The announcement of a new agreement between the United States and Iran has been greeted with relief across global markets. Oil prices have eased, shipping insurers have relaxed and politicians have rushed to hail a diplomatic breakthrough.

The memorandum of understanding, which both sides have agreed to and are expected to formally sign in Switzerland on June 19, has even been described by some as a peace deal that will formally end the conflict. Yet that risks overstating what has actually been achieved.

What has reportedly been agreed is a diplomatic framework intended to guide future negotiations, not a peace treaty or a comprehensive settlement of the disputes that brought the two countries to the brink of a wider regional war. The most contentious issues – including Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and broader regional security arrangements including Israel’s war and occupation in Lebanon – remain unresolved and subject to further talks.

The distinction is more than semantic. International diplomacy operates on a spectrum. A ceasefire halts fighting; a peace agreement resolves the disputes that caused it. The US-Iran arrangement falls somewhere in between. The core issues remain unresolved and have been deferred to future negotiations, while the wider pattern of “grey-zone” confrontation — proxy activity, economic pressure and limited military escalation below the threshold of full-scale war — remains largely intact.

There is another reason to be cautious about calling this peace. The war interrupted diplomatic talks that were already underway. This agreement will largely restore a negotiating process that existed before the conflict rather than creating a new political settlement. If the central disputes remain unresolved, in what sense has peace actually been achieved?

One indication of the agreement’s limitations comes from Washington itself. The US president, Donald Trump – even in the latest “peace deal” announcement – has continuously suggested that future military action against Iran cannot be ruled out. That is not the language normally associated with a definitive peace settlement.

Nor does the agreement fully address the broader regional dimensions of the conflict. Israel, one of the principal actors in the confrontation with Iran, is not a party to the framework. Nor does the arrangement resolve continuing tensions on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, which remains a major source of instability. With Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, maintaining a hardline position towards Lebanon and reserving the right to act independently, the agreement looks less like a regional peace settlement than a narrowly focused US-Iran de-escalation mechanism.

Perhaps the clearest evidence that the deal is being exaggerated, however, lies in what it actually delivers. Strip away the diplomatic fanfare and the financial benefits to Iran and the agreement largely restores conditions that existed before the conflict escalated, particularly when it comes to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

This may help explain why financial markets responded so enthusiastically. Markets are often described as reacting to peace. In reality, they tend to react to stability.

Oil traders, shipping companies and insurers are not primarily concerned with whether longstanding political disagreements have been resolved. They care about whether oil can move through chokepoints, whether tankers can be insured and whether supply chains can continue functioning.

The economics of de-escalation

That risk was considerable. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil. Any prolonged disruption would have had profound consequences for the world economy. Although oil prices never reached the US$200 (£149) per barrel levels that some commentators feared, this should not be interpreted as evidence that markets were comfortable with the situation.

Part of the reason prices remained contained was that governments and businesses were drawing upon buffers built for precisely such emergencies. Strategic petroleum reserves were released, existing stockpiles were called upon and some countries reduced imports and relied more heavily on stored supplies. These measures bought time. But they could never have continued indefinitely, especially as global strategic oil reseves were running out fast.

Had instability in the Gulf continued for several more months, governments would likely have faced increasingly difficult trade-offs between inflation, economic growth and energy security. Seen from this perspective, the diplomatic urgency becomes easier to understand.

For the US, sustained disruption in global energy markets risked feeding inflationary pressures that remain politically sensitive. For Europe and Asia, higher shipping and energy costs threatened already fragile economic recoveries. For many developing countries, another energy shock would have imposed severe economic hardship.

The agreement therefore reflects not only diplomatic calculation but economic necessity. In this sense, the biggest beneficiaries may not be Washington or Tehran at all. They may be consumers, businesses and central banks around the world that have avoided another potentially destabilising energy shock.

Peace or pause?

None of this is to dismiss the significance of the agreement. Preventing further escalation is a genuine achievement. Reopening critical maritime routes is beneficial for the global economy. Replacing military confrontation with diplomacy is undoubtedly preferable to the alternative.

If the deal holds, Iran could enter the next round of negotiations with the upper hand: sanctions relief under discussion, diplomacy back on track – and Washington increasingly reluctant to contemplate renewed military action as November’s midterm elections draw nearer.

