USA under Donald Trump Trump lawyers: a court cannot stop ballroom construction

Donald Trump has been President of the United States again since January 20, 2025. All developments in his second presidency can be found here in the ticker.

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11.32 pm

Trump lawyers: A court cannot stop ballroom construction

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump's administration believe that a court cannot stop the construction of the controversial ballroom in the White House. Only the US Congress can stop the 400 million dollar project, lawyer Yaakov Roth told US appeals court judge Patricia Millett on Friday.

The hearing was about an April order by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon that the Trump administration stop all non-underground work on the 8,400-square-foot ballroom. Leon authorized underground work to continue on a bunker and other "national security facilities" at the site. At the center of Friday's court hearing was the question of who has the authority to stop government construction once it has already begun.

The hearing ended without a decision from the three-judge appellate panel.

21:21

Trump calls for further staff cuts in Secret Service chief's office

US President Donald Trump has called for further job cuts in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The size of the office has been "way too big for way too long", Trump said on Friday on a flight to the US state of Wisconsin. "If he would cut back, that would be fine with me," he said of the new acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte.

In an interview with the "Wall Street Journal", Trump had said that he had asked Pulte to initiate the staff cuts. "I think there are a lot of people there who shouldn't be there," Trump said according to the Journal, referring to intelligence officers who served under US presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

7.37pm

US judge strikes down Trump measure against immigration

A US federal judge has overturned a Trump administration measure against immigrants from dozens of countries. The measure, which was introduced after the gun attack on two National Guardsmen in November, had left countless people in the country in limbo for an indefinite period of time, Judge John McConnell Jr. ruled on Friday. He sharply criticized the government of US President Donald Trump. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is not complying with the law.

🚨JUST IN🚨

Obama-appointee Judge John J. McConnell Jr is ordering the Trump administration to RESUME taking asylum applications.

The ruling strikes down the pause on cases from 39 countries.

McConnell ordered the restart of processing, emphasizing that the policies unfairly… pic.twitter.com/dutaPazWIf

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) June 5, 2026

3.18 pm

Is Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office? Video causes a stir

During a press conference with several members of the government, Donald Trump appears to close his eyes at times and nod off. Democrats and liberal commentators use the images for sharp attacks

Sharp attacksIs Trump falling asleep in the Oval Office? Video causes a stir

5.42 am

"Perversion": Cuba's president condemns US sanctions

The US has imposed sanctions against Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his family members and various authorities. US President Donald Trump is thus further increasing the pressure on Cuba's socialist government. Díaz-Canel condemned the sanctions and spoke of a sign of the US government's "aggression and perversion". Cuba will oppose the "imperialist campaign", he wrote on Platform X on Friday night. The sanctions were aimed at harming the Cuban people.

El presidente de EE.UU hace nuevas declaraciones amenazadoras contra #Cuba; y el Departamento del Tesoro incorporó nuevos nombres de dirigentes, organizaciones y empresas cubanas a una lista ilegítima de sanciones.

Están dirigidas a reforzar las medidas de #bloqueo y el…

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) June 4, 2026

Trump had recently repeatedly brought up the possibility of a "takeover" of the economically hard-hit Caribbean state. He repeatedly hinted that after the war against Iran, it would be Cuba's turn. He wants to force economic and political change on the island with numerous new sanctions and a blockade of oil supplies.

Friday, June 5, 2026, 1:04 a.m.

USA imposes sanctions against Cuba's president

The USA imposes sanctions against Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his family members and various authorities. US President Donald Trump's administration is thus further increasing the pressure on Cuba's socialist government. Trump had recently repeatedly brought up the possibility of a "takeover" of the economically struggling Caribbean state. He wants to force economic and political change with a series of new sanctions and an oil blockade.

According to the US Treasury Department, 66-year-old Díaz-Canel has been placed on a sanctions list, which means that assets can be frozen and the US can no longer have any business relationships with him. His wife Lis Cuesta Peraza and his stepson Manuel Anido Cuesta have also been sanctioned. Also affected by the measures are a son, Alejandro Castro, and a grandson of the 95-year-old ex-president Raúl Castro, Raúl Alejandro Castro. The ex-president is a powerful figure behind the scenes in the socialist Caribbean state.

The Ministry of Defence, the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) and other organizations were also sanctioned. According to government critics, the CDRs, which exist in almost every neighborhood, act as an instrument for monitoring dissenters.

For decades, Cuba has been the world capital for radical left-wing terrorism. The regime in Havana has recruited, trained and backed violent Marxist and third-worldist movements across our hemisphere and beyond. Today, we are targeting the network that enables and funds Cuba's…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 4, 2026

Relations between Washington and Havana have been tense for decades. Tensions have recently increased again under Trump.

6.29 pm

Trump's ex-security advisor Bolton wants to plead guilty

The former security advisor to US President Donald Trump, John Bolton, wants to plead guilty to improperly storing secret documents. As part of an agreement with the Department of Justice, this could possibly save him a prison sentence, a person privy to the proceedings told the AP news agency on Thursday. The Justice Department declined to comment.

12:40 p.m.

Again: Trump attacks reporter

Joe Biden's planned billion-dollar fund for "victims of justice" has been stopped by a judge for the time being - although it was "a wonderful thing", Donald Trump said angrily in the White House yesterday.

"When I heard about it, I thought it was the greatest thing," the 79-year-old continued, referring to the journalists: "People like you have mistreated our people so badly: the fake news from CNN, the 'New York Times' and others."

CNN frontwoman Kaitlan Collins wants to say something in response. "Wait a minute, shut up," Trump interrupts her. "You should be ashamed of yourself. You used to be a conservative." He turns to the other journalists. "She used to be a conservative from Alabama: can you believe that?" he asks the group.

"I'm still from Alabama," Collins counters, but the president isn't listening. "CNN just reported it wrong, but now they have new owners. Maybe they'll correct it, but I doubt it: it's hard to correct garbage."

TRUMP: Be quiet. You should be ashamed of yourself. You used to be a conservative from Alabama. KAITLAN COLLINS: I'm still from Alabama.

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 4. Juni 2026 um 00:40

12 p.m.

Here Trump compares the Reflecting Pool to high houses

The Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial is longer than some buildings are tall, as Donald Trump remarks at the White House yesterday.

Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump praised the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations. Trump highlighted the aesthetic upgrade to the iconic pool, noting, "we picked a color called the American Flag blue" to replace the traditional gray concrete.

