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Anti fossil-fuel groups are urging Andy Burnham to rule out new drilling, which they say will not shave a penny off billsMore people can fit on to the top deck of a standard London bus than will be directly employed on the new Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, industry documents show.Only 27 direct full-time jobs would be created by Jackdaw, one of the biggest gasfields remaining in the North Sea, according to an environmental impact assessment filed publicly by its owner, Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor. Continue reading...

Internal safety review at Australian National University found encampment had ‘high’ psychosocial risk ratingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian National University’s acting provost has denied the university “lost control” of its campus to a pro-Palestine encampment, revealing an internal safety review found the encampment had a “high” psychosocial risk rating.Prof Joan Leach appeared before the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Thursday, which is examining the lived experiences of Jewish students and academics, including the response of universities. Continue reading...

• The Socialist Women's Union of Korea, affiliated with the ruling Workers' Party, concluded its Eighth Congress in Pyongyang on July 15 after a five-year hiatus. • During the two-day event, the organization revised its internal rules, reviewed the work of the Seventh Central Committee, and reelected Jon Hyang-sun as chair. • The congress focused on pledging a stronger ideological campaign to align the nation's women with the state's political goals.

• Russian Ministry of Defense recruitment efforts are reportedly failing to keep pace with rising casualty rates resulting from costly military advances in Ukraine. • On July 13, 2026, ten nations—including the UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine—signed a joint declaration in Paris to establish the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition. • This new coalition aims to accelerate the production of anti-ballistic air defense systems to bolster regional security.

• The Supreme Court recently issued a ruling lifting restrictions on the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with individual candidates. • Harvard Law Professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos suggests the ruling is unlikely to cause systemic changes but may allow wealthy donors to bypass existing individual giving limits. • This decision follows a trend of loosening campaign finance regulations, including the landmark 2010 Citizens United case which removed donation limits for corporations and unions.

• External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar unveiled India's campaign for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), promoting a "Shanti" vision for global peace and security. • Jaishankar emphasized India's commitment to an equitable world order and its role as a development partner, highlighting active Indian-funded projects across 79 countries. • The initiative aims to amplify the priorities and concerns of the Global South while advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve ongoing global conflicts.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has officially launched India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term. • During the launch, Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss critical global developments, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. • The bid emphasizes the need for global equity and peace, positioning India as a stabilizing force amid geopolitical shifts and tensions involving Gaza and Iran.

• The EU and Britain have imposed sanctions on Russian intelligence officers linked to a major cyberspying campaign aimed at destabilizing the European Union. • The move follows warnings from Poland, Norway, Denmark, and Latvia regarding Russian attacks on critical infrastructure across Europe. • A key example includes a cyberattack on a Swedish heating plant last year, which Sweden attributed to a pro-Russian group tied to Russian security services.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss critical global conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and West Asia. • During the meeting, India officially launched its campaign to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term. • The campaign emphasizes India's commitment to "Shanti" (peace) and diplomacy, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance that the current era should be defined by dialogue rather than war.

US secretary of state claims the global tribunal is interfering with US military and law enforcement operationsMarco Rubio, the US secretary of state, launched a campaign to dismantle the International criminal court (ICC) on Monday, claiming that the global tribunal was interfering with US military and law enforcement operations at the risk of American sovereignty.Rubio invoked images of US Border Patrol agents and elected leaders being “dragged before an international court” and tried by judges from around the world in a lengthy op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal Monday. Continue reading...

• The European Union and Britain have imposed sanctions on Russian military intelligence officers, hackers, and private companies involved in a major cyberspying campaign. • The move follows a Swedish report from April identifying a pro-Russian group linked to security services as the culprit behind a cyberattack on a heating plant last year. • These sanctions respond to growing warnings from Poland, Norway, Denmark, and Latvia regarding Russian attacks on critical infrastructure across Europe.

