Russia Docks 3 Warships in Havana, Continuing Parade of Naval Ships to Cuba

"Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, this weekend for a

four-day “work visit” to the communist nation..... the three Russian Baltic Fleet warships — identified as the training ship Smólny, the patrol ship Neustrahimiy, and the offshore oil tanker Yelnya — will conduct an “extensive program” during its four-day port call that includes courtesy visits to officials from the Cuban Navy and other authorities of the communist Castro regime." Breitbart

SBU detains Russian citizen working for Russian special services in Kharkiv

"The SBU detained a Russian citizen on suspicion of working for Russia's GRU military intelligence in Kharkiv..... a Russian citizen received instructions from his supervisors in Moscow to identify locations where technical documents were stored. Russian troops were then to carry out air strikes on these locations to destroy documents necessary for the restoration of industrial enterprises in Kharkiv Oblast." NV

Israeli Police Detain Soldiers Suspected Of Raping A Palestinian, Sparking Protests

"On Monday, Israeli military police detained Israeli soldiers who were suspected of raping a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman prison in southern Israel. Israeli media reported that the Palestinian prisoner was transferred from Sde Teiman to a hospital with an injury to his anus that was so severe he could not walk.

When the Israeli military police went to Sde Teiman to detain soldiers suspected of forcibly sodomizing the Palestinian man, they were met with resistance. A security source told Haaretz that Israeli soldiers at the facility refused to leave and barricaded themselves in. They also reportedly used pepper spray on the military police. The police ended up detaining nine out of 10 of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers suspected of abusing the Palestinian detainee. Members of the Israeli Knesset joined protesters as they stormed Sde Teiman, including Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party. At least one member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition was spotted among the protesters, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, a member of the Jewish Power party." ZH

Hamas Leader Haniyeh Assassinated In Iran By Israeli Strike

"Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has confirmed the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the top political leader of Hamas, during an inauguration event for Iran’s new president. Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, and an Iranian security guard were reportedly killed at their place of residence. The death of the Hamas leader took place just hours after a significant portion of Israeli airspace was closed for unexplained reasons." ZeroHedge

144 combat engagements occurred in frontline over the past day

"Over the past day, 144 combat clashes took place on the front line. In the Kupyansk direction, the invaders carried out 7 attacks in the Pishchane and Stelmakhivka districts of the Kharkiv oblast.

In the Lyman direction in the areas of Makiivka, Nevske of the Luhansk region and Serebryansk forestry, 18 attacks by Russian troops were repelled.
In the Siverskyi direction, the Defense Forces repelled 4 enemy attacks in the areas of Verkhnokamianske, Pereizne and Vyimka settlements.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 12 attempts by the Russian occupation forces to break through the defenses in the area of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region.
In the Toretsk direction, the Russians tried 23 times to wedge themselves into the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Pivnichne, Toretsk, New York and Zalizne." Ukrin

Wagner fighter makes last stand against the Tuareg

"A member of the Russian private military company (PMC) Wagner Group has chosen death over capture, attacking Tuareg militants with a stone, a highly disturbing video circulating online shows.

A military convoy carrying contractors of the PMC and Malian soldiers was reportedly ambushed last week in the vicinity of the village of Tinzawaten, close to the country’s border with Algeria. The Tuareg insurgents killed dozens of PMC contractors, taking a handful hostage, unconfirmed media reports and unverified videos circulating online suggest.
One of the fighters, presumed to be a member of the Wagner Group, given his ethnicity and an old-fashioned Soviet-style camouflage choice, made a bold last stand against the militants, a highly disturbing video shows.
The fighter played dead while insurgents were kicking him, before abruptly getting up and charging the militants with a stone. While some of the Tuareg began fleeing the fighter, one of them militants gunned him down at point blank range." RT

Over 40 drones shot down in attack on Kyiv

"Over 40 Russian drones were shot down as they approached Kyiv in the early morning hours." Ukrin

