India’s ‘cockroach’ party to build national movement

• Donald Trump has characterized a proposed Gaza peace deal as a "great breakthrough" on August 1, 2026. • Despite Trump's optimism, both Israel and Hamas continue to disagree on several key conditions required to finalize the agreement.

• Unsealed federal court documents have revealed internal communications concerning a California immigration operation from last year, sparking a renewed political clash between Governor Gavin Newsom and federal officials. • The U.S. Senate is currently prioritizing the processing of key cabinet and judicial nominations to ensure legislative progress before the upcoming August congressional recess.

• Barisan Nasional (BN) won 18 seats in the Negeri Sembilan election, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured 11 and 7 seats respectively. • PH election director Amirudin Shari stated that the decision to revamp the state's PH leadership rests with coalition chairman Anwar Ibrahim.

• Indian political discourse is shifting away from traditional venues like Parliament House and television studios toward a "New Digital Chamber" driven by social media. • This transition is characterized by politicians using mobile phones and carefully curated backgrounds to communicate directly with the public, bypassing formal institutional rules.

• Firefighters in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province worked on July 31, 2026, to extinguish wildfires that burned over 100 hectares (247 acres) of peatlands during a prolonged dry season. • In Singapore, a growing trend of girls shaving their heads is drawing attention to support and raise awareness for children battling cancer.

• President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will hit Iran "very hard" in response to ongoing regional tensions. • Reports indicate that Washington is currently weighing fresh military strikes, which could specifically target Iranian energy infrastructure.

• Approximately 60,000 migrants reportedly stormed the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on the North African coast, sparking a diplomatic crisis. • Italy has responded by formally suspending Schengen cooperation with Spain and closing its maritime and air borders as of Friday.

• Italy has temporarily suspended the Schengen border-free arrangement with Spain following "shocking" scenes of migrant crossings in Ceuta. • The move received support from Finland and Denmark, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš went further by urging a temporary suspension of Spain's overall Schengen membership.

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized EU allies for their "selfish" reaction to the migration crisis in Ceuta, accusing them of spreading prejudice and misinformation. • Sánchez argued that border security is a "shared responsibility," noting that Spain and Morocco have worked together to prevent unauthorized movement into mainland Europe with minimal support from other member states.

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has condemned the "selfish" and "unlawful" response from other EU nations following a mass migration crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. • Sánchez defended Spain's border management, citing Frontex data that shows Spain's external borders are significantly less porous than Italy's between 2021 and 2026.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Iran is facing a different leadership style under President Trump, describing him as someone who "actually takes action." • The comments follow ongoing regional instability, with Iran continuing to target Gulf countries and tensions remaining high in the Strait of Hormuz.