America

• Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike released a report on Tuesday, January 9, identifying China-backed hackers as the single greatest espionage threat to global technology companies. • The report, which tracked global cyber threats from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, notes that the tech sector is the primary target for state-sponsored spies and cybercriminals. • These actors are specifically targeting intellectual property and economic secrets, with a heightened focus on the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

• Latin America is experiencing a record surge in internal displacement driven by criminal violence, weak state governance, and the neglect of marginalized neighborhoods. • According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), families are being forced from their homes but remain trapped within their own national borders due to a lack of protection. • This crisis signifies a shift in territorial control, where criminal entities often govern areas and profit from fear, effectively rendering citizenship conditional for displaced populations.

• The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across North America, presenting teams with unique logistical challenges including extensive travel and extreme heat. • Commentators highlight the evolving global landscape of the sport, noting Japan's significant progression in player development and their impressive recent performance against England. • The Netherlands are identified as potential "dark horses" for the tournament, signaling a shift in competitive dynamics heading into the event.

• The White House has proposed a new rule that would grant political appointees greater control over the approval and funding of scientific research grants. • Critics argue the proposal threatens the U.S. scientific enterprise by undermining the longstanding peer review process used to allocate funding. • Experts warn this shift could stifle critical advancements in artificial intelligence, climate science, and the treatment of HIV, cancer, and rare diseases.

• Soccer consumption in the U.S. has undergone a dramatic transformation over several decades, evolving from a niche interest to a mainstream sport. • Growth has been fueled by increased internet speeds, social media accessibility, and more lucrative U.S. broadcast contracts for international leagues. • Global teams have expanded their domestic footprint through preseason tours, exemplified by a 2018 match between Manchester United and Liverpool that drew over 101,000 fans to Michigan Stadium.

• The AI competition between the US and China has shifted from a struggle over microchips to a strategic battle for top artificial intelligence talent. • Major US tech firms, including Apple, Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft, are facing challenges as tightening US immigration policies discourage foreign experts. • This policy shift is prompting brilliant Chinese scientists to leave Silicon Valley and return to Beijing, potentially transferring critical AI knowledge and visions.

• The European Union is launching a strategic plan to reduce its technological dependence on the United States by strengthening its own domestic tech sector. • The initiative focuses on expanding data center capacity, boosting semiconductor chip production, and incentivizing the use of local suppliers. • To accelerate growth, a draft bill proposes speeding up construction permits for data centers, ensuring reliable electricity, and allocating government funding.

• Europe is seeking increased regulatory control over global AI services, sparking a debate on technology protectionism between the EU and the United States. • The U.S. has cautioned Europe against these restrictive measures, citing historical failures like Brazil’s "market reserve policy" from the 1970s. • Brazil's previous "Brazil-first" approach attempted to shield domestic industry from foreign competition but ultimately hindered technological growth and innovation.

• The White House has proposed a new rule that would grant political appointees greater control over the approval and funding of scientific research grants. • Critics argue the proposal threatens the U.S. scientific enterprise by undermining the longstanding peer review process used to award grants. • This shift could restrict research into critical areas such as cancer, HIV, rare diseases, climate science, and artificial intelligence by prioritizing political agendas over scientific merit.

Trump, still negotiating to conclude the war, claims it’s already over. Some Republican lawmakers have had enoughDonald Trump has two things to say about his war with Iran. The first is that it’s already over. And second, a symbolic congressional vote to end it – carried by four members of his own party – is a stab in the back that could derail the peace talks he’s conducting for the war that’s already over.By a 215-208 margin on Wednesday, the US House of Representatives voted to direct the president to withdraw US forces from hostilities with Iran, the first time either chamber has passed such a measure in the little over three months since Operation Epic Fury began on 28 February. By Thursday morning, Trump was on Truth Social calling the vote “unpatriotic” and blaming it on “Trump Derangement Syndrome”. Continue reading...

Plan departs from policy of bringing CDC staff back to US for treatment and offering support to all health workersFormer top US officials and other experts are urging the Trump administration to abandon plans for an Ebola quarantine and treatment centre in Kenya, as the union for workers with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls for Americans exposed to Ebola to be brought home for treatment.Soon after the US revealed it was setting up a field hospital in Kenya for the Ebola quarantine and treatment of Americans, the Kenyan high court blocked the order – but the Kenyan and US governments moved forward anyway, with the first American responders reportedly landing at the Laikipia airbase on Saturday. Continue reading...

• A new national poll examining American sentiment ahead of the U.S. 250th birthday reveals a generational divide in patriotism and optimism. • Findings indicate that Gen Z expresses more optimism than Baby Boomers, despite feeling a weaker emotional attachment to the United States. • The survey highlights a general sense of national pride, with over half of respondents stating they are proud to be Americans and most preferring to live in the U.S. over any other country.

• America's National Laboratories are highlighting 75 years of scientific breakthroughs that have significantly improved millions of lives. • A key focus is the use of supercomputers capable of quadrillions of operations per second to model complex systems, including the U.S. nuclear deterrent. • These advanced simulations are critical because they allow researchers to study phenomena that are too expensive or impractical to demonstrate physically.

• A summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping took place, characterized by significant pageantry but lacking in substantive policy outcomes. • The event occurred amidst a shifting global landscape, featuring reported cracks in Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship and evolving tensions between major powers. • The author notes that while the meeting was light on substance, diplomatic pomp can sometimes facilitate concrete results that advance U.S. national interests.

Attacks reported in Kuwait – home to a US military base – and around the strait of Hormuz in latest exchange of fire as peace negotiations continueMiddle East live – latest updatesThe US said it struck Iranian military sites at the weekend and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Monday it had targeted a US base in response, the latest in a series of exchanges amid negotiations to end the three-month-old war.The strikes on Iran’s Gulf coast were in response to “aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a US MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters”, the US military’s central command (Centcom) said on X. Continue reading...

