While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 19, 2025
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US President Donald Trump had warned Mr Rupert Murdoch (right), the founder of News Corp, the WSJ's parent company, that he planned to sue.
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
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Trump sues Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, WSJ reporters for libel
President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on July 18 against Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal reporters, raising claims under federal libel law, court records show.
A copy of the complaint was not immediately available. The case was filed in Miami federal court.
The lawsuit comes after The Wall Street Journal reported on a 50th birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein that Mr Trump allegedly sent in 2003 that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.
Mr Trump aides were also expected on July 18 to ask a court to release grand jury testimony about Epstein, as the president fought back against concerns over his administration’s handling of the deceased convicted sex offender’s case.
G-20 communique delivers rare show of unity amid Trump trade war
PHOTO: AFP
The Group of 20 (G-20) finance ministers and central bank chiefs committed to international policy cooperation in a communique adopted on July 18, finding rare consensus amid escalating tensions over the US trade war.
“The global economy is facing heightened uncertainty and complex challenges, including ongoing wars and conflicts, geopolitical and trade tension,” the communique said. “We emphasise the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation to address existing and emerging risks to the global economy.”
The agreement, forged during the G-20 summit in South Africa’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, was reached despite simmering tensions over US President Donald Trump’s trade war, which is set to intensify when higher tariffs take effect on Aug 1.
Spain confirms using Huawei to store judicial wiretaps
PHOTO: REUTERS
Spain said it only relies on Huawei Technologies to operate part of its wiretapping system, and dismissed any security risks.
Huawei storage within the so-called Sitel judicial wiretapping system “represents a minor part of a watertight, audited, isolated and certified system in compliance with the national high-level security scheme,” a government official said in a statement on July 18 in response to questions from Bloomberg News.
The comments follow recent media reports saying that the government uses Huawei technology to help operate Sitel. The reports led US Senator Tom Cotton and Representative Rick Crawford to write to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard earlier this week to request that Washington pull back on sharing intelligence with Spain.
Brazil court orders raids, restraints on Bolsonaro for colluding with Trump
PHOTO: EPA
Brazil’s Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraining orders against former President Jair Bolsonaro on July 18, banning him from contacting foreign officials over allegations he had courted the interference of US President Donald Trump.
Federal police raided Bolsonaro’s home and put an ankle monitor on him, an escalation in the legal pressure he is already facing and that Mr Trump has tried to relieve with a steep tariff on Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro told Reuters that he believed the court orders were a reaction to Trump’s criticism of his trial before the Supreme Court.
The court’s crackdown on Bolsonaro added to evidence that Mr Trump’s tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government.
Spain see off spirited Swiss to reach Women’s Euro 2025 semi-finals
PHOTO: EPA
Spain reached the semi-finals of Women’s Euro 2025 on July 18 after battling past Switzerland 2-0 as the world champions continued their bid for a first-ever European crown.
Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina scored the goals in the second half in Bern to give La Roja deserved passage to the last four where they will face either France or Germany on July 16.
But Montse Tome’s team didn’t have it all their own way as hosts Switzerland put up a brave fight in front of a passionate crowd at the Wankdorf Stadium.
