Central Asia
(Farangis Najibullah – RFE/RL) Elections are still held across Central Asia. Political parties remain on the ballot. Presidents continue to claim democratic mandates. But in much of the region, genuine political competition has become increasingly rare. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has ruled the country since 1992, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. In Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhammedov succeeded his father, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, as president in 2022, while the former leader continues to hold significant influence. In Kazakhstan, constitutional changes allowed Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev to seek another term in office, despite earlier reforms that introduced a single, nonrenewable seven-year presidential term. And throughout the region, governments have steadily narrowed the space for opposition challengers through bans, prosecutions, imprisonment, and exile. Yet the virtual disappearance of opposition parties does not necessarily mean the disappearance of political dissent. “Activism has not disappeared entirely…it has merely taken different forms,” said Edward Lemon, president of the Washington-based Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs. Today, experts say political opposition in Central Asia increasingly functions outside traditional party structures: through social media campaigns, local protests, civic activism, and opposition movements operating from abroad. The question is whether these fragmented forms of dissent can ever again develop into meaningful political alternatives. – Is Political Opposition Still Possible In Central Asia?
Europe
(Koen Verhelst – Politico) Protecting Europe’s steel industry was always going to require difficult trade-offs. But with cheap imports surging, existing protections about to expire and Donald Trump once again raising barriers to steel, the European Commission concluded it had little choice but to shore up an industry central to Europe’s manufacturing and defense ambitions. It did so using a mix of legal creativity and hardball tactics. By sharply curbing steel imports and presenting its trading partners with what many saw as take-it-or-leave-it deals, Brussels may have secured some breathing room for European producers. But it has also frayed ties with some of the very countries it says it needs to uphold the rules-based trading system and counter China’s industrial overcapacity and U.S. protectionism. – Saving Europe’s steel strains critical friendships abroad – POLITICO
Germany – US
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that he does not want the US government to interfere in German state elections in September. – Merz says he does not want US government to interfere in German elections
Israel
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israel’s Supreme Court suspended on Wednesday a contentious law passed just the previous day that would have blocked the arrest of Jewish ultra-Orthodox men who refuse military service. The court said it was issuing a “temporary order suspending” the enforcement of the law after opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman and others petitioned against the legislation. The Israeli parliament approved the legislation on Tuesday, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition as the army struggles with a shortage of personnel. – Israel court halts law blocking ultra-Orthodox draft dodger arrest
Israel – Lebanon
(Al Arabiya) A State Department official said Wednesday that talks between Lebanon and Israel have ended after two days of “productive and positive” discussions. “We agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the coming days,” the official said. – Lebanon, Israel agree on pilot zone process after Rome talks: US official
Israel – US
(Agencies/Al Arabiya) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to the United States on Saturday, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Wednesday. Netanyahu wants to meet US President Donald Trump, but it is not clear if he will, the official added. – Netanyahu will travel to US on Saturday, senior Israeli official says
Lithuania – Russia
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Lithuania has intelligence that Russia is planning attacks on infrastructure, and security around energy and transport sites will be tightened as a precaution, President Gitanas Nauseda said in an interview published on Wednesday. Nauseda said he had no information on when or where the attacks were planned and did not say that his country was the target, in his interview with BNS news agency. – Lithuania says Russia is planning attacks on infrastructure
Mexico – US
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday rejected comments from the head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who said there is “a deadly connection” between the Mexican government and the country’s drug cartels, calling the remarks “unfortunate” and baseless. DEA Administrator Terry Cole on Tuesday said the Mexican government and cartel networks were “one in the same” and the agency’s “number one priority.” – Sheinbaum rejects DEA comments of “deadly connection” between her government and cartels
Russia
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Russia said on Wednesday that any multinational force sent by Ukraine’s allies to deploy there in the event of a peace deal would be unacceptable to Moscow, which would view it as a threat and a legitimate military target. Western allies in the pro-Ukraine “coalition of the willing” met in Paris this week and reaffirmed their intention to deploy such a force after a cessation of hostilities, in order to reassure Ukraine and help it to regenerate its forces. – Russia says foreign troops sent to Ukraine after a peace deal would be legitimate targets
