy records on two consecutive days this week.Solar farms in England, Wales and Scotland generated 14.1 GW of low-carbon electricity at lunchtime on Monday, surpassing the previous high of 14GW in July last year. Continue reading...
• Artivion (AORT) secured U.S. FDA approval for the NEXUS Aortic Arch System on April 7, 2026.
• The device approval is expected to accelerate hospital adoption and spark reimbursement discussions.
• This milestone positions Artivion for revenue growth in cardiovascular treatments.
Conservationists say move could push species closer to extinction and clearer environmental rules are needed insteadFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastConservationists and scientists have warned a mining lobby proposal to use artificial intelligence to speed up national environmental approvals could generate “Robodebt-style” failures, putting threatened species at further risk.The Minerals Council of Australia has asked the government to spend $13m to trial the use of AI to help companies prepare applications and help the federal government make decisions. Continue reading...
Clause says those aged up to 45 may need permission from armed forces to leave country for more than three monthsA little-noticed clause in sweeping changes to Germany’s military service policy has caused uproar after it emerged that the law requires men aged up to 45 to get permission from the armed forces before any significant stay abroad, even in peacetime.The legislation, which went into effect on 1 January, aims to bolster the the military and demands all 18-year-old men fill out a questionnaire to gauge their suitability to serve in the armed forces, but stops short of conscription. Continue reading...
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted final approval for Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to continue operations through 2030, concluding a three-year regulatory review process.
• This decision represents a significant policy shift regarding nuclear energy in California and demonstrates regulatory confidence in the plant's safe operation and maintenance standards.
• The approval reflects broader national conversations about nuclear energy's role in meeting energy demands and climate goals, particularly as the U.S. seeks to expand clean energy capacity.
• FDA announced on April 1, 2026, that new drug approvals last year reached near-record levels, surpassing five-, ten-, and multi-year averages.
• This update highlights continued acceleration in innovative therapies reaching US patients, boosting treatment options for various diseases.
• Strong approval momentum underscores FDA's commitment to expediting safe, effective drugs amid public health priorities like cancer and rare diseases.
• President Trump's approval rating dropped to 41% in a Fox News poll released last week, with 59% of voters disapproving, marking the lowest point of his second term.
• A war abroad and stalled domestic agenda are colliding with weakening polls, raising alarms inside the GOP as midterm fears grow.
• The declining ratings underscore challenges for Republicans heading into elections, potentially impacting party strategy and legislative priorities.
• UBS announced on March 27, 2026, that its US subsidiary, UBS Bank USA, was approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national bank charter.
• This approval expands UBS's US banking operations amid fintech sector growth.
• The move positions UBS to compete more directly in the US digital banking landscape.
• The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on March 24, 2026, sending it back to the House to increase housing supply through reforms.
• The legislation targets zoning and permitting barriers to boost construction amid ongoing housing shortages.
• Passage marks a key step in addressing national housing crisis, potentially easing affordability for millions if enacted.
ACA requires firms to cover colonoscopies for over-45s but young people face hurdles to receive appropriate testsAs colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s, some adults in the US who are under 45 and experiencing worrying symptoms are struggling to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies, which can detect colon cancer.The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people over 45 “because it’s been recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force”, says Caitlin Murphy, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Chicago. The ACA requires preventive screenings, including pap smears, for example, to be completely covered. Continue reading...
• Johnson & Johnson has received FDA approval for a new psoriasis treatment pill, expanding therapeutic options for patients with the chronic skin condition.
• The United States smoking rate has quietly reached a historical low, reflecting decades of public health efforts and tobacco control policies.
• These developments represent significant milestones in pharmaceutical innovation and public health outcomes across different therapeutic areas.
• The FDA on March 13 expanded approval of GSK's Arexvy RSV vaccine to adults aged 18-49 at increased risk of lower respiratory tract disease.
• Phase 3b trial data showed non-inferior immune response in younger adults compared to those 60+, targeting 21 million U.S. adults under 50 with conditions like diabetes or obesity.
• RSV causes 17,000 hospitalizations, 277,000 emergency visits, and 2 million outpatient visits yearly in this group, highlighting need for broader protection amid rising cases.
