Drugmaker asks US Supreme Court to restore abortion pill access

A key manufacturer of the United States' most widely used abortion pill asked the Supreme Court on Saturday to restore access to the drug, a day after a lower court halted mail delivery of the medication.

Mifepristone, which prevents pregnancy progression, is used alongside misoprostol, which empties the uterus, in the majority of abortions in the United States. It is approved for use up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy.

Danco Laboratories, which manufactures mifepristone and is one of two companies distributing the drug in the United States, asked the top court to stay a Friday decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that temporarily blocked abortion providers from prescribing and shipping the drug nationwide.

The lower court ordered that women seeking abortions anywhere in the United States had to obtain mifepristone at a clinic, rather than by mail order or through a pharmacy.

That decision, "injects immediate confusion and upheaval into highly time-sensitive medical decisions," the drugmaker wrote in its filing with the Supreme Court.

"The resulting chaos for patients, providers, pharmacies, and the drug-regulatory system is a quintessential irreparable harm that underscores the need for emergency relief from this Court."

Mifepristone has been approved since 2000 and is also routinely used for managing early miscarriages.

Anti-abortion activists, however, have called the drug's safety into question, with some citing a study conducted by a conservative think tank that never underwent formal peer review.

In 2024, the Supreme Court rejected a bid to restrict the drug, ruling that anti-abortion groups and doctors calling for greater limits lacked legal standing to bring the case.

Since a 2022 Supreme Court decision that struck down a nationwide right to abortion, some 20 states have banned or restricted it.

Polls show a majority of Americans support legal access to abortion even as activists push to limit or ban it outright.

pnb/acb

NATO said on Saturday it was working with the United States to understand Washington's decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war.

The Pentagon's announcement of the troop withdrawal follows a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was "humiliating" Washington at the negotiating table. 

It also came as Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union would jump from 15 percent to 25 percent next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with a trade deal signed last summer.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany was expected "to be completed over the next six to twelve months."

NATO said Saturday it was "working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany."

"This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security," NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart wrote on X.

There were 36,436 active-duty US troops in NATO ally Germany as of December 31, 2025, compared to 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Saturday the US troop withdrawal "from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected."

- Republican concern -

The decision is being met with skepticism by top Republican lawmakers who oversee US military policy.

In a joint statement Saturday, Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, chairs of the Armed Services Committees in their respective chambers, warned that pulling troops from Germany risks "sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin."

Even though European allies are boosting defense spending, "translating that investment into the military capability needed to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence will take time," they said.

The duo noted that Germany had heeded Trump's calls for greater spending on defense and that it had allowed American planes to use German bases and airspace during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

- 'Why shouldn't I?' -

Trump has threatened to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his White House terms, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on Washington.

He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran's forces have effectively closed.

Trump said on Thursday he might pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war. 

"Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible," he told reporters.

"Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?" Trump said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Berlin was "prepared" for a reduction in US troops and "discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all NATO bodies."

However, Wadephul said large American bases in Germany are "not up for discussion at all" and cited the example of Ramstein Air Base, which he said has "an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike."

wd-pnb/acb

Arsenal stormed six points clear at the top of the Premier League as Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres put Fulham to the sword in a 3-0 win, while West Ham's defeat at Brentford offered Tottenham a lifeline in the battle for survival.

The Gunners have stumbled towards the finish line in their quest for a first league title in 22 years, blowing a sizeable lead over Manchester City in a series of nervous displays.

But the return of Saka, making his first start in six weeks, freed up Mikel Arteta's men in a dominant performance that shrugged off fears of fatigue in between two legs of a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

"We showed a lot of authority, determination and composure," said Arteta. "We got the crowd going and when this stadium creates that kind of atmosphere, it can be difficult."

Gyokeres also silenced his critics with two predatory finishes to take his tally to 21 in his first season since a £64 million ($87 million) move from Sporting Lisbon.

The Swede was perfectly positioned to tap in Saka's cross after just nine minutes to ease any Arsenal tension.

Riccardo Calafiori had a second goal ruled out by VAR for offside before Gyokeres and Saka combined again to double the home side's lead.

This time Gyokeres fed the England international, who blasted in at Bernd Leno's near post.

City can eradicate Arsenal's lead with two games in hand before the Gunners next play in the Premier League.

But goal difference could prove decisive in the destiny of the title.

