Day News Recap: Hormuz truce, Ukraine strikes and global shocks dominate a volatile day
The biggest development was a fragile de escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States and Iran agreeing to stand down for now after several days of strikes and counterstrikes near the waterway, even as a separate report said talks in Doha remain disputed and volatile. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least four Palestinians, including a 13 year old girl, as attacks on tents and other civilian sites continued, while Israel also carried out further strikes in southern Lebanon, including the destruction of what it described as a tunnel near the village... [Continue Reading]
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Senegal to hold referendum after parliament backs constitutional reform
Senegal's president is set to call a referendum after the National Assembly overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that would shift the balance of power between the executive and parliament. The vote took place on Monday in a tense atmosphere outside and inside the chamber, with opposition protesters trying to force their way into the building and police using tear gas during scuffles. The reform was proposed by the ruling Pastef party and is now headed for a national vote.Justice Minister Moussa Sarr told lawmakers that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had decided to inform the speaker of the National Assembly that... [Continue Reading]
Breaking News: Mass pedestrian collision in west London, driver arrested for attempted murder
A major criminal investigation is underway after a vehicle plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Ealing Broadway, West London. Met Police have confirmed that a 34-year-old Somalia-born British national was apprehended in nearby Grange Park following a short pursuit after fleeing the scene. The suspect is currently being held on suspicion of dangerous driving and attempted murder. THE CASUALTIES: Five pedestrians were struck during the incident. Emergency services, including London's Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene. Three victims were hospitalized, with one rushed to a major trauma centre. LATEST UPDATE: Scotland Yard has confirmed that none of the victims... [Continue Reading]
Lebanon-Israel framework agreement sparks protests in Beirut as dispute over withdrawal deepens
Protests broke out in Beirut after Lebanon and Israel signed a United States-brokered framework agreement on Friday, with demonstrators criticising the deal for not requiring an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas. The immediate street reaction underscored how contested the arrangement remains in Lebanon, where many see the question of territory and sovereignty as central to any lasting settlement. The protests also reflected anger among people affected by months of fighting and displacement in the south and in Beirut's southern suburbs.The supplied material says the agreement followed months of direct negotiations and was signed after a period of intense conflict between... [Continue Reading]
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Israel formally recognises the Armenian genocide amid strained ties with Turkey
Israel's government has unanimously recognised the mass killings of Armenians during World War I as genocide, in a move that adds a new diplomatic strain to already difficult relations with Turkey. The decision was approved on Sunday after being proposed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. It still requires ratification by parliament before it becomes fully formalised.Sa'ar thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for backing the proposal and said Israel had fulfilled a moral duty by recognising what he called the historical truth and rejecting attempts to deny it. According to a statement from his office, he told ministers that the Armenian... [Continue Reading]
US and Iran trade fresh strikes after ship hit near Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran have exchanged fresh strikes after a ship trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a projectile, deepening a confrontation over navigation in one of the world's most sensitive shipping corridors. The latest escalation has centred on accusations that each side violated the June 17 memorandum of understanding, including Article 5, which calls for safe passage for commercial vessels through the waterway. The exchange has raised new doubts about whether the fragile agreement can hold.According to the supplied material, the latest round began on Friday when the vessel was struck while attempting to... [Continue Reading]
Iraq security forces arrest officials in Baghdad anticorruption crackdown
Elite Iraqi security personnel have carried out a dawn arrest operation in Baghdad, detaining several politicians, lawmakers and officials on corruption charges. The operation took place in the fortified Green Zone and in nearby neighbourhoods, according to a security source cited by state-run media. It is the latest sign of a widening anticorruption drive in the capital.The arrests were linked to statements provided by deputy oil minister Adnan al-Jumaili after his earlier arrest last month on corruption charges. Authorities had also seized about $86 million in cash this month, which was said to be part of the same case. A... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: US and Iran strikes deepen Gulf tensions as Europe swelters and Lebanon deal frays
The United States has widened its campaign against Iranian targets, saying it struck 10 military sites and then hit missile and drone storage locations again, as a fragile ceasefire around the Strait of Hormuz came under renewed strain. President Donald Trump warned Iran must never get nuclear weapons and said the US could act again if Tehran breaches the ceasefire. 🔗 🔗 🔗Gulf states moved to protect shipping and civilians as the crisis spread. Bahrain and Kuwait raised alerts, while the UN maritime agency said it had evacuated about 2,500 stranded seafarers from the Persian Gulf before suspending its rescue... [Continue Reading]
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Serbia's President Vucic says he will resign within weeks amid protests
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has said he will step down within weeks, opening the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections. He made the announcement at a pro-government rally in Belgrade, telling supporters that he would be president for only a short time longer. The move comes after months of student-led anti-government protests that have shaken the country.Vucic said he would resign in "a couple of weeks" but did not give a precise date. He also did not say when any election for parliament or for a new president would be held. His current second and final presidential term was... [Continue Reading]
IAEA chief presses for strict verification of Iran nuclear programme amid ceasefire talks
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has called for a very strong verification system and full access to monitor Iran's nuclear programme. He said certainty would require inspectors to be able to verify matters "everywhere" as soon as practicable, rather than relying on assurances about intent. His comments come as the United States and Iran continue talks linked to a preliminary ceasefire arrangement and a wider peace process.Grossi said the key objective of the preliminary agreement is to ensure Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons, while stressing that the agency does not judge intentions. He also said... [Continue Reading]
Kenya arrests more than 350 during anniversary protests over deadly anti-tax rallies
