🗣US tariff barrage giving unprecedented new impetus to BRICS unity - observer

“BRICS has always been about creating alternatives in development finance and reforming international financial institutions. But the scale and scope" of the current administration's disruptive policies has become “so rapid that the BRICS agenda has gained new momentum,” Ashraf Patel told Sputnik, commenting on President Lula of Brazil’s surprise announcement that he would consult with BRICS bloc allies on a response to US tariffs.

🇧🇷Lula’s comments signal a “more decisive push” toward BRICS unity in the context of US trade wars with the globe, the South African Institute for Global Dialogue research associate said, highlighting Brazil, South Africa and India’s place “in the firing line” of the US president and Treasury on trade, despite generally warm relations with Washington.

🇺🇸US attempts to bully BRICS countries into submission has proven a strategic mistake, Patel says, pointing out that the “fact that the US is imposing tariff on ally India and that Prime Minister Modi is going to visit China soon shows how rapid the geopolitical dynamic is and how strong BRICS cohesion currently is.”

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🚨 Netanyahu’s Gaza City offensive APPROVED — reports

Israel’s security cabinet has reportedly approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the IDF to launch a full-scale operation to conquer Gaza City, The Times of Israel reported, citing Axios and an Israeli official.

Until now, the IDF has largely avoided entering key parts of the city since the war began. The proposed operation is expected to require the mass evacuation of around 800,000 civilians currently residing in the area.

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🤡 EU resurrects UK-style Rwanda plan — now it’s 'INNOVATIVE' - reports

Three years after slamming the UK’s migrant deportation scheme as inhumane, EU governments are now quietly copying it, Financial Times reported.

With right-wing pressure rising, Brussels is embracing “external processing” — sending asylum seekers to non-EU countries like Rwanda, Albania, Uganda, or North African states.

Denmark’s migration minister told FT there’s now “broad support” for sending migrants out of Europe. Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are all involved in similar plans.

💬 Amnesty International warns: “These are unworkable and inhumane proposals... governments are ignoring the costs to make political statements they may not even deliver on.”

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🇮🇱❌🇬🇧 Israel threatens to cut UK intel ties if Starmer recognizes Palestine — reports

Israel is reportedly considering withdrawing defense and intelligence cooperation with the UK if Prime Minister Keir Starmer follows through on his pledge to recognize a Palestinian state next month, The Times reported.

An Israeli official warned that Britain should “carefully consider” the consequences. Another source told The Times:

💬 “Bibi and his ministers have cards they could play too… and the UK has a lot to lose.”

Israel accuses Starmer of giving “a prize for terror” by recognizing Palestine outside of a peace deal and before hostages are released. Starmer, meanwhile, has said recognition is contingent on a ceasefire, more aid to Gaza, and halting West Bank annexation.

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✅ ‘Vital’ poll shows Ukrainians are for peace – Russia’s presidential envoy

69% of Ukrainians (up from 20% in 2022) support the earliest possible achievement of peace through negotiations rather than war, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, wrote on X.

He cited relevant sociological data from the American Gallup Institute.

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🗣Putin HOLDS ALL THE CARDS on Ukraine peace deal - US journalist

Only Russia can write the terms of a Ukraine peace agreement, says US journalist Clayton Morris.

Panicky Zelensky doesn't need to be present at any negotiations; he doesn't decide anything because Vladimir Putin holds all the cards, he noted.

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🗣Iran UN envoy hits back at France’s ‘baseless’ nuclear allegations

Iran’s UN envoy Saeed Iravani slammed France for hypocrisy and “deliberate distortion of facts” after its ambassador accused Iran of sparking a “proliferation crisis.”

📑In a letter to the UN chief and Security Council president, Iravani rejected the “baseless” claims, accusing France of failing NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) disarmament duties and aiding Israel’s undeclared nuclear program.

He noted France’s failure to condemn Israel’s June 13 strike on Iran’s IAEA-safeguarded nuclear facilities, adding that such actions flout international law and erode global non-proliferation.

“Iran's nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful and fully transparent. Iran continues to honor its obligations under the NPT,” he wrote.

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◻️ Putin–Trump meeting has NO Zelensky prerequisite — Trump

◻️ Putin HOLDS ALL THE CARDS on Ukraine peace deal - US journalist

◻️ Netanyahu’s Gaza City offensive APPROVED — reports

◻️ Armenia cornered into unfavorable deal as Pashinyan claims 'no alternative'

◻️ US-backed Armenia-Azerbaijan ‘peace’ push aimed at marginalizing Russia – analyst

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🔥China urges Philippines to ‘stop playing with fire’ over Taiwan

China has fired a warning at the Philippines after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country could be drawn into a China-US conflict over Taiwan.

