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• A federal judge delivered a scathing review of the process behind President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, criticizing the DOJ's use of grand jury powers. • Judge Ray warned that the DOJ's ability to appropriate private information without a legitimate purpose is a concern for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation. • This follows a separate ruling in late June where Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz blocked subpoenas against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other Democrats, citing political motives.

• Social media influencers are increasingly accepting undisclosed payments to promote songs, creating an artificial sense of virality that can push tracks up the pop charts. • This practice mirrors historical "pay-to-play" mechanisms, such as 19th-century sheet music promotions and 20th-century record labels paying radio DJs to play specific songs. • The lack of transparency is significant because it misleads listeners into believing a song's popularity is organic rather than a paid marketing campaign.

• The author argues that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently functioning under the influence of the ruling political executive, leading to a sidelining of judicial oversight. • To counter this, the text proposes elevating the "right to vote" to a fundamental right, drawing on the constitutional vision of B.R. Ambedkar. • This shift is deemed necessary to ensure the highest level of constitutional protection and to allow for more rigorous judicial review of electoral processes.

• The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) conducted new polling showing that over 50% of pension professionals support the government's proposed local investment mandate for Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds. • This support is conditional, as professionals insist that the mandate must not lead to a negative impact on overall investment returns. • The findings highlight a tension between the goal of stimulating local economic growth and the fiduciary duty to maximize fund performance.

Swiss bank UBS finds ‘growing divide between the wealthiest and the broader population’ as country adds more than 25,000 more millionairesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMiddle Australia’s wealth is going backwards while the richest claim an ever-greater share of the pile, according to new research that shows more than 25,000 people across the country became millionaires last year.The latest global wealth report from the Swiss bank UBS said 2025 marked “an extraordinary year”, in which close to a million new millionaires were created worldwide – a record increase in a single year. Continue reading...

• Lantern, an e-commerce startup founded in 2024 by Lissimore, is pivoting its focus toward AI Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and LLM result optimization. • The company previously launched a customer loyalty tool and successfully raised $3.1 million in seed funding in 2025, led by Salesforce Ventures. • This shift addresses the changing landscape of search, providing brands with tools to ensure their products are more frequently recommended by large language models.

• A new California law takes effect on July 1, banning streaming platforms from playing advertisements at a higher volume than the content they interrupt. • The legislation targets the common issue of "loud ads" that disrupt the viewing experience by suddenly increasing audio levels. • This move aims to protect consumers from intrusive marketing tactics and ensure a more consistent audio experience across digital media.

As Labor pushes on with reforms, the Coalition must decide whether to join in the parliamentary deal-makingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt’s the last week of parliament before the winter break, and not a minute too soon; tensions have been running a little high lately.The lower house speaker, Milton Dick, has been yeeting MPs mere moments into question time and accused Angus Taylor of “demeaning” the parliament by calling Anthony Albanese a liar; Andrew Hastie claimed One Nation “has declared war on me, so they shall have war”; Labor has been goading the Coalition and its media “cheer squad” for opposing the budget; the Greens hate Labor’s NDIS bill; and people in the Coalition seem to be mad at everyone, including themselves. Continue reading...

• Global stock markets are experiencing a significant downturn driven by a sell-off in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. • The impact is particularly severe in Asia, where the South Korean market has plunged by 10 percent. • This volatility marks a return of investor anxiety regarding the valuation and sustainability of the AI-driven market rally.

• Global stock markets experienced a sharp decline on Tuesday, driven by a widespread sell-off in AI-related assets. • South Korea's Kospi index plummeted 10%, triggering a circuit breaker that halted trading for a 20-minute cooling-off period. • The volatility spread to Wall Street, resulting in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording their worst single-day performances in approximately two weeks.

• AI-related stocks are experiencing a significant downturn, triggering a return of volatility to global financial markets. • The sell-off heavily impacted Asia on Tuesday, with South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index plunging by 10%. • This market correction follows a mild tech sell-off in the United States on Monday, signaling a shift in investor sentiment toward AI valuations.

