Federal prosecutors shared video footage of a man named Cole Tomas Allen trying to enter the White House Correspondents' Association dinner while carrying guns and knives. The man ran toward the event where President Donald Trump and many others were present, and a Secret Service officer was wounded during the incident.
Key Facts
Cole Tomas Allen was armed with guns and knives during the attempt.
He tried to get into the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
The event was held in a hotel ballroom filled with journalists and administration officials.
President Donald Trump was at the event.
A Secret Service officer was shot while stopping Allen.
Prosecutors say the officer’s injury was not caused by friendly fire.
The U.S. attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, posted the video online.
Officials previously said the officer was shot while wearing a bulletproof vest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union (EU) to the United States from 15% to 25% because the EU has not fully approved their trade deal. He exempted US-made vehicles by EU companies and said American factories are investing heavily in new plants. The EU criticized the move and has not yet completed the formal approval process for the tariff deal.
Key Facts
President Trump said the EU is not complying with their trade deal, so he will raise tariffs on EU cars and trucks entering the US from 15% to 25%.
Vehicles made in the US by European companies will not face the higher tariffs.
Trump mentioned that new car and truck plants worth $100 billion are under construction in the US, creating American jobs.
The European Parliament has voted to approve the deal but has not finished the formal signing process involving the European Commission and EU leaders.
The EU trade committee chair called Trump’s tariff increase untrustworthy and said the EU will respond firmly.
This comes after Trump threatened to reduce or withdraw US troops from Italy, Spain, and Germany.
European Commission officials recently met with Trump’s administration to discuss the tariff deal.
The original tariff deal set a 15% tariff on most goods including cars, lowering previous tariffs of up to 50% on some EU exports to the US.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. Navy warship, the USS Higgins, lost power and its ability to move because of an electrical problem while operating in the Indo-Pacific region. A fire also broke out on the ship during this incident.
Key Facts
The USS Higgins is a U.S. Navy warship.
The ship lost power and propulsion due to an electrical malfunction.
The incident happened in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command region.
A fire broke out on the USS Higgins on Tuesday.
Cmdr. Matthew Comer is the spokesperson for the U.S. 7th Fleet and provided a statement about the event.
The malfunction affected the ship’s ability to operate normally.
The U.S. 7th Fleet oversees naval operations in this area.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Labour leader Keir Starmer is facing doubt and lack of support from some members of his party ahead of crucial elections. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is preparing to return to parliament and launch a leadership campaign, with plans for major policy reforms and a potential byelection candidacy.
Key Facts
Some Labour MPs are anxious about upcoming elections and are reluctant to meet Keir Starmer.
Andy Burnham is currently mayor of Greater Manchester and is preparing a government manifesto.
Burnham plans to stand for a parliamentary seat through a byelection expected soon after the 7 May elections.
He supports major changes like proportional representation voting and increased defense spending.
Labour’s national executive previously blocked Burnham from running in an earlier byelection.
There is disagreement within Labour about Burnham’s potential return, with some leaders opposing it.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester city council, is a possible candidate to replace Burnham as mayor.
Some key unions are hesitant to support Burnham due to his political associations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States’ national debt has just become larger than the country’s total economic output (GDP) for the first time since World War II, reaching about $31.27 trillion compared to a GDP of $31.22 trillion. Experts say this marks a key point, highlighting concerns about government borrowing, but does not cause an immediate crisis.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt is now slightly higher than the annual GDP, surpassing 100 percent of the economy’s size.
This is the first time this has happened outside of wartime or the early COVID-19 pandemic period.
The debt now stands at $31.27 trillion, while GDP is estimated at $31.22 trillion for the year ending March 31.
Experts warn that high debt can increase borrowing costs, slow growth, and risk future fiscal crises.
Some economists say the debt’s size alone is not a crisis if borrowing supports economic growth or public investments.
Many believe the current debt trajectory is unsustainable and worry about rising interest payments and inflation.
Public opinion shows most Americans now see the national debt as an important issue needing attention.
Some politicians and experts see the milestone as symbolic rather than a direct problem needing immediate action.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Gas prices in California have risen to an average of $6.06 per gallon, the highest level in four years. Across the United States, prices reached an average of $4.39 per gallon, driven by global oil market disruptions linked to the US conflict with Iran.
Key Facts
California has the highest gas prices in the US, averaging $6.06 a gallon.
The national average gas price is $4.39 per gallon.
Prices increased by 27 cents nationally in one week after two weeks of decline.
The spike in gas prices is related to the US war with Iran affecting global oil supplies.
Since March 1, Americans have paid $21.7 billion more for gasoline.
Gas prices in the US have risen about 44% since late February.
California’s higher prices are due to strict environmental standards, high taxes, and dependence on imported fuel.
