Andy Burnham’s long coup: the chaotic year-long project to return him to Westminster

• The U.S. and its allies are exploring strategies to reduce global economic reliance on the Strait of Hormuz following lessons learned from conflicts with Iran. • Proposed measures include increasing strategic oil stockpiles and constructing new pipelines to bypass the waterway's potential for disruption.

• NATO's deputy commander is calling for an upcoming summit in Turkey to urge member nations to increase defense spending and strengthen support for Ukraine. • The push for unity comes amid instability caused by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to leave the alliance and sent conflicting signals regarding U.S. force posture in Europe.

• An expert at a World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian urged Gulf states to diversify their defense strategies to mitigate risks associated with their geographic locations. • The expert noted a shift in Iran's strategic priorities, stating that Tehran now views economic survival as its primary goal over geopolitical ambition.

• A fragile lull in hostilities has been observed in southern Lebanon since Tuesday, with UN peacekeepers reporting no new airstrikes or missile fire. • Despite the pause, tensions remain high as Israeli drones continue to operate over the region and ground military operations persist.

• The Iranian regime has introduced a 14-point draft agreement with the U.S., a move that has sparked internal divisions and increased tensions within the government. • This diplomatic push occurs amidst severe domestic crises, including chronic energy and water shortages, environmental degradation, and rampant inflation that has eroded purchasing power.

• India is seeking to secure the financial viability of the Chabahar Port by implementing local currency payment frameworks or humanitarian trade exemptions to bypass shifting global sanctions. • To stabilize regional relations, India aims to re-engage shared cultural diplomacy by leveraging Indo-Persian historical and linguistic ties.

• The city of El Obeid in North Kordofan, Sudan, faces an imminent ground offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies after 18 months of siege-like conditions. • Credible reports indicate a high risk of atrocity crimes and widespread human rights violations as the conflict intensifies in the region.

• Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have continued through June 2026, following the start of the conflict on 2 March 2026. • According to the UN and Lebanese government data, at least 4,175 Lebanese citizens were killed as of 22 June 2026, though military and civilian casualties are not distinguished.

• Tensions are rising between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as of June 25, 2026. • The friction stems from Washington's evolving diplomatic approach toward Iran and a shift in regional strategy.

Jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were deadlocked A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles, after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict.Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked. Continue reading...

California governor calls for national tax on super-wealthy and suggests the US should own a stake in AI companiesUS politics live – latest updatesCalifornia’s governor, Gavin Newsom, called for a national “billionaires tax” on Friday as he fights a ballot measure targeting the ultra-wealthy in his home state.Newsom, who is expected to run for president in 2028, published his proposal the day after California officials certified a ballot proposal to levy a one-time 5% tax on residents worth more than $1bn. The proposal, called the California Billionaire Tax Act, was brought by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) and would fund the state’s healthcare, education and food assistance programs. Continue reading...

Sarah B Rogers speech at conference in London included far-right memes and conspiracy theories about ‘Da Yookay’ Claims by a senior official in the Trump administration that British police were making thousands of “freedom of speech” arrests have been rejected by the UK government.Sarah B Rogers, who has become the public face of the US state department’s hostility to European liberal democracies, was accused by MPs of echoing far-right memes and conspiracy theories during a speech at an international rightwing conference in London. She also referenced the death of Henry Nowak and a recent incident in which a child was thrown into a zoo’s crocodile pit. Continue reading...