• Major AI-driven tech stocks, including hyperscalers like Microsoft and Alphabet, are experiencing a slump as investors question the timeline for returns on massive AI investments. • The decline follows a period of aggressive spending where companies utilized significant cash reserves to fund AI infrastructure and expansion. • This market shift highlights growing nervousness among investors regarding whether the high capital expenditures will translate into sustainable profit growth.

• A June 23, 2026, survey commissioned by All About Cookies and Base44 reveals a growing "vibe coding gap," indicating that many Americans are falling behind in AI adoption. • The study highlights that early adopters are gaining a significant advantage, while the primary barriers to building with AI are not financial or time-related. • This trend suggests a widening productivity and skill divide between those who integrate AI into their workflows and those who do not.

• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope observed HD 80606 b, an exoplanet four times the mass of Jupiter with a highly elliptical orbit. • The planet experiences extreme heating as its orbit brings it exceptionally close to its Sun-like host star. • Researchers are presenting their preliminary findings on Tuesday at the 248th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California.

Musician says on Instagram he is ‘doing much better’ and receiving treatment and therapy after 2025 arrestThe musician Lil Nas X posted a moving video update to his Instagram on Wednesday morning. In the nearly three-minute clip, the artist – born Montero Lamar Hill – shared that he “has been in rehab for a few months” and since then, has returned home to both Atlanta, where he is from and his family lives, and Los Angeles, where he resides.The update comes in response to an event last summer in which the musician was charged with attacking Los Angeles police officers. Continue reading...

Independent watchdog clears officers of serious misconduct but finds they ‘did not meet minimum standards’ on night Lindy Lucena was killed in BallinaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt 7pm on 3 January 2023, New South Wales police received a triple zero call reporting that a woman was “being bashed” behind the Salvation Army building in Ballina.“I’m just letting you know, there’s a woman getting bashed behind Salvation Army in Ballina and that’s all I got to say I don’t want to be reported or anything,” the caller said. Continue reading...

• The European Union is launching a series of ambitious reforms designed to revitalize its economy and strengthen its global influence. • The strategy focuses on the strategic expansion of key sectors, specifically targeting tech giants, major banks, and the defense industry. • These measures are intended to prevent the EU from sliding into the status of a "second-tier economy" amidst increasing global competition.

As the Makerfield byelection and a potential leadership challenge loom, there is a sense the PM is looking to create impacts that lastAs the weeks ticked down to her departure from Downing Street in 2019, Theresa May had a plan. Not only did she want to put a net zero target into law, but she wanted the UK to be the first major economy to do so. And that meant beating the French.“It required the machinery of government to move more quickly than the French parliament,” a No 10 official from the time recalls. And it worked: the UK target came into force in June 2019, six weeks before May handed over to Boris Johnson, and five months before the French. She had her legacy. Continue reading...

Pennsylvania’s Bob Brooks one of a slew of working-class Democrats on the ballot – can he beat a Koch-backed rival?Bob Brooks has worked a lot of jobs, sometimes several at once to make ends meet.He was a paper boy at age 10, and then a dishwasher, prep cook, pizza deliverer, bartender and truck driver. Even after he became a firefighter in 2005, Brooks managed to start a snow-removal and lawn-care business and coach baseball. Continue reading...

• The European Union may be entering a period of accelerated integration and policy action, mirroring previous shifts seen in the 1990s and during the pandemic. • This potential shift in EU financial market strategy poses a serious threat to the dominance of the City of London as a global financial hub. • The trend matters because increased EU cohesion in financial services could divert capital and business away from Britain.

