Tuesday briefing: Is a social media ban in the UK enough to help protect young people?

• The U.S. and Iran have held separate meetings in Qatar, agreeing to maintain ongoing discussions to address diplomatic tensions. • A separate report highlights that Donald Trump earned tens of millions of dollars from properties in countries reliant on U.S. military support or seeking tariff relief.

• Rebel fighters besieging El Obeid, Sudan, are using drone attacks that have put approximately 500,000 civilians at risk of large-scale atrocities. • The ongoing conflict has displaced over 14 million people internally and pushed millions toward famine while severely limiting humanitarian access.

• Prof Raj Kumar and Shashi Tharoor addressed Japan's National Diet to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Japan. • The discussions focused on leveraging education and parliamentary diplomacy as key pillars to deepen bilateral ties beyond traditional crisis management.

• Professor C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), and MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor addressed the Japanese parliament. • The event took place on the eve of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official visit to India to strengthen bilateral relations.

• Venezuela's healthcare system has reached a breaking point following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country nearly a week ago. • The government reports that the death toll has surpassed 1,900 people, while thousands of displaced citizens are currently living in unsanitary conditions.

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has significantly increased funding for the U.K. military in one of his final major acts of office. • The decision to boost weapons spending on Tuesday prioritizes military expansion over domestic welfare programs.

Education minister Jacqui Smith suggests disco nap on Sunday so everyone is fresh as a daisy on MondayKeir Starmer wants children up and ready for school on Monday morning regardless of the England game being played at 1am UK time.After England qualified for the next round of the World Cup on Wednesday evening after their win against the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the head coach, Thomas Tuchel, urged parents to let their children bunk off school so they could stay up to watch the match against Mexico. Play could last until at least 3am. Continue reading...

The outbreak infected 13 people and ‌killed threeSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe World ⁠Health Organization on Thursday declared the ⁠hantavirus ⁠outbreak ​linked to a cruise ⁠ship over after the last identified ⁠contact of an ​exposed ‌person ‌completed quarantine and tested ‌negative for the virus.The outbreak, which infected 13 people and ‌killed three, involved the Andes virus, ​a rare hantavirus strain that typically circulates in ⁠Argentina and Chile. ​The cruise ​ship, MV Hondius, ​set off ​from ‌Argentina ​on ​1 April. Continue reading...

Court orders financial watchdog to halt parts of £9.1bn scheme until challenges are heard, delaying payoutsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s financial watchdog has been forced to partly suspend its £9.1bn car finance compensation scheme, delaying payouts for millions of motorists.The Financial Conduct Authority had expected the scheme would this year start paying out £830 on average to those affected by the motor finance scandal, in which drivers were overcharged for loans as a result of commission payments between lenders and car dealers between 2007 and 2024. Continue reading...

Temperatures could reach 44C in south-east Spain as fights break out in Paris supermarkets over air-conditioning unitsSpain and France are bracing for another possible heatwave that could bring temperatures of 44C (111F) over the coming days, as figures show that June’s extreme heat was responsible for more than 2,000 excess deaths in the two countries.Spain’s state meteorological agency, Aemet, said a mass of dry and very hot air would bring persistently high temperatures to much of Spain from Saturday, adding that temperatures in parts of the south-east could hit 42C to 44C on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Keir Mather and Virginia McVea’s claims follow decision by Maritime and Coastguard Agency to reject worker status of coastguard rescue officersA government minister and a senior official have been accused of misleading MPs over their plans to strip coastguard officers of their hourly pay.Keir Mather, the maritime minister, was said to have made false claims on Wednesday, while Virginia McVea, the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), was accused of having done so during a meeting with MPs a week earlier. Continue reading...

PM’s former chief of staff opens up on political mistakes and Donald Trump’s amusing comments about foxesUK politics live – latest updatesMorgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s former chief of staff, has said Labour was not prepared enough for government or for the volatile world when Keir Starmer was first elected.McSweeney, who had been Labour’s elections guru credited by many in the party for the size of their victory in 2024, said the party did not have an idea about how to make things happen quickly for people who wanted change. Continue reading...