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Secretário de Defesa será questionado por parlamentares no comitê de serviços armados do Senado após sessão acalorada ontem na Câmara Inscreva-se no e-mail de Breaking News US Olá e bem-vindo à nossa cobertura da política dos EUA, enquanto Pete Hegseth enfrenta um segundo dia de interrogatório de democratas no Capitólio, com os senadores tendo sua primeira oportunidade de confrontar ou elogiar o chefe do Pentágono sobre sua condução da guerra no Irã. O secretário de defesa duelou com democratas — e alguns republicanos — ontem durante uma audiência de quase seis horas no comitê de serviços armados da Câmara, onde enfrentou perguntas sobre os custos da guerra em dólares, vidas e a diminuição dos estoques de armas críticas. O crescimento econômico dos EUA provavelmente acelerou no primeiro trimestre devido a uma retomada nos gastos do governo após uma paralisação governamental paralisante. O aumento antecipado no produto interno bruto no último trimestre também refletiria um crescimento robusto no investimento empresarial em equipamentos, impulsionado por um boom de gastos em inteligência artificial e pela construção de data centers que sustentam a tecnologia. Os números serão divulgados às 8h30 ET Espera-se que o Rei Charles e a Rainha Camilla façam paradas na Virgínia antes de encerrar sua visita aos EUA na Casa Branca, nesta quinta-feira, com uma despedida formal de Trump. Charles viajará então sozinho para as Bermudas em sua primeira visita como rei a um território ultramarino britânico. O líder da minoria no Senado, Chuck Schumer, disse que os democratas forçarão mais uma vez a votação de uma resolução de poderes de guerra sobre o Irã, pela sexta vez nas últimas semanas. “Esta semana, os democratas forçarão uma votação sobre nossa resolução de poderes de guerra pela sexta vez. Continuaremos a forçar votações todas as semanas enquanto esta guerra persistir”, disse Schumer no plenário do Senado. A Câmara aprovou uma reautorização de três anos de um divisivo programa de vigilância dos EUA antes de sua expiração na sexta-feira, adicionando novas medidas de supervisão, mas sem chegar à exigência de mandado que os críticos demandavam. Um grande grupo de democratas juntou-se à maioria dos republicanos na aprovação do projeto por 235-191 votos. Trump reforçou mais uma vez seus sentimentos em relação a James Comey em uma postagem em rede social. Comentando sobre a acusação de que o ex-diretor do FBI pediu que ele fosse morto após postar uma foto de algumas conchas em um padrão mostrando 86 47, Trump escreveu: “‘86’ é um termo da máfia para ‘mate-o’. Eles dizem 86 nele! 86 47 significa ‘matar o Presidente Trump’. James Comey, que é um Policial Sujo, um dos piores, sabe disso muito bem! OITO MILHAS PARA FORA, SEIS PÉS ABAIXO! Ele também não mentiu para o FBI sobre isso??? Acho que sim!”. Trump é o 47º presidente dos EUA. A maioria conservadora da Suprema Corte dos EUA derrubou um elemento importante da Lei de Direitos de Voto (Voting Rights Act) que protege contra a discriminação racial no redesenho de distritos, em uma decisão que abre caminho para um gerrymandering agressivo em estados de todo o país que poderia afetar as eleições pelos próximos anos. A Legislatura da Flórida aprovou um novo mapa distrital com a intenção de maximizar a vantagem dos republicanos no estado como parte da batalha nacional de redistritamento que os republicanos lançaram antes das eleições de meio de mandato deste ano. O presidente do Federal Reserve em fim de mandato, Jerome Powell, disse que permanecerá como governador do banco central quando seu mandato de liderança terminar em pouco mais de duas semanas. O Departamento de Justiça anunciou na quarta-feira que três manifestantes anti-ICE foram acusados de supostamente agredir Savannah Hernandez, uma vídeojornalista de direita que foi empurrada ao chão durante um confronto com três membros de uma família em frente a um centro de detenção de imigrantes em St Paul, Minnesota, este mês. Continue lendo...

• Os preços da gasolina subiram acima de US$ 4 por galão e o custo dos voos disparou à medida que o bloqueio no Estreito de Ormuz impacta os mercados de energia em meio à guerra dos EUA e Israel com o Irã, corroendo a principal vantagem política de Trump. • Mais de três quartos dos eleitores registrados — incluindo mais da metade dos republicanos e 82% dos independentes — agora culpam Trump pela crise do custo de vida que afeta combustível, mantimentos, moradia e saúde. • Os índices de aprovação do segundo mandato de Trump caíram muito mais rápido do que os de presidentes anteriores após uma paralisação do governo, tarifas e o ataque conjunto de EUA e Israel ao Irã, com o presidente do Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, alertando que a guerra está alimentando a inflação.

