Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will answer questions in the UK Parliament about the vetting of Lord Mandelson, who was appointed as US ambassador in December 2024. Starmer says he was unaware of warning signs about Mandelson’s background until recently, and he promises to be fully transparent.
Key Facts
Lord Mandelson was appointed US ambassador in December 2024.
UK security officials raised concerns about Mandelson's vetting in January 2023.
Starmer says he first learned of these concerns last week from top civil service officials.
Mandelson’s vetting problems relate in part to his known ties to Jeffrey Epstein and past scandals.
Starmer replaced the previous ambassador, Karen Pierce, when President Trump returned to office in January 2024.
Opposition parties accuse Starmer of misleading Parliament about the vetting process.
Starmer’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the scandal in February.
Starmer says he delayed answering parliamentary questions to gather full details after learning about the vetting concerns.
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A man named Shamar Elkins killed eight children, including seven of his own, and wounded two adults in a shooting across two homes in Shreveport, Louisiana. Elkins died after a police chase following the attack, which police said was a domestic violence incident.
Key Facts
The shooting happened early Sunday morning in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Eight children were killed; their ages ranged from 1 to about 12 years old.
Seven children were Elkins' own children.
One child died on a rooftop after trying to escape.
Two adults were wounded in the attack.
Elkins shot a woman at one home, then drove to a second home where most children died.
Elkins died after a police pursuit and carjacking.
Police said the incident was related to domestic violence and had no known prior reports.
State officials expressed condolences, and Louisiana State Police joined the investigation.
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Chef José Andrés, an American citizen since 2014, talks about the important role food plays in America’s history and future. He says that how Americans feed themselves and others is very important for the country’s strength.
Key Facts
José Andrés is a chef and became a U.S. citizen in 2014.
He believes food connects American tradition with the future.
Andrés says America’s strength depends on how it feeds its people.
He also emphasizes the importance of how America helps feed the rest of the world.
The interview was featured on the CBS news program "60 Minutes."
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Eight children, aged 1 to 14, were killed in a shooting incident early Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana. Police described the event as a domestic violence disturbance.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Eight children died in the incident.
The children’s ages ranged from 1 to 14 years old.
Authorities classified the event as a domestic violence situation.
The shooting occurred early on Sunday morning.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
No additional details on the shooter or motive were provided in the article.
The event has been reported by local and national news sources.
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A new system for handling free speech complaints at universities in England will start next academic year. University staff can bring complaints directly to the Office for Students, and from April 2027, universities may face large fines if they fail to protect free speech.
Key Facts
The new complaints system is for academics and university staff, not students.
Students will still raise concerns through their universities and an independent adjudicator.
The Office for Students (OfS) will review cases, order changes, and can require compensation.
From April 2027, universities can be fined up to £500,000 or 2% of their income for free speech violations.
A similar stronger free speech law began in August 2025, but without the complaints system until now.
The government removed a previous plan letting individuals sue universities in civil court.
Universities UK said the new powers must be used fairly and carefully.
The fines could be very large, reaching millions for some universities with high income.
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Before some of President Donald Trump’s major policy announcements, there were unusual patterns of trading in financial markets. In several cases, traders placed large bets just minutes or hours before news became public, which some experts say looks like illegal insider trading.
Key Facts
Traders made big bets on oil and stock prices just before President Trump’s important announcements.
On 9 March 2026, oil trades surged 47 minutes before an interview where Trump said a war was nearly over, causing oil prices to drop sharply.
On 23 March 2026, unusual oil trades happened 14 minutes before Trump’s social media post about peace talks with Iran, leading to a drop in oil prices.
On 2 April 2025, before Trump announced tariffs, global stock markets fell sharply.
A week later, before Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, many traders bet heavily on stocks rising, and markets surged after the announcement.
Some experts say these trading patterns could be illegal insider trading, where people trade based on secret information.
Others think traders may have become good at guessing Trump’s moves ahead of time.
The unusual trades involved millions of dollars and affected major financial benchmarks like oil futures and the S&P 500 index.
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Health visitors in England manage large numbers of families, with some responsible for over 1,000 families, which the Institute of Health Visiting says is unmanageable. The number of health visitors has dropped nearly in half over the last decade, leading to concerns about the quality and safety of care for young children and their families.
Key Facts
Health visitors are trained nurses or midwives who support families with very young children.
Their numbers in England fell from about 10,200 a decade ago to 5,575 in January, a 45% decrease.
