Step

Former senior adviser to Trump is seeking reelection despite domestic abuse allegations by his ex-wifeHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Donald Trump is declining to say whether representative Max Miller, of Ohio, should withdraw his reelection bid following domestic abuse allegations levelled against him by his ex-wife.One month after the United States supreme court struck down his first attempt to restrict the guarantee of birthright citizenship enshrined in the US constitution, Donald ⁠Trump signed ⁠executive orders ​on Thursday that aim to deny ⁠US citizenship to children born in the United States to so-called “birth tourists”.The two new orders came just five weeks ago after the US supreme court struck down Trump’s previous order denying citizenship to the children of non-citizens, a right that has been guaranteed since the 14th amendment was ratified in 1868.The orders were part of a quixotic campaign Trump has waged for more than a decade, since he promised to eliminate the right at a 2015 campaign event.Despite an endorsement from Trump, congressman Andy Ogles, a virulently anti-Muslim Tennessee Republican, was in danger of losing his re-election bid to a primary challenger backed by the state’s governor, Bill Lee.Trump refused to confirm a Washington Post report that he told donors at a recent meeting that they need to help JD Vance win the 2028 presidential election. Continue reading...

• Reports from Cisco Talos and CrowdStrike indicate that cybercriminals are increasingly integrating AI into their daily operations to evolve their attack tradecraft. • Experts, including CultureAI researcher Oliver Simonnet, warn that AI is likely already embedded in attacker workflows, necessitating a shift toward detecting malicious behavior over identifying AI usage. • To counter these threats, security teams are urged to treat Large Language Models (LLMs) and APIs as high-risk infrastructure while strengthening patching and logging protocols.

• Google is facing a significant leadership shake-up as several senior engineers and leaders of the Gemini AI model depart the company. • Veteran engineers Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat are leaving to launch a new startup called Discovery Loop, which will focus on machine learning, science, and engineering breakthroughs. • These high-profile exits occur amid growing concerns that Google is falling behind its competitors in the global artificial intelligence race.

• Arsenal have granted midfielder Christian Norgaard permission to undergo a medical with Everton as part of a proposed £7 million transfer. • Norgaard has already been excluded from Arsenal's squad traveling to Dublin to facilitate the move. • The development comes as the transfer window remains open until September 1, with other clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City targeting Pep Chavarria and Pedro Neto.

Trump loyalist, who also has president’s endorsement, has spent millions trying to prove 2020 election was ‘stolen’Mike Lindell is leaving his role with the company to focus on his campaign to become the next governor of Minnesota. In a social media post published Tuesday, Lindell said that the company is strong enough to withstand his departure.“This decision is not about walking away. It is about stepping forward to serve. I am putting Minnesota above myself, my title, and my business interests so I can give this campaign and the people of our state my full time, energy, and attention,” Lindell said. Continue reading...

• Ariana Grande has announced she will "step back from visibility" following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour to distance herself from ongoing public scrutiny. • As part of this hiatus, the three-time Grammy winner is dropping out of the musical production "Sunday in the Park With George." • This decision follows a period of high professional success, including her role as Glinda in the 2024 "Wicked" movie, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

Singer was due to reunite with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in London production of Sunday in the Park With GeorgeAriana Grande has announced plans to take a break from public-facing work after her tour ends due to “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”. She is pulling out of the upcoming London revival of Sunday in the Park With George.The pop singer was due to appear opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s critically acclaimed musical at the Barbican in 2027. Continue reading...

• The article explores whether a potential breakthrough in Gaza could serve as a catalyst for a historic diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran. • It argues that the interconnected nature of Middle Eastern conflicts means that a durable reduction in violence in Gaza would shift strategic calculations for key regional players, including Tehran, Riyadh, and Cairo. • This shift is significant because stabilizing Gaza could fundamentally alter the geopolitical balance of power and break the cycle of instability that has plagued previous U.S. administrations.

• The U.S. is seeing a surge in vaccine policy activity, with over 400 state vaccine bills introduced and nine new laws enacted. • New federal charters have been established through July 2028, focusing on healthy lifestyle initiatives, dietary supplements, and FDA-approved off-label drug use. • To ensure impartiality, the charter mandates that members from academia with pharmaceutical funding cannot exceed one-third of the committee, while public members must comprise at least one-third.

• Hong Kong regulators are overhauling rules for high-risk investments following an 80% plunge in a popular leveraged fund tied to South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix. • The sell-off was triggered by fears of increased competition from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies and skepticism regarding the long-term payback of massive AI investments. • This event highlights the volatility of leveraged tech funds and the systemic risk posed by concentrated bets on the semiconductor industry.

• Former Late Show host Stephen Colbert was honored with an "anti-censorship" award from the Before Columbus Foundation. • The Oakland, California-based foundation focuses on championing and promoting diversity within United States literature and culture. • The award recognizes Colbert's efforts and influence in opposing censorship and supporting freedom of expression.

• South Korea is implementing additional measures to stabilize its stock market and restrict retail investor access to leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs). • The decision follows a severe market rout that resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in investor holdings. • The policy shift was announced late Wednesday following an emergency meeting led by Finance Minister Koo Yun Cheol and top financial authorities.

• The European Innovation Council (EIC) has selected six European scale-ups to move forward for potential investment decisions by the EIC Fund. • These six companies were chosen from an initial pool of 24 applicants, 17 of whom were invited to interview with independent high-level experts. • This selection process is part of the STEP Scale Up initiative, aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of European innovative companies.

