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• Iran's economy nearly stagnated in 2025, recording a marginal growth rate of only 0.2% while non-oil GDP experienced a contraction. • The slowdown is attributed to a series of conflicts, including a 12-day war with Israel in the summer and a 40-day conflict involving the U.S. and Israel in the winter, alongside January's nationwide protests. • Long-term structural crises, including severe international sanctions, chronic corruption, mismanagement, and declining investment, have further crippled economic activity.

In today’s newsletter: As heatwaves intensify, Britain’s ecosystems are being pushed beyond their evolutionary limitsOur green and pleasant land is sizzling. This week, millions of us across the UK are baking in unprecedented heat. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning from 9am today in parts of southern Wales, and central and southern England. The temperature record for June of 35.6C is almost certain to be broken; Bristol is forecast to hit an alarming 39C tomorrow.In the heat, the country’s infrastructure is straining: millions of homes are overheating, rail operators have warned against all but essential travel, and hospital admissions are set to surge. The Climate Change Committee concluded last month the UK is built for a climate that no longer exists – and warned today on the country’s policies towards achieving net zero.UK news | Searing heat has swept the UK with schools, hospitals, transport networks and water companies struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures caused by climate breakdown.UK politics | Keir Starmer has met Andy Burnham for the first time since the Makerfield byelection in what sources said was a “frosty” meeting to thrash out a transition of power.US news | Marco Rubio is to meet Gulf allies in an attempt to reassure them that the US remains committed to their security and the 60-day ceasefire deal struck with Iran last week will not embolden Tehran.Europe news | Forty people have drowned while swimming in unsupervised areas across France in recent days, as people across the country sought respite from a record-breaking heatwave.UK politics | Nigel Farage has said his £5m gift from a crypto billionaire is “not any of your business” as it was given unconditionally to be spent on anything from Ferraris to gambling on horses. Continue reading...

• Actor David Corenswet gained widespread internet praise on June 24, 2026, after he was seen protecting co-star Milly Alcock on a red carpet. • Social media users have lauded the actor's chivalry, with many fans calling him a "real life Superman" in reference to his role. • The incident highlights the ongoing public scrutiny and pressure celebrities face from paparazzi during high-profile media events.

• Viu CEO Janice Lee revealed at APOS 2026 that nearly 20% of the platform's long-form viewers have transitioned to watching microdramas. • The streamer is expanding its branded content and co-production efforts, highlighted by the Indonesia-set series “Abracadabra” produced with Samsung and starring Ji Chang-wook. • This shift matters as the short-form format attracts advertisers seeking rapid production turnarounds and higher engagement through pan-regional tentpole strategies.

• Former BBC Three presenter Ashley Cain has issued a public apology after his show was pulled following the discovery of historical sexist tweets. • Cain stated he is "not proud" of the language used in the past, asserting that he has grown and changed since the posts were originally published. • The incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of public figures' digital histories and the BBC's strict standards regarding offensive content.

• NASA's exoplanet-hunting spacecraft has discovered a highly unusual planetary system featuring an "improbable" and "wonky" orbital configuration. • The system's instability is driven by a massive, eccentric object within the system that disrupts the typical planetary alignment. • This discovery is significant because it provides crucial insights into how planets can form and survive around massive objects with extreme orbits.

• NASA is conducting a formal review of the progress made toward the "Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s" Decadal Survey. • The review focuses on evaluating significant scientific discoveries and technological advancements that have emerged since the publication of the Astro2020 report. • This process is critical for assessing how changes in the facilities landscape and programmatic shifts may impact the implementation of planned missions.

Sharon Graham is urged to withdraw her claim that the energy secretary would cost jobs if he became chancellorMore than 40 progressive economists have written to Sharon Graham, the leader of Unite, rejecting her claim that Ed Miliband would destroy jobs if he becomes the next chancellor.With Andy Burnham almost certain to be prime minister within weeks, there is a fierce debate within Labour about who should succeed Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, with Miliband considered a frontrunner. Continue reading...

• The U.S. is shifting its approach toward Latin America, with lobbyists and pundits influencing President Donald Trump's policies to support right-wing movements. • This strategic pivot is currently manifesting in Guatemala, where U.S. influence is aiding a political swing toward the right. • The shift matters as it signals a departure from previous diplomatic norms, prioritizing ideological alignment over traditional democratic stability.

