Neymar announces emotional retirement from international football 

Poland’s main opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party has fractured following a severe internal dispute over its political strategy, with former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and dozens of his allies breaking ranks with longtime leader Jarosław Kaczyński. The split occurred after Kaczyński issued an ultimatum demanding all PiS lawmakers sign a strict loyalty oath committing them not to collaborate with outside political groups. Dozens of parliamentarians, led by Morawiecki, refused to sign the pledge before the deadline, leading Kaczyński to declare that those who abstained had effectively resigned from the party. The former prime minister confirmed that his faction includes 40 members of parliament, three members of the European Parliament, and one senator, though he maintained that his group sought to preserve unity while broadening the right-wing electoral base toward younger, centre-right voters. The division threatens PiS’s status as the largest party in the Polish parliament, a position it held despite losing power to Donald Tusk’s pro-European coalition in 2023. As the conservative vote increasingly fragments across competing factions ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections, the formal expulsion of the dissident lawmakers is scheduled to be processed at a party leadership meeting.

The University of Cambridge has announced a review of its procedures for appointing senior academics following the resignation of Professor Jason Arday amid allegations of plagiarism and questions surrounding parts of his academic record. Cambridge said an ongoing investigation into Arday’s qualifications, previous appointments and tenure would inform the wider review of how senior academic positions are filled. Arday, a professor of sociology of education and fellow of Jesus College, stepped down after allegations emerged concerning his academic work and claims made about his professional background. He has rejected accusations of deliberate plagiarism and denied fabricating his achievements. The controversy has prompted calls from academics for an independent investigation into how Arday was appointed to a senior position at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Priyamvada Gopal, a Cambridge professor who is among those calling for an independent inquiry, said the controversy had caused significant reputational damage to the university. She argued that Cambridge should not investigate itself and urged the involvement of academics from outside the institution. Cambridge said it was aware of the concerns surrounding the case and would continue examining the circumstances of Arday’s appointment and tenure. Jesus College welcomed the university’s decision to review its appointment procedures. The college said Arday’s position as a fellow depended on his university appointment and that it relied on Cambridge to verify academic credentials. The University of Glasgow, where Arday served as Professor of Sociology of Education from January 2022 to March 2023, has also launched its own review. The university said the review would establish the facts surrounding his appointment and identify lessons for the future. The controversy began after US researcher Nathan Cofnas raised allegations that sections of Arday’s PhD dissertation had been copied from earlier academic works. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his doctorate, said it had investigated the plagiarism allegations last year and rejected them. The university maintained that position and said his PhD remains valid. Further questions have since been raised about some of Arday’s academic publications and claims on his CV. Some institutions where he reportedly claimed to have held academic positions have denied that he occupied those roles. Arday has acknowledged errors in his academic work but denied intentionally plagiarising material. He has suggested that autism and inadequate supervision during the early stages of his academic career may have contributed to mistakes. He has also rejected allegations that he fabricated his personal achievements and has previously argued that some of the criticism directed at him was racially motivated. The controversy has also raised questions about how allegations against Arday were handled. Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove was investigated by the Metropolitan Police following a complaint of harassment after he contacted Arday about the plagiarism allegations. The investigation was later closed. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley subsequently apologised and said the complaint should have been screened out at an earlier stage. Attention has also turned to Arday’s forthcoming memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things”, which is scheduled for publication next week. Arday previously claimed in an interview that he had received a £1.4 million advance for the memoir, although he did not specify the currency. Publishing industry figures have questioned the size of the alleged payment. Publisher Simon & Schuster has said it intends to proceed with publication. Reports have also identified differences between an earlier proposal for the memoir and the final manuscript, including changes to the timing and description of some events in Arday’s life.

Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the country’s attorney general after a closely contested Senate vote. Blanche secured confirmation by 50 votes to 49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the crucial Republican vote in Blanche’s favour after saying he believed Blanche was the strongest candidate Trump was likely to nominate. The vote ended a prolonged dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over Blanche’s appointment. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed from the position. All Senate Democrats voted against Blanche’s confirmation. Several Republican lawmakers had questioned Blanche’s record and raised concerns about his involvement in a number of controversial matters. Among them was his handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his role in developing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been politically targeted or persecuted by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, warned that the scheme could potentially benefit people prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. During his confirmation process, Blanche promised to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican senators. Questions remain over whether that commitment would prevent the administration from introducing a similar programme under a different structure in the future. Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence that he would be willing to challenge what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. She also expressed concern about the increasing politicisation of the Justice Department. Collins raised separate concerns over Blanche’s involvement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Despite those reservations, she ultimately did not support his confirmation. Cassidy, meanwhile, said he trusted Blanche to provide Trump with independent and candid legal advice. He acknowledged that the president ultimately determines the direction of the Justice Department but argued that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater authority to advise the administration and push back when necessary. Cassidy also said he did not want political disagreements to prevent the Justice Department from carrying out its responsibilities, particularly in combating violent crime. Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development for the Trump administration, given his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was serving as deputy attorney general when he assumed the department’s temporary leadership in April.