The House of Representatives approved a short-term renewal of a surveillance program used by U.S. intelligence agencies until April 30, 2026. The vote followed a failure to pass a longer, five-year extension due to disagreements among Republican lawmakers and protests from Democrats about the process and privacy concerns.
Key Facts
The House voted early Friday to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until April 30, 2026.
Section 702 allows agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI to collect foreign communications without a warrant, sometimes capturing American communications by accident.
President Trump wanted an 18-month clean renewal, but Republicans introduced a different bill to extend the program for five years with changes.
The attempt to pass a longer extension failed because some Republicans did not support it.
Democrats criticized the rushed vote process and questioned the bill’s contents on the House floor.
Intelligence officials say the program is vital for preventing terrorism, cyber attacks, and spying by foreign enemies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed the need to balance national security with protecting constitutional rights.
President Trump urged Republicans to unite and vote for a clean renewal of the surveillance program.
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Democrat Analilia Mejía won a special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, keeping the seat for the Democrats. She campaigned on progressive ideas and opposition to President Donald Trump, and will serve until January.
Key Facts
Analilia Mejía won a New Jersey special election for the U.S. House on April 16, 2026.
She defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in the election.
Mejía supports progressive policies like better healthcare, education, and higher wages.
She criticized President Trump’s actions, including pardons related to January 6 crimes and freezing of congressional funds.
Mejía has backing from Senator Bernie Sanders and led the Working Families Alliance.
The 11th District seat was previously held by Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill.
Republicans called Mejía “too far to the left,” but she pushed back against that label.
Mejía plans to serve until January and may face Hathaway again in the November general election.
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The House of Representatives passed a two-week extension of the U.S. surveillance program early Friday morning. This happened after some Republican members rejected a last-minute deal to extend the program for five years with added changes.
Key Facts
The spy powers program was extended by two weeks through a House vote.
The vote took place in the early hours of Friday morning.
Republican members opposing the program rejected a proposed five-year extension.
The rejected deal included additional reforms and new language to address concerns.
The short extension gives leaders more time to work on a solution.
The surveillance program is related to national security and intelligence gathering.
There was a last-minute effort to reach an agreement before the vote.
The current situation shows division within the Republican Party on this issue.
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Alyssa McCrea’s three-year-old daughter Aria was diagnosed with leukaemia, leading to frequent hospital visits for treatment in Belfast, 110 miles from their home. While England has set up a government fund to help families cover travel costs for children’s cancer treatment, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health cannot offer similar support due to budget limits.
Key Facts
Aria, aged three, was diagnosed with leukaemia in summer 2022.
Treatment lasts about two and a half years and requires regular travel to Belfast.
The family lives in Derrykeighan, County Antrim, about 110 miles round trip.
Travel costs became a heavy financial burden, with Alyssa often "skimping to get by."
England announced a £10 million yearly fund to cover travel costs for young cancer patients.
Northern Ireland does not have a similar dedicated travel fund due to budget constraints.
Financial aid in Northern Ireland is mostly limited to low-income families receiving certain benefits.
Charities and the Irish Cancer Society provide some financial support but not a direct travel fund.
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Noor Aziz Ahmadzai, an Afghan Special Forces veteran who worked with the British Army, was seriously injured in an alleged assault while working as a security guard at Weymouth railway station. He suffered a brain bleed and is recovering in hospital, while police continue to investigate the incident involving two teenage girls.
Key Facts
Noor Aziz Ahmadzai served in Afghan Special Forces and trained in the UK.
He worked as a security guard at Weymouth railway station when assaulted.
He suffered a serious brain injury and required airlifting to hospital.
Two 17-year-old girls were arrested but later released as inquiries continue.
Ahmadzai fled Afghanistan in 2021 under the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy due to his military work with British forces.
He cannot yet apply to serve in the UK military because he is not a British citizen.
Veterans' charities have not been able to assist him as he wasn’t a British serving veteran.
Police are asking for witnesses to come forward to help with the investigation.
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Los Angeles police arrested singer David Burke, known as D4vd, for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The girl's dismembered remains were found last year in a car registered to Burke. Burke is held without bail, and prosecutors will decide whether to file charges.
Key Facts
David Burke, a 21-year-old singer known as D4vd, was arrested in Los Angeles.
He is suspected of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
The victim’s dismembered and decomposed body was found last year in a Tesla linked to Burke.
The Los Angeles Police Department arrested Burke and he is held without bail.
The case will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s office for possible charges.
No official cause of death has been made public.
