Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, despite Mandelson failing a vetting process. Starmer promised a new inquiry but did not admit he misled Parliament. Labour MPs remain frustrated with his leadership and unclear direction.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.
Mandelson failed the official vetting process before his appointment.
Starmer insists he would not have made the appointment if he had known about the vetting failure.
Starmer defended his decision strongly but did not admit misleading Parliament.
Some Labour MPs criticized the government’s approach and communications on this issue.
There was anger when questions about the appointment were distributed to MPs involving victims of Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite criticism, many MPs believe it is not the right time to replace Starmer as Prime Minister.
Labour remains unpopular in polls, and the party lacks a clear strategy or popular leader alternative.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said officials in the Foreign Office kept from him the fact that Lord Peter Mandelson initially failed security checks for the UK ambassador role to the US. He said if he had known this, he would not have approved the appointment.
Key Facts
Lord Mandelson was named UK ambassador to the US in December 2024 before full security vetting was done.
Security Vetting agency recommended denying Mandelson clearance in January 2025.
Foreign Office officials ignored this and granted Mandelson clearance anyway.
PM Starmer only found out last week that the vetting agency's advice was ignored.
Starmer said officials deliberately withheld this information from him multiple times.
Mandelson was sacked seven months after starting the job because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The top Foreign Office civil servant, Sir Olly Robbins, was removed after this information came to light.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of misleading Parliament and called for his resignation.
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Millions of Social Security recipients in the United States will receive their May payments later than usual due to the calendar dates in 2026. This delay is not caused by any policy change or benefit reduction, but because May starts on a Friday, pushing payment Wednesdays further into the month.
Key Facts
Social Security payments are usually sent on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, depending on the recipient’s birth date.
In May 2026, payments will be made on May 13, 20, and 27 instead of earlier Wednesdays.
The delay happens because May 1 falls on a Friday, shifting the payment schedule later.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are separate and will still be paid on May 1 with no delay.
The longer wait may affect seniors who rely heavily on these fixed monthly payments for expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, and healthcare.
No payments are being skipped or reduced; all benefits will be paid in full on the new scheduled dates.
After May, the payment schedule will return to normal, though occasional calendar-related shifts may happen sometimes.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to check the payment calendar in advance to avoid confusion.
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Singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities say her body was found in Burke's impounded vehicle more than seven months after she was last seen at his home.
Key Facts
David Anthony Burke, 21, also called D4vd, faces charges including first-degree murder with special circumstances.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was last seen at Burke’s Hollywood Hills home in April 2025.
Her body was discovered in Burke’s vehicle in September 2025, after a foul smell led police to investigate.
Burke was arrested last week by Los Angeles police.
Charges include lying in wait, murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, lewd acts with a person under 14, and mutilating a body.
Prosecutors say Burke may have killed Hernandez to protect his music career.
Burke’s attorneys deny he caused her death and say they will defend his innocence.
No grand jury indictment or criminal complaint had been filed at the time of the report.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in three recent court decisions, including two cases involving Johnson & Johnson and one related to a veteran's request. The court did not explain why he abstained, but Justice Alito has recused himself from many cases in recent years due to owning stock in companies involved in those cases.
Key Facts
Justice Samuel Alito did not participate in three Supreme Court decisions announced on Monday.
Two of those cases involved the company Johnson & Johnson, which asked the court to review the cases.
The court decided not to hear the Johnson & Johnson cases.
The third decision denied a veteran's motion to proceed with a case.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh also did not participate in one of the Johnson & Johnson cases.
Alito has recused himself from 64 cases between 2021 and 2024 because he or his wife own stocks in companies related to those cases.
He also recused himself from a recent case after disclosing financial ties to ConocoPhillips, a related company.
The Supreme Court's Code of Conduct asks justices to step aside if they have financial or personal conflicts.
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Singer d4vd has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered body was found in a Tesla car registered to the singer last September.
Key Facts
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charge.
The victim is 14 years old and named Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The cause of death is being treated as first-degree murder.
The victim's body was dismembered and found inside a Tesla.
The Tesla was registered to the singer d4vd.
The incident came to light in September.
The singer d4vd is now facing criminal charges related to the case.
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A planned fight between two young people at a park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, turned into a shooting. Two people died, and several others were hurt. Police are still investigating who was involved and how.
Key Facts
The shooting took place around 10 a.m. at Leinbach Park near Jefferson Middle School.
Two juveniles had arranged to meet at the park to fight.
A gun was fired during the fight, causing multiple people to be shot.
Two people died from their injuries.
Police have identified many people connected to the incident but are still determining their roles.
Nearby schools were confirmed to be safe after the shooting.
Parents were allowed to pick up their children from Jefferson Middle School.
Winston-Salem is a city of about 250,000 people in North Carolina.
