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As millions of Americans rush to file their taxes on Tax Day, a new report reveals that the average US household spent $4,049 on military-related spending in 2025, up from $3,707 in 2024. This increase comes as Donald Trump pushes for a 40% increase in federal defense spending, despite growing concerns over rising living costs and government expenditure.The report by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) thinktank found that military-related spending in 2025 includes about $1,870 going to Pentagon contractors, $770 to military personnel, $130 for nuclear weapons, and $57 for aid to foreign militaries. The spending does not account for the cost of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began in February 2026 and has already exceeded $11.3bn in the first six days alone.The IPS report highlights that these enormous sums for the Pentagon and militarism come with enormous costs to ordinary people – both in terms of the opportunity cost for other programs and the drain on their wallets. The analysis is based on an average 'tax filing unit' with a total taxable income of $104,000.Americans have filed their taxes this year amid growing public concern over cost of living, taxes, and government spending. A recent Fox News poll found that 70% of registered voters surveyed believe their taxes are too high, up 11 points from last year. The same poll also found that 29% of registered voters said they were concerned with 'how the government spends their tax dollars.'Beyond military spending, the report estimates that $2,492 of the average taxpayer's federal income tax went to Medicaid, $2,207 to Medicare, and $31 to substance abuse and mental health programs. The report also found that the average taxpayer paid about $396 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) and $607 for the Department of Education.The data has significant implications for the economy, as US inflation surged in March with prices up 0.9% compared with last month and 3.3% over the year, amid the US-Israel war with Iran. The University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey recorded a 10.7% drop to its lowest level on record.

Lidl and Iceland Foods have become the inaugural retailers to see their advertisements prohibited under the United Kingdom’s newly‑introduced junk‑food advertising rules, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) confirmed on Wednesday.The ASA has been overseeing the ban that bars television ads for high‑fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) items before 9 p.m. and prohibits any online promotion of such products at any hour, a regime that took effect on 5 January 2026.In Lidl’s case, the ASA found that an Instagram post created by popular influencer Emma Kearney ("Baby Emzo") for Lidl Northern Ireland showcased a tray of pain suisse – a French pastry filled with vanilla cream and chocolate chips. A complainant argued the product was “less healthy” and breached the HFSS criteria. Lidl defended the content as a “brand‑led” advertisement, noting that the new rules allow brand promotion provided no identifiable junk‑food item appears, but the ASA concluded the post did indeed highlight a prohibited product.For Iceland, the breach involved a digital display and banner ad on the Daily Mail website promoting confectionery such as Swizzels Sweet Treats, Chupa Chups Laces, Choose Disco Stix and Haribo Elf Surprises. These sweets fail the nutrient‑profiling model used to classify HFSS foods, meaning they cannot be advertised under the current legislation.The HFSS framework classifies foods high in fat, salt or sugar as “less healthy” and bars their promotion across broadcast and digital channels. This move is part of the UK government’s broader strategy to curb rising childhood obesity rates by limiting children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing.Iceland acknowledged that, while it requests nutrient‑profile data from all suppliers, there are “gaps” in the information received. To address this, the retailer has contracted a data‑service provider to compile monthly nutritional data for every product on its website, aiming to flag any items that fall under the HFSS definition before they appear in advertising.After reviewing the complaints, the ASA upheld the objections and ordered both supermarkets to ensure future digital marketing does not feature products that violate the junk‑food ad rules. The rulings signal a stricter regulatory environment for retailers and advertisers, urging a shift toward healthier product promotion and more robust data‑management practices.

