King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City during their trip to the United States. This is the first time a reigning British king has visited New York since Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.
Key Facts
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the 9/11 Memorial on a Wednesday afternoon.
Their visit is part of a tour through the United States.
This is the first visit to New York by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.
The 9/11 Memorial honors the victims of the terrorist attacks from September 11, 2001.
King Charles III also met with President Donald Trump during the visit.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress that Iran’s nuclear sites had been destroyed before the U.S. war began. Lawmakers questioned the timing of the attack and raised concerns about the war’s goals, costs, and effects on U.S. forces.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth said Iran’s nuclear facilities were "obliterated" before the conflict started.
Democratic lawmakers questioned why an attack happened if the nuclear threat was already removed.
The hearing focused on the Pentagon’s proposed 2027 budget, which would reach $1.5 trillion.
The U.S. war with Iran began in February without congressional approval.
The conflict has cost around $25 billion so far.
Lawmakers want clear answers on the war’s purpose, results, and impact on soldiers and weapons.
Concerns include civilian casualties, depleted weapons, and Iranian drone attacks on U.S. forces.
A fragile ceasefire is in place, but the overall military and political plan is unclear.
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The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will review how the Justice Department released files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This is the second review after the department’s own inspector general began checking the matter last week.
Key Facts
The GAO is a government office that oversees how federal agencies follow laws.
Congress ordered the Justice Department to release certain files about Jeffrey Epstein.
The GAO will check if the Justice Department followed this order correctly.
The Justice Department’s inspector general started a separate review of the same files last week.
The GAO’s review confirms continued congressional interest in the case.
The focus is on the Justice Department’s handling and release of the Epstein-related documents.
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy returned to court to answer questions about documents involving Claude Guéant, his former close aide. They are involved in a case about illegal money from Libya for Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, which Sarkozy denies.
Key Facts
Nicolas Sarkozy appeared in court on April 7, 2026, in Paris.
His former aide Claude Guéant, now 81, gave written statements but did not attend court due to health reasons.
Guéant was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the Libyan funding affair.
Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy charges linked to illegal Libyan campaign funds and sentenced to five years in prison; he faces up to 10 years if convicted on appeal.
The case involves alleged political payments from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors and help with the legal case of Abdallah Senoussi, a French convicted terrorist connected to Gaddafi’s regime.
Sarkozy denies that Libyan leader Gaddafi ever asked him to help Senoussi or that he ordered Guéant to investigate the case.
Guéant claims he only followed orders from Sarkozy and disputes allegations against him.
The trial is expected to end in late May, with a verdict due in November 2026.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was questioned by U.S. lawmakers for the first time since President Donald Trump began the war against Iran. Some Democrats argue the war is expensive and was started without the approval of Congress.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump launched a war against Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced questions from U.S. lawmakers about the war.
This was Hegseth’s first congressional hearing related to the conflict.
Some Democrats disagree with the war, saying it is costly.
Democrats also say the war was started without Congress’s permission.
The hearing was covered by France 24 and is available for replay.
The conflict has been ongoing for nearly two months as of late April 2026.
The situation has caused concern related to U.S. government decisions and military actions.
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The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case on whether President Donald Trump can end the temporary protected status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians living in the U.S. TPS is given when it is unsafe for people to return to their home countries. The court’s decision could affect over a million people from 17 countries.
Key Facts
TPS allows people from certain countries to stay in the U.S. temporarily if it is unsafe to return home.
The Trump administration ended TPS for Haitians and Syrians, arguing conditions in those countries have improved.
About 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians currently have TPS in the U.S.
Lawsuits accuse the Trump administration of ending TPS unfairly and possibly for racist reasons.
A U.S. judge ruled that ending TPS may have been motivated by racial bias against nonwhite immigrants.
The U.S. House passed a bill to extend TPS for Haitians until 2029, but the Senate has not voted on it.
The Trump administration has also tried to end TPS for people from other countries, with mixed court results.
The Supreme Court allowed the cancellation of TPS for Venezuelans to stand while legal battles continue.
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DS Smith, an international paper packaging company, has proposed closing its factory in Launceston, Cornwall, which has employed people for nearly 60 years. The company cited difficult market conditions and a review of its UK packaging operations as reasons for the possible closure, while staff and local officials expressed concern about job losses.
Key Facts
DS Smith plans to close its factory in Launceston, a site operating for almost 60 years.
The proposal comes after the company reviewed its packaging business in the UK due to tough trading conditions.
Staff reacted with shock and disappointment, worried about losing jobs.
Local politicians highlighted rising costs for businesses, such as increased national insurance and minimum wage hikes, as challenges.
The Launceston site was originally opened in 1968 and was bought by US company International Paper in January 2025.
DS Smith has recently closed other sites across the UK and made job cuts at a Scottish location in 2024.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the impact on workers and families and offered support.
The company is currently consulting employees before making a final decision on the closure.
