National

Exclusive: FBU calls for more funding as ‘unprecedented summer’ puts rising demands on already stretched crewsFirefighters in the UK are under increased pressure as a result of an “unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires”, the Fire Brigades Union has said, as many parts of the country brace for a fifth heatwave of the year.As authorities declared almost three-quarters of England was now in drought, Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said the unpredictable environmental challenges the UK was now confronted with meant it was a “national priority” to have enough properly equipped firefighters to “face these threats”. Continue reading...

• AMC's European business has experienced a significant recovery, driven by surging attendance and increased EBITDA. • Growth was primarily supported by a strong movie slate and the implementation of premium theater upgrades. • Financial forecasts show a 77.1% year-over-year improvement in AMC's loss per share by 2026, though competitors like Cinemark and Marcus are projected to see even steeper earnings growth of 125% and 652.9%.

• A Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk resulted in 13 deaths, according to local authorities. • In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels targeted a government-held port on the Red Sea coast. • These escalations increase concerns regarding the security of strategic global shipping routes and the risk of Yemen returning to full-scale civil war.

• A Ukrainian drone commander informed AP that strikes on Crimea could increase sevenfold if Western funding were delivered more rapidly. • In the U.K., comedic candidate Count Binface, known for wearing a garbage can on his head, is running for a Parliament seat. • Binface is competing in a special election against Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party.

Mohammad Akhtar, 50, from Peterborough killed during clashes between authorities and protestersA British national was shot dead in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during clashes between security forces and protesters, the Guardian can reveal.Another Briton has been held in a regional prison for more than two months despite his family’s efforts to secure his release through the Foreign Office. Continue reading...

• Israel has officially rejected a Gaza peace plan proposed by Donald Trump, signaling continued diplomatic friction over the region's future. • New details have emerged regarding tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting increased military volatility in a critical global shipping lane. • These developments underscore the fragile security situation in the Middle East and the difficulty of achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

• The FDA has authorized Moderna’s mFlusiva, marking the first mRNA-based flu vaccine approved for use in older adults. • Separately, U.S. health officials are reviewing the nation's measles elimination status following 38 new outbreaks in 2026. • In a legal ruling, a judge designated Meta’s platforms as a "public nuisance," ordering the company to fund mental health remediation efforts.