Reader Edition

Friday, April 24

Donald Trump looks on as Jerome Powell speaks at the White House in  November 2017
PoliticsApril 24, 2026

DOJ Ends Probe Into Fed Chair Powell as Trump Pushes for New Leadership

The Department of Justice has dropped its criminal investigation into Jerome Powell regarding Fed building renovation costs, shifting the inquiry to the inspector general as the administration pushes for Kevin Warsh to take the helm.

Split screen of BBC journalist in a pub garden holding a wooden paddle with two coins on it, and a man who is in a pub garden tossing two coins off a wooden paddle.
Foreign PolicyApril 24, 2026

Australia's Absurd Gambling Laws: A Lesson in Nanny-State Overreach

Australia maintains strict prohibitions on the traditional betting game 'Two-up,' allowing it only on Anzac Day while keeping it illegal the rest of the year under the guise of gambling regulation.

March on March protesters are seen leading a protest against illegal immigration in South Africa
ImmigrationApril 24, 2026

South Africa Faces Diplomatic Backlash as Citizens Take Immigration Enforcement Into Their Own Hands

Ghana has summoned South Africa's top envoy following a series of viral confrontations where local vigilante groups targeted foreign nationals amidst rising tensions over illegal immigration.

An image of Mojtaba Khamenei in the middle of a road where yellow and green taxis and motorcycles are parked, with a man wearing sunglasses, black trousers and a grey T-shirt holding a phone to his right ear.
Foreign PolicyApril 24, 2026

Tehran's Power Vacuum: Iran's Leadership Fractures Under Pressure

Iran's leadership is currently a rudderless ship, with an invisible supreme leader and a disjointed government struggling to maintain a coherent strategy against American and Israeli pressure.

Pedro Sanchez gesturing with handsand short greying brown hair, wears a suit and tie as he speaks during a press conference
Foreign PolicyApril 24, 2026

Time for Free-Riding Allies to Pay Up or Get Out

As the U.S. leads the charge against Iranian aggression, the Pentagon is rightfully considering how to handle NATO allies who refuse to contribute to the mission, signaling that the era of American-funded security for ungrateful partners is

Netanyahu, who has grey short hair and wears a black suit with a blue tie and has a badge of the Israeli flag on his lapel, speaks into a mic at a podium
PoliticsApril 24, 2026

Netanyahu Cleared for Duty Following Successful Cancer Treatment

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he is in excellent physical condition after undergoing a successful procedure to remove a minor malignant tumor.

A woman holds her hand to her face in grief in the district of Tadamon in Damascus (file photo)
Foreign PolicyApril 24, 2026

Butcher of Tadamon captured: Justice finally catches up to Syrian war criminal

Syrian authorities have apprehended Amjad Youssef, a primary perpetrator of the 2013 Tadamon massacre, bringing a measure of accountability for one of the most gruesome war crimes of the Syrian civil war.

A large black swirl of air as tornado passes thorough Oklahoma
ImmigrationApril 24, 2026

Powerful tornado tears through Oklahoma, leaving trail of destruction

A violent tornado struck the city of Enid, Oklahoma, causing significant infrastructure damage and injuring at least 10 people.

BBC chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, wearing navy outfit
Foreign PolicyApril 24, 2026

U.S. Naval Blockade Challenges Iranian Aggression in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States has implemented a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz to intercept vessels linked to Iran, sparking a high-stakes standoff with the rogue regime.

Back view of a wolf walking down a road near an intersection
TechApril 24, 2026

Man arrested after AI hoax derails search for escaped zoo wolf

South Korean authorities have arrested a man for obstructing a government search operation by circulating an AI-generated photo of an escaped wolf.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's co-founder and chief executive, in a blue suit and red tie.
TechApril 24, 2026

Meta Axes Thousands of Jobs to Feed AI Spending Spree

Meta is cutting 10% of its workforce while simultaneously funneling a staggering $135 billion into AI development, marking a major shift in the company's operational priorities.