Scenario archive

A week of strikes shatters hope of a lasting US-Iran peace deal

Hopes of a lasting peace deal between Iran and the US are fading fast following a week that has seen consistent exchange of fire between the two sides. The US resumed its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz firing at a ship that attempted to breach it. For its part, Iran retaliated by launching strikes on US allies including Jordan, where projectiles believed to be of Iranian origin were spotted.

July 29, 2026

US slaps 25% tariffs on Brazil with election looming

The US will impose a 25% tariff on most imports from Brazil starting later this month. It's the first action in the Trump administration's new tariff strategy, after the Supreme Court struck down its prior impositions.

July 29, 2026

Photos: Messi’s Argentina stun England to reach World Cup final vs Spain

Messi inspires Argentina’s dramatic late comeback win over England to reach final against Spain.

July 29, 2026

In the Asia-Pacific, a New Security Arrangement Takes Shape

Last week, Japan, Australia and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to closer defense cooperation during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey. Almost at the same time, the Philippines and Vietnam elevated their ties to an enhanced strategic partnership, agreeing to establish new maritime coordination mechanisms, including coast guard cooperation […] The post In the Asia-Pacific, a New Security Arrangement Takes Shape appeared first on Geopolitical Futures .

July 29, 2026

Press review: Trump stuck over Iran war and Zaporozhye chief’s killing may affect peace

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 16th

July 29, 2026

Phone maker OnePlus says it won’t release new phones in the U.S. and Europe

OnePlus could also wind down its operations in India by 2027.

July 29, 2026

Israeli airstrike kills at least one, injures many in Gaza

Israeli airstrike kills at least one, injures many in Gaza An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in Khan Younis in Gaza killed at least one and injured many, a source in Nasser hospital told al-Jazeera.

July 29, 2026

Booksellers must ensure titles don’t violate national security laws: Chris Tang

Hong Kong’s security chief has warned that booksellers are responsible for ensuring their titles do not violate national security legislation, a day after police raided two independent stores and arrested five people on suspicion of sedition. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also reiterated on Thursday that the government would not compile a list of “banned books”, arguing that doing so would create loopholes where offenders could evade the law by simply changing a title. Tang’s...

July 29, 2026

After Ireland partially bans trade with Israeli settlements, the UK must go further

