App store age verification, THC’s impact, new energy drink: Catch up on the day’s stories

Morgan Severson, CNN

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Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day:

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Safety first: Texas is the latest state to pass a law requiring Google and Apple to verify app store users’ ages. It’s part of a broader push to better protect kids online, but critics say the verification rules could pose privacy risks and be difficult to enforce.

Sweaty months ahead: In the summertime, Athens is Europe’s hottest destination — in terms of temperature and popularity. The city is expected to host a record 10 million visitors this year, which could strain efforts to protect unprepared tourists from the heat and to support locals facing inflation and infrastructure pressure.

Blunt facts: Using THC-laced edibles and smoking marijuana are both linked to early signs of cardiovascular disease, a new study found. A senior author says it’s the first to look at the impact the drug has on vascular function in humans.

Fighting back: US and European authorities just announced major progress in countering cybercrime. The US Justice Department seized the computer system hackers allegedly used to access Lumma, a software tool they are accused of applying to attack airlines, universities, banks, hospitals and state governments.

Something’s brewing: Beer sales have been declining for the past several years, so what does Anheuser-Busch do? Hop into the energy drink market by teaming up with controversial UFC boss Dana White.

Watch this

Buzzworthy: Starting today, 243 students will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee under new rules for the lightning-round tiebreaker. CNN spoke with Faizan Zaki, who came in second place last year after time ran out during the round.

Top headlines

• Trump was just asked about the ‘TACO trade’ for the first time. He called it the ‘nastiest question’
• Trump says he’ll give it two weeks to determine if Putin is serious about Ukraine peace
• Nick Kroll ‘produced’ John Mulaney’s intervention because he was ‘deeply scared’ Mulaney was going to die

$3,500

That’s how much a financial expert predicts an iPhone could cost if it were manufactured in the US due to tariffs.

Check this out

Doll brawl: Distributor Pop Mart has halted sales of Labubus — a palm-sized plush toy with sharp teeth — in all its UK stores after reports of long lines, crowd surges and fights.

Sports spotlight

17-year-old superstar: After having a historic 2024 season, Lamine Yamal signed a contract extension with FC Barcelona until the end of the 2030–31 season. According to Spanish media, the teenager is set to become one of the club’s highest earners.

Quiz time

A Texas woman is suing the state for not awarding her $83.5 million that she won from a lottery ticket. Why hasn’t she been paid?
A. She is a convicted felon
B. She has unpaid speeding tickets
C. She bought the ticket on an app
D. She moved out of state
Scroll down for the answer.

Good vibes

Touch over tech: Technology is impacting the interactions between patients and doctors, but to Abraham Verghese — Harvard’s commencement speaker this week — the most important innovation in medicine is “the power of the human hand to touch, to comfort, to diagnose, and to bring about treatment.”

Thanks for reading

We’ll see you tomorrow.
 Quiz answer: C. The woman bought the ticket on the app Jackpocket, a lottery courier service, in February but Texas banned the service this month.
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5 Things PM is produced by CNN’s Chris Good, Meghan Pryce, Kimberly Richardson and Daniel Wine.

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