Large crowds gathered in Tehran as the funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, moved through the city. The funeral events come after Khamenei was reportedly killed in air attacks by the US and Israel in February.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the Supreme Leader of Iran.
He died following air attacks that Iran says were carried out by the US and Israel.
The funeral procession took place in Tehran, Iran’s capital.
Thousands of people attended the procession, filling the streets.
A week of ceremonies is planned to honor Khamenei.
The funeral procession was slow-moving through Tehran.
The article mentions the attacks happened in February.
Khamenei’s death is a significant event for Iran and the region.
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A Scottish village in Lanarkshire was chosen as a site for a large AI datacentre project that promised many jobs and investment. Local residents now worry they might lose their homes and green land, while questions remain about how much renewable energy the project will actually use.
Key Facts
The UK government selected Lanarkshire for a multibillion-pound AI datacentre development called an “AI growth zone.”
The project is led by the US company CoreWeave and Glasgow-based DataVita.
The datacentre will house special computer chips needed for artificial intelligence systems.
Initial promises included 3,400 new jobs and up to £543 million invested in local programs.
Residents were offered incentives like free solar panels and cash to avoid opposing the project, but these offers had no legal guarantees.
The project requires large amounts of energy and land, raising concerns about the loss of green belt areas.
DataVita claims it will power the site using renewable energy parks nearby, but current plans show they have less than 10% of the required land for this.
The AI growth zone will rely on the national electricity grid rather than being fully powered by on-site renewable energy, contrary to earlier claims.
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The beer group Camra says large beer companies are confusing customers by calling their beers “craft” when many come from big global firms. Camra wants the government watchdog to check if these companies use unfair tactics to keep small independent brewers out of pubs and off shelves.
Key Facts
Camra, a beer lovers’ club, claims big brewers mislead customers about their beers being “craft.”
Seven of the top 10 craft beers in the UK are actually owned by four big international companies.
These companies sometimes own pubs or have deals to promote their own beers over smaller brewers.
Camra asked the Competition & Markets Authority to investigate if small breweries face unfair competition.
Some beers marketed as foreign are actually brewed in the UK, like Madri by Molson Coors.
The trade group for independent brewers now calls their beer “indie” instead of “craft” to avoid confusion.
Big brewers like Asahi say they clearly label who owns each beer brand.
Camra wants the government to support pubs and fair competition for small brewers.
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A large AI datacentre project in rural Scotland, planned to be powered fully by renewable energy by 2030, is unlikely to meet this goal. Government documents and internal communications reveal that the site may have serious issues securing enough power from renewables and will rely on the general power grid instead.
Key Facts
The AI datacentre complex in Lanarkshire is an £8.2 billion project by US firm CoreWeave and Scottish company DataVita.
It was announced that the complex would run entirely on renewable energy by 2030.
Internal government and developer documents show concerns about power supply and doubt renewable goals can be met.
The site will connect to the national power grid, which has a long waiting list for new connections.
The government says the site’s energy needs will still mostly come from renewables.
AI datacentres require huge amounts of electricity to operate specialized computer chips for AI tasks.
The UK faces high electricity costs and delays for new grid connections, affecting such projects.
Experts say political promises about AI infrastructure often ignore practical challenges in energy and development.
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China test-launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific. The launch, which carried a dummy warhead and was part of routine training, drew protests from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan because it occurred in a nuclear-free zone.
Key Facts
The missile launch took place on a Monday at 12:01 p.m. from a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine.
The missile carried a dummy warhead, meaning it was not armed with a real weapon.
China said the test was routine, followed international law, and was not aimed at any country.
The launch occurred in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established by the Treaty of Rarotonga, which bans nuclear weapons testing in the region.
China ratified rules in 1987 promising not to test nuclear weapons or threaten countries in that zone.
New Zealand was informed only hours before the test and expressed concern about the timing.
Australia and Fiji signed a new defense treaty the same day, aimed at balancing China’s influence in the Pacific.
Japan urged China to reconsider such tests to avoid threats to its security, especially missile flights near its airspace.
