Jerusalem, Jul 24 (PTI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged from hospital on Monday after undergoing a successful procedure to implant a pacemaker, just ahead of a critical vote in the Knesset on a controversial bill that could curb existing judicial powers.

Netanyahu, 73, underwent surgery on Sunday at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, almost a week after he was hospitalised for dehydration and had a heart monitoring device implanted.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is pushing back hard against Republican efforts to cast him as an advocate of gender reassignment surgery for minors, saying his detractors have misrepresented his position and invoking his Christian faith and support for parental rights to explain why he vetoed a measure that banned gender-affirming care for children.

23 July 2023; MEMO: A century ago, on July 24, countries around the world acknowledged Turkiye as an independent and sovereign nation with the historic signing of the Lausanne Peace Treaty at the Rumine Palace in the lakeside Swiss city, Anadolu Agency reports.

Months of intense negotiations had led up to the momentous event under the Lausanne Peace Conference, held at the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel, situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Leman in Lausanne.

Kathmandu, Jul 23 (PTI) Nepal and China have remained good neighbours since ancient times, President Ramchandra Paudel told a Chinese leader during their meeting here on Sunday.

Yuan Jiajun, a politburo member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit to Nepal, leading a 26-member delegation.

Yuan called on Paudel at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, and they discussed bilateral relations and mutual interests, the president's office said in a statement.

23 July 2023; AA: Commander of the US CENTCOM, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, met with Pakistan's army chief Gen. Asim Munir on Monday to discuss a variety of issues, including the region’s security situation.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian police said Monday they have arrested two people suspected of helping smuggle Cubans toward Spain as part of an international crime group.

The two Serbian citizens were arrested in a monthslong investigation in cooperation with Spain, the Interpol and Europol, police said in a statement. They said 18 more suspects have been arrested in Spain.

The suspects in Serbia are accused of organizing the illegal transfer of at least 53 people to neighboring countries — North Macedonia or Bosnia — and on to Spain, said the statement.

Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani says setting books and thoughts on fire is not freedom but sheer barbarism as he calls on the Swedish and Danish governments to stop acts of insults against religious sanctities.

Bagheri Kani made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday with Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, where the two officials discussed bilateral issues, as well as the latest regional and international developments. 

TEHRAN, Jul 24 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranian Army’s Air Force, kicked off a large-scale air drill in the central province of Isfahan yesterday.

Troops from all air bases of the Air Force joined the military exercise, which is codenamed the 11th Fadaeian-e Harim-e Velayat (11th Devotees of Velayat Airspace), Hamid Vahedi, commander-in-chief of the air force, was quoted as saying, at a press conference held before the beginning of the exercise.

HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba says it does not plan to sell any shares in its one-third shareholding in financial technology company Ant Group because it wants to retain its stake in an “important strategic partner.”

Alibaba Group Holdings said in a filing Sunday that it will not participate in Ant’s share buyback program. It allows shareholders to sell back up to 7.6% of their holdings at an unspecified price that values the company at 567.1 billion yuan ($78.8 billion).

Washington, Jul 24 (PTI) A prominent Indian-American Dalit activist fighting against the recent caste discrimination bill in California Assembly died of a heart attack as he passionately spoke against it at a city council meeting in Cupertino, sending shock waves amongst the Hindu American community in the country.

Milind Makwana, according to his close friends and family, spoke at the City Council meeting on July 18 against SB403, the anti-caste discrimination bill in California State Assembly.

PHOENIX (AP) — Stephanie Pullman died on a sweltering Arizona day after her electricity was cut off because of a $51 debt.

Five years later, the 72-year-old’s story remains at the heart of efforts to prevent others in Arizona from having their power cut off, leaving them without life-saving air conditioning in temperatures that have topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on every day this month.

July 24 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Monday that it had found traces of explosives on a ship travelling from Turkey to the port of Rostov-on-Don in Russia to pick up grain.

The FSB said the ship had been docked in the Ukrainian port of Kiliia in May, and that it may have been used to deliver explosives to Ukraine.

It said the ship had changed its name while in the Turkish port of Tuzla earlier this month and replaced its crew, which had consisted of 12 Ukrainian nationals.