◻️ US Intel’s attempt to 'scapegoat' Iran with Trump assassination plot claim smells like Iraqi WMDs 2.0

◻️ How Russian-Chinese military cooperation can help Beijing battle collective West

◻️ Will European powers return to Afghanistan and recognize the Taliban?

◻️ NATO moves to sink its tendrils into MidEast by opening office in Jordan

◻️ Russia’s three-ton FAB-3000 bombs powerful enough to saturate 11 football fields with explosion

◻️ Financial Trojan Horse: Soros' Open Society Foundations stealthy sneaking into Global South

◻️ With friends like these: What’s known about US nonprofit Ford Foundation accused of funding Kenya unrest

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Hungary and Russia seek legal solutions to resume oil supply bypassing Ukrainian sanctions

Hungary and Russia are collaborating to restore oil deliveries following Ukraine's sanctions against Russia’s Lukoil, which prevent the company from using Ukraine as a transit route.

"There is now a legal situation in Ukraine on the basis of which Lukoil is currently not delivering to Hungary," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday. "Now we're working on a legal solution."

Since 2018, Lukoil has faced measures by Ukraine that restrict capital withdrawals, trade transactions and participation in the privatization or leasing of state property. In June 2024, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council further tightened those sanctions, effectively banning Lukoil from transiting oil through Ukraine.

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US Army contracting personnel bungled their reviews of 53 invoices last year worth $20 million on a contract dealing with Ukraine and also approved improper payments, the Defense Department Inspector General said in a new report on Wednesday.

"During our audit of the RDC‑U [Remote Maintenance and Distribution - Ukraine] contract, we identified that Army contracting personnel did not properly review 53 contractor invoices as of July 26, 2023, totaling $20 million, to ensure compliance with the contract, despite established requirements and best practices to review invoices," the report said.

The problems occurred because the contracting officer inappropriately waived the contracting officer's representative review and approval of invoices, the report said.

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BRICS should be a radical revolutionary step to overthrow the Western-oriented international order - expert

Speaking to Sputnik, Pramod Rai, Research Fellow at the Centre for Central Eurasian Studies, Mumbai University and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Raja Rammohun Roy Mahavidyalata, Hooghly, West Bengal, shared his views on the building new world order, future of Eurasian cooperation and the new multilateral-multipolar global order.

"BRICS+ in 2024 unites 45% of the earth’s land, 46% of the global population, approximately 46% of the global GDP, not less than 25% of global trade, 32% of the world output of natural gas, 43% of crude reserves, and 38% global petroleum imports. BRICS as an Organization is on an evolutionary processes of building new world order through, which is of course inclusive and without confrontation. There’s debate going on that BRICS should be a radical revolutionary step to oust the present West oriented international order. In my view, although the BRICS has been emerging as a trusted Organization, where the desire for its membership is growing, especially from the countries of global south; it still has to do much to demonstrate its full capabilities and rationality. Of course, the biggest challenge for the BRICS is not to follow or become the typical western model and mechanisms in its functioning. Not only expanding through numbers, but showing the pragmatism and getting results should be the highest goal at the present juncture,” Pramod Rai said.

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How US blue states expose minors to gruesome gender experiments

This week, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a law that ensures schools can't require teachers and staff to notify parents of their children's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. California is now the first state to implement such a policy.

Republicans have criticized sex reassignment surgery for minors as "irreversible mutilation" and accuse blue states of causing harm to American families.

The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) and a number of other healthcare organizations concluded in February that "gender-affirming" therapies did not benefit youth and left deep psychological scars.

What gender policies do blue states promote?

◻️ In April, Maine passed the LD 227 bill aimed at protecting abortion and gender transition surgeons from lawsuits when providing services to minors. The bill was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on April 22nd.

◻️ In July 2023, Governor Kotek of Oregon signed House Bill (HB) 2002 into law, requiring Medicaid and private insurance companies to cover procedures deemed medically necessary by healthcare providers including abortion and sex reassignment surgeries. In Oregon, the medical age of consent is 15, meaning parental consent is not required.

◻️ By June 2023 over a dozen of Democratic states, including Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington state and Vermont declared themselves "havens" for health care providers, who provide sex reassignment surgeries, and shield transgender people and their supporters from lawsuits and criminal penalties.