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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a faith-based pregnancy center that challenged a New Jersey investigation into whether it gave misleading information to discourage abortions. The court said the investigation could violate the center’s free speech rights under the First Amendment.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court gave a unanimous ruling supporting First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, a faith-based pregnancy center.
The center was being investigated by New Jersey for possibly misleading people to discourage abortions.
The court’s decision was about procedural rules related to the investigation and free speech rights.
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, including religious expression.
Even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which supports abortion rights, backed the center’s free speech claim.
The conservative-majority Supreme Court has recently made decisions favoring abortion opponents.
In 2022, the court overturned the nationwide right to abortion in a major case.
This ruling does not decide on abortion directly but on how investigations can affect speech rights.
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A federal appeals court in New York refused to reconsider President Donald Trump's challenge to a legal verdict against him. The court upheld a $5 million reward to writer E. Jean Carroll for claims that President Trump sexually assaulted and defamed her.
Key Facts
E. Jean Carroll accused President Trump of sexual assault in the 1990s and defamation in 2022.
Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages after a nine-day trial in 2023.
President Trump denied the allegations and tried to replace himself with the U.S. government as the defendant, citing presidential immunity.
The appeals court rejected Trump’s attempts, saying these arguments were made too late in the process.
Judge Denny Chin emphasized that such a substitution would not be allowed for any defendant after the trial and judgment.
Another jury later awarded Carroll $83 million in damages in a separate trial.
The court declined to review the case with the full panel of judges (en banc).
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French prosecutors are investigating new websites that look very similar to Coco.gg, a platform linked to serious crimes including child abuse and rape. The original Coco.gg was shut down in 2024 after being connected to many criminal reports, and its creator is facing charges but denies them. Authorities are concerned that these new sites allow access to harmful content for minors.
Key Facts
Coco.gg was an unmoderated chat platform linked to child abuse, drug crimes, rape, and murder.
The original website was closed in 2024 after over 23,000 criminal reports.
Isaac Steidl, founder of Coco.gg, was charged with child pornography crimes in January 2025 and denies the allegations.
Since April 2025, websites with names and designs similar to Coco.gg have reappeared online.
French prosecutors opened a new investigation into these sites for sharing violent and pornographic content accessible to minors.
Journalists quickly signed into one of the new sites, receiving explicit messages even after revealing they were underage.
Sarah El Haïry, France’s childhood commissioner, called the situation a failure to protect children from sexual abuse and said complaints were filed against other similar sites.
Dominique Pelicot was found guilty in 2024 of drugging and raping his wife and recruiting men through Coco.gg to abuse her; 49 men were also convicted.
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The Virginia Supreme Court decided to keep a temporary order that stops the state from officially approving the results of a redistricting vote. This decision affects Democrats who wanted to reverse the earlier court ruling.
Key Facts
The Virginia Supreme Court is allowing a lower court’s order to stay for now.
The order stops Virginia from certifying the results of a redistricting referendum.
The Attorney General of Virginia, Jay Jones, is a Democrat.
Jay Jones asked the court to appeal the temporary blocking order.
The Supreme Court denied that request on Tuesday.
The decision is a setback for Democrats who hoped to challenge the order in court.
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Jimmy Kimmel highlighted a joke made by President Donald Trump about his own age and marriage during King Charles III’s visit to Washington. Kimmel’s audience reacted with cheers, while the comedian and president’s exchanges about jokes and firing demands have continued, reflecting ongoing tensions.
Key Facts
President Trump joked that he and First Lady Melania Trump would not be married as long as his parents were, referencing his age.
Jimmy Kimmel pointed out this joke on his show, noting the president’s earlier demand that Kimmel be fired for a joke about Melania Trump.
Kimmel previously made a joke about Melania Trump that led to criticism from the president and first lady.
The joke came during a speech at an official reception for King Charles III’s visit to Washington.
Melania Trump is 56 and President Trump is 79; they have been married for 21 years.
The National Religious Broadcasters Association filed a complaint with the FCC about Kimmel’s joke.
Disney, ABC’s parent company, confirmed it received a call-in for station license renewals linked to the dispute.
The tension between Kimmel and President Trump is part of a longer-running feud involving jokes about public figures.
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Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys criticized a defense expert, Brent Turvey, for sharing confidential information about Kohberger’s case. Turvey, who was hired to give an opinion on the crime scene, claimed police mishandled evidence related to a knife sheath found at the crime scene.
Key Facts
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in 2023.
Kohberger’s defense team hired Brent Turvey solely for opinions about the crime scene.
Turvey signed a confidentiality agreement in October 2024, which he is accused of violating.
The defense lawyers say Turvey spoke about confidential topics beyond his area of expertise.
Turvey claimed police mishandled the chain of custody for a knife sheath linked to Kohberger.
He said evidence signatures were missing or falsified, which could have affected the prosecution.
Police and other experts disagreed, saying the evidence would still have been allowed at trial.
The case ended last summer after Kohberger pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that if the elections were held in May, the Republican Party would lose. He advised GOP lawmakers to unite in promoting themes of affordability and peace to improve their chances.