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ITV is selling its media and entertainment divisions to Sky for £1.6 billion. The deal includes ITV’s broadcast channels and streaming service ITVX but does not include its studio business.
Key Facts
ITV is selling its media and entertainment arms to Sky.
The sale price is £1.6 billion.
The deal includes ITV’s TV channels and the ITVX streaming service.
ITV’s studio division is not part of the sale.
Comcast, an American company that owns Sky, began talks for this takeover in November 2025.
Sky’s CEO Dana Strong called this a major moment for British media.
The move aims to create a strong competitor to global streaming services and YouTube in the UK.
The UK media market is changing quickly and competition for viewers is increasing.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese caused controversy after playing a "shag, marry, date" game during a podcast interview with a comedian. The incident highlighted challenges politicians face when trying to engage voters through informal social media platforms.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese participated in a "shag, marry, date" game during an interview with comedian Nikki Osborne, who performs as "Bush Barbie."
Albanese initially gave a careful answer but later named Kylie Minogue for all three categories, causing backlash.
The game is seen as inappropriate for political leaders by some members of the public and politicians.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce advised Albanese to be more careful and called the incident a "trap" for a prime minister.
Albanese previously faced criticism for calling Grace Tame "difficult" before clarifying his meaning.
Politicians often use social media and informal interviews to connect with voters who dislike traditional political messaging.
This episode shows the risks politicians take when engaging in casual social media content to appear relatable.
The incident reflects broader challenges of maintaining political decorum while reaching out to a new generation of voters.
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A large missile and drone attack by Russia on Kyiv, Ukraine, killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more. This is the second major strike on Kyiv in less than a week, occurring just before a NATO summit where Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones at Ukraine overnight, hitting Kyiv and surrounding areas.
The attack killed at least 11 people and injured at least 56 across Kyiv and nearby districts.
More than a dozen residential buildings in Kyiv, including four historic ones, were damaged.
Air raid sirens sounded and thousands of residents took shelter underground during the attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned another Russian attack might happen before the NATO summit in Turkiye.
President Zelenskyy plans to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit starting Tuesday.
Russia and Ukraine have increased the use of long-range weapons like missiles and drones in their ongoing conflict.
A Ukrainian strike damaged electricity supplies near Sevastopol, a Russian-controlled port in Crimea.
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The funeral procession for Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began in Tehran with large crowds attending. The event is being used by Iranian authorities to show national strength after weeks of conflict with the United States and Israel. Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, who succeeded him, has not yet appeared in public.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in Israeli air strikes based on U.S. intelligence.
The funeral procession started in Tehran and is expected to have massive attendance, potentially rivaling the 1989 funeral of Khamenei’s predecessor.
Authorities are taking precautions to prevent crowd chaos like the deadly stampedes in the 1989 funeral.
Mourning events will continue in Iranian cities and holy sites in Iraq, with burial scheduled in Mashhad.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader and son of Ali Khamenei, has not appeared publicly since taking power and is reportedly injured.
Mourners in Tehran displayed anti-U.S. sentiments, including hanging an effigy of President Donald Trump.
The funeral is seen as a show of resilience amid ongoing tensions and war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Officials and political figures praised the nation’s unity and tribute to Khamenei.
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Sky, owned by Comcast, will buy ITV’s broadcasting and streaming business for £1.6 billion to form the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster. The deal includes ITV’s free TV channels and streaming service but does not include ITV Studios, its show-making division.
Key Facts
Sky will initially pay £1.2 billion in cash for ITV’s media and entertainment business.
An extra payment up to £200 million may be made in late 2028, based on 2027 advertising revenue.
Comcast will sell its Love Productions company, which makes The Great British Bake Off, to ITV for £200 million.
ITV Studios, which produces shows like Love Island and I’m a Celebrity, is not part of this deal.
Sky plans to invest at least £2.1 billion in the combined business between 2028 and 2032.
The deal aims to help ITV compete better with global streaming services.
The announcement follows months of complex negotiations between Sky and ITV.
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Anissa Helou, a well-known cook and food writer from the Middle East, has published a new book about Lebanese food. Her book highlights traditional recipes, especially from southern Lebanese villages damaged by recent wars.
