Green MP: Labour caricatures working-class people over greyhound racing

• The chairman of the Doha International Center for Interdialogue (DICID) emphasized that dialogue is a strategic necessity for enhancing social cohesion and reducing divisions rooted in religion, identity, and culture. • Speaking in Nicosia, the chairman highlighted how these initiatives promote shared citizenship and peaceful coexistence by framing diversity as a source of human development and cultural enrichment.

• Iranian forces launched two attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz this week, including a June 25 strike on the Singapore-flagged container ship M/V Ever Lovely. • The M/V Ever Lovely is operated by Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine, highlighting the risk to international shipping lanes in one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.

• A devastating earthquake in Venezuela has resulted in at least 1,430 deaths, sparking widespread public outcry. • Frustration is mounting among survivors and families as they criticize the government's slow and inadequate emergency response.

• India is engaging in strategic missile diplomacy amidst a volatile 2026 war in the Persian Gulf that has seen the UAE targeted by over 2,800 Iranian missiles and drones. • The conflict has caused severe global instability by shuttering the Strait of Hormuz and triggering a widespread energy crisis.

• Reports indicate that Vladimir Putin is losing control over Crimea, as residents are either desperately searching for fuel or fleeing the peninsula. • The instability is highlighted by images showing critical resource shortages and a growing exodus of the local population.

• Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least one death according to state media. • The attacks occurred just one day after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement intended to stabilize the region.

• Qatari mediators worked through intense diplomatic channels to broker an interim deal between the U.S. and Iran following a period of escalating military strikes. • The diplomacy reached a critical point on June 11, when a plane carrying the mediators was stranded on a Tehran tarmac amidst the exchange of attacks.

• India is focusing on securing the financial viability of the Chabahar Port by implementing local currency payment frameworks and humanitarian trade exemptions to bypass shifting global sanctions. • To manage regional tensions, India aims to re-engage shared cultural diplomacy by leveraging Indo-Persian historical and linguistic ties to maintain communication channels.

• The humanitarian crisis in Haiti is worsening, with the International Organization for Migration reporting over 2,600 people displaced in Artibonite following clashes between armed groups last week. • UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need to strengthen regional diplomacy and accelerate sustainable development to ensure global peace and dignity.

• Gulf Arab nations are fundamentally reshaping their defense strategies, economies, and trade routes following three months of intense regional conflict. • The shift is driven by concerns that an emerging diplomatic deal between the U.S. and Iran may leave these countries vulnerable to Iranian influence.

Exclusive: Guardian analysis suggests several groups with thousands of members run by what expert calls ‘engagement farm’ operations in south-east AsiaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSome of the largest One Nation supporter groups on Facebook appear to be run from overseas by foreign digital creators who monetise content.Guardian Australia examined 14 of the largest pro-One Nation public groups with at least 8,000 members, and found most were created this year. Continue reading...

Floods caused by thunderstorms that have dumped inches of rain on Kentucky and Indiana, with more possibleAndy Beshear, the Kentucky governor, says four people have died as a result of flash floods from thunderstorms that have brought as much as 7in (18cm) of rain to the state.Beshear confirmed the four deaths in a social media post, noting three people were from Madison county and one was from Jackson county. “Please join Britainy and me as we pray for their families during this difficult time,” Beshear said. Continue reading...