Decision

Die Abgeordneten, die Alabamas zwei schwarzen Kongresswahlbezirke vertreten, könnten nun ihre Sitze verlieren, nachdem der Supreme Court den Voting Rights Act faktisch geschwächt hat; sie erklärten, die Entscheidung werfe die USA „zurück“. • Das 6:3-Urteil im Fall Louisiana v Callais vom Mittwoch schwächt eine Schlüsselbestimmung des Voting Rights Act und ebnet Republikanern den Weg, Mehrheits-Minderheiten-Wahlbezirke im Süden zu eliminieren. • Die Abgeordneten Terri Sewell und Shomari Figures befinden sich damit im Visier.

Der Austritt schadet dem Prestige Saudi-Arabiens – und könnte die Position der USA in der Region stärken. Die Entscheidung der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE), die Opec zu verlassen, ist ebenso eine politische wie eine geschäftliche Entscheidung und wird die schwelenden Streitigkeiten zwischen den VAE und Saudi-Arabien neu entfachen – welche bisher durch ihren gemeinsamen Zorn über den Iran und dessen Angriffe auf die Golfstaaten seit Beginn des US-Israel-Krieges gegen Teheran überdeckt wurden. Kurzfristig gibt der Austritt aus dem Ölproduzenten-Kartell, dem sie 1967 beitraten, den VAE die Freiheit, schnell auf die langfristige Aussicht begrenzter Lieferungen zu reagieren und Gewinne zu maximieren. Es ist jedoch eine Entscheidung, die die VAE bereits früher in Betracht gezogen haben, da die Spannungen zwischen den VAE und Saudi-Arabien über Produktionsquoten schon lange bestehen. Weiterlesen...

River ecologist says ‘classic bureaucratic tangle’ led to government agency stopping flows to Gwydir wetlands region in March Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA leading scientist has criticised an “appalling” New South Wales government agency decision to stop water flowing to wetlands in the state’s north-west, saying it was “absolutely crazy” that researchers had to scramble to save animals buried in drying mud.Guardian Australia reported on Saturday that turtles, waterbirds, frogs and sheep had died after Water NSW abruptly stopped flows to the Gwydir wetlands region near Moree in March. Continue reading...

Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassadorOfficials debate withholding Mandelson vetting documents from parliamentFive key questions: Who overruled the decision to deny Mandelson security clearance?Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure he could take up his post as ambassador to the US, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal.According to multiple sources, Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials. Continue reading...

• Ben Jealous has publicly opposed the NAACP board's decision to terminate his leadership, characterizing the move as "disheartening" and signaling his intent to challenge the removal. • The termination represents internal conflict within the nation's oldest civil rights organization over strategic direction and governance. • The leadership dispute within the NAACP reflects broader debates within civil rights organizations about activism, funding, and political alignment.

• A Fred Hutch Cancer Center graduate student presented over 25,000 measurements of influenza-fighting antibodies to WHO scientists via videoconference last fall. • The dataset, published in Virus Evolution, offers near real-time tracking of human immune responses to current flu strains, improving seasonal vaccine composition. • This method addresses gaps in traditional surveillance, potentially enhancing vaccine effectiveness against evolving viruses.

• A March 26 SCOTUSblog outside opinion by Neil Weare examines a Supreme Court ruling that permitted a president to redefine birthright citizenship, highlighting judicial deference in constitutional matters. • The piece critiques the court's approach to executive overreach on a core 14th Amendment right, drawing parallels to historical citizenship disputes. • It argues the decision sets a precedent for future policy changes via executive action without robust judicial checks.