It's been a year since the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, and the effects are still being felt. Tens of thousands of employees were offered buyouts or faced termination, leaving many to navigate a difficult job market. Maggie, a former employee of the US Office of Personnel Management, took a buyout offer in May 2025. She has since applied to over 250 jobs but is still waiting for an ethics letter to start work elsewhere. 'I couldn't be without health insurance through the delivery of my baby,' she said, highlighting the challenges faced by those who lost their jobs. The federal workforce has declined by about 355,000 employees since Trump took office, with 18,000 workers leaving in March 2026 alone. The cuts have left remaining government workers overwhelmed, trying to keep essential public services afloat. Charles Melton, a 20-year veteran of the US Department of Agriculture, took early retirement but still helps former colleagues with job applications. 'I'm still mad as hell,' he said. 'We just got thrown away like garbage.' The impact on public services has been significant, with customer service at the Social Security Administration worsening and healthcare workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs reporting ongoing staffing issues. The shutdown of USAID has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide due to the spread of infectious diseases and malnutrition. The White House has declined to comment, but Scott Kupor, OPM's director, stated that 'reshaping the federal workforce is essential to building a government that works for the American people, not the bureaucracy.'

It's been six months since a ceasefire agreement was brokered between Israel and Hamas, but the reality on the ground in Gaza remains dire. The agreement, which was intended to mark a turning point towards ending the war and initiating a recovery phase for Gaza's population, has failed to deliver tangible improvements in humanitarian or security conditions for Palestinian civilians.The ceasefire has been plagued by ongoing Israeli attacks, with over 700 Palestinians killed since the agreement came into effect. The Israeli army has continued its military operations, raising questions about the fragility of the ceasefire and the role of mediators in enforcing its terms.The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with food and aid supplies below minimum requirements. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that only 4,999 aid trucks entered Gaza out of 23,400 planned, and only 625 people out of 7,800 were allowed to travel through crossings. This has led to widespread malnutrition and famine-like conditions in the region.The ceasefire has also failed to address the issue of Israeli control over Gaza. The Israeli army has established a so-called 'Yellow Line' as a separation boundary, dividing Gaza into zones of control. Israel maintains effective control over roughly 50-55% of the Strip, including large areas of Rafah, Khan Younis, and northern Gaza.In conclusion, six months on, the ceasefire in Gaza has not produced a sustainable transformation and remains closer to a temporary truce than a final settlement. The situation on the ground is one of 'neither war nor peace,' with over two million people continuing to face deep uncertainty and a lack of meaningful political or humanitarian stabilization.

From the world’s smallest footballing nation – a population of just 45,319 – the American Samoa women entered the 2026 World Cup qualifiers ranked 153rd, the lowest spot in the global rankings.Team captain Alma Mana’o describes the squad as a close‑knit family, noting that several sets of sisters play together and that the Mana’o family holds the record for the most relatives to appear at FIFA events.In November, the side faced Tonga, the tournament’s highest‑ranked opponent. 18‑year‑old Cassidy Drago etched her name into Samoan folklore by netting the nation’s first ever goal in women’s World Cup qualifying, followed quickly by a second, sealing a 3‑0 victory. The momentum continued with a win over the Cook Islands, cementing their reputation as genuine upset‑makers.The second round seemed to promise a return to reality when the Solomon Islands – 80 places above them in the rankings and 2025 Pacific Nations Cup champions – thrashed American Samoa 7‑1 in an Olympic qualifier. Yet, just 90 minutes later, the Samoans produced one of the competition’s most astonishing results: a 1‑0 win over the same opponents.That triumph was followed by another narrow victory, 1‑0 against neighbouring Samoa, securing a place in the final OFC qualifying round and completing the team’s evolution “from underdog to dark horse,” as Mana’o puts it.Looking ahead, American Samoa will meet Papua New Guinea in Auckland – the venue of their inaugural women’s international match 28 years ago. The squad now benefits from the guidance of Amanda Cromwell, the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold‑medal‑winning coach, who has overseen four wins in five games. Mana’o credits Cromwell with professionalising the program, from nutrition plans to dedicated training staff, and says the new standards will become the norm.Mana’o herself broke ground as the first “off‑island” player in 2011 at age 15, enduring an 8‑0 debut loss. Today she celebrates a new generation of teenagers, such as Mia Toeaina and Naiyah Ve’e, who are experiencing a vastly different, more positive football environment.