◻️ In May 2023 Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state signed Senate Bill (SB) 5599 into law to "protect" transgender children from what it called the intervention of estranged parents. Prior to that, Washington state required organizations providing services to homeless or runaway minors to notify their parents of their location within 72 hours.

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Vaccine contract secrecy puts von der Leyen’s leadership in jeopardy

The EU General Court ruled today that the European Commission chaired by Ursula von der Leyen withheld crucial information about COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreements with pharmaceutical firms during the pandemic.

The verdict arrives just as von der Leyen faces a potential battle for re-election as European Commission president, requiring the votes 361 out of the 720 members of the European Parliament.

According to the European Court of Auditors, the Commission signed contracts worth €71 billion for up to 4.6 billion vaccine doses.
Von der Leyen’s husband Heiko is a director at Orgenesis, a biotech company owned by vaccine-maker Pfizer.

The Commission president’s decision to centralize control of COVID-19 vaccine procurement for all 27 EU member states drew criticism, even from former Belgian prime minister and senior MEP Guy Verhofstadt.

The Commission’s refusal to fully disclose contract details, claiming commercial interests and privacy concerns, led to legal action by Green MEPs. Ironically, von der Leyen has sought support from the Greens.

"It is important that the court has confirmed the importance of proper justifications for protecting commercial interests," said Green MEP Tilly Metz, stressing the ruling's significance for future joint procurements in health and defense.

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🇷🇺🇸🇦 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and coordination within the OPEC+ group during a phone conversation, the Kremlin said.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, the chairman of the council of ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a phone conversation. Both sides praised the achieved level of friendly relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia based on the principles of mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The sides also discussed Russian-Saudi cooperation in political, trade, economic and energy fields, according to the statement.

"The importance of continuing close coordination within OPEC+ to ensure stability in the energy market was emphasized. The sides agreed to maintain contact at various levels," the Kremlin said.

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🤡 Mission failed successfully – Pentagon says Gaza aid pier “no longer required”

"The maritime surge mission involving the pier is complete. So there's no more need to use the pier," Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the deputy commander of US Central Command, told a news briefing.

The United States' temporary pier in Gaza has successfully fulfilled its mission to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and is no longer needed, Cooper insisted.

Although the pier was only used for about 20 days Cooper insisted the operation was a success.

“The pier has done exactly what we intended it to do,” he claimed. “Our assessment is that the temporary pier has achieved its intended effect to surge a very high volume of aid into Gaza and ensure that aid reaches the civilians in Gaza in a quick manner."

Since the pier project was unveiled by US President Joe Biden in March critics have suggested it had little to do with any concern for the plight of Palestinians and was more likely a “humanitarian cover” for US support for Israel.

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From sanctioning 'foreign agents' to acting as one: the irony of Menendez's conviction

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer called for Senator Bob Menendez to resign following his conviction on 16 corruption counts. Menendez, who served as chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2023, refused to step down, asserting he remains "a patriot."

The irony is stark: Menendez built his career sanctioning Cuba, Russia and China while condemning others as "foreign agents," yet now faces up to 222 years in jail for, among other charges, acting as an unregistered foreign agent for two Middle East regimes. According to the Department of Justice Menendez and his wife accepted at least $500,000 in cash and about $100,000 in luxury items and gold bars for assisting Arab investors in securing US deals.

Menendez denies the accusations, claiming he merely kept his savings in cash and gold at home.

What sanctions were sponsored by Menendez?

🔸 Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014: Sanctions on Russian companies and citizens due to Moscow’s support for the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

🔸 Israel Anti-Boycott Act of 2017: Criminalized participation in boycotts against Israel.

🔸 Sanctions against China in 2019 and 2020: Targeted China's currency practices and alleged human rights policies.

🔸 Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022: Proposed severe sanctions against Russia, including asset freezes, which were enacted after February 22, 2022.

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❗️ US Senator Bob Menendez notified people close to him that he plans to resign from Congress after a US jury found him guilty of accepting bribes to benefit the governments of Qatar and Egypt, NBC News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and several other Democrat colleagues called on Menendez to resign after a US jury convicted him on all 16 corruption charges.

