Mahmood outlines safe immigration routes plan to win over Labour left

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission in New York to mark the body's 20th anniversary. • Guterres warned that the world is currently experiencing more conflicts than at any time since the Second World War, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and deepening inequalities.

• NATO's deputy commander is calling for an upcoming summit in Turkey to urge member nations to increase defense spending and strengthen support for Ukraine. • The push for unity comes amid instability caused by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to leave the alliance and sent conflicting signals regarding U.S. force posture in Europe.

• The U.S. and its allies are exploring strategies to reduce global economic reliance on the Strait of Hormuz following lessons learned from conflicts with Iran. • Proposed measures include increasing strategic oil stockpiles and constructing new pipelines to bypass the waterway's potential for disruption.

• An expert at a World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian urged Gulf states to diversify their defense strategies to mitigate risks associated with their geographic locations. • The expert noted a shift in Iran's strategic priorities, stating that Tehran now views economic survival as its primary goal over geopolitical ambition.

• A fragile lull in hostilities has been observed in southern Lebanon since Tuesday, with UN peacekeepers reporting no new airstrikes or missile fire. • Despite the pause, tensions remain high as Israeli drones continue to operate over the region and ground military operations persist.

• The Iranian regime has introduced a 14-point draft agreement with the U.S., a move that has sparked internal divisions and increased tensions within the government. • This diplomatic push occurs amidst severe domestic crises, including chronic energy and water shortages, environmental degradation, and rampant inflation that has eroded purchasing power.

• India is seeking to secure the financial viability of the Chabahar Port by implementing local currency payment frameworks or humanitarian trade exemptions to bypass shifting global sanctions. • To stabilize regional relations, India aims to re-engage shared cultural diplomacy by leveraging Indo-Persian historical and linguistic ties.

• The city of El Obeid in North Kordofan, Sudan, faces an imminent ground offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies after 18 months of siege-like conditions. • Credible reports indicate a high risk of atrocity crimes and widespread human rights violations as the conflict intensifies in the region.

Critics say mandating Bible reading for over five million students breaches constitutional separation of church and stateThe Texas education board has approved a broad new statewide reading list that, for the first time, will make passages from the Bible required reading for more than 5 million public school students.Under the new initiative, Bible stories will become mandatory reading for millions of public school students in addition to a more standard collection of books, renewing debate over growing efforts in the US to increase the role of religion in classrooms. Continue reading...

US president calls it ‘foolish violation’ of ceasefire agreement after drone damaged ship’s upper deckUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump on Friday blamed Iran for carrying out a drone strike on a cargo ship in the strait of Hormuz, calling it a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire agreement with the US.One drone damaged the upper deck of the ship but the ship was able to proceed, the US president said. The US shot down three other drones aimed at the ship, he said. Continue reading...

Government asks justices to allow people who have lived in US for years to be held without chance to seek bondThe Trump administration on Friday asked the US supreme court to let it detain people arrested in ⁠its immigration crackdown without ⁠a chance to seek ​bond, even if they have lived in the country for years.The administration made that request in a filing made public on Friday, asking the court to ⁠overturn a May decision by a federal appeals court, which had rejected its reinterpretation of a decades-old immigration law that now underlies its mass detention policy. Continue reading...