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— Reuters (@reuters.com) 4. Juni 2026 um 06:33

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 2:22 a.m.

Blue "like the US flag": Trump celebrates his Reflecting Pool

US President Donald Trump is making progress with his plan to change the appearance of the capital Washington in more and more places according to his ideas. The renovation work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a well-known water basin not far from the White House, is now virtually complete, as Trump announced in the Oval Office. All that remains now is to clean the adjacent walkways - and the water in the pool.

The cleaning of the huge basin also attracted attention because the president had the floor painted blue - namely blue "like the US flag", as Trump specified to journalists in his office. The President emphasized how necessary the renovation had been. "Eleven or twelve truckloads of garbage" had been removed from the basin. According to Trump, further clean-up will not be necessary for "50 to 100 years" once the work has been completed.

At the press conference in the Oval Office, he avoided putting a precise figure on the cost of the project. Trump only spoke of a "small fraction of the cost" that previous governments had spent on their attempts to clean up the basin. US media such as the New York Times reported shortly before completion that the costs had risen sevenfold. According to Trump, the original cost of the repairs was supposed to be 1.8 million dollars; now the media is talking about more than 13.1 million dollars.

A lawsuit filed against the US Department of the Interior by a non-profit organization was unable to stop the project. The plaintiffs accuse Trump of not subjecting the project to a federal review and bypassing the relevant authorities.

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 0:30 a.m.

Visa and Mastercard stop payments in Cuba

Due to the US government's new sanctions against Cuba's foreign business partners, card payments with Visa and Mastercard are suspended on the socialist Caribbean island. The island is relying on cash and cards from Russia and China.

According to the Cuban Central Bank, the foreign bank that processes the transactions of both credit cards in Cuba is suspending its relationship with the state financial services provider Fincimex. It was not disclosed which bank this is.

Fincimex is part of the Cuban military economic group Gaesa. The government of US President Donald Trump imposed new sanctions against Gaesa at the beginning of May. As a result, foreign banks and companies that continue to work with the powerful military group are also to be sanctioned from Friday. Four hotel chains from Spain, Canada and Indonesia have already announced that they will withdraw from the operation of hotels that they jointly manage with the group.

The Cuban Central Bank attributed the foreign bank's decision to stop doing business in Cuba to Washington's "suffocation strategy" against the Cuban people. The Banco Central de Cuba stated that it was impossible for the bank to continue fulfilling the agreements with Fincimex as of June 6 because it would be illegal. Foreign currency payments would now only be possible in cash, with national prepaid cards and with credit cards from Mir in Russia and UnionPay in China.

9.40 a.m.

Justice Department sticks to tax deal

Donald Trump's billion-dollar fund for "justice victims" of Joe Biden's administration is passé - see entry 1.12 am. But does that also apply to the deal with the IRS regarding tax audits?

"Nothing has changed," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche yesterday before the House Committee on Appropriations. The New York Times summarizes: "The Justice Department is sticking with [the] extraordinary measure that offers President Trump, his family and his businesses potentially lucrative protection from IRS investigations."

This prohibits investigations into Trump's claim that he lost 100 million dollars on the construction of Trump Tower in Chicago, writes the US newspaper. It is questionable whether this approach is legal, it continues.

7.12 a.m.

USA also targets Switzerland with new punitive tariffs

The USA is increasing the pressure on Switzerland in the ongoing customs dispute. President Donald Trump's administration has proposed new punitive tariffs against around 60 trading partners, including Switzerland. Washington accuses the countries concerned of not taking sufficient action against the import of products manufactured using forced labor.

According to a report published in Washington on Tuesday (local time) by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Switzerland is one of 54 economies that the US does not consider to have an explicit import ban on such goods. Washington is proposing additional tariffs of 12.5 percent for these countries.

The EU would be burdened with 10 percent, as it has introduced a corresponding ban, but its enforcement is considered insufficient. Products such as semiconductors, coffee, beef and fruit would be exempt from the new duties.

The proposals have not yet been finalized. A consultation will run until the beginning of July, followed by public hearings. The Trump administration is also looking for a new legal basis for its customs policy.

The new report comes at a sensitive time for Switzerland. Bern and Washington are currently negotiating a settlement to the customs dispute.

Seco Director Helene Budliger Artieda said just last week that Switzerland was "on the last legs" of talks with the USA. She expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached by the deadline set by Trump on July 9. In addition to the general tariff rate of 10 percent, country-specific additional tariffs are also being discussed, with 21 percent previously being mentioned for Switzerland.

Switzerland firmly rejects the accusations from Washington regarding forced labor. Budliger Artieda had already stated in April that forced labor is prohibited in Switzerland under constitutional, civil and criminal law. Switzerland plays a pioneering role internationally and was the first country to include a ban on forced labor in its public procurement law. In addition, due diligence obligations for companies have been further tightened.

According to the USA, however, Switzerland lacks an explicit ban on the import of products from forced labor. Washington argues that this could lead to distortions of competition. Seco, on the other hand, maintains that there is no evidence that Swiss trade practices put US companies at a disadvantage or that supply chains with links to Switzerland benefit from forced labor. Additional tariffs are therefore neither justified nor suitable to combat the problem.

6.45 a.m.

Supreme Court allows redistricting in Alabama

The US Supreme Court has temporarily lifted the ban on a controversial redistricting in the state of Alabama, thus giving the Republicans a victory. In the previous instance, President Donald Trump's party had been prohibited from reintroducing an electoral district plan from 2023, which a federal court had ruled would have discriminated against black voters.

The Supreme Court has now overturned this decision. The ruling could help Trump's Republicans to defend their narrow majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections in November.

In the so-called midterms, part of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives will be re-elected on November 3. Due to the narrow majority, every single seat could decide who ends up in power in Congress. This is why Republicans and Democrats have been battling bitterly for months over the redrawing of constituencies in several states in order to improve their chances of success.

The Supreme Court had already weakened the protection of minorities in electoral law in April. In Alabama, the federal court then issued a preliminary injunction at the end of May against the planned redistricting because it would have split the votes of black voters - who tend to favor the Democrats - across several districts and would have made them less effective.

Both parties in the US have been exploiting this effect for decades to strategically shift votes to other constituencies where the race is tighter. Under Trump's leadership, however, the dispute over this has recently intensified significantly and is being fought out with a tougher edge.

