Executive

• President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order imposing targeted sanctions on several Cuban regime officials and entities the administration alleges have supported repression and human‑rights abuses. • The White House says the action sends a message of solidarity with Cuban dissidents and complements broader efforts to pressure authoritarian regimes in Latin America. • Critics in Congress, including some Democrats and even a few Republicans, argue the move could backfire by tightening U.S. leverage ahead of upcoming negotiations on migration and regional security.

• 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.

• 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.

Senior manager at supermarket giant gives evidence on day two of case brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer CommissionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA senior Woolworths executive has defended relaxing rules designed to protect shoppers from misleading discounts by preventing the supermarket or suppliers from “gaming” the “Prices Dropped” promotional program.Woolworths’ chief commercial officer, Paul Harker, gave evidence on the second day of a landmark trial between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Woolworths in the federal court on Wednesday. Continue reading...

UK representatives from Meta, Roblox and TikTok also tell MPs they believe under-16 ban would be ‘unenforceable’Executives from three social media companies have denied their platforms are inherently addictive to children and young people in a combative appearance before MPs in Westminster.Representatives from Meta, Roblox and TikTok faced robust questioning from the cross-party education select committee about the impact of screen time and social media on children. 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.

Police seek warrant for Bang Si-Hyuk over allegations he illegally gained millions in investor fraud schemeSouth Korean police said on Tuesday they were seeking to arrest Bang Si-Hyuk, the chair of the agency behind the K-pop band BTS, as they expand an investigation into allegations that he illegally gained more than $100m (£74m) in an investor fraud scheme.The Seoul metropolitan police agency confirmed it had asked prosecutors to request a court warrant for arresting Bang, founder and chair of HYBE. Continue reading...

• 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.

Company says ‘sustained outperformance’ merited pay rise as it ups profit guidance by £8m for the year to January 2027Business live – latest updatesThe Next chief executive, Simon Wolfson, took home more than £7m last year, his highest ever pay package, and could be handed up to £9.27m this year after the retailer announced plans to increase his basic salary and bonuses.The listed company said it was increasing its pay deal for the long-term leader of the fashion and homewares retailer, which now controls a string of brands in the UK including Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Cath Kidston, Reiss and FatFace, as his remuneration was 30% below the average for FTSE 100 bosses. Continue reading...

David Hinton will receive only his £400,000 salary this year after thousands of customers were left without waterThe chief executive of South East Water has said he will forgo his bonus in an act of penitence for “unacceptable outages” that left thousands of customers in Kent and Sussex without water.David Hinton told MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs select committee that he had decided not to accept an additional “performance payment” this year. Instead, he will receive only his £400,000 salary. Continue reading...

• 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.

• Resistance groups have filed multiple lawsuits targeting President Trump's executive orders early in his second term. • The legal actions focus on policies enacted since his January 20, 2025, inauguration. • This wave of litigation could delay implementation and test judicial responses to executive actions.

• President Trump signed an executive order last week to place tight federal controls on mail-in voting, claiming it enables widespread cheating in blue states like California. • Trump stated 'Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating' and 'Cheating on mail-in voting is legendary,' despite no evidence of fraud. • California and other states sued, arguing states have constitutional rights to administer elections; Trump insists Democrats register noncitizens, especially Latinos.

• President Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service not to send mail-in ballots to voters not on federal lists of eligible individuals, aiming to shape mail-in voting processes. • Experts argue the order is illegal, as it seeks to create federal voter lists and threatens state funding for non-compliance. • The move escalates debates over election integrity ahead of midterms, with potential legal challenges from states and voting rights groups.

• President Trump issued an executive order on March 31, 2026, imposing new rules on mail-in ballots and requiring states to allow modifications to voter lists, marking a significant shift in election administration policy. • The order permits states to "routinely supplement and provide suggested modifications or amendments" to their mail voter lists, raising concerns about election integrity and voter access. • Election security advocates have raised concerns about the potential for voter confusion and administrative disruption, while the administration frames the measure as protecting election integrity.