Woman dies after her home is swept away as heavy rainfall batters parts of state, forcing rescues and evacuationsA woman was found dead in Missouri on Saturday after heavy rainfall battered parts of the state the previous day, forcing numerous emergency rescues and evacuations, including at a summer camp with more than 200 children.The body of Faith Gregory, who went missing in Missouri’s Crawford county after her home was swept away from its foundation, was found by volunteers late Saturday morning. Her body was discovered about 1.8 miles (3km) downstream from her residence in Huzzah creek, according to the county sheriff’s office. Continue reading...

Another 20 people were rescued from a campground after a building collapsed due to heavy rain and floodingHeavy rainfall and widespread flooding battered parts of Missouri on Friday, forcing the helicopter evacuations of more than 200 children and staff from a summer camp and the rescues of about 20 people who had moved to safety on a campground building that then collapsed.With nearby roads washed away and more rain in the forecast, the children were trapped at Camp Taum Sauk in the small south-eastern community of Lesterville, according Sgt Eddie Young of the state’s highway patrol. The army national guard used Black Hawk helicopters to fly them to a nearby elementary school and reunite them with their families, he said. Continue reading...

In triggering an entirely optional byelection, Nigel Farage has given opponents weeks to repeat the claims about his financesTo some, Nigel Farage appears to be in a trap of his own making, fighting for re-election in single combat with a giant bin before potentially having to do it all again against the other political parties. But inside Reform UK, the mood is upbeat. As one insider said of the prospect of a double byelection: “Bring it on.”This is not just braggadocio. Farage is an enthusiastic and highly skilled campaigner, and is clearly relishing the idea of going to his electorate with a “Clacton versus the establishment” message, although doing so twice within weeks might test even his commitment – especially when the Reform UK leader is forced to argue that the establishment is embodied by an anthropomorphised bin. Continue reading...

Versatile Essex-born hitmaker known for Rhinestone Cowboy, It Only Takes a Minute and many more had been living with Alzheimer’s diseaseBrian Potter, one of the most versatile and successful British producers and songwriters of his generation, has died aged 87. He had been living with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, his daughter told Billboard.Working with American songwriting partner Dennis Lambert, the Essex-born Potter was behind an astounding array of 1970s hits spanning pop, soul, soft rock, country and beyond. The best-known include Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy, a US No 1 in 1975; It Only Takes a Minute, a barnstorming disco hit for Tavares and later Take That; Player’s super-smooth Baby Come Back, another US No 1; and Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got), one of the biggest hits for soul-poppers the Four Tops. Continue reading...

Democratic marines veteran and oyster farmer has been dogged by controversy since entering contest last yearWoman accuses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assaultGraham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following a sexual assault allegation.Platner announced his decision in a video posted to social media on Wednesday evening. Continue reading...

Met confirms inquiry after elections watchdog referred allegations that donations in 2024 were from foreign sourcePolice have launched an investigation into £37,500 of donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog.The Metropolitan police confirmed on Wednesday they were undertaking an inquiry after the Guardian revealed in April that they were assessing the evidence about donations to Jenrick, who has since joined Reform UK. Continue reading...

France’s far-right leader plans to take part in 2027 vote after court of appeal upholds her conviction for embezzlementThe French far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign on Wednesday, after a decision by a court of appeal shortened her ban on running for office, allowing her to take part in the 2027 vote.Le Pen said voters would decide her future. Continue reading...

• The ACLU and ACLU Foundation have launched the “Firewall for Freedom” campaign, marking the organization's largest-ever electoral investment for a midterm cycle. • Working with 54 affiliates, the initiative aims to defeat ballot measures that seek to overturn reproductive freedom and voting rights. • The campaign focuses on protecting state courts from politicized judicial selections to ensure the legal system remains independent.

