The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the United States has used about one-third of its Patriot missile-defense system interceptors and roughly half of its THAAD interceptor missiles since the war with Iran began. The assessment was reported on July 30, 2026.

CSIS estimated that the United States had about 2,330 Patriot interceptors before the war, with the current total falling to between 759 and 827. It said the US had approximately 452 THAAD interceptors before the conflict and now has between 234 and 278 remaining.

The institution said its estimates were based on US Department of Defense fiscal 2027 budget documents and publicly available information. CSIS warned that if conflict with Iran resumes, the United States would have to manage the situation with fewer interceptors. It said this could increase risks to air defense and compel the United States and its allies to take greater strategic risks in using interceptors.

Salahuddin Future Academy, a Muslim organization, has bought a Baptist church property in Richardson, Texas, and plans to convert the site into an Islamic school, seminary and mosque. The report, published on July 29, 2026, said the project moved forward after legal complications over the transfer were resolved. SAFA is a K-12 institution that says it aims to integrate Quran and Hadith teachings with the Common Core curriculum.

The property was purchased from Korean World Mission Baptist Church, which had owned it since 1992. SAFA and Authentic Ilm Mission plan to jointly establish the Dawah Academy and Seminary at the site. It has been described as America’s first national residential dawah seminary, offering courses including a bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies. The organization said it is committed to developing qualified, ethical leaders who represent Islam with wisdom.

According to The Dallas Express, SAFA signed a $3.8 million purchase agreement last October and paid a $38,000 deposit. It sued the church in February after a dispute over the planned May transfer, seeking enforcement of the contract and more than $1 million in damages. The case was settled in April without a final ruling, clearing the way for the purchase.

The US Senate has passed a major sanctions bill aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia, creating scope for tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian energy. The bill passed 86-12 and could raise concerns for India, one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. The report was published on July 29, 2026.

The measure was introduced in connection with the Ukraine war and was drafted by late US Senator Lindsey Graham. It provides for new sanctions against Russian individuals and institutions, as well as tougher trade action against countries dependent on Russian energy. Alongside India, the list includes China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

India is currently the second-largest importer of Russian crude oil after China. Experts said tariffs of up to 100% on India could affect its exports and commercial relations with the United States. India has increased reliance on Russian oil as instability in West Asia, the Iran-US conflict and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have affected supplies from Gulf countries. The source also said a major India-US trade deal is under discussion and could be affected by new tariffs.

The Trump administration is preparing to end federal subsidies for prescription drug insurance plans under Medicare for US residents aged 65 and older, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, according to AFP from New York. The reported change would take effect in December this year and could significantly raise prescription drug costs for about 25 million older Americans.

Citing unnamed administration officials, the newspaper said the federal government had provided $3.6 billion in subsidies to prevent Medicare insurance premiums from rising. KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization, said the average monthly premium for a subsidized plan is about $36. Prescription drug costs are an important issue for many retirees and people on fixed incomes, and the decision could become a political issue before the US midterm elections in November.

People currently enrolled in subsidized plans will learn their new premium rates in the fall. An administration official told the Journal that premiums for about one-quarter of affected customers would fall or remain unchanged in 2027. Another 30% would see monthly increases of less than $10, while the remaining 45% would face monthly increases of $11 to $20.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump at the White House and described the meeting as “one of the best ever,” according to a report published on July 29, 2026. Netanyahu also rejected suggestions of strains in relations between the United States and Israel.

Speaking to Fox News after the meeting, Netanyahu said the two countries shared the same goal of preventing Iran’s nuclear programme. He said those waiting to find a crack in the alliance would instead see a relationship as strong as a granite wall.

Addressing Iran, Netanyahu said they did not want Tehran’s “extremist government” to possess nuclear weapons that could threaten Americans, world peace and Israel’s existence. Since Trump returned to office for a second term in January 2025, Netanyahu has visited the White House eight times, more than any other foreign leader, the report said.

Hundreds of people protested in Washington, United States, demanding the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the country. Demonstrators called for enforcement of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu. The report was published and updated on July 29, 2026.