Arsenal stretched their goal difference advantage to four when Gyokeres rose highest to head in Leandro Trossard's cross just before half-time.

Arteta was then able to look ahead to the second leg against Atletico, with the tie finely poised at 1-1, as Saka made way at half-time, before Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze were also rested for the closing stages.

Defeat was a major blow to Fulham's ambitions of European football next season as they remain in 10th.

- Spurs survival boost -

Brentford took control of the battle for sixth, which could be enough for Champions League qualification, by inflicting a damaging 3-0 defeat on West Ham.

Tottenham remain in the relegation zone, two points from safety, but can move out of the bottom three with victory at Aston Villa on Sunday after the Hammers succumbed to just their third defeat in 11 league games.

Konstantinos Mavropanos was unfortunate not to be awarded a free-kick as he turned the ball into his own net to open the scoring.

The Greek defender thought he had made amends moments later with a bullet header, but was ruled marginally offside by a VAR review.

Brentford had another call go in their favour early in the second half when Dango Ouattara won a penalty and Igor Thiago coolly converted his 22nd Premier League goal of the season.

Mikkel Damsgaard's strike rounded off a bad day for West Ham, who face Arsenal next weekend.

"It's a tough day for us," said West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo. "It's up to us now to react."

Newcastle eased any lingering fears of being drawn into the relegation battle with a 3-1 win over Brighton to end a five-game losing streak.

William Osula and Dan Burn scored in the opening 24 minutes as Newcastle edged up to 13th.

Jack Hinshelwood pulled a goal back, but defeat could prove costly to Brighton's European hopes as having started the weekend in sixth, they could end it outside the top half.

Harvey Barnes rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to bring some relief to the under-fire Eddie Howe.

"It's been a horrible feeling for us for a number of weeks," said Howe. "The attitude of the lads during this difficult run has been outstanding. We stayed together, trained well, and we got our reward today."

Sunderland's bid for Europe was also dented by a 1-1 draw at bottom-of-the-table Wolves after Dan Ballard was sent off in the first half for a hair pull.

kca/bsp/nf

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an interview broadcast on Saturday that banning some pro-Palestinian marches could be justified, especially when they call for the intifada to spread.

Labour leader Starmer is under pressure to act after a spate of antisemitic incidents, including this week, when two men were stabbed in the north London suburb of Golders Green, which is home to a large Jewish community.

A 45-year-old British national who was born in Somalia was remanded in custody when he made his first appearance in court on Friday accused of attempted murder.

Starmer visited the scene of the attacks and a Jewish volunteer ambulance service on Thursday and was booed by some locals, who accused him of not doing enough to protect them.

They also denounced pro-Palestinian activists holding marches in British cities, which began after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

The prime minister, a former human rights lawyer and chief public prosecutor whose wife is of Jewish origin, said many Jewish people had told them they were affected by "the repeat nature" of the protests.

"I'm a big defender of freedom of expression, peaceful protests," he told the BBC. "But when there are chants like 'globalise the intifada', that's completely off limits.

"Clearly, there should be tougher action in relation to that."

The intifada refers to the Palestinian civilian uprisings against Israel in 1987-1993 and the early 2000s.

Starmer said he wanted to police the language used on marches more strongly and that there were "instances" when some protests should be stopped altogether.

Discussions had been taking place with the police for some time about what further action could be taken, he added.

In December last year, police in London and the northwest city of Manchester said they would arrest anyone chanting "globalise the intifada".

The Jewish community in Britain views the chant as "very, very dangerous", said Starmer.

On Thursday, the UK increased its security alert level to "severe" -- the second highest -- in part because of the attack in Golders Green, as well as the threat from Islamist extremism and the far-right.

The police have said they would look closely at all calls about future protests.

cla/phz/jxb

World champion Lando Norris won Saturday's sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, leading home team-mate Oscar Piastri in a convincing 1-2 triumph that confirmed McLaren were back in top form.

The 26-year-old Briton finished the 19-lap race at Miami International Autodrome 3.766 seconds clear of Piastri with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finishing third ahead of George Russell of Mercedes and four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

Championship-leading Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest man to lead the title race in F1 history, finished sixth after being given a five-second penalty that cost him a place for exceeding track limits excessively. 

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh for Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, who took the final single point in eighth.

