- The Guardian
- Issue #2201
IRAN: Dialysis equipment for 44,000 patients has finally reached Iran after being held by the United States for 95 days. The eight-container shipment had been detained since 20 April before its release following cooperation between the Iranian Red Crescent and 17 international and humanitarian organisations. Iranian authorities said the vital supplies will now be distributed to treatment centres nationwide, describing the delivery as a breakthrough amid tightening US measures against Iran.
LEBANON: UNESCO has added a group of historic fortresses in southern Lebanon and the archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank to its list of ‘World Heritage in Danger,’ citing damage, military threats, and Israeli projects that could permanently alter the protected locations. The Lebanese Culture Minister described the decision as “a remarkable achievement in the effort to protect these important historical landmarks.” The Lebanese government can currently access only two of the five fortresses included in the designation.
SUDAN: Sudan has rejected a US-proposed ceasefire plan, warning that its terms would effectively divide Sudan by granting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a permanent position of influence. The Sudanese government reiterated its commitment to full RSF withdrawal from Darfur, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile. The Sudanese Foreign Minister stressed that while Sudan remains open to dialogue, it will not accept arrangements that compromise national sovereignty or validate foreign-backed aggression.
BRAZIL: Brazil hosted the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro from 26-31 July. The foreign aid cuts by the Trump administration raised serious concerns among humanitarian and health organisations around the world, particularly over their potential impact on HIV prevention and treatment programs in Africa. Several high-level delegations from several African states took part in the conference and eagerly anticipated the US representative speech on investment opportunities in six African states.
There was an angry uproar, however, when a projected map of Africa showed the countries in wrong locations. Nigeria was placed in the Sahara, making the West African coastal nation appear landlocked, Mozambique was moved from southwestern Africa to the Horn of Africa, Ivory Coast appeared on the opposite side of the continent. The locations or borders of Cameroon, Malawi, and Uganda were inaccurate as well. An examination of the image found a watermark indicating that it had been created by using Open AI technology, Reuters reported. Evidently, no human intelligence was involved.
EU: The European Union has quietly removed an item from its latest list of sanctions against Russia. No, it was not life-saving medicine or fire-fighting equipment, it was sable pelts. The two main buyers of Russian sable pelts are Italy and Greece and they were behind the move. Fur manufacturers in Greece, which has one of the EU’s last remaining production hubs, warned earlier that the sanctions could spell the end of the industry.
ITALY: Health officials in Italy have put almost all of the country’s major cities on the highest level of alert for high temperatures in response to heatwaves. Residents in the cities affected are urged to avoid heat and direct sunlight for most of the day, stay indoors if possible and to drink plenty of fluids. The Copernicus Climate Change Service says that Europe is the fastest-warming continent.
(see Guardian #2198, 19 July for more)
EL SALVADOR: El Salvador has handed down prison sentences exceeding 1,000 years to gang members as part of a sweeping crackdown initiated in 2022 by Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele, who calls himself the “world’s coolest dictator.”
