Scottish Labour’s rivals decry ‘chancer’ Anas Sarwar for resigning to join Andy Burnham’s government

• Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on the Jordanian port city of Aqaba in a retaliatory strike. • The escalating conflict has disrupted global energy supplies, driving Brent crude oil prices above $94 per barrel.

• Pakistan has reportedly requested a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility from the United States to bolster its dwindling foreign exchange reserves. • Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb discussed the request and Pakistan's economic vulnerabilities during a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Tuesday.

• The United States and Iran are engaged in escalating attacks as officials express doubt over whether diplomacy can prevent a full-scale return to war. • Amidst these tensions, a new 30-year deal is expected to be established, focusing on long-term strategic development.

• Pakistan has requested a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility from the United States to bolster its foreign exchange reserves and support the rupee. • The move follows a period of IMF-backed reforms that stabilized the economy but imposed high political costs through increased taxes and spending restraints.

• Yemen’s Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, escalating regional tensions by opening a new front in the Middle East conflict. • The U.S. military has conducted airstrikes against Iran for the 10th consecutive night, while an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of a family of six.

• Author Laala Bechetoula has released a book titled "Gaza Hashem: A Tale Told by the Children," dated July 20, 2026. • The work is written for adults but utilizes the voices and simple language of Gazan children as the primary moral narrators.

• UN human rights experts condemned the M23 armed group on Tuesday for orchestrating a "reign of terror" in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. • The Rwanda-backed group is accused of systemic sexual torture and violence targeting civilians within the territories it controls.

• Pakistan has requested a $10 billion bilateral exchange stabilisation facility from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to bolster its foreign exchange reserves. • The request follows Pakistan's recent diplomatic efforts in mediating talks regarding the conflict in Iran.

UK warehouse landlord says board unanimous in recommendation to accept ‘best and final offer’ The board of the UK warehouse landlord Segro has U-turned and said it would be willing to accept a £14bn takeover by Segro’s bigger US rival, Prologis, in a deal that would be one of the largest foreign takeovers of a UK-listed company.In the latest blow to the troubled London stock market, Segro said in a statement that its board had “unanimously concluded” it would recommend its shareholders accept what Prologis called its “best and final offer”, made just hours before a deadline. Continue reading...

Trump’s response to the Iran war’s mounting death toll and astronomical costs? ‘It won’t have any impact on me’This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every WednesdayCould it be … that Donald Trump isn’t a team player?The midterm elections are less than four months away, and Republicans in the House and the Senate – hampered by a deeply unpopular president and what might be an even less popular war – are increasingly fearful of losing their jobs. Even Trump’s base is beginning to turn against the conflict. Continue reading...

Congressional Progressive caucus say ‘healthcare should not be a privilege’ as they champions single payer systemThe Congressional Progressive caucus (CPC) held a shadow hearing on Medicare for All on Wednesday, led by Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell.The hearing comes as over half of the House Democratic caucus has co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation, and Senator Andy Kim introduced legislation on Tuesday that would enroll all children into Medicare until the age of 26, while Republicans passed drastic healthcare cuts in the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act, including nearly $1n in cuts to Medicaid and allowing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire. Continue reading...