It was Norris's fourth sprint win and McLaren's second consecutive 1-2 in Miami, a triumph that team chief Andrea Stella dedicated to the memory of former F1 driver Alex Zanardi. The win also marked the first race this year not won by Mercedes.  

"Let's do it all again," said a confident Norris on team radio, adding, "It was a good race -– and nice to be back on the top step," after climbing from his car.

"A massive job by the team in bringing the upgrades -– I know everyone is saying the same thing, but ours have really helped.

"It was hot and sweaty out there and I tried to balance between pushing and not making mistakes."

Piastri said: "It was a good morning. Now let's see what we can do in qualifying."

Added Leclerc: "The upgrades worked well. I'm satisfied with that, but unfortunately not with P3. I wish we were a bit higher."

On a day of sizzling heat, the race was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Italian former F1 driver and Paralympic handcycling champion Alex Zanardi, who died Friday at 59.

Only 18 drivers formed the grid with Arvid Lindblad starting from the pit lane for Racing Bulls and Nico Hulkenberg absent after his Audi suffered a blazing engine failure on a pre-grid lap.

Norris made a clean start from pole, but Antonelli once again made a poor start and was passed by Piastri with Leclerc squeezing into third ahead of the Italian teenager, Russell and Hamilton, who fought past Verstappen for sixth.

The champion looked dominant in the early laps and eased 1.9 seconds clear of McLaren team-mate Piastri by lap five with Leclerc a further 1.6 adrift for Ferrari.

- Heat takes toll -

In a classic skirmish, Verstappen then lunged at Hamilton on Turn 11 and went off track as he took sixth place before being ordered to give the place back. He responded with a more routine pass at Turn 17 as Hamilton, like Leclerc, began to lose grip due to overheating tyres. 

For Ferrari, it was proving to be a disappointing race despite their extensive upgrades, as the high temperatures took a toll, while McLaren appeared to have gained decisively with their new package.

Mercedes, expecting to take their upgrades package to Canada at the end of May, were unable to match Norris and Piastri's pace, or match Leclerc, and the race settled into a high-speed procession with few real incidents.

One did break the sequence on the penultimate lap when Hadjar surged past Colapinto to take ninth and then defended stoutly, but he needed another pass to score a point.

str/js

The Puma was scratched from the 152nd Kentucky Derby due to leg swelling from a skin infection, leaving only 19 horses in Saturday's field at Churchill Downs.

Because the horse was pulled on the morning of the race, no substitute replaced him in the lineup, meaning the maximum 20 horses would not compete over the 1.25-mile distance in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Puma, trained by Gustavo Delgado, had been among the favorites at 8-1 and was set to depart from the ninth gate.

"We discovered some swelling in his leg due to a skin infection," Delgado's GDS Racing said in a statement. "It's incredibly disappointing but the swelling should go down within a day or two. It's just really bad timing."

The Derby is the first leg in US flat racing's Triple Crown, which continues with the Preakness in two weeks and the Belmont Stakes in June.

js/dmc

Audiobook giant Audible opened what it billed as the first "bookless bookstore" in New York on Friday as industry statistics show more American consumers embracing the format.

There is no rustle of pages or stacks of best-selling novels at the pop-up store opened by the Amazon subsidiary on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

"This is a physical place entirely dedicated to bringing audio storytelling to life," Audible CEO Bob Carrigan said during a press tour of the "Audible Story House" on Thursday.

It was a slightly "wild idea" which "took quite a bit of imagination," Carrigan said, adding that the month-long pop-up aims to "bring audiobooks to life in this environment where you can browse, you can connect with people."

According to the Audio Publishers Association (APA), audiobook sales reached $2.22 billion in the United States in 2024, nearly doubling over the past five years.

In the store, audiobook tablets called "story tiles" line the shelves, ready to be inserted into a player for listening through headphones.

Each tile plays a short excerpt and the full title can be accessed on the Audible app.

The platform, which dominates the audiobook market, offers paid subscriptions, individual purchases and free access to some titles for Amazon account holders.

The venue also has a room lined with speakers for headphone-free listening, as well as a "Listening Bar" where "Story Tenders" will "guide attendees in finding the perfect audiobook for their tastes and interest," according to the press release.

The space aims to reflect the fast-growing popularity of the format as well as the "shift toward offline experiences and real-world connection."