Speaking during a visit to India, Marcos cited the Philippines’ close ties to Taiwan and its large Filipino community there as reasons for possible involvement. "If there is an all-out war, then we will be drawn into it," he told media.

China’s foreign ministry pushed back, saying geographic proximity and overseas populations don’t justify meddling in its internal affairs.

“We urge the Philippines to respect the one-China principle and stop playing with fire,” the ministry said in a statement.

The remarks come amid rising tensions between the two countries over South China Sea disputes, where the US has stoked regional tensions with a series of joint drills with the Philippines.

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🔍GAZA CRISIS: KEY UPDATES

ISRAELI STRIKES

◻️ At least 47 Palestinians were killed in Gaza within 24 hours, according to media reports

◻️ Strikes targeted the Al-Shati and western Nuseirat refugee camps and homes in northern and eastern Gaza City

◻️ ‘Pele of Palestinian football’ Suleiman al-Obaid was killed in an airstrike while waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza

◻️ A child died in Khan Younis while trying to retrieve airdropped aid (Nasser Hospital)

GAZA HUNGER CRISIS

🔶 Four more people died of hunger-related deaths in Gaza, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 197, including 96 children

🔶 Some 12,000 children in Gaza under the age of five were acutely malnourished at the end of July - the highest number on record, says WHO

HRW REPORT

🟠 Israel used US-made munitions, including GBU-39 bombs, on Gaza schools sheltering displaced civilians, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday

GAZA FUTURE

🔶 Israel’s political-security cabinet has approved a plan for the IDF to take control of Gaza City and impose a siege on Hamas fighters

🔶 The operation reportedly involves “all Palestinian civilians” being displaced from the northern city to camps in central Gaza

🔶 Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid labelled the decision a “disaster that will lead to many more disasters”

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🔥 Supporters rally in Chisinau calling for release of Gagauzia head Gutsul

Supporters of Yevgenia Gutsul and activists from the "Victory" bloc held a protest outside the prison in Chisinau, demanding her release, advisor to the head of Gagauzia, Yuri Kuznetsov, told Sputnik.

"Activists expressed disagreement with the verdict and the entire judicial process. The so-called trial was politically motivated," Kuznetsov stated.

Gutsul, elected leader of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region in May 2023 with 52.36% support, faces politically motivated charges related to alleged illegal financing of the banned Shor party. She advocates for closer ties with Russia and opposes Moldova’s EU integration. Authorities have moved to ramp up repression, targeting dissenting voices and blocking opposition media.

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⚡️🇮🇳🇺🇸 JUST IN: India halts US arms deal plans in response to US tariffs - media

UPD: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's planned visit to Washington, where he was expected to announce some of the purchases in the coming weeks, has also been canceled, Reuters reports.

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🚨 China's Xi and Putin hold phone call - report

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have held a telephone conversation, the Chinese Central Television reported.

Beijing welcomes maintaining contacts between Russia and the United States, Xi told Putin, according to the report.

Xi commented on the Ukrainian crisis, saying there are no simple solutions to complex issues and adding that China will continue to promote peace and negotiations.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

◻️ Air defense superiority: eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles shot down in a week

◻️ Russian Armed Forces liberated two settlements over the week

◻️ Russian troops carried out seven strikes using UAVs and high-precision weapons on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, recruitment centers, Ukrainian Armed Forces deployment locations and 24 ammunition depots this week

◻️ Heavy Ukrainian losses: 8,725 soldiers in a week

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🚨🇷🇺🇮🇳Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev and Indian PM Modi’s national security advisor Ajit Doval discuss prospects of Russia-India Maritime cooperation - Maritime Collegium

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🚨🇮🇳🇷🇺 ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’: Petroleum Minister says India unfazed by geopolitical events amid US politics over Russian oil

For people like us, it is business as usual, Hardeep Singh Puri commented.

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🚨🚨 'Oreshnik' missile positions in Belarus ALREADY SET and being prepared - President Lukashenko to Time

In early 2025, Alexander Lukashenko announced that the Oreshnik system will be deployed in Belarus, adding that the complex could be positioned near Smolensk.

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🚨🚨 Reuters story on India pausing defense purchases from the US is 'false & fabricated', a senior 🇮🇳MoD official tells Sputnik

🗯 “The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures.“

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🇷🇺🇮🇳India's PM Modi and Putin hold phone call

🟠Modi has thanked Putin for sharing the latest details on the Ukrainian conflict

🟠Modi told Putin he is looking forward to welcome him in India later this year

🟠The two leaders confirmed their commitment to further deepen the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership, Modi said

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