Tens of thousands of Syrians returned to the streets in towns and cities across the country for the first Friday protests of Ramadan, declaring their support for residents of Hama, where some 200 have been killed in a military crackdown over the past week.
Outside the media spotlight, youth in Belarus continue “social network” protests, including a series of silent demonstrations throughout the country—despite attacks by plainclothes police and the arrest of leaders.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is under fire for recent brutal raids against immigrant families from California to Virginia. Obama has called off the ICE workplace raids, but continued so-called “anti-gang” sweeps.
Twelve Israeli settlers accused of setting fire to Palestinian mosques, property and vehicles have been slapped with restraining orders limiting their movement in the West Bank, the military announced on the recommendation of Shin Bet.
US drones struck for the first time in 19 days in Pakistan’s tribal agencies, killing four “militants” in an attack on a compound in South Waziristan. That same day, US drones killed 15 presumed al-Qaeda militants in south Yemen.
Bolivia and South Korea have agreed to a joint venture to exploit the lithium battery business sector, the state-run Korea Resources Corp (KORES) announced July 31. KORES has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bolivia’s state-owned mining corporation COMIBOL to… Read moreBolivia enters lithium deal with South Korea
Francisco Contreras, Peru’s recently retired chief of staff warns that Iran’s growing ties with Bolivia mask support for terrorist groups in South America. Bolivian police meanwhile announced the cracking of a Sendero Luminoso cell from Peru.
The newly negotiated free trade agreement between Colombia and Mexico formally went into effect, with the two nations also pledging stepped up cooperation on military and security matters.
The US Coast Guard announced the interception of a so-called “narco submarine,” while in a joint patrol of Caribbean waters with the Honduran armed forces. Four crew members were detained with 7.5 tons of cocaine.
Mexican government and university researchers warn that some 200 species in the deserts and mountains of northern Chihuahua state are being pushed to extinction by droughts and other extreme weather events linked to climate change.
As promised, Egypt’s self-declared “Salafists” marched en masse on Tahrir Square, where secular opposition groups were holding a thousands-strong rally. No violence was reported, but the Salafists were clearly vying with the secularists for control of the square.
The latest round of UN-brokered Western Sahara negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front ended without agreement—as Rabat signed contracts with foreign oil companies to explore in the occupied territory.
