Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan

• Military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have peaked following a drone attack on a commercial vessel and subsequent U.S. retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian coastal facilities. • The escalation has triggered an unprecedented internal conflict in Tehran between officials advocating for absolute military control and those supporting multilateral diplomacy.

• Dr. Noa Gafni has identified geopolitics as the second of her "New Five Forces" currently shaping the global business landscape. • The shift marks a transition from a globalization era focused on operational efficiency to one defined by rising nationalism and great-power competition.

• Nitin Pai argues that India must urgently refocus its diplomatic efforts on strengthening ties with Iran due to the shifting geopolitical landscape in West Asia following the Gulf war. • The proposed strategy suggests that New Delhi should prioritize providing aid followed by increasing trade to foster a mutually beneficial relationship.

• From June 15 to 26, 2026, global attention focused on the implications of the Chişinău Declaration and ongoing geopolitical tensions. • Israel intensified its policies in occupied Palestine by establishing ad hoc military courts and implementing a blockade against the Sumud Flotilla.

• An Iranian state newspaper has inadvertently highlighted the strategic weaknesses and internal pressures—political, military, and economic—forcing Tehran to return to diplomatic negotiations. • These vulnerabilities coincide with a reported trilateral agreement between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon aimed at stabilizing the region.

• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi spoke with reporters in Japan on Friday, June 26, regarding nuclear non-proliferation efforts. • Grossi stated that the primary objective of the recent agreement between the United States and Iran is to prevent the development of nuclear weapons within Iran.

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have destroyed eight U.S. military infrastructures located in Kuwait and Bahrain. • The operation was carried out using a combination of missiles and drones in a coordinated joint strike.

• Israeli aid teams from NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief are deploying to Venezuela to provide emergency assistance following a series of powerful earthquakes. • CEO Alice Miller emphasized that the organization prioritizes immediate medical aid and respect over political flags to ensure rapid response in disaster zones.

Exclusive: Sadiq Khan plans to use new powers after local council opposes city scheme for seasonal pedestrianisationThe mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, plans to override opposition to al fresco dining in Soho after the local council failed to apply to a scheme for seasonal pedestrianisation that is being introduced across the capital this summer.From 2027, restaurants in London’s entertainment district will be allowed to put chairs outside in the warmer months despite a longstanding local row on the issue. Continue reading...

Spending watchdog says high-speed rail project must be put on stable footing to avoid repeat of costly past failuresRevised plans for HS2 should not be put into action until the government is confident they can be delivered, according to the public spending watchdog.The project to build the high-speed railway must be put on a stable footing to avoid a repeat of past failures, the National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report. Continue reading...

The Happy Valley actor is lined up as the lead in German director Thomas Ostermeier’s first Shakespearean play in EnglishJames Norton is to take on his first major Shakespearean stage role and play Hamlet in the West End next year.The King & Conqueror star said it was a “privilege” and “pretty terrifying” to be cast as the tragic prince in the acclaimed German director Thomas Ostermeier’s production next autumn. Norton was last on stage in 2023 in the harrowing A Little Life, based on Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, which the actor described as the hardest thing he has ever done. Continue reading...

British Heart Foundation expects about 45 people a day to die over next decade if current trends continueAbout 170,000 people are expected to die from heart-related conditions linked to obesity – one of the leading causes of preventable illnesses – by 2035, according to a leading charity.The analysis, conducted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found that about 45 people a day are expected to die from cardiovascular disease linked to excess weight and obesity in England over the next decade, as long as current trends in obesity rates continue. In the UK, about two in three adults are living with obesity, and worldwide, more than half of adults and a third of children and young people will be overweight or obese by 2050. Continue reading...