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• Hungary experienced a pivotal week marked by major constitutional reforms and growing signs of internal disarray within the ruling Fidesz party. • Key developments include the departure of Péter Szijjártó and emerging threats of US tariffs, which create significant economic uncertainty for the nation. • These shifts are critical as they potentially reshape Hungary's political landscape, international standing, and future economic relationships.

• France and England will face each other in the World Cup third-place playoff, rebranded as the "bronze final," in Miami this Saturday. • The match is viewed by some as a commercial exercise to maximize the tournament's product, though the playoff remains a historical staple of the World Cup. • This fixture determines the final podium ranking for the two teams after their respective semi-final losses.

Exclusive: Maternity staffing shortages worsen as more and more under-35s quit because of burnoutMore and more midwives are leaving the NHS before they reach 35 because of burnout, worsening the staffing problems that are affecting maternity units.The growing trend of early career quitting has sparked fears it poses a threat to the quality and safety of care that mothers and babies receive from already-understaffed childbirth services. Continue reading...

• By 2025, ASEAN's combined GDP reached approximately $4.25 trillion, surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. • The region is experiencing rapid growth at a rate of 4.3 percent, significantly outperforming the global economic growth average of 3.2 percent. • Member states are specializing in high-tech sectors: Singapore leads in R&D and finance, Malaysia focuses on wafer fabrication, Vietnam attracts giants like Nvidia and Samsung, and the Philippines is developing circuit design.

• Donald Trump publicly criticized England manager Thomas Tuchel following the team's loss in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals. • The tournament is moving toward high-profile finals featuring matchups between France and England, as well as Spain and Argentina. • FIFA has heavily integrated American sporting culture into the event, introducing quarter-breaks, half-time shows, and championship rings.

• England and France are facing off in the third-place play-off match of the 2026 World Cup, held in Miami. • The match highlights Harry Kane's struggle to impact major tournament knockout stages, having scored only two goals across four semi-finals and two finals for England. • Analysis suggests Kane's low scoring rate in these high-stakes games is due to England's tactical lack of adventure and failure to utilize their primary attacking threat.

Campaigners hope move will force commercial banks to rethink holding assets linked to the fossil fuelClimate campaigners have declared a victory after the Bank of England said it would no longer accept bonds linked to one of the most polluting industries on the planet for key loan arrangements.The ban, which comes into force in October, marks a fresh crackdown on thermal coal, which is burned in power plants to create electricity, and has long been a target of green policy activists. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage compares One Nation leader’s polling rise to Donald Trump’s victory in the USFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson has told a political conference in London that Australia is following Britain down a path of cultural decline, blaming mass immigration, multiculturalism, Islam, net zero policies and “woke” ideology such as support for trans rights.The One Nation leader has been in the UK to speak at the inaugural British spin-off from America’s influential Conservative Political Action Conference, alongside Nigel Farage and Liz Truss, the former British prime minister. Continue reading...

White House Fifa taskforce chief defends Argentina footballers, saying US believes in free speechThe White House has backed Argentina’s footballers who displayed a banner supporting their country’s claim to the Falklands Islands after their World Cup semi-final victory against England.In a fractious match in Atlanta on Wednesday, some players held up a banner after Argentina’s 2-1 win that said: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – using the country’s term for the South Atlantic islands. Continue reading...

• England and Argentina are set to face each other in a high-stakes match to determine who will advance to the FIFA World Cup final. • FIFA has implemented operational adjustments to the event's management to ensure spectator safety and a positive experience for all attendees. • Organizers are taking precautions due to the volatile political and sporting history between the two nations, despite a lack of significant fan trouble so far in the tournament.

• SK Automation secured a significant order valued at RMB 4.5 billion from battery giant CATL, while Lingyun Guang reported a nearly six-fold increase in net profit driven by AI investments. • Xingye Silver & Tin, via its subsidiary Xingye Gold (Hong Kong), acquired a 20% stake in Australian-listed Tartana Minerals Limited (TAT) for approximately A$5.1827 million. • These developments, announced after the market close on July 16, highlight a surge in strategic industrial growth and overseas mineral resource expansion for companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges.

About 100,000 children across the country drink the high-caffeine beverages dailyHigh-caffeine energy drinks “have no place in children’s hands” and will be banned from sale to under-16s in England from April next year under new laws designed to improve health outcomes in young people.About 100,000 children across the country currently drink high-caffeine energy drinks daily, with those in more deprived areas and households more likely to consume them, according to the government. Continue reading...

Fair housing complaints accuse Greystar of refusing to take tenants who use federal rent vouchersGreystar, the largest owner and manager of apartments in the US, systematically flouts local laws designed to make housing affordable to the poor, according to civil rights complaints filed with authorities in six states and the District of Columbia.The complaints – filed this week with government agencies in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington DC – accuse Greystar of 114 violations of state and DC fair housing laws. They allege that the company refuses to accept federal housing choice vouchers (also known as Section 8) in places that require landlords to accept them. Continue reading...

Dawood Safi, 28, mounted a ‘frenzied’ and deadly rampage while in the grip of a psychotic episodeAn Uber driver who stabbed a dog walker to death in a “frenzy of violence” while in the grip of a psychotic episode has also been found guilty of trying to murder his landlord.Dawood Safi, 28, killed 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst in the random knife attack last October, just minutes after attacking his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, and a boy of 14. Continue reading...

