First Factor: Iran escalates assaults on infrastructure and transport networks throughout the Gulf | US information

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Iran dramatically escalated its strategy of striking civilian infrastructure and transport networks throughout the Gulf on Wednesday, attacking business ships and concentrating on Dubai’s worldwide airport as US and Israeli warplanes launched new waves of strikes.

Senior Iranian officers warned of a protracted “battle of attrition” and a worldwide financial disaster stemming from Tehran’s choking off of the area’s power provides, and oil costs on Thursday again topped $100 a barrel earlier than dipping to $98. Violence continued throughout the Center East, with Israel bombarding Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday night time.

Because the battle nears the two-week mark, multiple Israeli security sources have told the Guardian that Israel didn't have a sensible plan for regime change when it attacked Iran, and that the expectation airstrikes might immediate a preferred rebellion was pushed by “wishful pondering”, not arduous intelligence.

Who has borne most of Iran’s strikes? Greater than two-thirds of Iran’s assaults have been on the UAE. Dubai, a middle of worldwide finance and worldwide tourism, is facing an existential threat as foreigners flee .

What do we all know in regards to the US protection secretary’s angle towards Iran? A Guardian review of Pete Hegseth’s books , speeches and broadcasts revealed he has voiced excessive antipathy in the direction of Iran for years.

Trump hits again at Republican Senate majority chief over voter ID invoice The Senate majority chief, John Thune, responds to a query from the media as he walks to his workplace within the US Capitol. {Photograph}: Shawn Thew/EPA Donald Trump has lashed out at Republican Senate majority leader, John Thune , over his refusal to vary guidelines to power a vote on the Save America Act, a sprawling invoice that may curtail voting entry.

Trump gave a blunt message for Thune on Wednesday: “He’s obtained to be a pacesetter.” The president has beforehand threatened to refuse to signal any payments till Congress passes the laws, forward of midterm elections anticipated to be bruising for the Republicans.

Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown requires worldwide felony courtroom for crimes in opposition to youngsters Mourners attend the funeral of the victims of an airstrike on Shajareh Tayyebeh faculty in Minab, southern Iran. {Photograph}: EPA The previous UK prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the creation of a world felony courtroom for crimes in opposition to youngsters, saying “no baby ought to ever grow to be collateral injury in a battle”.

Writing for the Guardian , Brown targeted on the missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh faculty initially of the Iran battle, which killed 168 folks, primarily schoolgirls. A preliminary US military investigation has reportedly decided that Washington was accountable. Brown additionally mentioned Israel’s killing of Palestinian schoolchildren in Gaza, the place 18,069 have been killed, and the killing of greater than 200 youngsters by Iranian safety forces.

Brown argued that “faculties deserve the identical ethical standing as hospitals – protected locations – and the identical safety below worldwide regulation”.

Doesn’t worldwide regulation already prohibit assaults on faculties and kids? Sure, however Brown argues that as faculties are “more and more being drawn into battle”, a devoted worldwide felony courtroom for crimes in opposition to youngsters is required to emphasise the seriousness of those crimes.

In different information … A lady within the feminine part of the Pul-e-Charkhi jail in Kabul, Afghanistan. {Photograph}: Felipe Dana/AP A decide in Afghanistan has rejected the divorce request of a girl who mentioned her husband beat her with a cable wire, revealing the surprising degree of bodily violence in opposition to ladies permitted under the Taliban .

Tech billionaires are bankrolling opposition to the state’s proposed tax on billionaires and pouring thousands and thousands into California’s race for governor .

The pinnacle chef and co-founder of Noma has resigned after allegations he bodily abused his employees, with claims that René Redzepi had “punched workers within the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls” .

Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has accused Ukrainians of plotting to assault his household, as an more and more bitter standoff between Kyiv and Budapest continues .

Stat of the day: San Francisco cuts air air pollution ranges by greater than 20% since 2010 Cycle lanes, corresponding to this in London, are amongst interventions which have helped scale back ranges of PM2.5 and NO2 by greater than 20% since 2010. {Photograph}: Toby Melville/Reuters San Francisco cut levels of two key air pollutants by more than 20% between 2010 and 2024. It was the one US metropolis that diminished ranges of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and fantastic particulate air pollution (PM2.5) by greater than 20%, in response to an evaluation of almost 100 cities world wide. Beijing and London had been additionally among the many 19 international cities to have achieved “exceptional reductions” in air air pollution – notably, almost half of the main cities had been in Central and east Asia.

The Filter recommends: the most effective sleep merchandise {Photograph}: Courtesy of Drowsy Sleep Co From mouth taping to the quirky potato mattress pattern, folks appear keen to strive something to enhance their sleep. However investing in your sleep doesn't at all times come low cost. This week, for sleep consciousness week, lots of the Filter US’s favourite manufacturers are providing reductions. Here are the 11 best deals , from an reasonably priced mattress on supply to the web’s favourite solution to get up.

Don’t miss this: ‘Invasive’ AI-led mass surveillance in Africa violating freedoms, warn consultants Demonstrators collect throughout clashes with police on the anti-government protest in Nairobi, Kenya, final July. {Photograph}: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters AI-powered mass surveillance is being rapidly introduced across Africa in breach of residents’ proper to privateness, human rights consultants have warned. No less than $2bn has been spent by 11 African governments on Chinese language-built surveillance know-how that acknowledges faces and tracks actions, with issues that surveillance techniques had been used to observe Ugandan activists and to crack down on gen Z-led protests in Kenya final summer time.

Local weather verify: Australian governments subsidising fossil gas use by greater than $30,000 a minute, evaluation finds The Australia Institute evaluation discovered nationwide monetary help for fossil fuels was anticipated to develop by 9.4% in 2025-26 to $16.3bn. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/Reuters Australian federal and state authorities subsidies for planet-heating fossil fuels have risen by nearly 10% and can attain $16.3bn this 12 months, according to a new analysis. This quantities to governments paying or forgoing the equal of $31,020 every minute to subsidise firms producing and utilizing coal, gasoline and particularly oil.

Final Factor: ‘Sly stowaway’ – UK fox finds new residence at Bronx zoo after illicit transatlantic journey This crimson fox sneaked on to a cargo ship, crossed the Atlantic and is now on the zoo in New York. {Photograph}: AP An English fox has wound up in Bronx zoo after it sneaked on to a cargo ship and traveled 3,400 miles from Southampton to New York , in response to officers on the zoo. Keith Lovett, the zoo’s director of animal applications, mentioned: “He appears to be settling in nicely. It’s gone via lots.”

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