Buhari to confer highest National Honour on Tinubu, Shettima May 25 and more

After beginning a strike one week ago, the United Auto Workers union has increased the number of plants affected by industrial action. Until now, workers have been striking at three sites, one each for Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. UAW leader Shawn Fain says that will be increased to 38 factories, all of them GM and Stellantis parts distribution centres. Ford has been spared of further disruption, with the union saying the company has made "important concessions".

The White House is warning of severe economic consequences if Congress fails to pass a funding bill by an October 1 deadline. Far-right House Republicans are demanding deep spending cuts that are almost certain to be rejected by the Democratic-controlled Senate. Also in this edition: France asks its energy firms to sell fuel at cost, and Germany looks to semiconductor production to revive its flagging industrial sector.

Megan Rapinoe has ended her US national team career with a 2-0 win over South Africa in Chicago. The 38-year-old ends her stint as an international with 63 goals, 73 assists and 203 caps, along with two world cups. Rapinoe made her debut for her country in 2006, with only three players having longer spells playing for the United States. "It has been such an honor to be able to wear this shirt, play with all these players and live out my childhood dream. I know that I mean a lot to the game.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Saturday.

The Cook Islands and Niue have been recognized by the United States as "sovereign and independent states." The move appeared to be aimed at curbing further Chinese inroads into the Pacific region.

The German and US defense ministers have said they see no immediate need to leave Niger, following France's decision to withdraw troops. Niamey's junta has been more focused on the former colonial power's presence.

House Republicans will try to advance four party-line funding bills this week, though they would not avert a looming government shutdown.

A devastating storm has caused extensive damage and widespread flooding across South Africa's Western Cape, with provincial officials warning that the impact on informal settlements would be vast.

Joe Biden makes history by becoming the first sitting US president to join a picket line, making the UAW autoworkers' strike a major battleground for the 2024 presidential race. Also, French papers take a look at what to expect as the government prepares to unveil a plan to tackle school bullying. We then take a look at reactions to the burgeoning refugee crisis in Armenia, and finish with an Economist special on the new science behind reversing ageing.

Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for governments to rewrite global refugee rules to make them "fit for the modern age." She said "simply being gay, or a woman" should not in itself entitle refuge.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.

To mark International Safe Abortion Day, we're taking stock of women's abortion rights in the United States. Terminations are now illegal in 14 states following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. Some women in those states are now forced to travel elsewhere in the US for the procedure, costing them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.