Session

Lawmakers to convene for special session to redraw state supreme court districts at building with racist historyWhen Mississippi lawmakers met in 1861 and voted to secede from the union in an effort to continue enslaving people, they did so in what is now known as the Old Capitol Museum. From 1839 to 1903, lawmakers met at a building that witnessed some of the state’s most racist history.And now, on 20 May, when members of Mississippi’s house convene for a special session to redraw state supreme court districts, they will do so at the Old Capitol, ostensibly because of renovations in the house chamber. Continue reading...

PM will face Kemi Badenoch and other MPs at final PMQs of the 2024-26 parliamentary sessionGood morning. Originally Keir Starmer was hoping that there would not be a need for a PMQs today, but we have got one, and it will definitely be the last of the 2024-26 parliamentary session. It will be a chance for Starmer to reflect on all the legislation passed.There is some relief that the government won the vote on Kemi Badenoch’s call for Starmer to be referred to the privileges committee with ease. Here is our overnight story by Pippa Crerar, Ben Quinn and Jessica Elgot. Continue reading...

• 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.

• 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.

From Vance’s interest to Trump’s commitment to disclosure, administration’s fascination with UFOs has experts feeling close to evidence of aliensLike most politicians, Donald Trump did not campaign on the issue of space aliens. But 15 months into his second term, UFO enthusiasts have been buoyed by the Trump administration’s apparent fascination with extraterrestrials, with one expert claiming the human race has “never been closer” to being presented with hard evidence of aliens.After a largely alien-free first 12 months, the president has committed himself to UFO disclosure in 2026. In February, Trump directed various departments to release “government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life”, and the White House took the unusual step of registering domain “aliens.gov” in March, setting pulses racing among believers online. Continue reading...

• Taylor Swift revealed a new surprise album titled 'Evermore Sessions' during her Eras Tour stop in Los Angeles on April 5, featuring 15 re-recorded tracks and collaborations with Bon Iver and The National. • The announcement came via a live Instagram post to 280 million followers, with pre-orders spiking 500% on iTunes within hours, reaching No. 1 globally. • Fans and critics hail it as a bridge between folklore and evermore eras, potentially breaking streaming records amid Swift's dominant 2026 chart presence.

• West Virginia lawmakers completed 306 bills (153 House, 153 Senate) out of 2,777 introduced in the 2026 session, with Senate Bill 1 launching the First Small Business Growth Act via Commerce Department incentives. • Senate Bill 104 grants $5,000 salary increases to all state mine inspectors effective July 1, 2026, covering electrical, underground, and surface specialists. • Additional measures include Senate Bill 44 regulating cottage foods and Senate Bill 137 raising second-degree murder sentences to 15-60 years with 15-year parole minimum.

• Republican-sponsored Alabama Senate Bill 376 was introduced on March 31, 2026, reaching 25% progression in the regular session. • The partisan bill awaits further action after pending third reading, details focus on state policy adjustments. • Tracks with ongoing 2026 legislative efforts across Southern states.

Vice-president promises ‘to get to the bottom of’ reports of US government files about unidentified flying objectsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJD Vance, the vice-president of the United States, said this weekend that he considers aliens to be “demons”.As the war in Iran continues, petrol and grocery prices soar and chaos continues at US airports as a partial government shutdown endures, Vance appeared on the conservative Benny Show podcast, released Saturday, to promise that he would spend time looking into what he called his “obsession” with UFOs and extraterrestrial visitors. Continue reading...

Former MP appears at Westminster magistrates court to admit four drugs charges stemming from raid on his homeThe former MP Crispin Blunt has pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to four charges of possession of drugs including cannabis and crystal meth.The 65-year-old former justice minister appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday to admit four drugs charges, which stem from a raid on his home in Horley, Surrey, on October 25 2023. Continue reading...

• A Congressional Budget Office report released March 19, 2026, estimates laws from the 119th Congress's first session (Jan 2025-Jan 2026) will boost the 2025-2034 deficit by $3.5 trillion. • The net effect stems from $1.1 trillion reduced outlays and $4.6 trillion decreased revenues, excluding interest costs on added borrowing. • Findings highlight fiscal impacts of authorizing and appropriations legislation, informing ongoing budget debates.

• Governor Abigail Spanberger praised the 2026 General Assembly's passage of bills reducing heating costs (HB2, SB72), establishing a Weatherization Task Force (HB3, SB5), empowering localities on affordable housing (HB4), and improving renter protections (HB15, SB48). • Additional successes include eliminating healthcare premium fees (HB220, SB630), promoting portable solar systems (HB395, SB250), optimizing grid utilization (HB434, SB621), expanding the Eviction Reduction Program (HB527, SB628), limiting prior authorizations (HB736), and boosting healthcare workforce access (HB815, SB405). • Further measures allow communities to adopt affordable housing programs (HB867, SB74), improve power forecasting (HB892), and increase energy storage deployment (HB895, SB448) to lower costs for Virginians.

• Virginia's 2026 General Assembly session ended Saturday without passing a state budget, prompting lawmakers to schedule a special session on April 23 amid ongoing affordability debates. • Key bipartisan achievements included raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2028, protecting contraception access, extending back rent payment periods before eviction, closing the firearm 'boyfriend loophole,' and prohibiting federal immigration enforcement at courthouses. • Governor Abigail Spanberger faces complex bills on marijuana legalization, skill games, and casino regulations, potentially requiring stakeholder engagement through June; disagreements persist on data center tax exemptions and collective bargaining for public employees.

• MultiState released its March 15, 2026 chart tracking legislative deadlines, with sessions starting January 6 in Vermont and February 9 in Wyoming. • 23 states allow bill carryover between 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 sessions, while 27 require new introductions each year. • Key deadlines include Florida's January 13 bill filing and California's February 20 cutoff; Virginia ends regular session March 14 with veto session April 22.

• West Virginia Senate on March 14, 2026, passed Senate Bill 947 providing free certified birth certificates to homeless individuals under 18, waiving fees up to $12. • Senate Bill 906 allows prescription, distribution, and marketing of federally approved psilocybin-based medications, reclassifying from Schedule I status. • Bills advance women's collegiate sports via endowments at NCAA Division I public universities under Senate Bill 502.

Nvidia shares retreated to around $88 on March 13, 2026, from peaks near $97, even as the company showcased strong quarterly growth potential. Traders noted hits to high-growth names amid broader S&P 500 and Nasdaq declines of 0.5-0.67%. The pullback reflects risk-off sentiment from oil surges rather than company-specific issues. Investors eye upcoming catalysts like AI chip demand for rebound potential.

MARA Holdings jumped more than 12% on March 13, 2026, driven by renewed interest in digital asset mining amid broader market volatility. Crypto-related firms outperformed as AI, semiconductors, and EV stocks showed mixed resilience, with Intel up 1.7% on chip production optimism and NIO rising 4%. This momentum underscores investor rotation toward high-growth sectors despite S&P 500's weekly 1.1% decline. Traders eye sustained crypto interest if oil stabilizes over the weekend.