Trump Wants to Bring His 2016 Gripes with Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court

• The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed the vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after two GOP senators withheld support. • The delay stems from concerns over a settlement between Donald Trump and the IRS that provided tax audit immunity and established an “anti-weaponization” fund.

• On July 31, 2026, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. • Jaishankar urged Iran to ensure that commercial shipping and seafarers are not targeted amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

• A federal judge rejected the Trump-era Department of Justice's argument that certain evidence was "not relevant," despite claims involving "hundreds of federal crimes." • This ruling extends the government's losing streak to 18 cases within a specific state voter rolls lawsuit.

• The European Union is organizing consortia to develop AI infrastructure, requiring each group to have backing from at least one national government to secure support. • Member states are splitting their interests by scale, with Germany, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain focusing on larger data centers.

• Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, is shifting her political stance from a Maduro loyalist to a proxy for U.S. interests to revitalize the national economy. • Rodríguez asserts that inviting U.S. companies back into Venezuela is not a surrender of sovereignty, but a necessary move to benefit the Venezuelan people.

• Hamas has stated it will agree to disarm in Gaza only if Israel upholds the terms of a ceasefire agreement. • This follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Thursday regarding a new deal aimed at the disarmament of Hamas.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a selfie-style video on Thursday promoting new legislation aimed at establishing a more credible examination system in India. • Dipke of the Citizens Justice League (CJP) criticized the video, mockingly stating that the Prime Minister's "skin [is] brighter than [the] country's future."

• Iran has claimed responsibility for launching a drone attack on U.S. facilities in Kuwait and striking two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. • The targeted tankers were reportedly under "aerial escort" from the United States at the time of the strikes.

• Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das has defended Ruchika Singh, a Noida woman booked for allegedly using abusive language against PM Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar. • Das argued that while abusive language may be condemned, the legal response is disproportionate, highlighting that nearly 100 BJP MPs currently face criminal cases.

• The USD/JPY exchange rate rose 0.53% to ¥160.39 following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep US interest rates steady. • Japanese authorities intervened in the foreign exchange market by selling US dollars and buying yen to combat the currency's sharp depreciation.

• Indonesia is experiencing a revival of authoritarian and strongman politics, driven by the rise of personalistic political parties that prioritize individual leaders over institutionalized competition. • This shift undermines the country's democratic framework by displacing structured electoral processes in favor of loyalty to powerful political figures.