Snake in a chain: lucky escape for Australian woman after bite from deadly reptile caught in bike chain

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Arrival of outgoing British leader in Ukraine comes as Zelenskyy faces outrage after removing popular defence ministerVolodymyr Zelenskyy is facing public outrage this morning over his decision to remove Ukraine’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as he welcomes the UK’s departing prime minister Keir Starmer to Kyiv.The Ukrainian president moves to oust Fedorov despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of wide-ranging government reshuffle which also saw Yulia Svyrydenko leave the post of the prime minister. Continue reading...

Scunthorpe factory is expropriated from China’s Jingye and ministers will ask a valuer to assess compensationBritish Steel has formally been taken into public ownership 15 months after the government stepped in to prevent the closure of its steelworks in Scunthorpe and the loss of 4,000 jobs.Keir Starmer on Thursday said that it was in the national interest for the government to take over the factory from its Chinese owner, Jingye, in one of the last significant actions overseen by him as prime minister after the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Act received Royal Assent on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Iran reports explosions in several cities including capital while US military says it also hit and disabled tanker in strait of Hormuz US attacks oil tanker in strait of Hormuz as strikes reported in TehranPakistan has called on the US and Iran to end the violence and resume negotiations as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June with Islamabad’s mediation.“While the implementation of the MoU is facing challenges, Pakistan will continue to encourage all sides to end the violence and resume technical level talks in accordance with the MoU,” Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign ministry, said at a press briefing today. Continue reading...