Donald Trump has indicated he will sign rare bipartisan initiative to tackle affordability after 358-32 vote in HouseThe House gave final approval on Tuesday to a broad bipartisan bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing, with lawmakers in both parties eager to show progress on affordability issues ahead of this year’s midterm elections.The 358-32 vote sends the bill to Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law on Wednesday at the Capitol. The Senate passed the legislation 85-5 on Monday. Continue reading...

• Major AI-driven tech stocks, including hyperscalers like Microsoft and Alphabet, are experiencing a slump as investors question the timeline for returns on massive AI investments. • The decline follows a period of aggressive spending where companies utilized significant cash reserves to fund AI infrastructure and expansion. • This market shift highlights growing nervousness among investors regarding whether the high capital expenditures will translate into sustainable profit growth.

Review shows majority of procedures offered alongside standard IVF not backed by reliable evidence Most IVF “add-on” treatments sold to people hoping to boost their chances of having children are not backed by reliable evidence, fail to boost fertility and may be a complete waste of money, the largest study of its kind has concluded.There has been a surge in extra procedures, medicines or techniques offered to patients in addition to standard IVF with bold claims they will increase the probability of success. Take-up is widespread, with more than 70% of IVF patients in the UK, Australia and New Zealand paying for one or more add-on during IVF treatment.Acupuncture – inserting thin needles into points on the body.Corticosteroids – medication to reduce inflammation and suppress immune system activity.Endometrial receptivity testing – a biopsy of the uterine lining to assess gene expression patterns.Intralipid infusion – a liquid containing fats that is administered into the blood.Intraovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma – injecting platelet-rich plasma into the ovaries.Intrauterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma – insertion of platelet-rich plasma into the uterus.Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy – a screening test to check whether embryos have the expected number of chromosomes.EmbryoGlue – an embryo transfer medium containing hyaluronic acid. The evidence review found it may increase the probability of pregnancy and live birth; however, the effect on live birthrates was not robust.Endometrial scratching – a minor procedure undertaken to scratch or disturb the lining of the uterus. The review found this may increase the probability of pregnancy and live birth.Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) – a technique used to select sperm based on their ability to bind to hyaluronic acid. There was weak evidence this may lower the risk of miscarriage. Continue reading...

Four Republicans joined Democrats to back a measure seeking to limit the US president’s military authorityUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate on Tuesday approved a war powers resolution preventing Donald Trump from continuing the conflict with Iran, delivering the president a significant but symbolic rebuke over a conflict that has proven unpopular with the US public.The resolution passed by a 50-48 vote, with four Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky – breaking with their party to vote in favor. John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania, was the sole Democrat to vote against it. Continue reading...

• New York City voters will cast ballots this Tuesday in a House primary that has become a proxy war between the AI industry and safety advocacy groups. • The conflict centers on candidates like Bores, who proposed the RAISE (Responsible AI Safety and Education) Act to mandate that AI firms disclose safety protocols and report incidents. • Tech-backed organizations are opposing such candidates, arguing that strict regulations will stifle innovation and limit the potential benefits of artificial intelligence.

Dan Jarvis, who took role earlier this month, is said to have secured billion more for plan than predecessorDan Jarvis, the new defence secretary, promised to publish the delayed defence investment plan (Dip) before the Nato summit in a fortnight amid indications he has already secured around a billion more than his predecessor, John Healey.Haggling between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury is continuing – while a source in Andy Burnham’s team said he was happy for a final deal to be concluded while Keir Starmer serves out his last days as prime minister. Continue reading...

Ruling lets DHS apply expedited removal to non-citizens who are living far from border A federal appeals court cleared the way on ⁠Tuesday for the Trump ⁠administration to expand ​a fast-track deportation process that would allow for the expedited removal of immigrants who are living far from the border.A panel of the US court of ⁠appeals for the District of Columbia circuit ruled 2-1 to overturn a decision by a judge who in August 2025 blocked the US Department of Homeland Security’s move to expand who ⁠qualifies for expedited removal. That expedited removal process has for nearly three decades been used to quickly return migrants apprehended ​at the border. Continue reading...

Poetica Coffee in Brooklyn now faces DoJ investigation after sharing post criticizing Democrat Dan GoldmanNew York Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman has said it is “sad” that a Brooklyn coffee shop banned him over his views on Israel – a move which has put the cafe under investigation by the Trump administration’s justice department.Goldman represents New York’s 10th congressional district and holds pro-Israel views. He made the “sad” remark to CNN after Brooklyn’s Poetica Coffee banned him in a viral, since-deleted social media post after a visit from him on Sunday. Continue reading...

