• President released Fiscal Year 2027 budget request on April 10, 2026, proposing 46% cuts to global health programs under a consolidated account aligned with America First Global Health Strategy.
• Cuts eliminate funding for HIV prevention like voluntary medical male circumcision, LGBTQ programming, and reproductive health services; also includes 12% NIH budget reduction.
• Proposal signals deprioritization of science and research amid administration's rejection of Congress's appropriations power; Congress historically rejects such deep cuts.
• Federal Reserve policymakers indicated Wednesday they are unlikely to cut interest rates in the near term, citing persistent inflation pressures that exceed the central bank's 2% target.
• Multiple Fed officials, including those from major regional banks, cited "hotter-than-expected" March inflation readings as justification for holding rates steady through at least mid-2026.
• Market expectations for rate cuts have shifted significantly, with futures traders now pricing in the first possible cut in September 2026 rather than June, reflecting the hawkish pivot.
Exclusive: Taskforce led by former Treasury official Anthea Long will advise on cost-cutting options for $52bn programGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has quietly established a razor gang to drive budget savings in the national disability insurance scheme, as it works to further rein in costs ahead of next month’s federal budget.An NDIS Sustainability Taskforce was established within the health department earlier this year, with instructions from the federal government and national cabinet to advise on cost-cutting options for the $52bn program. Continue reading...
Jason Tarry sees salary increase by 21% in year to January, while fewer people are employed at John Lewis and Waitrose storesThe boss of the group that owns John Lewis and Waitrose was handed a 21% increase in basic pay last year to £1.2m while the retailer cut 3,300 jobs.Jason Tarry, who became chair of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) in September 2024, saw his annual salary increase by a fifth to £1.2m in the year to January, from £990,000. Continue reading...
• Anthropic has discontinued third-party tools like OpenClaw for Claude subscribers, citing unsustainable demand straining its infrastructure.
• The move prioritizes core model stability as user growth surges, impacting developers relying on extensions for customized workflows.
• It highlights operational challenges for leading AI providers balancing openness with capacity limits in a rapidly scaling market.
• Meta is eliminating approximately 200 positions in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of team restructuring.
• The layoffs support heavy investments in AI infrastructure and long-term tech priorities.
• This reflects broader industry shifts where companies trim staff to allocate resources toward generative AI development.
Democrats rebuke White House’s ‘bleak and unacceptable’ view of priorities after 10% cuts proposed to other programsUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDefense spending would surge to its highest level in decades under a budget proposal put forward by the Trump administration on Friday, while other government programs would face cuts totaling 10%.The document prepared by the White House office of management and budget (OMB) is a starting point for negotiations that will probably occupy Congress’s appropriators in the coming months, and are unlikely to be enacted in full. Continue reading...
• A new report warns that hundreds of hospitals serving 6.6 million Americans in 44 states and Washington, D.C., face serious threats from potential Medicaid cuts.
• The cuts could force hospitals to reduce services or close, severely impacting healthcare access for lower-income and underserved communities.
• Medicaid remains a critical funding source for these facilities, highlighting the broad national implications for public health infrastructure.
Company chaired by Trump ally Larry Ellison seeks to reassure investors that bet on AI infrastructure will pay offOracle is cutting thousands of jobs as the US technology company seeks to reassure investors that its bet on AI infrastructure will pay off.The $420bn firm, headquartered in Austin, Texas, started letting employees go on Tuesday, with thousands of Oracle’s 160,000-strong workforce expected to leave. Continue reading...
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that 2026 tax filing season refunds are up more than 10% nationwide compared to last year, with working Americans poised for immediate take-home pay increases via withholding changes.
• The gains stem from broader economic policies under President Trump, including Trump Accounts to expand benefits from the vibrant economy to more citizens.
• This reflects efforts to return money to American workers, families, and businesses, ushering in a new era of growth amid strong IRS performance.
New measures will protect Tata and British Steel but allow foreign pre-made parts into the UK, say industry bossesSteel bosses have warned ministers that a “back door” in new trade rules could hit British manufacturers and lead to job cuts and factory closures by allowing a vast array of foreign products to still enter the UK tax-free.The loophole means pre-made steel parts ranging from bridge sections, columns and door frames, all the way to smaller rods and tubes used in buildings, will escape recently announced import tariffs, the Guardian understands. Continue reading...
Flow-on effect will depend on how quickly service stations sell more expensive fuel, experts warn, leaving Easter travel plans up in the airGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians expecting relief from punishing fuel prices in time for Easter travel are set to be disappointed, with the industry predicting the effects of Labor temporarily halving the excise will take days or weeks to reach some bowsers around the country.The halving of the fuel excise, which begins on Wednesday and lasts until the end of June, means the federal government will now collect 26.3c from every litre over the next three months instead of 52.6c a litre. Continue reading...