After Ireland partially bans trade with Israeli settlements, the UK must go further Submitted by Hannah Bond on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 16:00 The Irish move is a good first step, but much more significant action is needed to safeguard Palestinian rights and international law Protesters in Brussels, Belgium, call for a ban on all goods from illegal Israeli settlements, on 17 June 2026 (Nicolas Tucat/AFP) On “We live each day fearing that we may be shot or killed, and in constant fear of being attacked and beaten.” These are the stark words of Najwa, a Palestinian farmer in Hebron in the occupied West Bank, whose land, family and community are under daily attack. Israeli settlers have stolen their livestock, trampled their crops, destroyed their greenhouses, broken into their home and attacked them with pepper spray. The relentless campaign of violence, harassment and intimidation has driven most of Najwa’s neighbours off their land; only a few families remain in the valley. Today, settler violence in the occupied West Bank has soared to its highest level since UN monitoring began in 2006, with an average of six attacks recorded each day. Settlers have shot and stabbed children , committed sexual violence, and set fire to mosques - yet they benefit from near-total impunity . Palestinian women and girls are at particular risk: not only do they face violence and harassment from settlers, but they are also often forced to stay at home for protection , cutting them off from education and reproductive healthcare. These horrific acts are not isolated events, and the people responsible for them are not rogue actors. They are at the vanguard of a settlement expansion project that is directed, funded and authorised by the Israeli state itself, and made possible by its discriminatory policies and practices. It’s a project that has the ultimate aim of territorial expansion, achieved through an appalling strategy of illegal land annexation and ethnic cleansing. The UK government already accepts that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law . So why does it continue to permit trade that helps normalise and sustain them? Alarming growth Israeli settlements already control more than 42 percent of West Bank territory, confiscated from Palestinian communities, along with the majority of the region’s water resources. These illegal settlements are supported by a massive system of bypass roads and railways, as well as industrial parks for settlement-based businesses. And they are growing at an alarming pace. This year alone, Israeli authorities extended civil and administrative authority across the West Bank, approved 34 new illegal settlements , and allocated record funding for settlement infrastructure. According to a 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, states must take concrete steps to end any support that maintains Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank. This isn’t a suggestion; it’s an obligation. The UK now faces a choice: continue enabling a system it recognises as unlawful, or join a growing number of countries prepared to match their words with action The fact that trade is still allowed means that dates, grapefruits or avocados grown on land forcibly stolen from Palestinians can appear on supermarket shelves in the UK. A recent investigation by the legal non-profit Global Echo found that one in six Israeli shipments to the UK and EU contained agricultural products that originated in illegal settlements. Meanwhile, trade in services far surpasses goods. This not only financially benefits settlements; it tacitly legitimises their presence on illegally occupied territory. Palestinians in the West Bank live under a brutal system of apartheid and military occupation . While Israeli settlers travel freely across the territory, Palestinians are confined by checkpoints, gates and permit controls that can stop them from accessing schools, universities, workplaces, hospitals and even their own families. Entire communities face repeated military raids, arrests and displacement, while Palestinians are subjected to a separate legal system from Israelis living in the same territory. Many Palestinian women who have little option but to work in illegal settlements face exploitative conditions: the overwhelming majority have no written contracts , earn significantly less than minimum wage, and report sexual harassment and physical abuse at work. The result is a system of institutionalised discrimination that governs almost every aspect of daily life. State complicity Other governments are finally waking up to their own complicity, and taking long-overdue action to right this wrong. Earlier this month, Ireland’s parliament approved legislation banning some trade with settlements, following in the footsteps of Spain, which introduced a ban last year. Why the UK allows Israeli settlers to terrorise the West Bank Read More » The bill, which passed through the Irish Seanad on Wednesday and will now to go the president to be signed into law, isn’t perfect. As it stands, it will result in a ban on the €200,000 ($229,000) or so of goods traded with illegal settlements each year. As a symbolic gesture, this matters, but by allowing the provision of services - comprising up to 70 percent of trade between Israel and Ireland - to continue, it fails to fully comply with the requirements of international law . A coalition of more than 40 trade unions, NGOs and civil society groups, including Action Aid Ireland, is pushing for a total ban on both goods and services, to ensure those legal obligations are met. The UK has an opportunity to go further than Ireland, and bring about a comprehensive ban on trade and investment in illegal settlements. Pressure for such a move is building: 238 MPs , including 141 Labour members, now back a full ban. Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers are reportedly mulling a range of options to restrict settlement trade. There are some signs that UK government policy is starting to shift. Last month, for the first time, the UK explicitly advised British companies against economic activity in the illegal settlements. This is a step forward, but requesting voluntary compliance from businesses is not enough; it must be made mandatory. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the trade minister said the UK government was working on a full ban on trade with goods and services with settlements. This is a welcome development and we urge the incoming government to take this forward and prioritise swift implementation. The government’s response to Israel’s actions has failed to match the scale and severity of the violations taking place. Across the occupied West Bank and Gaza, where the genocide continues and more than 1000 people have been killed since the so-called ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli government is conducting a systematic assault on Palestinian life and rights. Until the UK and other countries impose robust measures with clear economic consequences, there is little hope the situation will change Until the UK and other countries impose robust measures with clear economic consequences, there is little hope the situation will change. Banning trade with settlements is an obvious tool the UK government has at its disposal to hold Israel accountable and end its own complicity in this illegal occupation. It must also suspend its trade and partnership agreement with Israel until widespread and systematic violations of international law are brought to an end. Ireland’s legislation will not, on its own, end the occupation. But it is the beginning of accountability. It reflects a growing recognition that states cannot condemn illegal settlements while continuing to trade with them. The UK now faces a choice: continue enabling a system it recognises as unlawful, or join a growing number of countries prepared to match their words with action. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Occupation Karol Balfe Opinion Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

