Towards

• Asian chip stocks rose and Brent crude oil prices climbed toward $100 per barrel amid intensifying Middle Eastern conflicts and AI investor enthusiasm. • South Korea's Kospi index gained one percent, driven primarily by growth in major semiconductor firms. • Rising oil prices increase operational costs for global transport and manufacturing, while chip stock growth signals continued market confidence in AI technology.

• Voters in Saxony-Anhalt began casting ballots on Sunday in a state election where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is competing for power. • Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who is 35 years old, stated that the party's rise "can no longer be stopped." • A victory would make the AfD the first far-right party to take power at the state level in Germany since World War Two.

Campaigners welcome plan to bring IPP sentences to a close but say the move is long overdueCampaigners have hailed Andy Burnham’s pledge to bring an end to indefinite jail terms as “a day that thousands of families have spent years fighting for”.The prime minister has said he will “end the injustice” of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences during this parliament, meaning people will no longer be trapped indefinitely under a sentence abolished more than a decade ago.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

• A $30 million private rescue mission intended to save NASA's Swift Observatory has failed, leaving the telescope destined to crash back to Earth. • The Swift telescope, which has provided critical data on gamma-ray bursts, will now re-enter the atmosphere and be destroyed later this year. • This failure represents a significant loss of both financial investment and a vital scientific tool used for astronomical discoveries.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that a significant market correction for AI stocks on Wall Street is likely, drawing parallels to the dot-com bubble of the early 2000s. • The ECB notes that even if AI technology ultimately succeeds, current overstretched valuations and shifting macroeconomic risks could trigger sharp stock price adjustments. • This potential crash matters because limited policy buffers could exacerbate the volatility, creating negative spillover effects for investors within the euro area.

ABS data shows an almost 9% slump in new lending to investors after three interest rate hikes this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn what one economist is describing as a “tiny step” toward a fairer housing market after decades of bad policy, property investors are shying away from established homes, and putting money into new builds instead, new data shows.New lending to property investors fell sharply in the three months to June, slumping almost 9%, ABS data showed, while the number of total new home loans dropped by 5.4% in the June quarter. Continue reading...

Exclusive: ‘Peaceful community rally’ of more than 150 people was walking in Broadmeadows when car travelling in same direction allegedly approachedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian police are investigating allegations that a car was deliberately driven at speed towards a protester taking part in an anti-racism rally in Melbourne last month.More than 150 people gathered in the outer-north suburb of Broadmeadows on 25 July for what organisers described as a “peaceful community rally”. Continue reading...

Prime minister and opposition leader meet in Canberra to advance agreement on gambling advertising Anthony Albanese has bowed to pressure and will limit gambling inducements as part of a deal between Labor and Angus Taylor, even as some Liberals warn it might not do enough to help vulnerable people.The prime minister and the opposition leader met in Canberra on Monday to negotiate the deal, a week after sensational revelations about illegal drugs, sex workers and alcohol being provided to high-spending gamblers. Continue reading...

• Approximately 50,000 people from over 100 countries gathered in Britain for the 60th convention of the nation's largest Muslim organization. • The event focused on calling world leaders to prioritize justice and peace over the strategic interests of powerful states to prevent a devastating global war. • Discussions centered on urgent international crises, specifically highlighting the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

• Thousands of Gen Z protesters marched toward the Indian Parliament to demand the resignation of the education minister. • The demonstrations were sparked by widespread anger over "botched" national exams, leading to clashes with security forces. • Police responded to the unrest by using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds and prevent them from reaching the government buildings.

Former Greater Manchester mayor expected to take reins as prime minister and appoint new cabinet on MondayAndy Burnham has become the leader of the Labour party, paving the way for him to take over as British prime minister on Monday.The former mayor of Greater Manchester won the overwhelming support of MPs, trade unions and party branches, making him the only choice to take over from Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

• The FTSE 100 is expected to open lower on Monday following a decline in investor sentiment. • Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven oil prices sharply higher, pushing them toward the $80 mark. • This volatility is impacting global markets, weighing on London stocks as energy costs and regional instability create economic uncertainty.

• This academic article analyzes the evolving security narratives of the European Union and NATO, focusing on the shift toward "resilience" and "total defence." • The research examines how these frameworks aim to strengthen societal resilience to protect critical infrastructure and democratic stability against hybrid threats. • This shift matters as it signals a move away from traditional military-centric defense toward a comprehensive approach involving civilian populations and non-military sectors.

• The NATO Summit in Ankara highlighted a strategic shift toward "Alliance 3.0," emphasizing the need for Europe to assume greater defense responsibilities as U.S. priorities evolve. • The analysis argues that the U.S. has not provided sufficient long-term support to Ukraine, which is viewed as the most effective way to weaken Russia's military capabilities. • Strengthening European defense is deemed critical to protecting NATO's eastern flank and preventing Russia from exploiting "grey zones" of instability to the east and south.

Exclusive: Published league tables will rank acute, ambulance and mental health trusts on six measures The NHS will rate trusts according to how well they tackle racism, violence and sexual misconduct towards staff, the government has announced.From July, all NHS acute, ambulance and mental health trusts in England will be judged and ranked in published league tables on six main measures of wellbeing, affecting more than 1.5 million staff. Continue reading...

Means-tested scheme included in immigration and asylum bill condemned by charities for placing tax on refugees Asylum seekers will be ordered to pay about £10,000 to cover their state-funded living costs or be denied settled status in the UK under a new law to be considered by MPs on Tuesday.The means-tested scheme, compared by officials to student loans and included in the immigration and asylum bill, has been condemned by charities for placing a tax on refugees fleeing war, torture and famine. Continue reading...

