Jul 20 Blinken heads to Tonga, New Zealand, Australia as U.S. aims to counter China's influence in the region By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The State Department says Blinken will dedicate a new U.S. embassy in the Tongan capital of Nukuʻalofa on July 26 before heading to Wellington, New Zealand, where he will attend the women's World Cup match between the U.S. and the… Continue reading
Jul 20 Odesa, other Ukrainian port cities bombarded by Russia for 3rd consecutive night By Samya Kullab, Associated Press Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night, keeping Odesa in its crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black… Continue reading
Jul 20 North Korea unresponsive to requests to discuss soldier who crossed border, U.S. says By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press Pvt. Travis King, who was supposed to be on his way to Fort Bliss, Texas, after finishing a prison sentence in South Korea for assault, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the border village of Panmunjom on Tuesday. Continue reading
Jul 20 Diplomatic crisis erupts between Iraq and Sweden over Iraqi man who desecrated the Quran By Abby Sewell, David Keyton, Ali Jabar, Associated Press Protesters stormed the diplomatic post early Thursday, waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and set a small fire. The attack on the embassy came ahead of a planned burning of the… Continue reading
Jul 20 Modi breaks silence over deadly ethnic clashes after video released showing women assaulted By Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press The violence depicted in the video was emblematic of the near-civil war in Manipur that has left more than 130 people dead since May, as mobs rampage through villages killing people and torching houses. Continue reading
Jul 20 2 killed by shooter in New Zealand in hours before 1st game of Women's World Cup By Nick Perry, Jenna Fryer, Associated Press A gunman opened fire on terrified workers on a construction site in downtown Auckland early Thursday. The man was found dead, and authorities said his motive appeared to be connected to his previous work at the site. Continue reading
Jul 20 Australia opens their Women's World Cup with a 1-0 win By Abby Halpin, Zeke Palermo, Associated Press A sea of yellow and green filled Stadium Australia at Sydney Olympic Park, becoming part of the biggest crowd ever for a women’s soccer match in Australia. Continue reading
Jul 19 The upper house of Russian parliament approves a ban on gender changes By Associated Press The bill, which already was approved in the lower house, bans any "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person. The only exception is medical intervention to treat congenital anomalies. Continue reading
Jul 19 U.S. approves $1.3 billion package of long-term military aid for Ukraine By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The new assistance comes on the heels of a meeting Tuesday by defense and military leaders from around the globe to discuss ongoing efforts to give Ukraine the weapons it needs in its battle to retake territory seized by Russian… Continue reading
Jul 19 Five European countries will extend ban on Ukraine's grain By Monika Scislowska, Associated Press The declaration said they support continuing to allow Ukraine’s grain to move through their borders by road, rail and river to destinations where it is needed but will keep the import ban to their countries through 2023. Continue reading