Alabama is by no means an isolated case: courts in many states are currently dealing with the redrawing of electoral districts. In Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio, the boundaries have either already been redrawn or there are plans to do so. The Democrats followed suit in California and Virginia, but are in a worse position overall.

The mid-term elections in November are an important milestone for Trump's second presidency. If his party loses its majority in even just one of the two chambers of parliament, the Republican will no longer be able to easily push through major legislative initiatives.

Wednesday, June 03, 2026 - 1:12 am

After massive criticism: Justice Minister announces the end of Trump's victims' fund

Following massive criticism, US President Donald Trump's administration has rejected the establishment of a controversial compensation fund for alleged victims of the justice system. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the US Congress: "We will not pursue the fund."

Trump had recently been sharply criticized even within his own party because of the compensation fund. Apparently, the US government has now bowed to this pressure. Critics spoke of "bribes" for Trump loyalists and corruption. In Congress, votes on other budget appropriations were delayed in order to build up pressure on Trump. According to earlier information from the US Department of Justice, around 1.8 billion dollars were to flow into the new fund, which was intended to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated actions by the state.

Critics feared that state money could be used to reward Trump supporters who took part in the storming of the Capitol in 2021 and were indicted for this during Joe Biden's time in office. Trump had issued pardons for many of the defendants after taking office in 2025. On January 6, 2021, there was a violent storming of the Congress building in the US capital Washington, where the election victory of Democrat and Trump opponent Biden was to be officially confirmed.

The fund had been the result of a remarkable settlement: The head of state had filed a lawsuit against the state as a private individual in January, demanding billions in compensation. In the lawsuit, a former employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was accused of unlawfully gaining access to tax data from the Trump Organization family business during Trump's first term in office (2017-2021) and passing it on to "left-leaning media". The agency reports to the US Treasury Department, which, like the Justice Department, is controlled by Trump's government team.

The parties settled the legal dispute with a settlement. According to the settlement, the tax authority will also refrain from retrospectively auditing the Trumps' tax returns - another unusual step.

A federal court in Virginia had recently temporarily halted the establishment of the controversial fund. In doing so, the court wanted to ensure that no money could be irrevocably paid out via the fund until the case was resolved.

8 p.m.

US actor Richard Gere calls Trump a "lunatic"

Hollywood star Richard Gere has described US President Donald Trump as a "lunatic". "We are living in the darkest moment I have ever experienced on this planet," the 76-year-old said at an awards ceremony in Oslo on Tuesday. "On day one, this guy dismantled almost everything that was good about the US government and the US people," Gere added in front of an audience of hundreds.

"Who would have ever thought that a lunatic like this would become president of the United States?" said Gere. Trump's election was only possible "because we fell asleep. We didn't care. We didn't vote," he criticized.

Referring to a recent visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, Gere called for vigilance: "We have to recognize the signs, this dictatorship of monsters, how quickly it is emerging. We must be vigilant."

16.11

Trump makes supporter interim intelligence coordinator

US President Donald Trump wants to make the head of the Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, acting Secret Service coordinator. He announced this today on his Truth Social platform. Pulte would thus become the acting successor to Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned due to her husband's cancer and announced that she would hand over the office on June 30.

Pulte is head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and chairman of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Trump explained that Pulte has "extensive experience in dealing with America's most sensitive issues".

The new intelligence coordinator will continue to hold his other posts while he fills in for Gabbard, he said.

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗝. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 - 𝟬𝟵:𝟬𝟲 𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝟬𝟲.𝟬𝟮.𝟮𝟲 pic.twitter.com/ekDUCP43tk

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 2, 2026

3:30 p.m.

"Freedom 250: Now "Milli Vanilli" Fab Trump is canceling, too

Fabrice "Fab" Morvan from the former pop duo Milli Vanilli has canceled his planned appearance at the controversial series of concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of the USA. "This is not what I signed up for," the 60-year-old told CNN.

Just a few days ago, Morvan had explained that he wanted to perform at the concerts and bring people together with music. However, after more and more artists withdrew their participation, he also began to have doubts.

Fab Morvan on why he’s not performing at the Freedom 250 Concert: I know how politics works. It's a game of chess where everyone is using others as pawns. I don't want to be part of that. This is why I'm stepping out. pic.twitter.com/lsxKgSdwOI

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 2, 2026

"Over the course of the week, it became a circus," he said. "I'm not in politics. That's why you'll hear it here first: I won't be taking part in the celebrations on June 26."

The concert series is being organized by what it claims is a non-profit organization dedicated to the anniversary celebrations in the US capital - but these themselves stem from a call by Donald Trump. Several artists canceled their participation, including The Commodores and Poison frontman Bret Michaels.

250 years of the USATrump's big party for America causes malice, criticism and lots of cancellations

Many justified their withdrawal by saying that the event was more political than originally presented. Morvan also referred to his own history when canceling.

The singer had become world-famous at the end of the 1980s with the pop duo Milli Vanilli ("Girl You Know It's True"), produced by Frank Farian, before the so-called lip-sync scandal surrounding him and his partner Robert "Rob" Pilatus came to light.

Other singers were actually the real voices of Milli Vanilli. "I fell down, got up again, reinvented myself and carried on," Morvan told CNN.

This is precisely why he does not want to be drawn into the current dispute. "I know what it's like when a narrative is changed again and again until you hardly recognize it yourself," he said. "That's what happened to me."

4 p.m.

Trump presents new concert star: himself

US President Donald Trump himself attracted additional attention. On his Truth Social platform, he described the performing artists as "overpaid singers that nobody wants to hear". At the same time, he suggested replacing the concert series with the "number one attraction in the world" - himself.

pic.twitter.com/hoAE286DVu

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 30, 2026

1 p.m.

Store owner acquitted after fatal shooting

A jury in the US state of South Carolina has acquitted a store owner of the murder of a black 14-year-old.

The 61-year-old had stalked the teenager from his store in 2023 and shot him in the back. According to the prosecution, he acted out of anger because he wrongly assumed that the 14-year-old had stolen four bottles of water.

A South Carolina jury found a store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of a Black 14-year-old.

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— CNN (@cnn.com) 2. Juni 2026 um 05:31

The defense, on the other hand, explained that the teenager had pointed a gun at the defendant's son. The 61-year-old had therefore shot to protect his son. The killing of the teenager had caused great shock. There had been vigils and protests in front of the store after the crime.

10 a.m.

Pentagon closes press room to journalists

The US Department of Defense has closed its press office to journalists. The press office is now also being used by speechwriters who use classified material, said press spokesman Joel Valdez.

