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• President Donald Trump reported holding productive all-day negotiations with Iran on Tuesday to secure a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. • The proposed agreement aims to stabilize global oil markets and lower gas prices, which have remained high due to tensions in the region. • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that Israel will take all necessary actions to ensure its own security, regardless of any U.S.-Iran deal.

• Fixed income trading in European banking remains a "two-tiered race" during Q2, as the sector continues to struggle in the shadow of equity markets. • BNP Paribas and Barclays are locked in a competitive struggle for dominance, while Societe Generale has successfully overtaken UBS in trading performance. • The trend highlights a significant disparity in how European banks are capturing fixed income revenue compared to the more robust equity trading sector.

Wesley Bell wins in St Louis rematch as anti-Israel candidates continue primary gainsUS politics live – latest updatesDemocratic congressman Wesley Bell won his primary in the St Louis area on Tuesday, ending progressive former representative Cori Bush’s bid for a comeback and blunting the momentum pro-Palestinian candidates have shown in recent elections.Bell unseated Bush, a democratic socialist who opposes aid to the US ally and accuses it of committing a genocide in Gaza, in the Democratic congressional primary two years ago with the help of millions of dollars in spending from pro-Israel groups. Their rematch this year came amid a spate of primary defeats of Democratic incumbents at the hands of progressive outsiders. Continue reading...

• The author draws parallels between the current political climate and the 2006 midterm elections, noting a recurring pattern of Republican scandals involving figures like Max Miller and Cory Mills. • Key similarities include an unpopular Middle East conflict, the White House pursuing doomed legislative priorities, and a GOP-led Congress struggling to deliver tangible results. • This comparison suggests a systemic vulnerability for the GOP, as similar conditions in 2006 led to significant losses for the party during the president's second midterm cycle.

• Iran is targeting AI data centers as part of a strategy to counter military strength by inflicting significant economic damage. • These facilities are critical to the US military and AI industries, as well as Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which aim to become a global AI hub. • Key investments are at risk, including Saudi Arabia's use of its $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund and the UAE's $500 billion "Stargate" project.

PM Péter Magyar says country nearly forced into decision as extreme heat and low water levels in Danube pose challenges in regionHungary has come “within millimetres” of having to shut down its nuclear power plant overnight, prime minister Péter Magyar said, as low water levels in the Danube continue to pose challenges for countries in south-eastern Europe.“Around 1:30 a.m. we were a few millimetres away from completely shutting down the Paks Power Plant, but then the water level stopped falling and by morning it had risen 1.5 centimetres. The last turbine is currently operating safely,” Magyar said on social media. Continue reading...

• Attorney Alexandre Lazarègue reports that a new phase of the European Artificial Intelligence Regulation will come into force on August 2, 2026. • The regulation shifts accountability to business leaders, emphasizing that AI consequences extend beyond technical issues to include legal and ethical obligations. • Key areas of impact include data protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, fundamental rights, and corporate civil liability.