UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Afghan Suspect in Deadly Shooting of National Guard Members Faces First-Degree Murder Charge 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Japan Approves $117 Billion Budget to Power Stimulus and Support Growth 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Peru Moves to Declare State of Emergency at Chile Border as Migrant Tensions Rise 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with sweeping federal job cuts despite court rulings ordering reinstatements. Since taking office in January, Trump’s administration has aggressively reduced government staff, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leading the effort. More than 100,000 jobs have been slashed, impacting agencies like the IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Energy Department.
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged errors in the downsizing process but defended the push to streamline the government. “Mistakes happen, and they should be corrected quickly,” Vance told NBC News, adding that the administration aims to retain effective workers while eliminating inefficiencies.
Federal courts in California and Maryland ruled that thousands of probationary employees had been unlawfully terminated, ordering their reinstatement. The White House dismissed these rulings as partisan interference, vowing to appeal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argued that a district judge should not override presidential authority.
The IRS, a frequent target of Republican-led budget cuts, plans to eliminate up to 25,000 jobs by May 15. This includes 5,000 employees who accepted buyouts and 7,000 probationary workers affected by recent rulings. Additional cuts may follow as part of a broader federal restructuring.
To avoid legal challenges, some agencies have offered voluntary retirement packages rather than forced layoffs. However, legal battles continue, with unions and Democratic-led states contesting the mass firings. Judges ruled that several departments, including Defense, Treasury, and Agriculture, violated federal layoff regulations.
Amidst these changes, financial markets have been volatile. A global trade war and fears of economic downturn have erased $5 trillion in market value, though Wall Street saw slight recovery on Friday. Despite legal and economic pushback, the administration remains committed to its drastic federal workforce reduction plan.