Some health visitors now have caseloads exceeding 1,000 families, while safe limits elsewhere in the UK are about 250 families per health visitor.
The Health and Social Care Committee warned that without more staff, the government's goal to support every child’s early life will not be achieved.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health visitors were reassigned within the NHS, reducing service availability.
Families should receive five health visitor visits from late pregnancy to two years old, with the first three visits at home, but this is not happening consistently.
Parents report that health visitor visits at home help better understand and support families compared to clinic visits.
The government says it is committed to improving health visitor services but has not set strict caseload limits in England yet.
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Eight children between the ages of 1 and 14 were killed in a mass shooting in Louisiana. Two adult women were injured, and the suspect was killed by police after a carjacking and pursuit. Authorities are still investigating the events and reviewing security footage.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred in Shreveport, Louisiana, early Sunday morning.
Eight children died, making this the deadliest U.S. mass shooting so far in 2026.
Two adult women survived but suffered gunshot wounds.
The police responded to multiple connected locations related to a domestic disturbance.
The suspect was shot and killed by police after a carjacking and chase.
Neighbors left flowers, candles, stuffed animals, and notes to mourn the victims.
Local leaders, including Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, expressed condolences and support for the community.
Investigators are collecting witness statements and neighborhood security footage to understand the timeline of the shooting.
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A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that most registered voters think President Donald Trump is responsible for the increase in gas prices. Over half of the voters say they blame him a lot, while smaller groups blame him to varying degrees or not much at all.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by Quinnipiac University and published on Wednesday.
51% of registered voters blame President Trump "a lot" for the rise in gas prices.
14% of voters blame him "some" for higher gas prices.
11% blame him "not much" for the increase.
23% of voters did not blame him or the article does not specify their view.
The poll focuses on registered voters in the United States.
The topic is the responsibility for rising gas prices in the country.
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A woman living in California was arrested for allegedly selling weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to buyers in Africa, including Sudan. The authorities say she helped arrange deals for drones, bombs, and ammunition, and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Key Facts
Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport by federal agents.
She is accused of trafficking weapons such as drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and ammunition.
The weapons deals were made through a company called Atlas International.
One deal involved selling Iranian drones to Sudan’s ministry of defense, worth over 60 million euros.
Mafi reportedly earned 6 million euros for coordinating this sale.
She is an Iranian national and a permanent US resident since 2016.
Mafi frequently traveled to Iran, Turkey, and Oman.
Sudan has been in a civil war since 2023, causing many deaths and displacements.
If convicted, Mafi can receive up to 20 years in federal prison.
Her first court appearance is scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.
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The spouses of Democrats aiming for the 2028 presidential nomination are preparing for public attention and criticism in different ways. Some, like Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are very active publicly, while others, like Lori Shapiro, keep a lower profile.
Key Facts
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, is very active in politics and social media.
Lori Shapiro, wife of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, prefers to stay more private and less involved publicly.
Lori Shapiro expressed concerns about the timing and pressure of a potential presidential run in her husband's book.
Kamala Harris’ vetting team reportedly advised Lori Shapiro to get new clothes and professional hair and makeup.
Republican critics have targeted Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s past statements and social media posts for political attacks.
Other spouses, like Gabby Giffords (Senator Mark Kelly’s wife) and MK Muenster Pritzker (Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s wife), have varying levels of political activity and public presence.
Male spouses of potential candidates, such as Chasten Buttigieg and Doug Emhoff, generally maintain lower profiles but support their partners publicly.
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The Democratic Party is visiting five cities—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia—to decide where to hold their 2028 national convention. This event helps the party share its message and boost the chosen city's economy. Party leaders are carefully reviewing each city’s strengths and weaknesses before making a final decision.
Key Facts
The five finalist cities are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia.
Democratic leaders, including DNC chair Ken Martin, are overseeing the site visits and selection process.
The convention is a major event to promote the party’s presidential candidate for 2028.
Each city is promoting itself while pointing out flaws in the others, such as hotel availability or political image.
Chicago hosted the 2024 convention; Philadelphia hosted the 2016 convention, which some Democrats remember negatively.
Logistical details like hotel rooms and arena location are important factors in the decision.
Democrats have good memories of Denver’s 2008 convention because it led to Barack Obama’s victory.
Republicans have already chosen Houston as their city for the 2028 convention.
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The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will investigate the deaths and disappearances of 10 American scientists. These scientists were connected to U.S. nuclear or space research programs, but no official link between the cases has been confirmed.