The UK's food system is heavily dependent on oil, which is used for transportation, fertilizers, and other aspects of food production. This dependency on oil has been highlighted by recent global events, including the US-Israel war on Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Experts argue that the UK needs to take a more proactive approach to food security, rather than waiting for a crisis to occur. This includes diversifying food supplies, growing more of its own food, and engaging the public in protecting itself from future shocks. The UK's food system is also vulnerable to disruptions caused by climate breakdown, ransomware attacks, and other hybrid threats. To address this, the government needs to prioritize food security and develop a more comprehensive approach to protecting the country's food supply. Some of the key recommendations for improving food security in the UK include: Regionalizing food production to reduce reliance on long-distance transportation and promote local food systems. Applying defense-strategy thinking to food security, including protecting food supply chains from disruptions and attacks. Prioritizing public engagement and education on food security, including providing guidance on nutrition and resilience. Rebuilding a regional horticulture sector to increase domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports. Addressing food inequality and ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food. Overall, the UK's food security crisis is a wake-up call for sustainable solutions. By taking a proactive and comprehensive approach, the country can reduce its vulnerabilities and ensure a more resilient food system for the future.

Ecuador has escalated tensions with Colombia by recalling its ambassador, Arturo Felix Wong, from Bogota. This move comes in response to criticisms from Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding the case of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for corruption.Glas, a left-wing figure, has been at the center of a high-profile criminal case that has stirred tensions across Latin America. He was arrested in a controversial police raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito two years ago, where he had sought asylum. The raid was authorized by the right-wing government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who has denounced criticisms of the Glas case as a violation of his country's sovereignty.President Petro has referred to Glas as a 'political prisoner' and has called for his transfer to Colombian custody after granting him citizenship last September. Petro has also raised concerns about Glas's health and wellbeing, stating that he is suffering from severe malnutrition and muscle mass loss due to his imprisonment.The diplomatic row between Ecuador and Colombia is part of a long-running spat between the two leaders. Since March, Noboa has imposed 50-percent tariffs on Colombian imports, accusing Colombia of being too lax in its fight against drug trafficking. Petro, in turn, has accused Noboa of carrying out a bombing campaign near the Colombian border, resulting in the recovery of 27 charred bodies.Ecuador's Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, confirmed the recall of the ambassador, stating that the criticisms of the Glas case were 'uncalled for and a provocation'. The move is seen as a further escalation of tensions between the two countries, which have been experiencing strained relations since the Mexican embassy raid in 2024.