• South Korean President Lee has ordered the national election watchdog to expand its investigation into voting irregularities beyond initial reports of ballot shortages. • In a separate directive, Lee called for a rigorous crackdown on workplace abuses following the death of a female firefighter in her 20s. • These actions signal a government push for greater institutional accountability and the protection of workers' rights across public sectors.

• President Lee Jae Myung's job approval rating fell to 46.7% as of the 22nd, marking the first "dead cross" since his inauguration where negative evaluations surpassed positive ones. • The decline is attributed to public anxiety over botched election management and a lack of effective policy alternatives to address volatile real estate sentiment. • Members of the ruling party have expressed concern that there are currently no policies capable of soothing public sentiment amid internal party conflicts and friction with the presidency.

Martin Seidenberg, chief executive of parent company IDS, handed payouts after takeover of UK postal serviceBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of the parent company of Royal Mail saw his pay and bonus package more than triple last year to almost £7m, despite group profits slumping by a fifth.Martin Seidenberg, the group chief executive of International Distribution Services (IDS), took home £6.9m in pay, bonus and long-term incentive scheme awards in the year to 31 March. This compares with the £2.1m he took home the previous year. Continue reading...

• Several major technology and consumer electronics products were launched in June 2026, highlighting new trends in AI and mobility. • Key releases include the Canon Pocket Gimbal Camera and the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds. • These launches signify a continued push toward miniaturization and high-performance audio in the consumer gadget market.

• Pennsylvania Film Commissioner Gino Anthony Pesi announced that the state has awarded $117 million in tax credits to a record 59 film and television projects for 2025-2026. • These productions are expected to inject $1.11 billion into the economy and create 11,700 jobs across 35 different counties. • High-profile projects receiving funding include season 5 of Paramount’s *Mayor of Kingstown*, season 3 of Netflix’s *Tires*, and the second season of HBO’s *Task*.

Availability of teplizumab on the NHS – which postpones early stages of disease for up to three years – described as an ‘incredible moment’The world’s first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes is to be made available on the NHS in England and Wales, in the biggest breakthrough in tackling the disease for more than a century.Millions of people have type 1 diabetes worldwide, which typically emerges during childhood or adolescence, and occurs when the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow glucose to enter cells to produce energy. Continue reading...

Channel Nine TV presenter also calls former UK prime minister Keir Starmer a ‘wanker’ in teaser for interview with RobinsonFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChannel Nine TV presenter Karl Stefanovic has posted a video of himself embracing UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is set to appear on his podcast.It comes after the Gold Logie winner told another UK activist, Ant Middleton, a former soldier who has spoken at Robinson’s “unite the kingdom” rallies, he would “make a great prime minister”, in an interview on his podcast, the Karl Stefanovic Show, on Monday. Continue reading...

Weekly toll cap in NSW to fall from $60 to $50 for one year. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales government will lower the weekly road toll cap from $60 to $50 for one year as part of cost of living measures handed down today in the 2026-27 state budget.In advance of today’s budget, the Minns government has announced that the threshold for the cap, under which drivers can claim back from the government after they spend $60 per vehicle, will be lowered to $50 for the 12 months from July 6, a saving of $10 a week for motorists who already claim toll relief. Tolls on multiple roads managed by private operator Transurban will rise on July 1, leaving them on average more than 4% higher since July 2025. Continue reading...

City’s police force faces investigation of 16 officers accused of disproportionately targeting Black and Arab residentsMontreal’s mayor has called for a halt to random police checks as the city’s police force grapples with an internal investigation into racism and racial profiling by 16 officers.Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada told reporters last week that her husband, who is Black, has been repeatedly stopped by police while driving. Continue reading...

• Carbon Brief launched Project Cosmos in June 2026, creating the world’s largest database dedicated to climate change research. • The project is the result of an extensive 18-month research and development phase to organize climate data. • This initiative matters as it provides a centralized, comprehensive resource for accessing critical climate science and research.

• Carbon Brief has launched Project Cosmos, a collaborative initiative aimed at creating the world's most comprehensive database of climate change research. • The project aggregates a vast volume of academic peer-reviewed studies, books, and reports from diverse global researchers and institutions. • This effort addresses the rapid increase in scientific data regarding human-caused climate change, making complex academic findings more accessible.