below posted 08.02.2024 12:00pm

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 

Russia and several Western nations, including Germany and the United States, conduct a major prisoner exchange mediated by Turkey, with ten prisoners being transferred to Russia, thirteen to Germany, and three to the United States. Journalist Evan Gershkovich, former marine Paul Whelan, and Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza are among those freed. (AP) (Al Jazeera) 

Intel announces plans to lay off 15% of its workforce in order to reduce its operating costs. (AP) 

Turkey blocks internet access to Instagram, following comments made by Turkish communications director Fahrettin Altun that condemned Meta Platforms for taking down Instagram posts offering condolences or expressing sorrow towards the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. (Reuters) 

At least fifteen Palestinians are killed and 29 others are injured in an Israeli strike on a school in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City. (Reuters) 

Israel claims to have verified that it killed Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in an attack on al-Mawasi on July 13. Hamas refuses to confirm or deny the allegations. (The Washington Post) 

South Korea reports that as many as 1,500 people may have been killed by floods in North Korea caused by the remnants of Typhoon Gaemi. (Terra Daily) 

The death toll from the landslides caused by torrential rains in Kerala, India, increases to 296 people, with at least 240 others still missing. (Onomanorama) 

The Global Famine Review Committee declares a famine in Darfur, Sudan, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. (Reuters) 

The Moldovan government expels a Russian diplomat from the country over alleged espionage. (The Moscow Times) 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses the nation following civil unrest in Southport, Hartlepool, and Whitehall, accusing the “far-right” of being behind the violence. Starmer also warns social media platforms to crackdown on misinformation. (The Guardian) 

Fourteen protestors are killed, four other protestors are injured and at least 31 protestors and a journalist are arrested during nationwide protests that turned violent in Nigeria amid a cost-of-living crisis, which protestors blame on President Bola Tinubu‘s new reforms. (Al Jazeera) 

Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas to advance to the semifinals of the Men’s singles tournament, becoming the only player to reach the semifinals four times, and the oldest semifinalist in Olympic tennis history. (Sports Illustrated) 

American swimmer Katie Ledecky wins her 13th gold medal in swimming, becoming the first American female to do so and the second American to do so after Michael Phelps. (The New York Times) 

The End Friday 

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 

above posted 08.02.2024 12:00pm

Thursday, August 1st, 2024 

China and India conduct the 30th round of talks in New Delhi, India, to resolve the ongoing border disputes, by agreeing to speed up negotiations over the border disputes and to maintain peace and tranquility in border regions. (South China Morning Post) 

Nationwide protests occur in Nigeria amidst a cost-of-living crisis and rising costs, which Nigerians blame on President Bola Tinubu‘s new reforms. (Al Jazeera) 

Israel claims to have verified that it assassinated Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in the 13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack. Hamas denies the allegations. (The Washington Post) 

A criminal court in Guinea sentences former president and military leader Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity while suppressing the opposition rally in Conakry in 2009. (Al Jazeera) 

Eleven people are killed by heavy downpours and flooding in Delhi and North India and over 250 people are declared missing in and around the Himalayas, with rainfall reaching 183 mm (7 inches) in some regions. (Reuters) 

The death toll in the landslides caused by torrential rains in Kerala, India, increases to 194, with at least 187 people still missing. (Al Jazeera) 

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatens to suspend Slovakia’s diesel exports to Ukraine if the Ukrainian government continues to suspend pipeline oil transport from Russian oil company Lukoil, which Slovakia claims is causing a national energy crisis. (The Kyiv Independent) 

Fourteen people are arrested in a sting operation by a joint task force at the San Diego Comic-Con in San Diego, California, United States, for participating in a sex trafficking network. Ten victims were recovered, including one teenager. (The Hollywood Reporter) 

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh is assassinated in a missile strike in Tehran, Iran, after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas and Iran blame Israel for the assassination; however, the Israeli government officially declines to comment on the assassination. (Al Jazeera) 

Qatar and Egypt warn that peace negotiations are in jeopardy because of the recent assassination. (Reuters) 

Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman are killed in an Israeli airstrike while conducting a news broadcast near Ismail Haniyeh’s home in the Gaza Strip. (Al Jazeera) 

A source close to Hezbollah tells AFP that the body of top commander Fuad Shukr has been recovered, nearly 24 hours after he was killed in an Israeli strike on southern Beirut, Lebanon. (Al Arabiya) (Reuters) 

