Overseas education project for women and girls axed by UK after two years

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Up to 30 million people expected to attend delayed events for Ali Khamenei, killed at start of war with US and IsraelThe funeral of the former Iranian supreme leader has begun as the gates of the sprawling Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran let in thousands of mourners early morning who had been waiting through the night to enter the grounds.Iran is staging mass funeral processions for Ali Khamenei – whose ⁠37-year reign was brought ⁠to an ​end in February by the first airstrike of the war launched by the US and Israel. Continue reading...

Group, whose constituencies have derelict or at-risk pools, are campaigning to make outdoor swimming available for allCooling, blue expanses of water have been a lifesaver for many lucky enough to live near a lido during the recent UK heatwave.Now, a group of 20 MPs, along with the Fabian Society, are calling for this relief to be made accessible for all by getting water companies to fund the reopening of the country’s lost lidos. Continue reading...

Annie’s lawyers argue that prosecution was so badly executed it breached her human rightsAt her kitchen table, in a village in southern England, Annie* sits with a blue folder stuffed with court documents, witness statements and correspondence relating to the trial of her stepfather, whom she had reported to police for alleged childhood abuse.As she prepared to tell her story for the first time, she was flooded with emotion when a photograph fell from the folder. The square Polaroid showed a young girl standing in a field beside a pony, dressed in jodhpurs and a riding hat. Continue reading...