• The city of El Obeid in North Kordofan, Sudan, faces an imminent ground offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies after 18 months of siege-like conditions. • Credible reports indicate a high risk of atrocity crimes and widespread human rights violations as the conflict intensifies in the region. • This escalation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to prevent mass atrocities and ensure accountability for perpetrators.

• On June 25, 2026, the Sensex climbed over 400 points and the Nifty crossed 24,100, driven by a lower India VIX and easing geopolitical tensions involving Iran. • Crude oil prices are sliding toward pre-war levels, boosting sentiment for energy-importing economies and contributing to the Indian market's upward trend. • Global markets showed mixed results, with Japan's Nikkei 225 surging 3.87% to 71,854.88, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.72% and Indonesia's JSX Composite dropped 3.56%.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) released a report detailing the progress of EU Member States toward adopting the euro, focusing on price stability and currency convergence. • The ECB established a reference value of 5.1% for long-term interest rates, calculated by adding 2 percentage points to the 3.1% average of Denmark (2.6%), Cyprus (3.1%), and France (3.5%). • The report emphasizes that institutional quality and governance are critical for sustainable convergence, specifically highlighting the need for improvements in Hungary and Romania.

Exclusive: Former minister calls for urgent action against companies such as X that allow incitement to violenceWes Streeting has called for Keir Starmer to take urgent action against X and other online platforms that have helped whip up social tensions, suggesting they should be forced to contribute to rebuilding costs after the riots in Belfast.The intervention by the former health secretary, who is seen as a likely challenger to Keir Starmer in any leadership contest, comes after Downing Street said any response would be left to Ofcom, the media regulator, meaning no action is likely for at least two months. Continue reading...

Angus Taylor believes the former PM is uniquely placed to help the party as its new president, but some fear he will render it even more unelectableGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastImmediately after ousting Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor used his first press conference as opposition leader to debut a slogan he hoped would define a new era of Liberal conservatism.“The door must be shut,” Taylor said of his approach to prospective migrants who didn’t subscribe to Australia’s “core beliefs”. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, affirming its authority to verify citizenship to ensure free and fair elections. • Key measures approved include the use of Aadhaar cards as an indicative document for verification and the publication of a list containing approximately 65 lakh excluded electors in Bihar. • The court ruled that a prior entry in the electoral roll does not prevent the EC from conducting fresh inquiries, rejecting claims that names cannot be deleted without prior notice under Rule 21A of the 1960 Rules.

Region adapting to diminished US power after Washington fails to land knockout blow on Tehran or safeguard alliesMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe shock of the Iran war and its fallout has driven rivals in the Middle East to get behind a peace deal, pushing the Trump administration to accept a tentative agreement in the face of furious opposition from Israel and its supporters in Washington.The diplomatic efforts come as the region is reshaping to adapt to diminished US power after Washington’s inability to land a knockout blow on Iran, force the opening of the Strait of Hormuz or safeguard its Gulf allies. Tehran has few friends in the region, but the regime’s survival has meant that its neighbours have had to find an accommodation. Continue reading...

Voters in northern Brisbane electorate go to polls after sudden death of former independent MP Jimmy SullivanGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA byelection in the Brisbane seat of Stafford is expected to swing towards the sitting LNP Queensland government in a result experts say would likely be fatal to former premier Steven Miles’ leadership of the Labor party.Voters in the northern Brisbane electorate of Stafford have gone to the polls after the sudden death of former independent MP Jimmy Sullivan in April. Continue reading...

Now former health secretary and Manchester mayor could be about to make an unlikely deal to oust Keir StarmerWho said the Labour party needs “a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism … It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates”?Until this morning, almost everyone would have attributed those words to Andy Burnham, the mayor or Greater Manchester. But those were the closing paragraphs of the former health secretary Wes Streeting’s resignation letter, a cadence so similar to Burnham’s own that it cannot be accidental. Continue reading...

US president briefly pauses ‘Project Freedom’ operation escorting ships through strait of HormuzBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have eased and stock markets rallied as Donald Trump touted “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Iran, while momentum in AI-driven trading accelerated.The US president said he would briefly pause his “Project Freedom” operation escorting ships through the strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the global oil supplies and has been blockaded by Iran since late February, triggering an energy crisis. Continue reading...

Islamabad has reportedly switched to lower-profile role but believes peace can make progress without face-to-face meetingsPakistan is passing proposals between Iran and the US to keep talks alive behind the scenes and inch towards a peace agreement, officials and experts say.Pakistani officials say that they are conscious of the fact that at stake is not only regional peace, but the health of the global economy and the livelihoods of millions of the poorest people in the world – including in Pakistan, whose monthly energy import bill has almost tripled as a result of the war. Continue reading...

The campaign, fronted by a CGI squirrel, is part of government initiative to boost financial risk taking, amid fears UK growth is being stymiedNils Pratley: the ‘Savvy Squirrel looks a hit too tame’City firms are pinning their hopes on a government-endorsed advertising blitz fronted by a finance “savvy” CGI squirrel to encourage cautious British savers to shift out of cash and start investing.The long-awaited retail investment campaign, which will cost up to £50m, is part of the chancellor Rachel Reeves’ nationwide push to encourage more financial risk taking, amid fears risk-averse consumers are losing out and ultimately stymying UK growth. Continue reading...