Argentina to use IMF money to pay back part of a currency swap with China, sources say (www.reuters.com)
China’s security drive hits embassy activities, LGBT events, some diplomats say (www.asahi.com)
Twenty envoys from 12 Western and Asian delegations told Reuters that in recent months they had noticed larger police presences around some diplomatic premises and increased attempts by Chinese authorities to intimidate embassy contacts and disrupt civic outreach endeavors, including LGBT and gender-themed events.
‘I’m ready to die for Russia but not for criminals and thieves:' Russian military officers on why they deserted after Russia invaded Ukraine (meduza.io)
Canada’s raging fires have burned the equivalent of Alabama (wapo.st)
Large blazes in the Northwest Territories have forced evacuations and military deployments....
The Arakan Army is making gains against the Myanmar military. What does it mean for the Rohingya? (theworld.org)
Iran: Government Uses Cover of Regional Tensions to Crush Its Domestic Opponents (iranhumanrights.org)
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Indian Disinformation Aims to Sow Division in Bangladesh Following Ousting of Prime Minister (blackbird.ai)
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The Communal Kitchens Fighting Famine in Sudan (www.yesmagazine.org)
"They’re treating us like we’re idiots:" Russian families search for military conscripts who disappeared during the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk. The Kremlin insists they were never there. (meduza.io)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/1845331...
India wants to make influencers register with the government (restofworld.org)
Disguised ships and front companies: how North Korea has evaded sanctions to grow a global weapons industry (theconversation.com)
Enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea has actually been eroding for years. The final coup de grace came in March when Russia vetoed the renewal of a committee known as the Panel of Experts, which was tasked with monitoring and reporting on North Korean sanctions violations....
Supreme Court shuts down Missouri’s long shot push to lift Trump’s gag order in hush-money case (apnews.com)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday shut down a long-shot push from Missouri to remove a gag order in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money case and delay his sentencing in New York....
Trump shows love to Putin over prisoner swap (www.huffpost.com)
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Chocolate maker Mondelez hides earnings of its Russian business as sales soar in the country despite pledge to reduce operations (euromaidanpress.com)
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"Freedom, democracy, elections, protest school, protest work, protest authoritarian traitor Xi Jinping:" Protest banner against Xi Jinping in China calls for freedom and democracy (www.phayul.com)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/1501536...
Prisoner swap with Russia frees Americans including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan (www.npr.org)
‘The Russian society isn’t prepared’: The Kremlin fears ‘public discontent’ and a rise in crime as soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine fail to adapt to civilian life (meduza.io)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/1007323...
Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race (www.msn.com)
WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden said he is ending his bid for reelection amid intense pressure from Democratic leaders sounding the alarm that his path to beat former President Donald Trump in November has vanished
Italian journalist told to pay PM Meloni 5,000 euros for Tweet mocking her height (www.reuters.com)
Bangladesh police given ‘shoot-on-sight’ orders amid national curfew (www.theguardian.com)
China: Researcher explains how Uighurs are exploited in Xinjiang's forced labor regime where Western companies benefit from an opaque system (eurasianet.org)
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Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory ‘unlawful’, UN world court rules (news.un.org)
The Court was responding to a request for an advisory opinion by the General Assembly on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem....
Wall Street Journal fires Hong Kong reporter allegedly over her role as chair of Hong Kong Journalists Association advocating for press freedom (www.rappler.com)
The head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said she was fired by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday, July 17, after she refused demands from senior editors at the paper to sever ties with the organization and to not advocate for media freedoms....
Spanish PM Urges NATO Leaders to Eschew 'Double Standards' on Gaza and Ukraine (www.commondreams.org)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/861420...
European Parliament lawmakers call on EU to strip Hungary of voting rights over PM Viktor Orban's recent visits to Moscow and Beijing (www.reuters.com)
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/859686...