Maduro U.S. Drug Trafficking Trial Set for June 2027 as Immunity Defense Looms 
Rubio Rejects AI ‘Kill Switch’ Claims as U.S. Defends American Technology Abroad 
US-Mexico USMCA Talks Advance as Auto Rules Remain Major Sticking Point 
US Military Completes 13th Straight Night of Iran Strikes as Trump Warns of Further Action 
Amish Shah Wins Arizona Democratic Primary in Key U.S. House Race 
Iran Rejects U.S.-Backed Ceasefire as Trump Escalates Military Threats, Oil Tops $100 
EEOC Drops Penn Subpoena in Antisemitism Probe, Investigation Continues 
Russia Says It Hit Ukrainian Ports, Cargo Ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk 
US Plans Closer Coordination With Erik Prince-Linked Security Firm in Haiti Amid Drone Strike Concerns 
US-Backed Pediatric HIV Treatment Drops After Foreign Aid Changes, Study Finds 
US Probes Possible Russian Role in Iranian Drone Strikes on CIA Sites 
Trump Education Department Removes Disparate Impact Rules, Sparking Civil Rights Backlash 
Rubio Urges Global Isolation of Nicaragua After Ortega Vows to End Elections 
Trump Administration Monitors OpenAI Incident as Lawmakers Push AI Kill Switch Bill 
Arizona Primaries Set High-Stakes Governor and House Battles Ahead of Midterm Elections 
US-Iran War Enters 11th Day as Costs Climb to $37.5 Billion, Trump Warns of More Strikes 
Nearly half a million teachers and civil servants in the United Kingdom took what is the biggest industrial action over pay this week. This comes as unions have threatened more disruptive strikes until the government agrees to their pay demands.
On Wednesday, nearly 500,000 teachers, train drivers, and civil servants in the UK staged a mass walkout over pay in what is the biggest industrial action taken in recent months. The walkouts resulted in schools getting shut down, halting most rail services, and forcing the military to be placed on standby to assist in border checks on a day referred to as “Walkout Wednesday.”
The mass walkout also comes as trade unions have threatened to take more disruptive action unless the government agrees to their demands. Unions say as many as 300,000 teachers participated in the walkout, making them the biggest group involved in what is a wider action taken by 500,000 people, the highest number since 2011.
The Conservative government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken a more hardline stance against the unions, saying that giving in to the demands would only worsen the country’s inflation problem. Sunak has also condemned the strikes.
“I am clear that our children’s education is precious and they deserve to be in school today being taught,” said Sunak.
The PCS union, which represents around 100,000 civil servants from over 12 government departments that are going on strike, said that further coordinated strikes may be done unless the government tries to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, the country’s pharmaceutical trade body called for the government to scrap the plans to raise the repayment rates for drugmakers in order to prevent potential setbacks. Drugmakers under the UK’s voluntary scheme agreement are required to pay a part of their drug revenue to the government. The Health and Social Care department plans on raising the repayment rate to 27.5 percent from 24.5 percent.
The government’s plans to raise repayment rates will likely send the “worst possible signal” to global investors and boardrooms, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
“Hiking these clawbacks to such uncompetitive levels risks undermining the UK’s offer to global life sciences companies,” said ABPI chief executive Richard Torbett in a statement.
