Andy Burnham, in his first week as Prime Minister, worked from Manchester and announced £1.5bn in spending commitments, including capping bus fares and tackling rough sleeping. Funding sources vary, with some policies unfunded, raising questions about future fiscal choices.
A news briefing highlights the Christian Brothers' agreement to compensate abuse survivors, new US trade tariffs on Australian exports, and domestic concerns over an impending El Niño summer, alongside other headlines including a Socceroos star's alleged drug test and airport advertising disputes.
The US State Department's official policy to dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC) "brick by brick" is seen as a critical threat to international justice. This move, involving sanctions on officials and pressure on allies, aligns the US with autocrats and follows previous Trump-era actions against the ICC.
England's reigning Nations League champion men's amputee football team faces missing the upcoming World Cup in Mexico due to a £50,000 funding gap. Former head coach Scott Rogers described the situation as "criminal," highlighting the team's reliance on donations after FA funding cuts in 2006, despite the FA's significant turnover.
A US study in Ohio found that replacing gas stoves with electric ones led to a 70% drop in hospital admissions and work/school days off for people with poorly controlled asthma, along with a 70% reduction in indoor nitrogen dioxide.
Over two dozen states have sued the Trump administration, challenging Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security policies that tie billions in federal disaster funding to compliance with election and immigration conditions, arguing these violate the U.S. Constitution.
Insurance tech startup Corgi is reportedly raising a B2 extension round, closely following its B1 raise, which would double its valuation. The Y Combinator alum, offering AI-powered insurance, data room software, and coffee shops, is backed by TCV and Kindred Ventures, with revenue projected to hit $450 million by year-end.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a "generational investment" of nearly $1.5 trillion for 2027 military spending, a 44% increase, while also seeking emergency funds for the ongoing, unpopular Iran war. This comes despite a previous order for budget cuts and questions about $75bn in unobligated funds from a prior bump.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon proposes directing children towards vocational careers such as plumbing and electrical work as early as elementary school. This initiative aims to address the high demand for skilled tradespeople and a labor shortage, particularly with the rapid construction of AI data centers. The proposal revives the divisive concept of 'tracking' students.
Smarter Web sold 177.89 Bitcoin for $11.7 million to repay a convertible instrument, reducing its BTC holdings by 6.18% and simplifying its capital structure. The repayment extinguished a potential claim for 7.72 million new shares, impacting Bitcoin exposure per share.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam called "Save Manipur" slogans provocative, accusing opposition parties like AAP and Congress of inciting violence during student protests in New Delhi to disrupt Parliament. He also alleged foreign funding for the demonstrations and reported police investigating a damaged bridge in Kamjong district.
Shanghai is introducing measures to boost its technology sector, including dedicated funds for "choke point" technologies, new channels for offshore yuan investment via QFLP, and allowing pre-profit AI and nuclear fusion firms to list on its tech board.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s HHS faces a major test as a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak sickens thousands across the U.S., exposing a fragile food safety system. Experts blame chronic underfunding, budget cuts, and personnel turnover for hampering the response and eroding public trust, despite agency assurances.
The British army cancelled planned training in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a defence agreement, seeking greater accountability for British soldiers. Negotiations are ongoing regarding jurisdiction and payment, impacting economic activity and the UK-Kenya defence partnership.
Australia has announced an additional $4.6 billion investment for the Submarine Construction Yard at Adelaide's Osborne shipyards, bringing total AUKUS funding there to $8.5 billion. This aims to develop sovereign capability for nuclear-powered submarines and create thousands of jobs, with the first delivery expected in the early 2040s.
AI chip startup Etched, founded by three Harvard dropouts, has closed a $300 million Series C funding round, valuing the company at $10.3 billion. This marks a doubling of its valuation in seven months, following successful chip manufacturing and $1 billion in orders.
New data from the Metropolitan Police shows a significant drop in neighbourhood crime and homicides in London, with the Mayor attributing success to record police funding and the Violence Reduction Unit. The report aims to counter online disinformation portraying London as a "lawless" city.
The Trump administration plans to reallocate federal R&D funding, directing money to individual scientists and agile research organizations instead of traditional institutions like Harvard and MIT. This strategy, outlined in the 'Science: A New Golden Age' report, aims to accelerate technological discovery, particularly in AI, to secure US dominance against China. Universities may face challenges as funding priorities shift.
House Republicans passed a $1.1 trillion military funding bill (NDAA), a $95 billion budget blueprint, and a bill to ban lawmaker stock trading before their recess. The NDAA and budget face uncertain paths in the Senate due to bipartisan opposition and procedural hurdles.
The Trump administration plans to redirect billions in federal R&D funding from universities to individual scientists and AI projects. This overhaul, outlined in a White House report, aims to boost US competitiveness against China, which has matched US R&D spending.
Republican backlash led to over $1 billion in federal funding cuts for public media, impacting South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB). Despite layoffs and show cancellations, SDPB raised a record $8 million in private funds and secured state subsidies, allowing journalist Lori Walsh to return to air in a modified role.
Glasgow is set to host a pared-back Commonwealth Games after stepping in when Victoria pulled out due to costs. Despite initial low public awareness and reduced budget, the city aims for success, drawing on positive memories from 2014, though broadcasting rights and colonial origins spark some debate.
Over 70 mosque attacks occurred in the UK last year, with data showing a 19% rise in anti-Muslim hate crime in England and Wales. The British Muslim Trust criticizes the government's £40m security funding scheme for being difficult to access and slow, despite the increasing threat.
Yope, a startup building an algorithm-free, private social network focused on "micro communities," secured $12.3 million in funding led by Northzone. The app, with 15 million users, aims to offer a premium, ad-free experience for real-world connections, leveraging AI for games and real-life meetups.
