White House intensifies attacks on opponents and media as Trump seeks new mouthpiece

• A comprehensive revision checklist has been released for UPSC Civil Services Mains 2026 aspirants, focusing on 15 essential International Relations (IR) topics. • The guide highlights critical areas including the India-UK FTA, Arctic geopolitics, UNSC reforms, neighbourhood ties, and the concept of "Pax Silica."

• Iran's foreign minister stated that Tehran is not interested in a temporary ceasefire, insisting instead on a comprehensive deal to fully end the war. • This stance follows comments from Donald Trump, who downplayed hopes for a deal by noting that there is currently no dialogue occurring.

• The UN Security Council received updates on Libya's deteriorating situation, characterized by a political impasse that continues to delay long-planned national elections. • Recent escalations include armed clashes and drone strikes that resulted in a major oil refinery being set ablaze, threatening critical infrastructure.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marked World Humanitarian Day 2026 by warning that attacks on aid workers are illegal and demanding immediate global action. • The campaign emphasizes the need for accountability for those targeting humanitarian staff and urges the world to respect existing protections.

• The UAE has imposed an indefinite trade embargo on Iran following allegations that Iran launched missile attacks against the emirate. • Iran has officially denied the accusations, claiming the incident was a "false flag operation" designed to frame them.

People told they and their pets should keep out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s treated sewage planSwimmers are being warned not to enter the water at the first official bathing site on the River Thames, in south-west London, because of toxic blue-green algae in the water.The blue-green algal blooms are rare in moving water but are likely to be caused by the extreme heat, low river flow, and nutrient pollution from sewage waste. Continue reading...

Pesidential deputy chief of staff Iryna Mudra dismissed day after former defence minister called for wartime electionUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired a senior aide amid a fresh corruption investigation – one day after a former defence minister warned the country was facing “a crisis of governance” and needed to hold a wartime presidential election.Iryna Mudra, a presidential deputy chief of staff, was dismissed by decree after multiple reports in Ukrainian media that her house was being searched by officials investigating an alleged money-laundering scheme. Continue reading...

A weak yuan guarantees Beijing massive trade surplus even as the White House tries tamp down on Chinese importsSince China offered a truce in the trade war last October following its threat to deprive the United States of rare-earth magnets, the Trump administration has been happy to stop escalating. After all, imports from China have been falling, down by 40% in the year to June, compared with the same period in 2024. Best to declare victory and call it a day.But the US hasn’t won this battle – and there’s strong evidence to show it’s too chicken to really try. Continue reading...

Researchers laud return of giant tuna to North Sea after being fished almost to point of extinctionResearchers have lauded two giant bluefin tunas being caught off the coast of Yorkshire for the first time in more than six decades as a “success story” for marine conservation.The tunas, which were caught a day apart off the coast of Whitby earlier this week, have mostly been absent along the north-east coast of Britain since the 1960s. While a small numbers of the species have been spotted in the waters around Yorkshire in the previous years, the pair were the first to be caught for market from the North Sea since licences to catch the fish were issued in July. Continue reading...

Overton has said that Congress should strictly regulate abortion drug mifepristone ‘to protect women and children’Donald Trump nominated Dr Heidi Overton – an abortion opponent who stood next to the president as he made false claims about vaccines – to be commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).“Today I am honored to nominate the wonderful Dr. Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, as our next FDA Commissioner. Dr. Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration, where she has worked directly with Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and team, to deliver on the MOST TRANSFORMATIVE Health Agenda in History. She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson’s comments show her party feels voters have been alienated by Reform net zero attacksRichard Tice should apologise to firefighters for his comments earlier this week urging British people to “enjoy” this summer’s extreme heat, according to the Labour party chair.Bridget Phillipson has called on Reform’s deputy leader to say sorry to those who have battled wildfires across the country over the last few weeks, forcing evacuations and destroying homes. Continue reading...

The prime minister has announced a £442m plan to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas. It solidifies tackling homelessness as a central policy for Andy Burnham’s government, and gives voters a measure by which to judge his success – although without a concrete target for ministers to hit.Nosheen Iqbal speaks to social policy editor Patrick Butler – watch on YouTube Continue reading...