But diplomacy is still best served by precision rather than exaggeration. Historically, peace agreements have settled disputes, created institutions and established durable frameworks for coexistence. This arrangement does none of those things – at least not yet.

The war’s underlying disagreements remain unresolved. Iran’s nuclear future remains uncertain. Sanctions remain contested. Regional rivalries persist. The possibility of renewed confrontation has not disappeared.

What has been achieved is not peace in any comprehensive sense. It is a ceasefire framework, an economic stabilisation mechanism and a diplomatic holding pattern.
That may prove to be an important first step. But it is not, at least for now, a peace deal.

If anything, the real story is not that Washington and Tehran have resolved their differences. It is that both sides had compelling reasons to step back from the brink.

President Donald Trump will host “the most spectacular Trump rally” at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument on July 4, complete with a massive fireworks show and military band performance.

Monday morning, the president announced, via Truth Social, he would add another rally to the lineup of activities in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary – this time on Independence Day. It comes after Trump said he would make himself the headliner for a rally on June 24, the day before the Great American State Fair.

The July 4 rally will feature “Patriotic Melodies,” “American Classics,” and the president’s personal playlist, which he insisted will have “none of those people that put you to sleep and constantly complain.”

In addition to music, performed by military bands, orchestras and ceremonial units, the president promised the rally would include military flyovers and airshow as well as the “LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY.”

The rally will begin at 7 p.m. ET on July 4 against the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The president has consistently boasted about the clairty and beauty of the pool because he ordered construction on it to clear it of a green tint from algae blooming. Although, “residual” algae re-emerged on the pool this past weekend.

Trump’s July 4 rally announcement is the just latest example of the president using America’s 250th anniversary to host events for himself or make himself the center of public celebrations.

In addition to the rally for the Great American State Fair, the president held a UFC Freedom 250 cage match on the White House lawn Sunday, the same day as Trump’s 80th birthday. Trump framed the cage fight as a 250 celebration, though the fight was invite-only and closed to most of the press.

Last year, Trump made a similar move when he held a military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary as well as his 79th birthday.

This is a breaking news story, more follows…

For years, flavour additives in e-cigarettes have been largely viewed as a secondary concern compared with nicotine. Research and regulation have focused on addiction, nicotine delivery and, more recently, the respiratory effects of vaping. But as evidence accumulates researchers are increasingly asking whether certain flavouring ingredients have health effects of their own.

Among the compounds attracting attention are menthol and synthetic cooling agents that create the refreshing sensation associated with popular “ice” flavours. These additives now appear in everything from mint-flavoured products to fruit and confectionery blends – and research suggests they may be doing more than simply enhancing the vaping experience.

The cooling sensation is often created by menthol or menthol-inspired synthetic compounds such as WS-3 and WS-23. These substances do not actually cool the air entering the lungs. Instead, they activate a receptor called TRPM8 – the body’s cold sensor – tricking the brain into registering cold even though the temperature of the inhaled aerosol is unchanged. The effect can make vaping feel smoother and less irritating, potentially encouraging deeper inhalation and more frequent use.

Scientists once assumed these compounds acted only within the sensory system, but TRPM8 receptors are found throughout the body. A recent study in mice found that menthol-containing e-cigarette aerosols raised heart rate and blood pressure and increased the occurrence of ventricular premature beats — usually harmless irregular heartbeats that can signal stress on the heart’s electrical system.

The study also found higher levels of epinephrine, the hormone behind the fight-or-flight response. Some of these effects persisted after exposure ended, with changes in heart rhythm regulation still detectable weeks later.

Researchers are now asking whether similar effects extend to the blood vessels themselves.

Blood vessels are lined with cells that help control blood flow, inflammation and clotting. Laboratory studies suggest that some chemicals used to flavour e-cigarettes can damage these cells, increasing inflammation and other forms of cellular stress while making the cells more likely to die. Some of these effects have been seen even in the absence of nicotine.

Damage to the cells that line blood vessels is considered one of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease. This suggests that cooling agents could affect not just the heart but the entire circulatory system.

A market moving faster than science

The concern is growing as manufacturers increasingly use synthetic cooling chemicals that create a strong cooling sensation without a minty taste. This allows fruit-, candy- and beverage-flavoured vapes to deliver the icy feeling many users enjoy, even though the health effects of some of these compounds remain poorly understood.

