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The Trump administration is formally enlisting foreign governments to support a sweeping reorientation of global development policy, favoring trade over aid. This initiative, set to be introduced at the United Nations later this month, aims to move away from direct aid to poor nations and towards increased trade led by private companies. According to Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department, the initiative rejects what he calls a failed aid model, emphasizing that trade and free market capitalism are the surest paths to prosperity. Pigott also criticized those advocating for 'aid not trade,' suggesting they are supporting a corrupt NGO industrial complex. The initiative's four stated aims include: advancing pro-business reforms in developing economies, facilitating government-to-private sector dialogue to attract investment, highlighting countries that have pursued free-market development, and brokering business partnerships between developing nations and US companies or international organizations. This push comes amid a broader trend of diminishing humanitarian aid globally. OECD preliminary figures show that 26 of 34 donor nations shrank their aid budgets in 2025, with significant cuts in countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Chatham House estimates that the 17 largest donors are on course to cut more than $60 billion in aid between 2023 and 2026. The UK's commitment to aid is set to decrease to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027, its lowest share since 1999. A study published in The Lancet warns that sustained global aid cuts could result in at least 9.4 million additional deaths by 2030. The Center for Global Development estimates that USAID cuts alone may have already contributed to between 500,000 and a million deaths in 2025. The US mission to the United Nations is expected to host a formal signing event for the declaration before the end of April.

Tiger Woods, the 50-year-old golf legend, has been in a tumultuous situation after his DUI arrest on March 27. According to court filings released recently, Woods told police that he had taken several prescription medications, including Vicodin, on the day of the crash. He claimed to have taken these medications for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and pain management. Woods denied drinking alcohol, and a breath test confirmed that there was no alcohol in his system. However, he refused a urine test for drugs. Prosecutors are seeking access to Woods's prescription records from the months leading up to the crash, but his attorneys have objected, citing privacy concerns. In a series of bizarre remarks, Woods told officers at the scene that 'all the drones' were flying over his home and referenced '10 to 15 drones coming over my … car' with 'GoPros on 'em'. He then claimed to have spoken to 'the president' in a conversation that was cut short. Woods has pleaded not guilty to DUI charges stemming from the crash and is due back in court next month. His attorney has requested a protective order to limit the use of any records obtained. Woods has been in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, former daughter-in-law of Donald Trump, for over a year. Donald Trump himself stated that he had spoken with Woods since the incident, noting that the golfer 'lives a life of pain' due to his injuries. Woods has been involved in previous high-profile car incidents, including a life-threatening 2021 crash in Los Angeles and a 2017 DUI arrest linked to prescription medication use. He has struggled with chronic pain and injuries in recent years, including a seventh back procedure and a ruptured achilles tendon.

Warner Bros' new take on The Mummy, directed by Lee Cronin, has been met with criticism for its grandiose approach and lackluster execution. The film's attempt to distance itself from Universal's upcoming return to the franchise and capitalize on the current trend of auteur-driven horror films has been seen as unearned and indulgent. Cronin, an Irish filmmaker with only two previous films under his belt, has been praised for his visual talent, but his Mummy has been criticized for being absurdly overlong at 134 minutes and tonally unsure. The film's attempt to blend elements of classic monster movies with modern horror tropes has resulted in a messy and unoriginal product. The film's plot, which revolves around a creepy kid who returns from the dead with a malevolent presence, has been compared to other horror films such as The Exorcist and The Omen. However, the execution falls short, with rubbery prosthetics and an exhaustingly loud finale that fails to deliver scares. Despite its bold ambition and stunning visuals, the film ultimately feels like a lesser imitation of other horror films. The lack of character development, suspense, and logic makes it difficult to become invested in the story. The Mummy is set to release in Australian cinemas on April 16 and in the US and UK on April 17.

The chief executive of Stack BTC, a bitcoin company promoted by Nigel Farage, has departed as the venture seeks to assure investors of its potential for long-term value. Stack BTC was launched earlier this year with significant fanfare, counting Farage and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng among its initial shareholders.The company, originally founded in 2021 by Jai Patel under the name Kasei Investment Holdings, has undergone a rebranding. Its aim is to encourage investments in cryptocurrencies, particularly targeting individuals over 45. However, its previous iteration, Kasei, faced liquidation last year due to adverse market conditions and an inability to raise further capital.Stack BTC's strategy involves accumulating bitcoin and operating as a venture capital firm, investing in smaller companies and reinvesting revenue in bitcoin. The company's share price is expected to correlate with the price of bitcoin. Farage invested £215,000 in the company, and on paper, the value of his stake appears to have increased by more than £200,000.Jai Patel's departure was announced on Wednesday, with the company stating that the move is part of efforts to strengthen the executive team and deliver long-term value for shareholders. Patel has been replaced by David Galan, a former real estate executive with experience in capital markets and mergers & acquisitions.CryptoUK's Ian Taylor expressed skepticism about the company's prospects, suggesting that the involvement of Farage and Kwarteng may deter potential investors. Taylor noted that the company's approach appears to be a PR branding exercise rather than a genuine investment opportunity.

