Australians have more negative view of Israel than of China, Guardian Essential poll finds

• The UK government is facing accusations of failing to prevent the UAE from supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during the ongoing conflict in Sudan. • Evidence including satellite imagery, leaked documents, and on-the-ground footage has been used to trace the movement of arms into the region.

• UN relief chief Martin Griffiths has sounded an alarm regarding the escalation of violence in Sudan's North Kordofan region. • He emphasized that humanitarian workers must be granted safe, unimpeded access to reach vulnerable populations affected by the conflict.

• A growing number of "UN Sceptics" are questioning the continued relevance of the United Nations due to its perceived inability to stop global violence. • The organization's helplessness is highlighted by the ongoing bloodshed and instability in Gaza, Lebanon, and the invasion-shattered regions of Ukraine.

• Col. Saikat K. Bose argues that the United Nations' value is often underestimated because critics focus on its failure to prevent major wars. • The author highlights that the UN's true strength lies in its routine, less visible functions, such as providing global coordination, legal frameworks, and trust to prevent smaller crises from escalating.

• The UN Secretary-General introduced the preliminary report from the Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and welcomed the General Assembly's decision to reform the organization's financial rules. • In Lebanon, thousands of displaced people continue to rely on humanitarian aid, with UN agencies and first responders providing food, water, emergency shelter, and psychological support.

• The White House has appointed Harvard astronomer and cosmologist Avi Loeb to lead a new scientific advisory council investigating the national security risks posed by UFOs. • Loeb, a former head of Harvard’s astronomy department known for his controversial theories on alien visits, will lead the study into mysterious orbs reported by military personnel.

• The U.S. and Iran have held separate meetings in Qatar, agreeing to maintain ongoing discussions to address diplomatic tensions. • A separate report highlights that Donald Trump earned tens of millions of dollars from properties in countries reliant on U.S. military support or seeking tariff relief.

• Rebel fighters besieging El Obeid, Sudan, are using drone attacks that have put approximately 500,000 civilians at risk of large-scale atrocities. • The ongoing conflict has displaced over 14 million people internally and pushed millions toward famine while severely limiting humanitarian access.

The NHS will divert billions of pounds from essential services to pay for new medicines, under the terms of the US-UK trade deal agreed in December, which could lead to more than 200,000 excess deaths, analysis has found.Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports avoid US tariffs and giving patients access to vital medication, but critics accuse the Labour party of caving into pressure from Donald Trump.Lucy Hough speaks to columnist Aditya Chakrabortty – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Commissioner asked to investigate Reform UK leader after private meeting with Bank of England governorThe standards watchdog has been urged to investigate whether Nigel Farage lobbied the Bank of England to drop a cryptocurrency plan that could be costly for the billionaire bankrolling his party, potentially in breach of parliamentary rules.The Reform UK leader has said his party’s major donor, Christopher Harborne, wanted nothing in exchange for the £15m he donated to the party and the undeclared £5m gift to Farage the Guardian revealed in April. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Guardian analysis exposes evidence of racial inequalities in pain relief offered across healthcare‘The epidural failed and no one believed me’How the ethnicity pain gap follows people from birth to deathWomen from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than their white counterparts to receive an epidural while giving birth, research has revealed.The findings, based on data collected from more than 2.7 million births in the UK, prompted experts to raise the alarm about an “ethnicity pain gap” that means people of colour are more likely to be deprived of adequate pain relief within medical settings. Continue reading...

Government seeks workaround after licensing rules threaten to force pubs to shut before World Cup tie finishesWorld Cup live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is exploring ways to keep pubs open into the early hours of Monday after facing backlash over strict licensing rules that would force many venues to close during England’s next World Cup game.The team’s win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday night booked a last-16 tie against Mexico that is due to run until at least 3am UK time. Continue reading...