Against

• A growing political movement targeting "woke" ideology is threatening the stability and funding of scientific research across the United States. • Critics argue that ideological interference in academia and government agencies risks compromising objective data and driving skilled researchers out of the country. • This shift matters because it could stifle innovation in critical fields like medicine and climate science, impacting public health and safety for all communities.

• The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that permits election officials to count mail-in ballots received up to five days after Election Day, provided they are postmarked by the deadline. • The ruling sides against GOP challenges that sought to invalidate such grace periods for ballot arrivals. • This decision is significant as it preserves the legality of extended receipt windows, ensuring that voters whose ballots are delayed by mail services are not disenfranchised.

• A growing market for "anti-AI" startups is emerging as demand rises for tools that can detect deepfakes, synthetic content, and automated bots. • Spanish firm Acoru secured €10 million in Series A funding to develop anti-money laundering compliance tools, while Milan-based IdentifAI raised €5 million from United Ventures. • IdentifAI has partnered with Finnish cybersecurity vendor F-Secure to integrate synthetic media detection into consumer digital protection products.

• South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo is facing intense public backlash and death threats following the team's failure to advance to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • The elimination from the tournament in North and Central America has sparked widespread outrage among fans, leading to a surge in targeted harassment against the coach. • Local police have responded to the situation to address the severity of the threats and ensure the safety of the coaching staff.

• US Republican Senator Thom Tillis issued a warning on Sunday that persistent attacks on the integrity of US elections threaten to undermine public confidence in American democracy. • In addition to his warnings on election rhetoric, Tillis renewed his criticisms directed at Director of National Intelligence Bill Burns. • The Senator's comments highlight a growing internal tension within the Republican party regarding the balance between election skepticism and the stability of democratic institutions.

As extreme weather events become more common, economists say government will need to take more active role to protect consumersAnyone attempting to notch up a productive day’s work in the searing heat of southern England this last week was left in little doubt about the impact of extreme weather.But the economic effects of the climate crisis for the UK are not confined to the many hours lost to quietly perspiring – or fetching kids dismissed early from scorching classrooms. Continue reading...

Strikes come after retaliatory attacks on Friday following a drone strike on cargo ship in strait of HormuzThe US has struck multiple targets in Iran after strikes on Friday that were in response to a drone strike on a cargo ship a day earlier in the strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (Centcom) has confirmed.Centcom said its strikes on Saturday were in “direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping”. The US strikes targeted “Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities”, Centcom said in a statement. Continue reading...

• The German Federal Criminal Police recorded 486 offences against media and journalists in 2025, highlighting a persistent trend of violence against press freedom. • Right-wing offenders were responsible for 150 of these crimes, while those linked to "foreign ideology" accounted for the largest share of violent offences. • Left-wing offenders were identified as the primary perpetrators in cases involving bodily harm.

• The EUR/USD pair is trading slightly higher on Friday, though the Euro remains on track for its second consecutive weekly loss. • The US Dollar's decline is being limited by a combination of geopolitical instability in the Middle East and a hawkish outlook from the Federal Reserve. • This trend highlights the market's current sensitivity to safe-haven assets and expectations regarding US interest rate trajectories.

• France defeated Norway 4-1 in a Group I match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, held at the Boston Stadium on Saturday, June 27. • Ousmane Dembélé led the victory by scoring a hat-trick during the first half of the game. • The result puts "Les Bleus" in a strong position within their group as they advance through the tournament.

Jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were deadlocked A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles, after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict.Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked. Continue reading...

Tate and his brother argued CPS acted unlawfully by not telling them the names before they return to UKA high court judge has thrown out Andrew and Tristan Tate’s attempt to bring a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service after it did not disclose the names of their alleged victims in UK criminal proceedings.The pair are facing legal proceedings in Romania, where they live, but will be extradited to the UK upon their conclusion to face a combined 21 charges, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Continue reading...

Recent rulings have bolstered president’s pitiless campaign against people of colour fleeing violence and disasterIn the US supreme court, it seems Donald Trump has found loyalists in his crusade against immigration and immigrants.In a pair of rulings Thursday, the court allowed the Trump administration to end humanitarian protections that have granted people from Haiti and Syria the right to live and work legally in the US for more than a decade, and cleared way for the government to turn away asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border by physically blocking them from setting foot on US soil. And on Tuesday, the court granted border officials broad discretion to deport lawful permanent residents or green card holders. Continue reading...

• The U.S. men's national team has won its first two World Cup matches, marking the first time the team has achieved consecutive wins in the tournament since 1930. • The U.S. has scored six goals across these games, falling just one short of the team's all-time World Cup scoring record. • Switzerland has officially secured a spot in the knockout phase, continuing a streak of seven consecutive major tournament appearances.