Pro-Palestinian Activists ‘Heil Hitler’ At The Olympic Soccer Match

"Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the soccer game at the 2024 Olympics, Saturday, with

shouts saluting Adolf Hitler.
The group of pro-Palestinian activists held up Palestinian flags when the Israeli team lined up on the field Saturday alongside Team Paraguay, at the Parc des Princes, but it didn’t end there. The group began showing support for Hitler, seemingly in an attempt to get a rise out of the players, and to generate attention to their cause. The group was coordinated in their efforts as they repeatedly made the Nazi salute and chanted “Heil Hitler” at the top of their voices." DC

Italian PM discusses Russia’s war in Ukraine with Xi Jinping in Beijing

"Meloni and Xi Jinping pointed on the importance of balanced cooperation, mutually

beneficial and based on mutual trust.
Two leaders discussed priority issues on the international agenda, from Russia's war against Ukraine to the risks of further deterioration in the Middle East. They also discussed rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region." UB

Trump Effect: Zelensky to Roll Out ‘Action Plan for Peace’ by November

"Zelensky apparently timed his rollout date for the “action plan for peace” with an eye on the U.S. presidential election in November. Ukraine wants to organize another Global Peace

Summit before the election, producing a second communique that Zelensky believes might “mark the end of the war.”
During his NHK interview, Zelensky said he invited Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to visit Ukraine. Trump has criticized heavy NATO spending on Ukraine’s defense and voiced skepticism the Ukrainians can win the long war of attrition with Russia, although he also praised Zelensky and said he maintains a good relationship with the Ukrainian leader." Breitbart

Russian Troops Liberate Lozovatskoye Settlement in Donetsk Region

"Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr liberated the settlement of Lozovatskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 570 soldiers in battles with Russia's

Battlegroup Zapad in the past week, the ministry added.
Russia’s Battlegroup Yug gained better ground, and Kiev lost up to 540 servicemen, while Battlegroup Sever repelled two counterattacks and Ukraine lost up to 165 soldiers, the MoD noted.
Additionally, Kiev lost up to 125 soldiers in battles with the Battlegroup Vostok and 85 troops in battles with the Battlegroup Dnepr, the ministry said." Sputnik

Russians attack Zaporizhzhia region 440 times in 24 hours

"During the day, the occupiers attacked the Zaporizhzhia region 440 times. 12 settlements were under enemy fire." Ukrin

U.S. rolls out new $200M defense aid package for Ukraine

"The Biden Administration announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine in the amount of up to $200 million under the Presidential Drawdown Authority." Ukrin

Evening Protests Explode In Venezuela As Opposition Crowds Descend On Caracas, Head To Presidential Palace

"While things were somewhat calm through much of the daylight hours on the streets of

Caracas, tensions are now at boiling point and full-blown confrontations with police as thousands of opposition supporters have been literally walking, some from rural areas, to the Presidential Palace. BBC and CNN are confirming that Maduro's security services have fired tear gas and rubber bullets against outraged demonstrators who believe Sunday's election was stolen. Some US members of Congress have added their voice, urging the White House not to recognize the results of a Maduro victory." ZH

Ukrainian protest in Kyiv demanding the government do more to secure the release of prisoners of war

"Ukrainians held a protest in Kyiv demanding the government do more to secure the release of prisoners of war held by Russia. The rally, involving several thousand soldiers and civilians, took place on the second anniversary of an explosion that killed more than 50 POWs Russia was holding in barracks in occupied Olenivka." AJ

Mali rebels offer to hand over captured Wagnerites to Ukraine

"The Tuareg rebels (CSP-PSD) in the north of the African country of Mali, who defeated a large group of Wagnerites and captured a significant number of militants, offered to hand them over to the Ukrainian side. Earlier today it became known that rebels of an association of armed groups in the north of Mali, inhabited mainly by Tuareg, announced the killing of dozens of soldiers of the Malian Armed Forces and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner PMC in a clash near the border with Algeria." Ukrin