"These speechwriters routinely deal with classified information," he explained. "So journalists will no longer be allowed to enter the offices. There's nothing to shake about that." The "Washington Post" had first reported on the move, which Valdez now described as uncontroversial.

The Department of Defense has been trying for months to impose stricter conditions on journalists working at the Pentagon. Reporters from major news organizations, including the AP news agency, are refusing to accept the accreditation requirements, have left the building and are reporting from outside.

The Pentagon press corps now consists mainly of conservative media who have agreed to the new rules. The "New York Times" successfully sued the ministry to have its reporters reinstated.

However, the Pentagon then issued the rule that all reporters must leave the premises unless they are accompanied by staff during their research. The New York Times has also filed a lawsuit against this. The legal dispute has not yet been decided.

4.30 a.m.

Trump rows back on controversial victims' fund

According to media reports, US President Donald Trump is rowing back on the controversial compensation fund for alleged victims of the US justice system. The news portal "Axios " reported, citing two high-ranking officials, that the government is planning to distance itself from the fund for the time being. "Politico" reported similarly.

On request, the White House referred to a statement from the Department of Justice on Platform X. In it, the ministry strongly condemned the decision of a court that had temporarily halted the plans. However, it also stated that it would abide by the decision. Whether the ministry will distance itself completely from the fund, which would ultimately mean the end of the plans, remains to be seen.

The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund put forth by the United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, wherein the Court stated that, under no circumstances, may the Department of Justice proceed with…

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 1, 2026

A federal court in Virginia wants to use the stop to ensure that no money can be irrevocably paid out via the fund until the case has been clarified. It has scheduled a court hearing for June 12.

The compensation fund has become an uncomfortable topic for Trump. It has even attracted massive criticism from within his own Republican ranks. Critics are talking about "bribes" for Trump loyalists and corruption. In Congress, votes on other budget funds were even delayed in order to build up pressure on Trump. According to earlier information from the US Department of Justice, around 1.8 billion dollars are to flow into the new fund, which is intended to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated actions by the state.

Critics fear that state money could be spent on rewarding Trump supporters who took part in the storming of the Capitol in 2021 and were charged for this during Joe Biden's time in office. Trump had issued several pardons after taking office in 2025.

Justice deal brings billionsTrump's settlement with himself

Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 2:25 a.m.

Florida sues ChatGPT developer OpenAI

The US state of Florida has broken new legal ground with a lawsuit against the AI company OpenAI. It accuses it of promising ChatGPT users security, even though the software is dangerous. The chatbot is a threat to public safety, according to the lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. It refers to cases in which ChatGPT is said to have recommended a lethal combination of drugs and advised a shooter responsible for fatal shootings on a university campus before he committed the crime. The chatbot is particularly problematic for teenagers, criticized Uthmeier.

OpenAI and Sam Altman hide the conversations ChatGPT has with children from parents.

And despite extensive research into the harm ChatGPT causes to young minds—the child, not the parent, has control over whether or not any protections are in place. pic.twitter.com/RDXPPytk3Z

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 1, 2026

In a response, OpenAI referred to measures to protect young users. These included mechanisms for age recognition and monitoring options for parents. OpenAI only introduced some of these measures after deaths and public criticism.

ChatGPT is the chatbot that triggered the current hype surrounding artificial intelligence and, according to OpenAI, now has 900 million users per week. It is the company's most important product.

Florida had already launched an investigation in April into ChatGPT's role in the gun attack at Florida State University in April 2025. The shooter had sought advice from the AI chatbot before the crime, Uthmeier said at the time. According to this, he not only received recommendations on which weapon he should use and which ammunition was suitable for which weapons, but also on the question of where and at what time most people would be found there. OpenAI insists that ChatGPT is not responsible for the crime in which two people were killed and six others injured.

23.27

Contributions not paid: UN organization halts appointment of US official as deputy chief

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has rescinded the appointment of US official Sheng Li as deputy director of the UN agency. His appointment has been revoked due to "persistent delays in the settlement of arrears", announced ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo.

Li is a senior official in the US Department of Labor. His appointment was announced in April. As of June 1, the US had accumulated arrears to the Geneva-based ILO of 173 million Swiss francs for the past two years and nearly 84 million francs for the current year.

"The ILO remains in constructive dialog with the US government on this matter," explained Houngbo. Washington could settle the arrears and thus "regain its position as the largest contributor".

The ILO has not had a deputy head since last September. At that time, the US citizen Celeste Drake left the organization. The post of deputy director traditionally goes to the USA. Due to a lack of funding, the ILO is planning to cut 120 jobs by 2029. However, corresponding reform plans have yet to be adopted.

10.39 pm

US court: dismissal of trans people from the military is illegal

US President Donald Trump has suffered a partial defeat in his efforts to exclude trans people from the military. The US government is not allowed to remove those plaintiffs who went to court from active military service, according to a ruling by an appeals court in Washington. However, the ban remains in force for the time being to give the government the opportunity to appeal.

The majority of judges on the appeals court thus partly followed a decision by a lower court, which was convinced that the exclusion of trans people violated the constitutional requirement that all people must be treated equally before the law. The directive, which is named after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was based "at least in part on an impermissible state interest in harming the politically unpopular group of transgender people", according to the current reasoning.

In 2025, the US Department of Defense had ordered at Trump's behest that trans people should be largely excluded from military service - including active soldiers. Trump campaigned for the exclusion of trans people from the military during his first term in office and announced during the election campaign that he wanted to stop the "transgender madness". The Republican enacted discriminatory measures against trans people after taking office.

21.08 hrs

USA drastically restricts visa issuance at embassies in Africa

The Trump administration wants to significantly reduce the number of US embassies and consulates in Africa that are allowed to issue visas to foreign nationals. Of almost 50 such offices, only 20 are to receive the relevant permission in the coming weeks, according to information from US government circles and an internal document obtained by the AP news agency. It was initially unclear when exactly the changes would come into force. According to sources, however, a date in June was expected.

12.43 p.m.

Beijing fires against the "New York Times"

Following the expulsion of a journalist from the US newspaper "New York Times" from China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has voiced further criticism. The paper had offered the "Taiwanese authorities" a platform to spread "separatist false allegations" and referred to Taiwan as a state, said spokesman Lin Jian in Beijing.

This was a violation of the "one-China principle" and agreements between the USA and China, he continued. The "New York Times" had previously made the case public in an article.