Being safe to eat does not mean something is safe to inhale. Chemicals absorbed through the lungs reach the bloodstream far more directly, and new formulations can reach the market long before comprehensive safety studies are completed.

This does not mean cooling flavours have been proved to cause heart disease – that would require larger studies in humans. But growing evidence suggests these compounds are not biologically inactive, as was once assumed. What started as research into flavour has become a wider effort to understand how these additives affect the body, and the findings are more complex than expected.

New research also found people sometimes have to travel outside of Wales to be diagnosed

Some patients in Wales with certain conditions are waiting up to 21 years to be diagnosed, according to a new study. The study has found that people with hypermobility conditions are waiting longer to be diagnosed in Wales compared to elsewhere in the UK.

A large proportion of people who took part in the research reported having to travel outside of Wales to get their diagnosis. The study also found that people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) face fragmented healthcare, while it can have a major impact on their mental health, education and employment.

The conditions affect connective tissue throughout the body and are associated with joint hypermobility, chronic pain and fatigue, alongside neurological, gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms.

The Welsh Government said NHS Wales is working to improve the experience of people with hypermobility spectrum disorders.

The University of Edinburgh-led study of more than 2,000 people, said to be the largest of its kind in the UK, found patients waited an average of 19 to 21.7 years for diagnosis, while many respondents travelled outside of their home nation to be diagnosed.

More than a third of Welsh respondents (37.3%) and 39% of those in Northern Ireland reported leaving their country for diagnosis, as did 17.4% of people in Scotland. People in England were most likely to receive a diagnosis within their country of residence, at 97.6%.

Respondents from Wales reported the longest “diagnostic journey”, waiting on average 21.7 years between symptom presentation and diagnosis by a healthcare professional, while it was 21.1 years for Northern Ireland, 19.5 for Scotland and 19 for England.

The study was conducted using an online survey co-developed with patients, clinicians and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK between September 2023 and January 2024.

It found 83.9% of patients reported chronic pain, while 73.8% experienced partially dislocated joints and 66.3% had gastrointestinal symptoms. Researchers found 70.8% reported anxiety, while depression was reported by 63.3%, and migraines by 53.5%.

Almost half of respondents (45.6%) were unemployed, 55.9% reported disrupted education, and 47.9% received disability-related benefits. The study also found 20.4% of respondents reported having autism spectrum disorder, 18.1% ADHD, and 15.3% dyslexia.

Experts said their findings suggest low awareness of the conditions among healthcare professionals and limited care pathways are leaving patients without timely diagnosis or co-ordinated support. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here

Kathryn Berg, trial and research manager at the university’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “This study highlights the profound impact hEDS and HSD can have across every aspect of life. Our findings show the urgent need for equitable, multidisciplinary care pathways that recognise the complex and multisystemic nature of these conditions.”

Researchers said hEDS and HSD should be understood as complex multisystem conditions rather than disorders defined only by joint hypermobility.

They are now calling for formalised care pathways, better professional awareness, and multidisciplinary services integrating rheumatology, pain management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological support, alongside co-designed approaches reflecting neurodivergent needs.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “NHS Wales is working to improve the experience of people with hypermobility spectrum disorders and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, who can face long and complicated journeys to diagnosis.

“A draft community health pathway has been developed with clinical experts across rheumatology, physiotherapy, and primary care, alongside Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, to help people receive more consistent care, closer to home, with access to specialist expertise where needed.

“Work is ongoing with partners to secure formal agreement so the pathway can be put into place with the appropriate clinical endorsement.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “People living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders deserve to have their symptoms recognised and taken seriously, and we know long waits for a diagnosis can have a significant impact on patients and their families.

“A toolkit developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, in partnership with EDS Support UK, has been made available to clinicians to support them to recognise and manage these complex conditions by improving awareness and consistency of care.

“To improve access to care for patients, we have recruited 2,000 more GPs and will open 250 neighbourhood health centres by 2035, as we shift care from hospital to community as part of our 10-Year Health Plan.”

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Your child’s small, delicate, chalk-white baby teeth fall out. In their place grow yellowish-brown, fragile teeth – much to everyone’s surprise.