Drones attack Russia: substations on fire in Belgorod and Oryol oblasts

"Explosions were heard in several Russian oblasts in the night with substations in villages of Belgorod and Oryol oblasts catching fire. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed in the morning that 39 drones were downed over five Russian oblasts." Pravada

Oil depot on fire in Kursk region of Russia - drone attack reported

"In the night explosions occurred in the Kursk region of Russia due to a drone attack. Fires also broke out in several areas, including an oil depot." Ukrin

French cybercrime unit responds to doxxing of Israeli Olympic team

"The French Anti-Cybercrime Office (OFAC) has been tasked with removing the private information of Israeli athletes, which was leaked ahead of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris....the hacker group Zeus published personal data of the members of the Israeli delegation, including documents, personal photos, addresses, medical information, and information about military service. The hackers claimed they were revealing what Israeli soldiers are doing at the Olympics, according to Ynet. The incident was classified as doxxing – a malicious publication of private data online – and reported to Pharos, a French service for flagging illegally disseminated content. According to Israeli media, the hackers also tried to harass the athletes online." RT

Kurdish fighters met with Turkish artillery strikes in northern Iraq

"Turkish artillery battered Kurdish separatist positions across northern Iraq over the weekend, hitting at least 25 targets and “neutralizing several terrorists,” according to defense and security officials. The defense ministry specified that it struck “caves, bunkers, shelters, stores, and installations” being used by the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed separatist group committed to the creation of an independent Kurdish state." MS

Israeli Army Shells 15 Settlements in Lebanon

"The Israeli army shelled 15 settlements in eastern and southern Lebanon with heavy artillery after threats against Lebanese movement Hezbollah, which Israel accused of shelling the Golan Heights." Sputnik

NATO state threatens to invade Israel

"Turkey could ultimately “enter” Israel over the enduring conflict in the Gaza Strip between West Jerusalem and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned. “Just like we entered Karabakh and the way we entered Libya, maybe we'll do the same thing. There’s nothing we can’t do. We have to be strong.” RT

Venezuela’s Maduro wins third term

"Elvis Amoroso, the head of the National Electoral Council, said Maduro secured 51 percent of the vote, overcoming opposition candidate Edmundo González, who garnered 44 percent. He said the results were based on 80 percent of voting stations, marking an irreversible trend." AJ

Russia behind cyber-attack, says Ukraine's security service

"Ukraine says it has proof that Russian security services were involved in the cyber-attack that targeted businesses around the world earlier this week.

The country's security service, the SBU, said it had obtained data that points to a link with an attack on the nation's capital, Kiev, in December.
Ukrainian firms were among the first to report issues with malicious software on Tuesday, before the virus spread.
Moscow denied any involvement, adding that the allegations were "unfounded".
The virus, which disrupted IT systems across the globe, froze computers and demanded a ransom be paid in the digital currency Bitcoin, which is untraceable.
However, the attack also hit major Russian firms, leading some cyber security researchers to suggest that Moscow was not behind it.
But on Saturday, Ukraine's SBU said in a statement that - through data obtained from international anti-virus companies - it had established a connection with a previous attack involving the so-called Petya virus, which it alleges was not designed to secure ransom payments." BBC

Netanyahu: Time for a Mideast NATO

"Netanyahu’s proposed a NATO-like alliance to counter Iran." AC

Dueling Airstrikes

"In the southern Kherson region of Ukraine, a 37-year-old woman in Antonivka was killed and a 67-year-old man was seriously wounded by Russian shelling of the town of Bilozerka a few kilometres from the Dnipro river, the military administration said......A civilian was killed in Ukrainian strikes in Russia’s border region of Belgorod, which is targeted almost daily by Kyiv’s forces." AJ

