World & Politics
Pentagon plans to rely on venture-backed startups to replenish its ammunition stockpiles - 07/31/2026
According to sources cited by The Washington Post (WP), the Pentagon intends to depend on startups in the defense industry to restore its stockpiles drained by the conflict with Iran. As reported by the newspaper, in late June, Secretary of the Pentagon Pete Hegseth held discussions with representatives from over a dozen of these companies and remarked that they "will be crucial in restoring the...
Bloomberg: Israel plans to develop lookalike of American F-35 fighter - 07/30/2026
Israel aims to create an unmanned combat drone comparable in capabilities to the American F-35 fighter, according to a senior official, as reported by Bloomberg. As per the agency's source, the initiative is a component of a plan to slowly decrease US military assistance over the coming decade and substitute it with collaborative development and manufacturing. Israel intends to engage foreign...
Iceland opens referendum on resuming EU accession negotiations - 07/28/2026
Early voting has started in Iceland's referendum regarding the resumption of accession talks with the European Union, Le Figaro reported. Citizens will be posed the question: "Should Iceland restart accession talks with the EU?" The primary segment of the referendum is scheduled for August 29. A Gallup survey released in late June revealed that 52% of participants favor restarting...
Sources cite reasons for halting US attacks on Iran - 07/27/2026
According to sources cited by The New York Times, US President Donald Trump has delayed efforts to escalate attacks on Iran. They stated that the choice was reached on July 24, following discussions between the US leader and his advisers and Cabinet members regarding the situation. The newspaper's informants specified that the shift in strategy stems from worries among the president and his...
Germany faces fivefold increase in imported gas prices - 07/24/2026
As a result of heightened tensions in the Middle East and the halt in energy supplies from Russia, Germany must pay five times the amount for gas compared to 2020, as reported by the Berliner Zeitung. Fuel prices at the German border are now approximately €60 per megawatt-hour, up from €31 at the start of the week prior to the Iran situation escalating. Norway has become Germany's primary...
FT estimates US revenue from Venezuelan oil sales in 2026 at over $13 billion - 07/23/2026
According to calculations by The Financial Times, the US government generated more than $13 billion in 2026 from exporting oil extracted in Venezuela. The report stated that the administration offered minimal details regarding the allocation of this money. Revenue from oil constitutes around 25% of Venezuela's GDP. Amid US sanctions, Caracas offered oil at significantly reduced prices, and...
France bans social media for children under 15 - 07/23/2026
The French Parliament has sanctioned a prohibition on social media usage for those under 15 years old, according to Reuters. France is the first country in the European Union to implement this type of restriction. On July 21, the legislation received approval from both chambers of parliament—the Senate and the National Assembly. Kids under 15 will not be permitted to set up social media accounts...
UK Prime Minister Burnham appoints his cabinet ministers - 07/21/2026
The Prime Minister's Office announced that new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has established his cabinet. John Healey, who was Defence Secretary from 2024 until recently, will take on the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer. He stepped down in June of this year because of conflicts with former Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding insufficient defence funding. Ed Miliband, the Labour Party...
WHO: Current Ebola epidemic in DR Congo is spreading faster than previous ones - 07/17/2026
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began in mid-May, has caused 796 deaths and over 2,000 confirmed cases in the nation. "This is the third-biggest Ebola outbreak ever documented. Over the last month, it has propagated more quickly than any earlier epidemic," Ghebreyesus informed...
CBS: Pentagon discusses military operation in Cuba - 07/16/2026
CBS News reports, citing sources, that the Pentagon is contemplating an airstrike operation in Cuba featuring the 101st Airborne Division. As per the channel's sources, US officials conducted a briefing to consider potential military operations against Cuba. Nonetheless, representatives from the department stressed that conducting consultations does not indicate that the leadership has made a...
