Member of cultlike Zizians group charged with murder of her parents 24. June 2026 (19:57) Michelle Zajko, in jail since February 2025 on other charges, has been charged in 2022 Pennsylvania killings of parentsA member of the cultlike group known as Zizians, who has denied killing her parents in Pennsylvania in 2022, has been charged with murder, a prosecutor said Wednesday.Michelle Zajko, who has been jailed in Maryland on other charges since February 2025, has been charged with murder, burglary and conspiracy charges in the deaths of Rita and Richard Zajko, Delaware county district attorney Tanner Rouse said at a news conference. The prosecutor said she did not act alone. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel says IDF is staying in southern Lebanon, undermining Iran peace talks 24. June 2026 (19:57) Defence minister says troops not withdrawing though Tehran sees end to war in Lebanon as part of deal with USThe Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, has said that Israeli troops would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, further complicating Iran peace talks as fighting in Lebanon continues to be an obstacle to permanent peace.Speaking on stage in an interview in Tel Aviv, Katz said Israeli troops would remain in south Lebanon – echoing sentiments from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Big tech spent millions on a single US congressional race. It won’t be the last time 24. June 2026 (19:55) 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...(The Guardian)
Germany’s railways grind to halt as IT maintenance snag takes down network 24. June 2026 (19:37) Deutsche Bahn widely criticised after hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded in operator’s latest setbackGermany’s rail network ground to a halt late on Tuesday as a result of maintenance work that went wrong, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers unable to get home as the national operator faced widespread criticism over the chaos.The Deutsche Bahn (DB) meltdown was initially thought to have been caused by a cyber-attack, but it later emerged that it was likely to have been triggered by a scheduled attempt to replace an ageing component in the railway’s internal communication network, without which the trains are unable to run. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazilian federal police arrest Spanish citizen at São Paulo airport for racism 24. June 2026 (19:34) Woman detained at airport after allegedly making racist remarks directed at workers unloading baggage, police sayBrazil’s federal police have detained a Spanish citizen in São Paulo’s international Guarulhos airport for racism, in the latest of a series of high-profile arrests of foreign tourists on similar grounds.Brazil has some of the strictest anti-racism laws in Latin America. Insulting a person on the basis of race carries a penalty of imprisonment from two to five years and a fine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US says chemical giant Chemours to pay $450m to settle ‘forever chemicals’ case 24. June 2026 (19:29) Agreement is first by federal government to resolve enforcement claims against a major Pfas manufacturerThe Trump administration on Wednesday reached a multi-state settlement with the chemical giant Chemours Co over years-long, illegal discharges of synthetic “forever chemicals” used to make products resistant to water, grease and stains. The settlement is the first by the federal government to resolve enforcement claims against a manufacturer of harmful chemicals known as Pfas.Under the agreement, filed in federal court in West Virginia, Chemours will pay a civil penalty of $22.5m for alleged violations and spend $90m over 15 years to mitigate Pfas discharges in three states: West Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senators alarmed at Trump administration website Moms.gov promoting anti-abortion facilities 24. June 2026 (17:54) Administration claims website is resource for ‘new and expecting mothers’ but group of senators says it raises ‘profound’ health and safety concernsA group of 11 senators have sent a letter to Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy urging them to remove a federal website and “cease using federal resources to direct people to anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers”.On Mother’s Day this year, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched Moms.gov, a resource they claim is for “new and expecting mothers” and “offers guidance and information to support the health and wellbeing of mothers and their families”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump accused of showing ‘complete indifference’ to Americans’ living costs after cancelling housing bill signing – US politics live 24. June 2026 (17:51) President was due to sign deal aimed at making life more affordable for Americans but shelved event to pressure Congress to pass restrictive voting bill Trump abruptly cancels signing of bill aimed at lowering housing costSign up for the Breaking News US emailA man or a movement? That was the question being asked when Zohran Mamdani gambled his political capital on Tuesday’s elections in New York.The answer from voters was emphatic: they prefer Mamdani and his brand of democratic socialism to the Democratic party establishment and its lukewarm version of capitalism. America’s biggest city has swung even further to the left.This is a battle between the establishment and this insurgency. And the roof is collapsing on the Democratic party establishment tonight … This is no longer a movement; this is a movement and a machine at the same time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump abruptly cancels plan to sign bipartisan bill aimed at lowering cost of housing 24. June 2026 (17:50) President is demanding Senate approve Save America Act, which would dramatically change voting regulationsUS politics – live updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump abruptly shelved plans to sign a broad bipartisan bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing on Wednesday, demanding Congress first approve his controversial legislation to overhaul US election rules and regulations.The president is pushing the Senate to approve the Save America Act, which would dramatically change voting regulations by requiring proof of citizenship at voter registration and significantly curtail mail-in voting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI helps read papyrus scroll burnt to crisp during Vesuvius eruption 24. June 2026 (17:48) Previously hidden text revealed without unrolling scroll discusses stoic philosophy on ethics, art and human behaviourThe surviving part of an ancient scroll that was burnt to a crisp when Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago has been virtually unwrapped and read with help from artificial intelligence.Researchers uncovered 20 columns of previously hidden text covering more than a metre of charred papyrus without physically unrolling the scroll. The work discusses stoic philosophy on ethics, art and human behaviour and dates to the second or late-third century BC. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
