Panel

• A three-judge federal appeals panel in Michigan rejected an effort by the Department of Justice to gather voting data from states to identify ineligible voters. • The legal challenge is part of a broader administration-wide push by President Trump and his allies to uncover evidence of widespread voter fraud. • Critics argue the initiative is an attempt to sow distrust in the electoral process and create new barriers to voting, noting that no substantial evidence of fraud has been found.

• Unreal Engine's recent push toward integrating AI into game design has sparked significant backlash from the developer community. • Developers express concern that AI-driven automation could lead to the obsolescence of "Blueprints," the engine's visual scripting system. • This tension highlights a growing conflict between the industry's drive for AI efficiency and the desire for manual, creative control over game logic.

• At the Reuters Pharma USA 2026 event, industry experts discussed the shift toward "optichannel" engagement to better influence physician prescribing habits. • AstraZeneca’s IO Women’s Cancer Lead, Dicla Veliz Salce, highlighted that strong clinical trial data alone is often insufficient to change medical behavior. • The panel emphasized that real-world evidence (RWE) is critical, as physicians are more likely to adopt new therapies when they see recurrence risks validated in practical settings.

Moderna seeks FDA approval of its new shot, mFlusvia, as option for 50 and olderUS health advisers are debating a new kind of flu vaccine Thursday, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the Covid-19 pandemic.Moderna is seeking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its new shot , dubbed mFlusiva, as an option for people 50 and older. The FDA advisory committee meeting is a step toward a final decision ahead of the winter flu season. Continue reading...

• AsiaTechDaily and beSUCCESS Media Group, in association with KoreaTechDesk and IndiaTechDesk, have announced the investor panel for the AsiaStartupExpo Q2 2026. • The virtual event, scheduled for June 17, features a diverse panel including Gaurav Pant, Dominica Drazal, Tommy Khương, and others representing India, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and South Korea. • This panel is significant as it highlights the specific criteria and benchmarks cross-border investors will use to assess Asian founders in the current market.

• India's statistics ministry has established a high-powered experts committee to examine and strengthen labour market data metrics. • The panel is tasked with reviewing current measurement issues to better reflect the evolving nature of the national workforce. • This initiative matters as accurate data is critical for shaping economic policies and addressing employment challenges in India.

Republican who chairs House panel says he based decision on testimony from Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley GroffRepresentative James Comer, the Republican who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, announced that he would be asking Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s former attorney, to appear before the panel as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.“I am going to ask Alan Dershowitz to come in, we will have questions for him and we will give him an opportunity to come in,” Comer said on Wednesday morning, adding that the decision was based on the testimony of Lesley Groff, Epstein’s longtime assistant, who testified before the committee on Tuesday, as well as “a meeting that I had afterwards with several of the Epstein survivors”. Continue reading...

Groff worked for Epstein for nearly 20 years, starting in 2001, in which her job was to ‘organize one man’s life’Lesley Groff, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime executive assistant, is testifying on Tuesday before the House oversight and reform committee as lawmakers on the panel continue their investigation into the late convicted sex offender. Groff worked for Epstein for almost 20 years, beginning in 2001 and ending in July 2019 when he was arrested. Notes from a 2021 FBI interview with Groff, which was included in the millions of documents related to Epstein released by the Department of Justice earlier this year, state that she told agents that she began working for Epstein after she was contacted by a headhunter, who found her resume and told her that there “was a job to organize one man’s life”. Continue reading...

• The European Audiovisual Observatory held a panel at the Marché du Film to analyze how public funding and fiscal incentives are evolving amid declining cinema admissions and SVoD growth. • Key regional updates include Italy introducing stricter transparency rules for tax credits, Spain seeing a 33.6% drop in foreign film investment in 2024, and the UK launching a £380 million Creative Industries Sector Plan. • These shifts highlight the critical role of state aid in maintaining the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector against global market pressures.

• An FDA advisory panel will convene this Thursday to determine which Covid-19 strain vaccine manufacturers should target for the 2026-2027 season. • The meeting occurs as the United States continues to navigate a shifting vaccine infrastructure and evolving public health needs. • Separately, an experimental Ebola vaccine developed by an Oxford team is approaching the production phase for upcoming clinical trials.

