Essential

• Former JAG Corps lawyer Lindsey Graham is characterized as a quintessential Trump-era politician who prioritized political relevance over consistent principles. • Graham is accused of downplaying evidence that Donald Trump attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader to target a political rival. • Despite previous claims of supporting bipartisanship, Graham pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into Hunter Biden.

Poll also finds perception of Donald Trump has soured since his re-election, with fewer than a third of respondents viewing him positivelyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians have a more negative view of Israel than of China, the latest Guardian Essential poll has found, with women and middle-aged people exhibiting the least positive perception of Israel.The poll also finds Australians’ perceptions of Donald Trump have tumbled since his re-election, with fewer than a third of voters having a positive response to the US president. Continue reading...

Survey shows two-point fall in vote amid concern about Pauline Hanson’s links to Gina Rinehart and ability to run countryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians have emphatically rejected some of One Nation’s key policies, including shutting down SBS and ending multiculturalism, with voters raising concerns about Pauline Hanson’s closeness to the billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart and whether the party has the skills needed to run the country, according to a new poll.But even as the latest Guardian Essential poll finds voters have major reservations about Hanson and her party, more than half of respondents said they were either definitely or at least considering voting for One Nation at the next election. Continue reading...

• Major AI breakthroughs occurred in June 2026, highlighted by the release of Microsoft's MAI models, a revamped Siri from Apple, and Google's updated AI Search. • The period saw significant advancements in open-source AI, though these were countered by the emergence of "Agentjacking" security attacks targeting AI agents. • These developments matter as they signal a shift toward more autonomous AI agents and deeper integration of generative AI into core operating systems and search engines.

Network Rail expected impose speed restrictions, with people told to check if train services are runningRail passengers have been told to only attempt to travel if essential and check trains are running, with extreme heat expected to disrupt services around Britain.Temperatures are forecast to rise to 37C across most of southern England and Wales over the next three days, and potentially to 40C in the most affected areas. Continue reading...

• The current tech landscape is characterized by a stark contrast between rapid innovation and severe infrastructure limitations. • ByteDance users are experiencing significant delays, waiting hours for AI-generated videos, while tools like Cursor are successfully automating coding tasks instantly. • This disparity highlights a critical industry struggle where scaling challenges and physical resource shortages hinder the potential of AI advancements.

Consumer group makes ‘super’ complaint to ACCC after investigation found dangerous items on platforms such as eBay, Amazon and AliExpressGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCigarette lighters that look like toys, gel blasters, flick knives and fake tongue studs are among the “frightening” number of unsafe and potentially banned products being sold to Australians on online marketplaces, a Choice investigation has found.After identifying the products, Choice on Wednesday formally asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to take action against the retailers and begin a review of the country’s product safety laws more generally. Continue reading...