In it, editor-in-chief Joseph Kahn said the expulsion would make it even harder for the global audience to get accurate, independent and informed reporting on the world's second-largest economy at a crucial time.

According to the report, Chinese officials had justified the expulsion of the correspondent on the grounds that the newspaper had previously shown a video of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te during an event in New York in December. China expelled the journalist, who according to the newspaper had played no part in the event, in February.

China claims the independently governed Taiwan for itself and wants to bind it to itself. Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has repeatedly labeled Beijing as separatist because the party stands for independence for the island republic, which the government has so far not intended to pursue.

Taiwan condemns China after New York Times reporter expelled after presidential interview reut.rs/49Z2pEY

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— Reuters (@reuters.com) 31. Mai 2026 um 14:25

The "New York Times" should correct its "mistakes", China's Foreign Ministry further demanded. Lin also accused the journalist of conducting interviews under false pretenses and thus violating the law.

At the same time, he criticized the fact that the USA had taken countermeasures against a reporter from the state news agency Xinhua. According to the New York Times, the government of US President Donald Trump had revoked his visa.

12.43 p.m.

Criticism of press freedom in China

Foreign correspondents in China have been complaining about difficult working conditions for years. The organization Reporters Without Borders ranks China 178th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom, with only North Korea and Eritrea ranking worse.

In April, the Club of Foreign Correspondents in China criticized an increase in "targeted attacks" on press freedom in China since February, without specifically naming the case of the "New York Times".

The association condemned the use of intimidation and threats as well as access and accreditation restrictions as weapons to exercise control over information or to enforce self-censorship.

12.20 p.m.

Protest against Ebola center for US citizens in Kenya

Hundreds of young people protested in the central Kenyan city of Nanyuki on Monday against a planned Ebola quarantine center for US citizens. The facility is to be built at the Laikipia airbase and will house US citizens who have been exposed to the virus.

On 30 May, the Supreme Court of the East African country prohibited the construction of the facility and the admission of foreign patients for the time being until a lawsuit filed by the Kenyan Bar Association and a constitutional law institute against the project is examined.

The two organizations based their complaint on Kenya's fragile healthcare system. This would prevent the admission of patients for quarantine. On May 28, a US government representative stated that Washington wanted to have citizens of the country who may have come into contact with Ebola treated in Kenya.

CNN source: Americans arrived in Laikipia Airbase yesterday as plans for US Ebola isolation facility go ahead despite court order.

Current US & Kenya governments - both Trump & Ruto administrations - have a history of ignoring court rulings they don't like pic.twitter.com/ye6VafLhIN

— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) May 31, 2026

A new quarantine and treatment center should prevent affected US citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo from having to be flown out to the USA for hours to receive medical treatment. Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale said yesterday that the quarantine center was intended for "everyone", not just US citizens.

As of yesterday evening, 282 cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak there is heavily concentrated in the Ituri region, which accounts for 264 of the confirmed cases. The Central African country has also registered more than 1000 suspected cases, which could be due to the rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus.

11.13 am

"Rump" - something's missing from the 640-dollar watch

Tim Petit from Providence, Rhode Island, is a maga fan - and wants to make his wife happy. The American buys a Trump watch for 640.93 dollars. "It was beautiful and I knew it was something she would really like," he tells US broadcaster WJACTV.

The piece is also exclusive - only 2350 pieces are reportedly being produced. "That's what attracted me," says Petit. An advertisement on the radio "with the voice of the president" finally convinced him of the product.

The man opts for the pink model, which is sold under the name "Inauguration First Lady". His wife Melanie is delighted with the style of the watch, but there is one flaw: The lettering "Trump" is missing the T. "Rump" also means "rear end" in English.

"I'm very disappointed," says her husband, who wanted to give her something special. The manufacturer says the watches were neither designed nor manufactured by the president or distributed by him or his organization. "An apology would be nice - for making my wife cry," says Petit.

10.50 am

Because of Trump's golf project: Vietnam has the dead reburied

As reported by the Financial Times, the authorities in Hưng Yên in the Vietnamese province of the same name are reburying dead bodies that stand in the way of a golf project being pushed by Donald Trump. A five-star hotel, villas and a golf course are planned.

Farmers in northern Vietnam are dismantling a decades-old cemetery to make way for a $1.5bn golf course and luxury residential development by the Trump Organization and its local partners, a project seen as crucial for ties between Hanoi and Washington. ft.trib.al/YCZl74S

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— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) 29. Mai 2026 um 04:58

The construction site covers a good 10 square kilometers. The country's communist government is offering resettlement and compensation to the more than 4,000 affected households that have to make way, but there is resistance, writes the US newspaper.

"When they [initially] told us about the Gulf project, people were enthusiastic and supported the project for the development of the country," says banana farmer Nguyen Duc Theo. But he and others say they were offered "below market" prices of around 3 dollars per square meter.

In Vietnam, farmers are being evicted from their land to make way for a golf club linked to Trump, Reuters reports.

Locals are being offered compensation of $3,200 and rice. The project will affect thousands of farmers in Hung Yen province, home to fruit farms that are a primary… pic.twitter.com/94lisJscjZ

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 11, 2025

The disturbance of the peace of the dead is also causing anger: Hoang Anh Xa has five relatives buried in the cemetery that is to be demolished: "My great-grandparents' grave has been there since 1967, before this country was founded. So why should I rebury them?"

"It's a spiritual thing," adds Tran Minh Hai, a local farmer. "People don't want to disturb the graves." The construction project was supposed to be completed this year, but keeps getting delayed, according to the Financial Times.

April, Trump announces 46% tariff on Vietnam

2. In May, Eric Trump attends groundbreaking for new $1.5 billion Trump golf resort in Vietnam

3. In July, Vietnam becomes only the second country to reach a tariff deal, cutting its rate to 20% https://t.co/pedNMeS3Sp

— распад и неуважение (@VictorKvert2008) December 7, 2025

10.47 am

Only fit soldiers allowed to attend Trump's UFC spectacle

Strict rules apply to the planned UFC fight at the White House. Soldiers are only allowed to take part if they meet certain fitness criteria - and pay for their own trip to Washington.

We have summarized more about this here:

No heavyweights allowedOnly fit soldiers allowed to attend Trump's UFC spectacle

4.36 am

Mexico's president accuses USA of interference

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has accused the USA of interfering in her country's internal affairs. "And Mexico, let it be clear: we do not accept interference. We are a free, independent and sovereign country," Sheinbaum told supporters in the Mexican capital Mexico City at a rally to mark the second anniversary of her election victory.

