Middle East
Iran’s strikes on ships in Strait of Hormuz test cease-fire and threaten oil flow. A U.S. official said Iranian missiles struck two commercial ships; there was no immediate comment from Iranian officials on the reported attacks. (NYT — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/world/middleeast/iran-war-oman-hormuz-tanker.html)
Qatari LNG tanker and Saudi crude oil ship damaged in Hormuz. (Middle East Eye — https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/qatari-lng-tanker-and-saudi-crude-oil-ship-damaged-hormuz)
Explosions injure 18 in Damascus during Macron’s visit. As reports of the blasts came in, state television said the Syrian president had welcomed Macron at the presidential palace. (BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2eylx1jj9ko)
Macron ‘safe’ after blasts near French president’s hotel in Syria. (France 24 — https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260707-syria-macron-safe-after-blasts-near-french-president-s-hotel)
What to know about Macron’s landmark visit to Syria. (France 24 — https://www.france24.com/en/what-to-know-about-macron-s-landmark-visit-to-syria)
Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza, wound seven including two children. (Middle East Eye — https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-strikes-kill-two-palestinians-gaza-wound-seven-including-two)
UN report: Gaza recorded 9,300 chickenpox cases in just two weeks. (Middle East Eye — https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-report-gaza-recorded-9300-chickenpox-cases-just-two-weeks)
Will the Iran-US MoU reshape economic relations in the Gulf? (Middle East Eye — https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/will-iran-us-mou-reshape-economic-relations-gulf)
NATO & Europe
Trump arrives in Turkey with the Iran war at the top of the agenda. President Trump lands in Ankara for the NATO summit, beginning the day with Turkish President Erdogan. (Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-07-07/trump-arrives-in-turkey-with-iran-war-at-top-of-agenda-video)
What does Trump want from his NATO allies? (Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/7/7/what-does-trump-want-from-his-nato-allies)
Ex-NATO chief behind defence review says Starmer’s military spending plan is too little, too late. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/07/ex-nato-chief-behind-defence-review-says-starmers-military-spending-plan-is-too-little-too-late)
French court upholds Le Pen’s fraud conviction, threatening her 2027 presidential hopes. (France 24 — https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260707-live-french-far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-faces-key-ruling-in-race-for-president)
Woman suspected of Monaco bomb attack found shot dead near Kyiv. Police had been hunting Anastasiia Berezovska after a Ukrainian millionaire was injured in the blast; South African authorities and prosecutors reported the death. (BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yz3770yg8o | Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-kyiv)
EU rejects suspending biometric border controls despite 20 ‘difficult spots’. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/eu-ees-border-controls-airport-queues-delays-brexit)
German Gen Z joins the Bundeswehr: the military becomes a plan B. (France 24 — https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20260707-german-gen-z-joins-the-bundeswehr-the-military-becomes-a-plan-b)
Farage says he will ‘make statement on my future in public life at 2pm’. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jul/07/nigel-farage-reform-uk-donations-investigations-parliament-electoral-commission-defence-nato-keir-starmer-latest-news-updates)
Prince Harry begins visit to the UK as ruling expected in court battle with Daily Mail publisher. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/jul/07/prince-harry-duke-duchess-sussex-daily-mail-associated-newspapers-meghan-high-court-latest-news-updates)
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan denounces ‘political and judicial harassment’ over Israel criticism. (Middle East Eye — https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/french-palestinian-mep-rima-hassan-denounces-political-judicial-harassment-suppress-israel-criticism)
United States
Woman accuses Graham Platner of sexual assault; key Democratic figures call on him to withdraw from the Senate race. Platner faces calls to end his bid for U.S. Senate in Maine. (NPR — https://www.npr.org/2026/07/07/g-s1-132281/up-first-newsletter-graham-platner-nato-trump-climate-change-us-roads | Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jul/07/graham-platner-democrats-senate-maine-trump-nato-us-politics-latest-news-updates)
Half of Americans struggle to afford groceries and gas, exclusive poll finds. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/07/cost-of-living-poll-groceries-gas)
What will define Elon Musk’s legacy? DOGE cuts to USAID Ebola programs. (Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/07/elon-musk-doge-cuts-usaid-ebola)
Africa
Zimbabwean football star survives gun attack in South Africa. South African police say they are investigating a case of attempted murder but that no arrests have been made so far. (BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1my1rvy28do)
Markets & Finance
Nasdaq futures fall as chip stocks struggle. Monday night’s action follows a winning session on Wall Street. (CNBC — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/06/stock-market-today-live-updates.html)
Tech weakness resumes after Samsung misses lofty AI expectations. US stock futures pointed to renewed weakness in technology shares after Samsung’s earnings failed to satisfy investors, renewing pressure on chipmakers across global markets. (Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/tech-weakness-resumes-after-samsung-misses-lofty-ai-expectations)
Tech volatility hits highest since dot-com bust next to S&P 500. The higher the rally in technology high-flyers, the louder the anxiety around a new wave of turbulence. (Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-07/tech-volatility-hits-highest-since-dot-com-bust-next-to-s-p-500)
China extends gold-buying binge to a 20th month amid Beijing’s de-dollarisation push. The PBOC added 480,000 troy ounces (14.93 tonnes) in June, lifting holdings to 75.44 million troy ounces (2,346 tonnes) — the longest buying streak since 2015. (SCMP — https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3359742/china-extends-gold-buying-binge-20th-month-amid-beijings-de-dollarisation-push)
Russia’s oil refineries are burning — and now so is its bond market. Fuel shortages in Russia may force Putin to the negotiating table. (MarketWatch — https://www.marketwatch.com/story/russias-oil-refineries-are-burning-and-now-so-is-its-bond-market-10468951)
Coinbase secures UK investment services license to add derivatives and equities trading. (The Block — https://www.theblock.co/post/407410/coinbase-secures-uk-investment-services-license-to-add-derivatives-and-equities-trading)
SpaceX joins the Nasdaq-100, adding to index volatility. SpaceX is due to join the Nasdaq-100 on Tuesday but won’t become part of the S&P 500 for at least another year, likely furthering the volatility spread between the two indexes. (MarketWatch — https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-nasdaq-100-has-been-far-more-volatile-than-the-s-p-500-now-add-spacex-to-the-mix-cd397c36)
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