Ron DeSantis’s Stop Woke Act suffers another legal setback, with the state accused of ‘puppeteering’Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA federal appeals panel struck down a significant chunk of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s so-called Stop Woke Act on Tuesday, delivering another rebuff to the Republican’s efforts to stifle free speech in higher education.In a scathing order, judges of the 11th circuit court of appeal said by a 2-1 majority that the higher education component of the law – which prevented college and university professors teaching or sharing thoughts on concepts of race and gender – breached the free expression rights guaranteed under the US constitution’s first amendment. Continue reading...

Supporters hope to stop 17th-century Villa Europa passing into private hands after Wolfgang Porsche unexpectedly put it on marketAustrian cultural figures have launched a campaign to buy a villa once home to the writer Stefan Zweig after its owner, the automotive magnate Wolfgang Porsche, unexpectedly put it on the market following a row over his plans to build a private tunnel for his car collection.Zweig, the Austrian Jewish writer whose novels inspired the Wes Anderson film The Grand Budapest Hotel, lived in the 17th-century property until 1934 when he was driven out of Salzburg by the Austro-fascist regime and his family was forced to sell it at a rock-bottom price. Continue reading...

Lawmaker’s exit gives voters choice between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and centrist Haley Stevens in must-win seatMallory McMorrow, a Michigan Democrat, has dropped out of a contentious US Senate primary campaign, setting up a straight fight between the party’s progressive and establishment wings – represented by Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, and Haley Stevens, a congresswoman.McMorrow’s retreat marks the end of a center-left bid to hold the seat being vacated this year by the Democrat Gary Peters. The three-way primary contest was a close one earlier in the campaign, but polls indicated that McMorrow’s support had plunged in recent weeks, as El-Sayed raced past her and Stevens to emerge as the frontrunner for the party’s nomination. Continue reading...

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman from July 5-10 to meet with regional leadership and diplomatic counterparts. • The primary objective of the tour is to strengthen bilateral relations and officially launch India's campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 tenure. • This diplomatic push is critical for India as it seeks greater global influence and a permanent or recurring role in international security governance.

• Thailand is launching an aggressive tourism campaign for the second half of the year to sustain rising international arrivals and strengthen both long-haul and short-haul markets. • The strategy focuses on key Asian markets, utilizing digital campaigns in China, aviation expansion in India, and promoting cross-border travel for visitors from Malaysia. • To ensure regional leadership despite volatility, the initiative targets high-frequency connectivity in Taiwan and Hong Kong while treating the Philippines and Myanmar as emerging growth markets.

• European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated in an interview with Les Echos that it is "possible" she may resign before her term ends. • The potential early exit is intended to allow Lagarde to play a role in France's 2027 presidential election, emphasizing that a "European voice" needs to be heard in the debate. • This move is significant as it suggests a high-profile shift from monetary policy leadership back into French domestic politics.

• The Supreme Court recently issued rulings on mail-in ballots and campaign spending, with the latter potentially having a more significant impact on the 2026 midterm elections. • Following the Watson decision, Donald Trump used Truth Social to urge Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would restrict mail-in voting and require ballots to be received by Election Day. • While the SAVE America Act is unlikely to pass, a new U.S. Postal Service proposal could allow the agency to refuse the distribution of ballots in states that deny the federal government access to voter rolls.

Anti-abortion policies may have appeal, but with one in three Australian churchgoers born overseas, talk of a monoculture may put them offGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce addressed anti-abortion campaigners at a Sydney rally in early June, the former deputy prime minister told the audience he could see “about 1,500 people who can hand out how to vote cards”.Christian leaders spoke at the rally. The Lord’s Prayer was recited. Many there were active churchgoers. Continue reading...

• Russia allegedly conducted a drone campaign across Europe between 2024 and 2026, utilizing "shadow ships" to launch aircraft that monitored military sites and tested NATO air defenses. • A report detailed 144 suspected drone sightings in nations including Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the U.K., and Denmark. • The activity peaked in late 2025, causing temporary closures of airports in Germany, Spain, and Denmark, with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen calling it the most serious attack on the country's critical infrastructure.