THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move against Saudi ships will add new pressure on energy markets. Tehran said it had received new proposals from mediators.
The Houthis, the Iran-backed armed faction in Yemen, said they would impose a blockade on Saudi ships, threatening to open a new front in the Middle East conflict and raising the pressure on volatile global energy markets.
The announcement was made as many in the region were tensely watching to see if the rounds of bombardment between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf would continue to escalate. The two countries traded new attacks on Monday, with Iran targeting countries that host U.S. military bases, despite efforts by mediators to calm tensions.
The latest hostilities initially focused on the Strait of Hormuz, but they have expanded into a cycle of attacks and counterattacks that have killed at least three American service members since Friday, hit Arab states across the Persian Gulf and damaged critical infrastructure in Iran and U.S.-allied Kuwait.
Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has reduced global fuel supplies, pushing prices upward, but Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, has been able to reroute some of its exports through the Red Sea. If the Houthis follow through on their statement that they will not allow Saudi vessels to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern portal to the Red Sea, it would worsen the global fuel crisis. Iran War Live Updates » | Aaron Boxerman, Ismaeel Naar, Sanam Mahoozi and Yan Zhuang | Monday, July 20, 2026
The master of the 'Art of the Deal' has got himself into a real fix with this illegitimate and unnecessary Iran War, hasn't he? He's in a fix, and so is the global economy. — © Mark Alexander
July 20, 2026
Burnham Becomes U.K. Prime Minister and Pledges to End Homelessness
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In his first address, Andy Burnham acknowledged that he is Britain’s seventh leader in a decade and vowed to usher in a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction of government.
Andy Burnham became the leader of Britain on Monday, capping an extraordinary demonstration of political power in which he easily won a seat in Parliament and swiftly engineered the resignation of the sitting prime minister.
In his first remarks at Downing Street, Mr. Burnham pledged to “put the care of people at the heart of everything I do” and said his move into Britain’s top job will be a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction that government has taken over the last four decades.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics,” he told supporters. “I hear you, and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.”
Mr. Burnham is Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, reflecting a period of turmoil that began with the Brexit vote in 2016, when voters severed ties to Europe. Earlier on Monday, Mr. Burnham traveled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III formally asked him to form a government.
There were early signs on Monday that Mr. Burnham had begun forming his new cabinet. David Lammy, who was deputy prime minister under Mr. Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, announced he was leaving government. Rachel Reeves also confirmed that she was out as chancellor of the Exchequer, overseeing the nation’s finances.
In his speech, Mr. Burnham announced one new policy, saying he would end “rough sleeping,” a British term for homelessness. But there have been signals recently that he will shift some aspects of Mr. Starmer’s agenda. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, July 20, 2026
In his first remarks at Downing Street, Mr. Burnham pledged to “put the care of people at the heart of everything I do” and said his move into Britain’s top job will be a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction that government has taken over the last four decades.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics,” he told supporters. “I hear you, and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.”
Mr. Burnham is Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, reflecting a period of turmoil that began with the Brexit vote in 2016, when voters severed ties to Europe. Earlier on Monday, Mr. Burnham traveled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III formally asked him to form a government.
There were early signs on Monday that Mr. Burnham had begun forming his new cabinet. David Lammy, who was deputy prime minister under Mr. Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, announced he was leaving government. Rachel Reeves also confirmed that she was out as chancellor of the Exchequer, overseeing the nation’s finances.
In his speech, Mr. Burnham announced one new policy, saying he would end “rough sleeping,” a British term for homelessness. But there have been signals recently that he will shift some aspects of Mr. Starmer’s agenda. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, July 20, 2026
Sir William Browder on Trump's Capitulation to Russia, as the Wars in Iran and Ukraine Rage On
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
July 19, 2026
How the World’s Worst Person Became the First Trillionaire
July 19, 2026 | “When people can buy elections, when people can buy governments… that for me is a fundamentally a threat to democracy.
Being against billionaires is not a left right issue. This is about whether you care about democracy or not.” The world’s worst person is also the world’s first trillionaire.
In this latest episode of ‘Unshocked,’ Naomi Klein and Mehdi Hasan break down what Elon Musk’s trillionaire status means for democracy, capitalism, and the rise of racism.
In the conversation, Naomi and Mehdi explain how political corruption, government subsidies, and IPO promises make up Musk’s new trillionaire status.
They also dive into what the increased influence of billionaires means for the state of democracy, noting how Musk is taking advantage over people’s anger over wealth inequality and directing it to migrants. They also discuss how SpaceX IPO is based on unrealistic goals, Musk’s feud with Ro Khanna and protests in Albania over the Trump family.
