Israeli 'thugs' board Gaza-bound aid ship Handala in international watersThe raid was broadcast live by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, showing soldiers confronting unarmed passengers as they sat on deck with their hands raised, singing the anti-fascist anthem “Bella Ciao”. The Handala, carrying 19 activists, including European MPs and two Al Jazeera journalists, was intercepted roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza, and around 50 kilometres off Egypt’s coast. Activists say the boat was carrying humanitarian supplies and attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-thugs-board-gaza-bound-aid-ship-international-watersTunisians protest against President Saied, call country an ‘open-air prison’The protesters said Tunisia under Saied has descended into authoritarianism, with mass arrests and politically motivated trials silencing dissent. "Our first aim is to battle against tyranny to restore the democracy and to demand the release of the political detainees," Monia Ibrahim, wife of imprisoned politician Abdelhamid Jelassi, told Reuters.
https://www.newarab.com/news/tunisians-protest-against-kais-saieds-authoritarian-regimePolice station stormed in Egypt as outrage over Gaza blockade reaches boiling pointHours before the channel went silent, it released an audio statement styled like Palestinian faction communiques, claiming responsibility for the “Iron 17” operation. The statement, attributed to Ahmed Abdel Wahab and Mohsen Mustafa, rejected any political affiliations, describing themselves as “heirs of Omar ibn al-Khattab and Amr ibn al-Aas” seeking to revive Egypt’s national spirit. The figures in question refers to invoking early Islamic military and political leaders that symbolised strength, justice, and national revival. Their message was clear: end the genocide in Gaza and stop repressing Egyptians. Addressing the Egyptian people, they decried the “severe blows” inflicted on the nation and vowed to rouse it from its “death.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/young-egyptians-storm-police-hq-over-gaza-blockade-rare-act-resistance-0Desperate Zimbabweans get in debt to pay for lifesaving blood transfusionsWith ongoing currency woes, rising costs of living and high levels of poverty, desperate Zimbabweans in need of care face life-threatening delays due to financial barriers. This includes blood shortages – despite supplies being free in public health facilities.
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/7/25/desperate-zimbabweans-get-in-debt-to-pay-for-lifesaving-blood-transfusionshttps://archive.ph/LvOmVElectricity in SA is unaffordable for many: Dr. NgwaneScores of City Power officials accompanied by South African Police Service (SAPS) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers have removed illegal electricity connections in Tshepisong, west of Johannesburg. Residents have blocked roads with rocks and burning tyres in protest. Dr. Ngwane says struggling communities bear the brunt of the electricity challenges. “This is a structural problem it’s a question of energy is a basic necessity and its not a question of choice, people just need to have energy. But how do we provide energy to meet people’s needs. At the moment the approach by the government, Eskom, City Power and all the authorities is a wrong approach,” says Dr. Ngwane.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/electricity-in-sa-is-unaffordable-to-many-dr-ngwane/Wildfire burns through northern suburb of Greece’s capital Athens and residents are told to evacuateOn site, 145 firefighters and 44 fire engines, 10 firefighting planes and seven helicopters are attempting to put out the fire, whose origin is unknown. Four ambulances are treating at least five residents, most of them elderly with respiratory problems. Temperatures reaching, or exceeding, 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), dry conditions and high winds are fanning the flames. Under such conditions wildfires “expand very quickly and become dangerous. These conditions are expected to prevail over the coming days,” Vathrakoyannis said.
https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-greece-kryoneri-evacuation-firefighters-39eaf327432ed8b1f55b19170c7d372f Schoolchildren to study ‘spiritual and moral culture’ of Russia During the classes, students will engage in discussions on topics such as faith in God, family life, civic responsibility, national unity, and moral accountability, according to the ministry. The program also addresses themes like traditional marriage between a man and a woman, freedom, dignity, and human rights.
https://www.rt.com/russia/621911-schoolchildren-to-study-spiritual-and/https://archive.ph/nBc6xMaduro Confirms Sale of Venezuelan Fertilizer Firm Monómeros to Colombia, Ending Privatization RumorsThe deal reportedly established a base price for Monómeros to start negotiations. Palma said that Colombian state control of the firm would help stabilize prices and reduce the country’s dependence on agricultural imports. Petro government officials have not disclosed if Bogotá plans to buy the entirety of shares or just a majority stake, as was first proposed in March 2023.
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/maduro-confirms-sale-of-venezuelan-fertilizer-firm-monomeros-to-colombia-ending-privatization-rumors/Petro orders all Colombian coal exports to Israel haltedThe South American leftwing leader also said he planned to bring this matter up in diplomatic dialogue with Switzerland regarding Glencore, a Swiss multinational that owns Cerrejón, Latin America's largest open-pit coal mine. Colombia's mining sector has faced five consecutive quarters of contraction, partly due to a global price crisis and the Petro administration's push for renewable energy.
https://en.mercopress.com/2025/07/25/petro-orders-all-colombian-coal-exports-to-israel-haltedThailand and Cambodia trade fresh attacks and accusations as allies call for a ceasefireThailand and Cambodia traded accusations of fresh attacks Saturday as deadly border clashes entered a third day and President Donald Trump joined a chorus of international voices calling for a ceasefire. The fighting has killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 168,000.
https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cambodia-armed-clash-border-eda96eb133a4561fa192029466da8dcfAll 24 KMT lawmakers survive recall votes to maintain opposition control of Taiwan’s legislatureAll 24 lawmakers of the main opposition Chinese Nationalists Party (KMT) on Saturday survived historical nationwide recall elections, ensuring that the KMT along with Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers will maintain opposition control of the legislature. Recall votes against all 24 KMT lawmakers as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) and KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) failed to pass, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) figures.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/07/26/2003840965https://archive.ph/MQXbqAustralian Labor government to expand police-state ASIO interrogation powersUnprecedented powers to forcibly interrogate people were first handed to ASIO in 2003 during the supposed “war on terrorism.” Under Labor’s amendments to the ASIO Act, these powers will be extended and broadened indefinitely. The first bill will overturn a “sunset” clause that set an expiry date for the powers on September 7. The second bill will scrap “sunset” clauses altogether, making the powers permanent, and broaden the powers to cover four new war-related fields.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/07/26/egxi-j26.html