Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has asked a judge to allow construction of a new White House ballroom to continue, citing recent security concerns after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. A judge had previously paused the work until Congress approved it, but the government says the ballroom is necessary for the president’s safety during large events.
Key Facts
A federal judge blocked above-ground construction of a White House ballroom pending congressional approval.
Acting AG Todd Blanche filed a request to overturn this block, saying the ballroom is needed for President Trump’s security.
The request came after a shooting took place at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The ballroom project is privately financed and expected to cost $400 million.
The lawsuit against construction was filed by the Trust for Historic Preservation, arguing the project breaks the law.
A federal appeals court temporarily allowed construction to continue and will hear the case in early June.
Secret Service deputy director Matthew Quinn stated that the new ballroom would improve security because the White House is a controlled environment.
Senator Rand Paul plans to introduce a bill to approve construction of the ballroom.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has fired all 22 members of the National Science Board, which guides the National Science Foundation’s policies. The board members were dismissed without explanation, raising concerns about the future direction of government-funded scientific research.
Key Facts
All 22 members of the National Science Board were fired by President Trump’s administration.
The National Science Board advises the National Science Foundation (NSF), a major funder of US scientific research and education.
Board members received brief termination emails without reasons for dismissal.
Roger Beachy, a dismissed board member, worries about the independence and future research priorities of the NSF.
Democrats criticized the firings, fearing political loyalty might replace independent oversight.
The NSF had already experienced significant funding cuts under Trump’s administration, including canceled grants worth nearly $1 billion.
The NSF is a key agency that spent over $8 billion in 2025 on scientific research and education.
Past NSF support has been bipartisan, which some hope will continue despite these changes.
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President Donald Trump is planning new import taxes to replace tariffs that the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. His administration will hold hearings to investigate whether certain countries use forced labor or produce too many goods, which could lead to new tariffs.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's previous broad tariffs in February.
Temporary import taxes were put in place but will expire in less than three months.
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office will hold hearings on two cases about unfair trade practices.
One case looks at 60 countries for using forced labor in making products.
Another case examines 16 countries for overproducing goods and lowering prices.
These investigations could lead to new tariffs aimed at protecting U.S. industries.
The cases are based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows tariffs against unfair trade.
There is skepticism from importers and foreign countries about the fairness of the process.
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The UK government plans to set age or feature limits on social media use for children under 16. Education Minister Olivia Bailey said they will act after a consultation on a possible social media ban similar to one in Australia, aiming to have rules in place by the end of the year.
Key Facts
The government will impose some type of restrictions on social media for users under 16 years old.
This comes after the House of Lords voted in favor of a social media ban for under-16s multiple times.
The government is currently consulting on the best way to introduce these rules.
Restrictions considered include age limits, feature limits, and possible curfews.
A report on progress will be published three months after the law is finalized.
The government hopes to implement regulations before the end of the year, with a possible six-month extension.
MPs voted 272 to 64 in favor of the government's motion supporting these measures.
The government’s goal is to protect children from addictive features and harmful content online.
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump asked ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel after he made a joke about the first lady on his show. Kimmel responded by explaining the joke was about their age difference and said he opposes violence and hateful speech.
Key Facts
Jimmy Kimmel joked that Melania Trump had "the glow of an expectant widow" during a comedy routine before the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
The dinner was cut short due to a security incident involving a man with weapons trying to enter the venue.
Melania Trump said Kimmel spreads hate on TV and called for ABC to take action.
President Trump called Kimmel’s joke a "despicable call to violence" and demanded his firing by ABC and Disney.
Kimmel said the joke was a light roast about the Trumps' age difference and denied it was encouraging violence.
Kimmel expressed sympathy for the Trumps over the security scare and emphasized the importance of rejecting hateful speech.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Kimmel’s joke, calling it part of a wider problem with political rhetoric.
The National Religious Broadcasters association asked the Federal Elections Commission to investigate ABC over the joke.
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New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says he will only ban the slogan “globalise the intifada” if a similar ban in Queensland is upheld after a court challenge. This follows challenges to other anti-protest laws in NSW and concerns about legal and community impacts.
Key Facts
NSW Premier Chris Minns plans to ban the slogan “globalise the intifada” only if Queensland’s ban survives a court challenge.
The phrase is linked to political protest and has caused controversy due to its connection to Palestinian uprisings.
Queensland has already banned the phrase “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea,” leading to arrests and legal challenges.
A parliamentary inquiry in NSW recommended banning the slogan when it incites hatred or violence but has not yet created legislation.
NSW courts recently struck down some anti-protest laws for limiting political communication rights.
The inquiry process in NSW was criticized for being rushed and not holding public hearings.
Different Jewish and Muslim groups have disagreed on whether banning the slogan is appropriate or unfairly targets certain communities.
Legal experts have advised caution, noting bans might increase the use of the slogans in protest.