This is the dental condition molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH), a condition that is almost as common as tooth decay, though hardly known about outside of dentistry – and even then it can often be misdiagnosed.

The condition affects how certain adult teeth form in early childhood. It isn’t caused by lack of brushing, sugar or poor dental habits, but by something that disrupts the enamel formation before the teeth even erupt.

In our work at the teaching clinic at the University of Copenhagen dental hospital, we see many children and young people needing help for this condition.

It affects around 28% of children in Scandinavia and is one of the most widespread dental conditions. Studies show that it’s very common across Europe, while it appears to be less of an issue across Africa and Asia.

Researchers are still trying to figure out why this is the case, though it’s suspected to be largely due to differences in diagnosis and reporting, along with the prevalence of early childhood illnesses and genetic factors.

At the moment, MIH is still something of a puzzle for dentistry. We know it affects a significant number of children and can leave their adult teeth permanently weakened and discoloured.

But we don’t fully understand why some children develop it while others don’t. What is clear, though, is that it’s more common than many people realise.

Here’s what we know so far based on the current research.

What is MIH?

Enamel is the thin outer layer of our teeth and the hardest material in the body. But in children with MIH, the development of the tooth enamel has been disrupted, leaving it with fewer minerals.

This disruption occurs early in a child’s life, while the teeth are forming inside the jaw. Typically, this happens from around birth until about the age of two.

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As a result, the teeth look different and can break more easily.

Most often, the enamel on the first permanent molars, the so-called six-year molars, and the front teeth are affected.

As well as the visible signs, children may also avoid brushing their teeth because it hurts – and can find that cold and hot food or drinks cause tooth sensitivity.

Research points to five possible causes of MIH. This includes:

What can parents do?

First off, it’s important to know that, with the knowledge we have today, MIH itself cannot be prevented. So, as parents, there’s nothing you can actually do to stop the condition from occurring.

That said, there are things you can do to help. The most obvious one is tooth brushing and the use of fluoride toothpaste. This is extremely important because the tooth enamel is softer in young children, so the teeth are harder to keep clean and are at greater risk of cavities.

It’s also important to help your child develop a good relationship with the dentist. It helps to speak positively about what dentists do for teeth: namely, helping to protect them better so they do not hurt or break. It’s also important to tell your child that they should say where and how a tooth hurts, if it does.

What can the dentist do?

If your child does have MIH, the dentist will assess how extensive the condition is and classify the affected teeth as mild, moderate or severe.

Molars with mild MIH are treated with concentrated fluoride gel or sealed with a transparent plastic coating to help protect them from cavities, or both.

Molars with moderate MIH will receive temporary fillings and because the tooth is very sensitive, anaesthesia is needed.

Molars with severe MIH receive fillings and, in the most serious cases, a stainless steel crown. This is a kind of foil cap that protects the tooth from breaking and from cavities and pain.

In rare cases, the dentist may suggest removing the tooth altogether if its long-term prognosis is too poor. This typically happens between the ages of eight and ten.

Front teeth usually only have mild to moderate MIH and so are often not treated initially.

When children with MIH get a little older, they often ask for a more aesthetic treatment. This will typically involve whitening combined with a newer type of treatment in which a thin, fluid resin can be infiltrated into the enamel.

The resin will fill the empty spaces in the enamel structure and so the apparent discolouration will disappear, leaving a tooth with a normal, smooth crown colour.

In adulthood, severely affected molars may benefit from a crown or a porcelain inlay.

What now?

To really tackle this condition and its effect on children’s teeth, we first need a clearer picture of how widespread it actually is. That means stronger, more consistent studies — and a better agreement across the profession on how the condition is diagnosed and recorded.

At the same time, researchers are still working to answer some of the most basic questions: what are the key triggers? And why do some children develop it while others don’t?

In the long run, more research will not only improve treatment but also help prevent the condition from causing long-term dental problems, thus reducing the need for repeated, often difficult dental care in children (and adults).

This article was commissioned as part of a partnership between Videnskab.dk and The Conversation, where articles are also published in Danish.

