US-Iran talks over $6bn Iranian assets to restart 01. July 2026 (01:57) Two sides yet to have face-to-face meeting since signing deal to reopen strait of HormuzTalks at an indirect level between US and Iranian officials over unfreezing at least $6bn Iranian assets will recommence on Wednesday in Doha, Iran has said. The two sides are yet to have their first face-to-face meeting since signing a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait of Hormuz.US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Qatar on Tuesday for talks covering regional issues including the Iran ceasefire and Lebanon, but Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, stressed these were with Qatari mediators. “They are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians,” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Historic Event’: Trump announces Republican midterm convention 01. July 2026 (01:39) President unveils plans for Dallas summit, in break with tradition of conventions only in presidential election yearsDonald Trump has announced that Republicans will stage their first ever national convention ahead of the midterm elections, a move aimed at energizing voters as the party fights to hold its narrow congressional majorities in November.The two-day gathering will take place in Dallas on 9 and 10 September, marking a break from the longstanding tradition of holding national conventions only during presidential election years. Trump confirmed the plans on Tuesday in a Truth Social post, describing Dallas as “One of my favorite places in the World”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pakistan roof collapse kills 14 children at tutoring centre 01. July 2026 (01:34) Local officials said preliminary reports showed the centre was unregistered and operating inside a privately owned residential building Fourteen children died after the roof of a tutoring centre collapsed in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, rescue officials have said, as authorities opened the way for a possible negligence investigation.Punjab’s emergency service said rescuers found children and a 30-year-old female teacher under the rubble of the private after-school facility. The children killed were aged five to 16 with most below nine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK poll highlights fears about access to emergency contraception 01. July 2026 (01:01) Doctors say survey shows need for morning-after pill to be available at corner shops, petrol stations and supermarketsAlmost half of the UK population believe it would be difficult to access emergency contraception on a Sunday, while nearly two-thirds think they would struggle after 10pm, according to a survey.The research, carried out by YouGov, found that only 7% of people believe it would be difficult to access emergency contraception during the daytime on a weekday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Women with irregular periods should be checked for PMOS, NHS says 01. July 2026 (01:01) Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome is underdiagnosed and inconsistenly managed, according to NiceUp to 4 million women with irregular periods should be investigated for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, according to new NHS guidance.PMOS, previously known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is believed to affect up to 13% of reproductive age women, the World Health Organization estimates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘The things that connect us are fraying’: James Graham short film explores what it means to be English 01. July 2026 (01:01) Ahead of England’s first knockout game of the World Cup, Love Letter to England celebrates what English people have in commonWhat does it mean to be English? Ahead of England’s first knockout game of the World Cup, Ian McKellen and the award-winning playwright James Graham have released a short film that attempts to answer that deceptively simple question.The film, Love Letter to England, explores and celebrates what people across the country have in common. It draws on early contributions to the National Conversation, a UK-wide initiative that began last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jamaican delegation to travel to UK to lodge formal slavery reparations petition with King Charles 01. July 2026 (00:20) Visit to monarch planned for 6 September and will take Jamaica’s mission for reparatory justice to the ‘next level’Jamaican officials will travel to the UK in September to formally lodge an unprecedented petition with King Charles to seek legal guidance on their slavery reparations claim from Britain, the country’s government announced on Tuesday.Speaking in the parliament of the Caribbean nation, Olivia Grange, the culture minister, confirmed that the trip was planned for 6 September, and was intended to take Jamaica’s mission for reparatory justice to the next level. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU diplomats clash with Trump administration over top Bosnia and Herzegovina post 30. June 2026 (23:26) Diplomats in Sarajevo failed to agree on a candidate for the high representative role, which carries a lot of power and influence across the BalkansDiplomats from the US and Europe have been unable to resolve their differences and agree on a new top international envoy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a standoff which has become a transatlantic test of wills over influence in the Balkans.A meeting in Sarajevo to select a new high representative, a post with far-reaching powers, ended without a compromise, in a spat that has undermined western cohesion in the region in the Trump era. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Charlie Kirk’s widow and parents to attend hearing for man accused of his killing 30. June 2026 (23:11) Hearing set to begin 6 July would mark the first time Kirk’s family has been in the courtroom with the suspectCharlie Kirk’s parents and his widow Erika Kirk are expected to attend a key hearing next week in Utah for the murder case against the man accused of slaying the conservative political activist, according to multiple news outlets.The preliminary hearing, set to begin 6 July, would mark the first time Kirk’s family has been in the courtroom with Tyler James Robinson, the 23-year-old charged with aggravated murder related to Kirk’s death. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Most asylum seekers rejected under tightened laws will remain in UK 30. June 2026 (22:43) Critics call proposed limits on asylum claims a ‘quick fix that will create long-term chaos’More than half of the people whose asylum and visa claims will be rejected under tightened human rights laws will continue to live in the UK, according to the Home Office’s own assessment.Documents released on Tuesday show that plans to set new limits on article 8 of the European convention on human rights are expected to result in another 11,700 people having their claims rejected annually. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