Verified Al Jazeera video showed protesters moving toward the White House despite heavy rain and tight security. Demonstrators chanted slogans describing Netanyahu as a genocidaire while calling for action against him.

Some protesters entered the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown, where Netanyahu was having dinner. Security officials forcibly removed them from the site. The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Australian airline Qantas has set a new record for the world’s longest commercial flight after one of its Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft flew nonstop from Melbourne to Toulouse, France. The aircraft covered 23,075 kilometres in 24 hours and 24 minutes. It departed Melbourne Airport at 5:27 p.m. local time on July 27 and landed successfully in Toulouse on July 28.

The journey was conducted as part of Qantas’ Project Sunrise program. Equipped with additional fuel tanks, the aircraft reached its destination without stopping while flying over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. According to Airbus, the flight surpassed the previous record of 22 hours and 42 minutes, set by a Boeing 777-200LR in 2005.

The flight generated substantial attention online. FlightRadar24 data showed that more than 3.6 million people tracked its route. Under Project Sunrise, Qantas plans to begin regular nonstop commercial flights between Sydney and London from October 2027.

Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the US House Judiciary Committee, has opened an inquiry into FIFA’s relationship with President Donald Trump, his administration and his associates. In a letter sent Sunday to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Raskin requested records of communications, gifts, payments or benefits involving FIFA and Trump-linked figures. He also asked Infantino to take part in an interview for the congressional record.

Raskin sought visitor logs for FIFA’s office in Trump Tower, which opened last July. The letter cited controversy over Trump receiving the newly introduced FIFA Peace Prize at a World Cup draw in Washington and allegations that he contacted Infantino over the lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension. FIFA later lifted the suspension, prompting criticism and dissatisfaction from football associations in several countries. The letter also questioned FIFA’s ethics accountability structure and ticket sales using dynamic pricing.

Raskin asked FIFA to provide the requested documents and arrange an interview by August 9. Without Republican support, he cannot compel Infantino to appear because Democrats do not hold a House majority. Infantino said Monday that critics were spreading hatred and false information, while describing the World Cup as a successful event. The report said he has support from more than 200 member countries before the FIFA presidential election in March.

More than 390 drones attempted to target the Moscow region overnight, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. In a Telegram message on Tuesday, Sobyanin said the drones flew toward the region from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. local time. The reported attacks came hours before a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, the report said.

Sobyanin said most of the drones were neutralized by air defenses before reaching the city. He added that 81 unmanned aerial vehicles described as belonging to the enemy were destroyed while approaching Moscow. AFP reported the information from Moscow.

Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov also reported damage from the drone attack. He said residential buildings in the city of Chekhov and the village of Vaulovo were damaged. The report provided no information on casualties, the extent of the damage, or responsibility for the attacks.

Johnson & Johnson has proposed a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve thousands of US lawsuits alleging that its talc powder caused ovarian cancer. The pharmaceutical company made the formal announcement on Monday, according to a report published July 28. If implemented, the agreement would resolve about 69,000 pending cases in US federal and state courts.

The company said those cases represent roughly 99.75 percent of outstanding talc-related litigation in the United States. The settlement must receive approval from at least 95 percent of plaintiffs who filed cases in state or federal courts before it can be finalized. In 2024, the World Health Organization added talc to its list of substances that may cause cancer in humans.

Johnson & Johnson has maintained that there is no scientific evidence that talc causes cancer. It nevertheless stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020 and globally in 2023. Lawyers representing plaintiffs welcomed the proposed deal after a decade of legal battles. The agreement does not apply to UK claims, where more than 7,000 potential plaintiffs are awaiting proceedings in a High Court case filed in October 2025.

Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the US House Judiciary Committee, has opened an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino over relations between football’s governing body and the Trump administration. In a detailed letter sent Sunday, Raskin requested documents and asked Infantino to appear for an untranscribed interview. The report was published on July 28, 2026.

