Measures

• De 48ste ASEAN-top werd afgesloten op vrijdag 8 mei, waarbij leiders een regionale brandstofvoorraad en een standby-mechanisme voor voedselzekerheid voorstelden om leveringsverstoringen als gevolg van conflicten in het Midden-Oosten tegen te gaan. • De maatregelen zijn gericht op de effecten van een sluiting van de Straat van Hormuz, die de leveringen van brandstof en kunstmest die cruciaal zijn voor Zuidoost-Azië bedreigt. • Leiders zijn overeengekomen aan een crisiscommunicatieprotocol voor ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken om coherente en tijdige regionale reacties over meerdere sectoren mogelijk te maken.

• Government considers steps to attract dollar inflows amid rupee depreciation pressures. • Policy moves aim to stabilise currency and support economic indicators. • Initiative critical for managing trade deficits and foreign reserves.

• An international team including University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers measured the force of particle jets blasted from a black hole in the Cygnus system. • This first-of-its-kind measurement confirms a prediction made by UW-Madison astronomers a decade ago. • The findings validate long-standing theories on black hole jet mechanics, advancing astrophysics understanding.

As fossil fuel prices soar ‘the era of clean energy security must come of age’, energy secretary will sayEd Miliband will double down on Labour’s commitment to net zero in the face of the Middle East conflict this week, insisting that as fossil fuel prices soar “the era of clean energy security must come of age”.The energy secretary is set to announce a package of new policies in a speech on Tuesday in response to an expected energy crisis prompted by Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Continue reading...

Two-thirds of teenagers are still on social media platforms included in the ban, according to the eSafety commissionerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen the age assurance technology trial released its final report before Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect last year, its first finding was: age assurance can be done privately, efficiently and effectively.Four months since the ban came into effect, we can say that was – to paraphrase Yes Minister – a courageous statement. Continue reading...

Australian treasurer says Iran war having ‘extreme impact on global economy’ as Albanese to address nation about fuel crisis Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJim Chalmers has unveiled a suite of Covid-era support measures including tax deferrals for businesses struggling with soaring fuel prices, in the latest sign the government is preparing for a more severe economic downturn from the US-Israel war on Iran.Addressing the media on Wednesday morning, the treasurer said “the war in the Middle East is having an extreme impact on the global economy, [and[ Australians and Australian small businesses are paying the price for that”. Continue reading...

• County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) refreshed data in March 2026 for 34 measures covering physical/mental health, clinical care, housing, and more, including poor or fair health, preventable hospital stays, and uninsured rates. • No typical annual data release will occur in 2026; users access updates via 2025 county/state snapshots, with the website active through December 2026. • A webinar on March 31, 2026, explains changes and supports community health efforts.

• U.S. lawmakers and Silicon Valley leaders are converging on policies to counter China's rapid AI advances, viewing it as a strategic economic battle. • House Speaker Mike Johnson urged tech firms to keep chips, data centers, and AI systems domestic and away from geopolitical rivals. • Proposed GAIN AI Act would mandate prioritizing U.S. access to advanced AI chips and require export licenses to countries of concern.