Having played her first ever festival show at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound at the weekend (the perks of an already-famous name), Delevingne is back on home turf tonight for the second of two debut London shows. She might have switched up her medium, but the crowd that populates Waterloo’s pop-up railway arch venue 26 Leake Street have clearly been lured by her established credentials. In the blue-lit, smoke machine-blasted live room, a mix of quirky influencer types, a few excited young girls and a hefty whack of celebrity peers (Lola Young, Little Simz, Paris Paloma) all turn the space into a sort of off-grid London Fashion Week party, only with a louder soundtrack.

With referees under as much scrutiny as ever with a number of high profile incidents throughout the 2026 season, the performance of one official has been praised

Gabriel Bannigan hailed the performance of referee Paul Faloon after his side coasted to a nine-point victory over Roscommon in Clones on Saturday.

With referees under as much scrutiny as ever with a number of high profile incidents throughout the 2026 season, Paul Faloon drew praise from Bannigan for letting the game flow as much as possible.

Indeed, Jack McCarron’s free on 66 minutes was the first and only free scored in the entire game with just two yellow cards issued.

When asked if he preferred Faloon’s no-nonsense style, Bannigan replied: “100 per cent.

“This is Championship football. We’re all reared on Championship football.

“The players want the game to flow. I think Paul is an excellent referee. Paul will pull what has to be pulled, but he’s not going to be whistling every little thing and he’s consistent.

“He does the same for both teams. That’s what players want, that’s what management want, that’s what supporters want. So fair play to Paul.

“I didn’t know he (Jack McCarron) was the only one. Monaghan and Roscommon are two footballing teams. There’s not much need to blow the whistle too much.”

The Farney raced into a five-point lead playing with the wind with Stephen Mooney finding the net.

After becoming accustomed to chasing games, Monaghan were controlled and assured in possession as they closed the game out in ruthless fashion as a Roscommon fightback never materialised.

“Look, we targeted getting off to a better start than we did against Mayo,” added Bannigan.

“We were very disappointed with our first half performance against Mayo. I think we definitely brought a lot of the learnings from that game out there today, particularly the way we defended in the second half against the breeze, because that was the problem in our first half performance against Mayo the last day.

“We didn’t defend well against the breeze and Mayo kicked six two-pointers in the first half. “That gave us a mountain to climb in the second half, which we nearly climbed because of the character that we have in that dressing room and the quality we have in the team. But we were unlucky not to get over the line the last day.

“So we took that hurt out there today and we targeted a 70-minute performance. I was very happy we got a 70-minute performance.”

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Stewart Nicholson, Chief Fire Officer of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, has been awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal.

The experienced firefighter, who has worked on both sides of the England/Scotland border, described the “great privilege” of receiving, “such a prestigious honour”.

Tyne & Wear’s Chief Fire Officer, Stewart Nicholson, awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours (Image: TWFRS)

Mr Nicholson said: “I will be accepting the King’s Fire Service Medal on behalf of my family and my fire and rescue service colleagues, whom I have been proud to serve alongside for more than 32 years.

Recognition for Stewart Nicholson’s 32 years as a firefighter and now senior fire officer (Image: TWFRS)

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“My journey has taken me from serving as a firefighter in North and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services to, three decades later, leading Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as Chief Fire Officer, with senior leadership roles in Scotland along the way.

“The blue light community has provided me with an incredible platform to support people in need across communities in both England and Scotland.

“Through my work with the National Fire Chiefs Council, I hope to continue sharing my experience and help to inspire and support future generations of firefighters.”

A cordon was erected on Passfield Way, in Peterlee, on Saturday morning after a woman was found unresponsive.

Durham Police said sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene but confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious.

(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

A force spokesperson said: “Police were called just before 7.05am on Saturday (June 13) following reports that a woman had been found unresponsive on Passfield Way, in Peterlee.

“Paramedics were also called, but sadly the woman, who is in her fifties, was pronounced dead at the scene.

 “Her death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Pictures show three police vehicles at the scene on Saturday morning . 

The three vehicles surrounded a blue tent, which was erected on the path.

Police taped off the area around the cars, as officers were seen standing beside the blue and white cordon. 

At the time, a North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident on Passfield Way, Shotton shortly after 7am on 13 June.

“We dispatched a double crewed ambulance, a clinical team leader, a rapid response paramedic and a specialist paramedic.”

Emergency services have now left the scene.