Niesr says even under best-case scenario, economy would grow at slower pace in 2026 and 2027 because of conflictBritain is facing a £35bn economic hit and the risk of a recession this year as the fallout from the Iran war adds to the pressure on Keir Starmer’s government, a leading thinktank has warned.The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said that even under a best-case scenario the UK economy would grow at a much slower pace this year and next because of the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...

Morgan McSweeney among those giving evidence to foreign affairs committee ahead of Commons vote Good morning. The former US president Lyndon Johnson is credited with saying the most important skill in politics is knowing how to count, meaning that ultimately what matters is being able to win a vote. But sometimes in politics what matters just as much, or even more, is the ability to win the argument. Today Keir Starmer will be tested on both these measures.Winning the vote should be easy. Here is our overnight preview story by Pippa Crerar on the events setting up today’s vote on a motion tabled by Kemi Badenoch, as well as MPs from five other opposition parties (the Lib Dems, the SNP, the DUP, Restore Britain, TUV) and a string of independents, referring Starmer to the privileges committee. Continue reading...

‘Critical debate’ about party’s identity and direction looms if it loses control of Senedd next month after 27 years in powerWelsh Labour is the democratic world’s most successful election-winning machine, coming first in Wales in every general election since 1922 and every devolved election since 1999. Come next month’s Senedd election, however, this history-making run is expected to end.Labour’s collapse has left a vacuum, and former Labour voters are going to opposite ends of the political spectrum. Plaid Cymru and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are neck and neck in the latest poll, although coalition maths make it highly unlikely Reform would be able to form a government. Continue reading...

Government’s draft news bargaining incentive scheme includes 2.25% levy on local revenues of digital giantsAnthony Albanese has urged Google, Meta and TikTok to make deals with Australian media outlets to avoid a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues, warning digital giants should not be able to exploit the work of journalists to boost profits.Releasing an exposure draft for the government’s news bargaining incentive (NBI) scheme on Tuesday, the prime minister said platforms who sign new deals with publishers to pay for news content would receive offsets of between 150% to 170% from the new levy. Continue reading...

• The Taliban government announced restrictions on international health NGOs operating in Afghanistan on Monday, citing concerns over 'political interference' and threatening revocation of licenses for non-compliant organizations. • Medical organizations warned that the restrictions would devastate maternal and pediatric health services, particularly in rural areas where international agencies provide 70 percent of healthcare capacity. • The U.S. State Department condemned the move as undermining humanitarian efforts and expressed concern for vulnerable populations, with officials exploring alternative delivery mechanisms for critical medical assistance.

China sold goods worth about $148bn to EU in first quarter of year, but imported just $65bnThe EU is experiencing a prolonged “China shock” as a flood of Chinese EVs into Europe helped push Beijing to a record surplus with the bloc.New data showed China’s trade surplus – where its exports to the EU exceeded imports from the bloc – was $83bn (£61bn) in the first three months of 2026. Continue reading...

• Months after restoring federal family planning funding, Missouri's only Title X grantee program now confronts fresh challenges from U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. • The program provides essential reproductive health services amid ongoing political debates over federal support for family planning initiatives. • This development underscores persistent tensions in U.S. public health policy regarding access to contraception and reproductive care funding.

Alleged shooter expected to appear in federal court and could be charged with trying to assassinate TrumpThe suspected gunman who tried to storm the White House correspondents’ dinner was expected to appear in federal court to face criminal charges on Monday.The alleged shooter, identified by law enforcement agencies as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance in southern California, faces charges including assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer. Continue reading...

Families say ‘Ulm 5’ have been detained under extreme prison conditions since arrest last SeptemberFive pro-Palestinian activists are due to appear in court over an attack on an Israeli arms company in Germany, in proceedings their families say could become a “show trial”.The Berlin-based activists, who are British, Irish, German and Spanish citizens, have been held in pre-trial detention in separate prisons since 8 September. They are alleged to have broken into Elbit Systems, in the city of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, in the early hours of 8 September, causing hundreds of thousands of euros of damage before calling the police to arrest them. Continue reading...

Peers and campaigners say proposal for three-year window to impose controls breaks promise of quick actionPeers will vote on Monday on a government move that could delay action on children’s access to social media for up to three years, which has triggered a backlash from campaigners and senior figures in the Lords.Ministers tabled an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill that would allow them to wait before introducing new restrictions, Critics warn it risks watering down earlier commitments to act within months and could result in only limited interventions such as parental controls rather than sweeping measures on access. 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...