Prime minister pays tribute to secretary and president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions after surprise announcement. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn a statement, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, described Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil as personal friends and “giants of the labour movement”.He said:Working families are in a stronger financial position today than they would otherwise be because of the tireless advocacy and strong leadership of Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil.Sally and Michele secured incredible successes for working people in their eight years together leading Australia’s union movement – the first all-female leadership team in the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ 99-year history.Union membership is growing, and workers have over 47 new workplace rights. But of course, there are still big challenges with cost-of-living pressures, AI, and billionaires who have too much wealth and power. Continue reading...

Julie Masino faced criticism as restaurant chain was called ‘woke’ and ‘soulless’ after unveiling modernized logoCracker Barrel’s CEO, Julie Masino, is stepping down, the restaurant announced Monday, nearly a year after the company was swept into a political maelstrom over proposed modernizations to its branding.Critics on social media denounced the Tennessee-based rustic restaurant chain as “woke” as well as “sterile and soulless” after it unveiled an updated logo that removed Uncle Herschel, the overall-clad man leaning against a barrel in the restaurant’s original logo, last August. Donald Trump weighed in on the updates soon after, posting: “WTF is wrong with Cracker Barrel?!” and demanding on social media that the company “admit a mistake.” Continue reading...

• Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo is stepping down from his leadership role, according to an official government announcement. • Warjiyo first assumed the position of governor in 2018, overseeing the nation's monetary policy and financial stability for several years. • The transition marks a significant shift in Indonesia's central bank leadership, which is critical for managing inflation and currency stability.

• NASA has issued Amendment 66 regarding the B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research (HFR) solicitation, which focuses on advancing the physical understanding of the Sun-Heliosphere-Planetary system. • The update specifically announces the due date for "Step-2" proposals and includes a necessary correction to the previous solicitation guidelines. • This process is critical for selecting scientific investigations that will drive foundational research in heliophysics and space weather.

European Commission says Paramount Skydance’s decision to end Universal venture addresses merger concernsParamount Skydance’s £80bn takeover of Warner Brothers took a step closer to being realised after it won conditional approval from the European Union.The European Commission said Paramount’s offer to ⁠end a film ⁠distribution ​joint venture with Universal Pictures addressed its concerns over the potential merger. As part of its commitments in the EU, Paramount has 13 months from the date of closing the deal to pull out from the venture. Continue reading...

• Yogendra Yadav reports on the "Sansad Chalo March" led by the Cockroach Janata Party on July 20, where student protesters brought their grievances to the Prime Minister's doorstep. • The movement emphasizes a shift for the Opposition, moving away from traditional electoral politics toward a "politics of resistance" centered at Jantar Mantar. • This shift matters as it signals a growing trend of grassroots activism and direct confrontation with government authority over student issues.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for increased diplomatic efforts and restraint to end the escalating conflict between the US and Iran. • The conflict has spread across ten nations, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, leading to attacks on vital infrastructure. • This instability is causing significant global economic pressure, specifically impacting trade systems, humanitarian access, fuel prices, and the cost of basic commodities.

• Hungarian President Sulyok has signed a constitutional amendment that effectively ends his term, resolving a political dispute with the new government. • Sulyok criticized the move in a Facebook video, claiming the forced amendment proves that the rule of law and democratic power-sharing have been "trampled on" for political gain. • His presidency will officially conclude at midnight on Monday, at which point Parliament Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer will assume his duties.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for increased global cooperation in artificial intelligence, pledging to provide 5,000 AI training opportunities to developing countries over the next five years. • China aims to expand AI partnerships with major international blocs, including ASEAN, the African Union, the BRICS countries, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. • This diplomatic push comes as U.S.-led restrictions continue to block China's access to advanced technologies, forcing the nation to accelerate its own domestic tech development.

Former Greater Manchester mayor expected to take reins as prime minister and appoint new cabinet on MondayAndy Burnham has become the leader of the Labour party, paving the way for him to take over as British prime minister on Monday.The former mayor of Greater Manchester won the overwhelming support of MPs, trade unions and party branches, making him the only choice to take over from Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

• On 14 July, the European Union held intergovernmental conferences in Brussels to advance the membership process for four candidate nations: Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine. • These meetings served to ceremonially inaugurate or conclude specific negotiation tracks, representing the most significant enlargement effort in over two decades. • This move signals a strategic shift in EU expansion, integrating Eastern European and Balkan nations to strengthen regional stability and political alignment.

Replacement of panels with version that’s sympathetic to enslavers comes amid effort by Trump to dismantle diversity initiativesCritics say the Trump administration acted under the “cover of darkness” to replace an exhibit exploring the lives of nine enslaved people who lived at George Washington’s ​Philadelphia home with a version that is overly sympathetic to enslavers and that whitewashes the country’s origins.The installation of new information panels followed a six-month fight between the city of Philadelphia and the Trump administration over an enslavement memorial at the former home of Washington and John Adams. Continue reading...

• Israeli identity management startup Oak has emerged from stealth mode after securing $60 million in seed funding. • Co-founded by serial entrepreneur and former army major Shai Morag, the company aims to replace manual, operations-based identity processes with risk-based triggers. • The solution addresses security gaps created by AI agents and anomalies, such as employees logging in from unusual locations.

Different Seasons, which incudes stories that inspired films such as Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, judged to contain ‘objective sensitive material’Stephen King is the most banned author in US schools, according to reportA collection of Stephen King novellas that inspired classic films including Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption has been banned from Utah public schools.Published in 1982, the collection, titled Different Seasons, contains four novellas: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: Hope Springs Eternal, Apt Pupil: Summer of Corruption, The Body: Fall from Innocence, and The Breathing Method: A Winter’s Tale. Continue reading...

• Scientists have developed a new theoretical framework that expands the application of thermodynamics to dynamic, ever-changing black holes. • Previously, these laws were primarily applicable to perfectly stable black holes, limiting the scope of astrophysical models. • This upgrade is significant as it allows for a deeper understanding of complex phenomena, including black hole mergers and the process of evaporation.