Middle Eastern Politics Headlines at 12:12 p.m. GMT
Democrats wrestle with whether to attend Netanyahu's address to Congress as many plan to boycott
Latest stories
BloombergHamas-backing Anwar defends BlackRock in face of Israel protests
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is resisting pressure from his own critics to nix a multi-billion dollar Malaysian airports privatisation deal involving BlackRock over its ties to Israel.
- INSIDER
Biden's family is telling him to stay in the race even as calls to exit grow
The meeting was pre-planned but was a timely opportunity for Biden to discuss the future of his campaign with the most influential people in his life.
- INSIDER
Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine.
Ukraine has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot air defense systems.
- The Daily Beast
Obama Rode to Biden’s Rescue—but Intervention Could Yet Come
On Friday afternoon, in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump, private murmurs and public calls for an “intervention” ricocheted through Democratic circles. But then a hold-up emerged.Some 17 hours after Biden botched his big debate moment, his former boss came to the rescue.For many high-ranking Democrats, a single tweet from former President Barack Obama appeared to nix any chance of the 44th president meeting with the 46th and urging him to drop out.Rea
- Associated Press
An Indian military tank sinks while crossing a river in a region bordering China, killing 5 soldiers
Five Indian soldiers were killed when a military tank they were travelling in sank while crossing a river in the remote region of Ladakh that borders China, officials said Saturday. The tank sank early Saturday due to sudden increase in the water levels of Shyok River during a military training activity, according to an Indian army command center statement. It said the accident took place in Saser Brangsa near the Line of Actual Control that divides India and China in the Ladakh region.
- CNN
The reason why NATO and Europe found Biden’s debate performance so alarming
Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump has raised concerns with US allies - particularly within NATO and Europe.
- CNN
Russia wants to confront NATO but dares not fight it on the battlefield – so it’s waging a hybrid war instead
When someone tried – and failed – to burn down a bus garage in Prague earlier this month, the unsuccessful arson attack didn’t draw much attention. Until, that is, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala revealed it was “very likely” that Moscow was behind it.
- The Telegraph
‘Trillion dollar trainwreck’: US super stealth fighter is eating the next generation
All of a sudden, the US Air Force is considering cancelling a multibillion-dollar effort to develop a new stealth fighter. Citing the high cost of the so-called “Next-Generation Air Dominance” programme and the competing demands of other projects, USAF leaders have warned they may have no choice but to cancel NGAD – and find other ways of winning control of the air in future wars.
- CNN
A year ago, she drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban. Today, she has a message for other Afghan girls
Arzo survived a suicide attempt but now faces a new threat that could send her family – and millions like them – back to Afghanistan and a life that has become so intolerable for women and girls that some would rather die.
- HuffPost
Critics Clown Trump's 'IDIOTIC' Electric Planes Remarks: 'Dumb As A Box Of Rocks'
"What happens if the sun isn’t shining while you’re up in the air?” the former president asked at a rally in Virginia.
- CNN Business
One of the world’s richest men wants to transform India’s biggest slum
When Masoom Ali Shaikh arrived in Mumbai in 1974 as a young man from northern India, the patch of land where he set up shop was “just a creek with no proper road and garbage all around,” he said.
- The Guardian
‘I am not made for war’: the men fleeing Ukraine to evade conscription
As a new recruitment drive looms, some are turning to online handlers and forgers to escape the horror of war
- The Telegraph
Joe Biden ‘gets tired after 4pm’
Joe Biden gets tired after 4pm, according to aides, which might explain his dismal performance on Thursday’s 9pm debate.
- South China Morning Post
Berlin's shift on China policy is result of Beijing's changed behaviour, German envoy says
Beijing's changing behaviour towards Europe has compelled Berlin to re-evaluate its China policy, a top German diplomat said on Friday. Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Thomas Bagger, state secretary at the German foreign ministry, declared that Germany's stance towards Beijing has moved to a heightened rivalry, a response to Beijing's actions rather than pressure from Washington. "It's quite clear that the emphasis has shifted from a focus on partnership and cooperation to more c
- The Independent
Top Democrat admits party is having ‘serious’ talks about dropping Biden as nominee for ‘someone else’
Influential House Democrat Jamie Raskin breaks with members of his own party who say Biden’s nomination is set in stone and acknowledges party is in discussions about Biden’s future
- INSIDER
Huge US military 'Manta Ray' sea drone spotted on Google Earth at California naval base
Sea drones have redefined naval warfare in recent years. Their use in the Russia-Ukraine war has gained them widespread media attention.
- The Hill
Fauci rejects Bannon calling threats a metaphor: ‘That’s nonsense’
Former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci hit back at Steve Bannon on Sunday for saying that his past comments directed at Fauci were a “metaphor.” Fauci, in a Sunday appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” was asked about Bannon’s earlier remarks. The former Trump adviser argued that his past comments suggesting that Fauci and FBI Director…
- INSIDER
France's army chief says small drones will lose their battlefield advantage. But Ukraine likely won't be changing tack anytime soon.
French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill said small drones could soon lose their battlefield advantage as defenses were catching up.
- Reuters
China's June factory activity contracts again, services slows
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's manufacturing activity fell for a second month in June while services activity slipped to a five-month low, an official survey showed on Sunday, keeping alive calls for further stimulus as the economy struggles to get back on its feet. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) purchasing managers' index (PMI), at 49.5 in June, was unchanged from May, below the 50-mark separating growth from contraction and in line with a median forecast of 49.5 in a Reuters poll. "Actual industrial activity should be stronger than the data suggests as our observation is that the official PMI fails to fully capture the current export momentum, which has been the major economic driver this year," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
- CNN
‘Biggest worry in captivity was for my parents,’ rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani says
Rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani has spoken out about her ordeal publicly for the first time since her rescue, saying in a video message that her biggest concern during captivity was for her parents.