Concern

• European stock markets have paused their recent rally, reflecting investor hesitation across the region. • The stagnation is driven by lingering concerns regarding the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory and the stability of the Iran peace deal. • This shift matters as it signals a period of volatility and caution for investors who had previously been optimistic about market growth.

Spokesperson says president has ‘proudly made the US the crypto capital of the world’Sign up for US breaking news alerts emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The White House said that Donald Trump has “proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world” after the president recorded around $1.2bn in income from his family’s cryptocurrency activities.The US supreme court upheld the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship, affirming that nearly all people born on US soil are American citizens and rejecting a central pillar of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said this order violated the 14th amendment of the US constitution. More here.Meanwhile, the court upheld laws in two conservative states excluding transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in a far-reaching ruling likely to pave the way for similar bans throughout the US and handing Trump a key “culture war” victory. More here.The supreme court will consider whether bans on AR-15 rifles and similar semiautomatic firearms are constitutional. The justices said on Tuesday they will hear appeals challenging bans in Connecticut and the Chicago area in the next term. The high court’s announcement comes on the heels of two recent victories for second amendment attorneys and advocates. More here.Trump announced that Republicans will stage their first ever national convention ahead of the midterm elections, a move aimed at energizing voters as the party fights to hold its narrow congressional majorities in November. The two-day gathering will take place in Dallas on 9 and 10 September, marking a break from the longstanding tradition of holding national conventions only during presidential election years. More here. Continue reading...

• On June 28, 2026, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) issued a warning regarding significant threats to global economic prosperity. • The organization specifically identified the potential bursting of the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and persistent inflationary pressures as primary risks. • These warnings matter as they signal instability in high-growth tech sectors and a volatile macroeconomic environment that could impact global markets.

Simon Dubbins to announce he has secured required number of nominations to challenge Sharon GrahamSharon Graham, the leader of the UK’s second biggest union, Unite, is to face a challenge as general secretary over claims the union is not doing enough to challenge the rise of Reform UK.Simon Dubbins, who started out as a print worker and has been an international director with the union since 2008, will announce on Tuesday that he has secured the required number of nominations to mount a challenge. Continue reading...

• Microsoft has experienced its worst monthly stock performance since 2000, driven by investor anxiety over artificial intelligence spending. • The market downturn has resulted in a massive loss of $570 billion in market capitalization for the tech giant. • This decline highlights growing concerns among shareholders regarding whether the high costs of AI infrastructure will yield sufficient financial returns.

• Microsoft shares are on track for their worst monthly performance since 2000, plummeting 17% in June. • The decline has erased approximately $570 billion in market value, driven by investor anxiety over massive AI capital expenditures and delayed financial returns. • Market sentiment was further dampened by weaker-than-expected growth in the Azure cloud platform and a high outlook for future spending.

• US stock futures for the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 are trending upward as the market prepares for the final trading sessions of June. • Tech stocks are leading the rebound, with specific gains noted for companies including Arm, Marvell, and Micron. • A ceasefire between the US and Iran has eased immediate fears of Middle East disruptions, though investors remain cautious about the long-term durability of the truce.

• Financial regulators are increasing their scrutiny of artificial intelligence as the development of more powerful models creates new operational risks. • Key concerns center on a lack of transparency and visibility into advanced AI systems, making it difficult for authorities to maintain effective oversight. • A recent BBC report highlights a growing gap between the rapid pace of AI sophistication and the ability of existing monitoring mechanisms to control them.