‘My childhood stopped’: woman sues CPS after taking stepfather to abuse trial

• Iran has offered a "friendly suggestion" to European nations to export air conditioners and cooling equipment to help combat the region's current deadly heatwave. • The offer is conditional, with Tehran stating that European countries must first lift the sanctions currently imposed on Iran.

• Internal power struggles are intensifying within the Iranian regime as various clans compete for control following the elimination of Ali Khamenei. • The vacuum of leadership has created a volatile environment where competing factions are vying for dominance over the state's political and military apparatus.

• Between June 26 and 29, a volatile escalation occurred in the Hormuz corridor as Iran attacked a cargo ship and a tanker, while the US struck ten Iranian targets. • The conflict intensified when the IRGC launched ballistic missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, resulting in the death of one Qatari citizen on June 28.

• Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated in a candid BBC interview that it was "really tough" to accept the end of his political career. • Starmer emphasized that any successor, including Andy Burnham, must dedicate significant time to foreign affairs, arguing that international and domestic issues are inextricably linked.

• Warsaw has reportedly received warnings that Moscow is planning an armed "provocation" on Polish soil to test the resolve of NATO allies. • The situation could trigger a rapid response from specialized deployment teams, including elite parachute units capable of entering conflict zones via air drops.

• The International Cooperative Alliance has announced the 2026 theme for the International Day of Cooperatives as “Cooperatives for a peaceful world.” • The initiative aims to highlight how cooperative enterprises can advance global solidarity, social justice, and inclusion.

• U.S. and Iranian negotiators are entering high-stakes talks to end the current conflict and secure a favorable deal for both nations. • Key points of contention include the release of billions in frozen assets, the status of a $300 billion reconstruction fund, and the ambiguity of Iran's nuclear program.

• NATO leaders are convening to address critical defense challenges while facing potential distractions from the ongoing conflict in Iran. • The alliance is currently navigating two major crises that have strained the transatlantic relationship, specifically involving the United States.

The programme, aimed at keeping 1m girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, withdrawn after aid cutsA leading higher education programme, aimed at keeping 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, has been axed by the British government just two years after it was announced.The scheme, Strengthening higher education for female empowerment (SHEFE), which was unveiled with some fanfare two years ago by the outgoing Conservative government, had a £45m budget to increase access to higher education for 1 million students worldwide. It has now had its tender withdrawn, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Continue reading...

Popular national pastimes of drinking and football will make post-Mexico Monday a day of sore heads and sleepy childrenEngland are through to the round of 16 in the World Cup and, as is customary in the run-up to a major international footballing fixture, the country may be losing its mind.Because piled on top of the 60 years of hurt for the men’s team, England fans have another obstacle to overcome with the forthcoming fixture: a gruelling kick-off time of 1am BST. Continue reading...

Brexit means ‘home fee’ qualification ends in 2028, leaving those hoping to study in UK not now eligible for loansBritish teenagers living in the EU could be priced out of UK universities in two years’ time as a Brexit rule change means they face the double whammy of paying costlier international fees, while losing access to student finance.British passport holders living in the EU still qualify for “home fee” status at UK universities. But this will no longer be the case when the grace period ends in 2028, meaning the first wave to be affected are starting their A-levels, or equivalent, this autumn. Continue reading...