EU Parliament passes transatlantic trade deal – POLITICO

• The European Parliament has approved the toughest deportation policy in the history of the European Union. • Right-wing MEPs celebrated the decision with cheers of "send them back," sparking a heated confrontation within the chamber.

• The EU Parliament has passed new legislation to reform the bloc's deportation processes, which includes the establishment of dedicated "return hubs." • The move is seen as a significant victory for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose previous efforts to tighten migration rules were hindered by judicial challenges in Italy and the EU.

• The EU Pay Transparency Directive entered into force in May 2023, requiring all member states to implement compliant local legislation by June 7, 2026. • The directive aims to combat gender-based pay discrimination by introducing clearer, more practical reporting and transparency obligations for employers.

• Former EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier suggested that the UK could potentially rejoin the European Union under "special" terms. • This proposal comes roughly a decade after the UK's referendum decision to leave the bloc, highlighting a possible path for future reintegration.

• The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has launched a targeted crackdown on unemployment insurance fraud, signaling a shift toward stricter enforcement. • The initiative puts state governors on notice, emphasizing the need for more rigorous oversight and accountability in managing state unemployment funds.

• The author proposes expanding the U.S. House of Representatives beyond its current 435-member cap to better rein in the power of the presidency. • This proposal comes as the U.S. approaches the 2030 Census and the 100th anniversary of the law that established the current membership limit.

• The U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant Second Amendment ruling in the case of United States v. Hemani. • The decision addresses critical legal interpretations regarding firearm regulations and constitutional rights.

• The proposed "Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act" aims to prohibit members of Congress from betting on prediction markets concerning elections and policy outcomes. • A new Federal Reserve chairman recently held his first press conference, where he was characterized as knowledgeable, humble, and collegial.

• Singaporean man Andie Tan Kok Yong faces potential jail time for posting an edited image of Marina Bay Sands on fire to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook page. • The post included a mention of a "bomb," leading to charges of communicating a false threat and obstructing justice after Tan performed a factory reset on his phone.

• FIFA World Cup 2026 fans are gathering at Los Angeles Stadium for a series of high-profile international matches. • While Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina are scheduled to play, local excitement is peaking for tonight's matchup between Mexico and South Korea.

• European Union leaders are convening for a summit in Brussels on Thursday, notably excluding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the first time in 16 years. • Orban's absence follows a bruising election loss, which many EU leaders viewed as a rebuke of his combative relationship with the bloc and his close ties to Russia.

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of US military forces stationed in Europe on Thursday. • Hegseth criticized NATO allies for their limited involvement in the conflict with Iran, reinforcing the Trump administration's combative stance toward the alliance.