Demands

• Senator Marsha Blackburn has demanded transparency from the Federal Judicial Center regarding a climate training manual developed in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). • Blackburn is seeking data on how many federal judges participated in the Climate Judiciary Project and whether the center was aware of ELI's alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. • The inquiry reflects concerns that judicial continuing education is being influenced by "political, left-wing programming" from foreign-linked groups rather than impartial legal administration.

• Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday following a video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising to address the protesters' concerns. • Rahul Gandhi criticized the timing of the PM's late-night message and reiterated three specific demands put forward by the students. • Senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi condemned the use of force against women protesters, warning that such actions alienate citizens from the vision of a developed India.

• A delegation from the Cockroach Janata Party met with Union Minister JP Nadda on Monday to submit a petition regarding the NEET-UG paper leak case. • The party presented three specific demands calling for greater government accountability and transparency in handling the examination scandal. • This move highlights the ongoing political pressure and public outcry surrounding the integrity of national competitive exams in India.

• Protesters from the Citizens' Justice Project (CJP), including activist Dipke, have reclaimed their dismantled protest site at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. • Activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated that he will only end his hunger strike if the Indian Parliament agrees to discuss education reforms. • The demonstration is putting pressure on the government to respond to specific CJP demands while operating in a highly sensitive security zone.

The 18-year-old was found dead after a 4 July boat trip with his friends to an island in the Gulf coastFamily and supporters of Nolan Xavier Wells gathered in a Mississippi church on Monday to mourn and celebrate the 18-year-old, whose death following a 4 July boat trip with friends has captured national attention and prompted calls for an independent investigation.The ceremony began with tearful remarks from Wells’s parents, who described their son as a warm and gentle presence, a gifted athlete and a role model to his younger siblings. Continue reading...

• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is demanding a refund of migration-related fines imposed by the European Union. • Orbán argues that the EU's position has shifted, noting that other member states are now adopting border policies similar to those of Hungary. • In addition to the fines, Hungary is seeking the return of €2 billion in lost recovery funds during an upcoming budget negotiation.

• The Asia Times argues that current development strategies in Asia are too cautious, prioritizing institutional comfort and proven methods over urgent needs. • The author contends that this "responsible" approach results in minimal progress and fails to address the scale of regional challenges. • This shift in perspective is critical because safe bets are insufficient to drive the transformative growth required for Asia's current development moment.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has ordered banks to develop and submit a comprehensive "action plan" to defend against security threats posed by artificial intelligence. • This mandate requires financial institutions to outline specific strategies to mitigate AI-driven risks to their operational security and data integrity. • The move highlights the growing vulnerability of the financial sector to sophisticated cyberattacks as AI technology becomes more accessible.

Leaders meeting in Ankara have been urged to show US president concrete steps towards increasing their budget contribution. Plus why Madonna’s new album is a triumph and Helen Hunt on her new stage roleGood morning. Nato leaders will gather in Ankara today for their latest summit after a turbulent six months, hoping to mollify an unpredictable Donald Trump, as Washington continues to pressure its allies to increase defence spending.On Friday, Trump posted a graphic on his Truth Social platform showing Nato members’ defence budgets, comparing a vast US spend of $999m (£747m) with smaller figures from European states saying the situation was “ridiculous” and “one-sided”. The US is planning to cut the number of troops and materiel it assigns to Europe in the event of a war with Russia.What is causing tension between the US and the rest of Nato? Since threatening to take control of Greenland from ally Denmark, Trump has failed to consult European leaders before the US and Israel launched their economically disastrous attack on Iran, and complained countries including the UK did not allow US jets to bomb Iran from their territory. He has bizarrely accused Italy’s Giorgia Meloni of being obsessed with him, and relations with Canada’s Mark Carney are strained after Trump voiced an interest in a takeover of the US’s northern neighbor.What are the allegations against Platner? In an exclusive Politico report, Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated Platner, said he forced her to have sex despite repeated objections. The report cited accounts from a man Racicot later confided in, as well as recent therapist emails, and messages where she warned an acquaintance about Platner in 2023.How has Platner responded? Platner denied the claims in a statement to Politico. “These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue,” he said. Continue reading...

• President Lee Jae Myung’s office is promoting a state-led strategy centered on three mega projects: semiconductors, AI data centers, and physical AI. • The initiative aims to establish a robust national production base to ensure South Korea remains competitive in the rapidly evolving AI era. • This strategic positioning comes as a response to growing criticism and backlash from the opposition bloc regarding the scale and nature of these projects.

• Robert Amsterdam argues that the European Union must apply the same democratic and rule-of-law standards to its foreign policy as it does to its own member states. • The author highlights how Brussels has previously withheld funding and launched legal proceedings against member states like Poland (Warsaw) and Hungary (Budapest) to protect democratic institutions. • This critique suggests a contradiction in the EU's global positioning, asserting that "selective" democracy undermines the bloc's credibility as a defender of human rights.

Statement comes a day after report that three messages received in case were determined to be fakeThe FBI is investigating extortion demands related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance that “may potentially be legitimate”, the agency said on Wednesday.The update comes a day after Reuters reported that kidnapping notes received in Guthrie’s case were fake. Continue reading...

• South Korea suffered a dismal first-round exit from the World Cup after failing to qualify as one of the top eight third-place finishers. • President Lee Jae Myung publicly rebuked the team, apologizing to the nation and blaming "incompetent people" for the poor performance. • Coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned in the wake of the elimination, though public fury persists.