Burke’s legal team denies he caused the girl’s death and says no indictment or charges have been filed yet.
The investigation is ongoing and more information may come out later.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read a prayer at a Christian service held at the Pentagon. The prayer was actually a misquoted Bible verse from the movie Pulp Fiction, not the real Bible.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the US Defense Secretary.
He read a prayer during a Christian service at the Pentagon.
The prayer he read came from a misquote of Ezekiel 25:17 shown in the movie Pulp Fiction.
The misquote is originally spoken by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the film.
Hegseth said the prayer was used by a US military mission called “Sandy 1” involved in combat search and rescue in Iran.
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House Republican leaders are working on a last-minute deal to extend U.S. foreign spying powers for five more years. The plan includes adding rules about warrants and stronger punishments for breaking the law.
Key Facts
House Republicans are negotiating a compromise on spying powers late at night.
The extension would last five years.
The deal includes adding specific warrant requirements.
Stronger criminal penalties for violations are part of the proposal.
The text of the provision was shared around 10:30 p.m.
The update came several hours after the planned procedural vote.
This deal aims to gain support from Republican members who had opposed earlier versions.
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The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, will leave his position on May 31. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that Lyons will move to a new job in the private sector.
Key Facts
Todd Lyons is the acting head of ICE.
Lyons will leave his role at the end of May.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the departure.
Lyons is leaving to work in the private sector.
The announcement was made on the social platform X.
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Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will resign on May 31, 2026. He is stepping down to spend more time with his family, according to his letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Key Facts
Todd Lyons has been the acting head of ICE and announced he will leave next month.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed Lyons’ resignation and praised his leadership.
Lyons helped ICE increase deportations of criminals and other individuals deemed threats.
Lyons joined ICE in 2007 and rose through the ranks before becoming acting director.
Lyons stated his family needs more of his time as the main reason for stepping down.
Lyons’ last day as acting ICE director is May 31, 2026.
The ICE agency has been under scrutiny for its operations in U.S. cities recently.
DHS had a recent leadership change when former Secretary Kristi Noem was fired last month.
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Todd Lyons, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will step down at the end of May 2025 and move to the private sector. His resignation follows a year marked by increasing criticism of ICE's tactics under President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Key Facts
Todd Lyons has been acting director of ICE since March 2025.
He will resign at the end of May 2025 and leave for the private sector.
Lyons defended ICE amid controversy over violent actions, including a recent shooting in California.
He faced criticism after ICE agents killed two US citizens in Minneapolis in January 2025.
A federal judge in Minnesota threatened contempt charges against Lyons for ignoring court orders on immigration arrests.
Under Lyons, ICE hired about 12,000 officers and agents in less than a year.
ICE detention centers under Lyons have faced concerns over conditions, especially for families and children.
Public opinion polls show growing disapproval of ICE and calls for its abolition.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and White House officials praised Lyons’ efforts.
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The parents of a 2-year-old girl who died from a fentanyl overdose in California have been charged with second-degree murder. The San Francisco District Attorney said the parents knew about the dangers of fentanyl but allowed their child to be exposed to the drug, which led to her death.
Key Facts
The toddler died on February 12, 2026, due to acute fentanyl toxicity.
Police found the child unresponsive, and medics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Both parents, Michelle Price (38) and Steve Ramirez (43), were first charged with child endangerment and drug possession.
Charges were upgraded to include second-degree murder and willful harm resulting in death to a child.
The toxicology report showed fentanyl and naloxone (Narcan) in the child's system.
Narcan use suggested the parents knew about the fentanyl risk but still exposed the child.
A judge issued bench warrants after the parents did not appear in court for the hearing on the new charges.
Ramirez tried to flee and resisted arrest when police arrived at the home.
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President Donald Trump criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for proposing a new tax on second homes. Trump said the tax would harm the city, marking one of his most direct attacks on the mayor since they met earlier this year.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed a tax on second homes in New York City.
President Trump said this tax would “destroy” the city.
Trump publicly responded to the mayor’s plan in a post on Thursday.
This is one of the first strong criticisms Trump has made about Mamdani since they met at the White House months ago.
The tax targets people who own more than one home in New York City.
The proposal is part of the mayor’s effort to raise money for the city budget.
The discussion around the tax reflects ongoing debates about housing and wealth in New York City.
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Democrat Analilia Mejia won a special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District to fill a seat left vacant by Mikie Sherrill. Her win reduces the Republican majority in the House and adds momentum for Democrats ahead of the 2024 midterm elections.
Key Facts
Analilia Mejia won the New Jersey special election with 68.1% of the vote.
