Mayors to get powers to bulldoze through major housing developments under Andy Burnham devolution push

• Political analysts and party members are drawing parallels between the current midterm election cycle and the 2006 elections, where Democrats saw significant gains. • Key drivers of voter agitation include an increasingly unpopular war in the Middle East and high consumer prices.

• Youth-led protests, referred to as the "cockroach" movement, have emerged to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's perceived political invincibility. • The unrest intensified around July 25, following actions by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, highlighting growing systemic frustrations among India's youth.

• President Donald Trump appeared at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center tonight to campaign for Sen. Darline Graham. • The rally serves as a final push ahead of Tuesday's runoff election for South Carolina's 5th District.

• The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). • This move follows increasing international scrutiny regarding the RSS's deep ideological and organizational ties to India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

• U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas vacated a Trump administration policy that suspended visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Somalia. • The judge ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority, stating the policy violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by refusing visas to eligible applicants without a legal basis.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada is entering a trade war with the U.S. after the Trump administration implemented a new wave of 50 per cent tariffs. • Canada plans a "concentrated" retaliatory response targeting U.S. sectors including steel, dairy, electronics, agricultural equipment, and pulp and paper.

• Iran's president has declared a victory in its conflict with the U.S., while Vice President JD Vance emphasized that economic pressure remains the most effective tool for the United States. • Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi recently briefed Egypt's foreign minister on regional developments and efforts to return to diplomatic tracks, including negotiations via Oman.

• An Iranian military leader has vowed that Tehran "will not submit" as the United States prepares to implement a new round of economic sanctions. • Further details regarding the expanded economic squeeze are expected to be announced by the U.S. government this Monday.

• Anita Earls and Sarah Stevens are competing for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in a high-stakes election. • The candidates hold opposing judicial philosophies, with Earls arguing that the court must enforce constitutional educational rights while Stevens labels Earls an "activist judge."

• The U.S. Postal Service has finalized new election plans under the Trump administration that allow the agency to refuse delivery of ballots from states that fail to comply with updated procedures. • USPS describes these changes as a "neutral administrative check" intended to strengthen election confidence, despite receiving over 200,000 public responses containing both support and opposition.

• Research indicates that working-class individuals are severely underrepresented in politics, accounting for only about 1% of U.S. lawmakers and 2% of officials in average global democracies. • The study suggests this disparity exists because most elected officials are careerists, specialized professionals, and credentialed pundits whose backgrounds align with the interests of the merchant aristocracy.