Kenyan police dispersed protesters in Nairobi and detained others in several parts of the country as people marked the second anniversary of deadly anti-government rallies. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said 355 people were arrested on Thursday, while officers used roadblocks and water-cannon trucks in the capital. The protests were held in memory of demonstrators killed during anti-tax unrest two years ago.Murkomen described those detained as criminals and said the security measures were intended to contain the demonstrations. He also apologised for the disruption caused by barricades and other restrictions, saying they had been effective in securing the city and other... [Continue Reading]
Zimbabwe Senate approves constitutional amendment extending Mnangagwa's term until 2030 amid backlash
Zimbabwe's Senate has approved a constitutional amendment that would keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in office until 2030. The vote took place on Wednesday and passed by 75 votes to four, according to Senate President Mabel Chinomona. The measure now needs Mnangagwa's signature before it can become law.The amendment is part of a wider package of changes that would extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five years to seven years. It would also allow the president to be elected by parliament rather than by direct popular vote. The bill had already passed the National Assembly last week, where 216 lawmakers voted... [Continue Reading]
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Iran rejects Trump claim that unfrozen assets will buy US farm goods
Iran's parliament speaker has rejected a claim by US President Donald Trump that any unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy American agricultural exports. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on social media that Washington was "falsely" claiming the funds would be spent on US agriculture, escalating a public dispute over the terms of the emerging Iran-US memorandum of understanding. Ghalibaf, who also heads Iran's negotiating team in talks with the United States, said the agreement does not contain legal clauses requiring the purchase of US commodities.His comments came after Trump said the initial financial relief under the Pakistan-mediated framework would... [Continue Reading]
Kenyan protesters return to Nairobi streets on Gen Z uprising anniversary
Marchers returned to the streets of Nairobi on 25 June to mark the second anniversary of the Gen Z uprising, with demonstrators carrying Kenyan flags and calling for justice for victims of police violence. Authorities deployed large numbers of officers and set up roadblocks around the capital, including near parliament, as businesses remained closed in parts of the city. The anniversary has again become a focal point for youth activism and demands for government accountability.The protests are tied to the June 2024 anti-tax unrest, when thousands of young people stormed parliament in Nairobi amid anger over rising living costs and... [Continue Reading]
Is the Italian Prime Minister the Visionary Leader Europe Needs? An Analysis of Executive Decisiveness, National Security, and the Contrast in European Integration Policies
A Continent in Institutional Deadlock While the rest of Europe remains entangled in a web of bureaucratic deadlock and human rights litigation, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has quietly established herself as a leader operating far ahead of her continental peers. For years, European leaders have debated how to handle radicalism and unchecked migration, often waiting for institutional consensus that arrives too late. Meloni, conversely, has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize state security over political correctness, offering a blueprint for a continent facing asymmetric threats. The Contrast in European Legislative Approvals The contrast between Italy’s swift, executive decisiveness and the... [Continue Reading]
Iran and US talks strain over Hormuz and inspections as Trump threatens to halt negotiations
Iranian and US officials remain divided over the terms of their framework deal, with the latest dispute centring on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear inspections. The disagreement has sharpened as technical talks continue under a 60-day framework, even as both sides publicly claim progress. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the arrangement as a US defeat, while Washington has warned that the process could collapse if key assurances prove false.Ghalibaf told a parliamentary summit in Baku that the understanding was not the result of pressure, but of what he called Iranian resistance and authority. He said Washington and... [Continue Reading]
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Burnham likely to replace Reeves if he becomes PM amid Labour leadership race
The BBC understands that if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, he is expected to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor and offer her a more junior cabinet role. A spokesperson for Burnham said no decisions had been made, but the reports add detail to the team he is beginning to assemble as he prepares for a possible move into Downing Street. Burnham is currently the sole candidate in the Labour leadership race, meaning he could become prime minister as early as 17 July if no challenger emerges.The choice of chancellor would be one of the first major decisions of any Burnham... [Continue Reading]
Iran and US clash over interpretation of Switzerland framework deal
Iran has moved to challenge Washington's account of what was agreed in the latest round of talks in Switzerland, widening a dispute over the terms of a framework deal that both sides have presented very differently. The disagreement emerged within hours of the negotiations ending, with Tehran saying the text should be read narrowly and the US president insisting Iran had accepted major concessions. The clash now centres on nuclear inspections, sanctions relief and the future of maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to the "highest level" of nuclear inspections for the long term,... [Continue Reading]
Labour MPs mull leadership challenge to prevent Burnham coronation
At least two senior Labour MPs are considering leadership bids as the party prepares to choose a successor to Keir Starmer, in an effort to prevent Andy Burnham becoming prime minister without a full contest. Former defence minister Al Carns has said he is weighing whether to run, while Darren Jones, Sir Keir Starmer's chief secretary, has not ruled out a challenge, according to the supplied material. Labour MPs are increasingly discussing the possibility that Burnham could take office as early as 17 July, the day after nominations close.The timetable set out in the rows gives potential candidates from 9... [Continue Reading]
Hungary PM launches sweeping reform drive to dismantle Orban-era power network
Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar has announced a wide-ranging reform drive aimed at dismantling what he described as the political and economic network built under former leader Viktor Orban. In a speech to parliament on Monday, Magyar unveiled a package he called Operation Cleansing Fire, with plans that include a new constitution, a new anti-corruption office, institutional purges and the removal of the president. The announcement marks one of the most ambitious political resets in Hungary since Magyar took office in April.The proposed measures are tied to a broader effort to unlock 16.4 billion euros in frozen European Union funds,... [Continue Reading]
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