During a recent visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Congressman Ro Khanna accused the Israeli government and military of lying about his detention by armed settlers and Israeli soldiers. Video evidence showed Khanna’s convoy being blocked by settlers and soldiers, a situation he described as settlers threatening American citizens. The Israeli military initially claimed they dispersed the civilians, but Khanna stated they further detained him and his group, asserting the soldiers sided with the settlers. Israel’s ambassador later accused Khanna of staging the visit for political gain, a claim Khanna refuted by reiterating that the Israeli government is covering up the IDF’s complicity.
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Saudi Arabia has reportedly attacked Sanaa International Airport, according to the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel. Residents in the Yemeni capital have confirmed the presence of warplanes overhead, indicating ongoing aerial activity in the city.
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A German court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to a couple convicted of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity for enslaving and abusing two Yazidi girls. The couple, who were members of the Islamic State group, had purchased the girls as slaves in Iraq when they were as young as five and twelve. They subjected the children to forced labor, torture, and sexual abuse, with the man receiving a life sentence and his former partner receiving a nine-and-a-half-year sentence. This landmark ruling marks the first conviction in Germany for forced religious conversion.
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Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has resigned, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announcing a broader governmental reshuffling aimed at a new political strategy. Zelenskyy indicated Svyrydenko will lead a new initiative in Ukraine’s international relations, emphasizing the need for experienced individuals in key foreign policy roles. This shake-up, the fourth major reorganization since the invasion, coincides with ongoing Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities, which have led to fuel shortages in Russia. Russia has retaliated with intensified bombardments on Ukrainian cities, highlighting mutual vulnerabilities.
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Overnight on July 13, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil depot in Stavropol Krai, Russia, causing a significant fire. Simultaneously, explosions were heard in Moscow Oblast as air defenses engaged incoming drones, resulting in casualties and damage to residential buildings. These incidents are part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to target Russian military infrastructure and disrupt its war capabilities.
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Six months after the change in government, the United States, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has established an unprecedented level of influence over Venezuela’s financial system, oil industry, and state institutions. The US Treasury Department now controls the flow of export proceeds, dictating how these funds can be allocated and managed, rendering the Venezuelan leadership dependent on Washington’s decisions. This direct oversight extends to key personnel appointments, foreign policy directives, and even the approval of official statements, a dynamic starkly different from past approaches to Latin American governance.
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Ukrainian forces successfully struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, along with 10 tankers and four ferries in the Sea of Azov, on July 11 and early July 12. These strikes targeted vital Russian energy and military logistics infrastructure, including a refinery producing fuel for the Russian Armed Forces and vessels used to circumvent sanctions and transport military cargo. These attacks are part of ongoing Ukrainian operations aimed at disrupting Russia’s war-fighting capabilities and economic resources.
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The New York Times reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio effectively governs Venezuela, controlling its finances, resource distribution, and governmental decisions, despite never having visited the country. This “de facto viceroy” status is maintained through U.S. Treasury control over Venezuelan export revenues, which are then disbursed to the interim government under strict conditions set by Rubio. This financial leverage extends to sanctions, business operations, and even foreign policy, as evidenced by the removal of a statement condemning U.S. actions. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez reportedly consults Rubio on her publications and foreign policy decisions, highlighting a level of subservience established after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
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Here’s a summarized version of the article:
Four settlers were arrested after an attack on journalists, including a CNN crew, in the occupied West Bank as they covered the anniversary of a Palestinian-American’s death. The settlers reportedly used rods, stones, and a knife to block and damage the journalists’ vehicles, attempting to prevent them from leaving the scene. This incident follows a pattern of increasing settler violence in the region, which has also recently led to the detention of U.S. Representative Ro Khanna. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged the severity of settler violence, characterizing perpetrators as “juvenile delinquents” while noting judicial leniency.
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Following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz after striking a vessel, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets, including air surveillance radars and missile launch sites. These actions were taken after Iran failed to adhere to a Memorandum of Understanding and continued to threaten commercial shipping. CENTCOM emphasized that the strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The incident occurred after the US had demanded Iran reopen the strait and cease attacks on vessels.
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John Q. Hosedrinker