Jul 28 AP report: U.S. announces $345 million military aid package for Taiwan By Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Tara Copp, Associated Press The U.S. has announced a new $345 million military aid package for Taiwan. It is the Biden administration's first major package drawing on America's own stockpiles to help Taiwan counter China. Continue reading
Jul 28 Watch 7:15 Hong Kong democracy activist describes how Chinese government targets critics in exile By John Yang, Teresa Cebrian Aranda and Sarah Cutler, Columbia Journalism Fellow For over 20 years, it was understood that Hong Kong was part of China, but it ran its own affairs. Hong Kong residents had many freedoms that mainland Chinese did not. That all started to change four years ago as… Continue watching
Jul 28 Senate Democrats urge Biden to withhold $320 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press Nine senior Senate Democrats and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are urging the Biden administration to withhold about a quarter of the United States’ more than $1 billion in annual military aid to Egypt for a third year. Continue reading
Jul 28 IMF agrees to release $7.5 billion to Argentina as its economy reels from drought By Associated Press The International Monetary Fund says it reached an agreement with Argentina that would open the door for the cash-strapped South American country to receive $7.5 billion over the next few months. Continue reading
Jul 28 Armenia calls on allies to give aid to Nagorno-Karabakh during tensions with Azerbaijan By Avet Demourian, Associated Press Armenia's authorities are calling on the country’s international allies to pressure on Azerbaijan after accusing it of carrying out a three-day blockade of humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. Continue reading
Jul 28 Soldiers declare Niger general as head of state after coup By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The announcement on state television Friday came hours after Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani defended the takeover and asked for support from the nation and international partners. Continue reading
Jul 28 Moscow blames Kyiv for a missile attack in Russia as Kremlin battle for Ukrainian village By Felipe Dana, Jim Heintz, Associated Press Ukrainian and Russian forces battled for a key village in southeastern Ukraine, with Moscow's forces pounding it with artillery, amid Kyiv's grinding counteroffensive. Continue reading
Jul 28 Defense Secretary Austin says U.S. stands with countries fighting China's 'bullying behavior' By Rod McGuirk, Associated Press United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the U.S. stands with countries fighting Chinese "bullying behavior" as he starts bilateral talks in Australia aimed at countering Beijing's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Continue reading
Jul 28 Niger coup leader calls for support from people and international partners By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The general who led a coup in Niger has defended the takeover on state television and asked for support from the nation and international partners. Continue reading
Jul 27 Watch 7:06 Coup in Niger puts U.S. efforts to thwart terrorism in Africa's Sahel region at risk By Stephanie Sy, Teresa Cebrian Aranda and Sarah Cutler, Columbia Journalism Fellow An apparent military takeover has occurred in the African nation of Niger. It's a country struggling with grinding poverty and fighting back an Islamist insurgency. The U.S. denounced the coup and has long counted Niger as a partner in the… Continue watching