The Context

Andy Burnham made his first statement to the Commons as Prime Minister, promising "politics done differently" with stronger control over public services and more devolution. He blamed privatisation, deindustrialisation, and Brexit for Britain's problems, and offered a new sense of optimism. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of favouring more government spending and control, while Liberal Democrats pressed for voting system change, and Green and Reform UK MPs questioned him on North Sea energy licences. On defence, he hinted at support for his Chancellor's commitment but gave no specifics. Keir Starmer announced he was stepping down as an MP, triggering a by-election in his Holborn and St Pancras seat.

The US military launched new air strikes on Iran, targeting sites from the Gulf coast to the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media reporting four killed and dozens injured at a wedding in Sirik. Iran said it had begun retaliation, including missile fire toward US military bases in Jordan. President Trump warned that any Iranian retaliation would be met with a much harder strike, saying "when it is over, there will be very little of the Islamic Republic of Iran." The strikes followed previous exchanges between the two sides.

The UK's summer was declared the hottest on record for the second year in a row, with India, Spain, and Belgium also experiencing unprecedented heat. Emma Pinchbeck of the Climate Change Committee said the UK is not adapted to extreme heat and called for infrastructure changes, including air conditioning in vulnerable places like hospitals and schools. At least 1,000 people were killed and more than 3,900 remain missing following deadly floods in Nepal and Tibet.