• A judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's "anti-weaponization" fund, maintaining legal pressure on the initiative. • The ruling increases scrutiny on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who faces pressure to dismantle the fund before his confirmation hearing next month. • Representative Jamie Raskin and House Democrats are pushing for the "No Carte Blanche Act," a bill designed to permanently block the fund's financing.

• Intelligence agencies from the Five Eyes alliance are warning that AI is drastically accelerating the speed and scale of cyberattacks against American infrastructure. • AI systems can now automate reconnaissance, malware development, and social-engineering campaigns simultaneously, significantly shrinking the window for detection and response. • Experts warn that any industry handling sensitive data is a primary target, as traditional cybersecurity timelines—which once allowed months or years to address vulnerabilities—are no longer applicable.

• Head coach Hong Myung-bo has named the starting lineup for South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. • Striker Oh Hyun-kyu and Hwang Hee-chan will start the match, while star players Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung have been placed on the bench. • The game takes place on June 25 at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, and is described as a decisive encounter for the team's group stage standing.

Hastie tells colleagues home affairs minister did not disclose the threats made against him, but he has been targeted online for his views on Ben Roberts-SmithFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie is set to receive extra security in what he believes is a response to a One Nation-fuelled campaign against him, including over his stance on the Ben Roberts-Smith war crimes allegations.At a partyroom meeting on Tuesday, Hastie told colleagues that the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, had advised him that he had been identified for security measures at his home and electorate office. Continue reading...

Chief secretary to the prime minister is backed by MPs who point to his ‘economic and national security experience’UK politics live – latest updatesDarren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, is being urged by MPs to run against Andy Burnham to spark a Labour leadership contest and avoid a “coronation”.The MP for Bristol North West is understood to be reluctant to run but sources said he would look at Burnham’s economic plans first, including plans for public control of utilities. Continue reading...

• ABC's 'The View' aired a new commercial featuring the late Barbara Walters to encourage viewers to take action against the FCC. • The advertisement urges the audience to "use your voice" as the network navigates ongoing legal drama involving the federal regulator. • This move signals a public escalation in the conflict between the network and the FCC, leveraging Walters' legacy to mobilize viewers.

Federal judge rules subpoenas linked to immigration crackdown ‘issued for unlawful reasons’US politics live – latest updatesA federal judge agreed to quash the US federal government’s subpoenas of leaders in Minnesota issued during the Trump administration’s controversial immigration crackdown on the state earlier this year.The US Department of Justice issued subpoenas to the Minnesota governor, Tim Walz, the attorney general, Keith Ellison, the Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frey, and other local officials in the Twin Cities in January. Continue reading...

• The British Pound fell to 1.32 against the US Dollar, marking a 1.65% decline over five days following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. • Starmer's departure follows intensifying internal dissent and policy reversals, exacerbated by Andy Burnham's recent parliamentary seat win, which may trigger a formal leadership challenge. • This political turmoil, combined with a strengthening US Dollar, has significantly pressured the GBP and shaken public confidence in the government.

• Four San Francisco Giants players recently defaced or refused to wear official Pride Night hats during a team event. • The players stated that the action was planned for several weeks and denied that they were victims of discrimination. • The incident highlights a conflict between team-mandated social initiatives and individual player beliefs or expressions.

• Germany is preparing for a high-intensity match against a "speedy" Ivory Coast side in their upcoming World Cup fixture. • Germany enters the game with strong momentum after a dominant 7-1 victory over tournament debutants Curacao in their opening match. • Ivory Coast also secured a win in their first game, defeating Ecuador 1-0 with a late goal.

Stand Up for Science founder says proposal to control how grants are spent would ‘dismantle US science ecosystem’While waiting to board her flight home at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport recently, Colette Delawalla was reviewing a list of possible impacts from a proposed Trump administration rule on controlling federal money, including grants for research.Delawalla, the founder of the group Stand Up for Science, had just completed a three-day visit to Capitol Hill, where she met one by one with more than 30 members of Congress, part of a full-court press the organization has launched in recent weeks, sounding the alarm on the office of management and budget (OMB) proposal. Continue reading...

Prime minister suggests he will not ‘walk away’ despite Burnham’s comfortable victory in Makerfield byelectionUK politics – live updatesHow quickly could Burnham become PM?Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, adding he will not “walk away”.The prime minister’s comments follow Burnham’s victory with 55% of the vote in Makerfield. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that people had “voted for change, they have voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster”. Continue reading...

• Germany will face Ivory Coast this Saturday in a World Cup match, marking their first significant test of the tournament. • The primary threat is Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, a teenager who joined RB Leipzig in July 2025 after a stint with Leganes in Spain. • Diomande has rapidly become a top European transfer target after recording 12 goals and eight assists during his debut Bundesliga season.

Two payments of $50m will boost Ukraine’s air defence and munitions supply. Follow today’s news live• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.Jim Chalmers has defended the government’s changes to its controversial capital gains tax reforms and rejected claims it amounted to a backflip forced by business interests. More follows soon. Continue reading...