Trump Administration Memo Proposes Cutting State Department Funding by Nearly Half

Extensive coral bleaching has been confirmed at Australia's Great Barrier Reef for the sixth time in less than a decade, driven by warming oceans and severe floods. Prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures has led to 41% of surveyed reefs experiencing medium to high bleaching, with the worst stress recorded from Cooktown to Cape York. Experts emphasize the urgent need for climate action, with calls for the Australian government to adopt policies that significantly reduce climate...

Ukraine extends martial law until August Ukraine's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to extend martial law until August 6, 2025, as the country continues to face a full-scale invasion from Russia, allowing troop mobilization and suspending elections. Meanwhile, a group of Serbian students completed a 1,300km cycling journey from Novi Sad to Strasbourg to raise awareness of ongoing protests against alleged government corruption following a tragic train station collapse. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen...

The Chancellor announced that although wages are growing faster than prices, many families are still grappling with the cost of living. UK inflation has decreased to 2.6%, prompting the Bank of England to consider interest rate cuts. Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is set to visit Beijing to reignite trade discussions, the UK Supreme Court will determine the legal definition of a woman in a case against the Scottish government, and pollution incidents from water...

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., temporarily blocked President Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Susman Godfrey, which represents Dominion Voting Systems. Judge Loren AliKhan criticized the order as a "shocking abuse of power," asserting it infringed on the firm's rights and free speech. This ruling highlights the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and various law firms, with some firms supporting the president's initiatives while others, like Susman Godfrey, continue to contest his...

After over three years of negotiations, countries reached a landmark accord at the World Health Organization's headquarters to address future pandemics, aiming to prevent past mistakes from the Covid-19 crisis. The 32-page agreement includes a proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) to enhance data sharing for quick pandemic response, despite lingering disagreements about technology transfers to developing nations. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the deal as a significant milestone for global cooperation, emphasizing...

Bonuses at EU specialist investment firms have surged since they were exempted from the bloc's bonus cap rules, with average bonuses for key staff reaching €1.5mn in 2022 and €1.15mn in 2023, exceeding six times their fixed pay. The European Banking Authority (EBA) highlighted a gender pay gap, noting women earned 24.5% less than men at deposit-taking banks and 32% less at investment firms, with calls for better analysis and action to address this disparity....