(Max Griera – Politico) Vladimir Putin has no intention of striking a peace deal with Ukraine and is more likely to instead escalate his war after Moscow’s parliamentary election in September, according to Russian opposition activist Garry Kasparov. The dissident’s warning comes as Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian military logistics and energy infrastructure, a push that Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said has made Russia “weaker” — and Kyiv hopes could give it the upper hand at the negotiating table. Yet Kasparov argues that mounting pressure makes Putin more likely to escalate than compromise, and that any settlement short of a Russian defeat would merely give Moscow time to regroup – Putin’s next move will be Baltic incursion, warns top Russian dissident – POLITICO
(Amos Chapple and Mark Krutov – RFE/RL) Key military sites in Russia’s far north appear to have been deprived of their air defense assets, recent satellite images show, as the Kremlin attempts to counter an increasingly damaging Ukrainian drone campaign targeting sites elsewhere in the country. Satellite images sourced by RFE/RL show the Kremlin has shuffled units from several strategic sites once heavily protected by S-300 and S-400 missile systems, leaving little apparent air defense in place. Around the Rogachevo air base in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago of Russia’s Arctic region, a missile base that has been in place since at least August 2015 has had most of its air defense assets removed, a July 6 image shows. Katarzyna Zysk, a professor with the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies told RFE/RL that the apparent disappearance of many air defense assets from Russia’s far north represents “a growing mismatch between the targets Russia must protect and its available launchers, interceptors, and trained personnel.” – Russia Strips Arctic Air Defenses As Ukraine War Strains Military
Syria
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Syrian authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of a former officer they say was a chemical weapons specialist in charge of sarin gas depots and chemical weapons manufacturing during ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s era. Since al-Assad’s fall in December 2024, authorities have arrested dozens of people they say committed crimes during the country’s 13-year civil war, and started trials in April. The interior ministry said security forces had arrested colonel Ahmed Habib Ali, calling him “a chemical weapons expert.” – Syria says arrested Assad-era officer specializing in chemical weapons
US – Iran – Middle East – Gulf
(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) Despite renewed US strikes on Iran, attacks around the Gulf, and President Donald Trump’s shifting proposals on the Strait of Hormuz, veteran Middle East scholar Francis Gregory Gause argues that diplomacy is still alive, and that both Washington and Tehran are once again maneuvering to strengthen their positions before an eventual return to negotiations. In an interview with RFE/RL, Francis Gregory Gause III, professor emeritus at the Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington, D.C., discussed the latest escalation between the US and Iran, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, the impact of a renewed US blockade, and why he believes diplomacy remains the only realistic endgame. – ‘Eventually They’ll Return To The Table’: Middle East Expert Gause Sees Diplomacy Surviving US-Iran Escalation
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) The US conducted a new wave of strikes against Iran’s coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports. The strikes mark the latest escalation of attacks and counterattacks launched by the two sides as they vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war. “At 6 a.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran,” the US military said. – US launches new round of strikes against Iran as escalation threatens shipping
(Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump held a meeting in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss plans for a major military offensive against Iran that would be broader than the current campaign around the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported, citing three sources familiar with the discussions. According to the report, the talks focused on potential strikes against strategic targets inside Iran as the Trump administration considers escalating military pressure to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept US demands over its nuclear program. – Trump holds Situation Room meeting to weigh broader Iran offensive: Report
(Al Arabiya) US strikes killed seven Iranian military personnel in the country’s southeast on Wednesday, the Iranian army said, as the two countries ramped up their fighting. They were killed in a missile attack on a barracks close to the city of Iranshahr, in the far southeast of Iran, the army said in a statement. – US strikes killed seven military personnel in southeast: Iran army
(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) Fresh US strikes on Iran, Tehran’s renewed attacks on American bases in the Persian Gulf, and President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington would reinstate a naval blockade on Iranian shipping have pushed the conflict into a new and uncertain phase. But despite the intensifying military exchanges, Jonathan Schroden, chief research officer at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) and a leading US expert on irregular warfare, says that the current violence resembles the turbulent path many wars take before reaching a negotiated settlement. – Jonathan Schroden: Why The US-Iran Conflict Keeps Shifting Between Fighting And Diplomacy