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President Donald Trump changed his statements about negotiations with Iran multiple times over a weekend. He first said Iran agreed to everything, including handing over enriched uranium, but later threatened severe actions if Iran did not sign a U.S.-backed deal.
Key Facts
On Friday, President Trump said Iran agreed to remove enriched uranium and stop supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran's foreign ministry denied agreeing to give up enriched uranium, calling it sacred and refusing to transfer it.
Later on Friday, Trump said there were not many major disagreements left with Iran but acknowledged some differences might remain.
On Saturday, President Trump avoided commenting on the conflict or negotiations when asked by reporters.
Early Sunday, Trump warned that if Iran refused the deal, "the whole country is getting blown up."
Trump called upcoming talks in Pakistan Iran's "last chance" to make a deal.
There were conflicting statements about the U.S. delegation's travel plans to Islamabad for talks.
Iran said it currently has no plans to return to peace negotiations.
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Michigan officials are resisting a request from the U.S. Justice Department to hand over ballots and election materials from Detroit. The Justice Department wants the materials to investigate claims of fraud in the 2024 election.
Key Facts
The Justice Department asked Michigan for ballots and election records.
The request focuses on materials from the Detroit area.
Officials in Michigan are pushing back against this demand.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, sent a letter regarding the request.
The investigation relates to the 2024 election results.
The purpose is to check for any election fraud.
Michigan’s chief election official received the letter from the Justice Department.
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A news article claims that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar changed a financial disclosure from $30 million to $100,000. The article expresses disappointment in members of Congress and the need for trust that they are not corrupt.
Key Facts
Ilhan Omar made a change to her financial disclosure report.
The reported amount was changed from $30 million to $100,000.
The article focuses on concerns about honesty and corruption in Congress.
It emphasizes the importance of trust in elected officials.
No additional details are provided about the reasons for the change.
The topic relates to U.S. domestic politics and governance.
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The government of England plans to make it illegal for schools to allow students to use smartphones during the school day. A new law will require schools to follow this ban, which many already have in place, to help improve student behavior and learning.
Key Facts
The government will add a legal ban on smartphones in schools in England through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith announced the plan in the House of Lords.
The Department for Education says most schools already do not allow phones, and the law will support these rules.
From April, school inspections will check that schools enforce the phone rules.
The law aims to protect children and support better behavior and learning in classrooms.
Some school leaders say a legal ban won’t change much since many schools already ban phones.
Funding for phone storage solutions like lockers has been requested by school leader groups.
Other parts of the UK have different rules: Scotland allows bans starting in 2024, Wales lets headteachers decide, and Northern Ireland tested phone-free schools in a recent pilot.
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Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered body was found in a Tesla registered to Burke, and he was arrested in Hollywood after a secret grand jury investigation.
Key Facts
The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was reported missing at age 13 and was 14 when she died.
Her body was found inside a Tesla Model Y that was reportedly abandoned in the Hollywood Hills.
The Tesla was registered in D4vd’s name at a Texas address linked to his family.
Burke’s lawyers stated he denies involvement and plan to defend his innocence.
The body was found in two bags with dismembered parts; the cause of death has not been released.
A judge has blocked public release of the autopsy details at this time.
D4vd is a 21-year-old singer known for the viral hit "Romantic Homicide" and signed with major record labels.
Following the body’s discovery and his arrest, D4vd canceled the remainder of his North American tour and upcoming European shows.
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Singer and songwriter d4vd, whose real name is David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder and other serious crimes related to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered body was found in Burke’s Tesla in Los Angeles after she was reported missing in 2024.
Key Facts
David Burke, known as d4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances.
Charges also include lewd acts with a minor under 14 and mutilating a body.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, age 14, was reported missing in April 2024 from Lake Elsinore, California.
Her dismembered body was found in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke.
Authorities found severely decomposed remains in bags inside the Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard.
Special circumstances in the murder charge include lying in wait, financial gain, and killing a witness.
Burke was arrested after a grand jury investigation and canceled his ongoing concert tour.
The district attorney said Burke faces life without parole or the death penalty, with a decision on the death penalty still pending.
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A retired FBI agent said there is no large conspiracy behind recent deaths and disappearances of scientists. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is investigating these cases to see if there are links to classified information or foreign actors.
Key Facts
A retired FBI agent, Jennifer Coffindaffer, stated the incidents involving scientists are separate and not connected by a conspiracy.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the FBI is investigating multiple deaths and disappearances of scientists.
The investigation involves cooperation with state and local authorities who handle specific cases.
Patel said the FBI will check for possible links to classified access or foreign involvement.
President Donald Trump called the incidents “pretty serious stuff” but hopes they are just coincidences.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is requesting information about the cases from several government agencies.