"Audible Story House taps into the nostalgia and community feel of book culture while bringing it fully into the present," the company said.

tu/ega/aks/hol

Two activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla, arrested off the coast of Greece, have been brought to Israel for questioning, a move Spain has condemned as "illegal".

The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking an Israeli blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory. 

They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists -- two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning.

Organisers accused Israel of "kidnapping" 211 people.

On the social media platform X, Israel's foreign ministry identified the pair as Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian national, saying were taken to Israel "for questioning by law enforcement authorities".

But Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares denounced the detention of Abu Keshek as "illegal", saying it would further stain deteriorating bilateral ties.

"This is an illegal detention in international waters, outside any jurisdiction of the Israeli authorities, meaning Saif Abu Keshek must be released immediately so he can return to Spain," Albares told Rac1 radio.

"This episode further strains our relationship... because this situation is unacceptable, a state should not behave in this manner."

- Worsening ties -

Ties between Israel and Spain have nosedived since the Gaza war sparked by the October 2023 cross-border attacks by Palestinian group Hamas, with Israel angered by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's criticism of its bombardment of the Palestinian territory. 

Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors.

Israel's foreign ministry said the two activists were affiliated with an organisation that was sanctioned by the US Treasury.

That group -- the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) -- has been accused by Washington of "clandestinely acting on behalf of" Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Treasury said the organisation had played a role in organising other Gaza-bound flotillas aimed at breaking Israel's blockade.

Israel's foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA, and that Avila was also linked to the organisation and "suspected of illegal activity".

Albares rejected the allegation, saying: "The information I myself have requested indicates that no link can be established between Saif Abu Keshek and Hamas".

Avila was among the organisers of a flotilla that tried to bring aid to Gaza last year that was also intercepted by Israeli forces.

- Activists 'beaten' -

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza and the territory has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Throughout the Gaza war, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the Palestinian territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely.

Organisers of the latest flotilla said the Israeli interception took place more than 1,000 kilometres from Gaza and their equipment was smashed, leaving them facing a "calculated death trap at sea".

Dozens of intercepted activists disembarked on Friday at the Greek island of Crete, according to an AFP journalist.

Organisers published photos on X showing two activists with bruises on their faces. One participant said in distributed footage that Israeli forces had "beaten" them "several times".

Israeli rights group Adalah said its lawyers had met the two detained activists at Shikma Prison in Ashkelon.

Avila told the lawyers he had been "subjected to extreme brutality" when the vessels were seized, adding that he was "dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice".

Since arriving in Israel, he said he had been "kept in isolation and blindfolded," according to Adalah.

Abu Keshek was also "hand-tied and blindfolded ... and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure" until reaching Israel, the group said.

Both have "declared a hunger strike, though they are continuing to drink water," it added.

The Global Sumud Flotilla's first Mediterranean voyage to Gaza in the summer and autumn of 2025 drew worldwide attention, before Israeli forces intercepted the boats off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza in early October.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled by Israeli forces.

burs-jd/hmw/dc

Around 20,000 partygoers gathered on Saturday for an illegal rave at a military site in France, defying warnings about the risk of possible explosions from old ordnance.

Thumping techno music echoed across a vast firing range near the central French town of Bourges as revellers -- many dressed in brightly coloured outfits, others shirtless -- assembled for the unauthorised event, known as a "free party", which began on Friday.

Behind them, tents and vans stretched across the grassy field.

Organisers expected as many as 30,000 people from France and neighbouring countries to arrive at the peak of the event this weekend.

The get-together comes as French parliament is seeking to tighten legislation against unauthorised rave parties, introducing prison sentences for organisers and fines for attendees.

"Despite its illegal nature, the government has mobilised to ensure the safety of this event and limit any disturbances," the prefecture said.

Philippe Le Moing Surzur, the local prefect, said the site was "extremely dangerous due to the unexploded ordnance it may contain".

While modern shells posed no threat, he warned of the risk from older unexploded ordnance dating back to World War II.

- Old artillery shells -

He said that even the France's Directorate General of Armaments, which owns the land, did not have precise knowledge of the risks.

"This is a site that has been in use for 150 years, and we know there are potentially old artillery shells there," he said, adding that bomb disposal experts discover them regularly.

The firing range covers 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) and is crisscrossed by roads that are closed during tests but open to the public at other times.

