The Bulletin

• Pope Francis: The public has now been given access to Pope Francis's casket as he lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica for three days of mourning ahead of his funeral on Saturday, April 26. Get more details.

• Kashmir massacre: A leisurely afternoon at the Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam—a postcard-perfect alpine pasture in Jammu and Kashmir—turned into carnage on April 22. Read here about the terror attack.

• Russian economy dealt a blow: Russia's government has predicted the price of its oil will plummet to its lowest level in half a decade, posing a challenge to the country's sanction-hit economy. Find out more.

• Social Security benefits to be interrupted? Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley is warning that benefit payments could soon be delayed for millions of Americans, citing deep staffing cuts and internal chaos at the Social Security Administration under the Trump administration. Learn more.

• World's biggest construction site: Work on the Line, the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Neom construction project, has been announced in new images from one of the project's top executives. See the images here.

• DOGE's future: Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday he plans to have a reduced role as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency beginning in May. Know more.

The rundown: China said "our doors are wide open" for talks after President Donald Trump softened his tone on the unfolding trade war between the world's two largest economies. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: Guo Jiakun, China's foreign ministry spokesperson, made the comments at a press briefing on Wednesday, according to Chinese state media. The day before, Trump had expressed optimism about making a deal with China and said he had a good relationship with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. He also said he expected "very high" tariffs on Chinese imports will "come down substantially, but it won't be zero." Separately, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told private investors that the trade war with China was unsustainable and he expected a de-escalation soon, according to The Associated Press.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Threatens Retaliation if Trump Tries to Isolate Country

TL/DR: "I think we're going to live together very happily and ideally work together, so I think it's going to work out very well," Trump told reporters at the White House.

What happens now? New signs of a positive shift in tone were read favorably by the markets, which had seen sharp losses over concerns the broader trade war would drag the U.S. and other economies into recession.

Deeper reading China Responds to Trump's Softening Tone on Trade

The rundown: Expressions of regret after the death of Pope Francis from Hamas, Hezbollah and other Islamist groups and Islamic leaders have drawn an online backlash from those who take an even harder line. Know more.

Why it matters: Following the death of Pope Francis, both Hamas and Hezbollah issued statements mourning his passing and praising his legacy. Hamas called him "a man of humanitarian stances who opposed aggression and genocide," while Hezbollah described him as "inspiring," highlighting his support for Lebanon and commitment to interfaith dialogue. On social media, hardline voices accused Hamas and Hezbollah of theological betrayal masked as political pragmatism. "Hamas—one day offering condolences for the Rafidi who kills Sunnis, and another day for the Pope—and then they expect victory from God...," wrote one user on X. The term "Rafidi" is a derogatory label used by hardline Sunnis to refer to Shia Muslims.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Pope Francis Casket Open to Public Mourning in St Peter's Basilica

TL/DR: The backlash shows the divisions among Islamists as they are caught in global ideological battles and conflicts that have dimensions beyond the religious.

What happens now? The backlash reveals deep divisions over interfaith gestures within the Muslim world, underscoring how Islamist groups seek to balance doctrine with political concerns.

Deeper reading Hamas and Hezbollah Get Backlash for Mourning Pope

The rundown: To more than 270,000 YouTube subscribers and 49,000 Instagram followers, the beaming Pennsylvanian 11-year-old, Autumn Fry, shares videos and photos of her latest purchases of guns and makes suggestions for what her fans should buy too. Here's what that means.

Why it matters: It is a striking example of how America's firearms culture has permeated to younger generations, but Fry is not alone in possessing a precocious awareness of Glocks and Colts. Indeed, children as young as 10 say they are seeing firearm content online, including advertising. According to polling conducted by Sandy Hook Promise and KRC Research, exclusively shared with Newsweek, 82 percent of boys between 10 and 17 said they have seen at least one gun advert online, while social media is flooded with firearms branded with children's cartoon characters and influencers like Fry promoting guns to children.

Read more in-depth coverage:
FSU Shooting Suspect Phoenix Ikner Shared 'Concerning' Views, Classmates Say

TL/DR: Federal law prohibits people under the age of 18 from possessing a handgun but there are no nationwide regulations regarding who firearms can be advertised to, despite some intervention from lawmakers.

What happens now? Deana A. Rohlinger, a sociology professor at Florida State University said: "Legislators have several tools available at their disposal. They can regulate firearm advertising the way we regulate other products harmful to minors, including banning marketing that targets or features children."

Deeper reading Exclusive: Children As Young as 10 Are Advertised Guns on Social Media

The rundown: U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are united on Iran, following a phone call amid renewed nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. Read his full remarks.

Why it matters: The Trump-Netanyahu phone call took place on Tuesday, with the U.S. president describing it as harmonious and far-reaching. Trump said the two leaders were aligned on every issue, including Iran and trade. Trump also told reporters on Monday that his administration had held "good meetings" with Iranian officials. The nuclear discussions, which began in Oman and continued in Rome, are expected to resume on Saturday. While Washington has signaled openness to diplomacy, Iran accused Israel of trying to "undermine" the talks. The charge reflects growing tensions between the two regional powers, even as the U.S. seeks to reestablish dialogue with Tehran.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Iran Ready for Nuclear Deal with Trump

TL/DR: "The call went very well – We are on the same side of every issue," Trump said on his social media platform, as American and Iranian diplomats prepared to resume negotiations this week.

What happens now? U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are scheduled to resume Saturday in Oman. Both the substance of the talks and Israel's next moves will be closely watched by allies and adversaries alike.

Deeper reading Trump: US and Israel 'On Same Side' Over Iran

The rundown: Birth and fertility rates have long been a major talking point in the United States which, along with many major economies, is facing population decline. Find out how abortion policy impacts birth rate.

Why it matters: America's fertility rate is now projected to average 1.6 births per woman over the next three decades, according to the Congressional Budget Office's latest forecast released in 2025. This is well below the level of 2.1 births required to maintain a stable population without immigration. But the situation is seemingly not the same across all areas, with research showing a "sharp and persistent increase" in Republican-leaning counties compared to Democratic ones since President Trump's first term from 2016 to 2020. Authors and several experts attributed this to "economic optimism" and "an increase in optimism about the future among Republicans after the electoral victory."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Administration Could Give $5,000 Bonus To Boost Birth Rate

TL/DR: The paper was carried out by multiple authors, including Suzanne O. Bell from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who spoke to Newsweek about the effect of abortion bans on birth rates.

What happens now? Experts have different views about how to tackle this issue, with many calling for public-health policies and financial plans to help families.

Deeper reading Abortion Policy's Impact On Birth Rates