Being against billionaires is not a left right issue. This is about whether you care about democracy or not.” The world’s worst person is also the world’s first trillionaire.
In this latest episode of ‘Unshocked,’ Naomi Klein and Mehdi Hasan break down what Elon Musk’s trillionaire status means for democracy, capitalism, and the rise of racism.
In the conversation, Naomi and Mehdi explain how political corruption, government subsidies, and IPO promises make up Musk’s new trillionaire status.
They also dive into what the increased influence of billionaires means for the state of democracy, noting how Musk is taking advantage over people’s anger over wealth inequality and directing it to migrants. They also discuss how SpaceX IPO is based on unrealistic goals, Musk’s feud with Ro Khanna and protests in Albania over the Trump family.
Democracy Now! "How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies": Northwestern Prof Jeffrey Winters on Book The Blind Spot
May 27, 2026 | We speak with political scientist Jeffrey Winters about his new book, The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies. Winters argues that democracy's failure to address wealth inequality is by design. While voters have a say on some issues, oligarchs, who succeed in maintaining economic inequality by fighting against wealth redistribution, have more power.
"Liberal democracies around the world are now among the most unequal societies ever to have existed in human history," says Winters.
"Liberal democracies around the world are now among the most unequal societies ever to have existed in human history," says Winters.
July 17, 2026
China’s Latest A.I. Breakthrough Threatens America’s Lead
THE NEW YORK TIMES: China’s Moonshot AI unveiled a freely available artificial intelligence model that seemed to narrow the gap with cutting-edge offerings from U.S. tech companies.
The contest between China and the United States for supremacy in artificial intelligence escalated on Friday when the Chinese start-up Moonshot AI released a new A.I. model that appeared to narrow the lead held by well-funded American competitors.
Moonshot said that the model, Kimi K3, was the world’s largest open-source A.I. system, allowing anyone to use, modify and build on it freely. The company said that Kimi K3 performed as well as leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic at some key tasks.
The release coincided with an address by Xi Jinping, China’s leader, in which he outlined an ambitious vision for global A.I. development that cast China as the champion of an open approach to the technology.
“A.I. development should not be a solo performance by a single country but a symphony of international cooperation,” Mr. Xi said. China was “ready to work with all parties to seize the opportunities of A.I. development,” he said.
The market reaction was immediate. Stocks fell on Friday, with the Nasdaq dropping about 1 percent as investors sold shares of U.S. companies that make the computer chips needed to power A.I., including Nvidia and Intel. » | Meaghan Tobin and Cade Metz | Meaghan Tobin reported from New York and Cade Metz from San Francisco. | Friday, July 17, 2026
The contest between China and the United States for supremacy in artificial intelligence escalated on Friday when the Chinese start-up Moonshot AI released a new A.I. model that appeared to narrow the lead held by well-funded American competitors.
Moonshot said that the model, Kimi K3, was the world’s largest open-source A.I. system, allowing anyone to use, modify and build on it freely. The company said that Kimi K3 performed as well as leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic at some key tasks.
The release coincided with an address by Xi Jinping, China’s leader, in which he outlined an ambitious vision for global A.I. development that cast China as the champion of an open approach to the technology.
“A.I. development should not be a solo performance by a single country but a symphony of international cooperation,” Mr. Xi said. China was “ready to work with all parties to seize the opportunities of A.I. development,” he said.
The market reaction was immediate. Stocks fell on Friday, with the Nasdaq dropping about 1 percent as investors sold shares of U.S. companies that make the computer chips needed to power A.I., including Nvidia and Intel. » | Meaghan Tobin and Cade Metz | Meaghan Tobin reported from New York and Cade Metz from San Francisco. | Friday, July 17, 2026
Michael Lambert: I Found Out that Nobody Cares about the By-election
July 17, 2026 | I went to the seaside this week. I went to Clacton to experience the excitement of the coming by-election; but what I found was something much more concerning for our democracy.
I spoke to more than 40 people, and what astonished me was the sheer number of voters who knew nothing about the by-election or simply didn't care about politics at all.
Of those who did, the divide was stark: either a cult-like devotion to Nigel Farage, or a damning view of him as an opportunist chancer.
In this video, I break down the conversations I had, the misinformation being spread, and why the "they are all the same" narrative is dangerous for our political discourse.
Nigel Farage is indeed a charlatan. I agree with you totally. Unfortunately, many people in this country are not discerning enough to be able to observe his character flaws. I cannot help but worry for the future of democracy in this country. In fact, with Trump in power in the US as well, I cannot help but worry about the future of democracy in the West as a whole. — © Mark Alexander
I spoke to more than 40 people, and what astonished me was the sheer number of voters who knew nothing about the by-election or simply didn't care about politics at all.