Raskin sought records and communications concerning any gifts, payments or benefits FIFA gave to Trump and his associates. He also requested visitor logs for FIFA office space acquired in Trump Tower last year. FIFA awarded Trump its newly created “FIFA Peace Prize” at the World Cup draw in Washington last December, while the organization opened a new office in Midtown Manhattan’s Trump Tower in July last year.

The letter also cited the Justice Department’s decision to dismiss indictments in a US government investigation into corruption in world football, including cases brought in 2015 against more than 20 senior FIFA officials and sports-marketing executives. Raskin alleged that FIFA’s ethical safeguards and ethics committee were weakened under Infantino. The report also described criticism after FIFA lifted Folarin Balogun’s suspension following Trump’s calls seeking a review.

Australia is considering building a new oil refinery for the first time in more than six decades as global fuel supplies tighten amid the US and Israeli war against Iran. The plan was reported on July 28, 2026, with Canberra seeking to assess whether such a project could strengthen domestic fuel security.

Australia’s federal government and the Western Australian state government will jointly conduct a preliminary study to examine the proposal’s feasibility, according to a government statement. The report said Canberra has faced difficulty obtaining fuel as the Middle East war has continued and disrupted global supply conditions.

Australia relies on imports for about 80 percent of its total fuel needs, increasing pressure on energy security when international supplies are disrupted. Only two oil refineries are currently operating in the country, compared with eight active facilities in 2004. Analysts said a new refinery could play a significant role in addressing domestic fuel shortages and reducing reliance on imports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in the United States for a planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington on the Iran crisis and the broader Middle East situation. The report, published on July 28, says the two leaders are expected to hold an important meeting. Netanyahu’s office said discussions will cover Iran, regional security and initiatives to expand peace across the Middle East.

Before departing for the United States, Netanyahu said all items on the agenda would be discussed, but that Iran was the most important issue. He said ensuring Israel’s overall security and broadening peace in the surrounding region would be central goals. Netanyahu also said complex circumstances require moving forward with both firmness and wisdom, and described his objective as securing Israel’s safety and future.

Netanyahu called the trip highly significant and said it would be his eighth meeting with Trump since Trump was elected president for a second time. He said he had met Trump more often during the second term than any other national leader. Alongside the bilateral meeting, Netanyahu will attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 12 after a brief illness.

A UK-based institution’s poll found that 46 percent of Americans support arresting world leaders accused of genocide, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu topping the list of leaders discussed. Respondents expressed this view amid international allegations and continuing legal debate surrounding Netanyahu in connection with the Gaza war.

A significant share of participants said international law should be properly enforced in cases involving such allegations. The poll presented the views of US voters, although the report did not provide details on its sample size, timing, or methodology.

The findings emerged as Netanyahu prepared to meet US President Donald Trump. Before departing for Washington, DC, from an Israeli Air Force base, Netanyahu said Iran would be the leading issue in their agenda. In a Hebrew video message alongside his wife Sara Netanyahu, he also cited protecting security and expanding the circle of peace. The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. local time Tuesday and will be the two leaders’ first in more than five months.

President Donald Trump faces a political and strategic crisis over the continuing conflict with Iran, according to the report published July 27, 2026. Trump launched a full-scale military operation on February 28 to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and change its government, but the stated goals remain largely unmet after five months. Despite extensive military force, he has not brought Iran under the desired level of control and is hesitant about launching another major operation.

The war has unsettled international energy markets, while the United States has failed to control oil prices and shipping has been disrupted on key routes including the Strait of Hormuz. Prolonged exchanges of attacks have also reduced stocks of missile-defense systems, raising concern over US military capacity. Internal divisions have emerged in the administration, and some political allies favor ending the conflict quickly. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found 29 percent support for Trump’s handling of the war.

The report identifies three main options for Trump: escalating military strikes, tightening economic sanctions, or declaring victory and withdrawing. Escalation could cause civilian casualties and new security risks, while sanctions offer no guarantee of quick results. Withdrawal could prompt criticism that his stated objectives were not achieved.