Emergency

• A recent study demonstrates that an updated vaccine formulation reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by approximately 50 percent during the past season. • This significant efficacy improvement represents a major advancement in vaccine development and public health protection strategies. • The findings contribute to the evolving landscape of U.S. vaccine policy, as documented in CIDRAP's latest state of vaccine policy report from April 28, 2026.

• 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.

• The Israeli Defense Forces conducted sustained airstrikes across Gaza Friday night, striking targets in Khan Younis and Rafah; Palestinian health authorities reported 34 deaths and 89 injured, though casualty figures remain disputed. • The UN Security Council's humanitarian affairs office announced plans for an emergency session Monday to address escalating civilian casualties and requested immediate access for international inspection teams to assess damage. • Aid organizations warned that the latest military operations have severed critical supply routes, leaving approximately 1.2 million Palestinians facing acute food shortages and limited access to medical facilities.

• 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 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.

• SpaceX's Starlink division announced commercial availability of direct-to-cell satellite service to US carriers including T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T beginning May 1, 2026, expanding beyond its existing emergency SOS functionality. • The service enables SMS and data connectivity in rural and remote areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable, with initial pricing set at $5 per month for basic coverage and $15 monthly for premium data tiers. • Industry observers note this development challenges traditional carrier infrastructure investments and could accelerate satellite communications adoption, though regulatory approval from the FCC is still pending final confirmation.

• Turkey convened emergency peace negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday involving representatives from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and international mediators to address escalating refugee flows and cross-border military operations. • Syrian government forces launched new offensive operations against opposition-held territories, displacing an estimated 340,000 civilians and creating a humanitarian emergency affecting 8.7 million people across the region. • UN humanitarian coordinator warned of imminent famine conditions in northwest Syria unless fighting ceases and aid corridors reopen, with food insecurity affecting 70% of the population in conflict zones.

• NATO's Cyber Defense Centre convened an emergency session Friday evening after Russia launched a sophisticated cyberattack targeting Poland's electrical grid and water treatment facilities, temporarily affecting 2.3 million residents. • Polish authorities attribute the attack to Russian military intelligence, claiming it used previously unknown malware variants designed to evade NATO defense systems and test alliance cyber resilience. • The incident prompted NATO to raise its cyber alert status to level 3, the highest in the alliance's history, and triggered Article 5 consultations regarding collective defense implications.

Passengers on flight from Chicago to New York exited via slides as FBI, bomb technicians and K-9 unit responded Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA United Airlines flight bound for New York City was forced to land and evacuate in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning after crew members reported a “possible security issue”, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said.United flight 2092 took off from Chicago O’Hare airport and had been en route to LaGuardia airport in New York. The plane diverted to Pittsburgh international airport as a result of the reported threat. Continue reading...

• 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.

• The American College of Emergency Physicians reports a record 3,058 positions filled in emergency medicine residencies, signaling rebound from pandemic-era lows. • More applicants matched into emergency medicine than ever before, as of March 18, 2026. • This surge addresses physician shortages in high-demand ERs across US hospitals.

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office on April 13, 2026, with the White House calling them the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' sending shockwaves across U.S. and global markets. • The unprecedented executive action, grounded in national security protocols, reportedly grants the administration vast new powers over the U.S. economy and financial system, potentially altering the role of the Federal Reserve. • Details remain tightly controlled, but sources suggest the orders address economic stability and foreign threats, prompting immediate debate over the President's constitutional authority and fierce political reaction from both Democrats and Republicans.

• Brazil convened an emergency South American Union (UNASUR) meeting on April 8 to address Venezuela's constitutional crisis, where President Nicolás Maduro's government faces international pressure over disputed 2024 election results and restrictions on opposition candidates. • Regional leaders including representatives from Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay discussed potential mediation mechanisms and demands for transparent verification of voting tallies, with Brazil proposing a UN-observed electoral audit. • The summit reflects broader Latin American concern over Venezuela's humanitarian deterioration and mass emigration, with over 7 million Venezuelans displaced across the region since 2015.

• President Donald Trump declared a national emergency from the White House on April 9, 2026, citing a crisis at the southern border as a national security threat. • The executive action bypasses Congress to redirect Department of Defense funds for immediate border wall construction and enhanced security measures. • The announcement triggered immediate constitutional debates and fierce opposition from political rivals, potentially unlocking significant federal resources.