Ukrainian forces down Russian Kh-59 missile, seven Shahed drones overnight

"Ukraine's defense forces shot down a Russian Kh-59 guided air missile and seven Shahed strike drones in the early hours of Sunday....Overnight into July 28, 2024, the enemy attacked Ukraine with a Kh-59 guided air missile launched from the airspace over the Black Sea and eight Shahed drones launched from Cape Chauda, Crimea." Ukrin

129 combat clashes on front lines in past day

"As many as 129 combat clashes occurred on the battlefield in Ukraine on July 27, with

Russian forces being most active in the Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Kurakhove sectors.....the enemy launched two missile strikes against Ukrainian positions and populated areas using two missiles and 74 airstrikes using 101 guided aerial bombs. The Russians also launched 4,883 shelling attacks, including 129 using multiple rocket launchers.
The Russians carried out airstrikes outside the settlements of Lyptsi, Hlyboke, Slobozhanske, Mali Prokhody, Dementiivka, Borshchova, Ternova, Vovchansk and Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region, Lyman, Torske, Druzhba, Toretsk, Niu-York, Ivanivka, Lysychne, Myrnohrad, Hrodivka, Oleksandropil, Kostiantynivka, Kurakhove, Halytsynivka, Vodiane, Urozhaine and Novodarivka in the Donetsk region, Huliaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Kamianske and Piatykhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Burhunka in the Kherson region." Ukrin

Israeli Navy's 'C-Dome' Intercepts Hezbollah Kamikaze Drone Heading Towards Offshore NatGas Rig

"The Israel Defense Forces reported that a Hezbollah suicide drone, launched from Lebanon with a heading towards an Israeli natural gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean, was intercepted by a warship equipped with the "C-Dome" defense system." ZH

Mass Casualty Event in Israel After Hezbollah Rocket Attack

"At least five people are critically wounded and six others injured after Hezbollah rockets slammed into the Golan Heights town of Majd al-Shams. Some reports put the casualty toll above 20, with some dead." RedState

Ukrainian drones strike three Russian military airfields, hit Tu-22m3 bomber

"Drones of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine (HUR) hit a

Russian long-range strategic bomber Tu-22M3 at the Olenya airfield in Russia....The attack on the airfield, which is located near Olenegorsk, 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border was carried out in the early hours.....The HUR drones also attacked two more airfields at night - Engels in Saratov Oblast and Dyagilevo in Ryazan Oblast." NV

Biden camp suggests president quickly endorsed Kamala Harris to defy Barack Obama

 "There’s buzz swirling within the Biden camp that the president’s swift endorsement of Kamala Harris was his revenge on prominent

party leaders — including Barack Obama — who pressured him to bow out of the race against his will, sources told The Post.
Joe Biden, who said he was dropping out “in defense of democracy” during his public address Wednesday, had been told by Obama to allow delegates at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago to decide a new candidate, a source close to the Biden family claimed.
“It was Joe’s big f–k you,” the source said. “Joe said, ‘If I’m out, then I am endorsing her.'”
Talk among insiders is that Biden saw this as a final way to assert some control over his ouster." 

NYP

Zelenskyy: Situation on Pokrovsk front is difficult, positions must be strengthened

"Zelensky says that the most difficult combat situation is on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk

Oblast, and the Ukrainian positions must be strengthened there. "In particular, together with the [Ukrainian defense] minister and the military command, we are carefully analyzing the situation in the difficult areas; primarily it is the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk Oblast. This is the direction that has been and remains the main focus of Russian attacks. There have been two reports today from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. Everything must be done and will be done to strengthen our positions, our Ukrainian ability to inflict tangible losses on the occupier." MS

Putin vows 'retribution' against his enemies in chilling new warning

"Putin vowed "retribution" to anyone who tried to divide the people of Russia and reaffirm the unity in his country's authoritative power.