Brazil's Federal Police have launched an investigation into Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing presidential candidate, for allegedly issuing defamatory statements against his election rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The probe was ordered by the Supreme Court's Justice Alexandre de Moraes and relates to posts Bolsonaro published in January.In the posts, Bolsonaro responded to the news of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's abduction by the US with insinuations linking Lula to crimes. He wrote that Lula will be exposed and predicted the collapse of the left-wing alliance known as the Sao Paulo Forum due to scandals including international drug and arms trafficking and money laundering.Brazil's penal code considers defamation a criminal offence, with prosecutors able to seek heightened penalties for defamation against presidents or heads of state. The Federal Police have 60 days to carry out their initial investigation.The development comes as Bolsonaro and Lula are in a neck-and-neck race for the presidency ahead of October's general election. A recent poll showed Lula slightly ahead in the first round with 37% of the vote compared to Bolsonaro's 32%, but Bolsonaro polls slightly ahead in a one-on-one contest.Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator for Rio de Janeiro and the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, entered the 2026 presidential race with his father's endorsement. He has suggested that seeking his father's freedom would be part of his campaign.

A Pakistani delegation headed by Army Chief General Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, bearing a fresh message from Washington and urging the launch of a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran. The effort comes as the two‑week ceasefire that halted hostilities last week is set to expire on April 22, leaving a narrow window to end a war that has claimed more than 4,000 lives across the Middle East, primarily in Iran and Lebanon. The initial round of talks, held in Islamabad on April 11‑12, marked the most significant direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in decades. Mediated by Pakistan, the sessions lasted over 20 hours and featured both indirect and direct exchanges between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Despite covering core issues—nuclear programme, sanctions relief, frozen assets and control of the Strait of Hormuz—the talks concluded without a memorandum, with Vance asserting that Iran “did not accept our terms” and that the U.S. requires a “fundamental commitment” to forego nuclear weapons. President Donald Trump has described the conflict as “very close to being over” and hinted that a second round could resume within days, possibly in Islamabad. However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently on a four‑day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to rally regional backing, making a rapid return to Islamabad uncertain. U.S. officials have offered an “in‑principle” agreement to extend the ceasefire, yet a Reuters‑cited source confirmed that Washington has not formally committed to an extension. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism, stating that “there can be no negotiating with clenched fists.” Key sticking points remain: Nuclear programme: The United States and Israel demand a complete halt to uranium enrichment, accusing Iran of weaponization despite a lack of public evidence. Iran maintains its enrichment is for civilian use and cites its obligations under the 1970 Non‑Proliferation Treaty. Strait of Hormuz: One‑fifth of global oil and LNG passes through this chokepoint. Since the February strikes, shipping through the strait has dropped by 95 %. Iran permits passage for “non‑hostile” vessels and seeks the right to levy tolls, while the U.S. insists on unrestricted navigation. Lebanon/Hezbollah: Iran demands that Israel cease its offensive against Hezbollah. While Tehran claims the ceasefire covers Lebanon, both the United States and Israel reject this, and Israel continues attacks on Hezbollah positions. Complicating the diplomatic landscape, President Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, adding pressure on Tehran and potentially hindering any imminent talks. With the ceasefire deadline looming and regional actors issuing mixed signals, the prospects for a renewed U.S.–Iran dialogue hinge on whether Pakistan can secure a consensus among the parties before the window closes.

