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SCOTUS rules on social media case

The US Supreme Court rejected a states-led bid to limit the federal government’s ability to communicate with social media companies about content moderation. The case reflected the politically charged battle over what constitutes free speech as opposed to disinformation; that issue remains unresolved, as the justices ruled Wednesday that the plaintiffs did not have standing, but left the central question largely unanswered. Separately, the court appears poised to allow doctors in Idaho to provide abortion care in medical emergencies, according to a draft copy of a not-yet-released opinion that was accidentally posted on the court’s website.

It’s officially ‘Modi vs. Rahul’ in India

For the first time in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, India has an official opposition leader. The post had lain vacant because no party won enough seats in parliament to take it up — until the opposition surged in this year’s election, dealing a blow to Modi and raising the profile of his chief rival, Rahul Gandhi. While Modi still holds power, Gandhi’s new position gives him access to key meetings and documents, a voice in official government business, and legitimacy, analysts said. It also sets up a dynamic where “politics in India will be all about Modi versus Rahul,” The Economic Times wrote. It also bolsters India’s democratic credentials, a Bangalore-based political scientist said: “We were missing that in the last two terms.”

China reevaluates youth crime

China is grappling with how to handle young children who are accused of violent crimes, The New York Times reported. Following several cases in which children were accused of gruesome crimes, the government lowered the age at which someone can be prosecuted for murder and other serious offenses from 14 to 12. One of the first trials since that law was enacted — in which a 13-year-old is accused of stabbing an 8-year-old — began Wednesday. While some called for young defendants to be punished harshly, others pointed to underlying forces that could fuel the problem, like parental neglect or poverty, especially in rural areas. Historically, the country has taken a more lenient approach to young offenders, favoring rehabilitation over detention.

Amazon challenges Temu and Shein

Amazon plans to launch a new marketplace that hawks cheap goods shipped directly from China, The Information reported. The scheme is a direct challenge to Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu, which have had runaway success in the US thanks to their eye-wateringly low prices, vast inventories, and aggressive marketing. Amazon has already ramped up its strategies to compete with fashion retailer Shein by cutting the fees it charges third-party sellers and bringing down clothing prices. Amazon plans to dedicate a section of its site to extremely low-price sales, offering unbranded fashion and home goods that ship within nine to 11 days.

Israeli leader has eyes set on West Bank

A Foreign Policy profile outlines how Israel’s finance minister has devised a strategy to annex the West Bank — even as the war in Gaza persists. Bezalel Smotrich, head of the far-right Religious Zionism party, sees the Palestinian territory as “an inheritance that need only be claimed,” David Rosenberg, the economics editor and columnist for Haaretz, wrote. Smotrich’s strategies include changing the law to favor settlers and financially strangle the West Bank’s Palestinian Authority leadership. And the Israeli authorities, preoccupied with Gaza, are largely ignoring settler violence and illegal construction. But the defense establishment, and much of the Israeli public, oppose the effort. Less than 40% of Israelis support West Bank annexation, a survey found.

Vienna is the most livable city, again

Vienna held onto its title as the most livable city in the world, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit ranking. The Austrian capital placed just ahead of Copenhagen and Zurich in the analysis, which bases its ranking on stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Canada and Australia’s major cities also performed especially well, while Japan’s Osaka was the only Asian city to make the top 10. Globally, the average livability score increased marginally since last year, but flare-ups of civil unrest around the world “do not bode well for next year’s index,” The Economist wrote. Damascus placed last on the list, with a score of just 30.7 out of a possible 100.

Smoking mural divides Singapore

A mural depicting a woman smoking has divided public opinion in Singapore. The work spotlights samsui women, Chinese migrant workers who arrived in Singapore in the early 20th century, but city authorities reportedly ordered the cigarette be painted over. Smoking in public is banned in Singapore, and the mural is not “aligned” with policy, officials said. The order sparked a public debate about censorship and perceptions of samsui women. The discourse is emblematic of Singapore’s maturation, local artist Ong Whee Teck argued in Channel News Asia. “As society becomes more educated and cosmopolitan, it must allow for greater freedom and expression. Artists should be allowed to be edgy and provocative.”

Dinner highlights Japan, UK soft power

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife visited Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for a state banquet hosted by Britain’s King Charles III. State banquets are “soft power with sorbet,” the BBC’s royal correspondent wrote: King Charles used the occasion to stress the “partnership with deep roots” between the two tea-obsessed island nations, in particular noting the importance of Hello Kitty and Pokémon to global culture. The Japanese emperor responded in kind, noting that the countries were friends despite “times of great difficulty,” a seeming reference to past wars. Naruhito, who attended Oxford University as a young man and will visit his old college during his trip, sat at the top table with other senior royals.

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An all-in-one gene-editing technique

Researchers devised a new gene-editing technique called “RNA bridging” that can insert, invert, and delete long DNA sequences at targeted points in the genome. The method works differently to the more well-known CRISPR technique in that it doesn’t cut the target DNA — requiring a further fix — but instead recombines it to incorporate the desired modification in a single step. In a pair of studies published in Nature on Wednesday, researchers suggest it could be more precise and efficient than older tools, while two genetics experts wrote in an accompanying editorial that it had “tantalizing potential” for biotechnology.

Iconic sriracha halts production

Production of Huy Fong sriracha, one of the most popular hot sauces in the US, is on hold until at least September, the victim of a broken friendship. The condiment, known for its rooster logo and piquancy, was brought to the US in the 1980s by David Tran, a Vietnamese refugee; by 2020, the business was worth $1 billion. But Huy Fong sourced its peppers from just one farm, and Tran fell out with the owner, The Economist reported. Craig Underwood’s farm had produced about 50,000 tons of jalapeños reddened on the vine for the sauce, but differences over money and Tran’s “exacting” standards ended the partnership. Huy Fong hasn’t recovered since. “It wasn’t easy to put together that supply chain,” Underwood said.

June 27:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin holds talks with the Republic of Congo president in Moscow.
• European Union leaders meet in Brussels for a summit to approve the bloc’s new leadership and discuss Ukraine.
• The group stages are drawn for the Asian qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A French court on Wednesday upheld the validity of an arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over alleged war crimes. The Open Society Justice Initiative backed the complaint filed by victims.

An animated adaptation of the sequel to sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem has gone viral in China. The series, which is based on The Dark Forest and was reportedly made by a single animator with no budget, has been viewed more than 15 million times on Bilibili, a Chinese platform similar to YouTube. The amateur production has gained traction in part due to its sophisticated 3D animation and the use of the same soundtrack that accompanied the official audiobook, but also its humble origins. “This creation, therefore, challenges the traditional mode of animation production,” Radii China wrote.

• Top reporters leave Politico.
• House Republicans weigh punishing a member.
• Brazil’s top court votes to decriminalize marijuana possession.