It’s not just about soccer. Follow live reporting on the politics, diplomacy, business and power plays surrounding the world’s biggest sporting event.

BERLIN — As the World Cup comes to a close, there’s one group of politicians who’ve remained unusually quiet about the fate of their own national teams: Europe’s far-right party leaders.

It’s not just about soccer. Follow live reporting on the politics, diplomacy, business and power plays surrounding the world’s biggest sporting event.

Germany loves its World Cup team. The flag is a different story.

BERLIN — In most countries with teams playing in this year’s World Cup, flying the national flag is a natural way to support the home team.

Polls are now closed in the parliamentary district in northwestern England which, for the last few weeks, has been the center of the British political universe.

How a mint-green research base, 14 scientists, and a gentoo penguin colony became part of Ukraine's war strategy.

How a mint-green research base, 14 scientists, and a gentoo penguin colony became part of Ukraine's war strategy.

How a mint-green research base, 14 scientists, and a gentoo penguin colony became part of Ukraine's war strategy.

What the demise of a small department in an embattled university says about the future of Europe and the world.

THE SWINGIEST VOTE — Both sides in the battle over Proposition 50 believe they have the winning formula to engage the state’s sizable Latino electorate: To focus their messaging on abuses of power by corrupt politicians who can be blamed for California’s affordability crisis.

WHERE’S KEVIN? — Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reportedly told House colleagues this summer that he planned to raise $100 million to defeat Democrats’ mid-decade gerrymander at the ballot box. So far he appears to have produced little more than $7 million.

COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK — Charles Munger Jr. is back on the scene after years in the wilderness, having spent $30 million in just a month to protect the independent redistricting process he helped create via earlier ballot-measure campaigns.

THE OTHER YES CAMPAIGN — While nearly every prominent Democrat in Sacramento and Washington has backed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s snap-gerrymander, one group seeded by wealthy foundations and progressive donors is staking out its own strategy.

MAIN CHARACTERS— Bitterly divided on the virtues of gerrymandering, the champions and foes of California’s snap redistricting bid can agree on one thing: This is coming from Democrats who control the state.

THE NO SIDE KITCHEN SINK — California’s two biggest Republican names have both returned from retirement to fight Proposition 50, the mid-decade partisan gerrymander being promoted by top Democrats. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is raising money for a Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab committee, while former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has backed donor Charles Munger Jr.’s Protect Voters First.

WHO’S ON THE YES SIDE — Gov. Gavin Newsom still has to get the Legislature’s stamp of approval on his plan for a mid-decade gerrymander of the state’s U.S. House map, but the campaign to sell it to voters is already taking shape.