Ill

Former employee files complaint accusing company of ‘coercive surveillance’ and first amendment violationThe Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams is suing the tech company over its efforts to “silence” her.A 57-page complaint filed to a US district court in California on Thursday argues that an interim arbitration ruling sought by Meta preventing Wynn-Williams from publicising her memoir, Careless People, was “improper and unlawful” and a “blatant violation of the first amendment”. It also accuses the company of “coercive surveillance”. Continue reading...

• JPMorgan Chase has launched a $50 billion share buyback program, signaling strong confidence in its financial position. • The move follows Federal Reserve stress tests, which confirmed that major U.S. banks maintain strong capitalization and stable capital requirements. • This initiative is part of a broader trend among top U.S. financial institutions to increase shareholder payouts following the regulatory approvals.

• The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid spacecraft has captured the largest and most detailed image ever produced of the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. • The high-resolution photograph features over 60 million stars and identifies 51 known exoplanet systems within the region. • This achievement provides astronomers with an unprecedented dataset to study the galactic center and the distribution of stellar bodies.

US among nations sending help to search for survivors on country’s north coast where dozen of buildings flattenedVenezuela earthquake – latest updatesRescue teams are racing to Venezuela’s shattered northern coast after a sucker punch of almost simultaneous earthquakes reduced dozens of buildings to rubble, with thousands feared to have been killed.The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the Department of Defense would help search and rescue teams deploy to the affected region after Venezuela’s main gateway, the Simón Bolívar international airport, was badly damaged by 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, less than 40 seconds apart, late on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading...

• The House of Representatives has given final approval to a landmark housing bill designed to increase the housing supply and lower costs. • The legislation provides funding to convert abandoned infrastructure into residential spaces and creates a framework for reforming outdated zoning regulations that currently limit large-scale developments. • Key provisions include raising financing limits for public housing renovations and codifying a recovery program to expedite funding for communities rebuilding after disasters.

• The S&P 500 has already risen 9% in 2026, with Wall Street analysts predicting further growth for U.S. stocks in the second half of the year. • Consensus estimates project a full-year revenue increase of 11%, marking the fastest growth since 2022, and an earnings surge of 23%, the fastest since 2021. • This optimistic outlook is driven by expectations of strong financial results from S&P 500 companies across the remaining quarters.

• The global Artificial Intelligence Trust, Risk and Security Management (AI TRiSM) market is projected to grow from USD 3.20 billion in 2025 to USD 20.66 billion by 2035. • This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5% over the forecast period. • The surge in adoption is primarily driven by the need for governance platforms to ensure compliance with the EU AI Act's strict regulatory obligations.

• Global spending on AI data centers surpassed $300 billion in 2025, marking a significant 60% increase compared to the previous year. • Investment trends indicate that spending on these facilities is projected to reach $27.5 billion specifically in 2026. • This surge highlights the accelerating demand for computational infrastructure to support the rapid growth and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.

• A bipartisan coalition called RAISE US, launching Thursday, is developing a comprehensive "people strategy" to prepare millions of workers for AI-driven career upheavals. • The consortium is led by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Governor, featuring partners such as Amazon, Microsoft, Bank of America, and Eli Lilly. • This initiative combines the resources of state governments, philanthropic groups, and major employers to address widespread anxiety regarding job displacement.

• Amazon will invest an additional $13 billion in India over the next four years, bringing its total planned spending on AI and cloud infrastructure to $21 billion by 2030. • The announcement followed a June 25 meeting in New Delhi between Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. • Funds will expand AWS data center capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad, providing Indian startups and government agencies access to custom Trainium chips and AI services.

Government draft bill to ban abusive practices in England and Wales hailed as ‘historic’ by campaigners Perpetrators of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ against LGBTQ+ people could face up to five years in prison under proposals hailed as a “historic and long overdue” milestone by campaigners.The government has published its draft conversion practices bill, which would ban abusive conversion practices that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales. Continue reading...

• U.S. District Judge Denise Casper in Boston has issued a ruling that converts a preliminary injunction into a permanent ban on several of Donald Trump's election overhaul efforts. • The decision follows a lawsuit brought by Democratic state attorneys general, rejecting the Republican administration's claim that the legal challenge was premature. • This ruling effectively blocks the implementation of proposed election rule changes that the administration sought to put in place.

• Geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar claims that Israeli intelligence (Mossad) attempted to assassinate Pakistan's Army Chief during high-stakes US-Iran peace negotiations in Switzerland. • Pakistani military intelligence reportedly intercepted the plot in time, issuing a severe warning to Israel to prevent the attack from occurring. • The incident underscores the extreme volatility of global diplomacy and the potential for covert operations to derail international peace efforts.

• India successfully chased down Afghanistan's target of 194 in the 1st ODI of the 2026 Afghanistan tour of India. • Shubman Gill led the charge with a dominant 84 off 66 balls, supported by KL Rahul who contributed 39 runs from 19 deliveries. • India reached 195/3 in 22.5 overs, securing a comprehensive victory and a strong start to the series.

• Ukraine has officially opened European Union accession talks, focusing on a set of "Fundamentals" that include democracy, the rule of law, and anti-corruption measures. • Despite this progress, the process is threatened by a persistent power struggle and unresolved judicial reforms within Ukraine's legal system. • The move has been welcomed domestically in Kyiv, while Russia maintains a contradictory stance, claiming it does not oppose Ukraine's integration into the EU.