Key Facts
Anissa Helou is 74 years old and has published many books about Middle Eastern food since the 1990s.
She won Britain’s Guild of Food Writers Lifetime Achievement Award last month.
Helou was born to a Lebanese mother and Syrian father and grew up learning cooking from her family.
Her new book is called “Lebanon: Cooking the Foods of My Homeland.”
The book includes recipes from southern Lebanese villages damaged by wars between Israel and Hezbollah.
Southern Lebanese cuisine features unique variations such as using bulgur instead of rice in a lentil dish called mujadara.
Helou visited these villages multiple times, meeting people affected by the conflict and learning their food traditions.
The book was officially launched at Lebanon’s Tourism Ministry in Beirut in June 2026.
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Maternity hospitals in Sudan’s capital area have reopened after being closed due to war. Mothers now have access to safer childbirth services despite high costs, shortages of medicine, and difficult travel conditions. Health officials report that risks for mothers and babies are decreasing as services improve.
Key Facts
The Al-Dayat maternity hospital in Omdurman has resumed operations after a long closure caused by war.
Many women faced unsafe home births and long travel during the closure, increasing health risks.
The Khartoum State Ministry of Health reopened 15 maternity wards in the capital region.
About 7,000 babies are being born each month in the capital’s hospitals, with 60 births daily at Al-Dayat hospital alone.
Costs for childbirth range from $216 for natural births at government hospitals to over $1,300 for C-sections in private hospitals.
Mothers from distant regions face high transport and accommodation costs to reach hospitals.
Hospitals face shortages of basic medicines and have limited staff due to the war-driven loss of doctors and nurses.
The Neonatal Department at Omdurman Hospital has around 140 incubators, making it the largest in Sudan.
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A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and performer Patti LuPone was blocked from entering Turkey because authorities said the group’s behavior did not fit the country’s moral values. The ship had planned to stop in the Turkish port of Kuşadası, but will now go to Cairo and Crete instead.
Key Facts
The ship, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, started its cruise from Athens on July 5.
The cruise was organized by Atlantis, a US company specializing in LGBTQ+ trips.
Turkish authorities in Aydin province canceled the ship’s stop in Kuşadası citing public concern and moral reasons.
Patti LuPone is performing on the cruise and expressed anger at the ban.
Atlantis Events said this is the first time in 36 years they were told not to dock because of their passengers’ identity.
The company has tried, without success, to change Turkey’s decision even with help from the US embassy.
Homosexuality is legal in Turkey, but LGBTQ+ people often face discrimination and hostility, including from top government leaders.
The ship will make alternative stops in Cairo, Egypt, and Crete, Greece.
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Meta decided in early 2025 to reduce content censorship on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This change focused on removing only illegal or very serious harmful content, relying more on users to report less serious issues, which may have led to an increase in antisemitic and other offensive content.
Key Facts
In January 2025, Meta announced a policy to reduce censorship and remove factcheckers.
The policy focused on tackling illegal or very serious violations like terrorism threats and child exploitation.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg said this change would catch less harmful content but reduce accidental removals of innocent posts.
The royal commission into antisemitism reported concerns that this policy allowed more antisemitic and hateful content.
Internal Meta guidelines showed some offensive comments were allowed if they were not false claims about specific criminal behavior.
Meta tries to balance removing hateful content with avoiding over-enforcement that could remove legitimate speech.
Meta reported a consistent 0.02% rate of hateful content violations since 2022, but the commission noted a steep 79% drop in actions against hateful conduct after the policy change.
Some users providing evidence to the inquiry were targeted with offensive content on Meta’s platforms.
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A Chinese submarine launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean during a planned military exercise. The test missile had a dummy warhead and hit a targeted area as part of routine training.
Key Facts
The missile was launched on a Monday at 12:01 p.m. Beijing time.
The missile carried a dummy warhead, meaning it was not armed with a real nuclear weapon.
The missile accurately landed in a pre-set sea area in the Pacific Ocean.
This was China’s second similar missile test in the Pacific since September 2024.