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A group of 14 social mobility organizations is asking the UK government to create a "student premium" to support disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 19 in schools and colleges. This funding would help prevent them from dropping out or staying without education, jobs, or training after finishing their GCSE exams.
Key Facts
Currently, schools in England get extra funding called "pupil premium" to support children from low-income families up to age 16.
After GCSEs, this extra funding stops, leaving vulnerable students without support during important years of education.
The coalition suggests a "student premium" for 16-19-year-olds costing about £430 million per year starting in 2027-28.
About 12.8% of 16 to 24-year-olds in England were not in education, employment, or training (known as "Neet") at the end of 2023.
Students without GCSE English and maths are at the highest risk of becoming Neet.
The new funding would help schools offer extra tutoring, mentoring, and academic support, especially in English and maths.
Many education leaders and experts call the lack of funding after 16 a major problem that hurts young people’s future chances.
The government is reviewing how this kind of funding is given and may make changes later this year.
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Cole Tomas Allen appeared in court accused of trying to kill President Donald Trump during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and three knives and now faces charges of attempted assassination and firearms offenses.
Key Facts
Cole Tomas Allen is the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident.
He was carrying a shotgun, handgun, and three knives during the event.
Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump.
He also faces two charges related to firearms offenses.
The incident happened on a Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC.
Court proceedings took place shortly after the event, as reported by the BBC.
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President Donald Trump has fired all members of the National Science Board, which advises the National Science Foundation (NSF) on science policy and funding. The board members were notified by email that their positions were terminated immediately, a move that may affect the NSF’s budget and future work.
Key Facts
The National Science Board oversees the NSF, advises the president and Congress, approves funding, and guides NSF’s direction.
The board usually has 25 members appointed by the president serving six-year terms; all 22 current members were fired.
The board includes scientists from universities and industry in fields like astronomy, chemistry, and aerospace engineering.
The board was preparing a report on the state of U.S. science before being dismissed.
Last year, the Trump administration tried to cut the NSF budget by more than half, but Congress kept the funding.
The White House said the board’s powers may need updating and that the NSF’s work will continue without interruption.
Critics warn that without the board’s advice, budget cuts could harm scientific research and training of future scientists.
The NSF headquarters was recently moved to a smaller building, with another federal agency taking its former space.
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Kirsty Parsons cared for her husband Jim, who had Parkinson’s disease, for 11 years as his condition worsened. Despite her repeated requests, full-time social care support arrived only a week before Jim’s death in December 2025, highlighting delays and challenges in accessing adult social care in England.
Key Facts
Jim Parsons was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 44.
Parkinson’s is a progressive brain illness with no cure.
Kirsty became Jim’s unpaid full-time carer and gave up her paid job.
Jim’s health deteriorated over 11 years, requiring increasing levels of care.
Jim received full-time paid care only in December 2025, a week before his death.
In 2024-25, adult social care made up about 40% of local council net service spending in England.
About 372,000 adults in England waited for social care as of March 2025.
Kirsty experienced long waits (5-6 months) each time she applied for more social care support.
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A six-year-old girl named Sienna lost her eyesight after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her family had planned a trip to Disney World, but the cost of travel insurance rose sharply due to her condition, putting the trip in jeopardy.
Key Facts
Sienna, age six, was diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumor called a grade 1 glioma.
The tumor caused swelling on her optic nerve, leading to blindness.
She began an 18-month chemotherapy treatment and cannot have surgery to remove the tumor.
Her family had booked a four-week trip to Disney World, Florida, which was a Christmas surprise.
Original travel insurance for the family cost £232, but insurance for Sienna alone rose to over £5,000 due to her illness.
The family started a fundraiser to help cover the high insurance cost and save the trip.
Sienna has undergone emergency surgery and spent about three weeks in the hospital intensive care.
The family appreciates the care received at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital and remains hopeful for her recovery.
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Glasgow, Scotland, has a housing shortage that is affected by the number of asylum seekers living in the city. Many asylum seekers live in government-supported housing while their applications are processed, but after approval, some struggle to find permanent housing and may become homeless. The issue has become a topic in local politics, even though immigration policy is controlled by the UK government.
Key Facts
Over 6,500 people in Scotland are seeking asylum and receiving government housing support; 6% of the total in the UK.
Glasgow hosts more than half of these asylum seekers, including 3,683 receiving housing and 152 receiving financial support without accommodation.
Glasgow has been part of the UK government's dispersal scheme since 1999 to house asylum seekers.
The UK government moved to a "full dispersal" policy in 2022, allowing asylum seekers to be sent anywhere in the UK.
Asylum seekers in Glasgow get free meals, housing, and £1.42 per day but usually cannot work while waiting for their claim decisions.
Once asylum seekers are approved to stay, they must leave government housing and often apply for homelessness support from the city.
Groups like Shelter Scotland say the current approach causes homelessness because people have too little time to find housing or work after approval.