Many Americans are reducing vacation plans and driving less because of higher gas costs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has a plan to return to the UK Parliament within weeks by running in a by-election. His allies say he wants to present a new government agenda, including major changes to the electoral system and a long-term growth plan, while trying to replace current Labour leader Keir Starmer peacefully after upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is currently the mayor of Greater Manchester.
He was blocked by Labour’s party body from running in a recent by-election.
Burnham has found several parliamentary seats where MPs might step down for him to run.
His team has identified a strong candidate to replace him as mayor if he returns to Parliament.
Burnham plans to propose big changes to the UK’s political system and a 10-year plan for growth.
Over 80 MPs reportedly support Burnham’s bid to challenge Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Burnham’s supporters hope for a smooth leadership transition instead of a direct contest.
Some union leaders disagree on backing Burnham, affecting his support base in the party.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced he will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25%. He said the increase is because the EU has not followed the trade deal made last year between the U.S. and the EU.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to increase tariffs on EU cars and trucks from 15% to 25%.
The original trade deal last summer set a 15% tariff on some European imports like cars and pharmaceuticals.
The higher tariff will not apply to vehicles made in U.S. factories.
Heavy-duty trucks already face a 25% tariff.
The President said the tariff hike aims to encourage the EU to move factory production to the U.S. faster.
The EU and U.S. agreed to remove tariffs on certain goods, but the EU still needs its Parliament to approve this.
The approval has been delayed due to political issues in Europe and disputes with the U.S., including over Greenland.
A European official said regulatory delays have prevented lowering tariffs on American goods.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
James Comey, former FBI Director, faces new criminal charges for allegedly threatening President Donald Trump through a social media post showing seashells arranged as "86 47." Legal experts say the case may be difficult to prove and could be challenged because the post might be protected free speech.
Key Facts
A federal grand jury indicted James Comey for a post that some say threatened President Trump.
The post showed seashells forming the numbers "86 47," which some interpret as a violent message against President Trump.
"86" is slang that can mean "to get rid of," but it also has non-violent meanings, like in restaurant language.
Comey deleted the post and said he did not intend it as a threat.
Legal experts say proving the post is a "true threat" under the law will be hard because First Amendment protects ambiguous speech.
This is Comey’s second criminal case related to President Trump, with the first being dismissed due to a prosecutor’s improper appointment.
Comey’s lawyer plans to ask the court to dismiss this case for being unfair and targeting Comey selectively.
The Supreme Court has ruled that only clear threats, not ambiguous speech, can be criminally punished.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that expands retirement benefits for workers who do not have retirement plans from their employers. Starting January 1, 2027, eligible workers can sign up for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) through a new government website called TrumpIRA.gov.
Key Facts
President Trump signed the executive order on Thursday.
The order aims to help employees without employer retirement benefits.
The Treasury Department will launch TrumpIRA.gov on January 1, 2027.
The website will let eligible workers enroll in private-sector Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
IRAs are personal retirement savings accounts that workers manage themselves.
The move is designed to increase retirement savings options for workers lacking workplace plans.
The executive order is linked with efforts to improve retirement security for Americans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nebraska became the first U.S. state to enforce work requirements for Medicaid recipients under the expansion program, requiring enrollees to work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 80 hours a month. These rules could cause tens of thousands of people in Nebraska to lose Medicaid coverage, and other states plan to start similar policies soon.
Key Facts
Nebraska implemented Medicaid work requirements seven months before the federal deadline.
The rules apply to Medicaid expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64.
Enrollees must prove they work, volunteer in the community, or attend school at least part-time (80 hours/month).
Exemptions exist for people with medical problems, pregnant women, and caregivers of disabled persons.
The Urban Institute estimates up to 25,000 Nebraskans could lose their coverage due to the new rules.
Three other states—Iowa, Montana, and Nebraska—plan to enact similar requirements this year.
States are still awaiting federal guidance on how to define and verify "medically frail" enrollees, one of the exemption groups.
Some states will use artificial intelligence to help process paperwork and verify eligibility.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The head of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said that Ofsted inspections are putting school leaders under extreme pressure and harming their wellbeing. He criticized the new inspection system and highlighted a case where an inspection contributed to a headteacher’s suicide.
Key Facts
Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, spoke at a union conference about problems with Ofsted's new inspection system.
Ofsted introduced a "scorecard" style inspection in November that judges schools in six areas instead of giving one overall grade.
The NAHT considered striking but paused after talks with Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE).
An independent group will now monitor how inspections affect headteachers’ mental health.
In 2023, headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life; Ofsted’s planned downgrade of her school was a factor in her death.
Whiteman said inspections should not cause harm and warned the education system about the risks.
He praised some government policies like free school meals expansion and better support for families.
The government plans to spend £4 billion to improve special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services in England.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier as the new Surgeon General. Saphier is a board-certified radiologist known for her work in breast cancer and her media presence, with some mixed views on vaccines and public health policies.
Key Facts
Dr. Nicole Saphier is President Trump’s third nominee for Surgeon General after Casey Means withdrew.