A difficult job market and rising costs are making it harder for young adults to enter adulthoodYoung people are already facing the worst entry-level job market since the start of the pandemic and significant economic instability.But overall economic conditions are making it more challenging for those just entering adulthood. More than eight in 10 young adults rate the economy as “bad” or “terrible”, according to a recent survey conducted with more than 1,000 18- to 34-year-olds around the US by Generation Lab, a research firm studying young people. While young adulthood is known as a time for establishing independence and responsibility, many are attempting to do so amid cuts to social safety net programs and the ever-increasing costs of basic needs like gas and groceries. Continue reading...

• Bank of America’s Bull & Bear Indicator rose to 8.5 from 8.0 on May 29, according to a market note, signaling a more bearish contrarian setup after the recent rally. • The move suggests investor sentiment is becoming more stretched even as U.S. equities hover near record territory and recession fears have eased. • This matters because sentiment gauges are often used by traders to judge whether the market is vulnerable to a pullback after a strong run.

Canada prime minister urges greater economic cooperation between the two countries in speech delivered in New YorkCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”.In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney said that there should be a “true partnership” that re-imagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition. Continue reading...

Some experts criticize White House approach and say not allowing Americans to return to US hurts treatment effortsThe Trump administration is building a quarantine and treatment center in Kenya for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak, instead of bringing them home.The White House on Wednesday confirmed that the US is setting up a facility in Kenya for Americans to quarantine after Ebola exposure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Continue reading...

• BTS won the prestigious Artist of the Year award at the American Music Awards, marking a significant achievement for the global K-pop group. • Other notable winners during the ceremony included Sabrina Carpenter, Katseye, and Golden, who is featured in the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. • This victory underscores the continued dominance and growing influence of K-pop within the mainstream American music industry.

Democrats allege that conservative groups may be propping up campaign of Maureen Galindo for House seatUS politics live – latest updatesA Democratic House candidate in Texas is facing bipartisan condemnation and accusations of antisemitism after she said she wanted to turn an immigration detention facility into a “prison for American Zionists” if elected – leaving Democrats scrambling to ostracize her from the party and alleging that conservative groups may be propping up her campaign.Maureen Galindo is running against Johnny Garcia in next week’s Democratic primary for Texas’ 35th congressional district, which covers parts of San Antonio and portions of the surrounding counties. The district was once solid blue and is currently represented by a Democrat, but the race remains highly competitive after being made much more favorable to the GOP following Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting efforts last summer. Continue reading...

New polling shows rising frustration with Trump’s agenda days after president said ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation’ amid Iran peace talksTwo-thirds of Americans believe Donald Trump is prioritizing his controversial immigration crackdown at the expense of their economic wellbeing, according to a new poll, in a stark warning for the US president about the unpopularity of his agenda.Amid growing discontent about the economic costs of his decision to go to war with Iran, 68% of respondents said Trump’s administration is too focused on mass deportations and not enough on affordability issues. Continue reading...

Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen and Joe Biden are among the names paying tribute to host of cancelled late-night showShare your favorite memories from The Late Show With Stephen ColbertCelebrities, politicians and New Yorkers have paid their respects to Stephen Colbert as the Late Show aired its final episode on Thursday.The long-running chatshow, which started back in 1993, was cancelled last year by CBS, purportedly because of a financial decision. But many believed it was a result of the network’s increasing closenesss with Donald Trump who Colbert regularly criticised. Continue reading...

• US Treasury yields have climbed to their highest levels in over a year, coinciding with a stock market rally that has pushed equities toward all-time highs. • While investors fear these opposing trends cannot coexist, the author argues that rising yields are a global phenomenon that will disproportionately harm the US's global peers. • Developed economies such as the UK, Germany, and Japan are facing slower growth due to energy and bond-market conditions without the significant AI spending tailwinds benefiting the US.

Suit says administration is impinging on rights to life and liberty by worsening planet-warming and toxic pollutionEighteen American youth are demanding that a court immediately halt the Trump administration’s repeal of the scientific finding underpinning virtually all US climate regulations.The plaintiffs sued the Trump administration in February days after officials revoked the 2009 endangerment finding, which found that greenhouse gas pollution threatens public health and welfare. Filed in the Washington DC circuit court of appeals Venner v EPA alleges that the move infringes upon rights guaranteed by the US constitution, including to religious freedom, life and liberty. Continue reading...

Health officials to take ‘proactive measures’ in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and UgandaSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailUS health authorities confirmed on Monday that an American has developed Ebola after being exposed during their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); officials also said that they are taking “proactive measures” to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda.Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Monday and said the individual was being evacuated to Germany. They developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, said Satish K Pillai, an incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response in a press conference. Continue reading...

After record losses last year, beekeepers report a warm winter has led to bees ‘waking up earlier’ this yearAfter a series of record-breaking US heatwaves, the 2026 bee swarm season in North America has started 17 days earlier than last year, pushing beekeepers to adapt to a rapidly shifting season while raising new questions about how honeybees are responding to the climate crisis.According to a new report published by Swarmed, a tracking network of more than 10,000 beekeepers, focused on safe and ethical honeybee relocation, this year’s unusually early swarm season follows several years of record colony declines worldwide. Continue reading...

• A survey by Rutgers University and partner institutions found Americans disapprove of Trump administration policies targeting science and medicine by a margin exceeding 2-to-1, reflecting broad public opposition. • The polling data indicates significant public concern about the administration's approach to scientific research funding and medical policy implementation. • The survey results underscore ongoing public health and science policy controversies during the current administration's tenure.