📹A video showing the crash of the Bombardier CRJ-200 in Nepal has appeared online. 

18 of the 19 people on board died; the crew commander survived.

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❗️Key statements by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

💬Moscow welcomes the agreements reached following the results of the inter-Palestinian meeting in China.

💬The updated US strategy on the Arctic is clearly aimed at escalating tensions in the region; their approaches are dominated by force scenarios to ensure their interests.

💬The creation of an analogue on the Ukrainian website "Mirotvorets" in Moldova is a continuation of the Ukrainization of Moldovan politics; it shows how the country's authorities condone and legitimize arbitrariness.

💬Moscow is not surprised by the statements of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock that allege "Russia is the main threat”; this is a tracing paper of NATO template documents.

💬By allocating 10 million euros to support the Armenian armed forces, the European Union expects to spread its destructive influence in Transcaucasia.

💬Zelensky's statements about his readiness to resume dialogue with Russia are an attempt to promote his "peace formula."

💬The results of Ukraine's participation in the summit of the European political community, which was held in British Woodstock on July 18, are very meager.

💬Crimes in the field of human trafficking in Ukraine have acquired a deep character, and reached frightening proportions.

💬The refusal of the organizing committee of the Olympic Games in Paris to accredit Russian journalists is dictated by paranoia and Russophobia.

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No more Europe in Russia's Moscow

Quite literally. In the Russian capital, Moscow, Europe Square near Kiev railway station has been renamed Eurasia Square.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his intention to be re-elected in 2025.

The current head of government has repeatedly stated his intention to retain the chancellorship.

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❗️The main statements by Nikolai Patrushev, assistant to Russia's president overseeing maritime policy, following a meeting with Vladimir Putin:

▪️The United States and other NATO countries are increasing their naval presence in waters immediately adjacent to Russia;

▪️NATO countries are actively sending their naval forces to resource extraction sites and blocking waterways under the guise of fighting piracy;

▪️Russia is obliged to strengthen its navy taking into account growing threats from the West;

▪️Putin gave instructions on the development of shipbuilding for the defense and security of the Russian Federation, they take into account the rapidly changing situation in the world;

▪️Putin instructed him to adjust strategic planning documents for the balanced development of the Russian Navy for the effective protection of national interests.

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📹 The Russian Army attacked the command post of Ukraine's 63rd Brigade in Krasny Liman with an Iskander missile, the Ministry of Defense reported.

The command post with operational personnel, two command and staff vehicles, ten aircraft-type drones and more than 300 drones was destroyed.

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Switzerland will host US-initiated peace talks on Sudan

The US has invited the Sudanese army and the paramilitary, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), for ceasefire talks in Switzerland, Reuters reports, citing US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. 

The negotiations will start on August 14, with the American side mediating the process. RSF have already confirmed their participation to achieve "a comprehensive ceasefire across the country, and facilitate humanitarian access to all those in need."

According to Blinken, the talks will include the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations as observers, with Saudi Arabia as co-host for the discussions.

Since April 2023, fighting has been ongoing in Sudan between the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and the regular army. The parties have been exchanging contradictory statements over the development of the conflict, and the control of facilities. They have also launched a large-scale information war on media and social networks.

The situation in the country is not improving despite talks between the warring parties in Jeddah that began on May 6, 2023.

The conflict in Sudan has forced a total of 3.4 million people to flee to neighboring countries, the World Health Organization reported earlier.

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Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will be held on September 10 and is to be hosted by ABC News.

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📹 Security has been tightened around the Capitol in Washington ahead of Netanyahu's visit

On July 24, the Israeli prime minister will address US Congress. Pro-Palestinian activists have vowed that hundreds of thousands of people will march to the White House to demand Netanyahu's arrest.

Police cars are now patrolling Capitol Hill and barricades have been erected around the area.

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🤔 All opinions are equal, but some are more equal than others

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz uniquely commented on the closure of Compact magazine in the country, saying that freedom of the press is important, but there are opinions that are prohibited.

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✈️ A Russian Su-27 was scrambled to escort an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and two RAF Typhoon fighter jets belonging to the UK over the Black Sea, the Ministry of Defense said.

As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign military aircraft made a turn away from the border, the department noted.

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Greed and enmity in Paris: Strikes imperil Olympic Games

The lofty plans of the French government for the grand opening of the Olympic Games in Paris have hit a snag, due to their citizens’ well-known penchant for protesting and striking.

As the games are held during the period when people in France traditionally enjoy their summer holidays, many of the workers who are now having to work - instead of relaxing - have figured they should be paid extra.

🔸A union called Force Ouvriere (FO) that represents over 10 percent of the staff at Paris-based airport operator ADP, filed a strike warning on Jul 22, the day of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.
Despite reaching a supposed deal last week to prevent a walkout, FO has insisted that what was offered to them amounted to "partial and modest gains." Citing "a feeling of discontent" among the workers it represents, the union demands the previously agreed bonus of 300 euros to be increased to 1,000 euros, as well as what AFP describes as “other pay steps.”

🔸The French Union of Performers affiliated with the General Confederation of Labor (SFA-CGT), rejected on July 23 an offer of about 120 euros extra, for the “lowest-paid performers” from the games’ organizing committee, according to local media reports. The offer in question was made after the union, which represents about 10 percent of the dancers involved in the opening ceremony, threatened a strike if the pay disparities between dancers are not rectified.

🔸Earlier this year, French public sector workers, including security forces, nurses and train drivers, demanded extra pay for having to work during the Olympic Games that are being held during the traditional summer holidays in the country. The strike threats have resulted in offers of one-off payments, as high as 1,900 euros per person, to the disgruntled workers.

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Lack of faith in dollar — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

On the sidelines of the G20 development meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin delved into the reasons the US dollar is losing its position as the most powerful world currency:

"Definitely, there is a certain lack of faith in the dollar in the world because of various actions taken by the US government, including sanctions, electoral sanctions, and many other things... And definitely, the situation around the US debt, which exceeds or is close to 35 trillion dollars, is a huge depressing factor for those who trusted or believed in the dollar before," Pankin stated. 

He also pointed out that sanctions by individual countries against Russia do not reflect the point of view of most world states and international organizations:

"Illegal unilateral sanctions were taken by certain states, but not by international organizations. There is not a single international organization like the UN, or any other of global nature and universal membership, which has taken sanctions against Russia; so, we continue to participate in those organizations," he said.

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