Sudan, one of the world's most impoverished countries, has been ravaged by a civil war that began in 2023. The conflict, driven by a power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left the nation unrecognizable. Over 40,000 people have been killed, and about 14 million – a quarter of the population – have been forced to flee their homes. Civilian infrastructure across the country has been extensively damaged.“We are not just facing a crisis – we are witnessing the systematic erosion of a country’s future,” Luca Renda, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP’s) resident representative in Sudan, told Al Jazeera. A report by the UNDP and the Institute for Security Studies highlights the scale of Sudan’s economic collapse. Even under the most optimistic scenario of peace being achieved in 2026, Sudan would still lose an estimated $18.8 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) by 2043.The war has had a devastating impact on Sudan's infrastructure and basic services. $6.4 billion was lost in GDP in 2023 alone, reflecting a simultaneous collapse across all major parts of Sudan’s economy. The destruction of infrastructure has triggered displacement and made it difficult for people to secure adequate housing or access basic services. Up to 40 percent of power generation capacity has been lost, and key water infrastructure has been destroyed or seized, cutting communities off from clean water and sanitation.The labor market has also been severely affected, with agriculture – once the backbone of Sudan’s economy – severely hit. Cultivated land has shrunk, adversely impacting rural livelihoods. Average incomes have fallen back to levels last seen in 1992. About 90 percent of manufacturing activity has been destroyed in key economic hubs, eliminating thousands of jobs.The oil industry has suffered significantly, with oil output falling amid widespread instability and infrastructure damage. The Khartoum refinery, which previously processed up to 100,000 barrels per day, has been out of operation since July 2023. Key infrastructure, including pipeline routes carrying crude to Port Sudan, has been hit.The collapse of the Sudanese pound and supply chains has caused a sharp rise in living costs. Food prices have surged, with four pieces of bread now costing about 1,000 pounds, an amount that had previously bought six pieces. Wages have failed to catch up with inflation, leaving many households without access to necessities. Nearly half the population is now experiencing acute food shortages.The economic collapse has had a profound impact on Sudan's people, with 34 million people in need of assistance and 19 million facing acute food shortages. The war has caused death, trauma, and profound loss, casting a long shadow over Sudan’s future and dimming the prospects of a generation whose lives are being shaped by violence. If the conflict continues to 2030, Sudan’s economy in 2043 would be about $34.5 billion smaller than it would have been without the war, and GDP per capita would drop by roughly $1,700.

President Donald Trump announced on Fox Business that he will dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell should the governor refuse to leave his post when his term concludes on May 15. The statement, made during an interview with Maria Bartiromo, underscored the president’s willingness to act, saying he “has wanted to fire him, but I hate to be controversial… he will be fired.” Legal scholars and policy analysts quickly cautioned that the president’s threat is not grounded in statutory authority. Skanda Amarnath, executive director of the think‑tank Employ America, told Al Jazeera that the administration is already losing a court battle over an attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook and would likely face the same outcome if it pursued Powell’s removal. The controversy emerges as the Senate Banking Committee prepares to consider Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to succeed Powell. Warsh’s hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, but his confirmation remains uncertain. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has pledged to block the nomination until the ongoing federal criminal probe into Powell’s conduct concludes. If the Senate fails to confirm a new chair, Powell would remain at the helm until a successor is appointed, extending the period of tension between the White House and the central bank. Trump also referenced a separate investigation into a costly Fed building renovation, noting that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has not indicated any change in the probe’s direction. However, a federal prosecutor later reported that the investigation uncovered no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Critics argue that Trump’s broader agenda seeks to increase political control over the Fed’s seven‑member board, aiming to install members who share his economic outlook. Currently, the president has appointed three board members, and one seat—held by Governor Stephen Miran—has technically expired, which would need to be vacated for Warsh to join. Powell has framed the investigation as a pretext to undermine the Fed’s independence in setting monetary policy, a charge that resonates with concerns about preserving the central bank’s autonomy amid political pressure. Overall, the standoff highlights a clash between executive ambition and the institutional safeguards designed to keep monetary policy decisions insulated from short‑term political influence.

Peter Magyar, the prime‑minister‑elect of Hungary’s Tisza (Respect and Freedom) party, announced a sweeping media reform plan as he prepares to form a new government following a historic landslide that ended Viktor Orbán’s 16‑year rule. In a televised interview – his first appearance on state TV in 18 months – Magyar accused the public broadcaster of operating as a “propaganda machine” and pledged to suspend news broadcasts on state media until a new legal framework is enacted. He described the current staff of the public broadcaster MTVA as having worked under “total intimidation and political terror,” and vowed to establish a new media law, an independent media authority, and professional standards that would restore genuine public‑service journalism. During the same appearance, Magyar confronted President Tamas Sulyok, labeling him “unworthy to embody the unity of the Hungarian nation” and demanding his resignation once the new cabinet takes office. Beyond the political overhaul, Magyar faces a pressing fiscal challenge: more than €16 billion ($19 bn) of EU COVID‑19 recovery funding remains frozen over rule‑of‑law disputes, with an end‑of‑August deadline to meet Brussels’ conditions or risk losing the money. The incoming premier said he has already spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and will begin informal consultations before the formal government is sworn in in May. Magyar outlined four priority reform areas: anti‑corruption measures, accession to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, restoration of judicial independence, and the revival of media and academic freedoms. Analysts caution that entrenched Orban loyalists within key institutions could complicate the reform trajectory. These moves signal a decisive break from the previous administration’s media consolidation—where a pro‑Orban conglomerate now controls over 400 outlets—and set the stage for Hungary’s next chapter in both domestic governance and its relationship with the European Union.