Category: INTERNATIONAL

US Inflation Fuels Shoplifting as Labor Force Hits Record Low

Asim Siddiqui

Inflation Drives More Americans to Shoplifting as Labor Force Participation Hits Record Low WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two newly released reports point to growing financial stress across the United States, highlighting the economic challenges facing millions of Americans as inflation continues to strain household budgets and labor force participation falls to historic lows. According to a CBS News report citing a LendingTree survey, 30% of Americans admitted to shoplifting in 2026, a significant increase from 24% in 2024. Nearly 90% of respondents who acknowledged stealing said rising prices, inflation, and financial…

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US House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill With US Israeli Military Integration Embedded Inside

Kainat R
US Capitol building with American and Israeli flags representing the US Israeli military integration debate in the 2027 NDAA defense bill

The United States House of Representatives narrowly passed a massive $1.15 trillion defense spending bill on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, advancing the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, widely known as the 2027 NDAA. The vote ended at 216 to 212, splitting almost entirely along party lines in one of the most contentious defense votes in recent congressional history. Buried inside the bill is a provision that has triggered unusually fierce opposition from both sides of the aisle: Section 219, which would formally establish the United States-Israel Defense Technology…

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Latest News on Iran Israel War: US Strikes Iran for 12th Night as Houthis Hit Saudi Tankers

Kainat R
Smoke rises after US strikes on Iran as the Iran-Israel war intensifies and Houthi attacks target Saudi oil tankers.

The latest news on the Iran Israel war shows no sign of the fighting slowing down, with US forces striking Iran for a 12th consecutive night while Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed fresh attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The escalation has opened a second front in a conflict already threatening global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Background The current Iran-Israel war traces back to earlier this year, when hostilities between Israel and Iran reignited following the collapse of nuclear negotiations and mounting instability inside…

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Houthi Attacks Today: Red Sea Blockade, Saudi Oil Tankers Hit, and the Growing Global Crisis

Kainat R
Houthi Attacks Hit Saudi Tankers in Red Sea

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group launched a major missile and drone strike on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on July 22, 2026, marking one of the most serious escalations in the region this year. The tankers, named Encelia and Layla, were struck after the Houthis declared a full maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia just two days earlier. The attacks have sent shockwaves through global energy markets and raised serious fears about the safety of one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. Background: Who Are the Houthis and…

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Trump Signs Historic Agreement with Saudi Arabia on Civilian Nuclear Power

Kainat R
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shaking hands at the White House during the signing of the civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have officially signed a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabia on civilian nuclear cooperation, marking one of the most significant and debated energy and security deals of the Trump presidency. The deal was formally announced by the US Department of Energy on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and immediately sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles around the world. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed what is officially known as a “123 Agreement”  a reference to Section 123 of…

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Pakistan-Led Diplomacy Raises Prospects of De-Escalation in Iran-US Standoff

Kainat R
Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts aim to ease tensions between Iran and the United States amid the ongoing regional standoff.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic push at the United Nations Security Council, arguing that sustained dialogue remains the only viable path to ending the standoff between Iran and the United States. The renewed effort comes as instability around the Strait of Hormuz continues to threaten global energy markets and regional stability. Background Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran traces back to earlier this year, when hostilities between the two countries escalated sharply following the breakdown of nuclear negotiations. Islamabad, drawing on its long border with Iran and…

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Greece Russian Oil Fight Threatens New EU Sanctions Package Against Russia

Kainat R
EU and Greece flags displayed alongside an oil refinery, symbolizing the dispute over Russian oil and new EU sanctions against Russia.

Greece is pushing back against a proposed EU sanctions package that would restrict its shipping industry from transporting Russian liquefied natural gas, even as new data shows Greek-owned tankers have carried a substantial share of the world’s Russian oil exports. The standoff highlights the tension between EU sanctions news and the commercial interests of member states most exposed to Russian energy trade. Background The question of whether Greece buys Russian oil has become more complicated since the war in Ukraine began, since Greece’s role in the Russian energy trade extends…

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Hitler’s Birthplace Begins New Life as a Police Station

Kainat R
Exterior view of Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn, Austria, now reopened as a police station.

Austria has officially opened a police station inside the house where Adolf Hitler was born in 1889, ending decades of debate over what to do with a building that has long drawn far-right pilgrims. The Hitler’s house police station in Braunau am Inn began operating this week after a renovation lasting several years and costing around 20 million euros. Background The yellow, three-story building sits on a narrow, shop-lined street in the center of Braunau am Inn, a small Austrian town on the border with Germany. Hitler was born there…

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Houthis Saudi Arabia Blockade Threat Sparks International Condemnation

Kainat R
Map showing Saudi Arabia and Yemen as Houthi blockade threats raise international security concerns.

Tensions between Houthis and Saudi Arabia have escalated sharply this week after Yemen’s Iran-aligned group announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. Riyadh, along with Pakistan, the UAE, and several European governments, has condemned the move as a dangerous attempt to widen the ongoing Middle East conflict. Background The Houthis blockade Saudi Arabia announcement comes amid the wider war between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition, now well into its fourth month. Saudi Arabia had been routing millions of barrels of oil per day through pipelines to…

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ASEAN Regional Forum 2026: World Powers Converge in Manila as Security Crises Mount

Kainat R
Foreign ministers gathered at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Manila, Philippines, July 2026, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attending key security talks.

Southeast Asia’s top diplomats opened three days of talks in Manila on Tuesday, with an agenda topped by their most daunting security problems, set against a backdrop of unfolding crises led by resurging US-Iran fighting and a violent skirmish in the disputed South China Sea. The 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum ministerial meeting is the centrepiece of a broader week of high-level diplomatic engagements in the Philippine capital. The series of meetings, hosted by the Philippines as ASEAN Chair for 2026, is taking place in Manila from July 18 to 24,…

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