"Those who try to intimidate people, to split our society, to play on religious or national feelings will never succeed," Putin said in a video message posted by the Kremlin. "Inevitable and just retribution awaits them," he added." MS

NATO Nation Preparing Mass Evacuation Plans for Russian Invasion

"NATO member state Lithuania is drawing up plans for a mass evacuation of civilians in

preparation for the possibility of a war breaking out, the country's Interior Ministry said.
The measures are the latest adopted by members of the NATO military alliance to protect against potential Russian attack." Newsweek

Intelligence agencies investigating if Russia and Putin are behind Olympics rail 'attack'

"Intelligence agencies are probing whether Russia is behind the recent arson attack in Paris

ahead of the Olympics. It follows confirmation from French authorities that the country's rail systems were sabotaged in what they're calling a "malicious act of vandalism."
Officials have emphasized that coordinated incidents occurred at multiple railway stations, where cables were set ablaze on the eve of the Games. Authorities likely already have potential suspects in mind, ranging from anarchists and terrorists to French protestors, or more significantly, a malicious state actor." MS

Krynky almost completely destroyed, but Ukrainian defenders continue combat missions nearby

"Dmytro Lykhovii, spokesman for the Tavriia Operational Group of Forces, has noted that the

Ukrainian defense forces continue combat missions on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, including near the village of Krynky and on the islands in the area. "The fact that the positions of the Ukrainian forces in the village of Krynky were destroyed to the ground as a result of intense, prolonged enemy attacks and airstrikes was also taken into account. The village itself was almost completely destroyed. There is no possibility to hold the defence there, no possibility to cling to any fortifications, and therefore Ukrainian defenders are now on other designated positions and footholds, as well as on the left bank of the Dnipro River." MS

122 combat clashes on front lines in past day

"As many as 122 combat engagements with Russian invaders were recorded on the front

lines...... the enemy launched a missile strike against Ukrainian positions and populated areas using a missile and 80 airstrikes using 117 guided aerial bombs.
The Russian army carried out airstrikes outside the settlements of Lyptsi, Vovchansk, Tykhe, Hlyboke, Vesele, Vovchanski Khutory, Synkivka, Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi and Starytsia in the Kharkiv region, Lyman, Siversk, Chasiv Yar, Pivnichne, Druzhba, Oleksandropil, Novoselivka Persha, Ivanivka, Krasnohorivka, Toretsk, Lysychne, Zhelanne, Karlivka, Verkhniokamianske, Niu-York, Ukrainsk, Maksymilianivka, Kostiantynivka and Katerynivka in the Donetsk region, Mala Tokmachka, Lobkove, Huliaipole and Kamianske in the Zaporizhzhia region, and Tiahynka in the Kherson region." Ukrin

Ukraine repels massive Russian mechanized assault near Kurakhove

"In an apparent attempt to advance into Kostiantynivka and cut the T-0524 Vuhledar-

Kostiantynivka highway, Russian forces launched a significant mechanized assault on July 24, which Ukrainian troops successfully repelled.
ISW analysts noted that Ukrainian forces managed to halt one of the largest Russian mechanized assaults since October 2023 in western Donetsk Oblast. A video released by the 79th Tavria Separate Air Assault Brigade, corroborated by geolocation data, shows the repulsion of a Russian mechanized assault near Kostiantynivka, with Russian troops allegedly advancing to the southeastern outskirts of the settlement." NVU

Ukrainian strikes devastate Russian airbase with advanced missiles

"Ukrainians continue to hunt Russian aeroplanes and anti-aircraft defense systems. This time,

MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles targeted the Saki airbase in Crimea. The Saki airport, like Dzhankoy, is a key location from which Russians can conduct air strikes on Ukrainian territory. AGM-140 ATACMS missiles hit the airport premises and the area around the village of Shturvkovski, where a radar of the anti-aircraft system was reportedly struck. Meanwhile, concerning the airport, at least an ammunition depot was hit, and two soldiers died. The losses could be higher, but without satellite imagery, it's impossible to gauge the scale of the damage. Before the attack, 16 airplanes were reportedly stationed at the airport, although they might have been evacuated by the pilots." MS

US forces destroy Houthi drones as terror group continues aggressive actions at sea

"U.S. forces in the Middle East have destroyed Houthi drones in Yemen in the past 24 hours, the military said.

