A combination photo shows U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 8, 2018, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., February 13, 2018 respectively. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (L) Aaron P. Bernstein (R))[/caption] The Trump administration imposed sanctions this week on Russian government hackers and spy agencies for ongoing cyber attacks against the United States energy grid and power plants, as well as for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Trump’s political and business ties to Russia were the subject of a subpoena by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who demanded documents from the Trump Organization. The staff exodus from the White House continued with the abrupt firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Trump nominated current CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Tillerson and Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to take Pompeo’s place. Both roles require congressional approval. Economist and cable news commentator Larry Kudlow will also be joining the White House as top economic adviser and head of the National Economic Council. He is expected to replace former Goldman Sachs executive Gary Cohn, who resigned last week. On the business front, President Trump blocked a proposed deal between tech giants Broadcom and Qualcomm, citing national security concerns. And Theranos’ founder Elizabeth Holmes faced fraud charges alongside the company’s ex-president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani. National School Walkout Day saw thousands of students leave school to protest gun violence. The walkout lasted for 17 minutes and was held on the one month anniversary of the Parkland school shooting in Florida. Also in Florida, an under-construction bridge at Florida International University collapsed onto a busy highway, crushing cars, killing several people, and sparking questions about the building technique used. World-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking died peacefully at his home in England at the age of 76, triggering an outpouring of tributes from scientists, actors and laymen alike. Read more about these stories and the other biggest news of the week, as they appeared in The Daily Edition. 1. Trump administration hits Russian spies, trolls with sanctions over U.S. election interference, cyberattacks – Washington Post, Ellen Nakashima Top line: “The Trump administration on Thursday imposed fresh sanctions on Russian government hackers and spy agencies to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 presidential election and for a cyberattack against Ukraine and other countries last year that officials have characterized as “the most destructive and costly” in history. Sanctions also were imposed on individuals known as “trolls” and the Russian organizations — including the Internet Research Agency — that supported their efforts to undermine the election. Additionally, the administration alerted the public that Russia is targeting the U.S. energy grid with computer malware that could sabotage its systems.” Topic to follow: Cyberattacks 2. Bridge collapse puts spotlight on rapid building technique – Associated Press, Jason Dearen Top line: “As the 950-ton concrete bridge section was swung into place over a highway last weekend, Florida International University officials were beaming with pride. Five days later, the bridge collapsed onto the busy six-lane highway, crushing cars and killing at least six people in a tragedy now under federal investigation. While it’s not yet clear what caused the failure of the unfinished span Thursday, the disaster has cast a spotlight on a rapid construction technique widely used around the U.S.” Topic to follow: Florida International University 3. Trump fires Tillerson, taps Pompeo as next secretary of state – CNN, Nicole Gaouette, Kaitlan Collins, Dan Merica Top line: “President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and will nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed him, replacing his top diplomat ahead of a potential high-stakes sitdown between the US President and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Tillerson’s departure follows months of tension between him and Trump. Gina Haspel, the current CIA deputy director, stands to take over the agency, Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.” Topic to follow: Rex Tillerson 4. Mueller Subpoenas Trump Organization, Demanding Documents About Russia – The New York Times, Michael S. Schmidt, Maggie Haberman Top line: “The subpoena is the latest indication that the investigation, which Mr. Trump’s lawyers once regularly assured him would be completed by now, will continue for at least several more months. Word of the subpoena came as Mr. Mueller appears to be broadening his inquiry to examine the role foreign money may have played in funding Mr. Trump’s political activities. In recent weeks, Mr. Mueller’s investigators have questioned witnesses, including an adviser to the United Arab Emirates, about the flow of Emirati money into the United States.” Magazine to follow: Robert Mueller’s Investigation Into Trump-Russia Ties by Vox [caption id="attachment_37943" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Students from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., hold up signs with the names of those killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting during a protest for stricter gun control during a walkout by students at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)[/caption] 5. Students demand action on gun violence with nationwide walkout – NBC News, Kalhan Rosenblatt, Elizabeth Chuck, Jonathan Sperling Top line: “Exactly one month after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, survivors of the massacre joined tens of thousands of students across the U.S. by walking out of school on Wednesday morning. The mass protests were held at 10 a.m. local time in each time zone and lasted 17 minutes, one for each of the Parkland victims. Organizers said the purpose was to highlight “Congress’ inaction against the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.”” Magazine to follow: Florida School Shooting 6. Trump hires Kudlow: ‘You’re looking handsome, Larry’ – Politico, Ben White Top line: “Larry Kudlow will be the next director of the National Economic Council, succeeding Gary Cohn as President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, the White House confirmed Wednesday. Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs executive who was instrumental in shepherding Trump’s tax cuts last December, resigned on March 6 amid a pitched internal battle over Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Kudlow will have the difficult task of advising a president who is increasingly inclined to keep his own counsel – and who wants to pursue aggressive trade policies, including tariffs, against both adversaries and allies.” Topic to follow: Trump’s Tariffs by Bloomberg 7. Trump blocks Broadcom-Qualcomm deal, citing national security concerns – CNBC, Chloe Aiello Top line: “Both companies were ordered to immediately abandon the proposed deal. The order, an unusual move by any sitting U.S. president, also prohibits all 15 of Broadcom’s proposed candidates for Qualcomm’s board from standing for election. The U.S. Treasury’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States had already expressed concerns about the transaction in a March 5 letter addressed to Broadcom and Qualcomm lawyers. CFIUS listed several issues, including Broadcom’s reputation for cutting research spending and potential national security risks.” Topic to follow: Qualcomm 8. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes charged with massive, ‘years-long fraud’ – TechCrunch, Connie Loizos Top line: “Years after it was reported that the SEC was looking into improprieties at the once high-flying blood-testing company Theranos, its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, and the company’s former president, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, have been formally charged with massive fraud by the agency. The charge, more precisely: that the two raised more than $700 million from investors through an “elaborate, years-long fraud in which they exaggerated or made false statements about the company’s technology, business, and financial performance.”” Topic to follow: Theranos [caption id="attachment_37942" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Physicist Stephen Hawking during an announcement of the Breakthrough Starshot initiative with investor Yuri Milner in New York, April 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)[/caption] 9. Stephen Hawking: Visionary physicist dies aged 76 – BBC News Top line: “He died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said. The British scientist was famed for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. At the age of 22, Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease. The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser.” Magazine to follow: Remembering Stephen Hawking 10. Hubert de Givenchy, maker of style icons, dies aged 91 – The Guardian, Kim Willsher Top line: “Hubert de Givenchy, the aristocratic French fashion designer whose understated style represented a golden age of elegance, has died aged 91. Givenchy dressed Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy and is famous for his take on the “little black dress”. He died on Saturday at the Renaissance chateau near Paris that he shared with his partner and fellow designer, Philippe Venet. At 6ft 6in tall, Givenchy was a giant of haute couture in every sense. Not only did he physically tower over his peers but his designs were considered by many to be way over the heads of his rivals in their elegance and sophistication.” Topic to follow: Givenchy Check out The Daily Edition throughout the week for your news updates. ~HeatherC is reading Our Best Tax Tips by The New York Times