China notified Australia and New Zealand about the upcoming missile test beforehand.
The Chinese government said the test is annual military training and follows international laws.
Chinese officials stated the test is not aimed at any specific country or target.
The missile test was conducted by a Chinese navy submarine.
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Millions of people took part in the funeral procession for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack. The large public gathering showed national unity, despite recent protests and violence in the country. Iranian leaders and officials highlighted the event as a sign of strength and resistance against external pressure.
Key Facts
The funeral procession took place in Tehran, moving from Revolution Square to Azadi Square.
Ali Khamenei was killed in a bombing attributed to Israel in February.
Mourners wore black and carried Iranian flags and pictures of Khamenei.
The event lasted 10-12 hours and involved a huge crowd using public transport like the metro.
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, was named the new supreme leader but did not attend the funeral publicly due to safety concerns.
Iran’s president praised the crowd’s peaceful behavior during the funeral.
More than 300 foreign journalists were given visas to cover the event.
Iranian officials rejected claims by President Trump that the public grief was fake, saying the mourning was genuine.
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China tested a long-range missile in the Pacific Ocean, landing it in designated waters, as part of its annual military training. Australia said it was informed shortly before the test and called the action destabilizing for the region.
Key Facts
China launched a sea-based long-range missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific.
The test was described by China as routine military training with prior notice to relevant countries.
Australia received notification of the test only on the day it happened.
Australian officials expressed concern that the test threatens peace and stability in the Pacific.
Australia and Fiji signed a defense alliance earlier the same day, pledging mutual support if attacked.
Chinese satellite-tracking ships are positioned in the Pacific, likely to monitor missile tests.
The Pacific Islands Forum wants the region to remain peaceful, calling such tests inconsistent with that goal.
China has increased its missile testing in 2024, showing growing military capability.
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At least seven people died and 24 were wounded in a series of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv by Russia. The attacks targeted residential areas and happened just before a NATO summit in Turkey, with President Zelenskyy warning of continued large-scale strikes.
Key Facts
The attacks on Kyiv used ballistic and cruise missiles, plus drones.
At least seven people were killed and 24 injured.
Residential buildings in Podilskyi and Darnytsia districts were damaged, with some partially collapsing.
People were trapped under rubble in some of the damaged buildings.
The attack occurred hours after President Zelenskyy warned of a large-scale strike.
The recent Russian attack followed another big strike that killed at least 31 people.
President Zelenskyy called on Western countries to supply more air defense systems, especially Patriot missiles.
The attacks happened one day before a NATO summit in Turkey.
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Residents of Crimea report a very serious situation after Ukraine attacked oil refineries, power plants, and military sites on the peninsula. These attacks have increased recently to cut off support for Russian troops fighting in southern Ukraine.
Key Facts
Ukrainian drones have struck multiple targets in Crimea, including oil refineries and power plants.
Crimea is a peninsula that Russia took control of, but Ukraine is now targeting it.
The attacks aim to disrupt Russian supply lines to forces in southern Ukraine.
Local people in Crimea describe the situation as "catastrophic."
The increase in attacks is part of Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s military actions.
Crimea is important to Russian President Vladimir Putin for personal and strategic reasons.
The situation remains tense as fighting continues in the region.
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The UK government is considering changes to rules that require private housing builders to include affordable homes in new rural developments of 10 to 49 houses. Analysis shows this change could risk half of the affordable housing supply in rural England and reduce the total affordable homes built by 32,000 over 10 years.
Key Facts
The government may end the rule that developers must build affordable homes in medium-sized developments (10-49 houses).
These rules are called section 106 agreements, which require some homes to be affordable.
In rural areas, over half of affordable homes come from developments of this size.
Ending these rules could lead to 32,000 fewer affordable homes over the next decade.
Affordable housing is important for rural families who often cannot afford market prices.
Developers might instead pay money to local councils to build affordable homes elsewhere.
Section 106 agreements currently provide about 36% of all affordable homes built in 2024-25.
Officials say no final decision has been made, but changes aim to simplify the building process amid concerns about building costs and delays.
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