Separately, forces with the U.S. Central Command destroyed three uncrewed Houthi surface vessels operating of the Yemeni coast, CENTCOM said." FOX

Ukrainian forces struck Saky air base in Crimea overnight

"Ukraine's missile forces, in cooperation with other units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, attacked the Saky air base in temporarily occupied Crimea overnight. "It is important to note that the air base was protected by 'modern' Russian air defense systems that once again failed to protect an important Russian military facility." Ukrin

Netanyahu Angry After Meeting With Vice President Harris

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was angered by Vice President Kamala Harris'

on-camera statement following their Thursday meeting, and he now says the words threaten to sabotage any potential peace deal with Hamas.
Diplomats speaking with Axios said Netanyahu's criticism stems from Harris speaking as if a ceasefire and hostage exchange would mark the final end of the war in Gaza, whereas Israel's position has all along been that counter-Hamas operations could resume even if a hostage deal is reached." ZH

"Coordinated Sabotage" Paralyzes France's Rail Network As Olympics Begin

"A "coordinated sabotage" has paralyzed France's high-speed train network, impacting a

quarter million travelers. The number is set to rise to 800k by the end of the weekend, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. rench state railway company SNCF described the overnight fire and cutting of critical signal cables near the tracks in Courtalain, northern France, impacting services to Paris, as a "massive attack aimed at paralyzing the high-speed line network." ZeroHedge

Moscow shows its teeth and threatens the US with direct confrontation

"Recently, Russian fighter jets were dispatched to "intercept" US bombers that came a little too close to the border with the Russian Federation. The Russian warplanes identified the aerial target as two US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers. As the Russian warplanes approached, the US strategic bombers corrected their flight path, moving away from the Russian border and then turning away." MS

It may already be too late for the Fed to stop a recession, former central bank president says

"It may be too late for interest-rate cuts to stop a recession, former Fed president Bill Dudley

wrote for Bloomberg. He called for the central bank to start cutting rates this month.
With rates slowing down the economy, unemployment will rise, triggering a recession indicator, he cautioned." MS

103 clashes since day-start

"103 combat engagements have taken place at the front, with the enemy attacking most actively in the Pokrovsk axis.

Kharkiv axis: the Russians launched four unsuccessful attacks near Hlyboke and two near Vovchansk, one of which is currently ongoing. The situation is under control.
Kupiansk axis: the enemy launched five assaults near Stelmakhivka, Petropavlivka, and Stepova Novoselivka. One battle is over and four are in progress.
Lyman axis: the invading army attacked 10 times near the settlements of Makiivka and Nevske, as well as in the Serebryansky forest area. Ukraine’s defenders repelled six enemy attacks, and four are still ongoing.
Siversk axis: the enemy attacked five times near Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne, and Mykolaivka. As a result of the fighting, the assaults were repelled.
Kramatorsk axis: the Russians launched eight assaults near Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka, Maiske, and Hryhorivka. Defense forces repelled six attacks, and two more are ongoing.
Toretsk axis: the invaders also attacked eight times near Zalizne, New York, and Pivnichne. Five battles are over and three are ongoing." Ukrin

Biden Addresses the Nation After Dropping Out of Presidential Race

"Biden addresses the nation after dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris." Breitbart

Romania sounds air raid alerts as Russian drone debris poses danger

"Romania issued an air raid alert for the second consecutive night due to the risk of debris from downed Russian drones following attacks on the border regions of Odesa Oblast. Residents of Romania's Tulcea County received RO-Alert notifications warning of potential debris from downed drones." NV

Putin, Assad Meet in Kremlin, Discuss Worsening Regional Situation Affecting Syria

"Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, suggested discussing the situation in the region, noting that it is showing a tendency to escalate, which also affects Syria." Sputnik