Ukraine demands that Russia explain the death of Ukrainian POW Oleksandr Ishchenko in Russian captivity, who was being tried with 21 other captured Ukrainian troops for being part of the Azov Brigade that Russian prosecutors allege is far-right affiliated. (Reuters) 

The United States halts US$95 million in assistance to the country of Georgia due to its government passing a law on “foreign agents”, which US officials referred to as “anti-democratic” and a “draconian measure to stifle dissent”. (Reuters) 

At least 19 people are killed during a suicide bombing by Boko Haram at a market in Konduga, Borno State, Nigeria. (Punch) 

Mali announces that it carried out joint airstrikes with Burkina Faso on insurgents in and around Tinzaouaten. The CSP-PSD says that a Burkinabé drone strike killed dozens of civilians. (Reuters) 

China surpasses the United States for the record of most gold medals in Olympic diving. (NBC News) 

Adriana Ruano wins the gold medal in women’s trap shooting to set a new Olympic record and win the first gold medal for Guatemala in Olympic history. (The New York Times) 

Kim Mi-rae and Jo Jin-mi win the silver medal in Women’s synchronized diving, North Korea’s first medal in the sport. (Yonhap News Agency) 

Novak Djokovic defeats Dominik Koepfer to advance to the quarterfinals of the Men’s singles tournament, becoming the only player to reach the quarterfinals four times, and the oldest quarterfinalist in Olympic tennis history at the age of 37. (The Tennis Gazette) 

The End Thursday 

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh is assassinated in Tehran, Iran, after participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. (Al Jazeera) 

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, military junta leader of Sudan, survives an assassination attempt carried out with a drone strike while he was visiting a military base in Gibet. Five people are killed. (Middle East Monitor) 

Israel launches a missile attack on southern Beirut, Lebanon, killing at least four civilians and injuring 80 others. Senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr is claimed by Israel to be the main target. He was in the area at the time of the attack, but his fate is currently unknown. (Anadolu Agency) (Al Jazeera) 

Twenty-six people are arrested in Madrid, Málaga, and Toledo by Spanish police for operating a sex trafficking ring that abused over 600 women. Thirty-two women were freed during the operation. (AP) 

The Cavite provincial government in the Philippines declares a “state of calamity” after an oil spill from the sunk MT Terra Nova reaches the shores of eight municipalities, requiring implementation of a no-catch zone and relief aid to be given to ~25,000 fishers. (GMA Network) 

The Mirola 1 is discovered to have ran aground near the coast of Bataan, becoming the third vessel to spill oil into Manila Bay in one week. (GMA Network) 

Tuesday,  July 30th, 2024 

Tesla recalls more than 1.8 million vehicles due to a hood issue that could increase the risk of a crash. An over-the-air software update for the issue was made available in June. (Quartz) 

An Israeli civilian is killed in the HaGoshrim kibbutz by a rocket fired from Lebanon. (Reuters) 

The US carries out an airstrike near Hillah, Iraq killing four members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units. Iraq condemned the strike saying the US-led military coalition committed a “heinous crime” by targeting security sites and said the attacks were a serious violation of the coalition’s mission and mandate. (Reuters) 

British Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary is sentenced to life in prison with a minimum sentence of 28 years for directing the al-Muhajiroun militant network. (ABC News) 

The Russian defense ministry says that its forces have taken control of the settlement of Pivdenne in Donetsk region, Ukraine. (Reuters) 

Riots occur in the evening in response to a previous mass stabbing in Southport, Merseyside. The right-wing English Defence League was present in front of a mosque, despite not having existed for over a decade. 

Angolan President João Lourenço announces that the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have agreed to a ceasefire following Angola–mediated talks. (TRT Afrika) 

The Turkish defense ministry says that it targeted Kurdish militants in northern Iraq with air strikes, killing 13 people. (Reuters) 

Unidentified gunmen open fire on a bulletproof vehicle carrying local staff working for a United Nations development agency in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. No casualties have been reported. (TOI) 

Rex Airlines, Australia‘s third-largest airline, suspends all domestic Boeing 737 flights and enters voluntary administration. (AFR) 

Spain‘s competition watchdog fines online travel agency Booking.com with a record €413 million fine for “abusing its dominant position” in the past five years. (France 24) 

