POK elections, PTI boycott:Imran Khan's PTI boycotts POK polls as protesters reject Pakistan's control - India Today

• The European Commission has officially confirmed that Hungarian intelligence officers operated out of Hungary’s Permanent Representation in Brussels to target Commission officials. • An internal document obtained by POLITICO substantiates these claims, contradicting previous denials from Viktor Orbán’s government, which had labeled the allegations as politically motivated.

• Robert Amsterdam argues that the European Union must apply the same democratic and rule-of-law standards to its foreign policy as it does to its own member states. • The author highlights how Brussels has previously withheld funding and launched legal proceedings against member states like Poland (Warsaw) and Hungary (Budapest) to protect democratic institutions.

• European Commission official Piotr Serafin has warned "frugal" EU member states that slashing the bloc's budget could hinder its ability to modernize. • The warning comes amid ongoing tensions between nations seeking tighter fiscal discipline and those advocating for increased investment to maintain global competitiveness.

• A survey conducted by Public First across 18 European nations reveals that most citizens believe their countries should rely on a collective European effort to maintain a military capable of fending off attacks. • Finland stands out as the only nation where a majority of respondents feel the country is currently ready to fight alone.

• The Supreme Court concluded its latest term with a series of rulings that reportedly sideline Congress and shift authority toward the judiciary and the presidency. • According to Axios, this trend transfers decision-making power regarding public health, employment, voting, and financial matters away from the legislative branch.

• President Trump is seeking to involve Congress following a series of mixed rulings from the Supreme Court. • Key judicial decisions include the removal of campaign spending limits for political parties and the affirmation that children born in the U.S. are citizens.

• The Supreme Court has shifted significant political power away from Congress and minority groups toward the presidency and the judiciary. • In the April 29 case *Louisiana v. Callais*, the court effectively dismantled key protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

• India and Japan have unveiled an ambitious roadmap to deepen maritime and defense cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region. • Key initiatives include increasing the frequency of naval exercises, collaborating on defense technology, and scheduling an early India-Japan 2+2 ministerial dialogue.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi met during the Japanese leader's visit to India to condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations. • The two nations signed a key Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing global cooperation.

• European leaders have rallied around Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after Donald Trump questioned Italy's reliability as an ally and criticized Meloni's attempts to gain his attention. • The incident highlights a growing trend where Trump's divisive rhetoric is inadvertently strengthening unity and cooperation among European nations.

• European justice authorities have launched a probe into France's far-right National Rally party regarding the alleged embezzlement of European Union funds. • As part of the investigation, a series of searches were conducted targeting the group, which includes former European Parliament member Jordan Bardella.