Reeves refused to say whether she would accept a more junior job in cabinet if Burnham offered her oneGood morning. Rachel Reeves now seems to resigned to losing her job as chancellor when Andy Burnham becomes PM, probably three weeks tomorrow. She had reportedly been angling to stay in post, but she has given an interview to the BBC with a tone that is distinctly valedictory.Reeves says she is backing Burnham to be the next PM. Asked why she did not stand in Downing Street to hear Keir Starmer’s resignation speech on Monday, but did turn up in Westminster Hall for a photocall with Burnham with other Labour MPs, she did not offer an explanation, but said her loyalty to Starmer had never been in doubt. She also said she was proud of her record.I know that whoever is prime minister and chancellor in the future will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago.Those are the choices that the new prime minister, I hope Andy Burnham, will get to make in a few weeks time. I’m not going to pre-empt those. It is his prerogative as prime minister to make those appointments. Continue reading...

• Micron and Qualcomm released positive financial forecasts, triggering a massive $400 billion rally across AI-related chip stocks. • The surge is driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory and AI-capable processors as companies integrate artificial intelligence into consumer devices. • This rally underscores the critical role of hardware infrastructure in the AI boom, signaling robust investor confidence in the semiconductor sector's growth.

• Leonardo CEO Roberto Mariani warned that Italy must maintain its current growth in defense spending to avoid becoming "EU subordinates" to France and Germany. • Mariani noted that a sudden jump from 1.5% to 3.5% of GDP in military spending would have overwhelmed Italian industries, making a gradual investment path essential. • The warning emphasizes that any three- or four-year interruption in funding would leave Italy unable to compete with the sustained investments of its European neighbors.

• The European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope has captured the largest and most detailed image to date of the Milky Way’s center, featuring millions of stars. • This high-resolution imagery marks a significant advancement in astronomical observation, paving the way for a new era of planetary discovery. • NASA is scheduled to launch the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope in August, which is named after the agency's first chief of astronomy.

• Startup Katalyst Space is partnering with NASA to attempt a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to save the aging Swift space telescope. • The Arizona-based company developed a 935-pound robotic spacecraft called LINK in just 250 days to facilitate the operation. • The mission is critical because LINK must physically interact with and stabilize the observatory, which was not originally designed for such interventions.

• The U.S. Department of Justice announced the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging 455 defendants for their roles in massive fraud and opioid abuse schemes. • The group of defendants includes 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals who allegedly submitted over $6.5 billion in false health care claims. • This enforcement action is critical as the schemes caused significant patient harm, including deaths, highlighting the lethal consequences of medical fraud.

Transcript of congressional testimony shows Microsoft founder spoke of ‘veiled’ threats made by late sex offenderThe Microsoft founder Bill Gates told US members of Congress that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had sought to “blackmail” him over his extramarital affairs, according to a transcript of the testimony.The tech pioneer testified behind closed doors before the House oversight committee on 10 June regarding his friendship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 as he awaited trial for sex crimes. Continue reading...

Aemo modelling shows electricity use will nearly double by 2050. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.There will be plenty of politics to come but we start with good news: thanks to the recent boom in batteries connected to the national power grid, we’re going to save money on new transmission lines. That’s despite our power use being expected to nearly double in the next decade or so. Continue reading...

Spending on government contracts with tech firms that use AI-powered tools to track immigrants has soared to record levels under Trump 2.0, report saysA new report sheds light on the unprecedented growth of the US government’s immigration surveillance arsenal, revealing fresh details about how spending on technology and AI tools to find and track migrants has soared to record levels during Donald Trump’s second term.The report, released this week, analyzed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) contracts with 11 companies the authors said provide surveillance tech. They found the money awarded to these firms doubled from 2024 to 2025, to just over $310m – and in 2026, that number soared to a record $513m. Continue reading...

• President Trump met with GOP senators following the cancellation of a scheduled housing bill signing, though reports indicate he eventually signed a housing affordability bill. • In New York’s 10th Congressional District, candidate Lander secured an election victory as part of a broader progressive surge. • The win is linked to a wave of challenges supported by Mamdani allies, who are attempting to reshape New York City's political landscape.

• Pro- and anti-AI interest groups spent a combined $24 million on a single congressional race in New York's 12th district. • The spending was funneled through Super PACs, which are permitted to raise and spend unlimited funds to support or oppose specific candidates. • This high-spending contest serves as a bellwether for how the AI industry intends to influence political outcomes through massive financial injections.

Refugee charities fear controversial changes, including on forced removals and age checks, are being rushed throughShabana Mahmood’s controversial plans to increase the forced removal of people refused asylum, introduce stringent age checks for people claiming to be children and limit applications under human rights laws are scheduled to be placed before MPs within days.The immigration and asylum bill is expected to be put before parliament next Tuesday and will face opposition from some Labour, Lib Dem and independent MPs. Andy Burnham’s team, widely expected to be in No 10 within weeks, is understood to be aware of the bill and its contents. Continue reading...

Pro- and anti-AI groups spent $24m on a congressional contest in New York, but it’s unclear to what endUS politics live – latest updatesWhen the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th congressional district was called on Tuesday night, the result capped off one of the most expensive races of its kind in the state’s history. More than $24m poured into the Manhattan contest from tech-backed financial groups as the campaign turned into a battleground for pro- and anti-AI groups to test their influence.Much of the spending targeted candidate Alex Bores, a member of the state assembly who sponsored an AI safety bill and subsequently became a lightning rod for the tech industry. Pro-AI political action committees (Pacs) put more than $8m into the race to oppose Bores, according to Tech Influence Watch, while industry groups supporting regulation spent more than $16m to counter the attacks. Continue reading...