Shareholders including the Church of England back call for protest votes against the bank’s chair NatWest is at risk of an embarrassing showdown at its shareholder meeting this week, as investors and leading scientists call for an urgent reversal of what they describe as “climate backtracking”.Campaigners, including ShareAction, are calling for protest votes against the bank’s chair, Rick Haythornthwaite, at its annual meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• INDYCAR series leader Alex Palou maintains his position atop the standings as competitors intensify their pursuit and grapple with mounting pressure. • Other drivers face critical decisions regarding their approach to closing the gap with Palou in the championship race. • The competitive environment reflects the high stakes of the INDYCAR season as it progresses into its middle stages.

• The World Food Programme declared a humanitarian emergency in Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions Friday, warning that sustained drought has destroyed crops and livestock herds, leaving 9.4 million people facing acute food insecurity. • Local authorities reported a 60% crop failure compared to last year; malnutrition rates among children under five have climbed to 18%, approaching famine thresholds, WFP spokesperson stated. • The organization called for immediate international funding to deliver emergency rations and establish feeding centers, noting that conflict in neighboring regions has already strained Ethiopia's humanitarian response capacity.

Some familiar, arcane terms are returning to the fore as the Tories study the tactics Labour used against Boris JohnsonThe lexicon of a British parliamentary scandal is arcane.As Keir Starmer fights to remain prime minister, he has had to respond to a “humble address”, had his judgment picked over during an “emergency opposition day debate” and now faces the ignominy of a “privilege motion”. Continue reading...

• The New York Mets snapped a 12-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, ending their two-week-long skid when Luke Weaver struck out Byron Buxton for the final out. • Shortstop Francisco Lindor was removed from the game with left calf tightness after scoring from first base in the fourth inning and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. • The victory marks a crucial turnaround for the struggling Mets, who had not won since early April and faced mounting pressure during their extended drought.

• US military missile inventories, including Tomahawks, Patriots, and THAAD interceptors, are depleting faster than production rates amid the Iran war launched February 28, 2026. • President Trump extended the Iran truce, prompting questions on whether it's a diplomatic move or a pause to resupply amid sustainability concerns. • The conflict, triggered by US-Israeli airstrikes killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has led to Iranian retaliation and Strait of Hormuz closure, disrupting global oil supplies.

Karl Turner, who lost Labour whip after criticising PM, calls for privileges committee to examine if Starmer misled parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesA former Labour MP has joined opposition parties calling for Keir Starmer to face a Commons committee to examine whether the prime minister misled parliament as the government’s crisis surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington continues.Karl Turner, who lost the Labour whip last month after making a series of interventions criticising Starmer and No 10, has written to the speaker of the Commons urging him to refer Starmer to the privileges committee, the same body that found Boris Johnson had lied in the Commons over the lockdown parties scandal. Continue reading...

ICC judges say there are substantial grounds to believe Duterte guided anti-drugs crackdown that killed thousandsThe former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, will face trial at the international criminal court (ICC) after judges unanimously confirmed charges of crimes against humanity over his “war on drugs”.Pre-trial judges concluded on Thursday that there were substantial grounds to believe Duterte was responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder in relation to anti-drugs crackdowns which led to the killing of thousands of people. Continue reading...

• The US Treasury Department announced targeted sanctions against 15 military leaders and three jade trading companies linked to Myanmar's junta, citing credible evidence of systematic ethnic persecution against Rohingya and other minorities. • The sanctions block access to the US financial system and freeze assets estimated at $40 million, with the State Department formally classifying the military's actions as crimes against humanity. • International human rights bodies praised the measures but noted they represent a limited response, calling for broader multilateral action and ICC referral to hold perpetrators accountable.

Health secretary says ‘I had nothing to do with the measles outbreak’ and claims to support measles and MMR vaccinesHealth secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr faced intense questioning from several US senators on Wednesday during a hearing largely focused on how the administration has responded to the measles outbreak and the spread of vaccine misinformation.In his opening remarks to the Senate finance committee, the senator Ron Wyden criticized Kennedy’s messaging on vaccines, saying: “When it comes to vaccines, Robert Kennedy has used this once-in-a-lifetime platform to make parents doubt themselves and doubt their doctors,” before adding: “The secretary has ducked, bobbed and weaved without taking the responsibility of saying what needs to be said: vaccines save lives in America.” Continue reading...