Key Facts
Newt Gingrich is a former House Speaker and a Republican from Georgia.
He stated on Tuesday that Republicans would lose if elections happened in May.
Gingrich made these comments to the New York Times.
He urged Republican lawmakers to work together as the party focused on affordability and peace.
Gingrich’s remarks suggest concern about the party’s current standing with voters.
The term "midterm elections" refers to elections held halfway through a president’s term.
The GOP is the abbreviation for the Republican Party.
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Maryland is the first U.S. state to ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores, a practice where stores use personal data to charge different prices to different customers. The new law prevents grocery chains and delivery services from setting higher prices based on personal information but allows some exceptions for loyalty programs and promotions.
Key Facts
Maryland governor Wes Moore signed the law banning surveillance pricing in grocery stores.
Surveillance pricing means changing prices based on personal data like location, search history, or demographics.
Critics say this practice charges each shopper the highest price they are willing to pay.
The law covers grocery stores but not reducing prices through personalized discounts.
The Federal Trade Commission has investigated this issue but is unlikely to enforce stricter rules currently.
Other states like Colorado and California are considering similar laws.
Consumer groups are concerned that the law has loopholes and weak enforcement rules.
Only Maryland’s attorney general, not private individuals, can enforce the law under this measure.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of an anti-abortion clinic in New Jersey, allowing the clinic to challenge a state subpoena demanding donor information. The Court said forcing the clinic to reveal donors could violate First Amendment rights, which protect free speech and association.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court overturned lower court decisions against First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.
The case involved a subpoena from the New Jersey Attorney General seeking donor records.
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the opinion, highlighting risks to constitutional rights.
The ruling means nonprofits and similar groups may more easily challenge government demands for private donor information.
First Choice’s Executive Director said the state targeted the clinic for its pro-life work.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s office had not responded publicly at the time of the report.
The case focuses on privacy and free speech under the First Amendment, not the clinic’s practices.
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The Department of Homeland Security is introducing a new rule that requires asylum seekers in the U.S. to pay an annual fee while their cases are pending. If they do not pay, their asylum applications and work permit requests can be denied, which may lead to deportation.
Key Facts
The new rule starts next month and requires asylum applicants to pay a fee every year while waiting for a decision.
Failure to pay within 30 days of notice will lead to application rejection and denial of work permits.
More than 1.4 million asylum applications are currently pending in the U.S.
If an application is rejected due to nonpayment, no further action will be taken unless the applicant files again and pays fees.
Asylum seekers convicted of serious crimes are already ineligible for work permits under existing laws.
The rule is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to tighten immigration rules and increase fees for applicants.
The Department of Homeland Security will send individual notices about payment requirements to asylum applicants.
Experts warn this policy could prevent some people from getting asylum based on their ability to pay, not the merits of their case.
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Most Australians want higher taxes on gas export profits and want the current fuel excise tax cut to be extended, according to a recent poll. The poll also shows many Australians are shifting toward renewable energy and making efforts to reduce their fuel use amid global fuel uncertainty.
Key Facts
68% of Australians want the fuel excise tax cut (which saves 26 cents per litre) extended beyond June.
57% support taxing profits from gas exports, while 12% oppose it.
Prime Minister Albanese has ruled out new taxes on existing gas export contracts.
Nearly half (46%) support reducing tax breaks like negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts for property investors.
Inflation in Australia rose to 4.6% in the year to March, partly linked to global fuel issues caused by the conflict involving Iran.
Only 14% of poll respondents expect Australia’s economy to improve in the next six months; 55% expect it to get worse.
A majority support cutting government spending to reduce debt (59%) but also want strong public services even if it means running a budget deficit (64%).
Australians are responding to the fuel crisis by reducing travel, using public transport, and cutting back on heating and air conditioning.
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The article describes a person's struggle with frequent phone checking and exploring solutions to reduce phone addiction. It highlights a device called Brick that physically locks certain phone apps, helping users focus by making it harder to unlock distracting apps without purpose.
Key Facts
The author experiences constant phone checking throughout the day, causing difficulty focusing on work.
Many phone apps and social media platforms can be addictive and distracting.
Traditional app-based screen-time limits are often ineffective because they are easy to bypass.
The device Brick costs $59 USD and uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to lock chosen apps on the phone.
To unlock apps, the user has to physically tap their phone to the Brick device, adding a deliberate step.
The device allows users to set timers for how long apps remain locked.
Brick has a playful feature that asks if the user wants their phone back, encouraging mindful use.
This external locking device helps users regain attention span and reduce compulsive phone use more effectively than software-based limits.
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Paris hosts an annual invention competition where new and creative gadgets are introduced to the public. Some everyday items were first shown at this event, highlighting France’s history of invention.
Key Facts
Paris holds a yearly invention competition.
The event showcases new and unusual inventions.
Some common items people use today were first introduced there.
The competition reflects France’s long tradition of inventing.
The video about the event is produced by France 24 and presented by Florence Villeminot.
Watching the video requires enabling advertisement tracking and disabling certain browser extensions.
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