23 July 2026
Yemen
Two Saudi oil tankers were targeted by the Houthi rebels. Houthi rebels claim that they hit two tankers within minutes of each other. The price of oil nears USD 100 after the attacks in the Red Sea. US President Trump stated that he will hold Iran responsible for the strikes. It seems that the administration’s downplaying of the Houthi attacks could be a warning that if attacks continue, then the US will strike Houthi positions as they did a year ago. In any event, it seems the US will leave the Houthi threat alone.
Ukraine-Russia War
The European Union agreed to another round of sanctions targeting Russia. The 21st round of sanctions was held up for weeks due to members’ objections that the sanctions would potentially hurt the EU economy more than Russia. Greece was granted an exemption for one of its shipping firms to continue transporting Russian liquefied natural gas from the Arctic.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Philippines. Rubio stated that new ideas are needed to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Lavrov again demanded that the US cease weapon supplies to Ukraine.
US-Saudi Arabia
The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear deal that will allow the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. There is also a clause that uranium enrichment may occur in Saudi Arabia if both countries believe it is necessary. President Trump said there was the condition that Saudi Arabia would have to join the Abraham Accords and therefore Saudi Arabia would have to normalize relations with Israel. But that condition was backtracked.
Canada
South Korean firms are now reviewing their proposed investments in Canada after Hanwha Ocean lost the bid to replace Canada’s submarine fleet. As part of the bid, Germany and South Korea had to provide an investment for Canadian economic activity. Hyundai Motor Group proposed to build hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure in Canada; it is still reviewing the proposal. Hanwha Ocean is also still reviewing its proposals.
Thailand
Five Thai soldiers were killed in an attack on a security checkpoint in Narathiwat province in the country’s restive south. At least six civilians were also injured, including a 10-year-old boy. Approximately 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at the security checkpoint. The attackers stole three Ak-47s, body armour and mobile phones from the soldiers. A low-level conflict in the south has continued since 2004 with rebels in the Muslim-majority area fighting for greater autonomy in Buddhist-majority Thailand.
South Korea
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young announced that the government has shifted its focus on North Korean denuclearization, but that peace is a precondition for resuming talks. The South Korean government will still offer reciprocal benefits to North Korea if it halts its nuclear arsenal manufacturing. Both the US and China have also abandoned their positions that North Korea needs to denuclearize before talks can resume.
Social Media Wires
Iran paved the riverbed next to a bombed bridge
Footage of the attack in Thailand
Featured Photo: “Mykhailo Fedorov at the 2023 World Economic Forum” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
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