• Jefferson Abington hospital closed its behavioral health unit to accommodate overflow from the emergency department, citing capacity pressures. • The facility will continue providing crisis services and outpatient behavioral health through alternative arrangements, ensuring continuity of care for patients. • The closure reflects broader challenges in the healthcare system regarding bed capacity, mental health service demand, and emergency department overcrowding.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with EU foreign ministers in Brussels on April 4, 2026, to discuss a potential ceasefire framework for the Russia-Ukraine war amid escalating frontline clashes. • The proposal includes Russian troop withdrawal from Donbas regions captured since 2022 and $50 billion in reconstruction aid funded by frozen Russian assets, as outlined in leaked diplomatic cables. • Diplomats emphasized the plan's role in preventing NATO direct involvement, with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stating, 'This is our best chance to freeze the conflict without capitulation.'

Levi Vargas, 30, was competing in Baker to Vegas race through Mojave desert as US south-west faces extreme heatLos Angeles county sheriff’s deputy Levi Vargas died on Saturday after a medical emergency while participating in an annual relay race through the Mojave desert. He was 30 years old.Vargas had been competing at the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup relay race, which follows a 120-mile (193km) course from Baker, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, through the Mojave desert. Several law enforcement agencies send 20-runner teams annually to compete in the race. Continue reading...

• Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Cost-of-Living Emergency Act on March 27 to combat rising essentials prices outpacing wages. • Bill mandates DOJ-FTC task force for emergency enforcement against price gouging, fixing, and discrimination on goods like utilities. • Invokes Defense Production Act for supply chain fixes backed by data to lower costs, plus creates 12-member bipartisan Congressional Cost-of-Living Commission for expedited relief proposals.

• President Trump announced on Thursday he would sign an emergency order to pay Transportation Security Administration agents unpaid for weeks due to the ongoing homeland security funding impasse in the Senate. • The administration plans to redirect funds from last year's tax cut and domestic policy law to the Department of Homeland Security, per two anonymous officials familiar with the plan. • The move addresses intensifying airport chaos caused by Democrat-refused funding unless tied to open border policies, highlighting partisan divides over immigration enforcement.

• President issued an executive order on March 24, 2026, further continuing the FEMA Review Council established by Executive Order 14180. • The council's term is extended until 10 days after its required report submission or May 29, 2026, whichever comes first. • Extension ensures ongoing assessment of FEMA operations amid disaster preparedness concerns.

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...

President’s declaration allows officials to tackle fuel hoarding or profiteering, while energy secretary says country will lean more heavily on coalMiddle East crisis – live updates Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has declared a state of “national energy emergency” as a result of the Middle East war, which his administration said posed “an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply”.The state of emergency, which will initially last for a year, was declared just hours after the country’s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments. Continue reading...

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...

IEA makes 10 recommendations to help households and businesses prepare for a drawn-out disruption to energy marketsThe world’s energy watchdog has advised governments to reduce highway speeds and encouraged workers to carpool or, ideally, work from home to combat soaring oil prices and impending fuel shortages caused by the Middle East conflict.It has also recommended countries consider limiting car access to designated zones in large cities, by giving vehicles with odd-numbered plates access on different weekdays to those with even-numbered plates.Work from home where possible to save petrol.Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10km/h to reduce fuel usage.Encourage public transport to reduce oil demand.Limit car access to roads in large cities through a number-plate rotation scheme.Increase car sharing.Encourage efficient driving for commercial vehicles through load optimisation and vehicle maintenance.Divert LPG use from transport to preserve it for essential needs like cooking.Avoid air travel where possible.Encourage electric cooking and other options to reduce reliance on LPG.Help industrial facilities switch between different petrochemical feedstocks to free up LPG. Continue reading...

Niko Bray, who obtained pilot’s license in January 2025, shares story after averting disaster on busy Jupiter roadA teenage pilot who made an emergency airplane landing on a busy Florida road while averting disaster entirely says “you just execute” when thrust into such life-or-death situations.“It can happen … so fast,” 19-year-old Niko Bray said in an interview with the Florida news outlet WSVN, nearly a week after authorities say he landed the small airplane he was flying on a six-lane thoroughfare in the community of Jupiter because of an emergency in the skies. Continue reading...

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with ongoing mysteries in long COVID and vaccine developments. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% post-Omicron, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing nursing shortages, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic stress.

The United States commemorates six years since President Donald Trump declared a national COVID-19 emergency on March 13, 2020, when nearly 2,000 Americans were infected, marking a pivotal shift to a 'new normal' with lasting impacts on healthcare. A meta-analysis shows long-COVID prevalence at 29% overall, dropping to 23% after Omicron dominance, with Omicron linked to brain fog and paresthesia while earlier variants caused shortness of breath and loss of smell. Severe COVID-19 and flu infections can prime lungs for cancer development months or years later, but vaccination prevents these effects, per UVA Health research. Hospitals continue facing a nursing shortage, with over 138,000 nurses leaving since 2022 due to pandemic-related stress.