Iryna Farion, a former Ukrainian parliament member known for her advocacy of the Ukrainian language, was shot and killed in Lviv. Police are investigating the incident, considering both political and personal motives. The shooting has sparked outrage and condemnation from Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Vietnamese social media users are showing their respect for late leader Nguyen Phu Trong by changing their profile pictures to black. The former Communist Party general secretary passed away at the age of 80, leaving a legacy of leadership during a period of significant economic growth and political stability.
Three Indian Coast Guard ships have been battling a fire aboard a cargo vessel in the Arabian Sea for over 12 hours, preventing its spread. The vessel, MV Maersk Frankfurt, reported explosions on its front deck while sailing from Gujarat to Colombo. No casualties have been reported, and the coast guard is conducting aerial assessments and sending additional ships to assist in the firefighting operation.
An Indian woman, Farzana Begum, has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking custody of her two sons, claiming her Pakistani husband, Yousaf Elahi Mirza, is illegally keeping them with him in the UAE. Begum alleges that she was Mirza’s fourth wife and was tortured and expelled from their home in Lahore. The court is now working to determine how to bring the minors back to Pakistan.
The military coup in Myanmar has had a devastating impact on the nation’s education system, with schools becoming targets of violence. A report by the Centre for Information Resilience’s (CIR) Myanmar Witness details over 170 attacks on schools, resulting in widespread damage and leaving millions of children out of school. The report highlights the increasing frequency of these attacks, with a concerning peak in March 2024. The destruction of schools not only denies children access to education but also threatens to create a lost generation in Myanmar, exacerbating poverty and perpetuating cycles of violence.
Former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call, their first since Trump left office. While the conversation focused on congratulating Trump on his GOP nomination and condemning a recent assassination attempt, it also raised questions about Trump’s stance on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and potential impact on US support for Ukraine. The call comes amidst Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and Zelenskyy’s ongoing fight against Russia’s invasion.
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved more transparent procedures for individuals, companies, and entities seeking to be removed from UN sanctions lists. This resolution, co-sponsored by Malta and the US, also establishes a new working group to improve the effectiveness of UN sanctions.
An Air India relief aircraft carrying passengers from a Delhi-San Francisco flight that was diverted to Krasnoyarsk, Russia due to a technical issue, has departed from Krasnoyarsk for San Francisco. The flight AI 1179 took off at 0002 hours local time on July 20, carrying all passengers and crew of the original flight AI 183. The Indian Embassy in Moscow thanked the Russian authorities for their assistance during the emergency situation.
President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure from within his own party to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. Several Democratic lawmakers have publicly urged Biden to step aside, citing concerns about his age and ability to win against Donald Trump. While Biden insists he’s ready to campaign, his re-election bid is facing significant challenges amid a growing chorus of criticism.
Panama’s newly-elected president, Jose Raul Mulino, has declared the ongoing migrant crisis in the Western Hemisphere a “United States problem.” He also stated that deportation flights, partly funded by the US, are only voluntary. Despite efforts to limit crossings through the dangerous Darien Gap, over half a million migrants passed through Panama last year. Mulino has vowed to make changes and increase deportations but insists that only migrants who agree will be returned to their homelands.