Of those who did, the divide was stark: either a cult-like devotion to Nigel Farage, or a damning view of him as an opportunist chancer.
In this video, I break down the conversations I had, the misinformation being spread, and why the "they are all the same" narrative is dangerous for our political discourse.
Nigel Farage is indeed a charlatan. I agree with you totally. Unfortunately, many people in this country are not discerning enough to be able to observe his character flaws. I cannot help but worry for the future of democracy in this country. In fact, with Trump in power in the US as well, I cannot help but worry about the future of democracy in the West as a whole. — © Mark Alexander
July 16, 2026
Chataeu Diadem at Davidoff of London - Emily, Edward and Eddie Sahakian
Iran Threatens to Shut Crucial Red Sea Energy Route | DW News
Jul 15, 2026 | Tehran has warned that, if Washington's naval blockade continues, it could use its Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea.
The narrow waterway links it to the Gulf of Aden. If both that and the Strait of Hormuz were to be shut simultaneously, it could cripple global trade in ways this war has, so far, not seen.
The narrow waterway links it to the Gulf of Aden. If both that and the Strait of Hormuz were to be shut simultaneously, it could cripple global trade in ways this war has, so far, not seen.
Gibraltar Scraps Border Checks with Spain | DW News
July 15, 2026
L’Union européenne va-t-elle vraiment interdire les packs de bouteilles d’eau à partir du 12 août ?
LE FIGARO : Des messages relayés sur les réseaux sociaux affirment qu’un règlement européen adopté l’an dernier veut faire disparaître les plastiques qui lient les bouteilles d’eau entre elles.
L’Union européenne veut-elle la peau des packs d’eau au nom de la protection de l’environnement ? Selon des messages relayés sur les réseaux sociaux par plusieurs utilisateurs, ces emballages seraient interdits à partir du 12 août 2026. L’eurodéputée RN Virginie Joron a elle-même publié début juillet un message accompagné d’une image générée par IA montrant un consommateur obligé de porter ses bouteilles d’eau en vrac. « Le règlement PPWR entre en vigueur le 12 août 2026, écrit l’élue. Un des objectifs à terme : réduire les emballages groupés. Résultat concret : adieu les packs d’eau avec poignée, bonjour les bouteilles à transporter séparément. » » | Par Thibaut Déléaz | mercredi 15 juillet 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Iran War Oil Shock: How World Economy on Brink of Something ‘Even Worse’
July 14, 2026 | President Donald Trump has U-turned on his threat to charge cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as much as 20% - but the US and Iran have continued trading strikes as Trump has told the US Congress that war has resumed.
So, can the US gain the upper hand? Will more US bombs and bullets really help? And has this whole episode proven that the memorandum of understanding, which was meant to end the conflict, was destined to fail.
In this episode of The Fourcast Indicators, presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Defence and Intelligence Analyst, Mark Urban are joined by former US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, who is now a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defence of Democracies.
So, can the US gain the upper hand? Will more US bombs and bullets really help? And has this whole episode proven that the memorandum of understanding, which was meant to end the conflict, was destined to fail.
In this episode of The Fourcast Indicators, presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Defence and Intelligence Analyst, Mark Urban are joined by former US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, who is now a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defence of Democracies.
Trump ‘Flails’ Over Strait of Hormuz Plan after Fourth Night of Strikes
Jul 15, 2026 | “It looks like someone without really any plan, scrabbling for anything that will stick.”
Trump has renewed his threat to bomb Iran bridges and power plants in an attempt to resolve conversations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, says Arieh Kovler.
If there really is going to be all this investment by Gulf countries in the US economy, one can only conclude that this will eventually lead to the increasing Islamization of the USA! Trump is such a good dealmaker, such a good strategist. — © Mark Alexander
Trump has renewed his threat to bomb Iran bridges and power plants in an attempt to resolve conversations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, says Arieh Kovler.
If there really is going to be all this investment by Gulf countries in the US economy, one can only conclude that this will eventually lead to the increasing Islamization of the USA! Trump is such a good dealmaker, such a good strategist. — © Mark Alexander
July 14, 2026
Are US Politicians Too Old? | Global News Podcast
July 14, 2026 | The death of the longtime Repblican senator Lindsey Graham at the age of 71, and the hospitalisation of his 84-year-old colleague Mitch McConnell, have raised new questions about the advanced age of America's political leaders.
President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday last month - becoming just the second octogenarian president after Joe Biden. Several lawmakers are even older, including 84-year-old Bernie Sanders, 86-year-old Nancy Pelosi, and 92-year-old Chuck Grassley.
And while the likes of Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are still in their 40s, the age in the Senate is around 65 - a time of life when most Americans have retired.
We ask the BBC's Washington correspondent Daniel Bush about the benefits and drawbacks of an elder political class, why voters choose old age pensioners to represent them, and who may lead the US into the future, as some of its most powerful politicians near the ends of their careers.
Are American politicians too old? What a silly question! Of course they are too old! Most of them are geriatrics! In fact, America is a gerontocracy! An oligarchic, corrupt, gerontocracy! The super-corrupt Geriatric-in-Chief is the Orange Mussolini! Not only is he old and corrupt, he suffers from brain-rot too! — © Mark Alexander
President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday last month - becoming just the second octogenarian president after Joe Biden. Several lawmakers are even older, including 84-year-old Bernie Sanders, 86-year-old Nancy Pelosi, and 92-year-old Chuck Grassley.
And while the likes of Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are still in their 40s, the age in the Senate is around 65 - a time of life when most Americans have retired.
We ask the BBC's Washington correspondent Daniel Bush about the benefits and drawbacks of an elder political class, why voters choose old age pensioners to represent them, and who may lead the US into the future, as some of its most powerful politicians near the ends of their careers.
Are American politicians too old? What a silly question! Of course they are too old! Most of them are geriatrics! In fact, America is a gerontocracy! An oligarchic, corrupt, gerontocracy! The super-corrupt Geriatric-in-Chief is the Orange Mussolini! Not only is he old and corrupt, he suffers from brain-rot too! — © Mark Alexander
The Revival of Spain's Dictator Franco? | DW Documentary
July 14, 2026 | Ninety years ago, a coup against the Spanish Republic led to Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Today, many people of all ages in Spain are romanticizing that regime, a trend fuelled by the far-right political party Vox.
After Franco's death in 1975, Spain's democracy was established based on the Amnesty Law of 1977, which shielded Franco-era agents and officials from prosecution. But victims are still demanding justice and compensation.
Today, there are two opposing narratives: One is based on a duty to tell the truth, while the other uses nostalgia to revive a former authoritarian system of government.
Between the ruling left-wing coalition, right wing parties and the far right, there appears to be no path forward to reconcile conflicting views of Franco's legacy. Against the backdrop of this political divide, even some young people long for the old order under Franco.
Right-wing populists are exploiting this trend to once again call democracy into question — especially the far-right party Vox, whose influence is growing among voters.
WIKIPEDIA: Francisco Franco »
After Franco's death in 1975, Spain's democracy was established based on the Amnesty Law of 1977, which shielded Franco-era agents and officials from prosecution. But victims are still demanding justice and compensation.
Today, there are two opposing narratives: One is based on a duty to tell the truth, while the other uses nostalgia to revive a former authoritarian system of government.
Between the ruling left-wing coalition, right wing parties and the far right, there appears to be no path forward to reconcile conflicting views of Franco's legacy. Against the backdrop of this political divide, even some young people long for the old order under Franco.
Right-wing populists are exploiting this trend to once again call democracy into question — especially the far-right party Vox, whose influence is growing among voters.
WIKIPEDIA: Francisco Franco »
Britain’s Inequality Problem...And How To Solve It | How To Get Filthy Rich | Channel 4 Docs
WARNING: This documentary contains strong language.
July 13, 2026
July 11, 2026
US Iran Talks Face Persistent Impasse
The Trillionaire Is Here: What Happens Next?
Jul 11, 2026 | Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire following SpaceX’s record-breaking IPO, creating a fortune unlike anything seen in modern history.
Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman and Yale economist Natasha Sarin argue the milestone is about far more than one entrepreneur’s wealth—it reflects how today’s economy rewards ownership of rapidly-appreciating assets, and exposes the limits of a tax system designed more than a century ago.
Bloomberg wealth reporter Ben Steverman notes that while America has seen fortunes of comparable economic influence before, the concentration of wealth in today’s technology sector has reignited debates over taxation, political influence, inequality, and whether capitalism can continue rewarding innovation without widening the gap between the very richest Americans and everyone else.
Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman and Yale economist Natasha Sarin argue the milestone is about far more than one entrepreneur’s wealth—it reflects how today’s economy rewards ownership of rapidly-appreciating assets, and exposes the limits of a tax system designed more than a century ago.
Bloomberg wealth reporter Ben Steverman notes that while America has seen fortunes of comparable economic influence before, the concentration of wealth in today’s technology sector has reignited debates over taxation, political influence, inequality, and whether capitalism can continue rewarding innovation without widening the gap between the very richest Americans and everyone else.
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