Commission

• The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is facing a collapse of its bipartisan, independent civil enforcement capabilities due to increasing presidential control. • The president has utilized executive orders to claim final authority over agency legal interpretations, potentially allowing for the rigging of rules to favor one political party. • This shift threatens the FEC's traditional role as the primary body for campaign finance enforcement, which includes negotiating civil settlements and referring criminal violations to the Department of Justice.

Watchdog criticises ‘lack of proactive, effective casework quality assurance’ but says CCRC ultimately fit for purposeThe Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) must urgently improve its investigations to avoid a repeat of failings such as those in the Andrew Malkinson scandal, a watchdog has found.Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, delivered the warning after carrying out an independent inspection of casework by the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice. Continue reading...

The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion is hearing evidence about hateful speech in the online environmentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVile, threatening abuse is being levelled at witnesses to the antisemitism inquiry, while a Labor MP says attacks on his partner are heightened because they are stacked with misogyny.Meanwhile, data analysis has shown how quickly factual reports are transformed into conspiracy theories online, and that while there was a spike in antisemitism after the Bondi terror attack, there was a “huge spike” in anti-Muslim hate. Continue reading...

Founder of Maternity Safety Alliance says recommendation in Amos report will not solve wider cultural problemsThe appointment of a national maternity commissioner would be “fundamentally dangerous”, a bereaved mother who founded a maternity safety campaign group has warned.Emily Barley, whose daughter Beatrice died because of failings at Barnsley hospital in 2022, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the recommendation for a maternity commissioner in England in the Amos review was “not going to do what we need to move maternity safety forwards”.Maternity triage services – the childbirth equivalent of A&E – need an urgent overhaul, including more staff on duty, so that women’s concerns are acted on more quickly.Families should get the right to seek a fresh, independent investigation when things go wrong if they are not happy with the hospital’s own inquiry.The NHS’s “brutal” and “cruel” system of agreeing compensation with harmed and bereaved families should be replaced by a new process in which hospitals admit errors immediately.The NHS must root out racism and discrimination that is “embedded throughout the maternity and neonatal system”. Continue reading...

Amos review sets out recommendations for government, but falls short on systemic racism and traumatic birthsEngland to get powerful maternity commissioner after ‘shocking’ failingsThe findings of Lady Amos’ review into maternity and neonatal services across England, which state the system is ultimately no longer fit for purpose, are unsurprising. The systemic failures and inadequacies of these services have been uncovered in several reports already, including Donna Ockenden’s review of the “toxic” Nottingham NHS trust published last week.But what this report does offer are a set of recommendations for the government to implement. Amos states that if they were to be delivered in full then “the overall safety and quality of maternity and neonatal care in England will be materially and sustainably improved”. But how far do these recommendations go, and what will it take for them to be implemented? Continue reading...

Health secretary announces move after Amos review finds childbirth and neonatal care in need of ‘urgent reform’Analysis: Transparency, standards and a new commissioner – but does maternity review go far enough?A powerful maternity commissioner will be appointed to push through an urgent transformation of childbirth care in England after a major review concluded that it had multiple failings.Ministers have bowed to growing pressure by agreeing to recruit the UK’s first commissioner for maternity and neonatal care. Whoever takes on the role will pursue hospitals over persistent failures in care, ensure wide-ranging improvements are made and try to restore the faith of families in a maternity system in England that has been rocked by a series of scandals.Maternity triage services – the childbirth equivalent of A&E – need an urgent overhaul, including more staff on duty, so that women’s concerns are acted on more quickly.Families should get the right to seek a fresh, independent investigation when things go wrong if they are not happy with the hospital’s own inquiry.The NHS’s “brutal” and “cruel” system of agreeing compensation with harmed and bereaved families should be replaced by a new process in which hospitals admit errors immediately.The NHS must root out racism and discrimination that is “embedded throughout the maternity and neonatal system”. Continue reading...

• The election campaign for Johor's state seats has officially begun following the filing of nomination papers on Saturday. • A total of 172 candidates will compete for all 56 available state seats in Malaysia's southern state. • Candidates now enter a two-week intensive campaign period to secure voter support ahead of the official polling date.

• A royal commission has identified social media as the "most significant vector" for the spread of antisemitism. • In separate diplomatic developments, Australia and Vanuatu have officially signed a new security pact to strengthen regional ties. • The Reserve Bank of Australia's Deputy Governor stated that bond market support provided during the pandemic likely offered only a "marginal" benefit.

Bondi attack inquiry broadcasters will be called as commission focuses on traditional and social mediaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRepresentatives from the ABC and SBS will be called as witnesses to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, after complaints were made to the inquiry about their coverage of the Middle East.On Monday, counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC said some submissions to the royal commission – established after the Bondi terror attack – are “highly critical” of the public broadcasters’ reporting on the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission in New York to mark the body's 20th anniversary. • Guterres warned that the world is currently experiencing more conflicts than at any time since the Second World War, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and deepening inequalities. • He highlighted that intensifying climate shocks and the rapid advancement of unregulated new technologies are further destabilizing global security.

• The European Commission has released a tax simplification package featuring proposals for the direct taxation Omnibus and a Recast of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC). • The Omnibus Proposal specifically updates the Tax Merger Directive's scope and definitions to align with the previously introduced Mobility Directive. • This move is significant as it integrates tax measures into cross-border restructuring operations, addressing a gap left by the original Mobility Directive.

• President Lee Jae Myung called for a thorough investigation into the National Election Commission on the 23rd, specifically citing budget waste and hiring irregularities. • Lee emphasized that because the Commission is a constitutionally independent body, the government lacks the authority to intervene in its management or control. • The move follows a rebuke from the National Assembly's special committee on state affairs, which questioned whether the Commission was engaging in collective misconduct.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the mutual interest between the EU and US in ensuring Europe has access to the best AI models while maintaining safety and responsibility. • The discussion occurred during a recent meeting with G7 leaders and tech companies to coordinate the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. • These comments follow a US government order forcing Anthropic to disable its most advanced models, including "Mythos," for foreign nationals due to security concerns.

