100 days of DOGE

Plus, Trump's cabinet ready to reassert power as Musk steps back.

Get full access to Reuters.com for just $1/week. Subscribe now. Daily Briefing Daily Briefing By Kate Turton Hello. Russia pounds Kyiv with missiles and drones, DOGE efforts lead to bottlenecks, and the global economy is on a Trump roller-coaster ride. Plus, our graphics team explores Gaza's historic landmarks and the widespread devastation and cultural loss caused by war. Today's Top News   A ballistic missile explodes in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Kyiv, April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich War in Ukraine Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, wounding more than 70 and smashing buildings in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have clashed again – with the US threatening to abandon peace talks. Listen to Jeff Mason on the Reuters World News podcast as he breaks down Trump's mounting frustration with the pace of progress.   United States Nearly 100 days into what Trump and Elon Musk have called a mission to make the federal bureaucracy more efficient, Reuters found 20 instances where the staff and funding cuts led to purchasing bottlenecks and increased costs; longer public wait times; higher-paid civil servants filling in menial jobs, and a brain drain of scientific and technological talent. Members of Trump's cabinet will likely move to limit the influence of Department of Government Efficiency employees and reassert control over budgets and staffing once Elon Musk steps back from DOGE, two government sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Trump's administration moved a Venezuelan man who had worked in construction in Philadelphia to Texas for possible deportation after a federal judge had issued an order blocking his removal from Pennsylvania or the United States, according to court records. In other news Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue, track and punish terrorists and their backers in a strong reaction to a deadly militant attack on tourists in Kashmir, where police have identified two of the gunmen as Pakistani. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a post on social media that he had spoken to the US President about the Ukraine war and the need to foster good bilateral relations. Meanwhile, South Africa has withdrawn a planned VAT hike after political pushback. St. Peter's Basilica reopened its doors after a brief pause in the early hours of the day, to welcome thousands of worshippers from around the world who want to pay their final respects to Pope Francis. Business & Markets   Trump wasted no time implementing his agenda as his second Oval Office term commenced, shredding the playbooks that have governed international trade and, indeed, the world order for decades. As he seeks to rewrite the rules for global trade, security and international relations, a whole range of dynamics have emerged. World financial leaders are gathering for the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings this week. The Econ World podcast looks at how these 80-year-old financial institutions impact trade and economic development today - and whether they're fit for the future. Foreign automakers in China face an increasingly urgent challenge at this year's Shanghai auto show - winning back Chinese buyers while their domestic rivals churn out slick, affordable electric vehicles at a relentless pace. For more news on the industry, sign up for the Auto File newsletter. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that high tariffs between the US and China are not sustainable, as Trump's administration signaled openness to de-escalating a trade war between the world's two largest economies that has raised fears of recession. Since launching its wildly popular weight-loss drug Wegovy in 2021, Novo Nordisk has raised its annual sales guidance several times a year. But recent weak US prescription data is leading some investors and analysts to question whether that stellar run is coming to an end. Across multiple administrations and both political parties, the US has steadily sought to contain China's rise. In this week's Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss the measurable extent of the break between the global titans. Graphics: Gaza's shattered landmarks   Fishing boats on fire in Gaza City's port on October 10, 2023. REUTERS. Gaza has been conquered numerous times - including by Egyptian Pharaohs, Assyrians and Alexander the Great - because of its strategic location along trade routes between the Levant, Europe and Africa. But its fate is as uncertain as ever after 18 months of devastation inflicted by Israel in response to the Hamas October 7, 2023, cross-border attacks that killed over 1,300 people. Read more And Finally... An ancient Roman mosaic  on display at the El Jem archaeological museum in El Jem, Tunisia, December, 2011. REUTERS/Will Dunham In Rome's Colosseum and other amphitheaters in cities scattered across the sprawling ancient Roman Empire, gladiatorial spectacles were not merely human-versus-human affairs. Gladiators also were pitted against animals. While there are depictions of these contests in ancient mosaics and texts, actual forensic evidence has been elusive, until now. Read more Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. 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