TOP OF THE AGENDA

Biden criticises 'dangerous precedent'

A small group of protesters played on repeat Shame on You outside the Supreme Court. Credit: BBC

President Joe Biden has offered a very different take on the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity to his predecessor. Donald Trump, the first former president in US history to be convicted in a criminal trial, had hailed the judgement as a "big win" for democracy. President Biden described it as a "dangerous precedent" that undermined the rule of law and was "a terrible disservice" to Americans. The ruling gives gives total immunity from criminal prosecution to all former presidents when carrying out official duties, but not when performing "unofficial acts". Effectively, it puts the onus on lower federal courts to draw the line. But as Julie Novkov, the dean of Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, points out, those decisions would be subject to appeal. "The Supreme Court is clear they want to have the last say in how those lines get cut," she said.   

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• Hush-money case: Donald Trump's lawyers have reportedly asked for the former president's conviction to be overturned and his sentencing this month delayed. Legal experts have expressed doubts over whether the immunity defence can be argued in this case.

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• Trump's legal troubles: How the Supreme Court ruling affects the four criminal cases awaiting trial.

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• Watch: Nomia Iqbal explains in 60 seconds the implications of the ruling on Trump as he continues his 2024 campaign.

WORLD HEADLINES

• Jeffrey Epstein: A judge in Florida has ordered the surprise release of graphic transcripts from the state's 2006 prosecution of the financier, describing him as "the most infamous pedophile in American history".

• Karen Read: A judge has declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict in the case of a US woman charged with running over her police officer boyfriend and leaving him for dead in a snowbank.

• Lese-majeste laws: Cambodia has jailed 10 environmental activists who sounded the alarm on river pollution for plotting against the government - three of them were also charged with insulting the king.

• Project Konstantin: The charity focused on providing support to frontline soldiers in Ukraine has announced its founder Peter Fouché died on 27 June while working as a combat medic in east Ukraine.

• When puberty hits: Cambridge University researchers have identified six genes which they say "profoundly" affect the age of the first menstrual period, which in turn is linked to health issues including weight gain.

UK ELECTION LATEST

As the electoral campaign draws to a close, Laura Kuenssberg reflects on whether candidates have truly grappled with the issues the country faces. Indeed, some issues voters have raised with the BBC through our Your Voice, Your Vote initiative barely got a mention in party manifestos. There are two days left for politicians to make their case to voters. In an interview with the BBC, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he has "not given up on winning". Our live page brings you the latest.

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