The president explained that an agency of the US Department of Justice had requested the arrest of ten Mexicans for extradition. According to her, they include a governor, a mayor and a sitting senator. She did not give any names or further details. The president's statements could not be independently verified for the time being.

When it is determined from abroad who is guilty and who is not, or pressure is exerted on Mexican institutions, it is no longer a question of cooperation, but of interference, said Sheinbaum. "Mexico is nobody's piñata," she added. A piñata can be a figure that is usually hit with sticks by children until sweets fall out. The president called on her supporters to hold information events in public places in the coming weeks. These should provide information about the defense of national sovereignty.

The statements come at a time when the issue of foreign influence on elections in Mexico is being increasingly discussed. Only recently, parliament approved a constitutional reform supported by the ruling party Morena, which would allow elections to be annulled in the event of proven foreign interference. In Mexico, the two chambers of Congress will be re-elected in a year's time.

Monday, June 1, 2026, 4 a.m.

USA closes loophole for chip exports to China

The US government wants to close a loophole in the export restrictions for highly developed chips to China. The USA wants to use trade barriers to prevent China from catching up in the field of artificial intelligence. The restrictions apply not only to direct exports to China, but also to companies abroad that have their headquarters or parent company in China, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.

In the race to develop artificial intelligence, chips from US company Nvidia are irreplaceable. US President Donald Trump therefore imposed trade restrictions on Nvidia's best products in China. The new measure now points to a continued tough stance towards Beijing, despite Trump's recent efforts to maintain a harmonious relationship with China's head of state Xi Jinping.

Nvidia had recently tried to regain a foothold in the Chinese market. The company once did billions in business there until the disputes between Washington and Beijing brought business to a virtual standstill. For Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, relations with China are a matter of big money: company boss Jensen Huang put the total market volume in China at 50 billion dollars.

3.51 pm

White House stages ICE arrests as a fight against aliens

The US government under President Donald Trump is celebrating its radical deportation policy with a specially created website. "They walk among us", can be read on "aliens.gov", a subpage of the official White House website.

"They have shopped in the same stores, attended the same school classes as our children and lived seemingly normal human existences. With one exception - they don't belong here," it reads in continuous green text against a starry background. The alleged story of illegal immigration, as presented by the US government, is presented like a mixture of various science fiction adventures and alien thrillers: As a long-kept secret in which millions came "under the cover of darkness" and settled into society.

These "aliens" are not "little green men", but millions of illegals who have invaded the country, it continues. The people in question are also consistently referred to as "aliens", whereby the English term can also mean foreigner or stranger in addition to extraterrestrial.

1.19 pm

Due to musicians' cancellations: Trump wants to take center stage at US anniversary celebration

After several musicians canceled their planned performance at the US anniversary celebration, President Donald Trump sees himself and his Maga movement at the center of the festivities.

President Trump will personally open the historic celebrations for the 250th birthday of the USA "on Wednesday, June 24" in a ceremony, a spokeswoman for Trump's Freedom250 event initiative told various US media outlets at the weekend. Previously, Trump had announced somewhat confusingly on his online mouthpiece Truth Social that he was checking whether a rally "on Wednesday, Washington D.C., same time, same place" was feasible.

He understands if the musicians get nervous twitches in view of their planned performance, Trump wrote in the letter. He was thinking about bringing "the number one attraction in the whole world" on stage with a big speech instead of those "highly paid, third-rate "artists"": himself. Only great patriots are invited to this "wild and wonderful celebration of America".

Sunday, May 31, 2026, 6:35 a.m.

US military kills suspected drug smugglers at sea again

According to the US military, it has once again attacked a drug smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three men. According to intelligence services, the boat was traveling on a known drug trafficking route, explained the US Regional Command Southcom, which is responsible for the region, on Platform X. US forces were not harmed in the attack on Saturday. The information provided by the US military could not initially be independently verified.

On the orders of President Donald Trump, the US military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since last fall, allegedly to smuggle drugs into the USA. People are repeatedly killed in the process. There was a similar attack just last Friday, which also left three people dead.

Critics doubt that the deadly attacks in international waters are permissible under international law. The United States has a major drug problem for which it blames foreign smugglers.

20:22

US government backtracks on plans to make access to green cards more difficult

Following a wave of public outrage, the US government has watered down its plans to make access to the permanent residence permit known as the green card more difficult. The US Secretary of Homeland Security told the "New York Times" on Friday (local time) that the new regulation, according to which the green card can only be applied for from abroad, would ultimately not apply to all applicants. Instead, the rule will be applied "on a case-by-case basis".

"It merely served as a reminder for officials to make use of their discretionary powers," the ministry explained. Officials could decide whether to require applicants to leave the USA in order to submit their application.

Last week, the responsible immigration authority, the USCIS, stated that applicants must now apply for a green card from abroad in most cases and may not already be in the USA. Exceptions should only be made in "exceptional circumstances".

According to a report in the "Washington Post", the USA issues more than one million green cards every year. According to the report, more than half of the applicants were already in the USA when they applied.

USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler explained last week that non-immigrants such as students, temporary workers or tourists come to the USA for a short period of time and for a specific purpose - and should then leave the country again. "Their visit should not serve as the first step in the green card process."

Several human rights organizations and law firms had sharply criticized the planned measure. Democratic MP Chuy Garcia described it as "absurd and cruel". It "will force thousands of legal immigrants, including spouses of US citizens, to leave their homes, families and jobs for weeks or even months to obtain their green cards outside the United States," he said.

2:52 p.m.

US fires on another suspected drug boat - three dead

The US military says it has again shot down a boat suspected of being used by drug gangs. According to intelligence information, the vessel was used for drug trafficking and was traveling on a known drug smuggling route in the eastern Pacific, the US military's Southern Command (Southcom) announced on Platform X. Three men were killed in the attack on Friday, which the military described as "narco-terrorists". US forces were not harmed.

Since last fall, the US government under President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked boats suspected of being used by drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Washington cites the fact that drug cartels have been declared terrorist organizations by the US government as the legal basis for the attacks. Just a few days ago, there was an attack on a similar suspected drug smuggling boat in the region.

10.54 am

Trump's doctor certifies that he is in "excellent health"

US President Donald Trump continues to enjoy "excellent health" according to his annual physical examination. According to the summary of the medical check-up, which the White House published on the X platform on Friday evening (local time), Trump shows strong lung and heart function, neurological function and general physical condition.