She defeated Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan Bond.
The seat was open after Democrat Mikie Sherrill became governor.
Before the election, Republicans held 218 seats in the House, Democrats had 213, and 4 seats were vacant.
Mejia worked for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign and in the Biden administration’s Labor Department.
Her victory follows recent Democratic wins in special elections in Florida.
Several members of Congress recently resigned due to allegations, causing more vacancy and upcoming special elections.
Democrats’ recent successes in special elections are seen as positive signs ahead of the midterms.
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Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman shared with the BBC the meaningful moment when the mission crew named a new crater on the Moon after his late wife, Carroll, who passed away from cancer in 2020. Wiseman’s daughters were present in NASA’s control room during the announcement. The Artemis II crew is on a 10-day mission that will return to Earth on April 10.
Key Facts
Reid Wiseman is the commander of the Artemis II mission, which is orbiting the Moon.
The crew found a new crater on the Moon and named it after Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.
Carroll Wiseman died from cancer in 2020 at the age of 46.
Wiseman’s two daughters were in NASA’s mission control room when the crater was named.
Artemis II is a 10-day mission planned to splash down off the coast of San Diego on April 10.
The mission includes a flyby of the far side of the Moon without landing.
Artemis II broke the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth.
NASA is preparing for a potential lunar landing mission by 2028.
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Analilia Mejia won a special election to represent New Jersey’s 11th district in the US House of Representatives, keeping the seat for the Democrats. She campaigned on progressive policies and opposition to President Donald Trump’s leadership. Mejia will serve until January and may face the same Republican opponent in the November election.
Key Facts
Analilia Mejia won a special election for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district.
She is a Democrat and a progressive candidate backed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Elizabeth Warren.
Mejia campaigned against President Trump’s actions, including his pardons and freezing of funds.
Her victory maintains Democratic control of a district that was once Republican-leaning.
Mejia supports economic policies for working families and wants to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
She criticized the Israeli government and expressed support for Palestinian communities.
The Republican candidate, Joe Hathaway, described himself as a moderate and criticized Mejia’s progressive views.
Mejia may run against Hathaway again in the general election in November.
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Ben Roberts-Smith, a decorated Australian soldier, was arrested at Sydney airport while planning to move overseas without telling authorities. He faces war crime charges for allegedly killing unarmed civilians in Afghanistan and is currently applying for bail.
Key Facts
Ben Roberts-Smith is charged with five counts of war crime murder related to his military service.
Each charge could result in a life sentence if he is convicted.
Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport as he was about to leave the country.
Prosecutors say he hid his plans to move overseas from authorities.
The court must decide if there are "exceptional circumstances" to grant him bail.
Prosecutors argue Roberts-Smith might flee or interfere with witnesses if released.
Defense lawyers say the case is complex and will take many years to resolve.
Defense also says Roberts-Smith needs bail to properly access evidence and prepare his defense.
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US singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested in connection to the death of a 14-year-old girl, Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her remains were found in his Tesla last September, and the case is now under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Key Facts
D4vd is a 21-year-old US singer and TikTok star.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, was reported missing last year.
Her decomposed remains were found in a Tesla registered to D4vd’s Texas address in September 2025.
The body was found in a cadaver bag inside the car’s front boot.
The medical examiner said the body was severely decomposed, and the cause of death is still under investigation.
A grand jury began hearing evidence in December, leading to D4vd’s arrest.
D4vd is being held without bail and is cooperating with authorities.
Court records about the death have been sealed to protect the investigation.
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President Donald Trump spoke at an event in Las Vegas to defend his economic policies as energy costs rose due to conflicts involving Iran. He expressed skepticism about a recent government report showing a significant increase in inflation last month.
Key Facts
President Trump held an event in Las Vegas to discuss economic issues.
He defended the economic policies of his administration.
Rising energy prices are linked to conflict involving Iran.
The U.S. Labor Department reported a 0.9% increase in inflation last month.
This inflation rise was the largest in nearly four years.
President Trump questioned the accuracy of the inflation data.
Inflation refers to the general increase in prices for goods and services.
The increase in energy costs impacts overall consumer prices.
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CBS News spoke with Americans about how the conflict with Iran is affecting the U.S. economy. Many people said rising costs and financial challenges are making it hard to manage their daily lives.
Key Facts
The news report focused on Americans’ views about the war with Iran.
People reported economic hardships linked to the conflict.
Rising prices are causing financial stress for many families.
The interviews highlighted concerns about staying financially stable.
The coverage aimed to show how international events affect everyday people.
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