(AFP/Al Arabiya) The United States on Tuesday expanded its sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector, taking further aim at the network of petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the Treasury Department said. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department had also frozen $130 million held in digital wallets linked to Iran’s central bank, hitting a sector that has seen increased activity since the start of the war. – US expands sanctions targeting Iran oil, cryptocurrency sectors
(Al Arabiya) US forces struck Iran and reimposed a naval blockade on its ports as Tehran hit neighboring Gulf states and Jordan on Wednesday, vowing the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed “until the US ends its aggression”. The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump backed down on his planned 20 percent levy on ships using the strait, which is at the center of a flare-up in a war that has rattled the Middle East and pushed up global energy prices. – US renews blockade, trades strikes with Iran over Strait of Hormuz
Tech World, Cybersecurity, and Surveillance
(DigWatch) South Korea plans to introduce a record national budget exceeding KRW 800 trillion (around €500 billion) in 2027, with semiconductors, AI and youth employment at the centre of its investment strategy. Announced during the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting, the proposed budget would increase by more than 10% compared with 2026, reflecting the government’s focus on strengthening industrial competitiveness, technological leadership and long-term economic growth. A significant share of the funding will support three flagship initiatives focused on semiconductors, AI data centres and physical AI technologies. – South Korea prioritises AI and semiconductor investment in the 2027 budget | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has adopted a report calling for stronger enforcement of existing EU digital legislation to create a safer online environment, particularly for children and young people. MEPs argue that platforms should be held more accountable for the impact of their services through stronger safeguards, greater algorithmic transparency and stricter protections against addictive digital design. The European Parliament report calls for a ban on the most harmful addictive platform features and supports introducing a dedicated ‘youth mode’ that would disable targeted advertising and reduce minors’ exposure to addictive design practices. – European Parliament committee backs stronger online protections for children | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Japan’s Justice Ministry has prepared a draft report on civil liability for the unauthorised use of people’s voices and images through generative AI. The draft focuses on the protection of famous individuals, including celebrities, singers and voice actors, as AI tools make it easier to imitate real voices and appearances. It was submitted to an expert committee on 13 July, with a final report expected as early as August. – Japan reviews legal protection for AI voice imitation | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Sixteen Nobel laureates have joined leading economists and AI researchers in calling for urgent preparation for the economic changes that more powerful AI systems could trigger. The statement, titled We Must Act Now: A Statement on AI’s Transformation of the Economy, was released by the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. – Nobel laureates call for urgent AI economic planning | Digital Watch Observatory
(Danny Palmer – Infosecurity Magazine) Identity-based attacks and abuse of compromised credentials have become the most common method cybercriminals use to hit networks with ransomware, analysis of real-world incidents has revealed. According to a new report by Sophos, 79% of ransomware attacks can be traced back to an initial intrusion which exploited compromised identities and legitimate user logins. In total, malicious emails accounted for the initial entry point for ransomware in 26% of analyzed incidents, up from 19% in 2025. – Compromised Logins Surge as the Most Common Entry Point for Ransomware – Infosecurity Magazine
(Darren Anstee – Infosecurity Magazine) Over the past few months, the news cycle has seen warnings about nation-state hackers targeting critical water and electricity infrastructure, even accompanied by government advice on how to survive a prolonged national blackout. But, while the government focuses on the risks to our electricity and water supplies, we must also consider the availability of an increasingly critical pillar of modern civilization: the Internet. We all use Internet services in every aspect of our lives. Internet infrastructure and the services it supports have grown both exponentially and organically over the past three decades. The architectures and technologies we have used have evolved as user needs – and revenue opportunities – have shifted. The layers of hardware and software that support the services we all consume are often designed, at their foundation, for resilience – but the level of investment in resilience is very variable, based on the risk management decisions and financial realities of individual organizations. As users, we see end-to-end digital services, but the delivery of those services can involve many loosely coupled organizations. – Engineering The Internet For Resilience – Infosecurity Magazine