• An FDA advisory panel overwhelmingly recommended on Thursday that manufacturers base the 2026-2027 Covid-19 vaccine formulas on the dominant XFG variant. • This recommendation ensures that future vaccine iterations remain effective against evolving strains of the virus to maintain public health protections. • Separately, World Health Organization experts are urging that all prevention and treatment products for the Ebola Bundibugyo virus be used exclusively within clinical trials.

Ex-attorney general was subpoenaed in March but had refused to show after her removal from justice departmentThe former attorney general Pam Bondi will appear before the US House oversight and reform committee on Friday morning to answer questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its release of the Epstein files under her leadership.The committee announced in late April that Bondi would be appearing before the panel as part of its investigation into Epstein, shortly after Democrats on the committee filed a civil contempt resolution against her. Continue reading...

• A Dublin Tech Summit panel examined how **GDPR**, rather than the EU AI Act, may govern most AI use cases in practice. • The discussion also highlighted delays to high-risk AI rules and the governance work companies must do now. • The topic matters for U.S. tech firms operating in Europe because compliance requirements can shape product design, data handling, and deployment timelines.

• The Philippines launched an independent truth commission on Wednesday to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings resulting from the government's "war on drugs." • Led by a former International Criminal Court judge, the panel aims to document atrocities and compile evidence for potential future legal proceedings. • The initiative targets the signature policy of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who campaigned on a platform of killing thousands of drug dealers and criminals.

• The Philippines launched an independent truth panel on Wednesday to investigate the bloody "war on drugs" associated with former President Rodrigo Duterte. • Led by a former International Criminal Court judge, the commission aims to document alleged extrajudicial killings and compile evidence for potential legal proceedings. • The initiative addresses the fallout from Duterte's signature policy, which centered on promises to eliminate thousands of drug dealers and criminals.

• A European Audiovisual Observatory panel at the Marché du Film in Cannes on May 21, 2026, analyzed the current state of fiscal incentives and cash rebates in European cinema. • The discussion highlighted diverse national strategies, including Italy's use of project caps and tax credits, and Portugal's enhanced incentive rates for sustainable "green" productions. • Experts noted significant regulatory differences, such as the UK's BFI cultural certification requirements and France's distinct provisions for domestic versus international independent producers.

Approval marks key step forward for project dubbed ‘Arc de Trump’, which will be near Arlington National CemeteryThe Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday approved designs for Donald Trump’s proposed 250-ft triumphal arch in Washington DC.The vote on Thursday by the panel, which is made up of Trump appointees, marks a key step forward for the project. Next month, the proposed design is set to be reviewed by the National Capital Planning Commission, another federal panel that oversees planning for federal buildings and land. Continue reading...

• Senator Lisa Murkowski is leading a bipartisan effort in the Senate to establish an independent redistricting commission at the federal level, aiming to reduce partisan gerrymandering in congressional elections. • The proposed legislation would require states to use independent commissions rather than partisan legislatures to draw House districts, with a focus on increasing competitive races and voter representation. • Advocates say the bill could reshape political power in closely divided states, while opponents warn it could infringe on state authority over elections.

• A new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey reveals that strong majorities in both Republican and Democratic parties support independent panels drawing House district lines. • The bipartisan finding suggests public appetite for reform of the politically charged redistricting process. • The survey highlights voter frustration with gerrymandering and calls for institutional change to ensure fair representation.

• A new POLITICO‑Citrin Center‑Possibility Lab survey released Friday shows that strong majorities of both Republicans and Democrats favor an independent commission to draw U.S. House district lines, weakening arguments against ending partisan gerrymandering. • The Trump administration is weighing proposals to codify independent redistricting panels by tying federal funds to states that adopt such commissions, a strategy that could reshape battleground districts in 2026 and beyond. • Civil‑rights groups and voting advocates cheered the poll findings, arguing that independent commissions would reduce partisan manipulation of maps that currently skew toward both parties.

