Day: 23 June 2025

Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Vladimir Putin may attack a NATO country within five years to test the alliance, although he believes Putin is not currently ready for immediate action.

Enzo Maresca stated that Chelsea is not under financial pressure to win the Club World Cup, despite the £97 million prize for the winner.

Barbra Streisand expressed frustration over being underpaid compared to her male co-stars in Meet the Fockers, stating she would require “a lot of money” to reprise her role.

Iran has launched missile attacks on a US military base in Qatar and claims it was a “successful response” to recent US strikes on its nuclear sites.

Qatar reported no casualties at the US al Udeid military base after air defences intercepted Iranian missiles targeting the facility.

A fan-made PC port of Mario Kart 64, named SpaghettiKart, features modern graphics, high frame rates, and a track editor for custom courses.

The week so far has been dominated by the Israel-Iran conflict with a shaky ceasefire currently in place. Donald Trump’s remarkable outburst on TV sent shockwaves around the globe, as a leaked US intelligence report suggests the US bombing of Iran did little damage to Iran’s nuclear efforts – Trump denies this.

The NATO summit is currently underway with members committing to spending 5% of GDP and signing security deals with each other amid an increasingly unstable world.

India has sent its first astronauts into space for the first time in 41 years. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.

There are fears of widespread protests across Kenya today, marking the first anniversary of last year’s mass protests over tax hikes. Violence spiralled last year, and there are fears the nationwide protests this year could be similar.

Both Europe and North America have been experiencing heat waves this week, as weather warnings are put in place amid growing hospitalisations.

Plenty is happening across the globe for you to enjoy this week, regardless of where you are based! If you want to watch a bit of football, you’ve got the Club World Cup and the UEFA Championships (the women’s Euros is coming up in July). The world-famous Glastonbury Festival kicks off, and so does Donauinselfest – Europe’s largest open-air festival. You’ve also got Paris Fashion Week and International Olympic Day ahead.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle prior to discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding defence strategies against Russia.

The EU has been focused on NATO’s defence spending, with members agreeing to up spending to 5% of GDP (except Spain). European leaders are preparing to deal with Donald Trump again at the NATO summit, after several EU members called for retaliatory tariffs on the USA.

The war in the Middle East and Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine have also made up a lot of this week’s European headlines. Kyiv has suffered another heavy bombing, and there have been reports that the EU is considering suspending its partnership with Israel over its genocide in Gaza.

The EU and Canada have strengthened their ties with a new partnership and talks of digital trade and deeper cooperation on AI. The EU-Canada summit comes just before NATO.

Centuries from KL Rahul (120*) and Rishabh Pant (118) propelled India to a commanding 304-run lead over England by tea on day four of the first Test.

The continent (including the UK) has experienced a lovely heatwave last week, and whilst it may have ended for the UK, much of the rest of Europe is still basking in the sun – get out and see our incredible continent and all it has to offer, as the summer break begins for some – and is creeping close for the rest of us!

Mclaren has announced that development driver Alex Dunne will replace Lando Norris for the first practice session of the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.

Cole Palmer’s early success at Chelsea has waned, with only one goal and three assists in the last 17 league matches, raising concerns about his form.

20-Year Reflection: Sleeper Cell, a provocative thriller that aired from 2005 to 2006, remains relevant as US authorities warn of heightened sleeper cell threats following recent conflicts involving Iran.

France and Germany have joined forces in calling for a measured yet assertive EU response to proposed U.S. tariffs on aircraft and aircraft parts, part of Washington’s broader 20% levies on EU imports.

Recent flight tracking data indicates a significant increase in US military aircraft movement towards the Middle East, with 52 planes detected over the eastern Mediterranean in just a few days.

The week so far has been dominated by the Middle East crisis as news of an Israel-Iran ceasefire broke early on Tuesday, only to come to an end a few hours later. It’s unclear if Iran ever agreed to the short-lived ceasefire, and now the world waits anxiously to see what happens next.

Away from the Middle East, there has been a handful of domestic news stories worth taking a glance at. GPs in England can start prescribing weight loss drugs on the NHS, Palestine Action is to be prescribed as a terrorist organisation after two members vandalised two RAF planes – a move dubbed extreme by many and has seen significant backlash for the Labour government. It has not been an easy week for the prime minister or his government so far, with a major rebellion on the way over Labour’s welfare bill cuts. It could end up doing permanent damage to the PM and his government. With the Nato summit around the corner, the prime minister will be focusing on international affairs, but what’s happening at home may cost him come election time.

The heatwave may be over, but the summer vibes most certainly are not! Plenty is happening across the UK this week, from arts and culture to sports and business.

The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, emphasised that armed attacks on nuclear facilities pose severe risks of radioactive releases and must not occur.

Morrissey cancelled his Stockholm concert hours before it was set to begin, citing ‘travel-weariness’ and a lack of financial support from record labels.

Monday’s front pages report on the United entering Israel’s war in Iran. Donald Trump claims the US bomb strike on Iran has wiped out 3 nuclear facilities and suggests a regime change is coming in Iran. The Iranians have vowed revenge against the United States, and is seeking talks with Russia.

Monday’s front pages lead with the US entering Israel’s war on Iran, as Trump declares victory, having bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming it was a total success. Iran has vowed a response. The UN has said it cannot verify the exact degree of damage the US strikes have caused, but that hasn’t stopped the US and Israel from congratulating each other. Last night, Israel continued its heavy bombing of Iran’s military infrastructure, and by this morning, Iran is returning fire. 

Ship tracking around Iran’s Tombak port shows vessels appearing to be arranged in a circle on land, indicating possible GPS interference rather than actual positioning.

There will be little surprise that Monday’s UK headlines are dominated by the latest from the Middle East after Donald Trump took everyone by surprise over the weekend and bombed Iran. It comes after Trump signalled he would give Iran two weeks to discuss ending their nuclear weapons programme. The decision to take the USA into Israel’s war is proving unpopular in the US, even amongst his supporters. There’s little support for the move this side of the pond as well, with many looking at how Prime Minister Keir Starmer will react to the bombing and whether the UK could be dragged into the war.