Key Facts
The investigation is led by Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky.
The scientists involved worked in nuclear or space research.
Ten scientists have either died or disappeared under unclear circumstances.
Authorities have not confirmed any official connections between each case.
The investigation aims to understand if there is a common reason behind these incidents.
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House members are preparing for a new round of efforts to expel some representatives. Two former representatives, Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, avoided expulsion by resigning amid accusations of inappropriate behavior with staff. Lawmakers from both parties are now focusing on other members for possible removal.
Key Facts
The House of Representatives is expecting another group of expulsion efforts soon.
Eric Swalwell (Democrat from California) and Tony Gonzales (Republican from Texas) resigned before they could be expelled.
Both faced accusations of sexual misconduct involving staff members.
Lawmakers from both political parties are involved in planning the next wave of expulsions.
The current focus is on Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills as potential targets.
Expulsion is a formal process to remove a member from Congress due to serious misconduct.
Resignation can prevent formal expulsion but does not remove public scrutiny.
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A detailed report in The Atlantic magazine accuses FBI Director Kash Patel of excessive drinking, erratic behavior, and unexplained absences. Patel denies these claims, calling them fake news and threatening legal action, while the journalist interviewed several FBI officials about his fitness for the role.
Key Facts
Kash Patel is the current FBI Director.
The Atlantic magazine published a report with allegations against Patel.
Allegations include excessive drinking, strange behavior, and being absent without explanation.
Patel denies the allegations and calls them fake news.
He plans to take legal action against the publications reporting the claims.
The journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick interviewed FBI officials for the report.
Patel was previously targeted by Iranian hackers who accessed his emails and shared photos.
The story raises questions about Patel’s ability to do his job as FBI Director.
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Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor in California, said that President Trump’s low approval ratings in the state will not affect the governor’s race. Hilton stated the election is about California’s future and the need for change.
Key Facts
Steve Hilton is running for governor in California as a Republican.
He commented on Sunday about the upcoming election.
Hilton said President Donald Trump’s low approval rating in California will not impact the governor’s race.
He emphasized that the election focuses on California’s future.
Hilton believes Californians want change.
The statement aims to separate local election issues from national politics.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz supported President Donald Trump’s warning to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Iran rejects a proposed peace deal. President Trump said the U.S. military would destroy Iranian power plants as part of this threat.
Key Facts
Mike Waltz is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
He defended President Trump’s threats regarding Iran’s civilian infrastructure.
President Trump issued these threats on Sunday.
Trump called the peace deal his administration offers to Iran “very fair and reasonable.”
The threat includes targeting all Iranian power plants.
The warning is connected to pressure on Iran to accept the peace deal.
The issue relates to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
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Representative Eugene Vindman has formally requested that Polymarket, a prediction market platform, provide records related to bets made on U.S. military actions. Vindman and other lawmakers are concerned that some traders may have used secret information to make large profits from bets placed just before sensitive military news was announced.
Key Facts
Vindman described well-timed bets on U.S. military operations as "traitorous" and asked Polymarket to preserve and share all relevant records.
Reports show some accounts made over $500,000 betting on military events minutes before public announcements.
These bets include predictions on U.S. actions in Iran and Venezuela, including a ceasefire announcement just before President Donald Trump revealed it.
Harvard researchers estimate over $143 million in profits on Polymarket may come from people with inside information.
Lawmakers worry that government or military individuals with access to classified information could be exploiting it for financial gain.
Representative Ritchie Torres requested an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) into whether nonpublic information was used in these trades.
The CFTC is a government agency that regulates markets involving financial contracts like futures and options to protect fairness and prevent fraud.
Congressional concern is growing about how prediction markets might threaten national security by enabling misuse of sensitive information.
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The CBS News show "Sunday Morning" on April 19 features stories about changes involving immigration judges, efforts to improve safety in trucking accidents, interviews with actors Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri about Broadway, an artist who paints portraits, the work of woodworker George Nakashima, a car salesman who performs opera, and updates on Earth Day and sustainability efforts.
Key Facts
The program covers a recent removal or change of immigration judges.
It reports on efforts to hold people responsible for trucking accidents.
Actors Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri talk about their work in Broadway shows.
Michael Shane Neal is featured for his portrait painting.
The legacy of woodworker George Nakashima is highlighted.
An unusual story includes a car salesman who sings opera.
The show includes Earth Day topics focused on progress in sustainability.
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