The death toll from torrential rains and floods caused by remnants of Typhoon Gaemi in Hunan, China, increases to 22. (Yahoo! Canada) 

The World Health Organization reports that it is now “very likely” that poliovirus has infected Gazan citizens and is spreading among the population. The statement was released shortly after the Gaza Health Ministry declared a polio epidemic in the territory. (Reuters) 

At least 162 people are killed, 191 others are injured, and more than 89 others are missing in landslides in Wayanad district, Kerala, India. (The Times of India) 

Algeria withdraws its ambassador from France after France declared its support for the Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal, which was proposed by Morocco in 2007. (RFI) 

Turkey and Armenia resume talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations and agree to simplify visa rules for some passport holders. (Al Arabiya) 

The Taliban suspends relations with 14 Afghan overseas diplomatic missions and announces that they will no longer accept consular documents issued by these missions. (RFE/RL) 

Kyrgyzstan says that 94% of its border with Tajikistan has been agreed upon by officials from both countries. (RFE/RL) 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces the allocation of $500 million to fund the Philippine military. (DW) 

Freddy Superlano, a leading figure in Venezuela‘s opposition coalition, is arrested as the death toll from ongoing anti-Maduro protests increases to four. (Al Arabiya) 

A federal investigation commissioned by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland discovers that sixty-five federal American Indian boarding school sites have unmarked or marked gravesites, and confirms that “at least” 973 Native American children died at boarding schools, primarily from abuse and illness. (AP) 

Interpol announces that more than 200 people have been arrested and more than US$1.6 billion of illegal drugs and precursor chemicals seized as part of a two-month operation against narcotics trafficking conducted across Europe, North America, and Africa. (ABC News) 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardons a German citizen in death row. (Barron’s) 

Masoud Pezeshkian is inaugurated as the ninth president of Iran. (France 24) 

Olympic officials postpone the men’s individual triathlon race due to poor water quality levels in the Seine river. (CNN) 

Several athletes test positive for COVID-19, including Australian swimmer Lani Pallister, forcing her to withdraw from the 1500 metre freestyle swimming event. (Al Arabiya) 

Brazil wins a bronze medal in women’s artistic gymnastics, their first ever medal in the sport. (France 24) 

The United States wins a bronze medal in women’s rugby, their first ever medal in the sport at the Olympics. (Fox News) 

Monday,  July 29th, 2024 

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine claims that it provided assistance to the Tuareg rebels in their battle against Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali. (The Guardian) 

Ukrainian army sergeant Oleh Chaus reports that the Russian army captured the eastern Donetsk villages of Prohres and Vovche, citing insufficient weapon supplies, deficient training, and decreased motivation as causes of the setback. (AP) 

French police arrest a far-left extremist who may have been behind an attack on the TGV long-distance train network ahead of the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. (DW) 

Major international flagship airlines including Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines cancel or delay flights at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon due to threats of Israeli retaliation towards Hezbollah. (Al Jazeera) 

Protesters taking part in a march in Gwadar, Pakistan, attack security forces deployed to guard them, killing a soldier and injuring 16 others, according to the Pakistani Army. (Reuters) 

At least two people are killed and as many as 100 others are injured when a passenger train carrying 800 people collides with a Kamaz truck near Volgograd, Russia, and partially derails. (Al Arabiya) 

The Guatemalan government grants temporary resident permits to over 200 Mexicans, mostly children, on humanitarian grounds as they escape drug violence. (AP) 

Panama suspends diplomatic relations with Venezuela and withdraws its diplomatic personnel from the country until a full review of the presidential election results is concluded. (Reuters) 

Three children are killed and ten other people are injured in a mass stabbing at a dance school in Southport, Merseyside, England. A teenager is subsequently arrested. (BBC News) 

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey approves a law ordering the euthanization of stray dogs that are sick or have been deemed aggressive. (SCMP) 

French police report multiple sabotage acts targeting telecommunications operators in parts of the country, affecting 11,000 clients, with the incidents being treated as vandalism. (DW) (Politico) 

King Mohammed VI of Morocco pardons jailed journalists Taoufik Bouachrine, Omar Radi, and Soulaimane Raissouni, along with 2,476 other convicts, as part of a gesture marking the 25th anniversary of his reign. (Reuters) 

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken states that the U.S. government has “serious concerns” that the Venezuelan election results do not reflect “the will nor the votes of the Venezuelan people” and demands that Venezuelan electoral authorities publish fair and transparent election results, adding that the United States and the international community will “respond accordingly”. (AP) 

Venezuela recalls its diplomats in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay after those countries oppose the election results. (TRT World) 

At least one person is killed as protests occur throughout Venezuela due to the disputed election results. (AP) 

Thousands of environmentalists and opposition group members protest across Serbia against a European Union–Serbian government lithium mining project meant to reduce its dependency on Chinese lithium that would seize and raze several rivers and forests. (AP) 

Slovak deputy prime minister Tomáš Taraba announces that he will boycott the Olympics closing ceremony in response to being offended by what he called “progressive political theater” hosted by “drag queens” during the opening ceremony. (Anadolu Agency) 

Olympics organizers cancel second triathlon training over Seine water quality. (France 24) 

Monday,  July 29th, 2024 

United Arab Emirates grants firm lottery license for first time in potential move towards casinos. (Al Arabiya) 

Far Right Israelis storm Sde Teiman detention camp after the Israel Defense Forces Detains nine reservists on suspicion of abusing a Palestinian detainee. (Haaretz) 

Turkey’s parliament approved a law aim to euthanize some of the country’s four million stray dogs. (South china morning post) 

Sakina Muhammad Jan become the first person to be jailed under Australia’s forced marriage laws, for ordering her 21-year-old daughter to wed a man who would later murder her. (BBC) 

French police arrest a far left activist who may have been behind an attack on the long-distance train network ahead of the opening of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (DW) 

Wagner Group said that its fighters and Malian soldiers took losses in heavy fighting against Tuareg rebels near Mali’s border with Algeria.  (France 24) 

Human Rights Watch report a widespread acts of sexual violence in the capital Khartoum, including gang rape and forced marriages commited by the army and Rapid Support Forces. (Reuters) 

Pakistan’s army said protesters taking part in a march in the southwestern city of Gwadar attacked security forces deployed to guard them, killing one soldier and injuring 16 others. (Reuters) 

French police reports a sabotage acts targeting telecommunications operators in six areas in France. (DW) 

At least two people were killed and up to 100 people injured when a passenger train carrying 800 people collided with a Kamaz truck, derailing eight carriages in Russia. (Al Arabiya) 

Eight people, some of whom are children, are stabbed in Southport, Merseyside, England. (BBC News) 

The End

Below posted monday 12:30pm 

Sunday, July 28th, 2024 

A study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation finds thirteen Brazilian sharpnose sharks off the coast of Brazil with high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers. Experts believe that the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through the excrement of drug users. (BBC News) 

The ancient Roman Appian Way, the oldest Roman road which began construction in 312 B.C., is added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. (AP) 

NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars finds a rock containing spotted features which are possible fossilized records of microbes, though non-biological processes cannot yet be ruled out. (Space.com) 

Hackers from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine escalate “massive” cyberattacks on Russia’s largest banks, prohibiting any cash or credit transactions. Cyberattacks also target Russian public transport systems, internet and mobile providers, and social networks. (Kyiv Post) 

Researchers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science report evidence of dark oxygen being produced from metals on the seafloor. It was previously assumed that almost all the free oxygen (O ₂) on Earth was created through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight. (NPR) 

A former top United States official states that the Department of Defense covertly admits to conducting a mass disinformation campaign targeting the Philippines using social media bots and fake accounts to discredit the safety of Chinese CoronaVac vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, following public denial of involvement in June. (Reuters) 

The South Korean women’s archery team wins its tenth consecutive Olympic gold medal after beating the Chinese team in a tiebreaker that required a magnifying glass to determine the final score. (AP) 

Several nations, including the United States, Australia, and multiple European nations release travel advisories urging all their citizens not to travel to Lebanon, and for those residing there to leave as soon as possible in anticipation of an Israeli attack against Hezbollah. (Anadolu Ajansı) 

Malaysia formally applies to become a member of the BRICS economic bloc and geopolitical organization. (Anandolu Ajansi) 

Fifteen people are killed and six others are injured by a landslide caused by remnants of Typhoon Gaemi in Hengyang, Hunan, China. (AP) 

The Park Fire in California, United States, spreads to more than 350,000 acres, with at least 134 structures being destroyed by the wildfires. (NBC News) 

The Philippine coast guard finds and seals diesel fuel cargo leaks from the MTKR Jason Bradley, the second vessel to sink in the Manila Bay in one week, following the MT Terra Nova‘s sinking. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

At least twelve people are killed by extensive flooding throughout Kassala State in eastern Sudan that submerged several internal displacement camps. (ILKHA) 

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatens to position long-range missiles that could strike throughout Europe following the United States’s announcement of plans to set up long-range missiles in Germany beginning in 2026. (Reuters) 

Venezuelans vote to elect their president. Incumbent Nicolás Maduro is standing for reelection for a third consecutive term. (BBC News) 

Incumbent President Nicolás Maduro is declared the winner of the Venezuelan 2024 presidential election by the National Electoral Council. Opposition parties claim that there are irregularities in the election results. (AP) 

The National Electoral Council announces, at a point where 20% of ballots were yet to be counted, that Maduro’s 7-point lead is “irreversible”, a mathematically impossible claim. (BBC) 

Eleanor Harvey wins a bronze medal in fencing at the 2024 Olympics, making it the first medal Canada has ever won in fencing. (TSN) 

Denis Vieru wins the bronze medal in Judo, making it the first medal Moldova has ever won in Judo. (HotNews) 

In Gaelic football, the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship concludes with Armagh defeating Galway in the final. (The Irish Times) 

Saturday, July 27th, 2024 

Iran orders all government offices and commercial institutions to close tomorrow due to ongoing country-wide heatwaves. (ABC)

Mali’s Tuareg coalition CSP-PSD claimed to have killed and wounded dozens of Malian Armed Forces soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries on the outskirts of Tinzaouaten. Russian sources said the head of the Wagner-affiliated Grey Zone Telegram channel, which has 560,000 subscribers, died in the battle. The status of Wagner Group leader Anton Yelizarov is currently unknown. (Voice of America) 

Twelve people, all children, are killed in rocket strikes on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel claims that Hezbollah is responsible for the attack, but Hezbollah denies any involvement. (Reuters) 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows that Hezbollah will “pay a heavy price” which “it has not paid so far” in response to the attack. (Barron’s) 

Russian forces capture the village of Lozovatske in Donetsk Oblast. (Anadolu Agency) 

More than fifty people, including fifteen children, are killed in Israeli attacks on a school used to shelter displaced people in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. (Al Jazeera) 

At least 22 people are killed and 75 others are injured in a Rapid Support Forces attack on Al-Fashir, North Darfur, Sudan. (Reuters) 

Seven people are killed and others injured after a stampede during a concert at the Stade des Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AP) 

Eight people are killed and five others are injured when a vehicle hits pedestrians in Changsha, Hunan, China. The perpetrator is arrested. (AP) 

In response to the spying incident involving the Canada women’s national soccer team coaching staff using drones to spy on the New Zealand team, FIFA deducts six points from Canada in the Paris Olympics women’s football tournament and bans three coaches for one year, including head coach Bev Priestman. (Al Jazeera) 

Friday,  July 26th, 2024 

A German man who is sentenced to death in Belarus for photographing Belarusian military sites in Ukraine urges Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko to pardon him in a television appearance. (DW) 

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, an ethnic armed organization, claims to have captured Lashio, the location of an important regional military base, and Mogok, the center of the country’s gem-mining industry. The country’s ruling military junta denies the claims. (AP) 

A plane crashes in Campbell County, Wyoming, United States, just north of Gillette, starting a wildfire and killing all seven people onboard, including three members of the gospel group The Nelons. (WSB-TV) 

China and India agree to cooperate in withdrawing all their troops from their disputed border, with aims of peacefully achieving “complete disengagement” from the border conflict as quickly as possible. (AP) 

The United Kingdom drops its challenge to the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. (Reuters) 

U.S. President Joe Biden adds Lebanon to the Deferred Enforced Departure list, temporarily protecting Lebanese citizens residing in the United States from deportation for 18 months, in response to growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. (Detroit Free Press) 

The European Union sends its first transfer of €1.5 billion (US$1.63 billion) in proceeds from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine for military and infrastructure support. The Kremlin denounces the transfer as “illegal” under international law and pledges legal retaliation.  (Reuters) 

Finland reports that a Russian Navy vessel from its Baltic Sea fleet trespassed on Finnish territorial waters in the eastern Gulf of Finland. (Reuters) 

Italy appoints an ambassador to Syria after 12 years, becoming the first G7 country to do so. (Reuters) 

Arson attacks on TGV infrastructure disrupts rail services in France. (The Guardian) 

The opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics take place on the bank of the River Seine and the Jardins du Trocadéro in Paris, France. (NBC News) 

x

United States Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigns, citing security lapses that led to former president Donald Trump’s attempted assassination.  (The New York Times) 

The White House and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris issue statements strongly condemning vandalism and American flag burning during pro-Palestinian and anti-Benjamin Netanyahu protests in Washington, D.C., yesterday, with Harris calling the protests “despicable acts” by “unpatriotic protesters”.  (Politico) 

In the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom delivers an executive order directing state agencies to remove homeless encampments throughout the state. (AP) 

A Palestinian governmental body announces that senior Hamas leader Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara has died in Israeli prison after being arrested in October 2023. (Reuters) 

The End

Friday,  July 26th, 2024 

A study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation finds thirteen Brazilian sharpnose sharks off the coast of Brazil with high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers. Experts believe that the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through the excrement of drug users. (BBC News) 

The European Union sends its first transfer of €1.5 billion (US$1.63 billion) in proceeds from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine for military and infrastructure support. The Kremlin denounces the transfer as “illegal” under international law and pledges legal retaliation.  (Reuters) 

Finland reports that a Russian Navy vessel from its Baltic Sea fleet trespassed on Finnish territorial waters in the eastern Gulf of Finland. (Reuters) 

Italy appoints an ambassador to Syria after 12 years, becoming the first G7 country to do so. (Reuters) 

Arson attacks on TGV infrastructure disrupts rail services in France. (The Guardian) 

The opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics take place on the bank of the River Seine and the Jardins du Trocadéro in Paris, France. (NBC News) 

Thursday, July 25th, 2024 

Researchers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science report evidence of dark oxygen being produced from metals on the seafloor. It was previously assumed that almost all the free oxygen (O ₂) on Earth was created through photosynthesis, which requires sunlight. (NPR) 

United States Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigns, citing security lapses that led to former president Donald Trump’s attempted assassination.  (The New York Times) 

The White House and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris issue statements strongly condemning vandalism and American flag burning during pro-Palestinian and anti-Benjamin Netanyahu protests in Washington, D.C., yesterday, with Harris calling the protests “despicable acts” by “unpatriotic protesters”.  (Politico) 

In the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom delivers an executive order directing state agencies to remove homeless encampments throughout the state. (AP) 

A Palestinian governmental body announces that senior Hamas leader Mustafa Muhammad Abu Ara has died in Israeli prison after being arrested in October 2023. (Reuters) 

At least 21 people are killed during a heat wave in Beni Mellal, Morocco. (NDTV) 

Myanmar’s military junta and the ethnic resistance group Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army both claim to capture Lashio, which houses the major military headquarters, and Mogok, the center of the country’s gem-mining industry. (AP) (Voice of America) 

Fitch Ratings downgrades Ukraine’s credit rating from “CC” to “C” due to the country’s need to restructure US$20 billion in international bonds to foreign investors, increasing the country’s risk of default. (Al Jazeera) 

Southwest Airlines announces the end to its 53-year open seating policy, starting in 2025. (Reuters) 

An oil tanker capsizes off the coast of Limay, Bataan, Philippines, killing one person and spilling oil into Manila Bay. (CNBC) 

The Brazilian Ministry of Health reports the world’s first Oropouche virus deaths from two women in Bahia. (The Telegraph) 

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hold separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on the Israel–Hamas war and plans following the conclusion of the war. (NBC News) 

Candlelight Party President Teav Vannol is fined 6 billion riel (US$1.5 million) for “defamation” of the current Cambodian government to foreign media following his party being barred from the 2023 general election, which saw the incumbent People’s Party win 120 of 125 National Assembly seats. (Reuters) 

Between 16 and 18 July, at least 26 people, including 16 children, were killed in mass shootings by armed gangs over land disputes in Angoram District, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. (BBC News) 

Sinaloa Cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López are arrested by agents of the United States Department of Justice in El Paso, Texas. (BBC News) 

The Canada Revenue Agency announces it will revoke the charity status of the Jewish National Fund, stating that the use of its donations to fund the IDF’s military infrastructure violates Canadian tax laws. (National Post) 

Wednesday, July 24th, 2024 

The Nasdaq Composite drops 654.94 points (-3.64%) on 24 July, marking its third-largest one-day point loss. The S&P 500 drops 128.61 points (-2.31%) on the same day, marking its fifteenth-largest one-day point loss.  (CNBC) 

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser closes the Islamic Centre Hamburg for allegedly propagating extremism and being a direct representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Iranian Foreign Ministry summons the German ambassador following the closure. (DW) 

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz states that Poland will block Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union if it doesn’t resolve issues regarding Ukrainian nationalists’ massacre of Poles during WWII, including finding and burying all victims killed on current Ukrainian territory. (The Kyiv Independent) 

Three Ukrainian soldiers are killed and four others are injured in a mass shooting after a dispute in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Al Arabiya) 

Polish divers announce that they have discovered a 19th-century shipwreck in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Sweden, containing crates of champagne and porcelain. (France 24) 

A series of protests occur across Washington, D.C., to protest a speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a joint session of the United States Congress. (Reuters) 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of the United States Congress amid protests over Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.  (Reuters) 

Metro Manila, Philippines, is placed under a state of calamity due to flash floods caused by Typhoon Gaemi. (Bloomberg) 

Two people are killed and 266 others are injured by Typhoon Gaemi in northern Taiwan as the typhoon passes through Fujian province, China, and heads inland. (Reuters) 

Two wildfires burning in Jasper National Park reach the Jasper townsite in Alberta, causing several structure fires, with over 25,000 residents evacuating their homes since Monday. (Edmonton Journal) 

Air quality in Calgary and the surrounding areas are raised to “high risk” as winds blow smoke into the region. (CBC News) 

Fifteen people are killed and more than 195 others are missing after a boat carrying migrants capsizes near Nouakchott, Mauritania. (CNN) 

A Bombardier CRJ-200 crashes during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, killing eighteen people on board, with only the captain surviving. (Reuters) 

Ten migrants are found drowned in a river near the Colombia–Panama border, according to Panamanian border police. (Al Jazeera) 

The North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepts two Russian and two Chinese bomber aircraft flying together near Alaska, marking the first record of Chinese H-6 aircraft entering Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone, and marking the first time both countries were intercepted operating together. (CNN) 

A formal inquiry by the New Zealand government concludes that since 1950, about 200,000 people in state and religious care were abused, experiencing abuses such as rape, sterilization, and electric shocks. (Reuters) 

At the International Olympic Committee‘s meeting in Paris, France, it is announced that the French Alps region has been conditionally approved to host the 2030 Winter Olympics and that Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, will host the 2034 Winter Olympics. (Fox News)  

The Canadian Olympic Committee expels two members of the women’s soccer team coaching staff from the Olympics following a spying incident involving a drone disrupting New Zealand‘s training session. FIFA initiates disciplinary proceedings. (Al Jazeera) 

Tuesday,  July 23rd, 2024 

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that July 21 was the hottest day in recorded history, and also estimates it to be the hottest day in the past 100,000 years with a global average surface air temperature of 17.09 °C (62.76 °F). (Reuters) 

Colombian president Gustavo Petro signs a bill into law outlawing bullfighting in the country. The bill also orders all bullrings to be converted into cultural and alternative sporting venues by 2027. (AP) 

At least 89 Palestinians are killed and over 263 others are injured in an Israeli surprise attack on a previously designated “safe zone” in Khan Younis, Gaza. (AA) 

Various factions in the Palestinian government, including rivals Fatah and Hamas, sign a declaration in Beijing, China, to end their divisions and form a unity government. (Reuters) 

The Yemeni government and the Houthis sign an agreement to de-escalate tensions, which will include relaxing banking restrictions on both sides and allowing flag carrier Yemenia to resume flights to Jordan. (Middle East Eye) 

The European Union deprives Hungary of its ability to host the next set of foreign and defense ministry meetings as a “symbolic signal” against Viktor Orbán‘s uncoordinated meetings in Russia and China, moving the ministry meetings from Budapest, Hungary, to Brussels, Belgium. (BBC News) 

Kristen Michal is appointed as the new prime minister of Estonia, succeeding Kaja Kallas. (AP) 

At least 17 civilians are killed in an attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces rebels in fields near Oicha, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Reuters) 

Two people are killed and 13 more injured after the collapse of a balcony in Naples, Italy. (Rai News)

At least 229 people are killed after landslides bury two villages in Gofa Zuria, Ethiopia. (Al Arabiya) 

Eight people are killed and five others are missing after their fishing vessel encountered severe weather near the Falkland Islands. (Daily Tribune) 

The United States invites Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces to ceasefire talks in Switzerland on August 14. (TRT Afrika) 

The leftist La France Insoumise party introduces legislation to reverse pension changes and revert the legal retirement age to 62 years, with the far-right National Rally party offering support for the advancement of the legislation. (Reuters) 

The Woolwich Crown Court finds British Pakistani Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary guilty of directing the proscribed terrorist network Al-Muhajiroun. (The Guardian) 

Thousands of anti-war protestors led by Jewish Voice for Peace stage a sit-in at a congressional office building in Washington D.C., U.S., ahead of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, with over 400 people, including rabbis, being arrested by Capitol Police. (AP) 

The Ukrainian parliament agrees to extend martial law and nationwide military mobilization for an additional 90 days beginning on August 12. (RFE/RL) 

At least 45 Ugandans are detained and some are charged while participating in anti-corruption protests in the capital city Kampala. (Al Jazeera) 

Israel orders mandatory evacuations across the Gaza Strip, including in sections of the heavily populated Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. (AP) 

The Israeli parliament votes in favor of classifying UNRWA as a terrorist organization, allowing the motion to undergo supplementary deliberation regarding Israel severing relations with the agency. (Reuters) 

Monday,  July 22nd, 2024 

A court in Russia sentences Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to six and a half years in prison in a secret trial. (DW) 

Belarusian foreign minister Maxim Ryzhenkov is invited to and will make Belarus’s first foreign ministry visit to North Korea regarding cooperation with Russia against conflicts with Western nations. (AP) 

The U.S. Air Force delivers the first of 14 F-16 Fighting Falcons to the Slovak Air Force as part of a $1.6 billion deal signed in 2018. (Reuters) 

More than 35 Somali soldiers and more than 80 al-Shabaab militants are killed after al-Shabaab attempts to overrun three army bases near Kismayo, Jubaland. (Reuters) 

Philippine president Bongbong Marcos announces a ban on offshore gaming operations in his State of the Nation Address. (Reuters) 

A court in the United Arab Emirates sentences 57 Bangladeshis to prison, including three to life sentences, for holding protests against the Bangladesh government in the United Arab Emirates, where protesting is illegal. (BBC News) 

Burmese military commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing is named acting president of Myanmar after current acting president Myint Swe goes on medical leave. (Al Jazeera) 

Russian forces capture the villages of Andriivka in Luhansk Oblast and Pishchane in Kharkiv Oblast. (Anadolu Agency) 

Sunday, July 21st, 2024 

Incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden announces that he will not seek a second term in office and ends his presidential campaign, while endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. (NBC News) 

French president Emmanuel Macron opens the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. (Francs Jeux) 

In cycle sport, Tadej Pogačar wins the Tour de France for the third time in his career. (TSN) 

Wildfires continue to spread in northern Alberta, Canada, prompting emergency evacuations in John D’Or Prairie 215, Fox Lake and Garden River. At least 55 of the 158 active wildfires are reported as “out of control”. (Reuters) 

In auto racing, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri wins his first Formula One race at the Hungarian Grand Prix, becoming the first driver born in the 2000s to win a Formula One race. (AP) 

Israel begins issuing call-up notices for military conscription to Haredi Jews amid mass protests in Jerusalem. (Reuters) 

The death toll from yesterday’s Israeli airstrikes on Al Hudaydah, Yemen, increases to six. (Al Jazeera) 

The Houthis target Eilat, Israel, with multiple ballistic missiles, in response to yesterday’s airstrikes in Yemen. (Sky News) 

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh reduces the government job quota reserved for families of veterans who fought in the Bangladesh Liberation War from 30% to 5%, leaving 93% of jobs to be allocated on merit and 2% set aside for ethnic minorities, transgender, and disabled people. (AP) 

Thousands of people protest in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, against overtourism in the country. (Reuters) 

In response to the prior day’s Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, Israeli airstrikes hit oil refineries and power stations in the Yemeni port of Al Hudaydah, killing six people and injuring over eighty others. (Al Jazeera) 

The End