Control

• China's Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) is considering the implementation of tighter export controls on artificial intelligence models and semiconductor chips. • Regulators are currently consulting with leading domestic AI and chipmaking firms to develop strategies to prevent advanced technologies and high-growth startups from being acquired by Western entities. • This move signifies a strategic effort by the Chinese government to protect national technological sovereignty and maintain a competitive edge in the global AI race.

Health secretary says source has been identified despite experts warning infections are likely to keep risingHealth secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said the ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis – the illness caused by the cyclospora parasite that causes watery and explosive diarrhea – is “under control”.Kennedy made the remarks one day after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did an about-face on a 27-state recall of shredded iceberg lettuce, calling the reported product a “false positive”. Continue reading...

Paul Condon tells inquiry there was ‘appalling behaviour by individual officers’ but that greater fault was systemicA former Metropolitan police commissioner has admitted that the force failed over decades to properly control a controversial undercover unit that committed “horrendous” abuses, the spycops inquiry has heard.Paul Condon said he was appalled by the wrongdoing of the unit, which spent 40 years spying on tens of thousands of political activists. Continue reading...

One Nation leader posts network’s proposal to travel to UK to explore what Australia faces ‘if we don’t take back control of who comes to our country’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Seven producer urged Pauline Hanson to travel to Britain to meet Nigel Farage and film a Spotlight special highlighting so-called “uncontrolled immigration”, according to a pitch posted to social media by the One Nation leader.The pitch also suggested that Seven might cover some of the travel costs for the One Nation leader and her team and that the program wanted the Reform UK leader to “invite Ms Hanson to Britain”. Continue reading...

• Indian markets are expected to remain volatile with a positive bias as investors focus on June quarter earnings and the impact of renewed West Asia tensions on oil prices and the rupee. • Global attention will shift to the European Central Bank's policy meeting on July 23, where economists generally expect interest rates to remain unchanged. • Investors will also monitor Japan’s inflation data and flash PMI figures to gauge future interest rate directions and economic health.

• South Korea's Kospi index has emerged as a critical global barometer for the AI trade, driven by the performance of chip giants Samsung and SK Hynix. • The index is currently characterized by high volatility, which is further amplified by leveraged trading and the influence of SK Hynix’s US listing. • Global chip stocks faced a sell-off on Friday following a breakthrough by a Chinese AI startup, raising concerns regarding the sustainability of massive capital expenditure investments.

• The US military confirmed a service member was killed in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. • This marks the third confirmed troop death following a new round of airstrikes intended to "swiftly punish" Iran for its actions. • A separate attack targeted electricity generation units, forcing the ministry to trigger emergency plans to stabilize the power grid.

• Sonam Wangchuk initiated a hunger strike to support the CJP protest, shifting the movement from online mobilization to a high-visibility national campaign. • Wangchuk's involvement provided the protest with significant moral authority, drawing widespread attention to the group's core grievances. • The movement faces a critical juncture as the government has not yet conceded to the protesters' principal demands despite the increased public pressure.

• President Xi Jinping has announced China's ambition to lead global AI development by offering technology partnerships and training to other nations. • This push coincides with nearly 30 countries, including Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia, joining the newly formed World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. • The initiative aims to increase Beijing's influence over international AI governance and the establishment of global technical standards.

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has identified significant gaps in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls currently utilized by several cryptocurrency firms. • The regulator specifically flagged deficiencies in critical areas, including customer due diligence checks, transaction monitoring, and the management of token transfers. • This move highlights the urgency for digital asset providers to strengthen their compliance frameworks to prevent financial crimes and maintain the integrity of the Singaporean financial ecosystem.

• South Korea's Kospi index dropped over 6% on Thursday, driven by significant plunges in AI chip giants SK Hynix (-11%) and Samsung Electronics (-8%). • A broader market correction hit global IT and SaaS stocks in February 2026 following the release of Anthropic's powerful agentic AI tools. • The sell-offs reflect investor fears of a structural shift in software usage, potentially mirroring the dot-com crash by threatening traditional enterprise software models.

• The Observer has released its 2026 A.I. Power Index, a report analyzing the shifting dynamics of influence and capital flow within the artificial intelligence sector. • The index moves beyond traditional metrics like funding and scale to identify the specific "leverage points" that are currently reshaping the industry. • This analysis matters as it highlights a transition in how power is wielded, suggesting that control is moving away from conventional channels toward new, strategic actors.

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...

• Supreme Court justices informed Congress on Tuesday that they are making a concerted effort to increase transparency regarding the "shadow docket." • The court is focusing on providing more detailed explanations for decisions made on its interim docket rather than issuing brief, unexplained orders. • This shift is a direct response to growing public and legal demands for greater accountability and clarity in the Court's emergency ruling process.

Doctors and human rights experts documented hundreds of incidents from June 2025 through May 2026 and estimate true number is ‘far greater’It’s been a brutal tactic deployed by local and federal law enforcement officials time and again over the past year: using teargas, rubber bullets and pepper spray to control protests outside ICE detention centers or during enforcement operations.Now, a new report lays bare the scale of the use of these crowd control weapons during anti-immigration demonstrations across the US, including hundreds of incidents that resulted in lasting and traumatic injuries. Continue reading...