Overall, the document is full of top results and values within the normal range. Trump's cardiovascular system corresponds to that of a person around 14 years younger, his personal physician Sean Barbabella attested to the president, who turns 80 on June 14. Trump himself had already raved about a "perfect" course after the examination at the military hospital in Washington a few days ago.

The document explained the conspicuous complaints that have repeatedly triggered speculation about the president's state of health: according to the document, the bruising found on his hands was caused by frequent handshakes in combination with aspirin, which Trump is recommended to take in low doses as a blood thinner. Slight swelling of the lower legs, on the other hand, had improved compared to last year.

Mention was also made of the scarring on his right ear as a result of the gunshot wound Trump sustained in the assassination attempt in the summer of 2024.

The examination also contains medical advice to Trump to exercise more and continue to lose weight.

6:42 a.m.

Top military representatives of the USA and Cuba meet at Guantánamo

A few days after media reports of a possible military escalation between the USA and Cuba, high-ranking generals from both countries held an unusual direct meeting. Both sides announced that the head of the responsible US regional command (Southcom), General Francis Donovan, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, met in the outdoor area of the US base at Guantánamo Bay on the socialist Caribbean island.

During the brief exchange with Legrá and other representatives of the Cuban armed forces, "operational security issues" were discussed, the US military announced on Platform X - without providing further details.

#SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan met with Army Corps General, Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, First Deputy Minister of the Chief of the General Staff, and other senior leaders from the Cuban military today at the perimeter of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a… pic.twitter.com/V4Fau3HxSo

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 29, 2026

In Havana, a short statement from the Ministry of Defense said that the "positive meeting" had taken place by mutual agreement. Both sides discussed relevant topics. It was agreed to maintain communication. Cuba did not provide further details on the content of the exchange.

6.39 a.m.

Another court examines Trump's controversial tax settlement

Another US court is scrutinizing the controversial out-of-court settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Trump has until June 12 to respond to serious allegations, including that of an alleged illegal agreement. This was ordered by a federal judge in Miami. She was responding to a request from 35 former judges who questioned the legality of the settlement.

The background to the settlement is that an employee of the US Internal Revenue Service is alleged to have disseminated Trump's tax data to "left-leaning media". Trump and his two eldest sons sued the Treasury Department and its subordinate tax authority (IRS) for 10 billion dollars in damages.

In mid-May, details of an out-of-court settlement became known: On the one hand, the IRS will refrain from retroactively auditing the Trumps' tax returns. Secondly, a fund worth almost 1.8 billion dollars is to be set up to compensate alleged victims of politically or ideologically motivated actions by the state. Critics see this as a form of corruption intended to benefit Trump loyalists.

The case is now before the judge who handled Trump's original lawsuit against the tax authorities. The case was actually closed due to the out-of-court settlement. In their motion, however, the judges are calling for the case to be reopened and for it to be clarified whether the settlement was fraudulent.

Just a few hours earlier, a judge in Virginia had ordered that no money may flow out of the compensation fund until further notice. With this stop, she wants to ensure that no money is irrevocably paid out via the fund until the case has been clarified.

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 6.25 a.m.

Trump: "No more interest" in Kennedy Center renovation

Following a defeat in court, US President Donald Trump no longer wants to stick to his renovation plans for the Kennedy Center in Washington. He announced on his Truth Social platform that he had "no interest" in continuing the project as long as he could not do as he pleased. He has ordered that responsibility for the cultural institution be transferred to Congress.

Shortly beforehand, a judge in the US capital Washington had ordered that Trump's name be removed from the façade of the famous cultural institution. In addition, the center may not be closed for two years in the summer for renovation work, at least for the time being, as planned by Trump, according to court documents.

"There has never been a president of the United States who has been treated as unfairly by the courts as I have," Trump said.

Trump brought the Kennedy Center under his control shortly after taking office just over a year ago and announced a fight against "anti-American propaganda" in the cultural world. He dismissed several members of the board of trustees, took over the chairmanship and instructed his confidant Richard Grenell to realign the institution.

10.12 pm

Judge: Trump's name illegally affixed to the Kennedy Center

A US judge has ruled that the display of US President Donald Trump's name on the Kennedy Center in Washington is illegal. The Kennedy Center's board of directors had exceeded its authority by having the name affixed to the building, Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on Friday. The US Congress had named the cultural institution after former President John F. Kennedy and only Congress had the right to change the name.

Cooper also rejected the US government's planned closure of the institution for renovation work. The Board of Supervisors' vote on March 16 to close the Kennedy Center disregarded legal obligations, Cooper ruled.

The Kennedy Center's public relations vice president, Roma Daravi, said in a reaction to the ruling that she was "confident that the court will uphold the Council's desire to honor President Trump's historic contributions to our nation's cultural center" on appeal.

The judge had held hearings in late April on various lawsuits against the planned renovation. Cooper ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty on Friday.

7:33 p.m.

Trump lashes out at former first lady Jill Biden

US President Donald Trump's disparaging insults and his remarks about his predecessor Joe Biden have become commonplace - but now his wife Jill Biden is also coming under Trump's scrutiny.

The background to this is an interview on CBS News in which the 74-year-old spoke about the legendary TV duel between presidential candidates Trump and Biden, in which the Democrat made a nervous impression. "I thought, oh my God, he's having a stroke, and it scared the hell out of me," she told the station. She didn't know what had happened that day, Biden said of her then 81-year-old husband. "I was scared because I had never seen Joe like that before or since."

Trump has now responded to her stroke statement in a post on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that Jill Biden did not rush to the stage to help her stricken husband "like any good wife would have done".

2.44 pm

Trump has attacked or threatened to attack 15 countries

One in 13 countries have been threatened with military attack or actually attacked by the commander-in-chief during Trump's first or second term, CNN writes.

Seven countries alone have been attacked by the US army since Trump moved into the White House for the second time: Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, with some attacks targeting individual groups deemed a threat to the US and others targeting the government of the country in question.

Trump has openly threatened military attacks or annexation against eight other countries or has explicitly not ruled them out when asked: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland (Denmark), Mexico, Panama and, a few days ago, Oman.

In his first term in office, Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction in a speech to the UN General Assembly - of course only if the US had no other choice to defend itself or its allies.

CNN has also calculated that one in eleven people live in a country that has been attacked or threatened by the USA under Trump.

Friday, May 29, 2026, 5:12 a.m.