Saphier is a radiologist and an associate professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College.
She is known for directing breast imaging and helping women through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Saphier has worked as a medical expert on Fox News since 2018 and hosts a health podcast.
She has expressed some skepticism about vaccine schedules but supports important vaccines like measles and polio.
Saphier has questioned some vaccine mandates and boosters but states that evidence linking vaccines to cancer or autism is limited and inconclusive.
She wrote a book titled Make America Healthy Again, criticizing government and behavior that she says caused health crises.
Saphier has shared mixed opinions about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recommended her predecessor and leads the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Several states have filed a lawsuit that challenges important disability rights laws in the United States. President Donald Trump's recent comments on this issue have added to the controversy.
Key Facts
Multiple states are involved in a lawsuit against disability rights laws.
The lawsuit aims to change or weaken existing protections for disabled people.
Disability rights laws provide important protections to ensure equal access and treatment.
The legal challenge has raised concerns among advocates for disabled individuals.
President Donald Trump made public remarks related to this lawsuit.
These remarks have influenced public discussion about disability rights.
The outcome of this case could affect many Americans with disabilities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Spirit Airlines may stop flying as soon as Saturday if no deal to get government help is made. Talks over $500 million in aid have not progressed because bondholders disagree with the terms. The airline said it is still flying normally on Friday.
Key Facts
Spirit Airlines plans to cease operations as early as Saturday without emergency aid.
Negotiations for $500 million in government aid are stalled due to bondholders’ objections.
Officials from President Trump’s administration have been informed about the possible shutdown.
No last-minute government bailout efforts are expected.
Spirit Airlines’ cash reserves are very low and expected to run out soon.
The airline is continuing regular flights on Friday and focusing on flight safety.
The airline, which is bankrupt, has not commented on the aid talks publicly.
This situation is developing and subject to updates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The FDA has appointed Katherine Szarama as the acting director of the unit that regulates vaccines and biological products for people. She will replace Vinay Prasad in this important role.
Key Facts
Katherine Szarama is the new acting director of the FDA's vaccines and biologics unit.
This unit oversees the regulation of vaccines and other biological products used by people.
Szarama will take over from Vinay Prasad.
The appointment was confirmed by an official from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The FDA is part of the U.S. government responsible for protecting public health.
Biological products include vaccines, blood, and gene therapies.
The acting director leads the unit temporarily until a permanent director is named.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two University of South Florida doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, were found dead. A suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, has been charged with their murders and arrested after a police standoff.
Key Facts
Nahida Bristy’s remains were identified after forensic investigators worked several days due to advanced decay.
Zamil Limon’s remains were identified a week earlier; both were reported missing on April 16.
Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon.
Abugharbieh was arrested on April 24 following a standoff and is held without bond.
Investigators say Abugharbieh used a building cart to move the bodies to his car.
Evidence shows he searched online, including via ChatGPT, for information on disposing of bodies and inflicting fatal wounds.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the killings.
Efforts are underway to return the bodies to the families in Bangladesh for religious rites.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Secret Service said that the agent injured during a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was not shot by another agent. Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agent was shot at close range by someone else.
Key Facts
The incident happened at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
A Secret Service agent was injured in a shooting there.
The agent was not hit by friendly fire (accidental shooting by a fellow agent).
Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed the agent was shot at close range.
The information was shared in an interview with NewsNation, related to The Hill news network.
The investigation continues to determine who fired the shot.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
David Rivera, a former congressman from Miami and friend of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was found guilty of secretly lobbying for Venezuela during President Trump's first term. He and an associate did not register as foreign agents and were involved in money laundering related to work for Venezuela's government.
Key Facts
David Rivera is a former Miami congressman.
He was convicted for secret lobbying on behalf of Venezuela.
The lobbying campaign was worth $50 million.
Rivera and an associate failed to register as foreign agents with the U.S. Justice Department.
They were also found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The work was done for Nicolás Maduro's government in Venezuela.
The trial lasted seven weeks and showed Miami’s role in foreign influence efforts targeting U.S. Latin America policy.
Miami is known for having a large exile community and a history of political activism related to Latin America.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
On a live CNN show, pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings swore at another panelist after being asked to name a political gain from the US war with Iran. The discussion highlighted sharp disagreements about the war’s success and public opinion, with many Americans viewing the military action negatively.
Key Facts
Scott Jennings is a pro-Trump commentator on CNN and a former George W. Bush campaign staffer.
Jennings swore at fellow panelist Adam Mockler during a live broadcast after repeated questions about the US war with Iran.
Jennings said the war’s goal was to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons but could not name a specific political gain.
A recent poll showed 61% of Americans think using military force against Iran was a mistake.
Less than 20% of Americans believe the war campaign has been going well.
Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth called the war a "historic military success" and blamed Democrats for spreading defeatism.
Jennings has had past tense moments with other panelists on live TV.
Jennings did not reply to requests for comment or apology after the incident.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
