Turkey-NATO Crackdown: Ahead of the Ankara NATO summit on July 7-8, Turkish authorities detained journalists Buse Söğütlü (T24) and Ceren Erdogdu (OdaTV) and tightened security across the capital, with roads closed and gatherings banned. Iran Funeral Politics: Iran began a massive Tehran procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with millions attending and revenge/resistance chants echoing; Israel’s defence minister claimed Israel assassinated Khamenei and threatened to “eliminate” any Iranian leader promoting such actions, while Iran’s judiciary chief framed the goal as eradicating corruption and deterring “enemy” crimes. West Bank Human Toll: A Palestinian infant died after a delay at an Israeli checkpoint near Ramallah, and a teenager was killed during a raid on Qalandiya camp; rights groups also raised concerns about theft during Israeli raids. Afghanistan Needs: UNDP’s Alexander De Croo said three in four Afghans can’t meet basic needs, as the Taliban announced returns of 253 migrant families. Migration Pressure in Europe: Greece reported a 20% rise in migrant returns while illegal sea arrivals fell 27% in the first half of 2026. Energy Watch: Analysts warned that even after the Iran-war oil shock eased, depleted buffers and Strait of Hormuz risks could still bring price spikes. Oman Water Deal: Oman’s Nama Water Services awarded a major performance-based 15-year contract worth about RO 900 million to cut water losses and run water and wastewater services for millions.