On April 1, 2026 a post on X impersonating Jonathan the tortoise’s veterinarian falsely announced the death of Jonathan, the Seychelles giant tortoise long resident at Plantation House, St Helena. The message amassed nearly two million views and was picked up by major outlets including the BBC and USA Today before being debunked. St Helena’s government published a recent photo of Jonathan and officials — plus the real vet, Joe Hollins, who said he does not use X — confirmed the 193‑year‑old tortoise is alive. Investigations by reporters traced the fake account to Brazil and noted it included or solicited a cryptocurrency wallet address, leading Hollins and officials to call the episode a likely crypto scam rather than an April Fools’ joke. Media organisations issued corrections after publishing the false reports. The incident fed wider concerns about social platforms’ handling of impersonation, rapid spread of misinformation and the use of emotional stories to solicit crypto donations; law‑enforcement statistics show cryptocurrency fraud remains a significant and growing problem.

President Donald Trump on April 1 attended historic oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara, challenging his 2025 executive order that seeks to restrict birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. Trump, the first sitting president known to sit in on Supreme Court arguments, stayed for roughly an hour and a half before leaving as the American Civil Liberties Union’s counsel, Cecillia Wang, began. Solicitor General D. John Sauer defended the administration’s test tying citizenship to parental “domicile,” a line of argument met with pointed questioning and apparent skepticism from several justices, including Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. Reporters and ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said Trump appeared restless in the public gallery and at one point was moved; protesters gathered outside the court. The case revives foundational precedent such as United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898); descendants of Wong Kim Ark campaigned outside the court urging the justices to uphold longstanding doctrine. Multiple lower courts previously enjoined the executive order; the Supreme Court is expected to issue a definitive ruling by early summer.

The BBC has dismissed long‑time presenter Scott Mills after obtaining “new information” linked to a historical police investigation. Mills’ contracts were terminated on March 27, the corporation said, and the decision was publicly addressed by outgoing director‑general Tim Davie during an all‑staff call on April 2. Davie said recently revealed details — including that the complainant in a police probe dating back to the late 1990s was under 16 — made the action “very clear.” Police records show an allegation was first referred in 2016, Mills was interviewed under caution in 2018 and the Crown Prosecution Service concluded in 2019 there was insufficient evidence to charge. Mills has said he “fully cooperated” with the inquiry and issued a statement via lawyers. The BBC has begun reviewing what senior staff knew about the earlier investigation. The fallout has seen Mills removed from upcoming projects, a charity ending a partnership and the removal of a commemorative plaque at Fleet Services on April 2. The broadcaster has named replacements for affected programmes and says it acted in line with its culture and values.

A seven-month-old girl, identified by multiple local outlets as Kaori Patterson-Moore, was fatally struck by a stray bullet on April 1, 2026, in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, police said. The infant was in a double stroller near the corner of Humboldt and Moore streets with her mother and two-year-old brother when two men on a moped opened fire, according to surveillance video and NYPD briefings. The mother, who rushed her daughter to Woodhull Hospital, was unable to save her; the child’s brother suffered a graze wound and was treated and released. Authorities say they have identified the alleged shooter as 21‑year‑old Amuri Greene, who was injured when the moped crashed a few blocks away and was later taken to hospital; police said Greene will be charged with murder and attempted murder. The moped driver remains the subject of an active manhunt. NYPD officials and Mayor Zohran Mamdani said investigators believe the shooting was gang-related and that the infant was not the intended target. Public appeals for tips and a reward from community leaders were reported as the investigation and pursuit of the second suspect continued.

A U.S. federal judge on April 1, 2026 permanently blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order directing all federal agencies to cut funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), ruling the measure unlawful and unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss found the order represented viewpoint discrimination and unlawful retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. The ruling does not erase the operational damage already done — Congress previously moved to defund public broadcasting and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has effectively shut down — but Moss said the executive order swept beyond the CPB and barred agencies from funding NPR and PBS regardless of program merit. Plaintiffs included NPR and several local member stations; their lawyers hailed the decision as a significant win for press freedom. The White House called the ruling “ridiculous” and indicated it would seek further legal remedies. NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS chief Paula Kerger praised the judgment. The case is expected to be appealed, and practical effects on remaining program-specific grants and emergency funding remain to be litigated and clarified.