Europe
(Eliza Gkritsi – Politico) Monday’s release of a much-anticipated EU expert report on protecting children online heralds tighter rules for social media platforms — and other digital services. While the report backs a minimum age of 13 — a lower threshold than those adopted or proposed in countries such as Australia — for accessing online platforms, with important caveats, it presents the measure as part of a gradual introduction of minors to the digital world. That approach could pave the way for broader regulation of Big Tech. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has expressed her support for a ban, had ordered the expert study from a German child psychiatrist and French social epidemiologist. The report they delivered offers a far more comprehensive, if at times convoluted, picture of the way forward in the governmental challenge of regulating new technologies that are increasingly embedded in our lives. – Why the EU’s new social media roadmap is tougher than it looks – POLITICO
Europe – Israel
(Jonas Loesel, Nicholas Vinocur and Gabriel Gavin – Politico) The European Union will not yet introduce a ban on products from territories illegally occupied by Israel after less than half of the bloc’s foreign ministers voted for action on the issue during a tense meeting Monday. A group of EU countries has been urging the executive to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in what has become a battle between the EU’s institutions as well as between capitals with differing stances on Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. After Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that a proposal to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank had “got the most support” from members. However, it fell short of the simple majority needed to compel the European Commission to present specific sanctions for member countries to vote on. – EU capitals fail to force Commission’s hand on Israeli settler sanctions – POLITICO
Europe – Ukraine
(Giorgio Leali, Veronika Melkozerova and Esther Webber – Politico) Nine European countries on Monday agreed to back an ambitious Ukrainian effort to develop a domestic missile defense system that, if successful, would reduce reliance on U.S. technology. Ukraine depends on the United States for PAC-2 and PAC-3 Patriot interceptors to take down incoming Russian missiles. But the U.S. and its allies fired hundreds of them in the early phase of the war against Iran, straining supplies. During recent Russian attacks, Ukraine has run dangerously low on interceptors and has been unable to shoot down ballistic missiles. The shortages have strengthened the push for homegrown capabilities. – Europeans to partner with Kyiv on homegrown missile defense – POLITICO
Pakistan – Afghanistan
(Daud Khattak – RFE/RL) Thousands of Afghan families, fearing an uncertain future, have begun pouring into Afghanistan amid a fresh push from Pakistan against what officials describe a “crackdown” on undocumented aliens. Islamabad had set the July 10 deadline for what the authorities call “undocumented” Afghans to leave the country. The move comes amid a broader push by authorities around the world who have been pushing Afghans who fled their country to return home. In Pakistan alone, more than 2.5 million Afghans have been deported since October 2023, the year when Islamabad announced the deportation policy. “An average 400 to 600 families are crossing the Torkham border daily,” said Islam Badshah, a volunteer from the Jamrud region in Pakistan’s Khyber tribal district, who provides free food, medicines and other basic items to the departing families. Torkham is the main crossing point between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Badshah, who collects donations from locals to continue his welfare work, says a majority of the families hold UN-issued registration cards, but Pakistani authorities say only Afghans with valid-stay visas such as student, business, or visits in their passports will be allowed to stay. – Afghans Under Pressure Again In New Pakistani Deportation Drive
Russia – Ukraine
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Russia said Tuesday it was looking at “alternative shipping routes” and could limit traffic in the Azov Sea due to intensifying Ukrainian strikes, as Kyiv claims to have hit over 100 vessels there in nine days. The Azov Sea is nestled between Russia, the southern stretch of Ukraine that has been occupied by Moscow’s army and Russia-annexed Crimea. – Russia moves to redirect ships from Azov Sea due to Kyiv’s strikes
UK
(Sam Blewett – Politico) Nigel Farage is spending the summer railing against “the Establishment”. The Reform UK leader faces two tougher-than-expected by-elections amid mounting scrutiny of his finances — and is now fending off criticism of his response to the killing of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister who became a high-profile Reform spokesperson. It is just the latest row in which Farage’s party — still leading in British opinion polls as the governing Labour Party prepares to make Andy Burnham prime minister — has sought to cast itself as the victim of a rigged system. – Farage’s strategy for the Burnham era? It’s all about him – POLITICO
Ukraine
(Rostyslav Khotin and Mike Eckel – RFE/RL) On the war front, Ukrainian forces have battled Russian troops to near stalemate, and Ukrainian drones are inflicting pain at the pump for Russian drivers, successes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is happy to bask in. On the home front, however, there’s another yet another less-glowing battle looming: Zelenskyy’s political fights as he tried to keep his war-time government in the good graces of an exhausted Ukrainian electorate. Zelenskyy on July 12 ordered another major shake-up of his Cabinet, pushing out his prime minister. It’s the second shuffle of his government this year and at least the third since the start of Russia’s all-out war in February 2022. “Personnel changes will begin in Ukraine to ensure the implementation of the updated political strategy,” he said in a statement posted to social media on July 12. He gave no further explanation. – Zelenskyy Fights Another Political Battle With Another Cabinet Shake-Up In Ukraine