Progressive Jewish group calls for more focus on the threat from the far right and the recognition of a diversity of views within the communityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFar-right extremism and the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel are the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) says.In its submission to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, the liberal Jewish group calls for more focus on the “often overlooked” threat from the far right, and recognition of the diversity of views within the Jewish community instead of the “tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel”. Continue reading...

Four states file alongside FTC, claiming WPath made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minorsThe Federal Trade Commission and four states sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Wednesday, in the latest push by Donald Trump’s administration and others to limit gender-affirming care for transgender minors.The suit alleges the group, known widely as WPath, made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited off the claims. Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas filed along with the FTC. Continue reading...

• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk announced that investigators will probe potential breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law by all parties involved in the Lebanon conflict. • The escalation, featuring Hezbollah attacks and an extensive Israeli air and ground campaign, has resulted in over 3,660 deaths and the displacement of more than one million people. • This conflict opens a new front in the Middle East, intensifying fears of a wider regional war and creating a severe humanitarian crisis.

• The FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, bringing together the world's top footballers for a month of competitive matches. • EU Commissioner for Sports Glenn Micallef provided an exclusive interview to Euronews to discuss the European Union's perspective on the tournament. • This edition of the World Cup is noted for being one of the most politically charged in history, raising significant diplomatic and social questions.

• The European Commission has introduced new tech sovereignty laws targeting the cloud, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor sectors. • These legislative measures aim to reduce the European Union's dependence on foreign technology providers and bolster the growth of domestic industries. • This move reflects a broader global trend toward technological nationalism, paralleled by Beijing's recent multibillion-dollar funding efforts to scale national AI champions like DeepSeek.

• The European Commission has announced a strategic plan to strengthen Europe's tech sovereignty and establish the region as a global leader in artificial intelligence. • The initiative focuses on increasing digital self-reliance by enhancing capacities in semiconductors, AI, cloud computing, and open-source technologies. • This move is designed to protect Europe's digital independence and accelerate the research, development, and adoption of AI across the continent.

Donna Jones writes to PM regarding ‘national tragedy’ of Henry Nowak murder in Southampton last DecemberUK politics live – latest updatesThe police and crime commissioner for Hampshire is leading calls for a review of religious exemptions on the carrying of knives after the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by a man carrying a “Sikh dagger” in Southampton.Donna Jones described the stabbing of university student Nowak as a “national tragedy” and said she was writing to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, about the issue. Continue reading...

Unions had demanded a 6% pay increase for those on minimum wage after war in the Middle East pushed inflation higherFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNearly 3 million workers will receive a 4.75% pay rise, while about 100,000 of the country’s lowest paid will receive a higher 6% increase, after the Fair Work Commission handed down its annual minimum wage decision.Announcing the 4.75% decision on Tuesday morning applicable to the roughly 2.8 million workers on award wages, the Fair Work Commission’s president, Justice Adam Hatcher, announced that the lowest ongoing wage rate for employees would climb from nearly $24.95 an hour, to $26.44 – a lift of just under 6%. Continue reading...

• On May 27, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of India’s authority to conduct Special Intensive Revisions of electoral rolls to ensure voter list accuracy. • The ruling reinforces that citizenship is the fundamental basis for voting rights, aiming to prevent non-citizens and illegal immigrants from participating in elections. • This decision is significant as it validates the Commission's power to remove ineligible names, thereby tackling illegal immigration through administrative scrutiny.

• The Supreme Court has upheld the Election Commission of India's (ECI) authority to conduct special intensive voter revisions to verify citizenship and eligibility. • The ruling specifies that the ECI may remove ineligible names to maintain accurate electoral rolls, but must re-include individuals once their citizenship is confirmed. • This decision is significant for residents of Bihar, as those whose names were erroneously deleted due to absence or routine applications maintain the right to seek judicial review.

• The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional and legal validity of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. • The ruling follows extensive court arguments where the judiciary decided in favor of the Election Commission on all major issues raised. • This decision is significant as it affirms the Commission's authority to conduct intensive voter list revisions to ensure electoral integrity.

• The Supreme Court of India ruled that the Election Commission's (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is constitutional and falls within the poll body's legal powers. • The court determined that the SIR does not conflict with the Representation of the People (RP) Act or the 1960 EC Rules, citing Section 21(3) of the RP Act and Article 324 of the Constitution as the legal basis. • This decision matters as it affirms the EC's authority to conduct such exercises to ensure the constitutional imperative of holding free and fair elections.

• The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday to uphold the Election Commission's authority to carry out the S.I.R. exercise. • This judicial decision serves as a significant legal setback for opposition parties who had challenged the commission's power. • The ruling is critical as it reinforces the Election Commission's regulatory control over electoral processes and administrative exercises.

• A group led by a Catholic bishop launched a fact-finding Truth Commission on Wednesday to document witness accounts of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. • The body aims to gather evidence and details of the bloody crackdown to assist the government in prosecuting responsible law enforcers. • Commission member Raquel Fortun, a forensic pathologist from the University of the Philippines, warned that establishing facts years after the killings will be a difficult task.

• Multisectoral groups launched the Philippine Truth and Reconciliation Commission on May 27, 2026, at Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong City. • Led by chairperson and former ICC judge Raul Pangalangan, the commission aims to verify and preserve the testimonies of victims and survivors of former President Duterte’s war on drugs. • This initiative is critical for seeking justice and documenting human rights abuses that occurred during the drug war killings.