July 29, 2026

Iran strikes US base in Jordan as American bombardment continues

Iran strikes US base in Jordan as American bombardment continues Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 09:56 IRGC accuses US of launching strikes in vicinity of children's cancer hospital Aircraft fly in formation over the USS George HW Bush in the Arabian Sea on 30 June (US Navy/AFP) Off Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck a US base in Jordan as American strikes continued to hit the country. The IRGC said it carried out the Jordan attack in retaliation for a strike launched from the base that hit "the vicinity of a children's cancer hospital". US bases and facilities in Kuwait , Bahrain and Jordan were also targeted by Iranian drone strikes. Meanwhile, seven hours of US raids on Wednesday hit dozens of targets, with the Iranian army saying seven personnel had been killed in a missile strike at a barracks close to the southeastern city of Iranshahr. An Iranian military spokesman warned that Iran would "crush" regional infrastructure if the United States attacks Iran's key facilities. He added that Iran had targeted "communication systems and fuel storage facilities of the US military" in Jordan, as well as "radar systems, a Patriot air defence system, and fuel storage facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base" in Kuwait and US military facilities at the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, IRIB reported. Bahrain's military said that its air defence systems "confronted, intercepted and destroyed" multiple Iranian aerial attacks on Thursday, denouncing Iran's "systematic hostile approach" to the kingdom. "The General Command emphasizes that the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law," it said in a statement. The tit-for-tat attacks have come in the wake of the failure of talks between the US and Iran to end a conflict that has been raging intermittently since February. “They want to continue the military campaign.” Speaking to Joe Rogan, US Vice President JD Vance said that some officials within the Israeli government are trying to manipulate American public opinion to derail the peace negotiations and prolong the war on Iran “indefinitely” pic.twitter.com/gFxuj8OL08 — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 16, 2026 On Tuesday afternoon, US President Donald Trump said he would reinstate a recently lifted blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf. He said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open “with or without Iran”, but said the US would start charging fees on ships transiting through the waterway. A 20 percent fee would also be levied “for any and all costs necessary” to provide security and safety for vessels. Trump formally notified Congress last week that the United States had resumed the conflict, giving the Pentagon an additional 60 days to operate in the region without congressional approval. Defending 'red lines' In addition to the moves in Hormuz, the US president has also threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain , a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where, western intelligence claims, an undeclared nuclear enrichment facility is being built. Iranian state television on Tuesday reported that five explosions were heard around the port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz. Why the US-Iran escalation over Hormuz will not be the last Read More » "A few minutes ago, five explosions were heard west of Bandar Abbas," the state broadcaster said, without providing further details. On Tuesday, the head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, indicated that a bill aiming to ensure the security of the waterway was formally introduced in parliament. "Last night, coinciding with the downing of US drones, the ‘Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Progress of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf’ bill was formally introduced in Iran’s Parliament," Azizi wrote in a post on X. He added that Tehran remains "steadfast in defending our red lines", particularly with regards to the management of the waterway. Pakistan said on Wednesday that it would encourage the US and Iran to end hostilities and resume talks under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) it helped mediate last month. "While the implementation of the MoU is facing challenges, Pakistan will continue to encourage all sides to end violence and resume technical-level talks in accordance with the MoU," Tahir Andrabi, Pakistan's foreign office spokesman, told reporters in Islamabad. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

July 29, 2026

Occupied West Bank school protests planned demolition by Israeli forces

Students and teachers at a primary school in the Israeli-occupied West Bank demonstrated on July 15 against its expected demolition by Israeli forces. Israel has in recent years destroyed thousands of Palestinian-owned homes & vital infrastructures, usually citing a lack of building permits. Actions which have repeatedly been condemned by human rights organisations and the international community.

