Texas, Florida seek to join legal challenge to abortion pill
Texas and Florida have asked a federal judge to join a lawsuit challenging the FDA’s easing of restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone. They argue Missouri, Kansas and Idaho can no longer adequately represent Republican states, as abortion bans in those states face legal setbacks, Reuters reported.
The case disputes FDA decisions allowing telehealth prescriptions, mail delivery, and use of the drug up to 10 weeks. Texas and Florida say they must protect their laws against states with “shield laws” enabling mail-order access.
The lawsuit, launched under President Joe Biden, is being continued under President Donald Trump, according to Reuters.
South Korea fires warning shots at North Korean troops crossing border
South Korea has confirmed firing warning shots after North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the military demarcation line in the Demilitarised Zone before retreating. Pyongyang condemned the move as a “deliberate provocation,” warning of “uncontrollable” tensions, according to BBC.
The incident occurred as President Lee Jae Myung departed for visits to Tokyo and Washington, and amid North Korea’s efforts to seal its border. Despite Seoul’s suspension of propaganda broadcasts to ease hostilities, relations remain strained. The two Koreas, divided since the 1953 armistice, are still technically at war.
New Jersey under state of emergency for Hurricane Erin
The US state of New Jersey has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Erin threatens to cause coastal flooding, rip currents and gale-force gusts along the Atlantic coasts of the US and Canada, BBC reported.
Early on Friday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stressed that conditions still posed a threat to life - even as the storm continued to drift away from North America.
The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is weakening and will soon lose its status, before bringing rain to the UK next week.
In the meantime, a storm surge up to a metre (3ft) in height is possible in US states such as Rhode Island and Virginia, as well as Canada's Atlantic coast, according to BBC.
Royal Mail and DHL halt US deliveries over tariffs
Postal services around the world are pausing deliveries to the US over confusion around new import taxes that must be paid on parcels from the end of the month, BBC reported.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month ending the global import tax exemption on low-value parcels, which takes effect from 29 August.
While gifts worth less than $100 will remain duty-free, the changes mean all other packages will face the same tariff rate as other goods from their country of origin.
Postal services, including Royal Mail and Germany's DHL, said they would suspend deliveries until they had proper systems in place to deal with the new rules, according to BBC.