Menendez has his sentencing hearing set for October 29, but his legal team plans to file an appeal.

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❗️ Biden tested positive for COVID 19 and will not speak at a conference in Las Vegas today, the CEO of the civil rights nonprofit UnidosUS said.

Biden is experiencing mild symptoms and will return to Delaware where he will self-isolate, the White House confirmed.

Biden will continue to carry out all of his duties fully despite testing positive for COVID, a spokesperson added.

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Unidos US President Janet Murguía announces Biden has tested positive for COVID-19.

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No mask, no problem: Biden flees the UnidosUS convention in Las Vegas having reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

The president, who 10 days ago claimed he “ended the pandemic,” appears to neglect basic precautionary measures.

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“You should report the news, not lie about it,” declared Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, confronting a reporter with The Times.

“You know, I have some of the most highest amount of death threats because of people like you, because you choose to only take certain words from people and then that's what you want to report. Shame on you,” the Congresswoman said, criticizing mainstream media's coverage of US politics.

“We have to put up with the most unreal amount of bullsh**t because of little liars like you that take your job and turn it into political activism," Green emphasized.

“You're the cause of our country being divided. You're the cause of President Trump almost being assassinated. You're the cause of everything wrong in America,” the Congresswoman concluded.

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🇭🇺 Hungary is ready to become a venue for potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the ongoing crisis, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

"Two days after the war has broken out, I contacted Minister Lavrov and I contacted Mr. Yermak, the Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine and I told both of them the same - that Hungary is always ready to facilitate negotiations, we are always ready to offer any place in Hungary, where level playing fields, equal security and equal chances will be provided to both sides," Szijjarto said in an interview.

"So if we are needed, we are at [your] disposal," the minister added.

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Former president Donald Trump's team refused to coordinate a date for the vice presidential candidates' debate with a biting statement suggesting the ultimate composition of the Democratic Party ticket remains unsettled.

“We don’t know who the Democrat nominee for Vice President is going to be, so we can’t lock in a date before their convention. To do so would be unfair to Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, or whoever Kamala Harris picks as her running mate,” a Trump Campaign senior advisor wrote.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is attending the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his pick for vice president, JD Vance, is expected to speak, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

Trump is expected to deliver his first public speech since Saturday's assassination attempt on Thursday night.

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Extremist literature is regularly found in the territories liberated by Russia since the start of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, Yan Gagin, adviser to the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told Sputnik.

"Since the very start of the operation, we regularly find extremist literature glorifying Nazism in public and educational libraries across the liberated territories... Many of these books were published long before the start of the Special Military Operation, in 1953, in 1964, in Toronto and Washington," Gagin said.

In June, books of an extremist nature were found in the front line area of the Donetsk People's Republic. A Russian serviceman with the call sign Tsaplya (Heron), told Sputnik that those books were printed before the Maidan coup, in 2007 with money from the US Heritage Foundation. He added that the books were found in perfect condition, carefully wrapped and displayed on bookshelves.

Two weeks ago, Valentin Poznyakov, a Ukrainian prisoner of war, told Sputnik that after the mandatory signing of a contract with the Ukrainian military, connoscripts are being taught the history of the Nazi Ukrainian Insurgent Army*, best known for their mass murder of civilians.

*A terrorist group banned in Russia

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❗️ Sen. JD Vance “humbly and gratefully” accepted the Republican Party's nomination to be former President Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

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Social media users shared video of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle being scolded by Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn at the RNC convention over her handling of security for former President Donald Trump. "You owe the people answers," Blackburn is heard insisting.

Earlier in the day, the Oversight Committee said that Cheatle agreed to appear before a House Committee at a hearing investigating the assassination attempt on Trump.

"Director Cheatle has agreed to comply with Chairman Comer's subpoena and the hearing will take place as scheduled on Monday, July 22," said the statement posted on X.

The announcement came only a day after US House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer subpoenaed Cheatle for testimony after Cheatle "failed to cooperate" with the committee's requests for information pertaining to the attempted assassination.

The FBI continues to investigate the shooting but the suspect's motive remains unknown, according to US law enforcement.

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