Scientists involved worked at places like NASA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and MIT, and some were linked to advanced research projects.
Some deaths, such as that of scientist Nuno Loureiro, have been linked to specific events like a mass shooting, not a conspiracy.
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A planned fight between two young people at a park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, turned into a shooting that killed two people and injured others. Police are investigating the incident and trying to find out who was involved as suspects, victims, or witnesses.
Key Facts
The shooting took place around 10 a.m. Monday at Leinbach Park near Jefferson Middle School.
Two juveniles had planned to meet for a fight at the park.
During the fight, a gun was fired, causing multiple people to be shot.
Two people died from their injuries, and others were wounded.
Police have identified many people connected to the event but are still investigating their roles.
Schools nearby, including Jefferson Middle School, are safe.
Parents could pick up their children at Jefferson Middle School after the shooting.
Winston-Salem is a city of about 250,000 people and home to the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
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Singer David Burke, also known as D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder and related crimes in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered body was found in Burke’s Tesla in Hollywood, and he was arrested after a secret grand jury investigation.
Key Facts
David Burke (stage name D4vd) is 21 years old and an American singer.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the victim, was reported missing at age 13 and died at 14.
Her dismembered and decomposed body was found in Burke’s Tesla on September 8, near Hollywood.
Burke faces charges including first-degree murder, lewd acts with a minor under 14, and mutilating a body.
Special charges could allow the death penalty, though prosecutors haven’t said if they will seek it.
Burke’s lawyers say he is innocent and claim the evidence will show he did not kill Hernandez.
The case had been under investigation by a Los Angeles grand jury in secret.
The Tesla was registered to Burke at a Texas family address, and family members opposed subpoenas in court.
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The U.S. government has started a new system to refund companies for tariffs that were illegally collected. Thousands of importers are now submitting claims to get back money from tariffs that President Trump had imposed but were later struck down by the Supreme Court.
Key Facts
The refund system by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) went live on Monday morning.
Thousands of companies quickly began filing claims to recover tariffs they paid.
The system experienced minor glitches but did not crash under heavy use.
Over 56,000 importers have completed steps for refunds totaling $127 billion.
The Supreme Court ruled in February that the tariffs imposed under national emergency powers were illegal.
More than 330,000 importers paid tariffs on 53 million shipments affected by the ruling.
Refunds will be processed in phases, likely starting with the most recent tariff payments.
CBP estimates refunds will take 60 to 90 days once claims are approved.
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The U.S. State Department is limiting visas for 75 people believed to be connected to the Sinaloa Cartel. This action aims to reduce drug trafficking from the cartel, which includes smuggling dangerous drugs like fentanyl into the United States.
Key Facts
The U.S. State Department announced visa restrictions on 75 individuals linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The Sinaloa Cartel is a criminal group involved in international drug trafficking.
Fentanyl, a very dangerous drug smuggled by the cartel, has been declared a Weapon of Mass Destruction by President Donald Trump.
The goal of the visa restrictions is to disrupt the cartel’s illegal drug operations.
The affected individuals include family members and business associates of cartel leaders.
This measure is part of a broader effort to combat drug-related crime affecting the U.S. and Mexico.
The restrictions aim to limit the cartel’s ability to operate freely across borders.
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David Burke, known as singer D4vd, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her dismembered body was found last year in the trunk of D4vd’s towed Tesla in Los Angeles, and he is currently held without bail.
Key Facts
David Burke (stage name D4vd) is 21 years old and lives in Los Angeles.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 when she died; her body was found in September 2025.
Her body was dismembered and found in bags inside Burke’s abandoned Tesla at a tow yard.
The car had been towed after being left on a Hollywood street for two days.
Burke was arrested in April 2026 after months of investigation.
He is charged with first-degree murder and faces life in prison without parole.
Burke’s lawyers say he is innocent and will defend him vigorously.
The victim’s family plans to attend the court hearing and wants her memory honored.
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FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine, claiming the publication made false and harmful statements about his behavior at work. The Atlantic denies the claims and says it will defend its reporting, which was based on many sources and interviews.
Key Facts
Kash Patel is the current Director of the FBI.
He sued The Atlantic for defamation, seeking $250 million in damages.
The lawsuit claims The Atlantic wrongly accused Patel of heavy drinking and missing work without explanation.
The magazine also said Patel’s actions threatened public safety and national security.
The Atlantic says it stands by its story and will fight the lawsuit.
To win a defamation case, public officials must prove the publisher knew the story was false or acted with malice.
Patel’s lawyer says The Atlantic gave Patel very little time to respond before publishing.
The article was based on interviews with over two dozen people and included comments from the White House and other officials.
The White House supports Patel and highlights crime reduction under his and President Donald Trump’s leadership.
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