• A Gigamon survey reveals that 66% of financial firms allow AI security automation to operate autonomously, while 77% of these firms have experienced breaches via AI. • The report highlights a growing vulnerability, with 47% of firms reporting an increase in attacks specifically targeting AI and Large Language Model (LLM) deployments. • This trend is critical because security AI is increasingly being treated as an attack surface rather than just a defense mechanism, while detection speeds continue to slow.

• The United States and Iran both asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday following a weekend of widespread attacks across the Middle East. • These escalating military tensions and territorial disputes further threaten ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the regional war. • The situation coincides with Senator Mitch McConnell breaking weeks of silence regarding his health status.

• An expert committee will deliver recommendations this Monday regarding how the European Union should regulate children's access to social media, including the possibility of a blanket ban. • Several EU nations are already pursuing restrictions: Greece will introduce a ban by 2027, while Italy, Austria, and Slovenia are considering limits for those under 14 or 15. • Spain and Portugal have proposed a minimum age of 16, and non-EU countries including the UK, Norway, and Canada are preparing similar bans for under-16s.

• An expert committee will deliver recommendations this Monday regarding how the European Union should regulate children's access to social media, including the possibility of a blanket ban. • Several EU nations are already pursuing restrictions, with Greece announcing a ban for 2027, while Italy, Austria, and Slovenia consider limits for those under 14 or 15. • Spain and Portugal have proposed a minimum age of 16, and non-EU countries including the UK, Canada, and Norway are also preparing similar bans for under-16s.

• The Supreme Court issued a decision on June 29 in Trump v. Slaughter, which notably overruled the precedent set by Humphrey's Executor. • This ruling reshapes the level of presidential control over federal agencies, potentially making agency leadership more susceptible to removal. • The decision matters for employers as it suggests that federal agency guidance and enforcement priorities may become more volatile and subject to change.

Disruption at Channel crossings expected to rise amid new fingerprinting and facial recognition checksFrance and the UK have agreed to increase staffing at border controls in response to warnings of travel chaos caused by new fingerprinting and facial recognition checks.Disruption at Channel crossings is expected to rise sharply next weekend at the start of the summer holiday season, with MPs warning of “utter chaos and miles of tailbacks” unless the EU’s entry/exit system (EES) is fixed or checks are suspended. Continue reading...

• Barisan Nasional (BN) has secured an "extraordinary" victory in Johor, significantly extending its political control over the state. • This outcome shifts the political landscape, making the upcoming contest in Negeri Sembilan more critical as Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN prepare to face off. • The result is pivotal as it influences the momentum and strategic calculations of both coalitions ahead of a potential general election.

• Barisan Nasional (BN) is projected to maintain and potentially expand its control over Johor following an unofficial vote count. • The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition faces significant losses, largely attributed to a low voter turnout in key Democratic Action Party (DAP) strongholds. • This outcome is critical as it reinforces BN's political dominance in the region and weakens PH's influence in the state.

• The European Parliament has approved "Chat Control 1.0," a measure allowing the suspicionless mass scanning of private communications, despite a majority of MEPs (314 against, 276 in favor) opposing the regulation. • The legislation passed after being previously rejected twice in March, as EU member states continue to insist on maintaining voluntary scanning protocols. • Critics, including Breyer, argue that the move compromises the privacy of children and citizens while removing the political pressure necessary to reach a more viable permanent agreement.

• The European Parliament has revived a vote on the "Chat Control" proposal, which would mandate the scanning of private messages to detect illegal content. • Critics and MEPs argue that the move violates procedural rules and accuse the EPP, the largest political group, of abusing its power to resurrect a previously rejected text. • The proposal sparks significant privacy concerns, as it threatens the fundamental confidentiality of end-to-end encrypted communications for millions of EU citizens.

• The European Parliament failed to pass a motion to reject "EU Chat Control," allowing the scanning of private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to continue. • This decision extends the implementation and potential surveillance capabilities of the rules until 2028. • The move has triggered widespread criticism from privacy advocates who argue that scanning private communications undermines encryption and fundamental digital rights.

• Pennsylvania Democrats are eyeing a "trifecta" of control over the state Senate, state House, and governorship in the 2026 elections. • A Democratic sweep could revive stalled election reforms, including the implementation of pre-canvassing, same-day voter registration, and mandatory electronic pollbooks. • These changes would address current legislative gridlock and potentially reactivate a dormant bipartisan advisory board meant to suggest election solutions.

• A survey by Dataiku reveals that CEOs in Singapore are facing increased pressure to demonstrate tangible returns on investment from AI implementations. • Adoption is currently being hindered by significant gaps in governance and the lack of "explainability" regarding how AI models reach specific decisions. • These accountability tests matter as businesses struggle to balance rapid technological integration with necessary security and ethical controls.