Badenoch differentiated herself from Nigel Farage in response to Henry Nowak’s murder and supporters say her ratings are risingKemi Badenoch has a hard-earned reputation for combativeness, especially on culture war issues, but at prime minister’s questions, with the murder of Henry Nowak in the headlines, Keir Starmer ended up thanking the Conservative leader for her “tone”. So is she a changed politician? Well, not exactly.To an extent, Badenoch’s approach ahead of her weekly Commons showdown with Starmer was shaped by events. Widespread concern on Wednesday at the police response to Nowak’s murder – the student who was handcuffed while he bled to death after being falsely accused of racism – spiralled into rioting on Tuesday night. The imperative not to inflame matters further was obvious. Continue reading...

Obstetricians and gynaecologists say anti sex-selective abortions bill ‘predicated on misinformation’ and ‘underlying aim is to restrict access to abortion’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe man who wants to ban “sex-selective abortions” is the first person who will tell you it won’t work.New South Wales Libertarian party MLC John Ruddick has introduced legislation that would see health practitioners sent to prison or fined thousands if they carry out a termination because of the sex of a foetus. Continue reading...

Pat Brogan preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle after trial of treatment designed to stop disease from hiding• Smart drug that strips cancer cells of ‘invisibility cloak’ can shrink tumours by 30%, trial showsOne of the first patients to benefit from a pioneering smart drug that appears to melt away the “invisibility cloak” that can shield cancer cells from treatment is Pat Brogan, from Cowdenbeath, Scotland.The 68-year-old, whose tumours have shrunk by almost a third, is preparing to walk his daughter down the aisle this month and holiday in Spain with his wife, Linda – milestones he once feared he would never reach. Continue reading...

Tourists and locals in Madrid, Paris, London, Dublin and Berlin share their experiences of the unseasonable May temperaturesIn recent days across parts of Europe, temperatures have soared, heat records have been broken and spring has felt more like the height of summer. Météo France, the French national weather service, has attributed this to a “heat dome”, with warmth held in place by a high-pressure weather front that has produced temperatures more than 10C above what used to be usual for this time of year.Human-caused climate breakdown is supercharging extreme weather around the world, driving deadly extremes that can strike at abnormal times in unusual places and claim lives. Continue reading...

At annual I/O conference, company debuts a product for everyday consumers to create autonomous AI agentsGoogle announced Tuesday that it would expand its search bar, the centerpiece of the most-visited website in the world, with a heavy dose of artificial intelligence. The tech giant is also trying its hand at hi-tech glasses again, more than a decade after wearers of its first eyewear were dubbed “glassholes” and laughed out of San Francisco.Google executives announced at the company’s annual conference for software developers, Google I/O, that its search box would accommodate longer and more specific queries than before – questions more like those people would ask one another than Search’s idiosyncratic syntax. The changes will direct users to engage directly with Google’s chatbot. The change to search is underpinned by the company’s new artificial intelligence model, Gemini 3.5, announced the same day. Continue reading...

Homework, social pressure and jobs still keep teens up but now screen time and social media rob their sleepA new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health shows that today’s teenagers are sleeping less than ever before.The findings, which appeared in Pediatrics, showed a consistent decline in sleep across every age category. The latest figures revealed record-low sleep levels for all groups, with only 22% of older adolescents saying they slept at least seven hours each night. Continue reading...

Despite slim majority of 528, many constituents of potential Labour leadership candidate seem rather fond of himUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting’s potential leadership bid has been the subject of mockery from figures within Labour, while the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s slapdown of the now former health secretary in the Commons on Wednesday went viral on social media.However, in Streeting’s parliamentary seat of Ilford North, his constituents seem rather fond of him and pleased with the prospect that their MP could get the keys to No 10. Lesley, who works in Tesco in Barkingside, said: “He’d be very good. He comes into Tesco’s a lot, he’s a nice man. He talks to all of us.” Continue reading...

Pair, believed to be mother and son, recovered from water but died at scene in Elthorne Park, Ealing A woman and her young child have died after getting into “difficulty” in the water at a west London park, police said.Police were called to Elthorne Park in Ealing just before 4.30pm on Saturday, where a woman and child were recovered from the water, the Metropolitan police said. Continue reading...