Ends

• Ein parteiübergreifendes Beratungsgremium, das im Rahmen der Tech-Regulierungsagenda von Präsident Biden einberufen wurde, legte einen Berichtsentwurf vor, der dem Kongress empfiehlt, politisch ausgerichtete digitale Anzeigen zu verbieten, die „eindeutig falsche oder irreführende Informationen“ über Wahlverfahren, Kandidaten oder den Wahlzugang verbreiten. • Das Gremium, zu dessen Mitgliedern ehemalige FEC-Beauftragte und Bürgerrechtsführer gehören, argumentiert, dass solche Anzeigen das Vertrauen in Wahlen untergraben und Wähler der „People of Color“ unverhältnismäßig stark beeinträchtigen, und fordert die Plattformen auf, strengere Kennzeichnungs- und Ad-Library-Regeln einzuführen. • Der Vorschlag löst heftige Kritik bei Verfechtern der Meinungsfreiheit aus, die davor warnen, dass jeder staatlich definierte Standard für politische Fehlinformationen die legitime Debatte ersticken und amtierenden Parteien zugutekommen könnte.

Der Kongress bringt die Homeland-Security-Finanzierung voran, nachdem die Republikaner ein Verfahrensinstrument genutzt haben, um bis zu 75 Mrd. $ für ICE und Border Patrol zu verabschieden. Melden Sie sich für die Breaking News US E-Mail an, um Newsletter-Warnungen in Ihrem Posteingang zu erhalten. Ein historisch langer, 75-tägiger teilweiser Regierungsstillstand ist zu Ende gegangen, nachdem das Repräsentantenhaus knapp dafür gestimmt hat, die Finanzierung für das Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nach einer nächtlichen Mobilisierung der Republikaner zur Unterstützung eines GOP-Haushaltsentwurfs voranzutreiben. Das Blatt wendete sich am Mittwochabend, als das Repräsentantenhaus die republikanische Resolution nach einem Last-Minute-Deal über sachfremde Ethanol-Kraftstoff-Bestimmungen verabschiedete, der genug Abweichler umstimmte, um sie über die Ziellinie zu bringen. Lesen Sie weiter...

• Susan Hutson wird der Amtspflichtverletzung und anderer Verbrechen beschuldigt, die den Massenausbruch aus einem Gefängnis in Louisiana im Jahr 2025 ermöglichten

In January, Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to 20 months for accepting gifts from the Unification Church, which sought political favors. (Image credit: Ahn Young-joon)

Woman’s body found in Iwate prefecture last week, soon after a police officer was injured in bear attack nearbyRested but famished bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are already coming into contact with humans, with the pace of sightings outstripping that seen in 2025, a record year for bear attacks.According to media reports, the animals have been spotted with surprising frequency in urban areas in the country’s north-east, with authorities urging caution among people planning to spend the coming Golden Week public holidays in the countryside. Continue reading...

Darren Jones suggests cost of energy, food and flights will remain high after de-escalation and Hormuz strait reopensThe UK faces higher prices for food and fuel for at least eight months after the war in Iran ends, a minister has said. The closure of the strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that carried a fifth of global oil and gas, has sent oil prices soaring since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said the conflict would probably continue to raise prices for energy, food and flights in the coming months as potential issues around energy supplies affect production, rather than lead to shortages on supermarket shelves. The UK government has urged motorists to fill up their cars as usual amid higher prices at the pumps and for air travellers not to change their plans over potential jet fuel shortages. Jones told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “You’re going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East. “That’s probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There’s going to be a long tail from this.” Asked how long higher prices might remain, Jones suggested it would be around eight months after the strait of Hormuz was unblocked and a de-escalation of the conflict had taken place. “I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you’ll see economic impacts coming through the system,” he said. Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the US ceasefire with Iran last week that paused most of the fighting, but further efforts towards ending the conflict have been unsuccessful after the US president told his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for talks at the weekend. The UK government is stepping up planning for how to offset the impact, focusing on the live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption. Jones said: “The government here in the UK, the work that I’m doing with the prime minister is looking at all of those things and saying, ‘What can we do within our power to help people to get through those difficult times?’” The government is also looking to secure stocks of carbon dioxide, which is used in the food industry and by breweries to make drinks fizzy, as well as for defence purposes and medical uses such as MRI scanning. Jones said he was seeking to ensure there was an adequate supply of beer for fans watching the men’s football World Cup which starts on 11 June. He said: “I raised this issue because if there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure that it’s not the case.” The Liberal Democrats have called for a bill to be included in the next king’s speech in May to put food security at the top of the government’s agenda. Continue reading...

• The United States has suspended a $150 million military aid package to the Philippines following tensions over Manila's softened stance on South China Sea disputes with China. • State Department officials cited the Philippines' decision to reduce joint naval operations in disputed waters as the reason for the suspension, marking a significant shift in regional alliance strategy. • The move reflects US frustration with shifting regional dynamics and concerns that strategic partners may be accommodating Beijing's territorial claims under economic pressure.