Move comes five days after Jim Chalmers said Labor was not considering cutting the fuel exciseAnthony Albanese has slashed the fuel excise in half in a move which will save motorists 26 cents a litre, and is encouraging people to take public transport where they can, as the national cabinet announces a plan to manage the petrol crisis.Following a meeting of state and federal leaders on Monday, leaders also agreed to reduce the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months, in a bid to support truck drivers. Continue reading...
Protesters decried Trump administration healthcare policies and direction of HHS under leadership of RFK JrAs tens of thousands of people assembled across the US and around the world for No Kings protests, about a thousand people gathered outside the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, on Saturday morning to protest cuts to medical research and the Trump’s administration’s policies on health.The rally follows a tumultuous year for the research agency, with devastating cuts to multi-year funding and outright terminations of grants, especially to research related to gender and race. The White House is now poised to cut the NIH’s budget by 20%, according to reporting by Roll Call on Friday, nearly one year after mass layoffs at health agencies. Continue reading...
• A year after federal mandates threatened to disrupt scientific research, university laboratories are experiencing cautious recovery in funding from NIH, NSF, and NASA.
• Researchers at Northern Kentucky University and other institutions faced significant uncertainty when federal cuts impacted grants, laboratory operations, and student research opportunities.
• The gradual thaw in federal science funding represents a critical turning point for academic research infrastructure, though underlying uncertainty about future appropriations remains.
US defense secretary axed the four officers’ names from list to become one-star generals, the New York Times reportsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, is reportedly attempting to block the military promotion of four officers – two women and two Black men – to become one-star generals.The remaining promotion list includes about three dozen officers, most of whom are white men, though a few women and Black officers are still included, according to the New York Times. Continue reading...
Grant cuts of nearly 70% may force university departments to close and ‘annihilate’ research, scientists sayBritish physicists have shaped our understanding of nature and the universe for more than a century, uncovering the building blocks of matter and furthering our knowledge on cosmic puzzles from the big bang to black holes.But senior scientists warned on Friday that the field of particle theory faces an existential threat after universities were informed of savage cuts to research. Brian Cox, a TV scientist and professor at the University of Manchester, said the impact amounted to the “destruction of the future”. Continue reading...
East coast slammed on Thursday night with wind and rain, with more warnings in place for FridayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThousands of Australians woke without power on Friday after a series of wild autumn storms soaked communities in multiple states – and the high country recorded its first big snowfall of 2026.While many storm watchers kept their eyes on the west and the path of Tropical Cyclone Narelle, Australia’s east coast was slammed on Thursday night, with more warnings in place for Friday. Continue reading...
• Congress rejected Trump administration's $18 billion NIH budget cut proposal, providing stability for 2026 grantees at institutions like University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Delays in grant reviews and dispersal have stalled projects, hiring, and caused anxiety, with NIH months behind schedule as of March 26, 2026.
• Vice Chancellor Dorota Brzezinska noted core funding protection but ongoing uncertainty impacts lab operations and future awards before September 30 deadline.
• Meta is reducing its workforce while simultaneously increasing investment in artificial intelligence capabilities and research.
• The company is shifting resources to prioritize AI development over other business areas, signaling a strategic pivot in corporate priorities.
• This move reflects broader industry trends where major tech companies are reallocating capital toward AI infrastructure and models despite economic pressures.
• Thousands of CDC employees have been laid off over the past year, leaving the agency in chaos amid funding cuts and the aftermath of a deadly shooting at its Atlanta headquarters last summer.
• Insiders express concerns that the incoming Trump-nominated director will further erode trust in the agency as measles outbreaks escalate and vaccine policies face resistance.
• The nominee is expected to be announced on Truth Social by Wednesday, inheriting a hollowed-out leadership structure marked by yearlong turmoil.
President urges people to reduce consumption after power line passing through Ukraine damaged by drones; Moscow spring offensive steps up. What we know on day 1,491Moldova declared a state of emergency in the energy sector after a key power line with Europe was disconnected following Russian strikes in Ukraine. The declaration comes into effect on Wednesday and lasts for 60 days. The prime minister, Alexandru Munteanu, appealed to people to “avoid unnecessary consumption, especially during peak hours” and “stay united”, according to a statement from parliament. The former Soviet republic imports electricity from neighbouring EU member Romania, mostly via a power cable that passes through southern Ukraine. Moldovan authorities said crashed drones had been identified in Ukraine near the line and that “demining operations” were needed before repairs could be done. Restoring the power line itself was expected to take up to seven days, the energy minister, Dorin Junghietu was quoted by the Moldovan media outlet Ziarul de Gardă as saying. “Russia alone bears responsibility,” the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, wrote on X, while the foreign ministry also condemned the Russian attacks. Russia has frequently targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since it invaded its neighbour in 2022.The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has accused Russia of “absolute depravity” after Moscow fired an unprecedented daytime barrage across Ukraine, including on the historical centre of the western city of Lviv. “Iranian ‘shaheds’ [attack drones], modernised by Russia, are striking a church in Lviv – this is absolute depravity, and only someone like [Vladimir] Putin could find this appealing,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address. “The scale of this attack makes it abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending this war,” Zelenskyy added, vowing that Ukraine “will certainly respond to any attacks”.Russia’s military said on Wednesday it had shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest attacks to date. Russian regions bordering Ukraine, as well as Moscow and northwestern Leningrad were the main areas targeted, according to the military.Moscow appears to be stepping up a spring offensive intended to break Ukrainian resistance, writes Pjotr Sauer. Ukrainian officials said Moscow fired nearly 400 long-range drones and 23 cruise missiles overnight, followed by another 556 drones in an unusual daytime assault on Tuesday, hitting cities across the west of the country and killing at least seven people. Taken together, the barrage marks one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion more than four years ago. One Russian drone struck the Bernardine monastery, a 16th-century church in Lviv’s Unesco-listed medieval centre, causing damage, local authorities said.North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, said his country would always support Russia in a thank-you letter to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Ties between the two have grown closer since Putin began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending ground troops and weapons systems to aid Russia’s war effort. “I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as president of the state affairs,” Kim said in the message on Tuesday, the official Korean central news agency said. “Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries,” Kim said, using the initials of the North’s official name. “Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will,” he added. South Korean and western intelligence agencies have estimated that the North has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems. Analysts say the assistance has been provided in exchange for Russia’s provision of food and weapons technologies. Continue reading...
