Campaign

Coffee chain faced backlash over marketing promotion tied to anniversary of Gwangju massacreSouth Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign accused of trivialising the country’s 1980s pro-democracy movement.Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. No further details were released, although South Korean media reported that officers also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives. Continue reading...

• Leading European media outlets have launched a campaign of critical coverage targeting the US technology company Palantir. • Separately, the head of the Kiev regime attributed recent developments to delayed supplies or a lack of willingness to provide interceptors. • Robinder Sachdev noted that the administration of US President Donald Trump is following a new strategic doctrine.

Dogs Trust points to hundreds of incidents over recent years, some involving deaths of pets or peopleWith its gentle rippling water, tall purple flowers and rustling trees, Earlswood Lakes near Solihull in the West Midlands seems the perfect spot for dogs to paddle. But their owners have been warned that the otherwise idyllic open water could prove perilous to pets.“We’ve had all this hot weather and millions of families are now spending time around open bodies of water, and it’s easy to not realise the dangers,” said Emma-Jane Thomas, rehoming manager at Dogs Trust Kenilworth during a walk around Earlswood. Continue reading...

Luciana Berger says Joshua Bonehill-Paine should have no role in public life because of ‘his racism and his view of women’A former MP has urged the Tory leader to drop an election candidate who was previously jailed for a campaign of antisemitic abuse against her.Kemi Badenoch on Tuesday defended the Conservative party’s selection of Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi, insisting she believes in “second chances”. Continue reading...

• BTS has announced they will boycott the 69th Grammy Awards by refusing to submit their music for consideration for the 2027 ceremony. • Recording Academy advisor Zeena Koda, who helped create the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, accused the group of treating the situation as a "press campaign" that undermines efforts for Asian representation. • The conflict highlights ongoing tensions between the K-pop supergroup and the Recording Academy regarding recognition and the impact of the new category.

Activists in the region say politicians regard LGBTQ+ people as ‘the easiest scapegoats to maintain their power’A growing number of west African countries are implementing or strengthening anti-LGBTQ+ laws, amid local political pressures and a global pushback against LGBTQ+ rights.In March, Senegal doubled the maximum prison sentence for gay sex to 10 years and criminalised the “promotion” of homosexuality. Niger criminalised “sexual relations with a person of the same sex” in February, the first time same-sex intimacy had been outlawed in the country. Continue reading...

• Political parties in Negeri Sembilan have intensified their campaign efforts in the final hours leading up to the state elections scheduled for tomorrow. • The surge in activity specifically targets undecided voters and aims to maximize voter turnout across the state. • These final maneuvers are critical as parties vie for a decisive majority in a highly competitive electoral environment.

Forty hectares of Oaken Wood could be razed after it was identified as potential site of expansion by Reform-run councilIt was at the confluence of seven forest paths that Allison Sweetman came to a stop. Trees rose on all sides, save for a recently coppiced section to the north-east. The noon heat had silenced most birds, but the quiet was peaceful.“This is what they call Seven Wents,” she said. For centuries, the people of Kent had travelled this way, from East Malling to Barming, from Ditton to Teston, for church, commerce and friends. “It’s on maps going back 400 years.” Continue reading...

• Sports betting firms have launched a $72 million political influence campaign in the United States to shape industry regulations. • The spending is primarily aimed at fighting predatory tax rates and establishing "regulatory moats" to protect market share. • This strategy prioritizes corporate growth and regulatory stability over the implementation of responsible gaming laws.

President also blames Brazil and Mexico and says online critics ‘do not want the ideas of freedom to succeed’More than a week has passed since Ferran Torres scored the extra-time goal that gave Spain its second World Cup title, but – at least for Argentina’s president – the tournament is not over.Javier Milei has claimed that a coordinated “anti-Argentina campaign” was behind criticism of the country’s team, accusations of racism among its fans and conspiracy theories alleging that Lionel Messi’s side was secretly being favoured by Fifa. Continue reading...

• With only 99 days remaining until the November 3 midterm elections, Democrats and Republicans are finalizing their core campaign strategies to mobilize voters. • Democrats are focusing their messaging on economic affordability and the cost of living to attract a broad coalition of voters. • Republicans are leaning into the popularity and influence of Donald Trump to drive turnout and support their candidates.

Appointment of three ministerial aides is first time members of Labour’s most leftwing faction have held government positionsAndy Burnham has appointed three new ministerial aides from Labour’s most leftwing faction, the first time members of the Socialist Campaign Group have been part of the government.The new chief whip, Anneliese Midgley, has also promised MPs that the government will beef up the role of ministerial aides – known as parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) – who traditionally go under the radar, allowing them to do more media appearances, take on parliamentary roles and contribute more directly to policy direction. Continue reading...

Astronauts for America liken effort to instill trust and faith back in constitution’s principles and democratic institutions to ‘making a course correction’Orbiting 250 miles above the US in the international space station, astronaut Cady Coleman did not look down and see red or blue states, sanctuary cities or communities occupied by thousands of federal immigration enforcement agents in camouflage uniforms and automatic weapons.What she saw was a single land, from Pacific to Atlantic, no borders or partitions, just a united America, and a population valuing its equality while convinced that what brought them together was far greater than anything that divided them. Continue reading...

• World No. 12 PV Sindhu was eliminated from the China Open 2026 after a hard-fought round of 16 loss to world No. 4 Chen Yufei, falling 16-21, 22-20, 21-18. • Sindhu narrowly missed the quarter-finals after squandering four match points, marking a reversal from her victory over Chen in the Japan Open semi-finals the previous week. • India's overall campaign at the BWF Super 1000 tournament concluded following additional second-round defeats for men's singles players Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty.

• The author warns that a coordinated campaign to obstruct the 2026 midterm elections is already underway, moving beyond traditional political campaigning. • The strategy allegedly involves arresting messengers, intimidating dissenters, restricting voter access, and disputing official vote counts. • This shift is significant because it suggests a move toward systemic election interference rather than a standard democratic contest between candidates.

Government’s food security push is said to rely on animal feed imports with vulnerability to supply chain shocksThe government’s planned poultry sector growth plan is a risk to national security, campaigners have warned.Earlier this month, the environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, told the Groundswell agriculture festival that the key to improving food security was consuming more homegrown produce, and said this was why the government had set up the Farming and Food Partnership Board, whose members include industry leaders such as the president of the National Farmers’ Union and the chief executive of the Food & Drink Federation. Continue reading...

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...

• 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.

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...

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...