• The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and 36 civil society, human rights, and media organizations are calling on the European Commission to strengthen its Rule of Law report. • The coalition argues that the EU must hold its own institutions—including the Commission, Council, and Parliament—to the same legal and transparency standards it demands of Member States. • This demand matters because the credibility of the EU's rule of law agenda is undermined when EU agencies circumvent legal norms or democratic accountability for political expediency.

• McKinsey data indicates that only 10% of marketers are currently unlocking the true value of artificial intelligence. • The report argues that effective AI digital transformation cannot be limited to simple chat boxes but requires a root-and-branch reimagining of business strategy. • Experts suggest that achieving these results necessitates a CEO-level mandate to drive systemic change across the organization.

Great Britain has paid at least six times normal for imported power as millions turn on air conditioning and windfarms’ output sagsThe heatwave has prompted a sharp rise in electricity prices across European markets as millions turn to air conditioners and electric fans to battle record high temperatures, which have also caused string of power plant outages across the continent.Great Britain imported electricity from Europe at more than six times the normal price on Tuesday as the high pressure heat dome has slowed wind speeds, hitting renewable energy generation, and caused outages at multiple gas plants across the country. Continue reading...

Hania Ahmed, 9, died after Punjab police opened fire on suspected robbers as well as her family in ChakwalFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe father of a nine-year-old Australian girl killed in Pakistan on holiday has demanded justice and to “reduce the harm” of a controversial new police wing whose officers opened fire with machine guns in response to a robbery.Hania Ahmed and her family were visiting her great-uncle Ali Ejaz last week at his home in Chakwal, Punjab province, wrapping up family visits. Continue reading...

US president urges congressional Republicans to use budget reconciliation procedure to enact his priorities Donald Trump has demanded that congressional Republicans get to work on a party line measure that would ensure defense spending reaches its highest level in decades and also make a likely fruitless attempt to impose a host of new restrictions on voters nationwide.In a post on Truth Social Wednesday, the president said he was “calling on Republicans in Congress to IMMEDIATELY advance and pass the forthcoming $350 Billion Reconciliation Bill”, which would also include the Save America Act, a rightwing makeover of elections that his allies in Congress have sought to pass for months, without success. Continue reading...

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the only passenger to survive the incident in June 2025, which killed 260 peopleThe only survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in June 2025 has called for “honesty, transparency and answers” a year on from the disaster, and spoken about his “significant psychological scars” and financial hardship.Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, has previously described his fate as a “miracle” after being the only person to survive the incident, in which a Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. Continue reading...

• The Delhi Police have deployed over 1,000 personnel at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to manage a proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) scheduled for Saturday. • Authorities stated that the CJP has not submitted any formal request for permission to hold the demonstration, leading to a heightened security presence. • The deployment aims to maintain public order and prevent unauthorized gatherings in the high-security zone of the capital.

• Filipino radio anchor and commentator Nestor Micator was shot dead by two unidentified assailants on May 21 in the Malidegao locality of Cotabato. • Micator served as a prominent news anchor for D’Empire Radio in the southern Philippines. • The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety body, expressed shock over the murder and demanded an authentic investigation to ensure justice.

Broadcaster describes Robert Kenyon, who is standing in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, as a misogynist and a ‘cowardly man’ Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past.The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform have backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive posts made by the Wigan councillor that have since been deleted, along with his account. Continue reading...

Republican leader acknowledges ‘likely consequences’ for resisting US president’s demands to redraw mapSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSouth Carolina state senators on Tuesday defied pressure from Donald Trump to approve plans to redraw the state’s congressional map after the US supreme court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act.As Republicans scramble to redraw key districts after the US supreme court rendered ineffective a major section of the civil rights law that prevented racial discrimination, Shane Massey, the Republican majority leader in South Carolina’s senate, argued in an extraordinary address that doing so would be against the interest of his state. Continue reading...

• Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on May 6, 2026, that 'no one can make us surrender' to US pressure during talks with Iraq's Prime Minister. • He urged Washington to remove military threats from the Middle East, reinforcing Iran's resolve amid ongoing conflict. • The IRGC introduced a new 'Hormuz security plan' to block weapons and supplies to US bases in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating strategic tensions.

• A politically ambitious Connecticut Democrat abandoned bipartisan negotiations on government funding amid party pressure for inclusion. • The walkout escalates tensions over federal budget priorities and spending cuts. • This could delay funding bills critical for upcoming fiscal deadlines.

Discrepancy in forecasts raises questions over government planning for net zeroOne vision of the UK’s future involves a decarbonised economy powered by clean, renewable energy. Another involves making the UK an AI superpower.The government departments responsible for these two visions do not appear to have agreed on their numbers. Continue reading...

• Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded an explanation from the U.S. after American officials died during an operation in Chihuahua state. • The incident involves cross-border security efforts, straining bilateral relations. • Details remain limited, but it highlights risks in joint anti-cartel actions and potential policy shifts.

The new strategy to be unveiled by Richard Marles will see defence spending rise to about 2.4% of GDP – but US president has urged allies to spend 3.5%Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will spend an extra $53bn on defence over the next decade, using the nation’s latest military blueprint to create new special investment programs to fund increases in capability using private capital.The defence minister, Richard Marles, will unveil the new national defence strategy on Thursday, as well as detailing a new integrated investment program for military capability, boosting the current budget by $14bn over the next four years, forward estimates period. Continue reading...