• On March 24, 2026, Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Hakeem Jeffries held a roundtable condemning Republican policies gutting Medicaid and ACA programs, forcing families to choose between medications and rent.
• Pressley highlighted Republicans' $2 billion daily war funding while cutting healthcare for tens of millions and supporting ICE abuses.
• 'Republicans’ manufactured healthcare crisis is making people sicker, poorer, and less safe,' Pressley stated.
• Tech sector layoffs have surpassed 45,000 jobs in the first months of 2026, with the US accounting for the majority of global cuts announced so far this year.
• Job reductions in Europe have been limited but noticeable, reflecting broader industry pressures amid economic shifts.
• The wave of cuts highlights ongoing challenges in tech hiring post-boom, affecting major firms across the US.
• Federal data reveals the National Institutes of Health has lost about 4400 employees, representing 20% of its workforce, during President Donald Trump's second term due to cuts in staff and research funding.
• Former NIH scientists warn the exodus could lead to fewer biomedical breakthroughs, weaker responses to disease outbreaks, and diminished U.S. public health crisis management.
• KFF Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan discussed the brain drain on WAMU’s Health Hub on March 18, 2026, with departing D.C.-area workers citing tumult as a key factor for early quits or retirements.
VAT tax on fuels will reportedly drop from 21% to 10%, as Ursula von der Leyen suggests EU may move to help states with rising energy costsSpain is set to put forward a number of emergency tax cuts this morning to counter the economic impact of the Iran war.The measures – set to be presented at a press conference 11am local time – are expected to include lowering VAT tax on fuels to 10% from 21%, according to early media reports, alongside other changes, including to the hydrocarbon and electricity duties, intended to help with growing energy prices. Continue reading...
• Dell reduced its workforce by 10% over the past fiscal year, contributing to nearly 40,000 tech layoffs across Silicon Valley firms in 2026.
• The cuts reflect broader cost-cutting measures in the US tech industry amid economic pressures and shifting priorities.
• Silicon Valley giants continue significant staff reductions, signaling challenges in sustaining growth post-AI boom.
Senator backed restructuring the disaster agency but dodged questions on staffing, leaving officials uneasy over readiness and leadershipSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe confirmation hearing for Markwayne Mullin, Donald Trump’s pick to replace Kristi Noem as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), left disaster management officials and experts concerned about what his tenure would mean for the future of the main US disaster response agency.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which DHS oversees, coordinates federal response efforts to disasters such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires. Continue reading...
• Both Republicans and Democrats signaled strong opposition to cutting National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the 2027 budget request expected within two weeks, following President Trump's failed 40 percent cut request for the prior year.
• Last month Congress approved a $415 million increase for the NIH, allocating $48.7 billion to the agency for biomedical research, with bipartisan lawmakers encouraging NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to distribute funding to their districts and projects improving American health.
• Appropriations ranking member Rosa DeLauro stated lawmakers would "continue to reject cuts to NIH research, because what you do is life-saving," underscoring commitment to maintaining research support.
Robert Allbritton’s Notus plans to double its newsroom staff, which includes hiring prominent ex-Post journalistsRobert Allbritton, the billionaire media entrepreneur, said he was “pained” by the Washington Post’s decision to lay off a large chunk of its newsroom in early February. But, he also saw it as an opportunity to hire some of the Post’s most well-known journalists, including many who would have been hard to poach in previous years.“Opportunity knocks, and you’re going to decide if you’re going to answer the door or not,” Allbritton, 57, said. “I’m always the one that says: ‘Look, if an opportunity like this comes up, you ought to go on ahead and see what you can do with it and take it on full throttle, because these things don’t come along very often.’” Continue reading...