• President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 'Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors' on March 26, 2026, mandating a clause in all federal contracts prohibiting racially discriminatory DEI activities by contractors and subcontractors. • The clause subjects non-compliant parties to False Claims Act liability, contract termination, and potential debarment, with enforcement prioritized by the U.S. Attorney General including review of whistleblower qui tam actions. • This builds on prior Trump actions eliminating federal DEI programs and aligns with EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas's warning letter to the 500 largest U.S. companies about Title VII liabilities from DEI practices.

Airport wait times appear to be shorter as workers received back pay for two whole paychecksSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued its employees back pay on Monday, after Donald Trump signed an order for them to be paid even as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security drags on, with no end in sight.The paychecks appear to have relieved severe congestion at airport TSA checkpoints, which resulted in hours-long lines at several major air hubs over the past two weeks but brought Congress no closer to resolving the standoff over the the DHS’s budget. Continue reading...

Order comes after House Republicans rejected a Senate‑passed deal to fund key DHS subagencies, including the TSASign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump signed an executive order Friday instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents as the partial shutdown drags on.Negotiations on Capitol Hill remain stalled after House Republicans rejected a Senate‑passed deal to fund key DHS subagencies, including the TSA. After first announcing on Truth Social that he would pay more than 60,000 airport security workers – without explaining where the money would come from – the president issued the order. Continue reading...

Report shows black music accounts for 80 per cent of money generated by UK industry in past 30 yearsLeading figures in the UK music industry are calling for more work to be done to support black talent in executive roles as a report finds that 80% of UK music revenue has been generated by black music in the past 30 years.A recent report by UK Music states that black music has made £24.5bn out of the £30bn generated by the UK music industry in the past 30 years. However, industry figures have highlighted that black people are still kept out of top executive roles. Continue reading...

• On March 25, 2026, the U.S. House passed H.R. 5103 by 218-206, establishing a federal commission on public safety in Washington, D.C., to formalize President Trump's March 2025 executive order promoting maximum immigration enforcement. • The commission, comprising federal officials, will develop policies redirecting law enforcement for arrests and deportations in DC, aiming to increase enforcement speed. • This partisan measure underscores Republican priorities on capital safety and immigration amid ongoing debates over federal versus local authority.

Former Olympic rower to lead corporation as it hammers out future funding model with governmentMatt Brittin, Google’s former top executive in Europe, has been named the BBC’s next director general.Brittin, who stepped down as Google’s president in Europe, the Middle East and Africa last year, will replace Tim Davie at a crucial time for the corporation, as it hammers out its future funding model with the government. Continue reading...

• Super Micro Computer shares plunged 28.2% on Friday after US authorities accused a senior executive and two affiliates of conspiring to smuggle advanced Nvidia-based servers to China. • The alleged scheme targeted the export of high-performance computing equipment to China, triggering immediate sharp market reaction and significant shareholder losses. • The charges represent a significant escalation in enforcement actions against technology companies and executives involved in alleged unauthorized export of advanced semiconductor technology.

• House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood (NE-01) commended President Trump’s March 15, 2026, executive order removing regulatory barriers to affordable home construction. • The leaders noted the order aligns with bipartisan committee work over the past year to reduce building costs and boost housing supply through commonsense reforms. • They expressed intent to codify the executive order's objectives in upcoming congressional housing legislation to ensure lasting impact.

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on March 13, 2026, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower home buying costs. The orders aim to limit financial institutions' ability to buy single-family homes and cap credit card interest rates, responding to median home prices hitting $398,000 in February—nearly five times the median household income. Housing affordability has become a pivotal issue threatening GOP midterm prospects, especially among voters under 40, amid a bipartisan Senate bill passed Thursday to boost construction. White House officials anticipate mortgage regulation changes could impact buyers within months.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aimed at increasing construction and curbing institutional home purchases amid affordability woes. The bill's path in the House remains uncertain despite White House support announced March 2. Complementing President Trump's recent executive orders, it addresses voter concerns over home prices five times median income heading into midterms. Implementation hinges on state policies and market rates, with potential construction boosts eyed for relief.