Hong Kong —  China is struggling to offset economic challenges both at home and abroad, as its economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the second quarter of the year.

On Wednesday, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the economy grew 4.3% in the quarter ending June 30, compared to the same period a year ago.

China misses growth target for first time since Covid as Iran turmoil roils global trade

By Stephanie Yang

Markets are often treated as if they naturally maximise public benefit, but they can just as easily reward speculation, weak care, low wages and ecological destruction.

Mark Diesendorf recently recounted eight economic myths that are helping to destroy our future. Here are some more.

Geoff Davies

Absorbing the revelations in the book Regime Change by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, I posed a question to an American colleague:  why do figures like Donald Trump continue to get elected?  With his signature measured calm, he offered a chilling truth.  He suggested that Americans have not felt history’s harsh winds blow with hurricane force since the Civil War, which has left U.S. society dangerously naive and perilously unserious.

Perception of Iran: Veils, Beards & the Bomb

A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as "Gus" sold for $50.1 million (roughly €44 million) at Sotheby's in New York on Tuesday, setting a new record for a dinosaur fossil at auction. The sale followed a tense 10-minute bidding battle involving seven bidders and ended with an anonymous purchaser.

Before Tuesday's sale, the record for the most expensive dinosaur fossil was held by Apex, a Stegosaurus skeleton that sold for $44.6 million at Sotheby's in 2024.

It was discovered in 2021 on a South Dakota cattle ranch, owned by the late Gary "Gus" Licking, for whom the fossil was named,

Europe cannot play a meaningful role in resolving the Ukraine conflict while trying to exclude Russia from the process, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, calling the bloc’s position a “dead end.” 

Peskov was responding to remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who argued that any future “security guarantees” for Kiev should be determined by Ukraine and its Western backers without Russia’s participation. 

Europe’s position on Ukraine is a ‘dead end’ – Kremlin
A resolution of the conflict without Russia is impossible, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

“Such statements demonstrate that the position taken by the Europeans is a dead end. If they insist on it, they will have no role in the settlement process,” Peskov told reporters on Tuesday. 

The danger of a nuclear war has never been greater than today. The Merz-Klingbeil government is rearming on a scale not seen since Hitler and is brazenly preparing for a war with Russia, a nuclear-armed power. The cost of this madness is being borne by the workers through mass redundancies, cuts to social services and, ultimately, with their lives.

Socialism Instead of War! Against austerity, rearmament and fascism

Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is the highest-paid Member of Parliament. In less than two years as the MP for Clacton, Farage has racked up £2 million in personal income and gifts, on top of his £94,000 a year parliamentary salary.

As DeSmog has revealed, a substantial amount of Farage’s income has come from overseas interests – including foreign governments, companies, and donors.

The first time I saw Boris Johnson, he was dangling in mid-air in a safety helmet, Union Jack flags fluttering above him and his polished shoes tucked awkwardly beneath him. He looked like Mr. Bean after being accidentally ejected from an aircraft.

Why Western Europe keeps producing weak leaders

From Boris Johnson to Emmanuel Macron: why Western Europe’s political class appears less capable than previous generations

By Nikolai Gastello

I couldn’t believe that this was the new prime minister of Britain, so I checked other photographs, assuming it might be Photoshop. But it wasn’t, and there he was, sitting in the same office once occupied by Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that America is “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, and will act as the “guardian angel” of the key waterway “and get paid for it.” Tehran has earlier declared the strait closed, blaming “hostile actions” by US forces.

Speaking by phone to ‘Fox & Friends’ on Monday, Trump said Iran was getting its “ass kicked” in the war against the US, asserting that the country’s navy, air force and missile capabilities had been “virtually annihilated” and listing senior Iranian leaders he said had been killed. 

He added that US troops were continuing to carry out strikes against Iranian targets after he declared a ceasefire with Tehran to be “over” this past weekend.

Ukraine and 9 European countries form anti-ballistic missile coalition

European leaders have agreed to form a new intergrated anti-ballistic missile coalition with Ukraine. 

The agreement brings together Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdon. 

The countries said in a statement that "our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe."

Leaders say the project will develop "purely defensive" anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe, citing  "the growing threat" of ballistic missiles.

The coalition is designed to complement existing ballistic missile defense systems, including national European systems already in service or planned for deployment.

With the 32 North ATLANTIC Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries in Ankara, Turkey, for their annual meeting this week, July 7 and 8, many of the militaries of NATO countries are halfway around the world in the PACIFIC ocean in war preparation maneuvers.

Ten NATO countries, almost one-third of all NATO countries, have sent military forces, land, air, and sea, to Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), a 38-day (June 24-July 31, 2026) war drill.

One-Third of NATO Is in the Pacific, and Israel Brings Genocide to the Drill

by Colonel (Ret) Ann Wright

PragerU is trying to take over American schools. The right-wing, pseudo-educational group is now an official educational partner in at least ten states, and blitzes children with highly questionable messaging on race, history, and politics. Even more concerning, PragerU is led by former Israeli spy, Marissa Streit, who has stated she uses the tactics and techniques honed by IDF military intelligence on the American people.

“You can’t do that” Gus thought when he saw Norway score a goal after Erling Haaland “discreetly” fell the English goal keeper with a mighty push “while no-one was looking”… The goal went to the VAR and got dismissed. Yes the Viking were back to conquer England once more in America, but England got revenge this time.

Norway’s Vikings Are Reclaiming Valhalla at the World Cup

BY MÍMIR KRISTJÁNSSON 

“How often does historical enquiry have less to do with establishing past facts, and more to do with the establishing of present identity?” 

                  Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough