- The Guardian
- Issue #2200
BULGARIA: The Bulgarian parliament has backed a proposal to allow the United States military to use an air base in Bulgaria to support its operations in the Middle East. The deputies voted to allow up to eight US KC-135 refuelling aircraft along with 250 personnel and supporting equipment at Bezmer Air Base from 24 July to 1 October.
VIETNAM: Vietnamese workers can expect a pay rise. The minimum wage will be lifted by 7.8% in 2027, after consultation with Vietnamese unions and representations from the business community. The actual wage rise will vary across Vietnam’s regions and will be the basis for negotiations. Ngo Duy Hieu, deputy chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, said the wage rise would “both take good care of the lives of workers and promote production development to achieve double-digit growth targets.”
YEMEN: Yemeni rebel movement Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, conducted strikes on two tankers in response to the violation of the maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis say they succeeded in forcing about 10 vessels to turn back. The Saudi agency SPA confirmed the strike. The Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on 20 July 2026, accusing the kingdom of years of plundering Yemen’s oil resources. On 21 July, the Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition said it started to protect commercial vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
IRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister condemned the new British government’s decision to allow the United States to use its military bases and facilities to prepare for and facilitate unlawful military attacks against the Iranian people. The foreign Minister said the decision contradicts the fundamental principles and rules of the UN Charter and international law. Iran’s statement said that “any participation or cooperation in preparing for and carrying out these unlawful attacks constitutes complicity in the commission of the crime of aggression and war crimes.”
IRAQ: Iraq and Iran have signed cooperation and twinning agreements covering public administration, education, the economy, transportation and border crossings. The Iranian side stressed that the security of Iran and Iraq are interconnected and both countries are determined to turn their agreements into practical achievements. The Iraqi president said his country would not allow any part of Iraqi territory to become a platform for threatening Iran.
PALESTINE: Two mosques, agricultural land and cars have been set on fire by illegal Israeli settlers. Crowds of settlers attacked Palestinians in the town of Sarra, in clear view of an illegal settler outpost called Havat Gilad. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will accelerate the establishment and legalisation of farm outposts in retaliation for an attack in which four Palestinians and two Israelis died.
CHINA: China has added 14 European entities to an export control list in retaliation for the European Union penalising 14 Chinese enterprises as part of its latest round of sanctions against Russia. Chinese companies will not be allowed to export dual-use items, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, to the 14 European organisations, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
INDIA: India’s education minister resigned after nationwide youth protests over an examination leak scandal. The resignation represents a significant victory for the newly established Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led political movement that has rapidly emerged as one of the most serious grassroots challenges faced by the government. The initial dispute over examinations turned into a broader confrontation over government accountability and the treatment of the country’s youth.
