Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• A global weekly roundup highlights a period of intense strategic competition characterized by military escalation, economic fragmentation, and a race for technological advantage. • Key trends include the rise of influence for nations developing advanced technologies and the emergence of complex humanitarian crises driven by conflict, climate change, and disease.

• The U.S. military has concluded its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, marking a significant escalation in regional hostilities. • These military actions have largely overshadowed diplomatic attempts to revive a collapsed interim ceasefire deal.

• Diplomatic consultations were recently held in Cairo to address the strategic stability and security of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. • The meetings focused on the region's growing geopolitical importance, specifically regarding maritime security and international trade routes.

Funding proposal for cost of living policy ‘throws global south countries under the bus’, says ActionAid UK directorBurnham announces bus fares to be capped at £2UK politics live – latest updatesThe world’s most vulnerable people will be put at risk by Andy Burnham’s decision to use the aid budget to pay for cheaper bus fares in England, charities have said.The prime minister announced on Wednesday that he would reduce the fare cap from £3 per journey to £2 for next year, funded mainly by changing international climate donations into repayable loans. Continue reading...

As measles, hantavirus and cyclospora spread, experts say lost staff and expertise are slowing the responseA series of health challenges – hantavirus, screwworm, Ebola, cyclospora, measles, whooping cough, bird flu – are exposing the widening gaps in America’s ability to prevent, identify and halt infectious disease outbreaks.The rapid dismantling of the US public health system at all levels means the US is in worse shape than it was before the Covid pandemic, former top CDC officials say. Continue reading...