“France’s national rail operator SNCF on Friday said the country’s high-speed TGV rail network has been struck by ‘malicious acts,’ including arson attacks that have disrupted the transport system. The incidents come only hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. ‘This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyze the TGV network,’ SNCF told the AFP news agency. The operator added that many routes would have to be canceled and the situation would last ‘at least all weekend while repairs are conducted.’ By mid-morning, the company said some 800,000 passengers were affected.” (07/26/24)
“Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a United Nations court which last week ruled its occupation of Palestinian territories and [squats] there were illegal. … The leaders also said Israel needed to hold extremist [squatters] accountable for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians, reverse its [squatting] program in the West Bank and work towards a two-state solution. … Israel’s foreign ministry last week rejected the ICJ opinion as ‘fundamentally wrong’ and one-sided, and repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached by negotiations.” (07/26/24)
“Former President Trump is narrowly leading Vice President Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, in several battleground states, and the two are tied in Wisconsin, according to a new set of polls. The survey released by Emerson College Polling and The Hill on Thursday found Trump leading Harris by 5 points in Arizona, 49 percent to 44 percent; by 2 points in Georgia, 48 percent to 46 percent; by 1 point in Michigan, 46 percent to 45 percent; by 2 points in Pennsylvania, 48 percent to 46 percent; and tied with her at 47 percent in Wisconsin. In every state except Arizona, the polling falls within the survey’s margin of error, meaning Trump and Harris could actually be tied in most of the battleground state match-ups.” (07/25/24)
“An airbase housing the US’s occupation forces in western Iraq has come under fresh attack amid continued regional uproar against Washington’s unstinting support for the Israeli regime’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. Several rockets were launched against the Ain al-Assad Airbase, which is located in the Arab country’s Anbar Province, on Thursday, Iraqi security officials said. ‘Four rockets fell in the vicinity’ of the outpost, one security source said. Another said an attack had occurred with ‘a drone and three rockets’ that fell close to the base’s perimeter.” (07/26/24)
“The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% annualized rate in the second quarter—a faster rate than economists expected as consumer spending increased and businesses built up inventories, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. The new data raises confidence the economy has achieved a ‘soft landing’ — healthy economic growth alongside cooling inflation. Economists expected an annualized growth rate of 1.9% last quarter. The economy grew at a 1.4% rate in the first three months of the year.” (07/25/24)
“An alleged Mexican drug kingpin suspected of flooding the United States with deadly fentanyl and who evaded authorities for decades is in US custody after he was apparently lured across the border by federal agents. Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, 76, the alleged co-founder and leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, was arrested in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Another alleged cartel leader, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 38, was also arrested, he said. … Zambada and Guzman Lopez boarded a plane purportedly en route to inspect a property in Mexico, the sources said, adding that at least one of the men was unaware they were headed to the US. FBI agents arrested the two alleged drug kingpins after they landed in El Paso.” (07/26/24)
“Former President Obama, one of the most well-respected voices in the modern Democratic Party, and former First Lady Michelle Obama officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday to be their party’s White House nominee in the fall. Citing Harris’[s] work as a prosecutor, California attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president, the Obamas said in a statement and video announcing their endorsement that she was the best qualified to take President Biden’s place in the wake of his announcement that he would not seek reelection.” (07/26/24)
“A rebel army in Myanmar said on Thursday it had seized control of a major regional military headquarters near the border with China, in what could be the biggest recent defeat for a ruling junta that is battling to contain a widening revolt. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said it had taken the strategic city of Lashio in northern Shan State, about 120 km (75 miles) from the Chinese border, after 23 days of fighting with government troops. … Reuters could not independently verify the group’s claim and a spokesperson for Myanmar’s junta did not respond to calls seeking comment.” (07/25/24)
“Who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? A former PepsiCo executive is suing the company, saying it destroyed his career after questioning his claim that he invented the popular flavor of Cheetos snacks. … In 1991, Montanez asked for a meeting with PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico to pitch his spicy Cheetos, confident they would be a hit with the Latino community. Enrico granted the meeting, liked the presentation and directed the company to develop spicy Cheetos, according to the lawsuit. … he retired from PepsiCo in 2019 to become a motivational speaker full time. He published a memoir in 2021 and his life story was made into a movie, ‘Flamin’ Hot,’ in 2023. But according to the lawsuit, PepsiCo turned on Montanez in 2021, cooperating with a Los Angeles Times piece that claimed others in the company were already working on spicy snacks when Montanez approached them, and that they – not Montanez – came up with the name, ‘Flamin’ Hot.'” (07/25/24)
“Authorities in Belgium carried out 14 raids across the country on Thursday and detained seven people for questioning over suspected terrorist activities. The raids came a day before the opening of the Olympic Games in neighboring France. ‘All the people concerned are suspected of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, of financing terrorism and preparing a terrorist attack,’ the Federal prosecutor’s office said in a press release. Spokesperson Arnaud d’Oultremont told The Associated Press that investigators had ‘not yet identified the suspects’ concrete objectives.'” (07/25/24)