US – Iran – Middle East – Gulf
(Al Arabiya) Iran’s parliament has begun work on a bill on the Strait of Hormuz, the head of the security committee said on Tuesday, as fighting flared between Washington and Tehran over the strategic waterway. “We remain steadfast in defending our red lines, particularly regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz,” Ebrahim Azizi wrote on X. – Iran MPs present bill on Strait of Hormuz: Security committee chief
(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) As tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate following renewed US military action , questions are mounting over the risks of regional escalation and the future of finding a diplomatic solution to bring peace. In an interview with RFE/RL, former US Ambassador to Qatar Timmy Davis argues that, despite the military confrontation, negotiations remain the only viable way out of the crisis. – ‘Watch The Dialogue, Not The Bombing’ In Iran, Former US Envoy Says
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) One Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday, in the latest escalation in the strategic waterway. The ministry said the tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted in the southern lane of the strait while in Omani territorial waters. The dead crew member was aboard the Mombasa, it said. – UAE says Iranian missiles struck oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz, one sailor killed
(Al Arabiya) The United States launched a third night of strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump planned to reimpose a blockade Tuesday on Iranian ports and floated a 20 percent fee on cargo in the vital Strait of Hormuz. Trump said a deal with the Islamic Republic was still possible even as attacks were carried out, with Iran striking two ships in the strategic waterway and killing one crew member, according to the United Arab Emirates. – US strikes Iran for third day, will reimpose blockade
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump has sent Congress formal notification that hostilities against Iran resumed on July 7, a letter his administration sees as opening a new 60-day window to use the military in the region without congressional approval. “I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ national security and foreign policy interests,” Trump said in the letter, dated July 10, and seen by Reuters on Monday. – Trump sends Congress formal notice that Iran conflict has resumed
(Al Arabiya) The US said overnight Monday that it is committed to Saudi Arabia’s security, underscoring Washington’s support for the Kingdom against Iran-backed Houthi attacks. “The United States stands firmly with Saudi Arabia against Iranian aggression, including Iranian-supported Houthi attacks, and remains committed to the Kingdom’s security and regional stability,” a State Department spokesperson told Al Arabiya English. – US reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks
Defense
(Rudy Ruitenberg – Defense News) Ukraine has agreed on a plan to acquire 16 Rafale fighter jets from France together with the accompanying weapon systems, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference here late Monday following a meeting of the group of countries that have pledged support to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Macron agreed on a roadmap between their two countries that also includes the acquisition of a first batch of SAMP/T NG air-defense batteries, complementing systems and their missiles to be delivered in coming weeks, Macron said. France will also provide radar systems and additional missiles, the president said. – Ukraine agrees on plan to acquire 16 Rafale jets, France’s Macron says
(Rudy Ruitenberg – Defense News) Germany’s Helsing raised US$1.8 billion in Europe’s biggest-ever funding round for a defense-technology startup, valuing the company at $18 billion and continuing a flurry of mega rounds for the continent’s defense industry. Munich-based Helsing raised the funding in a Series E funding round, with investor demand “significantly” exceeding the available allocation, the company said in a statement on Monday. The company remains predominantly European-owned after the fund raising, Helsing said. – Helsing raises $1.8 billion in Europe’s biggest defense-startup round
(Gordon Arthur – Defense News) The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), operated by Canada and the United States, has gaping holes in its airspace radar coverage. Ottawa went some way to filling those gaps when it signed four related agreements in June for a new radar system sourced from Australia. The system is called the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR), and the deal is worth some US$1.75 billion to Australia. – Canada to plug surveillance gaps with Aussie over-the-horizon radar
(Rudy Ruitenberg – Defense News) The Hydis project to develop a European interceptor against hypersonic threats settled on a concept based on a solid-propellant rocket motor, according to MBDA, Europe’s biggest missile maker, with the program’s steering committee validating the final concept review milestone on Friday. The remaining year of the Hydis program will focus on advancing critical technologies to at least Technology Readiness Level 3, Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Co-Operation said in a separate statement on Friday. That level corresponds to experimental proof of concept. – Europe’s Hydis project settles on concept for hypersonic interceptor