• A bipartisan advisory panel convened under President Biden’s tech‑regulation agenda delivered a draft report recommending that Congress ban politically targeted digital ads that spread “clearly false or misleading information” about voting procedures, candidates, or ballot access. • The panel, whose members include former FEC commissioners and civil‑rights leaders, argues that such ads undermine trust in elections and disproportionately affect voters of color, urging platforms to adopt stricter labeling and ad‑library rules. • The proposal sparks backlash from free‑speech advocates, who warn that any government‑defined standard for political misinformation could chill legitimate debate and benefit incumbent parties.

Democrats had filed civil contempt resolution against former attorney general for not appearing for depositionUS politics live – latest updatesThe House oversight and government reform committee has said that former attorney general Pam Bondi will now appear before the panel on 29 May to answer questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and its release of the Epstein files.The announcement of the date came shortly after the Democrats on the committee announced that they had filed a civil contempt resolution against Bondi after she did not appear for her deposition earlier this month. Continue reading...

Kendrick Guidry, alone among judges, initially ruled that the state supreme court’s decision to uphold a ‘lookback window’ for abuse claims did not set a binding precedentOnly one judge in Louisiana has ruled in favor of the Catholic church’s ongoing attempts to strike down a law there which allowed old abuse claims their day in court – even after a state supreme court decision upheld the constitutionality of that so-called “lookback window”.But now, that judge – Kendrick J Guidry of Lake Charles – is being forced to acknowledge that his ruling benefited a specific church on whose finance committee he sits, giving him a direct financial interest that required his recusal under the state’s judicial code. Continue reading...

• The latest POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey reveals strong majorities in both parties favor an independent panel for drawing House district lines. • Over 70% of Democrats and Republicans support the nonpartisan approach to prevent gerrymandering ahead of midterms. • This consensus could pressure Congress to reform redistricting processes and reduce partisan map battles.

The National Capital Planning Commission had previously delayed the vote after thousands of negative public commentsHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The National Capital Planning Commission will meet this afternoon to decide on Donald Trump’s White House $400m ballroom project, after a federal judge halted construction earlier this week.House Republicans announced that they will pass a bill, advanced by the Senate last week, to end the record-breaking partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown after previously rejecting the measure.Democrats quickly celebrated the win with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying “House Republicans caved” after previously “[derailing] a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction”.Nasa’s lunar rocket successfully launched and the astronauts on the first crewed lunar rocket in more than 50 years received praise from across the US.Attorney general Pam Bondi’s job with the Trump administration is reportedly at risk. The president is said to be unhappy with Bondi’s performance as the head of the justice department and the controversy surrounding the Epstein files, according to a New York Times report.Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed legislation on Wednesday to require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and to begin a process that will eventually unenroll voters who have not provided citizenship documentation.Supreme court justices appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s argument to restrict birthright citizenship for hundreds of thousands of children born to undocumented immigrants of temporary foreign nationals. Trump himself attended the hearing, widely considered to be the first time a sitting president has attended arguments at the supreme court. Continue reading...

Firm’s sales up 54% this month and Good Energy reports doubling of interest in solar after latest oil price shockSolar panel sales have risen sharply since the start of the Iran war, according to Octopus Energy, and households are opting for bigger arrays of roof panels.Sales were up 54% so far this month compared with the same period last month, the company said on Thursday. Continue reading...

Judge voids Kennedy’s ACIP picks, leaving key flu, Covid and RSV vaccine recommendations in limboSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAmid upheaval to the US vaccine advisory committee Robert Malone, the former co-chair and controversial figure who has opposed vaccines, says he has been pushed out and won’t be involved in any future decisions. The move comes after a federal judge stayed the appointment of 13 members of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP), essentially invalidating their roles on the committee and the decisions they have made.Those new advisers were all hand-picked by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, after he fired the previous 17 members of ACIP in June – but the judge ruled they were unqualified and not selected properly. Continue reading...

National intelligence director says Iran’s conventional military projection capabilities had been ‘largely destroyed’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxTulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence who in 2019 was selling “No War With Iran” T-shirts, told the Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday that US strikes on Iran had been a strategic success.“I’d like to remind those who are watching what I am briefing here today conveys the intelligence community’s assessment of the threats facing US citizens, our homeland and our interests,” Gabbard told the committee, “not my personal views or opinions”.More details soon… Continue reading...