Tuesday, July 14, 2026

World

US launches third night of strikes on Iran

The US has carried out its third consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, hitting targets in Kish, Qeshm, and Bandar Abbas, while Trump simultaneously announced a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In a striking policy reversal, Trump declared ships will be charged for safe passage through the strait — a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil trade. The UAE reported one person killed in a tanker strike, signalling the conflict is already drawing in regional neighbours.

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Economy

US refunds $81bn after Supreme Court voids Trump tariffs

The US government has already paid back $81 billion in tariff revenue after the Supreme Court ruled Trump's import duties illegal, dealing a massive blow to the centrepiece of his second-term economic agenda. The refunds, revealed in newly released budget figures, are flowing to companies that imported goods hit by the tariffs — a logistical and fiscal headache the administration did not publicly flag. The scale of the repayment dwarfs most government programmes and complicates Trump's broader effort to use tariffs as a permanent revenue and leverage tool.

Politics

Rubio moves to dismantle International Criminal Court

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has launched a formal US campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, claiming the tribunal threatens American sovereignty by exposing US military personnel and officials to international prosecution. The move escalates a long-running US antagonism toward the ICC into an active dismantlement effort, going beyond mere non-participation. Rubio specifically invoked the spectre of US Border Patrol agents being "dragged before an international court" as justification.

Climate

Record El Niño threatens floods from East Africa to Asia

A record-strength El Niño is bearing down on a vast stretch of the globe, with aid groups warning of severe flooding and hunger from Somalia to Pakistan in the coming months. The event is forecast to be the most intense on record, compounding already fragile food security across regions still recovering from recent climate shocks. Forecasters say the window to pre-position aid and infrastructure is closing fast.

World

Japan admits it has become Russia's spy hub

Japan's government has acknowledged it needs to counter foreign espionage "with even greater rigour" after a New York Times investigation revealed Russia has turned the country into a key intelligence base, exploiting Japan's notably weak espionage laws. Moscow has been using Japan as a hub to acquire weapons components and run intelligence operations, the report found — a significant embarrassment for a US ally that has been supplying Ukraine with non-lethal aid. Japan currently lacks a dedicated counter-espionage statute, making prosecution of foreign agents unusually difficult.