Diplomacy Under Pressure: Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi says US pressure “doesn’t work” and diplomacy can resume if Washington builds trust and drops the campaign, as talks with Qatar and Oman aim to reopen paths to de-escalation. Cybersecurity & Transparency: The US Justice Department corrected earlier claims about Chinese hacking, now saying major agencies were targets (not all victims), after a domain seizure operation. Israel/Palestinian Politics: Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas faces accusations over his stance on the Nakba, while positioning himself as a potential kingmaker in Israel’s next government. Government Accountability in Canada: B.C.’s privacy watchdog launched an investigation after the province removed public access to the Government Directory, sparking transparency concerns. Human Security: India and Nepal-linked flood relief and safety efforts continue, while Jammu Kashmiri Pandits face a threat letter that appears to use personal address details. Energy & Sanctions Politics: The US says it secured majority control of over 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves, with details still thin. Local Governance & Public Trust: Victoria scrapped a taxpayer-funded Daniel Andrews statue plan, and Pakistan withdrew a telecom bill to replace it with a new draft. Tech & Procurement: Nigeria’s procurement scandal spotlight claims 57% of government tech purchases are refurbished but sold as new, calling for sanctions. Disaster Response: Nepal asked Meta and TikTok to remove graphic flood content, AI fakes, and scam QR codes. Border Fight in the US: A court pause on Big Bend border construction extends to mid-September amid lawsuits and disputes over what’s actually planned.