Signs prohibit access to the range itself, but it is not fenced.

The organisers have urged attendees to refrain from lighting fires, digging or picking up any objects.

The prefect said some 2,000 cars arrived unannounced on Thursday night.

"It's unmanageable when you don't know in advance," he said.

To prepare for any eventuality, authorities designated helicopter landing zones, he said.

"This is clearly the only solution, since I don't have the means to forcibly remove 20,000 people from this site."

Emergency services treated 12 people with minor injuries Saturday morning.

The prefect said one person was struck by a vehicle, and a number of the injured people cut themselves while handling sharp shrapnel.

Revellers see the giant party not only as a chance to unwind, but also as a protest against the rave-curbing legislation.

"It's a way of showing that participants are mobilised and will keep coming, whatever happens, and will continue to challenge these laws," a member of the Tekno Anti Rep collective told AFP.

- 'Message against repression' -

A free party is usually an illegal form of rave rooted in anti-establishment culture.

They are held without permission in remote locations, and admission is free or by donation.

"I had heard there were going to be a lot of people, but once you're there, it's still a shock to see so many people gathered in one place," a 22-year-old man said on condition of anonymity.

Another partygoer, 19, also anonymous, said the turnout was "a strong message against repression".

Around 600 police and 45 firefighters have been deployed at the site.

"We're getting ready for a big get-together tonight," said Edith Raquin, the mayor of Cornusse, a village of 220 people located less than two kilometres (about one mile) from the site. 

She said that revellers came across as "peaceful people" and some elderly residents were "delighted" to talk with them.

"They are polite, they say hello," Raquin said. 

bur-ban-as/rmb

(The Center Square) – Many farm-focused organizations say they support a GOP-led legislative package on agriculture that narrowly passed through the U.S. House.

The Illinois Farm Bureau has urged the U.S. Senate to get to work on passing the Food, Farm and National Security Act of 2026, commonly referred to as the "Farm Bill." It would reauthorize many agricultural programs under the USDA through 2031, if passed by the Senate.

While containing a swath of different measures, the legislation was backed by many lawmakers and agricultural groups seeking to address rising costs, growing economic concerns, and other difficulties farmers face across the country.

Rebecca Barnett, director of national legislation for the bureau, said the previous 2018 policy is now outdated, and new measures – such as raising the cap on loans farmers can receive through some USDA loan programs – will help Illinois farmers who are struggling with rising operating costs.

“I would say 98% of all [Illinois] farmers are family owned farms. It will help all of those folks, just kind of with helping manage risk. That's the key with the farm bill, especially given weather disasters, high supply cost,” Barnett said.

Kevin Johnson, a farmer and director of government relations for Illinois Soybean Growers, highlighted crop research funding and higher caps on USDA loans. He also said adjustments to how the government values crops will benefit farmers who use crop insurance.

“The crop insurance part is the most important to me and our farmers. As long as we have a good strong commodity title, we can weather a lot of this stuff. Doesn't mean we're going to make money every year if it's low. But crop insurance lets you least sleep at night,” Johnson said.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, IL-13, sits on the House Agricultural Committee and has repeatedly voiced opposition to the bill, including in March, when she said the final version of the bill does not address issues farmers and rural Americans face.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, IL-02, also voted against the bill, despite having some of her own ideas included.

“Republicans jammed through a Farm Bill that steals food from the mouths of children, ignores rising grocery costs, and does not protect farmers from President Trump’s tariffs,” Kelly said in a statement.

Funding cuts, eligibility changes and new work requirements for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, approved by Congress last July largely began taking effect Friday. Nearly 2 million Illinoisans are enrolled in the program, also known as food stamps, according to state data.

The narrow vote in the House was just one hurdle the farm bill must pass, and it is likely to face more scrutiny when it is taken up in the Senate, according to Johnson.

“This is a step of many at the end of the day. This is not across the finish line yet because again, we’ve still got to go to the Senate,” Johnson said.

The last time a new Farm Bill became law was in 2018, which expired in 2023. Johnson said short-term extensions have been the only thing keeping farmers afloat.

Barnett said the Senate needs to work on the bill, or there could be financial harm for farmers.

“Without action to pass a new farm bill, I think family farms and families risk losing access to critical programs ranging from conservation to rural development, to research, to energy. There's just so much in the bill that we'd risk losing,” Barnett said.