USA classifies Brazilian drug gangs as terrorist groups

The US government has classified two Brazilian drug gangs as terrorist organizations. Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) are two of the country's most brutal criminal organizations and their influence extends into the USA, the State Department announced. "Together they command thousands of members and have organized brutal attacks on Brazilian police officers, public officials and civilians."

Primeiro Comando da Capital is considered Brazil's most powerful criminal organization and a key player in cocaine smuggling from the Andean countries. Comando Vermelho is also one of the country's largest criminal syndicates and is active in drug trafficking. Police operations against the gangs repeatedly result in a number of fatalities.

Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil. Their reach extends throughout our region and into our country.

Today, I designated these organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2026

Nevertheless, the Brazilian government wanted to prevent the groups from being classified as a terrorist organization because, according to Brazilian law, they do not pursue any political or ideological goals. The government led by head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva fears that a terror classification could give the USA a legal basis for tougher measures, including possible operations on Brazilian territory.

With this step, US President Donald Trump's administration is expanding its strategy of treating Latin American cartels and gangs as terrorist groups. Recently, several drug gangs have already been classified as foreign terrorist organizations, including Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, the Gulf Cartel from Mexico and Los Lobos and Los Choneros from Ecuador.

7:52 p.m.

Democrat Whitmer rules out US presidential candidacy

The governor of the US state of Michigan has ended speculation about a presidential candidacy in the 2028 election. Gretchen Whitmer said in an interview on Fox 2 Detroit on Thursday that she would not be part of the Democratic Party's expected large field of candidates. "I think there will be a strong group of people running for president. I'm not going to be one of them in 2028," Whitmer said.

15.18

EU exports to the USA fall by more than 30 percent

EU countries exported 30.4 percent fewer goods to the USA in the first quarter than in the same period last year. Nevertheless, the USA remained the EU's most important export destination, accounting for 18.6 percent of all exports - despite the tariff dispute, according to figures from the statistics office Eurostat.

According to the figures, the EU exported goods worth 119.4 billion euros to the USA between January and March of this year. With a share of 13.8 percent and exported goods worth 88.7 billion euros, the UK was the EU's second most important export partner after the USA. It was followed by Switzerland, China and Turkey.

A customs dispute has been simmering between the USA and the European Union for more than a year. US President Donald Trump threatened the EU with punitive tariffs. In order to avert a trade war, the EU agreed to a controversial customs agreement last summer.

It was only last week that EU representatives cleared the way for its full implementation.

3.08 pm

Rules for the election: Trump wins in court

A US federal judge has refused to temporarily stop an election decree by President Donald Trump. This clears the way for possible changes to postal voting and voter lists for the time being.

Federal judge Carl Nichols in Washington, who was appointed by Trump, rejected the application by Democrats and civil rights groups. The plaintiffs argued that Trump was overstepping his authority, as election rules in the USA are set by the states and Congress.

However, Nichols explained that the decree had not yet been implemented. It was therefore too early for an injunction. Trump issued the decree in March after a bill he supported to reform voting rights failed in Congress.

Among other things, it provides for a nationwide list of eligible voters. According to the decree, postal voting documents are only to be sent to people on this list.

Since his election defeat in 2020, Trump has claimed without evidence that postal votes are susceptible to fraud. However, several recounts and investigations, including Republican-led ones, found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

2 p.m.

Pam Bondi has cancer

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, CBS News reports. She received the diagnosis shortly after her release on April 2: The 60-year-old is now undergoing treatment, it continues. Bondi is scheduled to testify about the Epstein case before the House Oversight Committee tomorrow, Friday.

FBI agents were reportedly told to flag mentions of Trump in the Epstein files — even though Congress passed a law making it illegal to shield Trump, or anyone else. Pam Bondi will answer questions from Congress on May 29. Here’s what you should know. americanoversight.org/pam-bondi-ep...

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— American Oversight (@weareoversight.bsky.social) 26. Mai 2026 um 15:28

1 p.m.

Drawing for Epstein: Trump reopens lawsuit

The legal dispute between US President Donald Trump and the Wall Street Journal is entering the next round. After an initial defeat for Trump in court in April, the Republican filed a revised lawsuit against the newspaper's editors yesterday, as reported by the WSJ.

At the heart of the case is the publication of a congratulatory letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump claims to have been defamed by this. A few weeks ago, the lawsuit was provisionally dismissed by a district court in the US state of Florida.

Judge Darrin P. Gayles ruled that Trump had not been able to plausibly demonstrate that the newspaper had acted with "malicious intent" in publishing the letter to Epstein. Certain criteria were also "far from" being met.

Think the 'shooting' had anything to do with the Trump Epstein drawing not surfacing again? You know this one

[image or embed]

— Hypothetical Truth (@hypotruth.bsky.social) 26. April 2026 um 11:08

According to the revised complaint, the "Wall Street Journal" acted in bad faith on several points. It also points out that the US President has repeatedly denied involvement in the letter. In the lawsuit, Trump is demanding billions in damages, as he did previously.

In 2025, the US newspaper reported on an alleged letter of congratulations to Epstein on his 50th birthday in 2003, which bears Trump's name. The newspaper thus established a further link between Trump and the US financier.

In the letter with lewd content, the outline of a woman's body is said to have been drawn with a marker - the newspaper referred to documents it had seen. Trump denies being the author. The WSJ is part of the portfolio of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Trump has repeatedly taken legal action against media he dislikes. He recently sued the British broadcaster BBC for a total of ten billion US dollars. Trump has also filed several lawsuits against the New York Times.

Thursday, May 28, 2026, 4 a.m.

Jill Biden on TV duel: I thought Joe was having a stroke

The former First Lady of the USA, Jill Biden, worried about her husband's health during the TV duel between Joe Biden and the then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2024. "I thought, oh my God, he's having a stroke, and it scared the hell out of me," she said in a pre-released clip from CBS News' "Sunday Morning" program.

She didn't know what had been going on that day, Biden said of her then 81-year-old husband. "I was scared because I had never seen Joe like that before or since," the former first lady said.

Democrat Joe Biden was heavily criticized for his unsuccessful appearance in a TV duel with Trump in the summer of 2024. Even party colleagues suddenly began to more or less openly question whether Biden was still physically and mentally fit enough for another term in office. Just under a month after the TV duel, he finally announced his withdrawal. Vice President Kamala Harris then entered the race against Trump for the Democrats - and lost the election in November.

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