Elections

Outcome of polls in four states offer mixed signals about direction of two major parties before November’s midtermsProgressives rallied round the controversial Graham Platner after his primary victory in Maine on Tuesday, while Donald Trump again exerted his grip on the Republican party, helping defeat a politician who pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.Primary elections were held in four states – Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina – ahead of November’s midterms to decide control of both houses of Congress. The results offered mixed signals about the direction of the two major parties. Continue reading...

• Chinese robotics companies are scaling operations to profit from advanced automation as the government continues to support the sector's development. • Startups report receiving thousands of orders from both public and private entities to deploy robots across various industries. • This surge in adoption is driven by China's urgent need to address a rapidly aging population and the challenge of rising labor costs.

• Senators Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin, and Sheldon Whitehouse have issued a warning regarding the Trump administration's potential use of election crimes prosecutions to interfere in the 2026 midterm elections. • The lawmakers are specifically criticizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the "quiet removal" of a long-standing manual that provides guidelines for election-related prosecutions. • This action is viewed as a significant risk to democratic integrity, as removing established protocols could allow for the selective or politically motivated prosecution of election officials and voters.

• A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official will testify in federal court regarding the refunding of billions of dollars in tariffs. • The legal action follows a Supreme Court ruling that determined President Donald Trump imposed these specific tariffs illegally. • This case is significant as it addresses the government's financial obligation to return massive sums of money to affected parties.

US president’s appointee for acting director of national intelligence has sparked bipartisan criticismDonald Trump has suggested his controversial ally Bill Pulte will investigate “rigged elections” while serving as the country’s top intelligence official, as the US president continues to make unfounded allegations about voting.But Pulte, whom Trump appointed as acting director of national intelligence earlier this week, will only serve in the role temporarily, the president claimed on Thursday. Continue reading...

• Louisiana's Republican lawmakers are attempting to eliminate one of the state's two majority-Black congressional seats. • This legislative move follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on May 29, 2026, which declared the state's current congressional map unconstitutional. • The action is significant as it threatens to reduce minority representation in Congress during a critical election cycle.

• Exit polls from Wednesday's mayoral and local elections in South Korea suggest a landslide victory for the ruling liberal party. • The projected win would provide President Lee Jae Myung with a significantly stronger political mandate to push forward his legislative and policy agenda. • These results are critical as they reflect public support for the current administration's direction and its ability to govern effectively.

• South Koreans are participating in high-stakes local elections that serve as a critical political test for President Lee. • The elections are being closely monitored as a measure of public sentiment and a referendum on the current administration's performance. • These results are expected to influence the political landscape and the strategic direction of the ruling party moving forward.

• South Korea's ruling party has won the majority of seats in the recent local elections, marking a significant victory for the administration. • Despite the overall sweep, the ruling party faces a potential loss in the critical capital city of Seoul. • The election results serve as a pivotal "report card" evaluating President Lee Jae Myung's performance during his first year in office.

• The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is poised for a landslide victory in South Korea's local elections, marking a crushing defeat for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). • In a tight contest, PPP candidate Yu Eui-dong holds a slim lead of less than 5 percentage points over Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party and Kim Yong-nam of the DP. • This outcome signifies a major shift in political momentum, potentially strengthening the ruling party's legislative and administrative grip on local governance.

• Foreign news outlets are framing South Korea's upcoming local elections as a critical litmus test for President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office. • The vote is viewed as a primary measure of public support for Lee's administration and a gauge of the conservative opposition's ability to recover. • This political contest follows significant turmoil triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law.

• South Korean citizens began casting their ballots early Wednesday morning in critical nationwide local elections. • The elections serve as the first major referendum on the progressive administration of President Lee Jae Myung. • International and regional experts are closely monitoring the results to gauge public support for the current government's policies.

• South Koreans are casting votes in mayoral and local elections to determine the level of public support for President Lee Jae Myung’s liberal government. • The elections coincide with the one-year anniversary of Lee's presidency this Thursday, during which he has maintained approval ratings above 60%. • Lee's popularity is largely attributed to his "pragmatic diplomacy," which has successfully mitigated concerns regarding the stability of South Korea's ties with the U.S. and Japan.

• An Iranian drone attack targeted a Kuwaiti airport early Wednesday, resulting in multiple injuries. • The USTR announced new tariffs against several nations for allegedly failing to enforce forced labor import bans, including 10% tariffs for Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, and the UK. • Higher additional tariffs of 12.5% will be imposed on China, Japan, India, South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland.

• Major foreign media outlets from the United States and Japan are closely monitoring South Korea's nationwide local and National Assembly elections held on June 3. • Most international reports predict a victory for the ruling Democratic Party, citing current polling and political momentum. • Nikkei highlighted a potential risk for the ruling party, noting that South Korean elections often experience sharp shifts in balance due to last-minute variables or opposition supporter consolidation.

