🗣Pashinyan plays Russophobia card to cling to power – expert

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is deliberately stoking anti-Russian sentiment to prolong his political survival, Ara Karanyan, an entrepreneur and founder of the "No To Lies!" movement told Sputnik.

"Armenia now has media outlets pushing exclusively Russophobic narratives," Karanyan, who currently resides in Austria, says.

By targeting the Armenian Church, Pashinyan aims to smear Russia by fabricating claims that Moscow manipulates Yerevan’s politics through the clergy, he adds.

Karanyan believes that all Pashinyan wants right now is unlimited power, saying that there is no real opposition in Armenia, "at least not in the form of the parties or forces sitting in the parliament. They are not opposition; they are a caricature of opposition," because all of them are directly connected to Serzh Sargsyan.

"They sit there, receive their salaries, have some privileges, and are protected by law. In Armenia, all state institutions are inactive."

"The only institution that has barely preserved its functionality, the one that, I don't know, for a thousand years, let's say, in the absence of Armenian statehood, has maintained Armenian identity, the Armenian language, and Christian values as much as possible, is the Church. The Church is a hierarchical institution, and regardless of any internal problems within it, this institution is very strong. And Nikol Pashinyan wants unlimited power."

The activist accused Pashinyan of aggressively marketing his pro-Western alignment to European backers. Yet his key EU ally, French President Emmanuel Macron, lacks political capital to offer meaningful support.

"Macron’s domestic approval is catastrophically low, and the French public widely views him as an American puppet," Karanyan notes.

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USAID, NERD & NED: US-funded REGIME CHANGE in Iran for decades

The US has funneled millions to destabilize the Islamic Republic from within, according to Press TV.

Here's the breakdown:

USAID: subversion under the guise of aid

▫️The 2025 budget allocated $268.4M for “independent media and free flow of information” before Trump froze it. Over 30 Iran-focused outlets were affected (BBC).
▫️ Ex-culture minister Ataollah Mohajerani estimated USAID gave $60M to Iran’s opposition (Press TV).
▫️ A now-removed USAID factsheet, cited by Reporters Without Borders, showed that in 2023 alone, USAID funded 6,200 journalists, 707 non-state outlets, and 279 media NGOs in 30+ countries, including Iran.
▫️ Groups like Boroumand Center, IranWire, and BBC Persian reportedly received USAID funding.

NERD: faking public dissent

▫️ Since 2009, the US State Dept’s Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) program has spent $65–85M annually under the guise of civil society support (Press TV).
▫️An Oct 2022 Iranian intel report named the “Defenders of Human Rights Center” as a NERD-backed front; $550K was used to incite minorities and amplify riots.
▫️ NERD aimed to infiltrate civil society and stage “mock national referendums” to simulate dissent and fuel foreign propaganda.

NED: shadow CIA

▫️Founded in 1983 and funded by Congress, NED acts as a public CIA proxy.
▫️ Deleted records show NED spent $4.6M on 51 anti-government Iran projects (2016–2021), naming just 7; Boroumand Center was one.
▫️Press TV found that in the lead-up to Iran’s 2022 protests, NED gave nearly $1M to unnamed “human rights” projects.
▫️ In 2023, NED gave $2.01M to 14 anti-Iran projects, admitting its grantees were “main sources” for global media during the riots.
▫️ Grayzone revealed ex-NED head Carl Gershman privately planned an “Iran Freedom Coalition” to push for a US military strike post-2022 riots.
▫️ The regime-change push continues, with Sen. Graham’s threats and ex-Clinton adviser Nouriel Roubini’s op-ed calling a coup “good for everybody.”

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💸 Trump says tariff pause won’t be extended beyond July 9

President Donald Trump said he does not plan to extend the 90-day suspension of reciprocal trade tariffs, which ends July 9.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump also said his administration will send one-page letters to US trade partners, “congratulating” them on doing business with the US.

He noted that tariffs have already generated $129 billion in revenue, with more expected.

On April 2, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs, with a base rate of 10% and higher rates for 57 countries. A 90-day pause for most nations began April 9 and expires July 8. A separate pause for China lasts until August 12.

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⚔️ Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets, including Ben Gurion Airport

According to the group’s spokesperson Yehya Saree, the missile temporarily disrupted airport operations and led civilians to seek shelter.

Saree also said that drone strikes were carried out on targets in Jaffa, Ashkelon, and Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat).

