Samir Haddad

Iran reported a quiet night without overnight U.S. strikes, breaking nearly two weeks of consecutive nightly attacks as regional tensions remain high over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and ongoing clashes involving regional militias, according to reports published Saturday. The sudden overnight calm followed nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of U.S. attacks … Read more

Following his entry into Downing Street as the sixth prime minister in seven years, Andy Burnham faces scrutiny over whether his municipal model from Greater Manchester can translate nationally. From Mancunian Roots to Downing Street The political trajectory of the newly installed prime minister brings a distinctly regional perspective to the national stage. Observers trace … Read more

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced the immediate imposition of a total naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, describing the move as a blockade-for-blockade response after weeks of escalating cross-border exchanges. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned in a video broadcast that any further Saudi military action would face a harsh response, while urging the Yemeni public … Read more

The United States implemented new tariffs on South African exports on Friday, 24 July, placing the country into its highest tariff tier over alleged failures to enforce bans on forced-labor imports, according to reports from EWN. The new duties are enacted under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, as detailed by businesstech.co.za. … Read more

As Tropical Storm Kiyapo intensified into a typhoon and exited the Philippine area of responsibility early Saturday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Batanes, parts of the Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, northern Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, bringing continued heavy rain, flood risks, and suspended travel across multiple regions. Typhoon Intensification and Exit … Read more

Latvian military personnel deployed tear gas and discharged a warning shot into the air during a confrontation with irregular migrants attempting to cross the frontier from Belarus. The army reported on X that a group of five or more individuals acted aggressively and threw logs at soldiers stationed along the border. Border Clashes and Military … Read more

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission agreed on July 23 to drop its subpoena seeking personal contact information for Jewish employees at the University of Pennsylvania, ending more than a year of high-stakes litigation over federal antisemitism investigations in higher education. The legal standoff ended in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, where … Read more

Donald Trump has thrown a newly signed civilian nuclear pact with Saudi Arabia into doubt, insisting the agreement is completely dependent on Riyadh normalising diplomatic relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. The stunning intervention comes as the kingdom faces intensifying regional strikes and economic pressure from Iran. The Abraham Accords Condition on the … Read more

Escalating Conflict and Market Volatility The benchmark Brent crude price peaked at $95.24 on Wednesday, a jump of more than 3% from the previous day, as airstrikes on Iran and Houthi threats to target Saudi oil vessels compounded supply fears. This marks the first time in six weeks that prices have exceeded $95, despite earlier … Read more

Jessica Morgan, the former head of the Dia Art Foundation, has been appointed as the new director of Tate. Morgan, who previously worked as a curator at the institution for over a decade, will succeed Maria Balshaw in January, accepting a significant pay cut to lead the UK’s arts organization. A High-Profile Return to Tate … Read more

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officially designated Turkey as its 12th Dialogue Partner on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The decision, finalized at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, upgrades Ankara’s institutional status and aims to deepen political, economic, and security cooperation between Turkey and the Southeast Asian bloc. Ankara’s Institutional Upgrade … Read more

UK interest rates remain held at 3.75% as of July 2026, frustrating hopes for a decline. While inflation has cooled, geopolitical instability in the Middle East and rising energy costs have stalled further cuts. For homeowners, this means mortgage rates remain elevated, with many facing significantly higher costs as fixed-rate deals expire. Interest Rate Stagnation … Read more