July 28, 2026

'If you don't suffer, it's not Argentina': fans react to dramatic semifinal

Argentina have secured their spot in the World Cup final, after defeating England 2-1. It had been England who initially took the lead, with Anthony Gordon scoring in the 55th minute. However, the remainder of the match saw a reversal of fortune, as Lautaro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez both netted late in the match. Argentina will face Spain in the final on July 19.

July 28, 2026

Senegal's 'plastic man' helps raise awareness about plastic pollution

In West Africa, plastic waste is a major environmental challenge. In Senegal, activist Modou Fall has taken an unusual approach to raising awareness about plastic pollution. He walks through Dakar and other parts of the country wearing an eye-catching outfit made from discarded plastic waste. His goal is to highlight the scale of the problem and urge authorities to enforce environmental protection laws.

July 28, 2026

Yemen is edging closer to renewed confrontation

The Iranian aircraft incident has exposed a fragile calm that may not survive a wider regional escalation.

July 28, 2026

‘A sublime, breezy confection’: writers on their 2026 songs of the summer

The annual rundown of Guardian writers picking their most played tracks of the season goes from club-ready pop to sunny tech house Check out a Spotify playlist of the choices Kim Petras’ greatest song to date is also the best outsider country song in recent memory: if Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey could ever put the beef behind them and duet, the dusty gutter romance of Jeep is exactly how you’d want it to sound. The song creates a flyover state love story in a strangely effective union of hyperpop and Americana, creating a windswept fantasy of “doing some middle America shit” with your man: Four Loko-fueled hookups, gas station canoodling and screaming along to rage music beneath the stars. The truly audacious thing is the bridge, a whispered and impressionistic slur that feels like Petras is eight drinks deep, doing donuts in her car until everything blurs. It’s total make-believe, but Petras is so good at making you feel her longing that it gets me choked up. When she recently came out at a Charli xcx show to perform Jeep unannounced, it already felt like an anthem. Owen Myers Continue reading...

July 28, 2026

Record crowd as Kerr returns to Gotham FC

Former Chelsea forward Sam Kerr makes her second debut for Gotham FC in front of the largest ever crowd for a women's sporting event in New York City.

July 28, 2026

Algerian farmers on the frontline of heatwave-driven wildfires

Wildfires are raging across Algeria, where extreme heat and prolonged drought have fuelled dozens of blazes. Authorities say more than 130 fires were reported on July 15 alone. At least one person has been killed, and the damage has been devastating— especially for farmers and livestock owners. Wildfires are common in Algeria during the summer, but they have been unusually severe this year.

July 28, 2026

Europe faces wave of Kiev-orchestrated terrorist attacks — DPR head

Denis Pushilin expressed confidence that Kiev would stage more terrorist attacks following the explosion in Monaco

July 28, 2026

Myanmar Military and Some Rebel Groups Ready For Talks, Thai FM Says

ASEAN special envoy Ma. Theresa Lazaro held separate talks with military-backed negotiators and six rebel groups in Pattaya earlier this week.

July 28, 2026

Midfielder Gomes close to £38m Villa move

Joao Gomes is set to leave Wolves after their relegation from the Premier League and join Aston Villa.

July 28, 2026

Putins Truppen kassieren laut Kiew nächste Rückschläge

July 28, 2026

Houthi có thể giúp Iran phong tỏa tuyến đường biển huyết mạch thứ hai ?

July 28, 2026

Không quân Mỹ lên kế hoạch mua hàng chục nghìn tên lửa hành trình giá rẻ

July 28, 2026

乌称主要目标是没有俄罗斯的乌克兰 反击升级背后的复杂局势 _ 军事频道 _ 中华网

July 28, 2026