Pope praises US history of welcoming immigrants in implicit rebuke to Trump

• On Saturday, July 25, 2026, conflict escalated as Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels engaged in a series of reciprocal attacks. • The hostilities occur within the broader context of an ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran.

• President Trump has decided to hold off on a major military escalation against Iran following a Friday meeting with top cabinet members and advisers. • Key concerns include the potential depletion of air defense munitions in the Middle East and the risk of alienating vulnerable Gulf allies.

• Developing nations are facing significant security risks due to an over-reliance on Western commercial satellite providers for critical space architecture. • During a conflict in the Persian Gulf in March, U.S.-based satellite imagery providers reportedly placed several international clients in precarious positions.

Singer rebukes Trump administration after it uses her song Firework over footage of missile striking Iranian naval shipPop star Katy Perry has condemned the Trump White House after it used her hit song Firework in a TikTok video showing US military strikes on Iranian targets, saying she never approved the use of her music.The White House video, which featured Firework playing over footage of a missile striking an Iranian naval ship, has amassed more than 6 million views. The post was captioned: “Iran has been warned.” Continue reading...

Director Ryan Coogler announces British actor as lead role alongside co-stars Letitia Wright and Winston DukeThe British actor David Jonsson has been unveiled as the new Black Panther by the film’s director, Ryan Coogler.Jonsson, 32, known for roles in Industry, The Long Walk and Alien: Romulus, will play the son of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in the third Black Panther movie. Continue reading...

King’s Fund report finds men and women live, on average, for 80 years and nearly 84 years, but gains are in southThe north-south divide in life expectancy in England has grown over the past decade, with people in northern regions facing more illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, but also suicides and deaths related to alcohol and drug misuse.Provisional figures show life expectancy reached an all-time high in 2025, with men and women in England living, on average, for 80 years and nearly 84 years respectively, but the gains were overwhelmingly in the south, the King’s Fund said. Continue reading...

Strongman leader’s grip over media channels has been rocked and opposition parties reinvigorated by CJPEven the night before Narendra Modi accepted the resignation of his education minister, India’s prime minister appeared confident that the largest mass uprising to take place in his 12 years in power would do little to rattle his government.Addressing his “young friends,” in a late-night Instagram selfie reel on Friday, he thanked the people – who were mobilised en masse across the country, shouting anti-government slogans – for their “thoughtful suggestions”. Continue reading...

Hunt ongoing for main suspect, named as Abdul Ballout, 21, after fatal attack in Tiergarten park close to LGBTQ eventA deadly van ramming and knife rampage near Berlin’s Pride festival was an Islamist terrorist attack, German authorities have said, with a hunt ongoing to find the main suspect.One person was killed and 29 were injured after a man drove a minivan into a crowd of pedestrians, then stabbed people with what appeared to be a machete. The attack took place in the Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate at around 10pm local time on Saturday, close to one of Europe’s biggest LGBTQ celebrations. Continue reading...

Mythical home of the ancient Greek gods designated alongside the D-day landing beaches in NormandyAfter a 12-year wait, Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the ancient Greek gods, has been inducted into a hall of more modern fame as Unesco announced it would be added to its world heritage list.Greece’s highest mountain made the list alongside the second world war D-day landing beaches in northern France and the ancient Japanese capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara. South Sudan’s Boma-Badingilo landscape, host to one of the world’s largest land mammal migrations, also won a designation - a first for the east African country. Continue reading...

New law prohibits retailers from using personal data to charge different prices for identical productsNew Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill recently signed a new law prohibiting businesses from using shoppers’ personal information to charge different prices for identical products, making her state the third in the US to ban the practice.The Fair Price Protection Act passed by New Jersey’s legislature seeks to protect consumers from surveillance pricing, in which retailers can use data including online activity, location and purchasing history to arbitrarily change prices for individual shoppers. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Malcolm Roberts uses white supremacist concept to describe the party’s plans for deporting 200,000 people from AustraliaSenator Malcolm Roberts claims One Nation wants to deport at least 200,000 people and has repeatedly referred to the far-right concept of “remigration” in podcast interviews and speeches to niche platforms.In two recent podcasts, Roberts said One Nation wanted to deport 100,000 temporary residents as well as 100,000 international students – a total much higher than the party’s published policy. The senator said after those people were removed, he wanted to “start working on the higher numbers of people we need to get rid of”. Continue reading...

Union calls for museum to become accredited London living wage employer and let staff carry water during shiftsWorkers at one of the world’s leading art and design museums are balloting for “heatwave” strike action.The ballot at V&A is taking place because of concerns about soaring temperatures and access to drinking water, along with pay and conditions. Continue reading...