Analysis reveals stark socioeconomic divide, with schools with highest free school meal eligibility having fewer treesPrivate school grounds in England offer 41% more tree cover than state schools for cooling and shade in extreme temperatures, research has found.As teachers and students prepare to take their summer holidays after weeks of high temperatures where some classrooms reached highs of 40C, an analysis of tree cover in schools in England reveals a stark socioeconomic divide. Continue reading...

Spokesperson says islands ‘definitely’ belong to the UK‘PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain’Keir Starmer supports the idea of Fifa investigating Argentina players who displayed a banner touting their country’s claim to the Falklands Islands after their World Cup semi-final win against England, Downing Street has said.Starmer, who watched the match while travelling to Ukraine by train for the final overseas trip of his prime ministership, endorsed a call by Peter Kyle, the business secretary, for Fifa to “thoroughly” investigate what rules may have been broken. Continue reading...

• Major football tournaments are currently underway in North America, featuring a high-stakes semifinal match between France and Spain starting Tuesday. • England's campaign has been marked by a complex and mixed relationship between the national team manager and the squad's star midfielder. • The competition is seeing an unprecedented race for the top scorer title, with several global stars delivering standout performances.

• UK artificial intelligence companies received a record £4.6bn in investment during Q2 2026, according to data from Beauhurst. • AI dominated the funding landscape, capturing 57% of all equity investment during this period. • This surge highlights the UK's growing role as a hub for AI development and the sector's immense appeal to investors.

• The Royal Netherlands Navy is integrating uncrewed systems, including robots, AI, and drones, to modernize its maritime defense capabilities. • Recent sea trials were conducted off the country's northern coast to test these technologies in real-world environments. • The primary objective of this digital transformation is to enhance operational safety by keeping personnel out of high-risk danger zones.

Campaigners hail ‘landmark moment’ in early detection and treatment of rare muscle-wasting diseaseEvery baby born in England will be screened for a rare muscle-wasting disease, starting next year, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on Thursday.Campaigners said the “landmark moment” should lead to babies who were found to have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) being treated early and thus growing up without any of its debilitating symptoms. Continue reading...

Minister urges public to report cases of three or more sick or dead birds in a group after brown skua seabird tests positive for H5N1 on Wellington beachThe deadly H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed in New Zealand for the first time, sparking alarm that some of the country’s most beloved and vulnerable native birds could be wiped out if it spreads.A single ocean-going seabird, a brown skua, returned a confirmed positive test on Wednesday, after it was found on Petone beach in Wellington on 10 July, said Andrew Hoggard, the biosecurity minister. Continue reading...

• Thailand has established four specific benchmarks to measure progress in Myanmar following talks between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart on July 12 in Bangkok. • The initiative is part of a "calibrated re-engagement" strategy designed to advance the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus through direct dialogue. • This move matters as it provides a structured framework to evaluate whether Myanmar is adhering to regional peace and stability agreements.

• Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, Ueno Atsushi, praised Cambodia's recent efforts to crack down on online scam operations. • Ambassador Atsushi reaffirmed Tokyo's commitment to collaborating with the Cambodian government and international organizations to fight transnational cybercrime. • Separately, Thailand's deputy government spokesperson, Ploytalay Laksameesangchan, announced on July 14, 2026, that the Cabinet approved a review of the country's visa-exemption measures.

• The U.S. military has disabled a ship allegedly attempting to sail to Kharg Island, marking the first such action since President Trump reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports. • This escalation occurs amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and a broader feud between the United States and Iran. • Vice President JD Vance criticized "hawks" during an interview with Joe Rogan, claiming that opponents of diplomacy have undermined the Trump administration's negotiation efforts.

• An Indian tech professional successfully secured a new position within 15 days after being laid off due to AI-driven company restructuring. • The individual utilized a referral-based job search strategy, which has since gone viral as a blueprint for other displaced workers. • This case highlights the growing impact of AI on employment stability and the critical importance of professional networking in a volatile job market.

For one placement, black applicants had a less than 1 in 100 chance of being offered a place, NHS data showsBlack doctors in England are four times less likely to be offered a training place than their white counterparts, according to analysis.As part of their medical training, doctors across the NHS are able to apply to placements within specific branches of practice such as psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and emergency medicine. Continue reading...

Banner refers to Falkland Islands conflict in 1982Players celebrate on the pitch with the messageThe Argentina players celebrated their World Cup win over England with a banner saying “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, making reference to the 1982 Falklands war.Argentina were 1-0 down with five minutes to go of the semi-final in Atlanta but rallied and scored twice in quick succession to reach a second straight World Cup final, where they will face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday. Continue reading...

Pubs code adjudicator says it has reasonable grounds to believe group has breached industry regulationsThe owner of the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains is being investigated over concerns about possible “unfair” treatment of landlords who run more than 3,000 of its venues.Stonegate Group, Britain’s biggest chain of bars and pubs, could be fined up to 1% of revenue, more than £16m, if it is found to have breached the “pubs code”, legislation governing how pub-owning companies treat their tenants. Continue reading...