- Members of rebel Catholic group in schism, excommunicated, Vatican says Reuters
- Excommunication decreed for Lefebvrian episcopal ordinations Vatican News
- Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicates bishops and invalidates sacraments AP News
- What to know about the breakaway traditionalist Catholics defying Pope Leo XIV Yahoo
- Controversial bishops ordained as Pope warns of 'schism' in Catholic Church BBC
11-year-old boy driving pickup truck crashes into group of Thai monks, killing 8 – AP News
China’s new ethnic unity law extends its legal reach overseas – Al Jazeera
- China’s new ethnic unity law extends its legal reach overseas Al Jazeera
- China tells its ethnic minorities to integrate or face consequences with sweeping new unity law CNN
- McGovern, Smith, Khanna lead Bipartisan Group of 14 House Lawmakers Asking State Department to Condemn Chinese Government’s harmful “Ethnic Unity Law” Congressman Jim McGovern (.gov)
- Trio of bipartisan measures in U.S. Congress join the global backlash against China’s repressive new law International Campaign for Tibet
- Can China target critics abroad with its new 'ethnic unity' law? BBC
Russian attack kills at least 13, injures scores and causes damage across Ukraine capital – AP News
- Russian attack kills at least 13, injures scores and causes damage across Ukraine capital AP News
- Live Updates: Russia Hammers Ukraine’s Capital in Deadly Attacks The New York Times
- Russia launches massive strike on Ukraine as Poland scrambles jets, Finland restricts airspace CNBC
- Ukraine: Major Russian attack on Kyiv kills more than a dozen people, mayor says CNN
- Photos show aftermath of large-scale Russian attack overnight in Kyiv WRAL
U.S.-Iran Latest: Trump hails “very good meetings” in Qatar as indirect negotiations resume – CBS News
- U.S.-Iran Latest: Trump hails "very good meetings" in Qatar as indirect negotiations resume CBS News
- US, Iran talks conclude in Doha, focused on Strait of Hormuz Reuters
- Iran war live: ‘Positive progress’ as US, Tehran wrap up indirect talks Al Jazeera
- Trump Hails Qatar Meetings on Iran as Talks Set to Continue Bloomberg.com
- Live updates: Indirect US-Iran talks make ‘positive progress,’ US Navy search for missing MH-60S crew CNN
Ukraine Takes the War to Russia – The New York Times
- Ukraine Takes the War to Russia The New York Times
- Ukraine’s Plan to Unnerve Putin The Atlantic
- Ukraine has brought the (drone) war to Russia. But it may prolong the fighting. The Christian Science Monitor
- Putin’s Two Pillars of Russian Resilience Are Crumbling Newsweek
- How Ukraine Is Bringing the War to Russia The Dispatch
Facing barbs and pressure from Trump, Europe’s leaders close ranks – AP News
- Facing barbs and pressure from Trump, Europe’s leaders close ranks AP News
- Why Meloni has hit back hard against Trump and his ‘made up’ photo claim | Riccardo Alcaro The Guardian
- Is Meloni Done With Trump? Foreign Policy
- Both Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni are begging for trouble The Economist
- Trump tried to humiliate Italy’s far-right leader. Instead, he helped to unite Europe against him The Independent
Russians feel the bite of Moscow’s war as petrol crisis worsens – Euronews
- Russians feel the bite of Moscow's war as petrol crisis worsens Euronews
- EXCLUSIVE: Russia buys gasoline from India to tackle shortages, sources say Reuters
- ‘The crisis is deep’: The view from Russia as fuel shortages worsen Al Jazeera
- Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries plunge Russia into a summer fuel crisis AP News
- WATCH: Fights break out at Russian gas stations as Putin admits fuel shortages Fox News
‘Exploratory and curious animals’: mysterious rise in orca sightings off Northumberland coast
Reasons for increase not clear but experts say it could be welcome sign marine ecosystem is becoming healthier
The Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast have long drawn fans of the natural world keen to catch sight of the resident guillemots and puffins.
But as recently as last week, another much bigger black-and-white animal has been delighting wildlife spotters. Orcas have been appearing more regularly than ever before.
