🩸 FLASHBACK: US Ambassador Tells Saddam Hussein That Washington Would Not Take Sides in Iraq-Kuwait Dispute, on This Day in 1990 - effectively giving green light for his invasion of Kuwait

Once Saddam invaded Kuwait, beginning the first Gulf War, the US unleashed Operation Desert Storm, going back on their neutrality signal.

The US dropped 88,500 tonnes of bombs on Iraq and Kuwait, 70% missed their targets, killing thousands and obliterating the countries.

US-led coalition bombing raids destroyed Iraqi civilian infrastructure – including all major dams, most major pumping stations, and many sewage treatment plants, telecommunications equipment, port facilities, oil refineries and distribution, railroads and bridges.

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⚠️ ‘Massive arson attack paralyzes’ French railway system

France’s high-speed national rail network has been “sabotaged” by “coordinated, malicious” attacks - in an apparent bid to cause chaos before Friday evening’s opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

Signals along the tracks were set on fire and cables cut and set alight, sources close to the investigation said.

The attacks triggered mass cancellations and were launched as Paris prepares for the opening ceremony, with 7,500 athletes, 300,000 spectators and an audience of VIPs.

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❎ Plans to tax super-rich divides G20 meet in Rio

Even before talks began, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen dampened the mood by saying there was no need for a global agreement on taxing billionaires.

The world’s top 1% saw their fortunes increase by $40 trillion over 10 years while taxation fell to “historically” low rates. (Oxfam)

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🔴Barack and Michelle Obama Finally Get Round to Endorsing Kamala Harris

Will they offer to take her paddle boarding?

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⚡️ DEVELOPING: Franco-Swiss Airport Basel-Mulhouse Evacuates for “Security Reasons”

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🤔 EU to Transfer €1.5BN from Frozen Russian Assets to Kiev Regime

“Today we transfer 1.5 billion euros in proceeds from immobilized Russian assets to the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted Friday.

Bloc member states have been discussing options to extend the renewal period of sanctions on Russian central bank assets in order to secure a major G7 loan for Ukraine, according to an EU draft document.

Will the reputation of the EU’s financial sector ever recover from this?

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➡️ Actual Death Toll of Palestinians Much Higher Than Officially Reported – US Medics in Gaza

It is likely that the death toll from this conflict is already “greater than 92,000” – an astonishing 4.2% of the population, according to an open letter written by 45 American medical professionals who volunteered in Gaza

"Israel has directly targeted and deliberately devastated Gaza's entire healthcare system," the letter noted – the medics describing dire conditions, including malnourishment, lack of clean water, and rampant epidemics.

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🍏 iPhone Loses Ground in China

Apple’s iPhone was the number 1 smartphone in China last year.

But in Q2 2024, Apple dropped out of the top 5 in a stunning reversal of fortunes.

Chinese brands are now dominating the market - Vivo, Huawei, Oppo, Honor, and Xiaomi lead the chart.

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🎯JUST IN: UK drops challenge to ICC genocide arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu

#Satanyahu

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⚡️ Modi: Pakistan Using ‘Terrorism, Proxy War’ to Stay Relevant

Islamabad’s “unholy plans” will never succeed, the Indian PM added.

The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors share an uneasy relationship and India has, for decades, accused Pakistan of backing extremist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir.

Modi’s comments came at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of India’s short military conflict with Pakistan in the Himalayan region of Kargil.

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⚠️ French PM Vows to ‘Find and Punish’ Olympics Saboteurs

“The consequences for the rail network are massive and serious”, acting PM Gabriel Attal said. Adding, “Our intelligence services and law enforcement agencies are mobilised to find and punish the perpetrators of these criminal acts.”

Signals along the tracks were set on fire and cables cut and set alight in a series of three “coordinated” attacks that have brought train services around the capital to standstill, sources close to the investigation said.

French politicians were quick to point the figure at Moscow – without any evidence.

Jean de Gliniasty, former French ambassador to Moscow, told LCI: “We are obviously in a situation of conflict with Russia, and Russia is obviously not going to do anything, and that’s an understatement, to help these Olympic Games be a success.” 

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🔥 76% of All US Personal Income Tax in June Went to Servicing Interest on its $34 Trillion National Debt

This is fine…

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📈 Wages, Consumer Spending Booms in Russia Despite Western Sanctions – FT

Real wages in Russia have grown by almost 14%, and the consumption of goods and services by around 25%, according to Rosstat.

A further bump in real wages of up to 3.5% is forecasted this year, alongside an expected 3% jump in real disposable income, according to Russia’s Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting.

The unemployment rate, forecast to hit between 7 and 8% in 2022, is at just 2.6% - a record post-Soviet low.

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