Monday, 6 April 2026 marks the most consequential day for human spaceflight in over half a century, as NASA’s Artemis II mission prepares to eclipse the Apollo 13 distance record.At 13:56 EDT (17:56 GMT) the Orion spacecraft will pass the 400,171 km (248,655 mi) mark set by Apollo 13, and by 19:07 EDT (23:07 GMT) it is slated to reach a maximum of 406,773 km (252,760 mi) from Earth – roughly 6,600 km farther than any human has ever traveled.The Artemis programme is NASA’s multi‑decade effort to return people to the Moon, establish a sustainable presence there, and use the lunar foothold as a springboard to Mars. The initiative currently comprises five missions (Artemis I‑V).Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight launched on 16 November 2022, spent 25 days orbiting Earth and validating Orion’s performance, paving the way for the crewed flight.Artemis II lifted off from Kennedy Space Centre on 1 April 2026 at 18:35 EDT (22:35 GMT) with a four‑astronaut crew for a ten‑day deep‑space test.Crew members:Reid Wiseman (50), commander – veteran ISS commander and test pilot.Victor Glover (49), pilot – first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission; previously flew on SpaceX Crew‑1.Christina Koch (47), mission specialist – holds the record for longest single women’s spaceflight (328 days) and has extensive EVA experience.Jeremy Hansen (50), mission specialist – Canada’s first astronaut to travel to the Moon, former fighter pilot.The crew will manually pilot Orion at key phases, verify life‑support, propulsion, power, thermal control, navigation and proximity‑operations systems, and rehearse critical procedures such as course corrections, long‑range communications, re‑entry and splashdown.Scientific work will include lunar observations, human‑health experiments, and extensive photography. On 2 April, Commander Wiseman captured a striking “Hello, World” image of Earth from Orion, showing upside‑down continents, vivid auroras, city lights across Africa, Europe and South America, and a faint zodiacal glow.Nutrition for the ten‑day flight comes from a fixed menu of 189 shelf‑stable items – tortillas, nuts, beef brisket, macaroni‑and‑cheese, cookies, chocolate, and rehydratable drinks – all prepared without a refrigerator, using a water dispenser and a small heater to keep crumbs from floating in microgravity.NASA plans the splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at about 20:07 EDT on 10 April 2026. Recovery helicopters will retrieve the crew for medical checks aboard the USS John P Murtha before they return to Johnson Space Center in Houston.The Moon lies an average 384,400 km (238,855 mi) from Earth – roughly ten Earth‑equator circumferences. Its diameter is about one‑third that of Earth; if Earth were a basketball, the Moon would be a tennis ball. Surface temperatures swing from –173 °C (–180 °F) at night to 127 °C (260 °F) in daylight, and gravity is only one‑sixth of Earth’s, so a 60 kg person would feel the weight of a 10 kg mass.Between 1961 and 1972 NASA’s Apollo programme conducted 33 missions (11 crewed, 22 uncrewed), achieving six successful lunar landings. The last humans to walk on the Moon were Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt on 14 December 1972 (Apollo 17).Other nations have also left their mark: the Soviet Luna 9 (1966) delivered the first soft‑landing images, China’s Chang’e 4 (2019) explored the far side, and India’s Chandrayaan‑3 (2023) achieved the first soft landing near the lunar south pole – a region rich in permanently shadowed craters that may hold water ice.Looking ahead, Artemis III (targeted for 2027) will test integrated operations in low Earth orbit with commercial landers, Artemis IV (early 2028) aims for the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 at the south pole, and Artemis V (late 2028) will begin construction of a lunar base.

The 70‑year‑old grandson of H. B. Reese, the man who created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, has publicly accused the $42 billion Hershey Company of quietly swapping the original milk‑chocolate and peanut‑butter formulas for cheaper compound coatings and “peanut‑butter‑style crèmes.”Brad Reese’s complaint, first aired on LinkedIn on Valentine’s Day, claims the confectionery giant has been “rewriting recipes” across flagship brands, a practice he describes as an “ingredient drift” that undermines both brand integrity and shareholder value.At a recent investor conference, Hershey announced it would restore the classic recipes for roughly 3 % of select products by next year, while insisting that the iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have never been altered.Chief Growth Officer Stacy Taffet explained that the company is “transitioning our sweets portfolio to colors from natural sources” and is committed to aligning all Hershey and Reese’s offerings with their historic milk‑ and dark‑chocolate formulas.Reese, however, dismissed the move as a “board‑level accountability problem,” arguing that the delayed rollout has already prompted shareholders to sell stock and that “your consumers are revolting.”In an interview with the New York Times, Reese labeled Hershey’s actions a “PR stunt,” insisting that a genuine commitment would mean an immediate return to the original recipes.Hershey counters that the recipe revisions are not a reaction to Reese’s criticism but stem from a strategic decision made after a 25 % increase in research and development spending aimed at talent, technology, and nutrition science.The dispute has taken on a personal dimension for Reese, who alleges the changes began after Hershey acquired the Reese’s brand in the 1960s. He recounts a recent taste test of Reese’s Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Mini Hearts, stating, “I had to spit it out—it wasn’t real milk chocolate or real peanut butter.”Reese’s family, speaking to USA Today, clarified that his statements are his own and do not reflect the family’s view, adding that they continue to respect Hershey’s leadership and believe H. B. Reese would be proud of the brand’s current stewardship.Undeterred, Brad Reese retorted on LinkedIn that Hershey is “shooting the messenger,” accusing the company of managing perception rather than fixing the alleged product issues and warning that “the evidence chain isn’t going away.”