Elon Musk threatened to release damaging evidence about Donald Trump's alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex trafficker. According to biographer Michael Wolff, who has over 100 hours of recorded interviews with Epstein, the two men were close friends for 15 years, sharing personal and business relationships. Wolff claims to have seen lewd images of Trump and Epstein, which Musk hinted he would release, escalating an online feud between the tech billionaire and the president.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-epstein-biographer-red-flag/Pakistan Army Chief General Munir has postponed his trip to Sri Lanka due to "unforeseen urgent commitments" and will instead visit Muslim-majority Indonesia later this month. The trip aims to revive bilateral ties between Islamabad and Jakarta, as Indonesia is growing closer to New Delhi. General Munir's elevation to Field Marshal has sparked speculation of a coup, with only General Ayub Khan holding the same rank in Pakistan's history. Pakistan is struggling financially, with inflation, unemployment, debt, and power cuts affecting the country. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently provided a $1 billion bailout to Islamabad, but nearly half of its revenue goes towards interest payments on loans.
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/asim-munirs-lavish-trips-to-sri-lanka-indonesia-how-the-elite-live-their-best-life-as-pakistan-struggles-13906754.htmlGerman Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is set to meet with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington as Germany considers increasing its military aid to Ukraine. The country has already provided three Patriot systems, but now has only six left. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina believes the conflict is nearing a turning point, citing growing interest from former President Trump in helping Ukraine fight back against Russia's invasion. In contrast, Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev sees efforts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Washington as doomed to fail, and expects constructive dialogue to continue despite attempts to disrupt it.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-says-us-to-send-weapons-for-ukraine-under-nato-deal-threatens-russia-with-tariffs-if-war-isnt-resolved/article69812085.eceRussian billionaire Potanin is embroiled in a shareholder dispute with Rusal over the management of Norilsk Nickel, which led to a 2020 environmental disaster in Russia's Arctic. The feud dates back to 2008 and intensified in 2018 when Deripaska tried to block Potanin's purchase of shares from Abramovich and his partner Alexander Abramov. A former FBI counterintelligence officer, Charles McGonigal, was hired by Deripaska to gather compromising information on Potanin, with the goal of having him placed on US sanctions. McGonigal is currently serving a 28-month prison sentence for accepting bribes and working secretly for Deripaska while under post-employment restrictions.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/14/abramovich-faces-london-lawsuit-over-norilsk-nickel-asset-deal-a89807The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) emphasizes cooperation as its core principle, aiming to collaborate with countries that share its values. Led by former Secretary-General Rashid Alimov, the SCO spans a vast geopolitical space beyond the Eurasian continent, connecting multiple nations in a partnership focused on mutual cooperation.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338352.shtmlThe 15,000 attendees at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, gathered amidst a complex global backdrop marked by increasing indebtedness and cuts to foreign aid. The Sevilla Commitment, endorsed during the conference, aims to catalyze investment in sustainable development, address debt challenges, and reform the international finance architecture through initiatives such as tax levies, blended finance tools, and debt swaps for development. However, these efforts face steep political opposition, particularly in countries struggling with economic downturns and looming fiscal deficits. The Global Hub for Debt Swaps for Development and other structures aim to alleviate debt burdens, while instruments like FX EDGE and Delta propose local currency financing solutions. MDBs made significant funding commitments, including $5.2 billion by CAF, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank. Despite these efforts, developing self-reliance through Debt-Reliance Models (DRM) for low-income countries remains paramount, and reforming credit ratings agencies is crucial to unlock DRM and enable lower capital costs. The evolving landscape of tools and instruments requires greater trust and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the scale necessary to address SDGs and ambitious goals.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/financing-development-whats-next-after-sevilleSheikha Bodour emphasized Sharjah's commitment to preserving Faya, a location that will continue to receive investment for conservation efforts and expand research initiatives to share its story globally. Ali Alhaj Al Ali, UAE's Permanent Delegate to Unesco, highlighted the country's dedication to heritage preservation and its active role in supporting Unesco's mission.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/07/13/fayas-unesco-listing-affirms-uaes-civilisational-stature-says-sheikha-bodourThe UAE has provided resources to nurture Emirati women's talent, particularly under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, who supports women in various fields. Aliya is preparing for international championships in Sweden, Tønsberg, Norway, and Viverone, Italy, with gratitude to the UAE Marine Sports Federation and marine clubs like Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club and Sharjah Marine Sports Club for their support.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2025/07/14/meet-aliya-fairouz-the-first-arab-woman-to-compete-in-formula-4-powerboat-racingUS President Donald Trump urged Russian President Putin to stop the deadly barrages on Kyiv in April, calling him "absolutely crazy". In June, Ukraine reported its highest monthly civilian casualties in three years due to Russia's attacks. The US is sending more Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, with Germany offering to finance two systems and providing three already. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the EU aims to assume greater responsibility for Europe's deterrence and defense. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted a "massive effort" to get Putin to negotiate, while Russia's envoy Kirill Dmitriev dismissed efforts to pressure Moscow, saying constructive dialogue is more effective.
https://wsvn.com/news/politics/trump-threatens-russia-with-tariffs-and-boosts-us-weapons-for-ukraine/