BT and Verizon to create joint global business in $625m deal

• Iran launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait following recent U.S. strikes on Iran's southern coast. • The attacks signal a breakdown of the ceasefire in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two nations.

• The United Nations continues to serve as the primary global forum for addressing transnational challenges that individual countries cannot resolve independently. • The organization focuses on its core mandates of safeguarding international peace, protecting human rights, and managing global security.

• A royal commission has identified social media as the "most significant vector" for the spread of antisemitism. • In separate diplomatic developments, Australia and Vanuatu have officially signed a new security pact to strengthen regional ties.

• China is positioning itself to lead the reconstruction of Iran following conflict, utilizing strategic investments and diplomacy to expand its regional influence. • The strategy involves transitioning from providing humanitarian relief to developing large-scale infrastructure, which Beijing views as a mechanism to solidify long-term energy security.

• Le Figaro has published an analysis suggesting that a potential war in Iran could significantly reshape China's strategic approach toward Taiwan. • The report highlights that modern conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Iran, are increasingly defined by cyber operations, drones, information warfare, and societal resilience rather than traditional military hardware.

• The author analyzes the "shambolic diplomacy" between the administration of US President Donald Trump and Iran as a primary example of current global instability. • The piece argues that while world affairs may seem unintelligible or chaotic, today's major conflicts actually follow a consistent and recognizable pattern.

• Venezuela is facing growing public frustration as the death toll from a recent earthquake has climbed to 1,430 people. • In the Persian Gulf, ongoing strikes indicate that the conflict involving Iran remains volatile and risks spinning out of control.

• Rescue teams are urgently searching for survivors four days after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela. • Emergency crews are scrambling to locate missing persons amidst the rubble as the critical window for rescue operations narrows.

• Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Tod Wolters endorsed the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and President-elect Maryam Rajavi during the Free Iran 2026 World Summit in Paris. • General Wolters characterized the Iranian resistance as a "strategic asset" for global security, noting that the movement has successfully seized "strategic campaign momentum."

• The Trump administration is implementing an "America First" strategy in East Asia, demanding that regional allies shoulder a larger share of defense costs. • The Council on Foreign Relations warns that this approach creates a paradox where efforts to assert U.S. influence may alienate partners essential to long-term Indo-Pacific goals.

Dunhill maker to cut about a fifth of workforce, aiming to reduce costs and become more ‘technology enabled’Business live – latest updatesBritish American Tobacco (BAT) will cut about a fifth of its 47,000-strong workforce this year, as the cigarette-maker looks for ways to push down costs and become more “technology enabled”.BAT, which is one of the biggest tobacco groups in the world, has announced it will cut 5,500 jobs by the end of the year and outsource a further 3,500, affecting a ⁠total of 9,000 employees. Continue reading...

Report says once-in-a-generation changes needed to tackle why such children are lowest-performing large demographicUK politics live – latest updatesThe education system is “not set up to serve white working-class children and families”, an independent inquiry has concluded.The Independent Inquiry into White Working-Class Educational Outcomes also determined that once-in-a-generation changes were needed to tackle why such children were the lowest-performing large demographic in England’s school system. Continue reading...