Friday, July 24, 2026

World

Trump Threatens Massive Iran Strike as War Escalates

Trump is weighing a major escalation in the US war on Iran after Iranian forces struck Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, while the Pentagon quietly removed four recently killed soldiers from its official casualty list. The war has already cost the US nearly $110 billion, with the Trump administration now seeking an additional $67 billion from Congress. Iran's foreign minister warned that "mindless aggression" won't help prospects for a deal, as the UK declared itself "ready to defend" after Iran labelled British bases hosting US aircraft legitimate targets.

MarketWill the U.S. invade Iran before 2027?31%

Economy

Trump Hits 60 Countries With New Forced-Labour Tariffs

Trump has imposed fresh double-digit tariffs on roughly 60 trading partners, using a forced-labour provision after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier blanket levies. The move replaces the baseline 10% tariffs that were set to expire and has drawn immediate protests from allies — Australia's trade minister Don Farrell called the measures unjustified and inconsistent with the existing US-Australia free trade agreement. UK mortgage rates have already ticked up to their highest level in a month as Middle East tensions and the new trade friction feed through to borrowing costs.

Tech

Tesla Stock Craters 13.5% in One of Its Worst Days

Tesla shed roughly 13.5% of its value on Thursday — one of the steepest single-day drops in the company's history — after reporting weak profits and eye-watering spending on AI and robotics. The sell-off leaves Tesla down about 27% for the year, as investors grow increasingly impatient with Elon Musk's pivot away from cars. Separately, Intel offered a rare bright spot in tech, with its shares rallying after the chipmaker posted 25% revenue growth in Q2, its fastest expansion in 15 years.

Health

FDA Panel Backs Easing Restrictions on Unproven Peptides

A narrowly divided FDA advisory panel has recommended dropping current restrictions on several peptides popularised by wellness influencers and celebrities, including the so-called "Wolverine stack" promoted by Joe Rogan. Government scientists warned the panel that none of the compounds have been proven safe or effective for human use, but some panel members had disclosed financial ties to the peptides industry. The vote is a political win for Health Secretary RFK Jr, who has publicly championed the drugs.

Politics

India's Youth Protest Spreads as Wangchuk Ends Hunger Strike

Climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday, citing fears of imminent violence, as India's student-led "cockroach" protest movement — sparked by an exam paper scandal — continued to swell into one of the country's biggest youth uprisings in years. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the education minister and are calling for nationwide protests against what they describe as systemic corruption under Narendra Modi's government. The movement has drawn comparisons to previous mass youth mobilisations and poses a fresh political headache for Modi's BJP.