The US Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to end automatic birthright citizenship, ruling that children born on American soil remain entitled to US citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status.   In a 6-3 decision delivered on the final day of its term, the court upheld the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which grants citizenship to nearly everyone born in the United States. The ruling marks another significant legal setback for Trump’s immigration agenda. According to AFP, the case centred on an executive order Trump signed on the first day of his second term, seeking to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who were in the country illegally or on temporary visas. Lower courts had previously blocked the order, finding it inconsistent with the Constitution. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country and are therefore citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment. Trump personally attended oral arguments before the Supreme Court in April, an unusual move for a sitting US president. His administration argued that unrestricted birthright citizenship encourages illegal immigration and so-called “birth tourism”, where foreign nationals travel to the United States primarily to give birth. The administration also contended that the 14th Amendment, adopted after the American Civil War, was intended to guarantee citizenship for formerly enslaved people rather than the children of undocumented migrants or temporary visitors. However, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutional interpretation established in the landmark 1898 Wong Kim Ark case. In that ruling, the court held that a man born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents was a US citizen by birth despite later immigration disputes. The latest judgment reinforces that precedent and preserves the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. The decision is the third major defeat for Trump at the Supreme Court this term. Earlier this year, the justices struck down most of his global tariff measures and also blocked his attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Mexico booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 last 16 with a convincing 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday, ending a 40-year wait for a knockout stage win at the tournament.   The co-hosts dominated the round of 32 clash at the Azteca Stadium after the match was delayed for an hour by stormy weather. Julian Quinones opened the scoring with a powerful strike before setting up Raul Jimenez to double Mexico’s advantage in the first half. Ecuador struggled to recover after the break as Mexico maintained control and comfortably saw out the victory. The result marked Mexico’s first World Cup knockout triumph since the 1986 tournament, which they also hosted. Head coach Javier Aguirre, leading Mexico at a World Cup for the third time, said the victory ended years of frustration. He recalled previous disappointments in South Korea and South Africa, where his teams failed to progress beyond the same stage, adding that the breakthrough was made even more special by the support of the home fans. Aguirre described his squad as a “true family” and praised the unity within the team, saying the players deserved their place among the tournament’s final 16. Mexico extended their impressive World Cup record at the Azteca Stadium, remaining unbeaten in 10 matches at the iconic venue. They will now face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16 before the tournament moves entirely to the United States from the quarter-finals. The hosts also finished the group stage with a perfect record, winning all three matches without conceding a goal, joining France and Argentina as the only teams to achieve that feat. Seventeen-year-old Gilberto Mora made history by becoming the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match after Pele in 1958. Mexico created several early chances before Quinones broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a fierce finish past Hernan Galindez after a run from the left. The forward turned provider eight minutes later, setting up Fulham striker Jimenez, who fired into the top corner to put the match beyond Ecuador. Despite several substitutions after the interval by Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece, Mexico continued to create the better opportunities, with Cesar Montes going close on two occasions. Ecuador’s disappointing evening ended with Piero Hincapie receiving a red card in stoppage time following a confrontation with an opponent.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says nine registered political parties have collected access codes required to upload the particulars of their candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.   According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed the development on Tuesday in Abuja. Haruna said the parties that have obtained the codes are Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), National Democratic Party (NDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). He explained that political parties are responsible for approaching the commission to collect the access codes, stressing that INEC does not deliver them to party secretariats. Haruna added that anyone collecting the code on behalf of a political party must present an authorisation letter from the party leadership. He urged all participating parties to comply with the commission’s candidate nomination guidelines, noting that party officials had already received training from INEC on the nomination process. The national commissioner also warned political parties against delaying the online submission of nomination forms until the final day. He said although INEC had extended the submission deadline from the close of business to midnight on the closing date, parties that wait until the last minute would bear responsibility for any challenges encountered. Under the commission’s timetable, political parties are expected to submit nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11 through the designated online nomination portal. The timetable also provides that nomination forms for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates will be submitted from July 18 to August 8.

Hours of heavy rainfall on Tuesday caused widespread flooding across several parts of Lagos State, leaving homes and roads submerged, disrupting traffic and cutting electricity supply in some communities after key power infrastructure was affected.   According to Punch, floodwaters inundated areas including FESTAC, Gbagada, Ikeja, Ajah, Evans, Olushi, Anikantamo and Adeniji Adele, with residents forced to wade through flooded streets while motorists struggled to navigate waterlogged roads. In Ikeja, floodwaters entered homes and shops, prompting some residents to temporarily relocate over fears that conditions could worsen. Many blamed the recurring flooding on blocked drainage systems, poor road construction and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Resident Abidemi Raji alleged that a drainage channel linking his area to another street had been blocked following the construction of a hotel, worsening the flooding whenever heavy rain falls. In FESTAC, residents described the flooding as a recurring problem that disrupts daily activities. Motorists avoided submerged roads to prevent vehicle damage, while many commuters stayed away from flooded routes. The downpour also disrupted electricity supply after floodwaters damaged facilities at the Oworo 132/33kV Transmission Station. Ikeja Electric said severe flooding affected two power transformers and several 33kV feeders supplying communities including Ladilak, Bariga, Oworo, Pedro, Alapere, Agboyi, Araba, Hospital and Gbagada. The electricity distribution company said it is working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power once the affected facilities are repaired. The flooding extended into neighbouring Ogun State, where residents of Gloryland Estate in Ibafo appealed for urgent government intervention. Community leaders said blocked drainage channels connected to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, indiscriminate construction and refuse dumping have worsened annual flooding, damaging homes, disrupting movement and exposing residents to health risks. Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the dredging of 28 additional primary drainage channels to strengthen flood control across the state. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab described Tuesday’s rainfall as an extreme weather event that overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, leading to temporary flooding in Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Gbagada, Mushin, Mafoluku and other communities. He explained that Lagos‘ coastal geography and high tides naturally slow the discharge of stormwater into the sea during intense rainfall, making temporary flooding difficult to avoid. Wahab urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels, avoid illegal reclamation of wetlands and refrain from building on drainage alignments. He also advised motorists to stay off flooded roads during heavy rainfall and encouraged residents in flood-prone areas to follow official weather advisories and safety guidelines.