European leaders pay tribute to Starmer as EU-UK summit is postponed

• Following a "very, very good" first day of negotiations with the U.S., Iran has agreed to allow international nuclear inspectors to resume their work within the country. • As part of the agreement, the U.S. will lift specific sanctions, providing Iran with a significant financial boost to support its economy.

• The United States and Iran have reported "progress" in diplomatic negotiations currently taking place in Switzerland. • The talks aim to establish a formal deal to resolve a conflict that has persisted for four months.

• Iran has reportedly walked away from peace negotiations in Switzerland following aggressive threats from Donald Trump, who vowed to "blow the s*** out of them" and take over the country. • The diplomatic mission included JD Vance and his wife Usha, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, who arrived in Switzerland on Sunday.

• Professor Neta Crawford of the University of St Andrews argues that the US-led military actions against Iran were unnecessary and have caused widespread global harm. • Crawford highlights a critical but often overlooked consequence of the conflict: the significant military emissions produced during warfare, which contribute to global climate degradation.

• JD Vance is currently meeting with top Iranian officials in Switzerland to engage in diplomatic discussions. • Simultaneously, Donald Trump is issuing threats against Tehran from a distance, creating a dual-track approach of diplomacy and pressure.

• A former head of the Army has urged Andy Burnham to adopt a "Churchill-like" approach by preparing Britain for the possibility of war. • The military leader warned that Burnham would be "foolish in the extreme" if he believes the UK's current defense spending blueprint is sufficient to ensure national safety.

Trump-admiring Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to ‘disembowel’ the left and kill criminals like ‘rats and cockroaches’When more than 20 women accused a Colombian evangelical pastor in 2012 of sexually abusing them, the defendant’s lawyer sought to discredit the allegations by telling the court that they were “trepadoras” – a pejorative term meaning social climbers.He ultimately secured his client’s acquittal – although the case remains under review by the supreme court – but footage of the remark resurfaced during Colombia’s presidential campaign, sparking outrage among many progressive voters. Continue reading...

José Luis Ábalos found to have taken bribes on Covid-era public contracts in damaging blow to Pedro SánchezSpain’s supreme court has jailed the former transport minister José Luis Ábalos for 24 years for taking bribes on public contracts for sanitary equipment such as ‌face masks during the Covid pandemic.Ábalos’s aide, Koldo García, was jailed for 19 years in a trial that is one of several scandals to have enveloped the government of Pedro Sánchez over recent months. Continue reading...

Davis, who discovered many of the defining musicians of the 20th century and helmed major record labels, said he ‘never’ tired of the music businessThe famed US music industry executive and record producer Clive Davis has died aged 94, his family has confirmed.He had recently been hospitalised with respiratory problems and was recovering at home. Continue reading...

Trump’s pre-Fourth of July renovation project has endured problems with algae, peeling paint and an inflating price tagDonald Trump’s rush to repaint the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, an iconic symbol of Washington DC, has hit roadblock after roadblock as the country’s 250th anniversary nears.The public has been gripped by the ill-fated $14m bid to renovate the reflecting pool, which the US president vowed to make “beautiful” in time for this summer’s birthday celebrations at the capital. Continue reading...

Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers, linked to the Scattered Spider hacking group, change pleas on first day of expected six-week trial Two British cybercriminals linked to the Scattered Spider hacking group have pleaded guilty to a cyber-attack on Transport for London in 2024 that cost £39m and affected 10 million people.Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 18, pleaded guilty to offences under the Computer Misuse Act at Woolwich crown court on Monday. Continue reading...

Death of Kohen Wiley is latest in series of troubling police encounters that have outraged community membersThe recent fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy by police who were responding to a shoplifting call has ignited simmering tensions between police and Black residents in the small town of Senatobia, Mississippi.The death of Kohen Wiley is the latest in a series of troubling encounters with police that have outraged community members in recent years. It has led to protests and calls for greater police accountability in the town of 8,000, with some civil rights activists pointing to Kohen’s death as another example of a Black life lost over something of nominal value. In this case, it was an allegation of stolen diapers, which the boy’s family has denied. Continue reading...