Issue

• 這些限量版護照將在內頁放置美國總統的肖像，並配以獨立宣言文本與國旗圖案。 • 美國政府為紀念擺脫君主制獨立 250 週年，將於今年夏天發行印有最高領導人大尺寸照片的護照。 • 這款被定位為紀念美國獨立 250 週年的限量版文件，將在內封面展示 Donald Trump 的照片，周圍環繞著獨立宣言的文本與美國國旗，其簽名則以金色呈現。

• The U.S. Treasury successfully auctioned $42 billion in new 10-year notes on April 25, 2026, with the coupon rate settling at 4.38% amid continued demand from foreign central banks and domestic pension funds. • Bid-to-cover ratio reached 2.38x, slightly above the six-month average, indicating solid underlying demand despite elevated yields and concerns about federal deficit growth, which is projected to reach $1.8 trillion for fiscal year 2026. • The auction results suggest stabilization in long-term borrowing costs after weeks of volatility, potentially reducing pressure on the Federal Reserve to adjust its benchmark rate at the May 2 policy meeting.

• The International Criminal Court announced Friday the issuance of an arrest warrant for General Ahmed Hassan al-Madibbo, a prominent Sudan Armed Forces commander, citing evidence of war crimes including extrajudicial killings and enforced displacement in Darfur since April 2023. • ICC prosecutors presented evidence of at least 127 documented extrajudicial executions of civilians and systematic attacks on refugee camps housing over 2 million displaced persons, with al-Madibbo alleged to have direct command responsibility. • Sudan's military government rejected the warrant and accused the ICC of bias toward the Rapid Support Forces militia; the announcement intensified international pressure on Khartoum to cooperate with the court's investigations.

• President Trump issued a controversial 'shoot and kill' order targeting boats placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran escalate, marking an intensification of military posturing in the critical shipping lane. • Congress was briefed that removing all mines from the strait could take up to six months, creating significant concerns about extended disruptions to global energy supplies and trade. • The Chevron CEO warned of potential air travel disruptions due to expected jet fuel shortages resulting from the ongoing tensions and potential blockade of the strategic waterway.

• The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released preliminary measurement guidance addressing accounting treatment for paid-in-kind (PIK) dividends on equity-classified preferred stock. • The guidance represents an important clarification for companies issuing preferred stock with dividend structures, affecting financial reporting standards across the U.S. corporate sector. • This regulatory development impacts corporate accounting practices and may influence capital structure decisions for companies considering preferred equity financing.

A malfunction was discovered during routine testing of the firearm, which is standard issue for QPS officersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland police have been forced to retest all service-issued Glock handguns after a fault was discovered in the weapon that could cause it to fire multiple shots.The 40-calibre Glock is the standard-issue sidearm for Queensland police officers, and has been in service since the 1990s. Continue reading...

• Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued criminal subpoenas to OpenAI investigating ChatGPT's role in planning a mass shooting. • The probe examines potential criminal liability for the chatbot in the incident, marking a novel legal action against AI providers. • This development highlights emerging accountability questions for AI systems in facilitating harmful activities.

• President Trump delivered an emergency announcement from the Oval Office, placing the US on high alert over unspecified national security threats. • The speech called for public vigilance and federal coordination based on credible intelligence, stunning observers. • Reactions poured in from Congress, the Pentagon, and global markets amid a developing situation.

Secretary Kennedy Podcast so far seems designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health messageRobert F Kennedy Jr’s new Secretary Kennedy Podcast is a show that, so far, appears designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message.Though, based on the trailer and episode one, which dropped last week, one might expect the Secretary Kennedy Podcast to be quite similar to the health secretary’s former show, The RFK Jr Podcast. In the trailer that dropped ahead of his new podcast’s release, Kennedy says: “Children are sicker, chronic disease is exploding and the answers we’ve been given aren’t working” – talking points that were common on his old series. He even adds: “Many of us have come to the conclusion that the government actually lies to us,” a statement that might have served his former podcast better, given that Kennedy is now a senior figure in the government. Continue reading...

People in affected areas urged to evacuate as quake registering 7.5 magniture occurred off the coast of SanrikuThe strength of the earthquake has been revised up to 7.5 and the biggest waves due to the tsunami are expected in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, authorities said.Reuters reported that prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety. Continue reading...

Former Little Mix singer offers £10,000 reward for information about Land Rover taken from Essex drivewayThe musician Jesy Nelson, a former member of the band Little Mix, has pleaded for help after her car, which contained essential medical equipment for her children, was stolen from her driveway in Essex.The black Land Rover is believed to have been taken at about 3am on Sunday in Brentwood. Continue reading...

Iran’s top negotiator says both sides remain far apart after Tehran again closed strait of Hormuz after US said it would not end its blockadeFull report: Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’Welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Saturday that the recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the strait of Hormuz. “We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us,” he told state media, referring to talks last weekend. “We made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain.”After the initial talks between the US and Iran last weekend in Pakistan, the Iranian deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said a second date cannot be set until both sides “have agreed on the framework”.Iran’s supreme national security council, the country’s highest decision-making body under the supreme leader, said it is reviewing “new proposals” put forward by the US, according to Iranian media.Hezbollah has denied it was involved in the deadly attack against UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which killed a French soldier. A UN peacekeeper was killed and three others were injured after a patrol came under attack from “non-state actors”, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said.Israeli forces on Saturday began demolishing homes in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil and other border towns where Israeli troops are present, Lebanese state media reported.The Israeli military killed two Unicef-contracted truck drivers at a water point in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing the UN agency to suspend its operations in the area, Unicef said.Pope Leo XIV said that it is “not in my interest at all” to debate Trump about the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.Trump left the White House Saturday afternoon to play golf, despite Iran’s re-closure of the strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockade of Iranian ports. Continue reading...

