Labour U-turn on a modest policy could hit credibility hard

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced a $9.4 billion cut from USAID and public broadcasting outside the House chamber, but reporters quickly shifted focus to the controversy surrounding Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., who was forcibly removed during a press conference. Amid heckling from Democrats and Johnson's defense of Padilla's actions as "wildly inappropriate," a civil conversation ensued between Johnson and Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa. More Context

Hillel Ontario is urging Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to investigate Maher El-Masri, an interim associate dean, for allegedly promoting antisemitic content on social media, including posts comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. El-Masri, who claims the allegations are a "smear campaign," has made inflammatory statements regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, alarming some Jewish students at TMU. More Context

The Iranian government condemned a recent attack by the Zionist regime, which it claims violated Iran's territorial integrity and resulted in the deaths of patriotic citizens and innocent people in Tehran and other cities. The statement described these actions as a clear act of aggression against Iran and a violation of the United Nations Charter. More Context

Germany is prioritizing its troubled railway network as part of a €500bn infrastructure fund aimed at revitalizing its economy, with Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil proposing €10.5bn for Deutsche Bahn this year. The government also plans significant investments in broadband and bridge modernization, with hopes of rapidly implementing these projects to improve public infrastructure and job creation ahead of the 2029 elections. More Context

Biologists have confirmed the rediscovery of the long-beaked echidna, Zaglossus attenboroughi, a 200-million-year-old egg-laying mammal previously thought extinct, through camera trap footage in Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains. This species, last recorded over 60 years ago, represents one of the few remaining monotremes, highlighting the importance of combining modern technology with indigenous knowledge in conservation efforts. More Context

The European Commission is resisting calls to exempt clean energy technology producers from strict state-aid rules, creating tension between officials focused on competition and those advocating for industry support amid global competition. While some EU lawmakers and industry leaders push for production subsidies to bolster the bloc's manufacturing capabilities, Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera argues such measures could undermine competitive incentives and be deemed protectionist. More Context