Glasgow declared a housing emergency in 2023 due to its ongoing shortage of affordable homes.
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Many Americans living abroad are trying to give up their US citizenship. The process takes a long time and costs a lot of money, but more people are doing it now because of political and social concerns in the US.
Key Facts
Renouncing US citizenship can take over a year in some places like London because of long waiting lists.
The official fee for renouncing citizenship was lowered from $2,350 to $450 after a legal case.
Additional legal fees can raise the total cost to $7,000 to $10,000.
The number of Americans giving up citizenship has grown from hundreds per year in the 2000s to thousands since 2014.
Some people decide to renounce because they dislike recent US politics or fear the country is becoming less democratic.
The renunciation process includes an oath, a neutral official, and canceling the passport by punching holes in it.
Individuals mention specific political moments, like the 2016 election and the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett, as reasons for their decision.
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Cole Tomas Allen has been charged with trying to kill President Donald Trump. This is the third known attempt on President Trump’s life since he took office in 2024.
Key Facts
Cole Tomas Allen is the suspect charged with attempted assassination.
The target of the attack was President Donald Trump.
This incident took place at a press gala event.
It is the third assassination attempt against President Trump since 2024.
The charges were made official by law enforcement or prosecutors.
The details of how the attempt was carried out were not provided.
No information about injuries or security response was mentioned.
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A person has been charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, firefighters in Georgia are continuing to fight a large wildfire that has lasted for more than a week.
Key Facts
A suspect has been officially charged with attempting to kill President Trump.
The incident relates to a shooting at the Correspondents’ Dinner.
Firefighters in Georgia are battling a wildfire.
The wildfire has been ongoing for over a week.
The situation is serious and requires continued efforts to control the fire.
Authorities are managing both events as important news in the U.S.
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The U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned its staff to avoid Reynosa, a city near the Texas border, because of violent criminal activity reported there. The embassy also mentioned roadblocks and other dangers in the area based on information from its consulate in Matamoros.
Key Facts
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a security alert on Monday.
Government employees were told to avoid the city of Reynosa.
Reynosa is close to the Texas-Mexico border.
Reports include violent criminal activity and roadblocks in Reynosa.
The alert is based on information from the U.S. consulate located in Matamoros, Mexico.
The embassy’s recommendation is aimed at protecting U.S. government workers.
No specific incidents or groups responsible for the violence were detailed in the alert.
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New Jersey Republican Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. has not voted in nearly 50 House roll call votes since early March due to a personal medical issue. He announced he is recovering and plans to return to work soon.
Key Facts
Tom Kean, Jr. represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.
He missed almost 50 votes since March 5 because of a medical issue.
Kean made a public statement on social media explaining his absence as health-related.
His district is politically competitive, having close results in recent elections.
The district includes Trump National Golf Club and is affected by new immigration and infrastructure policies.
Kean serves on the House Energy and Commerce and Foreign Affairs Committees.
He is a second-term congressman with a long family history in New Jersey politics.
Kean has focused on healthcare, infrastructure, innovation, and education during his career.
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Erika Kirk spoke about a shooting near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner that happened over the weekend. She described the event as another sad example of political violence happening in the United States.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred close to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Erika Kirk commented on the incident on Monday.
She called the shooting a traumatic event.
Kirk described the shooting as part of a rise in political violence in the U.S.
The event took place over the past weekend.
Kirk expressed concern about ongoing violence related to politics in the country.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and musician Kid Rock took a ride together in Army Apache helicopters near Washington, D.C. This happened weeks after the military faced criticism for flying helicopters near Kid Rock’s home in Tennessee.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. Defense Secretary.
Kid Rock is a singer and supporter of the military.
They flew in Army Apache helicopters on the same day.
The flight took place near Washington, D.C.
Earlier, the military was criticized for helicopter flights near Kid Rock’s Tennessee house.
The recent ride shows support for Kid Rock and the troops.
The Department of Defense arranged this event quickly after the controversy.
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A federal appeals court ruled that the Pentagon can require journalists to be escorted inside its building while a legal case about press access continues. This decision follows a previous judge’s order that had challenged the Pentagon’s rules for reporters, aiming to protect national security.
Key Facts
The appeals court panel ruled 2-1 in favor of the Pentagon’s request to keep reporters escorted inside the building for now.
The Pentagon started new rules in September 2025 requiring reporters to sign agreements about access risks and possible revocation if they pose security concerns.
The Pentagon argued that unescorted access by reporters led to leaks of sensitive or classified information.
The court said the escort requirement is important for protecting national security.
The judges also recognized that these restrictions could affect how the press gathers news and the public’s right to information.
A Pentagon spokesman said the policy aims to protect classified information, not to limit journalism.
The ruling split the judges, with two supporting the Pentagon and one dissenting, believing the Pentagon was trying to avoid the earlier court order.
Reporters still have access to Pentagon briefings, press conferences, and interviews with valid credentials.
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