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• Renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz are threatening to disrupt one of the world's most critical maritime supply chain arteries. • The instability risks increasing costs for fuel, transportation, and agricultural inputs, which could trigger a broader global inflationary shock. • Energy- and food-importing economies, particularly developing nations that spend large portions of national income on essentials, are expected to be most severely impacted.

• The U.S. State Department is hosting a meeting with international officials to discuss the threat of left-wing terrorism. • Counterterrorism experts argue that the Trump administration's specific focus on the far left fails to provide necessary context regarding the broader spectrum of political extremism. • This shift in focus is significant as it highlights a potential imbalance in how the government identifies and prioritizes domestic and international security threats.

Chuck Schumer says Republicans are ‘ignoring the nation’s most urgent national security crisis’ amid US exchange of fire with IranUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of a must-pass defense bill in protest of Donald Trump’s resumption of hostilities with Iran.The hold up of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) comes amid the fiercest exchange in fire between the countries in weeks, which has amplified frustration among Democrats that the US remains involved in the conflict despite the passage last month of a war powers resolution intended to force a ceasefire. Continue reading...

• Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away at the age of 71. • The United States has launched a series of retaliatory military strikes against Iran, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. • In sports, Wimbledon has concluded with the crowning of new champions, while VAR controversy continues to impact the World Cup quarterfinals.

French president hosts ‘coalition of the willing’ in Paris amid hopes that Ukraine’s recent advances could force Putin towards negotiationsFrench president Emmanuel Macron is going to host the Coalition of the Willing in Paris later today amid hopes that Ukraine’s recent advances in strikes on Russia could force Vladimir Putin to a negotiating table.The meeting at the Hôtel des Invalides – hosted just before Bastille Day – will bring together over 20 European leaders for further talks on how to help Kyiv and put more pressure on Moscow. Continue reading...

• Renewed hostilities between the US and Iran, alongside Israel's ongoing military campaigns, are increasing the risk of a wider Middle East conflict. • These geopolitical tensions are triggering global energy and food security crises, which threaten to cause drastic economic growth deceleration in the Philippines. • The situation is further exacerbated by domestic challenges, including the rainy season, systemic urban flooding, and allegations of corruption in flood control projects.

Watchdog says public being put in danger by closure of premises that accommodate most dangerous offendersNearly one in ten probation hostels where England and Wales’ most dangerous offenders live after leaving prison have been closed after a staffing crisis.As ministers prepare the early release of thousands of inmates in September, a leaked memo revealed that “staffing challenges” have led to temporary closures of the heavily-supervised “approved premises”. Continue reading...