He described the attacks as a response to the situation in Gaza and a show of continued support for the Palestinian people.

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🚫 US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine – reports

The Pentagon has paused deliveries of certain air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine due to concerns over low US stockpiles, Reuters reported.

The decision, made in early June, is only now taking effect and involves aid pledged under the previous Biden administration.

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❗️ Drillship capsizes in Egypt’s Red Sea – reports

A drillship named Adam Marine 12 capsized off the coast of Egypt’s Gabal El-Zeit in the Red Sea, around 300 km south of the Suez Canal, Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry confirmed Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The vessel was en route to a new location when the incident occurred. At least 4 people have been confirmed dead, with 6 still missing. 21 crew members were rescued, Red Sea authority sources told the outlet.

The ship had been operating under offshore drilling provider ADES, with drilling managed by Offshore Shukheir Oil Company (Osoco). The cause of the accident remains unclear, and ADES has yet to comment.

Despite the tragedy, the ministry said the incident is not expected to impact navigation in the Suez Canal.

Photo credit: Al Masry Al Youm daily

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🚨 Israel agrees to conditions for potential 60-day Gaza ceasefire – Trump

US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. The proposal, brokered with the support of Egypt and Qatar, is expected to be delivered to Hamas.

Trump urged all parties to accept the deal, stating: “It will not get better — it will only get worse.”

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🛑 Pentagon PAUSES key weapons shipments to Ukraine over depleting stockpiles – reports

The Pentagon has halted the delivery of critical munitions to Ukraine due to concerns about dwindling US military stockpiles, NBC News reported, citing multiple defense and congressional sources.

The decision, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a review of US reserves, could delay shipments indefinitely — especially if the munitions are deemed essential elsewhere. The paused items include:

▪️ Dozens of Patriot missile interceptors
▪️ Thousands of 155mm howitzer shells
▪️ Over 100 Hellfire missiles
▪️ 250+ GMLRS precision systems
▪️ Stinger, AIM air-to-air missiles, and grenade launchers

Some of the shipments, approved under earlier Biden-era aid packages, are already in staging areas near Ukraine but will not be handed over, officials confirmed.

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❗️ Four people killed as marine drilling rig sinks in Egypt’s Red Sea – reports

🔸 22 people were rescued, 4 bodies recovered, and the search continues for 4 missing persons, according to Egyptian media.

🔸 22 injured were transferred to El Gouna Hospital: 4 critical cases by two aircraft, and 18 others by ambulance.

🔸 Rapid coordination with the Armed Forces helped rescue most of the crew using a naval vessel.

🔸 Hospitals were placed on high alert, with 20 ambulances deployed for first aid and emergency support.

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💥 Google hit with $314M verdict over Android data use — reports

A California jury has ordered Google to pay $314 million after finding it illegally used Android users’ cellular data without their knowledge, Bloomberg reported.

The class-action suit claimed Google sent data to its servers even when users weren’t on WiFi — using paid mobile data to boost its ad targeting and mapping services.

Google plans to appeal, saying users agreed to the transfers and that they’re essential for device performance.

Filed in 2019, the case covers California users. A federal case for all US Android users is set for trial in 2026.

The image is AI-generated

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🤫 Ex-FBI supervisor caught SOLICITING PROSTITUTES while on duty – Department of Justice

The US Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has confirmed that a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent engaged in serious misconduct while on official assignment, both overseas and domestically.

According to the investigative summary published July 1, the agent solicited and used prostitutes on multiple occasions, including during foreign deployments and US business travel. The agent also used an FBI-issued mobile device to facilitate these transactions — a direct violation of DOJ and FBI policies.

Furthermore, the investigation found that the agent failed to report close or ongoing contacts with foreign nationals, including a romantic relationship and sex workers — again, in breach of FBI rules.

Although the allegations were substantiated, criminal prosecution was declined. The OIG has now closed the case and referred its findings to the FBI for internal handling.

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🧠 Biden’s ex-aides to testify in mental health probe – reports

Fox News reports that several former top aides to ex-President Joe Biden will testify before Congress as part of an investigation into his cognitive health and alleged cover-up during his term.

