Commission’s hydrogen bank consultant contracts under fire

• European centrist-liberal parties are shifting toward a "politics of security," increasingly supporting a more muscular state approach they previously opposed. • This strategic pivot includes backing higher defense budgets and implementing tighter controls over social media to protect European freedoms.

• The European Council on Foreign Relations proposes a "Team Enlargement" coalition consisting of ten EU member states to accelerate the accession of Ukraine and other candidate nations. • The group includes diverse interests: France, Germany, and the Netherlands focus on rule of law; Austria and Italy lead Western Balkans efforts; Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, and Sweden prioritize eastern security; and Hungary represents a complex outlier.

• During a Senate subcommittee hearing on July 14, Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Justice Elena Kagan addressed concerns regarding the judiciary's ethical standards. • Senatorial questioning focused on whether the Supreme Court has implemented policies to manage the "meteoric rise" of prediction markets and the resulting ethical predicaments.

• Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan asserted that the Court does not act as a "rubber stamp" for former President Donald Trump's legal and policy initiatives. • To support her claim, Kagan highlighted specific judicial rulings that rejected Trump's implementation of sweeping tariffs and his attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

• The House of Representatives passed a series of bills focused on GOP priorities, including election security and the conflict in Iran, just before the summer recess. • In a separate legal development, a judge issued a temporary halt to an unspecified acquisition process following an antitrust lawsuit filed by 12 states.

• House Republicans adopted a $95 billion budget proposal designed to fund the war in Iran and other White House priorities. • Speaker Mike Johnson pushed the package through on Wednesday, overcoming objections from Democrats and several members of his own party.

• The US launched airstrikes against Iranian military targets, marking the 13th consecutive night of operations following the collapse of a ceasefire deal. • President Donald Trump indicated he is not yet prepared to negotiate a new ceasefire, despite intensifying fighting between the two nations.

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk has signaled a potential end to the protests against the NEET-UG paper leak at Jantar Mantar by softening his stance. • Wangchuk has dropped his key demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, providing the Modi government with a strategic "off-ramp."

• Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike on Friday after receiving formal assurances from the Indian government. • The strike was launched to support students protesting against alleged irregularities in examinations, demanding fair processes and accountability.

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration is prepared to assist in ending the war in Ukraine, though he admitted no quick path to a deal currently exists. • Rubio emphasized that "new ideas" are necessary to break the deadlock and reach a sustainable resolution between the warring parties.

• The first four days of the Indian Parliament's monsoon session have seen no official business conducted, signaling a potential total washout. • Opposition parties are refusing to participate in government-led discussions, insisting instead on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.