Rescuers among at least 14 victims of Russian ‘double tap’ strike on Odesa (www.telegraph.co.uk)
China wants to rid itself of Western tech by 2027 -- outlines domestic alternatives in 'Document 79' (www.tomshardware.com)
The WSJ reports that China is on an extensive push to drive out Western tech companies from the country and replace them with domestic alternatives. China reportedly started its domestic expansion in 2022 with a highly secretive “Document 79,” an initiative focused on deleting Western tech companies from the country. Since...
Japan same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional again by courts, remains the only G7 country not to recognize (www.bbc.com)
Israel talks with Hamas back on as terror group drops permanent ceasefire demand (www.telegraph.co.uk)
Croatian parliament dissolves to pave way for parliamentary election later this year (apnews.com)
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s parliament was dissolved on Thursday to pave the way for a parliamentary election later this year....
Torture, executions, babies left to die, sexual abuse… These are Israel’s crimes (www.middleeasteye.net)
Blow for Milei as Senate rejects sweeping mega-reform decree | Buenos Aires Times (batimes.com.ar)
Gangsters, Money and Murder: How Chinese Organized Crime Is Dominating America’s Illegal Marijuana Market (www.propublica.org)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Eliminates Means Testing, Provides Free High School & University Education for Residents (open.substack.com)
Inside Moscow as Russia votes in election with no opposition to Putin (www.nbcnews.com)
NBC News spoke to people outside a polling station in the Russian capital Friday. With the winner in no doubt, the Kremlin will instead be looking to turnout as a measure of public support for President Vladimir Putin’s extended rule across this vast country....
Canada moves to protect coral reef that scientists say ‘shouldn’t exist’ (www.theguardian.com)
US, G-7 allies warn Iran to back off deal to provide Russia ballistic missiles or face new sanctions (apnews.com)
The United States and allies warned Iran on Friday that major Western economies will pile new sanctions on Tehran if it moves forward with an advancing plan to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for its war with Ukraine....
The first ship to use a new sea route approaches Gaza with 200 tons of aid (apnews.com)
‘Massacre’: Israel forces attack crowds waiting for aid in Gaza, killing 21 (www.aljazeera.com)
At least 21 Palestinians have been killed after Israeli forces opened fire on thousands of people waiting for aid in Gaza City in the same area that was targeted hours earlier, government officials said....
Fears raised over ‘Chinese spy cranes’ in US ports (www.telegraph.co.uk)
Finland Moves To Block Asylum-Seekers From Entering Via Russia (www.reuters.com)
Finland plans to adopt temporary legislation that will allow its border authorities to block asylum seekers seeking to enter its territory from Russia, the government said on Friday....
Tens of thousands peacefully attend 1st Friday prayers of Ramadan at Temple Mount (www.timesofisrael.com)
Ukraine, Stalled on the Battlefield, Targets Russia’s Oil Industry | Ukrainian drone strikes have been able to hit refineries deep in Russian territory, indicating a new vulnerability. (www.nytimes.com)
Mr. Ernst and Mr. Krutikhin noted that, unlike in other oil infrastructure such as pipelines, a lot of complex machinery and sophisticated engineering goes into refineries, and they can take several months to fix. Some analysts say the repairs could take longer than usual because sanctions prohibit Western sales of certain...
Russians head to polls in a vote set to extend Putin's rule. His foes are in jail, in exile or dead (apnews.com)
Swisscom finalises takeover of Vodafone Italy - SWI swissinfo.ch (www.swissinfo.ch)
CAA Should Be for All Persecuted People ‘Irrespective of Religion’, Says Taliban (thewire.in)
Israel broke international law with tank shelling that killed journalist, UN finds (www.theguardian.com)
China puts trust in AI to maintain largest high-speed rail network on Earth (www.scmp.com)
‘We don’t know where the money is going’: the ‘carbon cowboys’ making millions from credit schemes (www.theguardian.com)
Carbon schemes are touted as a way to transfer billions in climate finance to the developing world – but people at the Kariba project in Zimbabwe say most of the profits never arrive...
Spanish parliament approves controversial amnesty for Catalan separatists (english.elpais.com)
