WORLD MUST TELL RUSSIA TO STOP 'BLACKMAIL' INVOLVING UKRAINIAN GRAIN, BLINKEN TELLS UN

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 3 took aim at Russia in a speech to the UN Security Council in New York, accusing Moscow of "blackmail" over its recent withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Blinken told the 15-member council that "hunger must not be weaponized" and urged all UN countries to tell Russia they have had "enough" of Moscow’s actions.

"Enough using the Black Sea as blackmail. Enough treating the world's most vulnerable people as leverage. Enough of this unjustified unconscionable war," he said.

Blinken announced that nearly 90 countries had backed a U.S.-drafted communique in which they commit "to take action to end the use of food as a weapon of war and the starvation of civilians as a tactic of warfare."

The communique does not call out any countries by name. Blinken, however, singled out Russia in his speech, saying its invasion of Ukraine had sparked an "assault" on the global food system.

Since quitting the deal, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to help ease the food crisis, Moscow has targeted Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River.

Blinken spoke at a meeting he chaired on famine and food insecurity caused by conflict. The United States took over the rotating presidency of the Security Council on August 1.

Blinken added that the United States would provide $362 million in new funding to "tackle the drivers of food insecurity and to enhance resilience" in 11 African countries and Haiti.

DONALD TRUMP PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ELECTION CHARGES IN LATEST ARRAIGNMENT

Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in a Washington DC court to charges of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Speaking softly during the arraignment, he confirmed his plea, personal details, and sobriety. Trump labeled the case as "persecution of a political opponent." This marks his third appearance as a criminal defendant in recent months. The hearing took place near the site of the US Capitol riot central to the prosecution's case. Trump was seen exchanging glances with the special counsel. He was cautioned not to discuss the case's facts, with possible consequences for non-compliance. Prosecutors expressed the need for a speedy trial.

Meanwhile, former vice-president Mike Pence on Wednesday said that former President Donald Trump and his advisers had tried to get him “essentially to overturn the election” and that the American people needed to know it. The remarks, made in an interview with Fox News, are some of Pence’s most pointed to date about what he experienced in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, when he presided over the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory. “Trump and his advisers didn’t just ask me to pause. They asked me to reject votes and return votes.”

PAKISTAN APPROVES SIGNING OF SECURITY PACT WITH U.S.

Pakistan's Cabinet has quietly approved a new security pact with the U.S., suggesting a fresh start in defense cooperation. The Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CIS-MOA) approval might lead to enhanced military hardware acquisition from the U.S. The agreement covers joint exercises, operations, training, basing, and equipment. This agreement signifies the intent of both nations to strengthen their institutional mechanisms. While it suggests potential military hardware sales, some experts remain skeptical about the ease of procurement due to historical challenges. The previous CIS-MOA, initially signed in 2005, expired in 2020 and has now been renewed.

IS CONFIRMS DEATH OF ITS CHIEF MONTHS AFTER TURKIYE’S CLAIM, NAMES SUCCESSOR

The Islamic State confirmed the death of its lesser-known leader, Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi, and introduced Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as his successor, according to a recording released on the group's Telegram channel. This marks the group's official acknowledgment of its leader's fate, previously reported by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. The announcement lacks details about the new leader. Once a dominant force, the Islamic State saw its influence wane since its peak in 2014. It lost significant territory in Iraq and Syria due to opposition forces, including a US-led coalition. The organization's previous leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in 2019. Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi took over in 2022 after his predecessor's death. Despite setbacks, the group persists with insurgent activities in Syria and Iraq. The remaining militants often hide in remote areas, and the US-led coalition and Kurdish-led forces continue countermeasures.

PAK SC ON MILITARY TRIALS: WON’T ALLOW ILLEGAL STEPS

Islamabad : Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial stated on Thursday that the Supreme Court will prevent the armed forces from taking "unconstitutional steps." A six-judge bench adjourned hearings on challenges to military court trials of civilians charged with attacking army facilities after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Justice Bandial expressed concern over attacks by Imran's supporters, praising the military for not using force against civilians. He sought assurance from the attorney general that military trials wouldn't proceed. The attorney general assured fair treatment of detainees and said this assurance came from the military's top leadership. The chief justice emphasized that illegal actions by the military would not be allowed.

