Backsliding on climate would drive Labour into obscurity, Zack Polanski says

• The United States launched a series of rare daytime air strikes against Iran as part of an ongoing cycle of tit-for-tat military escalations. • In response, Iranian leadership accused Washington of attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic, asserting that while Tehran does not seek war, it must remain prepared to fight.

• Former President Donald Trump is reportedly being influenced by Arab leaders who claim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an obstacle to regional peace. • Internal turmoil is growing within the Likud party, with a Member of Knesset leaving the party after claiming it has been "hijacked" following the passage of controversial legislation.

• Ukraine has escalated its military strategy by launching long-range drone and missile strikes directly into Russian territory. • These operations aim to shift the balance of the conflict by targeting Russian infrastructure and logistics to disrupt their war effort.

• The article highlights a critical "governance gap" where collective international action on food security, water scarcity, and climate finance lags behind scientific consensus. • It identifies four primary governance deficits—lack of cooperation, inequitable financing, poor technology transfer, and ineffective implementation—that are further exacerbated by rising geopolitical tensions.

• The U.S. military has disabled a ship allegedly attempting to sail to Kharg Island, marking the first such action since President Trump reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports. • This escalation occurs amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and a broader feud between the United States and Iran.

• Senate Democrats defeated a motion to proceed to a $1.15 trillion annual defense authorization bill on July 14, 2026. • The motion failed in a 50-46 vote, with senators voting strictly along party lines.

• The article examines how the network of energy pipelines has reshaped modern geopolitics in the Caucasus, specifically impacting Armenia. • It argues that for smaller nations like Armenia, geopolitical interests of more powerful states often outweigh moral principles and human rights.

• Gulf states have prioritized diplomacy and regional stability over military conflict as the US-Iran tension enters its fifth month. • While Washington struggled to find a clear path forward, Gulf nations focused on de-escalation and securing the critical shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern on Wednesday regarding the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East. • The crisis involves continuing strikes between the United States and Iran as both nations vie for control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Country begins 42-day countdown to outbreak being declared officially over, as numbers continue to rise in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the CongoUganda has started lobbying countries to lift Ebola-related travel restrictions after discharging its last confirmed Ebola patient from hospital.The discharge of a Congolese national from the Mulago national referral hospital’s isolation centre in Kampala on Thursday triggered the start of a 42-day countdown required by the World Health Organization before Uganda can officially be declared Ebola-free, provided no new infections are detected. Continue reading...

Replacement of panels with version that’s sympathetic to enslavers comes amid effort by Trump to dismantle diversity initiativesCritics say the Trump administration acted under the “cover of darkness” to replace an exhibit exploring the lives of nine enslaved people who lived at George Washington’s ​Philadelphia home with a version that is overly sympathetic to enslavers and that whitewashes the country’s origins.The installation of new information panels followed a six-month fight between the city of Philadelphia and the Trump administration over an enslavement memorial at the former home of Washington and John Adams. Continue reading...

Delay seen as move to protect interests of Matthew Moroun, the owner of nearby Ambassador Bridge and a Trump donorThe Trump administration for months blocked a $4.7bn publicly owned bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, a move critics allege is a quid pro quo for a billionaire Donald Trump donor.A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gordie Howe international bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor was initially scheduled for early June but was abruptly cancelled amid dispute between US and Canadian officials. On 10 July, Canada announced it reached a deal with the US, and the bridge will open on 27 July. Continue reading...