https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/russian-mod:-himars-destroyed-200-ukrainian-soldiers-elimina

Russian MoD: HIMARS destroyed, 200 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that the Russian army has destroyed a launcher, as well as a transport and loading vehicle for the HIMARS multiple launch missile system used by the Ukrainian army. The MoD also announced that 200 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the process.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that "in the Krasnoarmeysk region of the Donetsk People's Republic, ground-based precision weapons have destroyed a launcher and a transport-loading vehicle for the US-made HIMARS multiple launch missile system."

According to the statement, high-precision, long-range missiles fired from the air at one of the buildings of an industrial enterprise in the city of Odessa destroyed a storage depot for Harpoon anti-ship missiles transferred by NATO countries to Ukraine.

Furthermore, the statement noted that as a result of the high-precision strikes of the air force on the temporary deployment point of the 92nd mechanized brigade in the city of Chugiev, in the Kharkov region, up to 200 personnel of the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the said formation were eliminated and more than 10 units of armored vehicles were destroyed.

Considering the heavy losses among the ranks of the Ukrainian army, desertion cases are increasing, leaving positions to unknown destinations, the statement revealed.

“Therefore, the rifle company of the 58th Battalion of the 104th Separate Regional Defense Brigade, which was practically subordinate to the commander of the 108th battalion of the 10th Mountain Offensive Brigade, in the Verkhnikaminskoye district of the Donetsk People's Republic, was completely abandoned."

Previously, the Ministry of Defense said that its forces "eliminated up to 200 members of the Kraken battalion of Ukrainian Nazi nationalists and 50 foreign mercenaries in Kharkov, northeastern Ukraine."

Earlier on July 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "everyone should know that we have not started in earnest yet," talking about the Russian operation in Ukraine. In addition, President Putin challenged the West to attempt to defeat Russia "on the battlefield" and said that the action by Moscow in Ukraine signaled the emergence of a "multi-polar world".

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/western-dominance-to-be-replaced-by-bi-polar-world-order:-to

Western dominance to be replaced by bi-polar world order: Tony Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair considered Saturday that Western political and economic dominance is coming to an end and there will be a new bi-polar or multi-polar world order with China playing a major role.

During his annual Ditchley lecture on Saturday, Blair said that "For a large part of the Western population, living standards are stagnating, millions are struggling with basic necessities, and inflation is set to cause real wages to fall."

"If we take Britain, we will soon be taxed more than at any time since the 1940s, spending more than ever and yet our public services are creaking at the joints," he added.

The former Prime Minister said that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on the situation in Western countries, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Blair indicated that "Western politics is in turmoil – more partisan, ugly, unproductive; and fuelled by social media," arguing that "the biggest geopolitical change of this century will come from China, not Russia."

"We are coming to the end of Western political and economic dominance. The world is going to be at least bi-polar and possibly multi-polar," he said.

According to the former Former British Prime Minister, China is already the world’s second superpower and the West needs to develop a new approach to deal with Beijing, as well as to bolster its own development.

"Today, Western democracy needs a new project. Something which gives direction, inspires hope, is a credible explanation of the way the world is changing and how we succeed within it," Blair considered.

"I favour a policy towards China which is what I call ‘strength plus engagement’. We should be strong enough to deal with whatever China’s future disposition brings us, so that we maintain our system and its values. But we should not seek comprehensive ‘decoupling’ or shut down lines of interaction or cooperation. We are clear-eyed but not hostile," he explained.

Blair said that China will have allies, such as Russia and possibly Iran, and Western countries need to strengthen the transatlantic partnership between Europe and America and increase defense spending in order to stand up to Beijing.

It is noteworthy that in an interview with the Financial Times, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that "the geopolitical situation globally will undergo significant changes after the Ukraine war is over," pointing out that "We are now living in a totally new era."

Blair's statements come amid US President Joe Biden's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, where he took part in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit along with leaders of nine Arab countries, and discussed several files related to the region amid the regression of US regional influence.

In a speech during the Summit, Biden claimed that Iran destabilizes the Middle East, adding that the US will continue its diplomatic efforts to pressure the Iranian nuclear program and that Washington is keen that Tehran will not be able to acquire nuclear weapons.

"We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran," the US President indicated, adding that there will be new members of cooperation between the countries of the region, including "Israel", showcasing the fear Washington has towards losing or reducing its scope influence to the three nations.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/somalia:-car-bombing-targets-hotel-frequented-by-authorities

Somalia: Car bombing targets hotel frequented by authorities

Somali officials confirmed that an attack targeted Sunday a hotel frequented by regional authorities in the city of Jowhar, in the Hirshabelle region, southern Somalia, leaving multiple casualties reported.

