Empty reservoirs, ladybirds and sunstroke: remembering the UK heatwave of 1976

• Acting President Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela is struggling to manage the humanitarian fallout following two powerful twin earthquakes. • The crisis serves as a critical political test for Rodríguez as her mandate as the country's interim leader is set to expire this Friday.

• Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, met with the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Doha. • The two officials discussed the current state of bilateral relations and explored strategies to further support and develop diplomatic ties between the two nations.

• Factions within the Iranian regime are intensifying internal infighting, signaling a structural crisis and a system in irreversible decline. • The struggle is driven by growing public unrest, political paralysis, and mounting uncertainty regarding diplomacy, war, and future succession.

• Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tehran for the second day of Supreme Leader Khamenei's funeral, with crowds reportedly larger than the previous day. • High-ranking officials, including the head of the IRGC and the Quds Force chief, attended the event where calls for Donald Trump's death were met with cheers.

• Arab media analysts are examining the fragile diplomatic efforts to avoid a broader war between regional powers and Iran, specifically regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz. • The reports highlight a tension between the genuine desire for diplomacy and the risks posed by confrontational rhetoric and high public expectations.

• Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz held a phone call with Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab on Saturday to reaffirm the Kingdom's steadfast support for Damascus. • The two officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed specific strategies to enhance security cooperation and coordination between their respective ministries.

• High-level delegations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey arrived in Tehran on July 3 to attend the funeral of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. • Turkey notably served as the only NATO member nation present, signaling a shift in regional diplomatic dynamics despite long-standing Western sanctions on Iran.

With voters embracing leaders who brazenly monetise public office, experts say an ethical code is breaking downDonald Trump came to office in 2017 after decades of bankruptcies and business failures. Yes, he was rich, but his latest financial disclosure, published this week, suggests he will depart billions richer.In the first year of his second term, he made more than $2bn from Trump hotels, Trump golf courses, Trump cryptocurrency, Trump watches, Trump cologne, Trump Bibles and more. Continue reading...

Company seeks redress for contracts it says it has lost as a result of programme’s claims about its business practicesThe parcel delivery company Evri is suing the BBC for £1.2m over a documentary it claims caused it serious financial loss.Evri has filed particulars of claim at the high court which state that it lost prospective clients after the broadcast of the Panorama documentary Evri: Where’s my parcel? Continue reading...

Exclusive: Prof Simon Baron-Cohen says his language was misunderstood and it is a myth that autistic people lack empathyThe scientist who pioneered the “extreme male brain” theory of autism has said he regrets characterising the condition in this way because the phrase lends itself to misunderstandings.Prof Simon Baron-Cohen’s theory that autistic people strongly tend towards systemising over empathising has been hugely influential in shaping the popular perception of autism over the past two decades. But while the underlying science had stood the test of time, Baron-Cohen said, he now views the “extreme male brain” label as unhelpful. Continue reading...

Arcare says it’s unable to comment on the federal court case in which it’s alleged it illegally charged feesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastResidents at one of Australia’s largest aged care providers have launched a class action lawsuit alleging fees for services such as high teas and exercise classes were illegally charged to clients who cannot use them due to immobility and other issues.The suit, filed in the federal court, alleges residents of more than 50 Arcare aged care facilities across four states were charged a daily “additional services fee” by Arcare embedded within a “signature package” between July 2020 and July 2026. This includes fees paid by residents who are immobile, unable to swallow, or cognitively impaired. Continue reading...

Exclusive: University moves and falling exam entries fuel concerns about opportunities for working-class pupilsCutting language courses at universities and schools risks undermining social mobility and vocational skills, former education secretaries and experts in the UK have warned.More than 70 languages academics were among 500 staff at the University of Exeter to be told last week they were at risk of redundancy as it seeks to cut 150 full-time posts, predominantly in the humanities. The announcement followed the proposal by the University of Nottingham to become the first Russell Group university to offer no language degrees. Continue reading...