Democratic state house representative beats Zach Wahls and will face off against Trump-backed Republican HinsonSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailIowa voters nominated candidates in primary elections held on Tuesday, setting the stage for months of fervent campaigning ahead of the November midterms in which the state may play a significant role in deciding the balance of power in Congress.A red state that the GOP has dominated for the past decade, Democrats believe they can be competitive in three of its four House races, its Senate election, and the contest to replace Kim Reynolds, the retiring Republican governor. Continue reading...

• The European Producers Club met in France to elect its leadership board for the 2026-2027 term to strengthen the voice of independent production. • Re-elected board members include Carlotta Calori, Carlotta Cà Zorzi, Gudny Hummelvoll, Dariusz Jablonski, Marc Missonier, and Friedrich Radmann, joining existing members such as Ed Guiney and Anita Juka. • The organization is prioritizing strategic industry campaigns, most notably the "Europe needs Cinema, Cinema needs Europe" initiative.

• Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is reportedly preparing to resign from his position following the conclusion of this week's local elections. • The resignation is intended to facilitate Kim's bid for the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). • This move signifies a strategic shift for Kim, transitioning from his executive role in government to a leadership position within the party.

Peters, a conspiracy theorist convicted after 2020 election, served less than a quarter of her nine-year sentenceTina Peters, the former clerk convicted of participating in a scheme to chase election conspiracy theories promulgated by Donald Trump, was released from prison on Monday after the president successfully pressured Colorado’s Democratic governor into commuting her sentence.Peters’ release was confirmed by the Colorado corrections department. The state agency said it would have no more information about the 70-year-old Continue reading...

• President Trump is meeting with aides to make a "final determination" regarding whether to move forward with the Iran deal. • International rescue teams from Laos, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia are collaborating to locate missing villagers after a group was discovered by divers on Wednesday. • One villager was successfully rescued Friday night, though two individuals remain missing.

Opposition says bill to prevent ‘foreign influence’ in elections gives ruling party carte blanche to annul will of votersSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico’s senate has passed ‌a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country.The bill, which was presented by the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic ⁠dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and ⁠the intervention of foreign governments ⁠or agencies”. Continue reading...

Governor says law is a response to ‘legitimate anxiety’ about Trump’s tactics targeting Democratic-led cities and statesGavin Newsom, California’s governor, signed legislation Wednesday that aims to shield California elections from federal interference, saying he expected Donald Trump’s administration to try to meddle in the midterms this year.The law, which took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday’s primary, prohibits any person – including federal agents – from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order. Law enforcement officers are restricted from disrupting election workers, except in public safety emergencies. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, affirming its authority to verify citizenship to ensure free and fair elections. • Key measures approved include the use of Aadhaar cards as an indicative document for verification and the publication of a list containing approximately 65 lakh excluded electors in Bihar. • The court ruled that a prior entry in the electoral roll does not prevent the EC from conducting fresh inquiries, rejecting claims that names cannot be deleted without prior notice under Rule 21A of the 1960 Rules.

• Iran has officially condemned recent U.S. military strikes, labeling the actions as a demonstration of "bad faith" and warning that there will be consequences. • In a separate emergency, seven villagers have been trapped in a cave in Laos' Xaisomboun province since May 19 after flash floods blocked their exit. • Rescue teams from Laos and Thailand are now exploring air shafts above the cave and pumping out water to facilitate the search for the missing individuals.

Party spent £252,000 in last two weeks of campaign on its main Facebook pages compared with Labour’s £276,000UK politics live – latest updatesReform UK ramped up the funding and sophistication of its political Facebook ads in the final weeks of campaigning for the May elections, in a sign of the growing financial muscle of Nigel Farage’s party.There were several days in the fortnight before the party’s breakthrough electoral performance when Reform spent more than any other party on the influential platform. Continue reading...

Vociferously anti-Turkish party doubles its number of seats although mainstream parties didn’t see vote crumble as predictedAn anti-immigrant far-right party, inspired by Greece’s defunct neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, has made the biggest gains in parliamentary elections in Cyprus.The group, which has pushed for the closure of checkpoints on the ethnically split island and is vociferously anti-Turkish, doubled its seats in the 56-member legislature after securing 10.9 % of the vote. Continue reading...

Regulators and gambling harm advocates have been closely watching the rise in popularity of Polymarket and KalshiGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastUS-based “prediction market” websites are taking tens of thousands of dollars in bets on Australian elections and even specific words the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says in parliament, with gambling harm advocates and the wagering lobby raising alarm.Australian financial and media regulators said they were monitoring the explosion in popularity of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, which operate financial exchanges where users buy “shares” in contracts on the outcome of events. Continue reading...

• A suspect is dead after opening fire near a security checkpoint at the White House, according to the Secret Service. • In the arts world, director Cristian Mungiu has won the prestigious Palme d’Or for his new drama "Fjord," which explores political polarization in Norway. • These reports highlight a stark contrast between a violent security breach in Washington D.C. and a major cinematic achievement in international film.