Thousands of staff at Czech public broadcasters strike over funding plans

• An emergency session focused on the situation in Lebanon has been added to the ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States in Switzerland. • The addition of this session comes amid escalating tensions and instability within Lebanon, necessitating urgent high-level discussions.

• Iran has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz shortly after signing a ceasefire agreement with the United States. • South Korean shipbuilders are establishing a naval production hub in Elefsina, Greece, creating a strategic convergence of South Korean infrastructure, US development finance, and Chinese port equity.

• On Saturday, June 20, 2026, tensions escalated as Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz amidst an ongoing war involving the U.S. and Israel. • Concurrent with the maritime blockade, Israel continued its military offensive and attacks targeting Lebanon.

• The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold diplomatic talks this Sunday in Switzerland to address ongoing tensions. • Simultaneously, Tehran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments.

It’s still unclear whether there will be a leadership contest or an uncontested handover of powerStarmer expected to announce exit plan to clear way for Burnham to become PM‘A shift has taken place’: Starmer faces the music after weekend of reflectionGood morning. Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the referendum to leave the EU, which means that Wednesday is the 10th anniversary of the day David Cameron announced he was resigning as PM. After Cameron was forced out by the result of his own referendum, another three Tory PMs were forced out by their own MPs (Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss) and another was forced out by the electorate (Rishi Sunak). Keir Starmer has been PM for less than two years, but he is about to become the sixth PM forced out within a decade, being replaced almost certainly by Andy Burnham.In the past the British used to joke about Italy being a country where prime ministers kept changing all the time. These days Italy looks like a beacon of stability, and Britain has become the place never that far from another bout of political turmoil. Continue reading...

Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps and Nicolette Boele are understood to be open to the idea but other crossbenchers are firmly againstFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastZali Steggall is poised to launch a new political venture as soon as this week after months of secret talks about the future of the teal movement.But it may be a party for one, at least initially, as the prospect of a “teal party” continues to divide crossbench MPs. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Our senior political correspondent talks about how the coming days and weeks may unfold for the Labour government, and how Keir Starmer ended up the most unpopular prime minister in memory• Don’t get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Today’s the day, probably. Keir Starmer is expected to announce that he will step down as prime minister, after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become party leader.This follows the Manchester mayor’s emphatic victory in last Thursday’s Makerfield byelection, where he leveraged his popularity and the prevailing anti-Starmer mood to secure more votes than Reform and Restore combined, cementing his credentials as the man who can take on the hard right in the next general election.Middle East | High-stakes talks between the US and Iran are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland, after a tense start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out in protest at a stream of threats issued by Donald Trump on social media.Edinburgh | Police Scotland said a man was charged after a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday night that are being treated as potential anti-Muslim hate crimes. Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate the attacks in which five people were injured.UK weather | The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people.UK news | Police have named the driver killed in the Bedford train crash on Friday, as his family said they “are devastated by his loss”.Prisons | Pet ferrets kept as therapy animals at the UK’s largest children’s prison have been co-opted by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident and concerns over child and animal welfare.Tuesday | This day marks the 10 years since the UK voted to leave the EU. A Guardian report analysing the complex legacy of Brexit through boats, bankers and borders is a good place to consider the legacy of leaving the EU.Tuesday | Also this day, Peter Murrell, the ex-chief executive of the SNP, is likely to be sentenced to prison custody after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.Wednesday | Donna Ockenden will publish her review of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Britain’s biggest maternity care scandal.Friday | Kings Charles will become the first head of state to reveal their personal tax bill, and will release other financial reports for the royal household. Continue reading...

Mediators Pakistan and Qatar issue statement saying talks will run for rest of the week, as fighting in Lebanon continues to threaten agreementIran’s foreign minister has declared “progress” after the first day of talks between high-ranking officials from Washington and Tehran ended in Switzerland, despite a tense opening marked by Donald Trump threats to restart attacks.A joint statement from mediators Qatar and Pakistan said the ⁠US and Iran agreed to a roadmap towards⁠ a final deal within 60 days. Technical talks between lower-ranked officials ​will continue for the rest of the week, according to the statement, with fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon at the top of the agenda. Continue reading...

The influential role vacated by the new Makerfield MP will be fiercely contested by Labour, Reform and the GreensAs Andy Burnham maps out the final steps on his path to Downing Street, he may feel that his future is clear. But a look back over his shoulder reveals a cloudier outlook, inviting the question: what now happens to his former role as Greater Manchester’s mayor?An election has been set for 30 July, and with the job widely seen as having grown under Burnham’s tenure to become one of the most influential in British politics outside Westminster, Labour is desperate to cling on to it – but parties to its right and left both see an opportunity. Continue reading...

At age 24, workers born in the late 1990s are paid more than any cohort since those born in the 1950sGen Z’s early careers are more financially rewarding than those of millennials, research suggests.Those typically born between 1997 to 2012 are experiencing a mini-rebound in pay packets, according to the research by the Resolution Foundation, in a seeming contrast to how the previous generation entered the job market. Continue reading...

Head of Greater Manchester force refutes claims of anti-white bias but says he understands where it comes fromPolicing in Britain has “adopted the language of activism” and official guidance has “over-corrected” to combat accusations of racism, one of the UK’s most senior officers has said.Sir Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said he did not believe that “two-tier policing” existed or that forces were biased against white people. Continue reading...