Continue reading...Stephen Hough to lead relaunched Leeds piano competition
Free choice of repertoire and an increased upper age limit part of the changes in a competition that will emphasise individuality and imagination
The Leeds International Piano Competition is to be relaunched under the artistic direction of Sir Stephen Hough. The pianist is leading significant reforms to the triennial contest that first began in 1963. He will also chair an international jury that includes fellow pianists Piotr Anderszewski, Lucas Debargue, Yeol Eum Son, Kathryn Stott and Master of the King’s Music, composer Errollyn Wallen.
The 2027 competition will have its upper age limit increased to 35, and competitors will have complete free choice over the music they perform, be it Couperin or Copland, Boulez or Busoni.
Continue reading...EU border rules causing travel chaos ahead of summer peak, industry warns – Al Jazeera
- EU border rules causing travel chaos ahead of summer peak, industry warns Al Jazeera
- Europe’s airport queues are extremely long—and getting longer The Economist
- EU border delays 'not bearable' over summer, warns airport boss BBC
- Europe’s aviation sector warns EES has reached a 'critical point' Euronews
- What are the new EU border checks and how will they affect your summer holiday? The Guardian
Body of missing Virginia teacher Ian Treger found over a month after vanishing during hiking trip to Peru – New York Post
- Body of missing Virginia teacher Ian Treger found over a month after vanishing during hiking trip to Peru New York Post
- Peru: Cusco Police and U.S. Embassy seek to geolocate missing tourist Agencia Peruana de Noticias | ANDINA
- Mother Describes Search Efforts thenews-gazette.com
- Missing Virginia teacher found dead after Peru hike MSN
- New area of focus identified in search for missing W&L alumnus Ian Treger WDBJ7
‘Obviously disturbing’ if Christian Brothers’ $1 property sales deprive abuse survivors of pay, government tells court
Concerns Catholic order’s historical transfers of millions in assets were potentially inappropriate, NSW supreme court hears
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Lawyers for the federal government say they are concerned at the “disturbing” potential that the Christian Brothers Catholic order may have inappropriately transferred property to another entity years before claiming it was broke and couldn’t afford to pay abuse survivors’ civil claims.
The New South Wales supreme court on Thursday ordered a moratorium on all abuse claims against the Christian Brothers, a Catholic order that played a significant role in the church’s child sexual abuse scandal.
Continue reading...Europe wants to rebalance trade with Beijing, but can’t quit Chinese air conditioners – CNBC
- Europe wants to rebalance trade with Beijing, but can't quit Chinese air conditioners CNBC
- Europe Learns It’s Hard to Start a Trade War With China During a Heat Wave WSJ
- EU trade chief wants results on trade talks with China by October Reuters
- EU confronts ‘China shock’ ahead of pivotal Brussels trade talks South China Morning Post
- EU Flinches in China Trade Reset, Fearing Painful Retaliation Bloomberg.com
Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine capital kill at least eight and injure dozens
Multiple explosions heard in Kyiv with a hotel and several residential buildings on fire
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight into Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more.
The intense strikes hit residential buildings and triggered a fire in a hotel on a central boulevard.
Continue reading...Kyiv attacked after Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns of ‘massive Russian strike’
At least two dead and 11 injured as Ukraine's forces defend against ballistic missiles, drones targeting capital city.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Russia seizes 84 sq km in June, but rate of advance slows – DeepState Українська правда
- The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, July 1, 2026 Russia Matters
- DeepState reported a breakthrough on the front lines: what's happening now UA.NEWS
- The pace of Russian troops' advance has dropped 16-fold over the year - ISW Українські Національні Новини (УНН)
Ocean temperatures hit record highs as El Niño looms
The world’s oceans are under heat stress, with average sea surface temperatures hitting 21°C.
‘A war zone’: Venezuela aid workers fear health crisis after earthquakes
Aid workers fear disease outbreaks in temporary shelters amid overcrowding, lack of access to clean water, sanitation.
China’s ethnic unity law denounced as ‘forced assimilation’ by rights groups
Law comes into effect that critics fear will further erode rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans, as well as allow Beijing to pursue dissidents abroad
A new ethnic unity law has come into effect in China despite warnings from Taiwan, the United Nations and rights groups that it could threaten freedoms, especially for minorities.
The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress aims to forge a “shared” national identity among ethnic groups, for example by strengthening the status of Mandarin as the official language. But overseas campaigners have argued it will further degrade the rights of ethnic minorities, such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, that Beijing is accused of persecuting.
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