The Anadolu Agency quoted senior officials as saying that the "blast was the result of a car bomb that targeted Nur Dob hotel in the town of Jowhar, wounding several people including local authorities, among them the health minister of Hirshabelle state."

Jowhar is the administrative center of Hirshabelle state and is located 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

A Somali police source said that the explosion was heard in most of the city's neighborhoods.

According to the Anadolu Agency, eyewitnesses said that the bombing affected nearby buildings, adding that the explosion was one of the largest they had heard lately in Somalia.

Till now, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, has previously claimed responsibility for similar strikes, Somali media mentioned.

It is noteworthy that Al-Shabaab group controlled Mogadishu until 2011 when it was pushed out by the African Union military mission (AMISOM) troops, but it still holds territory in the countryside.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-official:-israel-got-less-than-expected-from-bidens

Israeli official: 'Israel' got less than expected from Biden's visit

Former Israeli intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said Sunday that US President Joe Biden's visit to "Israel" did not achieve its desired goal, Israeli website i24 news reported.

Yadlin considered that Saudi Arabia was the biggest winner from Biden's visit, noting that neither did "Israel" present its short-term requests from the Iranian issue nor did it achieve what is expected in terms of normalizing relations.

The former security official pointed out that Biden's visit to "Israel" was different from that to Saudi Arabia, adding that in "Israel", special and strategic relations were consolidated and strengthened.

Lapid, Biden trust

According to Yadlin, what matters to countries is the convergence of interests and values, as well as trust between leaders, confirming that there is trust between Israel occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Biden, which former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett worked on restoring after it was destroyed, in a clear reference to Benjamin Netanyahu's tendency to support Donald Trump at the expense of Biden.

When asked about the losing side of the visit, Yadlin considered that the loser is somewhat "Israel" in terms of integration in the Middle East and the Iranian matter.

The former Israeli intelligence chief pointed out that the Saudis wanted to whitewash Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's image, which was actually achieved.

Bin Salman reminded US of intelligence mistakes & human rights violations

Yadlin added that the Americans came to visit bin Salman, who was not in any way ashamed, although handshakes were avoided, having reminded them of their intelligence mistakes in Iraq and their human rights violations, adding that those who expected Saudi Arabia to follow the Gulf states' normalization path now know that the road is still long to go.

It is noteworthy that during his visit to "Israel", US President Joe Biden and the Israeli occupation Prime Minister signed the so-called "Jerusalem Declaration" to consolidate cooperation between Washington and "Tel Aviv".

The Declaration emphasized the United States' unwaning support for "Israel's" regional military advantage and ability to "defend itself by itself."

Prior to the announcement, Lapid spoke with Biden about "the Iranian threat, and we believe that this matter is not only a matter of concern for Israel, but the world as a whole […] there will be no nuclear Iran."

"We spoke about Saudi Arabia and the importance of forming a regional coalition to counter Iran," Lapid added.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/uae-sentences-jamal-khashoggis-us-lawyer-to-three-years-in-p

UAE sentences Jamal Khashoggi’s US lawyer to three years in prison

US President Joe Biden's trip to the Middle East was marred by further controversy after it was revealed that a US lawyer who had previously represented murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been detained in the UAE.

Asim Ghafoor, a US citizen, was detained at Dubai airport on Thursday while traveling to Istanbul for a family wedding and was held on charges related to an in absentia money laundering conviction.

According to reports, Ghafoor had no prior knowledge of any such conviction.

The attorney was sentenced to three years in prison, according to UAE state media on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday and invited him to visit the US before the end of 2022.

He was one of several Arab leaders Biden met with in Saudi Arabia before departing on Saturday.

However, there were no reports whatsoever that Biden brought up the issue of Ghafoor during his meetings with any of the relevant officials, despite him being a US citizen.

Not only that, but shocking details have also emerged about Friday's provocative meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the US intelligence declared responsible for Khashoggi's murder.

According to two Saudi officials familiar with the matter, in a closed-door meeting, bin Salman was not having it when fingers were being pointed at him and his Kingdom regarding the murder of his dissident. The situation resembled a personal "but you!" back-and-forth between Biden and the Crown Prince. Bringing up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, bin Salman bit back by pointing out Washington's weak response to human rights issues, including the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, and the recent assassination of Palestinian reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.

Bin Salman argued that the US cannot impose its values on Saudi Arabia, pointing to Washington's failed adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq.