July 2022 Current Events: World News

Updated August 22, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

US News | Disaster News | Science & Technology News

The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the World news events you need to know so far for July 2022:

  1. Two More Britons Charged As Foreign Mercenaries By Separatist Region
  2. Enemy Drones’ Attack On Gas Rig Shot Down By Israel
  3. Ukrainian Flag To Be Hoisted On Snake Island After Russian Retreat
  4. Human Rights Lawyer Wants Turkey To Face International Court Over Yazidi Genocide
  5. Free Noodles Offered To Younger Voters To Boost Election Turnout
  6. Islamic State Raids Medium Security Prison, Freeing Insurgents
  7. The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Resigns
  8. The Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, Shot Dead
  9. Act As Partner, Not Opponent, China’s Wang Yi Tells Australia
  10. Rocket Attack On Apartment Building In Ukraine Leaves Six People Dead
  11. The President Of Italy Asks Draghi To Rethink His Resignation
  12. State Of Emergency Declared In Sri Lanka As The President Flees To The Maldives
  13. Russian-Controlled Region Hit By Ukrainian Rockets In Preparation For A Counter-Attack
  14. President Of China, Xi Jinping, Paid Xinjiang A Rare Visit
  15. Biden Assures The Middle East That United State Will Remain An Active Partner
  16. Ukraine President Zelenskiy Fires Spy Chief And Top State Prosecutor
  17. Decision On Prince Muhammed’s Immunity Over Khashoggi Murder To Be Delayed
  18. First Cases Of Ebola-Like Marburg Virus Have Been Reported In Ghana
  19. Fresh Crisis Loom In Sri Lanka As Parliament Elects Ranil Wickremesinghe As President
  20. EU Has Launched Four Legal Cases Against the UK Over The Northern Ireland Protocol
  21. Wentian, The Second Space Station Module Launched By China
  22. Top Delegation From The US Visits Kyiv, Promises Their Continued Support
  23. Ukraine Flags Russian Strike Risk, As They Set To Begin Grain Exports
  24. United Nations Peacekeepers Offices In Eastern DR Congo Attacked By Protesters
  25. The Debate Between Liz Truss And Rishi Sunak Stopped, After Presenter Faints
  26. Russia Confirms That Blast Has Killed 40 Ukrainian Prisoners
  27. London’s High Court Ruling Favours Juan Guaido Over Venezuelan Gold

Two More Britons Charged As Foreign Mercenaries By Separatist Region

Curfew darkness in Ukraine

Photo Source: AP Images/Nariman El-Mofty

Friday, July 1, 2022 – The Russian-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) stated it has accused two more British people of being “mercenaries.” An inquiry against British "mercenaries" Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill is currently underway. They face the same charges as the three previously convicted mercenaries.

The UK Foreign Office criticized the “political exploitation” of inmates. It said it had highlighted the issue with the Russian authorities. According to a spokesperson, he said: “We are in close communication with the Ukrainian government about their situations and firmly support Ukraine’s attempts to free them.”

This is the second time Britons will be apprehended during the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The first set apprehended were sentenced to death by firing squad but were given an ultimatum to appeal before July 9. The European Court of Human Rights has granted “interim measures” that would prevent the execution of the mercenaries.

Source: CNN 

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Enemy Drones’ Attack On Gas Rig Shot Down By Israel

Lebanon-Israel border wall

Photo Source: AP Images/Ariel Schalit

Saturday, July 2, 2022 – Israeli authorities claim to have shot down three Hezbollah drones en route to one of their gas rigs in a disputed area of the Mediterranean. The drones were launched from Lebanon, according to military authorities. They were shot down by a mix of fighter planes and ship-mounted missiles.

In a brief statement, Hezbollah acknowledged the firing of the drones. 

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen over the sovereignty of the Karish gas field. Israel claims the field is within its UN-recognised exclusive economic zone, although Lebanon claims sections of it as well. Amos Hochstein, a US energy ambassador, is mediating between the two countries to resolve the long-running conflict.

Hezbollah claimed to have attacked the rig during a reconnaissance mission which comes at a time of political unrest in Israel

According to Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the Islamist organization is “preventing the state of Lebanon from reaching a deal about maritime boundaries.

Source: BBC 

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Ukrainian Flag To Be Hoisted On Snake Island After Russian Retreat

Ukrainian flag raised on Snake Island

Photo Source: AP Images/Ukrainian Defence Ministry Press Office

Monday, July 4, 2022 – Ukrainian forces are prepared to hoist the national flag on Snake Island, a strategically significant outpost in the Black Sea, after Russian troops withdrew following months of intense shelling.

Ukraine has viewed control of the island as a crucial first step in easing Moscow’s embargo of its southern ports even though it is exposed to bombing. It remained unclear if Ukrainian soldiers would try to maintain a long-term presence there.

It gained international attention when Russia originally took control of Snake Island in February. Ukrainian forces have made multiple attempts to recover it since Russia assumed control.

Russia said it had left the island on Thursday as a “gesture of goodwill,” demonstrating that it was not impeding United Nations efforts to build a humanitarian corridor. Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that although the withdrawal did not ensure the security of the Black Sea region, it would “seriously limit” Russian activity there.

Source: The Guardian 

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Human Rights Lawyer Wants Turkey To Face International Court Over Yazidi Genocide

Yazidi genocide requires court punishment

Photo Source: AP Images/Samya Kullab

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 – Helena Kennedy, a British Human Rights lawyer, endorsed an investigation that claims that Turkey should face charges as an accomplice in the genocide of the Yazidi people. 

Compiled by a group of prominent Human rights Lawyers, the report has also accused Iraq and Syria of failing to carry out their duty to prevent the loss of lives, highlighting that it is incumbent on countries to avoid Killings in their region even if a third party committed the atrocities.

According to the committee, The Turkish government turned a blind eye to the sale, transfer, and enslavement of Yazidi Women and Children. They also helped train the Islamic State fighters to fight its Kurdish opponents in Syria, thus strengthening their genocidal actions.

Ümit Yalçın, the Turkish ambassador to the UK, has dismissed the criticisms and allegations as “baseless and Unfair.” He said, “Turkey has played major roles in protecting the Syrian civilians and minorities against the terrorist groups.”

Source: The Guardian

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Free Noodles Offered To Younger Voters To Boost Election Turnout

Japan cup noodles

Photo Source: AP Images/John Leicester

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 – Ahead of the upcoming Japanese Upper House Election, a ramen chain is offering free noodles to young people to counter the widespread low turnout of younger voters. 

The ramen chain, Ippudo, operates 50 ramen outlets around the country. It plans to offer free noodles for two weeks, provided the individual could show evidence that they had voted in the Sunday elections. According to an Ippudo Spokesperson, the move was to create n opportunity for young people to cast their vote even though it is not yet their habit.

The youths have continually complained of being side-lined as a politician and are more focused on the older population, which formed a more significant voting Bloc in the country. According to Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Tohoku University, disengaged young voters are only at a loss. The only way to improve their financial prospects is by actively engaging in the country’s politics that tackles issues directly affecting the youths.

Source: The Guardian

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Islamic State Raids Medium Security Prison, Freeing Insurgents

Prison break in Nigeria frees insurgents

Photo Source: AP Images/David Dosunmu

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 – The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on a Nigerian Prison where about 440 inmates have escaped.

During the attack, a security officer and three more were injured as suspected Boko Haram insurgents came to free their members who were held in the medium-security prison.

According to the prison service, 879 inmates fled the facility, 443 of them are still at large, four inmates died, and 16 more were injured.

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria visited the prison. He emphasized that the attack was unacceptable and questioned the prison’s security system. He has alerted the security agencies to come up with a report and begin investigations. In a separate attack, the convoy of the President was also ambushed on his way to Daura, his hometown, for the Islamic festivals.

These attacks further show the security challenges that have plagued the country, spreading and growing from the northern regions.

Source: Reuters 

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The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Resigns

Boris Johnson resignation speech

Photo Source: AP Images/ASPR/AdMedia/MediaPunch/IPX

Thursday, July 7, 2022 – The Prime minister of the UK, Boris Johnson, has stepped down as the leader of the Tory party in a speech given at Downing Street. Mr. Johnson blamed the “herd instinct” at Westminster for his resignation.

The Prime Minister’s resignation followed a series of revolts and resignations by members of his cabinet, notably the resignation of Sajid Javid, the health minister, on Tuesday. Mr. Johnson was initially resistant, but following a series of calls, it was evident that he had lost the backing of his party.

In his speech, he reflected on his government and the 2019 general elections that brought him in with the “biggest conservative majority since 1987” and said that he was proud of his accomplishments while in office, citing Brexit, COVID-19 response, and resistance to Putin’s aggression.

Mr. Johnson assured the public in his resignation speech that the government would transition smoothly and that he would remain in office until a new government was formed.

Source: BBC 

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The Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, Shot Dead

Memorial for murdered Japanese PM Abe

Photo Source: AP Images/Hiro Komae

Friday, July 8, 2022 – The former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was shot dead on Friday morning while giving a campaign speech. Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in Japan, was flown to the hospital via helicopter after the attack outside Yamato Saidaiji railway station in Nara.

The suspect, a 41-year-old resident of Nara, Tetsuya Yamagami, spent three years in maritime self-defense until 2005. The police believe that he had crafted a homemade gun. The weapon appears from TV footage to comprise two cylindrical metallic parts heavily bound in black tape.

After the incident, Abe was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment. Still, he had difficulty breathing, and his heart had stopped. The officials said he was pronounced dead after emergency treatment, including blood transfusions.

Source: The Guardian

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Act As Partner, Not Opponent, China’s Wang Yi Tells Australia

Tensions between China and Australia

Photo Source: AP Images/Stefani Reynolds

Saturday, July 9, 2022 – The Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, has urged his Australian counterpart Penny Wong not to treat China as an opponent but as a partner and to accumulate “positive energy” to improve ties.

Wong said, “The root cause of the difficulties in Chinese and Australian relations in recent years lies in the insistence of previous Australian governments to treat China as an ‘opponent’ and even a ‘threat.’” Wang added that Australia’s words and actions were “irresponsible.”

On Friday, the Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny Wong, said that the meeting with her Chinese counterpart was a first step in achieving a stabilized relationship. Still, it would take time for the trade blockages on Australia to be removed by Beijing.

Wang told Wong at the meeting on Friday that China was conducting “equal exchange and cooperation” based on the needs and requests of the sovereign island nations, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Source: Reuters

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Rocket Attack On Apartment Building In Ukraine Leaves Six People Dead

Ukraine apartment building bombed

Photo Source: AP Images/Nariman El-Mofty

Sunday, July 10, 2022 – Eastern Ukraine town Chasiv Yar was hit by a Russian rocket, destroying a five-story apartment building and leaving at least six people dead.

The governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said the town of about 12,000 was hit by Uragan rockets from truck-borne systems. Chasiv Yar, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Kramatorsk, is a city expected to be an essential target of Russian forces as they grind westward.

Luhansk and the Donetsk region are the two provinces that make up the Donbas region, where separatist rebels have fought Ukrainian forces since 2014. Russia captured the city of Lysychansk last week, the last major stronghold of the Ukrainian resistance in Luhansk.

On Saturday, Luhansk governor, Serhiy Haidai said that Russian forces are raising “true hell” in the Donbas, despite assessments that they are taking operational rest. But, “So far, there has been no operational pause announced by the enemy. He is still attacking and shelling our lands with the same intensity as before,” Haidai said.

Source: USA Today 

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The President Of Italy Asks Draghi To Rethink His Resignation

Italian PM resigns, president pushes back

Photo Source: AP Images/Gregorio Borgia

Thursday, July 14, 2022 – The President of Italy turned down Prime Minister Mario Draghi's resignation after a day of political drama that threatened to collapse a national unity government that had only been in office for 18 months.

Draghi, the former President of the European Central Bank (ECB), made it known that he was to resign on Thursday after he didn’t have the backing of the coalition party in a confidence vote over his plan to combat soaring prices.

Draghi, 74, met with President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace in Rome to hand him his resignation, but, Mattarella has urged him to rethink.

Political sources said Draghi is expected to appear in the parliament next Wednesday, and he is more likely to proceed to Algeria, an important gas supplier to Italy.

Source: Reuters 

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State Of Emergency Declared In Sri Lanka As The President Flees To The Maldives

Police photograph home of Sri Lanken president

Photo Source: AP Images/Rafiq Maqbool

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 – The President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, hours before his resignation, fled the country to the Maldives on a military jet. This results from anti-government protesters taking over his presidential palace and office.

As protesters continued storming government offices, the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, declared a state of emergency after the President’s departure. Wickremesinghe has been appointed the acting President by Rajapaksa, A Sri Lankan official said.

Sri Lanka’s air force made a statement to confirm Rajapaksa’s departure on Wednesday after he invoked executive powers to enable his escape. “Under the provisions of the constitution and on a request by the government, the Sri Lanka air force provided a plane early today to fly the president, his wife, and two security officials to the Maldives.” They arrived in Male, the capital of Maldives, at 3 am.

Source: The Guardian 

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Russian-Controlled Region Hit By Ukrainian Rockets In Preparation For A Counter-Attack

Ukraine robot destroys land mine

Photo Source: AP Images

Tuesday, July 12, 2022 – Ukraine confirmed that it had carried out a long-range rocket strike against Russian forces and military equipment in southern Ukraine. It also said a plan is in place to retake the territory in a counter-offensive using hundreds of thousands of troops.

The Russia-installed authorities in the town reported a different version of events. In their report of the attack, the Russian TASS news agencies said that at least seven people had been killed and around 70 injured. An official in Kherson who is backed by Russia said civilians and civilian infrastructure had been hit.

In a statement made by Ukraine’s southern military command, it said, “Based on the results of our rocket and artillery units, the enemy lost 52 [people], a Msta-B howitzer, a mortar, and seven armored and other vehicles, as well as an ammunition depot in Nova Kakhovka.”

Source: Reuters 

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President Of China, Xi Jinping, Paid Xinjiang A Rare Visit

Chinese president visits Xinjiang

Photo Source: AP Images/Andy Wong

Friday, July 15, 2022 – The President of China, Xi Jinping, paid a visit to Xinjiang for the first time in eight years, amid Beijing being accused by Western nations of genocide against the region’s mostly Muslim Uyghur population.

The President’s trip comes after United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet paid a visit to the region in May. The activists have accused him of conspiring with Beijing to gloss over China’s human rights abuses. The western nations have urged the United Nations to publish a long-awaited report on Xinjiang. 

During the President’s visit, he met with the leaders of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. This supra-governmental body operates its courts, schools, and health system under the military imposed on the region where the Communist Party rose to power in 1949. Xinhua said that Xi "learned about the history of the XPCC while cultivating and guarding the frontier areas."

Source: The Guardian 

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Biden Assures The Middle East That United State Will Remain An Active Partner

US protests in Middle East

Photo Source: AP Images/Vahid Salemi

Saturday, July 16, 2022 – The President of the United States, Joe Biden, said that the United States would remain an active and engaged partner in the Middle East. At the Arab summit, he also urged leaders to see human rights as a powerful economic and social change force. 

In Biden’s opening speech to kick off the summit, he said, “The United States is invested in building a positive future for the region in partnership with all of you—and the United States is not going anywhere.”

Biden’s first trip to the Middle East since he became President has seen him focus more on Saturday’s summit with six Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, while downplaying a meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. 

Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia aims to strike a deal on oil production to help drive down the prices of gasoline that are driving inflation to a more than 40-year high.

Source: Reuters

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Ukraine President Zelenskiy Fires Spy Chief And Top State Prosecutor

Ukraine Spy Chief and Top State Prosecutor

Photo Source: AP Images/Nariman El-Mofty

Sunday, July 17, 2022 – Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy abruptly fired the head of Ukraine’s powerful domestic security agency, the SBU. The state prosecutor general says there are a great number of cases of collaboration with Russia by officials in their agencies. 

The Executive Order, which was released on Friday, saw the abrupt sackings of SBU chief Ivan Bakanov, Zelenskiy’s childhood friend, and the prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, who played a key role in the prosecution of Russian war crimes. It was announced on the President’s website.

He said over 60 officials from Venediktova and Bakanov’s agencies have started working against Ukraine in Russian-occupied territories, and 651 alleged treason cases and collaborations have been opened against prosecutorial and law enforcement officials.

Zalenskiy said, “Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state pose very serious questions to the leaders,” and vowed that every question will receive a proper answer.

Source: The Guardian 

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Decision On Prince Muhammed’s Immunity Over Khashoggi Murder To Be Delayed

Prince Muhammed of Saudi Arabia

Photo Source: AP Images/Evan Vucci

Monday, July 18, 2022 – The administration of President Biden asked a U.S. judge to extend the judgment of the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince. The judgment is to formally weigh whether Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, ought to be granted sovereign immunity in the murder case of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Department of Justice said in a filing before a U.S. district court that a “decision-making process” has been initiated to determine whether it would file a statement of interest in the case but would not be able to meet the court’s August 1.

The filing said, “The United States is diligently considering the Court’s inquiry, but the process requires consultation among multiple entities within the Executive Branch concerning complex international and domestic law issues.”

The judge in charge of the case has granted its request and given it until October 3 to submit a statement of interest.

Source: The Guardian 

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First Cases Of Ebola-Like Marburg Virus Have Been Reported In Ghana

Marburg virus in Ghana

Photo Source: AP Images/Ben Curtis

Monday, July 18, 2022 – There have been two confirmed cases of the deadly Marburg virus in Ghana. Blood samples that were collected from two people earlier this month in the Southern Ashanti region suggested that they had the Marburg virus. This is the first Ebola-like disease in the West African nation.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed that the collected samples were sent to the Pasteur Institute in Senegal, which confirmed the diagnosis. The head of the GHS, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said, “This is the first time Ghana has confirmed Marburg virus disease.”

“Health authorities have responded swiftly, getting a head start in preparing for a possible outbreak,” The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said after the World Health Organization declared Ghana’s first outbreak.

According to the WHO, previous outbreaks and cases of Marburg in Africa have been reported in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

Source: The Guardian 

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Fresh Crisis Loom In Sri Lanka As Parliament Elects Ranil Wickremesinghe As President

Sri Lanka elects new president

Photo Source: AP Images/Rafiq Maqbool

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 – The former Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was elected by the lawmakers as the president of the crisis-hit South Asian country. This move will likely anger the protesters since they have demanded his removal from office for weeks.

Wickremesinghe, who is a six-time former prime minister and an essential ally of the former President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, won a parliamentary ballot after his predecessor ran away from the country due to an escalating protest over an economic crisis marked by a dire shortage of essential imports such as food, medicine, and fuel. He received 134 votes out of a possible 223.

While Wickremesinghe addressed the country shortly after being elected president by the lawmakers, he said, “While the country has been divided into party lines, the time has come to work together.”

As the voting was in progress, a small group of protesters gathered at the president’s residence to protest Wickremesinghe’s nomination.

Source: CNN 

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EU Has Launched Four Legal Cases Against the UK Over The Northern Ireland Protocol

Northern Ireland protocols

Photo Source: AP Images/Peter Morrison

Friday, July 22, 2022 – The European Union expressed anger over MPs’ backing of legislation overriding the post-Brexit arrangement for Northern Ireland by launching four other legal cases against the government of the United Kingdom.

At the House of Commons, the protocol bill for Northern Ireland was cleared at its third hearing by 267 votes to 195 and will arrive at the Lords in the autumn.

The EU court possesses the power to impose multimillion-euro fines on the UK, and its decision could be the first step towards the bloc’s taking punitive action through mechanisms with Brexit deals. 

The commission made a statement on Friday that it was taking legal action partly in light of “the continued passage of the Northern Ireland protocol bill through the UK parliament,” which was said to “go directly against” the spirit of proffering collective solutions to current issues.

Source: The Guardian

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Wentian, The Second Space Station Module Launched By China

China space launch

Photo Source: AP Images/Mark Schiefelbein

Sunday, July 24, 2022 - In a bid for China to complete the mission’s needed outpost by year’s end, they launched the second of three modules to their permanent space station on Sunday. 

From a live feed on the state broadcaster, the CCTV showed that the 23-tonne Wentian (“Quest for the Heavens”) laboratory module was launched at the back of China’s most powerful rocket, the Long March 5B, at 2:22 p.m. (0622GMT) from the Wenchang Space launching center on the southern island of Hainan.

The construction of the space station began in April 2021 when China launched the Tianhe module, the main living quarters, in the first of 11 crewed and uncrewed missions in the undertaking. 

The 17.9 meters (59 feet) long Wentian lab module will be where the astronauts can carry out the necessary scientific experiments, along with the other lab module yet to be launched.

Source: Reuters 

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Top Delegation From The US Visits Kyiv, Promises Their Continued Support

US and Ukraine delegations

Photo Source: AP Images/Efrem Lukatsky

Saturday, July 23, 2022 – The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, met with a senior United States Congressional delegation in Kyiv and promised continued support in the war against Russia. 

The delegation, which included Adam Smith, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, stated, “The United States, along with allies and partners around the world, has stood with Ukraine by providing economic, military, and humanitarian assistance.” 

To make the total provided so far to 16, the United State Secretary of defense, Lloyd Washington, said on Wednesday that he would send four additional high mobility artillery rocket systems to Ukraine.

On Saturday, the statement made by the delegation made no specific reference to the transfer of weapons. Separately, Smith was quoted as telling the United States-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that additional launch rocket systems were ready to be provided by Washington and its allies.

Source: Reuters

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Ukraine Flags Russian Strike Risk, As They Set To Begin Grain Exports

Ukraine grain exports

Photo Source: AP Images/Odesa City Hall Press Office

Monday, July 25, 2022 - The Ukrainian government, with the goal of easing global food shortages, has proceeded with efforts to restart grain exports from its Black Sea ports, but gave a clear warning that if the Russian missile that struck in Odesa was a sign of more to come, deliveries would suffer. 

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, denounced Saturday's attack as "barbaric", which shows that Moscow could not be trusted with the implementation of a deal that was struck a day earlier with Turkish and United Nations mediation. 

The minister for infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, said in a Facebook post that "We continue technical preparations for the launch of exports of agricultural products from our ports." 

On Friday, Moscow and Kyiv signed a deal that was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough that would help bring down the soaring global food prices by restoring Ukrainian grain shipments to pre-war levels of 5 million tonnes a month.

Source: Reuters 

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United Nations Peacekeepers Offices In Eastern DR Congo Attacked By Protesters

DR Congo UN protests

Photo Source: AP Images/Moses Sawasawa

Monday, July 25, 2022 – On Monday, a United Nations peacekeeping force’s warehouse in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was ransacked by hundreds of protesters who looted the offices. They demanded that the mission leaves for failing to protect the population. 

A spokesperson for the peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, said in his statement that “one of our warehouses was attacked by protesters early this morning." They entered one of our bases and looted the equipment. They managed to enter a few offices. We are obviously appalled and shocked by this.” 

The protest was organized by a faction of the youth wing of President Felix Tshisekedi’s UDPS ruling party, which in a statement said it wants the United Nations to withdraw immediately over what it described as its ineffectiveness. 

The situation, however, is being closely monitored by the Congolese government.

Source: Reuters 

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The Debate Between Liz Truss And Rishi Sunak Stopped, After Presenter Faints

UK PM debate between Truss and Sunak

Photo Source: AP Images

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 – The second TV debate between the top two Conservative leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, was stopped because the presenter, Kate McCann, fainted, putting an end to a bitter clash over funding for the NHS and tax cuts. 

The debate, which was hosted by Talk TV, had the Tory leadership hopefuls quizzed by one audience member with cancer, who complained about not receiving proper support from the health service and asked “Why is the NHS broken?” 

The two candidates talked about their plans, which include reducing the number of NHS managers and making use of new technology. Truss's argument was mostly based on the failing health service’s infrastructure that is crumbling, and she said a hospital in her Norfolk constituency was “being held up by stilts.” 

The statement from the station, later on, was that McMann, its political editor, “fainted on air tonight and although she is fine, the medical advice was that we shouldn’t continue with the debate.”

Source: The Guardian 

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Russia Confirms That Blast Has Killed 40 Ukrainian Prisoners

Donetsk explosion area

Photo Source: AP Images/Andriy Andriyenko

Friday, July 29, 2022 - Russia’s defense ministry made a statement that 40 Ukrainian war prisoners had been killed by Ukrainian shelling of a prison held by separatists in Donetsk, but Ukraine’s military denied carrying out such an operation and instead said it was Russia that shelled the prison. 

Ukraine’s General Staff said the Russian occupants pursued their goals to accuse Ukraine of committing ‘war crimes.’ He also said, “the Russian reports aim to hide the torture of prisoners and shootings committed there by the orders of the occupation administration and the command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” 

A spokesperson of the Russian-backed separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, Daniil Bezsonov, stated that the strike was a “direct hit on a barracks holding prisoners.” There might be an increase in the number of people killed. 

The Russian defense ministry also claimed that US-made Himars artillery was used to carry out the operation and accused Ukraine of a deliberately perpetrated provocation.

Source: BBC

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London’s High Court Ruling Favours Juan Guaido Over Venezuelan Gold

Juan Guaido favored by UK

Photo Source: AP Images/Ariana Cubillos

Friday, July 29, 2022 - The High Court in London has ruled in favor of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido against Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, in a battle for who will control gold reserves worth almost $2 billion held in the Bank of England. 

According to the copy of the ruling published, the court, after a four-day trial, ruled that the British Government recognizes Guaido as the interim President of Venezuela. The board of advisers named by the opposition should have control of the gold instead of the alternative board named by Maduro. 

The dispute started in 2019 when the then president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Guaido, swore himself as interim leader of the country. The election won by Maduro sparked controversy amid extensive clams of human rights abuse. 

After the ruling, Guaido said in his statement, “This decision represents a further step towards protecting Venezuela’s sovereign gold reserves for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.”

Source: CNN 

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