Over 800,000 Lebanese return home amid ongoing border tensions

US President Donald Trump has walked back his previous offer to grant Ukraine a license to domestically produce Patriot interceptor missiles, stating during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David that the United States has “not agreed” to share the technology. Trump expressed caution over transferring sensitive defense hardware, warning that “they can someday turn on you” and emphasising the need to safeguard advanced military systems. The reversal comes just three weeks after Trump publicly promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a NATO summit in Ankara that Washington would grant Kyiv the manufacturing rights to build the air defense interceptors. Although Zelensky recently stated after a White House visit that the production licensing had been approved, Trump clarified that no final commitment has been made. The decision arrives as Kyiv faces intensified Russian drone and ballistic missile strikes, with Ukrainian military officials warning that critical shortages of Patriot interceptors are severely compromising their air defense capabilities.

A US federal judge has formally dismissed criminal bribery and fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, bringing an end to a high-profile prosecution while issuing a sharp rebuke over how the Department of Justice handled the case. US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis approved the Justice Department’s request to drop all charges with prejudice, permanently barring prosecutors from refiling the case. The decision closes an investigation launched in 2024 that accused Adani and senior executives of paying over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts while misleading American investors. In a 47-page order, Judge Garaufis voiced deep concern over procedural irregularities, noting that senior Justice Department official R. Trent McCotter negotiated the dismissal directly with Adani’s defence team without consulting the FBI agents and career prosecutors handling the investigation. The judge also scrutinized whether Adani’s public pledge to invest $10 billion in the United States and create 15,000 jobs influenced the outcome. While Garaufis ultimately concluded the investment promise did not legally dictate the government’s decision, he warned that the unusual handling of the case raised troubling questions about public perception of equal justice. The dismissal follows efforts by Adani’s legal team, led by prominent attorney Robert J. Giuffra Jr., who argued that much of the alleged conduct occurred outside US jurisdiction and no longer aligned with federal enforcement priorities. Adani, who maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, welcomed the ruling in a statement, expressing deep respect for the judicial process.

World food prices climbed in July to their highest level in more than three years. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization says extreme weather and escalating conflicts are driving the surge. According to FAO’s food price index, prices averaged 131.1 points in July, up from 130.3 points in June. That marks the strongest reading recorded since January 2023. Experts describe the trend as a “perfect storm” of overlapping pressures hitting global agriculture at once. Multiple factors are compounding each other, making the situation harder to control. Reuters reported that FAO’s chief economist pointed to severe weather, including intense heatwaves and El Niño effects, as major contributors. These conditions have damaged crop yields in several key farming regions. On top of that, escalating conflicts in the Black Sea and Gulf regions have added further strain. Together, these factors have disrupted supply chains and pushed prices higher across multiple food categories. Cereal prices led July’s overall rise, climbing 3.4% month-on-month. That increase was largely driven by a sharp 5.8% jump in wheat prices specifically. FAO said wheat markets were rattled by fears over disrupted Black Sea exports. Heat damage to crops in major producing regions added even more pressure on supply. Vegetable oil prices also rose, climbing 2% to their highest level since June 2022. Higher crude oil prices, tied partly to the ongoing Iran conflict, helped push palm and soy oil prices upward. Rapeseed and sunflower oil prices moved in the opposite direction, declining slightly during the same period. Sugar prices rose too, up 5.6%, driven by weather concerns across Europe and Asia. Stronger expected demand for ethanol in Brazil added further support to sugar prices. Meat prices, however, told a different story entirely, falling 2.8% after hitting a record high in June. Poultry, pork and beef prices all declined during the month. Sheep meat was the exception, hitting a record high due to tight export supplies from Oceania. Dairy prices dipped slightly as well, down 0.7% overall. Despite July’s increase, the latest reading remains 18.2% below the record peak set in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even so, economists warn that these combined pressures could trigger a fresh wave of global food inflation in the months ahead

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a review of state grants provided to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), alleging that facilities for Muslim passengers to perform ablution and pray could amount to religious discrimination. Abbott’s office said the matter has also been referred to the US Department of Transportation for investigation and possible action. According to a statement from the governor’s office, state grants provided to entities operating airports in Texas will be reviewed to determine whether existing funding should be withdrawn or whether the airports should be denied future state funding. Abbott has argued that providing facilities specifically associated with one religion at government-owned facilities could raise concerns under religious discrimination laws. The governor’s office said DFW International Airport is planning to establish a dedicated ablution facility for Muslim passengers. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, a similar facility has reportedly already been established, along with a designated space for prayer. Abbott has written to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, asking the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately review the existing or proposed religious facilities at both airports. He has also called for corrective or legal action if federal authorities determine that any violations have occurred. The Texas governor maintains that both airports receive federal funding and are therefore required to comply with federal laws prohibiting discriminatory practices. In his statement, Abbott said the proposed ablution facilities appear to provide a special accommodation to a particular section of the population based on religion, which he considers potentially unlawful. He further argued that because the airports are publicly owned, government authorities cannot give preference to one religious viewpoint over others. Abbott reiterated his position on social media, saying that government facilities funded by taxpayers should not allow what he described as unlawful religious discrimination.