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine) The UK government has added several new cyber-related scenarios to its National Risk Register; some of which could theoretically result in mass casualties. The register is based on the government’s internal, classified National Security Risk Assessment, and considers malicious risks like terrorism and cyber-attacks alongside non-malicious risks such as severe weather incidents. In the latest edition, published on July 14, the government added new scenarios anticipating what might happen in the event of cyber-attacks on digital infrastructure, water infrastructure, and police systems, as well as a mass CrowdStrike-style outage impacting IT systems. There’s also a new section devoted to interference in democratic processes, which could come from: “attacks on election infrastructure, deterioration of the online information space, harassment and intimidation towards candidates or voters, the hack and leak of sensitive information relating to a party or a prominent individual, and any element of foreign interference in any of these.” – Government Updates UK’s National Risk Register with Cyber Warnings – Infosecurity Magazine
(DigWatch) UK MPs have called on the government to set out a clearer strategy for building sovereign AI and other critical technology capabilities. A new report from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warns that the UK may not be able to rely on allies for access to technologies essential to economic growth and national security. The committee said the government has not clearly defined what sovereign capability means, how it should be measured or what success would look like – UK MPs call for clearer sovereign AI strategy | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) AI is moving beyond assisting cybercriminals to carrying out operational tasks during live intrusions, according to Check Point Research’s Annual AI Security Report 2026. The report argues that AI-enabled cyber operations are entering a new phase in which AI systems can execute parts of an attack rather than simply helping attackers write code, research targets or prepare phishing campaigns. The shift could make cyber operations faster and less dependent on continuous human oversight. Check Point said it observed AI carrying out hands-on tasks during incidents ranging from China-linked campaigns to a criminal breach affecting several Mexican government agencies. According to the company, these capabilities are spreading beyond state-backed actors to financially motivated cybercriminals. – AI is beginning to carry out live cyberattacks, Check Point warns | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Meta has announced plans to expand its data centre in Richland Parish, Louisiana, increasing the site’s AI computing capacity to 5 GW as part of the company’s broader investment in AI infrastructure. Meta said the expansion represents an investment of more than $50 billion and will support more than 1,000 permanent jobs once the facility becomes operational. According to Meta, the project includes more than $1 billion in local infrastructure improvements, covering roads, water and wastewater systems. The company also said it has awarded more than $1.6 billion in contracts to Louisiana businesses since construction began in 2024. – Meta expands Louisiana AI data centre with $50 billion investment | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has reviewed plans to secure water supplies for the new Honam semiconductor industrial complex, highlighting the growing importance of water infrastructure for advanced chip manufacturing. First Vice Minister Kum Hanseung inspected Naju Lake, Jangheung Dam, Boseong River Dam and Juam Dam as part of a review of the infrastructure needed to support the project and coordination between relevant organisations. The government aims to secure 650,000 tonnes of industrial water per day for the semiconductor complex. Plans include using surplus dam capacity, repurposing part of the water currently allocated for power generation and making use of unused water resources. – South Korea links water security to semiconductor expansion | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Intel has announced a €5 billion investment to expand semiconductor manufacturing at its Leixlip campus in Ireland, increasing production capacity for processors used in AI and high-performance computing. The investment is intended to meet growing demand for AI and high-performance computing by expanding production of Intel Xeon 6 and next-generation Intel Xeon processors built on the Intel 3 process node. Intel said the project will also support research and development while making greater use of existing cleanroom capacity. – Intel invests €5 billion in Ireland chip expansion | Digital Watch Observatory
(Mike Allen – Axios) In Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, AI is as much a part of daily life as reporting a pothole or making a doctor’s appointment or paying a parking ticket — because AI does all that for you. Abu Dhabi, the capital of one of the world’s wealthiest and most globalized business hubs, has near-universal adoption of an app that knows when you need to renew your national ID or health insurance or vehicle registration. The app’s “AutoGov” feature goes a step further: It handles the paperwork and pays what’s owed without being asked. The UAE made a massive bet on AI, spending billions on infrastructure and research, backed by long-term thinking and alignment from top leaders. Before the war with Iran, the bet was paying off massively. “People make money here and bring money here,” a UAE resident told Jim VandeHei and me when we visited just before the war. – UAE’s big bet on AI