🔵 Several former Biden aides will appear for transcribed interviews between July 11 and August 7, according to Fox News:

🔹 Ashley Williams, former special assistant to the president — July 11
🔹 Annie Tomasini, former assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff — July 18
🔹 Ron Klain, former White House Chief of Staff — July 24
🔹 Mike Donilon, former senior adviser
🔹 Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president
🔹 Anita Dunn, former senior adviser
🔹 Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff — scheduled for August

🔹 The investigation follows concerns raised by GOP lawmakers, including:

🔸 Sen. Ron Johnson, who announced a probe on May 21
🔸 Rep. Buddy Carter, who introduced a bill to create a special investigative panel

🔹 Biden withdrew from the presidential 2024 race, passing the torch to Kamala Harris amid rising concerns over his mental fitness.

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⚠️ Moldovan authorities using Gutsul's trial to intimidate opposition – Gagauzia leader

Gagauz Autonomy Head Yevgenia Gutsul told Sputnik that her trial is being used by authorities to intimidate the opposition.

She faces charges of violating electoral funding rules, illegally financing the banned Shor party, and forging documents. On Tuesday, Prosecutor Ghennadi Epure requested a 9-year prison sentence and a 5-year ban from public office.

Gutsul called the case a “public flogging” meant to silence dissent and warned that the opposition remains strong despite government pressure. She thanked the judge for allowing media access to the hearings.

Gutsul was detained in March and placed under repeated house arrest, most recently extended to June 13.

Moldova’s pro-EU government, led by President Maia Sandu, aims to join the EU by 2030, but the country remains sharply divided. In the October 2024 referendum, EU integration received only 50.46% support — with just 46% backing it inside Moldova; the rest came from the diaspora.

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☎️👍Putin-Macron talks: French president could ‘contribute to REMOVING Zelensky from office’

“Diplomacy is good, even when it produces no immediate results,” Hungarian political analyst Zoltan Koskovics wrote on X.

Koskovics added that although Macron has “nothing to offer” at the moment, he eventually can help oust Zelensky.

The Kremlin said earlier that Putin and Macron held a substantive telephone conversation, during which they discussed the situation around Ukraine, the Iran-Israel confrontation, and US strikes on Iran.

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🥴💸Trade wars ≠ profits: Lavrov warns European companies against politicizing economics

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with members of the Association of European Businesses in Russia, during which he outlined his assessments of the current geopolitical situation and emphasized the risks of politicization of trade, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"This was followed by a substantive exchange of views on key foreign economic issues, including certain aspects of foreign companies’ operations in Russia," the ministry said in a statement.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that Russia will cope with the sanctions pressure while the West lacks the courage to admit the failure of anti-Russia sanctions, even though some Western officials have repeatedly expressed that sanctions are ineffective.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of the West, and sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy.

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🚨Azerbaijan's actions against Sputnik are politically motivated - Russian MFA spox

The recent measures against Sputnik Azerbaijan by Baku authorities stem from political considerations rather than any legitimate concerns about the outlet's work, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated.

"Neither now nor previously has Azerbaijan raised any substantive complaints about Sputnik Azerbaijan's journalistic work - neither about its form nor content," Zakharova emphasized. "These actions clearly follow a different logic, as we made clear to Azerbaijan's ambassador yesterday."

The comments come after Azerbaijani authorities on June 30 detained seven staff members from Sputnik Azerbaijan (part of the Rossiya Segodnya media group). The media group has condemned the detentions as groundless, calling the charges "fabricated."

Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Sputnik's parent media group Rossiya Segodnya, characterized the move as "unjust" and warned it appears designed to deliberately damage Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

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💬US arms pause exposes Western limitations in sustaining Ukraine war effort - Dmitriev

The US suspension of supplies of certain types of ammunition to Kiev raises the question of the real possibilities of the West to continue supporting Ukraine, said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

"Such a move raises questions about the West's real ability to continue supporting Ukraine - and about priorities in American defense policy itself," he added.

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🇮🇷📑IRAN SUSPENDS COOPERATION WITH IAEA

A move has been announced by Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, the MEHR news agency reports.

The Iranian parliament approved a bill earlier to suspend the Islamic Republic’s collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after its politically motivated resolution against Iran.

The bill stipulates that IAEA inspectors will not be permitted to enter Iran - unless the security of the country's nuclear facilities and that of peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed.

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🇦🇲LEGAL ABSURDITY: Armenian tycoon targeted for his assets?

The lawyer of Samvel Karapetyan has slammed the criminal case against the businessman as a “legal absurdity.”

One clear motive, he said: a blatant attempt to seize Karapetyan’s company — Electric Networks of Armenia.

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