The Conservative Legal Movement Needs To Raise Its Standards

• The U.S. has expanded military strikes deep into Iran, while Tehran has responded with attacks on neighboring Gulf states. • In Khuzestan Province, official Valiollah Hayati reported that strikes caused structural damage to homes and shattered windows in the vicinity of Ahvaz.

• France’s National Assembly gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to access lethal medication. • The legislation follows years of intense national debate regarding end-of-life care and the rights of terminally ill patients.

• The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in favor of Spain, confirming that the country's amnesty law does not breach EU regulations or anti-terrorism rules. • The decision clears a legal path for the amnesty of Carles Puigdemont and other Catalan independence leaders who sought clemency for their roles in the 2017 independence bid.

• On 14 July, the European Union held intergovernmental conferences in Brussels to advance the membership process for four candidate nations: Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine. • These meetings served to ceremonially inaugurate or conclude specific negotiation tracks, representing the most significant enlargement effort in over two decades.

• European airlines are facing increased risks of insolvency and restructuring due to rising fuel costs triggered by the conflict in Iran. • The surge in oil prices is expected to hit the industry particularly hard during the peak summer travel season.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jalandhar, Punjab, on July 17 to unveil several railway and development infrastructure projects. • The visit occurs as the BJP prepares to contest the February 2027 state Assembly elections independently, signaling a strategic shift in its regional approach.

• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has identified significant gaps in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls currently utilized by several cryptocurrency firms. • The regulator specifically flagged deficiencies in critical areas, including customer due diligence checks, transaction monitoring, and the management of token transfers.

• The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Spain's controversial amnesty law for Catalan separatists does not violate European Union law. • The decision provides a significant legal victory for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who granted the blanket pardon to secure necessary parliamentary support after the 2023 national elections.

• President Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), but the pick has sparked controversy after Clayton refused to acknowledge Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. • The nomination follows the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard and the tenure of acting DNI Bill Pulte, who has faced criticism over his national security experience and accusations against Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

• On 4 March 2026, a US military vessel torpedoed and sank the unarmed Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. • The attack resulted in over 80 deaths and more than 30 injuries among Iranian sailors who were returning home from the Indian Navy's biennial Exercise MILAN.

• The Supreme Court upheld a two-year prison sentence for Rep. Kweong Seong-dong of the People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday. • The ruling follows convictions for accepting illegal political funds sourced from the Unification Church.