🌍 Today’s Top National & International News

1. Ukraine Signals Readiness for Peace Talks

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated Kyiv’s openness to peace discussions “anytime”, dismissing Kremlin claims that Ukraine is stalling negotiations The Guardian.
Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy reshuffled his cabinet: Parliament has officially dismissed Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal The Guardian.
Ukraine is also urging the EU to impose another package of sanctions on Moscow, but internal divisions remain—Slovakia blocked the 18th sanctions package The Guardian.

The European Commission unveiled its draft €2 trillion budget for 2028–2034, targeting defense, agriculture, and crisis response The Guardian.
MEPs criticized the plan as “mathematically flawed,” with farmers protesting across EU capitals—particularly outraged over proposed cuts to agricultural funding The Guardian.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou introduced a new austerity budget to reduce the national deficit, triggering fierce political backlash and talk of a no‑confidence vote The Guardian.

Europol and Eurojust disrupted “NoName057(16),” a pro‑Russian hacking network responsible for attacks on Ukrainian and European targets.
The operation involved 12 countries over 14–17 July, leading to server takedowns and arrests in France and Spain The Guardian.

A recently released U.S. Consumer Price Index sees inflation at 2.7%, partly due to tariffs stemming from recent U.S. trade policies NetNewsLedger+5Reuters+5Hancock Whitney Bank+5.
Treasury yields climbed above 5%, altering Fed rate‑cut expectations. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan reiterated the need for a restrictive stance to tame inflation Reuters.
Bond yields in Europe and Japan also rose amid rising global inflation and policy uncertainty .

In the U.S., robust Q2 earnings from banks strengthened market sentiment:
- Bank of America posted a $7.1 billion profit, up 14% in trading revenues.
- Morgan Stanley earned $3.5 billion, driven by strong equities trading.
- Goldman Sachs also saw trading revenue rise by 36%, pushing revenues to $14.6 billion The Times.
In the UK, inflation unexpectedly rose to 3.6%, complicating the Bank of England’s interest-rate forecast Reuters.
Barclays was fined £42 million for lapses in financial crime controls The Times.
Other corporate news: Diageo’s CEO resigned, Richemont reported a 6% gain in sales, and Nvidia said resumed exports to China would help sustain growth The Times.

NASA warns that asteroid 2022 YS5—roughly 100 feet across—is set for a close (but safe) flyby on July 17, traveling at over 33,000 km/h The Times of India.
This event highlights the growing importance of planetary defense efforts. ISRO increased vigilance following the upcoming Apophis flyby in 2029 The Times of India.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continued his diplomatic outreach in China, attending cultural events to bolster bilateral ties The Guardian.
Back home, revelations about a childcare worker with multiple center placements led to renewed calls for a national childcare worker database, supported by Education Minister Jason Clare The Guardian.
Separately, Australia saw vaping among teens decline from 17.5% to 14.6%, credited to recent health reforms—but cancer awareness groups warn against complacency The Guardian.
Public responses also included a collapsed drone show and a whale appearance in Sydney Harbour The Guardian.

Assam has become the first state in India to profit from crude oil production, marking a new milestone in regional economic development economictimes.indiatimes.com.
The Indian Cabinet green‑lit a ₹50,000 crore investment to advance agriculture and renewable energy sectors economictimes.indiatimes.com.
In automotive news, Maruti Suzuki added six airbags to the Ertiga and Baleno, enhancing safety at a slight cost increase economictimes.indiatimes.com.

Ukraine: Poised for peace talks; governance changes.
EU: Contentious budget fights spark protests.
Global Economy: Tariff-driven inflation shifts bond yields; banking profits support markets.
Space: Asteroids bolster planetary defense awareness.
India: Assam enters oil market; agricultural investments announced.
Australia: Diplomatic outreach and social reforms in progress.

Each of these narratives reflects how climate, conflict, economics, and policy intertwine—shaping outcomes around the world.