TAIWAN'S NEW METOO LAWS ARE WELCOME BUT ACTIVISTS WANT MORE

Taiwan's new sexual harassment laws are a response to the #MeToo movement, driven by a surge of sexual assault claims against powerful figures and leading to political resignations. The Democratic Progressive Party has expedited legal amendments ahead of a crucial election. While hailed as a legislative milestone, activists point out shortcomings in addressing entrenched societal norms that normalize sexual harassment. Although Taiwan is seen as progressive, its patriarchal and hierarchical aspects persist. The updated laws mandate reporting channels for all workplaces, even previously exempt small businesses, and necessitate investigation and reporting of complaints, with fines for non-compliance. The amendments expand the definition of sexual harassment to include gender-based discrimination and professional retaliation for rejecting advances, also extending the statute of limitations.

SAUDI, KUWAIT REJECT IRAN CLAIM TO GAS FIELD

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait said on Thursday they have sole ownership of a disputed gas field also claimed by Iran, in an escalating feud after Tehran threatened to pursue exploration. The offshore field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, has long been focal point of contention between the three countries.

The Kuwaiti and Saudi authorities said in a joint statement published on Thursday that “they alone have full sovereign rights to exploit the wealth in that area”. The two Arab Gulf states renewed “their previous and repeated calls to the Islamic Republic of Iran to negotiate” the demarcation of their maritime borders to settle the issue, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

Iran and Kuwait have held unsuccessful talks for many years over their disputed maritime border area, which is rich in natural gas. Recent attempts to revive negotiations have failed, and Iran on Sunday said Tehran may pursue work even without an agreement.

NIGER: PRESIDENT MOHAMED BAZOUM CALLS ON US FOR HELP AFTER COUP

Niger's ousted leader, President Mohamed Bazoum, has penned an opinion piece in the Washington Post appealing to the US and the global community to assist in restoring constitutional order following last week's coup. Bazoum, who considers himself a hostage, warned of dire consequences if the coup succeeds. The coup leaders have withdrawn Niger's ambassadors from France, the US, Nigeria, and Togo. Bazoum also cautioned against the coup leaders' alleged links to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, expressing concerns over Russian influence in the central Sahel region. This comes as Niger, a significant uranium producer and a migration route, faces political upheaval.

GREENPEACE ACTVISTS DRAPE SUNAK’S HOUSE IN BLACK

Greenpeace demonstrators draped the country estate of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in black fabric on Thursday to protest his plan to expand oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Video posted by the group showed a crew dressed in bright red jumpsuits, helmets and safety harnesses carrying ladders and climbing onto the roof of the Yorkshire house. They slowly unfurled long black sheets of fabric over the front of the home and held a yellow sign on the roof that read “No New Oil.”

The Prime Minister was not home because he is vacationing with his family in California.

Mr. Sunak announced on Monday that Britain will grant hundreds of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea. The move was widely criticized by environmental groups.

SEVERAL HURT IN SOUTH KOREAN ‘STABBING RAMPAGE’, SAY POLICE

SEOUL: A man went on a “stabbing rampage” near South Korea’s Seohyeon subway station in Bundang, the police said on Thursday, with as many as 10 people reported wounded two weeks after a similar attack killed one person. The suspect “had been arrested at the scene”, the official said.

ISRAEL COURT HEARS CASE AGAINST LAW PROTECTING PM FROM BEING REMOVED

JERUSALEM: Israel’s Supreme Court heard a petition on Thursday against a law that protects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from being removed from office. The law passed earlier this year says that a Prime Minister can only be deemed unfit to rule for health or mental reasons and that only the government can make that decision.

POLAND AND LITHUANIA SAY THEY FEAR PROVOCATIONS FROM RUSSIA, BELARUS

WARSAW: Polish and Lithuanian leaders held an urgent meeting on Thursday in a strategically sensitive area where their NATO nations border Belarus and the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, warning that they are bracing for provocations from Moscow and Minsk. The NATO countries on the eastern flank have felt under pressure for years.

POPE FRANCIS TRIES HAND AT MURAL ART

Pope Francis tried his hand at painting on Thursday when he put the final touches on a 3 km long mural while visiting a school west of Lisbon. About 30 murals painted by students and community members were brought together to form a single work in the seaside town of Cascais. The 86-year-old pope was given an artist’s paintbrush attached to a virtual reality gadget that allowed students at a school in Mozambique to see his brush strokes on a wall in their school in real time. The first try did not go well. The pope, looking a bit bewildered, gave it a second try and managed to paint a green line in the shape of half of an elliptical arch.