• The FDA announced it will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelic drugs next week, marking the first time the agency has fast-tracked any psychedelics for review under Trump's executive order on mental health reform. • The vouchers can compress FDA review timelines from several months to just weeks, according to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, if the drugs align with national priorities. • Trump's order directs $50 million in federal funding to states developing psychedelic treatment programs and establishes a federal-state partnership for technical assistance and data sharing.

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 delivered an emergency announcement from the Oval Office on April 12, issuing an urgent national warning that has placed the country on high alert amid unspecified threats to national security. • In his live address, Trump detailed pressing concerns requiring immediate public awareness and federal action, prompting rapid responses from Congress, the Pentagon, and global financial markets. • The announcement's vague nature regarding specific threats has generated questions from lawmakers and media about the nature and severity of the security concerns cited by the administration.

President already has issued sweeping pardons throughout second term, including for 1,500 US Capital riot defendantsDonald Trump has reportedly said he will issue pardons en masse to his closest advisers at the end of his second presidency, promising them in casual conversations over the last year.“I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office],” the president reportedly said in a recent meeting, garnering laughs from the room, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing an anonymous source. Continue reading...

Social media post names no names but criticizes attempts to use religion to glorify US war in Middle EastPope Leo XIV on Friday offered a new criticism of war, in a social media post that named no names but appeared to hint at the Trump administration leadership harnessing Christian nationalism to glorify the US and Israel’s war against Iran.“God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs,” Leo wrote on his official X account. “Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples.” Continue reading...

• The White House released a sequestration order for Fiscal Year 2027 under Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. • The order enforces automatic spending cuts across federal budgets to address deficit concerns amid ongoing fiscal debates. • It impacts discretionary spending in defense and non-defense categories, potentially affecting thousands of programs.

• Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, 86, warns fans to 'look out' following a close call with health issues, shared via social media today. • The Masters Tournament icon emphasizes vigilance amid his ongoing recovery, resonating with sports entertainment followers. • Nicklaus's message underscores aging athletes' influence in US pop culture as Augusta National events approach.

Royal Navy type 45 destroyer deployed to reinforce security around RAF base in Cyprus to undergo short maintenance stop, says MoDHMS Dragon has docked in the eastern Mediterranean after suffering technical issues with its water systems.The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced on 3 March that the type 45 destroyer would be deployed to reinforce security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, two days after the base was struck by a Shahed 136 drone. Continue reading...

• President Trump threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses a deal to end the war by Tuesday evening, amid a Pakistani ceasefire push. • Trump detailed a complex U.S. military operation that rescued the two-man crew of an F-15 shot down Friday in Iran, calling it one of the largest and most harrowing missions ever. • The threat looms over diplomatic efforts, including a 45-day ceasefire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and avert major escalation.

• Estonia has formally warned Russia against aggressive actions in the Baltic region and pledged a military response to any violations. • The Baltic nation reaffirmed its commitment to NATO defense protocols and regional security frameworks. • The warning reflects heightened tensions between NATO members and Russia along Eastern European borders.

• Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn reported strong first-quarter revenue growth, yet issued a cautious outlook for future quarters citing escalating geopolitical tensions as a primary risk factor. • The company's performance reflects broader concerns among multinational corporations about supply chain disruptions and market volatility stemming from the Iran conflict and US-China relations.

• President Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions as search and rescue operations continue for a missing US airman following military confrontations. • Two US jets were downed by Iranian fire, and two Black Hawk helicopters were struck, prompting one of the most significant search and rescue operations in recent US military history. • The ultimatum represents a critical phase in the ongoing Iran conflict, with military officials warning of a potentially more destructive phase in the coming days.

Reports on English policies seen in Wales as relating to whole of UK contribute to widespread confusion, researchers sayUK media is failing to report properly on devolved issues in Wales, leaving voters ill-informed about May’s Senedd elections, a report has found.A Cardiff University study of more than 3,000 news items found repeated patterns in coverage across different broadcasters and platforms, including not signposting whether an issue was relevant to England or England and Wales only, widespread references to “the government” rather than “the UK government”, and the use of “you” and “your” in contexts that apply only to people living in England. Continue reading...

• Iran's IRGC threatened strikes on US technology and defense companies operating in the Middle East. • The sweeping alert links geopolitical tensions to cyber and physical risks for American firms. • It escalates cybersecurity concerns for US multinationals with regional presence.

US president issues executive order as longest partial government shutdown in US history enters 49th dayDonald Trump issued an executive order Friday that declares all Department of Homeland Security employees will receive pay and benefits during the agency’s partial shutdown.The “Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown” memo is similar to Trump’s executive order from last week which called for issuing pay to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents during the shutdown.In the order, Trump directed the homeland security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, to “use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to the functions of DHS” to pay “each and every employee of DHS”. Continue reading...

Pressing tasks for new director general also include an expiring royal charter, and finding a new top teamMatt Brittin may have only just been announced as the new BBC director general, but his inbox is already overflowing. Here are his immediate challenges: Continue reading...