GERMANY - Not a single German national appears to be fully satisfied with their government, the latest ARD-Deutschland TREND survey has revealed. The country is currently governed by the so-called traffic light coalition, which consists of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the Free Democrats (FDP), and the Greens. According to the survey, conducted on July 1-3, zero percent of Germans said they were “fully satisfied” with the ruling coalition’s work, with just 19% saying they were somewhat “satisfied.” The overall dissatisfaction rate with the government’s policies rose to 81%, with 38% saying they were “not satisfied at all.” After the EU push to eliminate Russian energy imports as part of the sanctions, the German economy has taken several major hits, with many energy-intensive businesses either leaving the country or shutting down entirely.

USA - The Biden administration has warned China against continuing to conduct armed attacks on the Philippines, but China has blatantly ignored the warning, repeatedly harassing Philippine naval vessels and severely injuring its sailors over the past several months. Beijing, for its part, has accused Washington of using the Philippines as a pawn and seems to have every intention of continuing to escalate the dispute. That dispute centers on the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed reef within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, but also within China’s illegal “nine-dash line” maritime claim in the South China Sea.

USA - ‘It’s Going to Be Catastrophic’: Why the Next Pandemic Will Be Worse Than COVID. The former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning Americans to prepare for the next pandemic, which he fears will be more catastrophic than COVID-19. Dr Robert Redfield, a virologist who continues to treat patients suffering from COVID, oversaw the CDC’s initial response to the pandemic and served as a member of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force under former President Donald Trump.

USA - Government censorship of people’s ideas, statements and thoughts is flourishing not only in the United States, according to a new report from the Foundation for Freedom Online. In America, the Supreme Court essentially gave such First Amendment-trashing operations a pass, in the recent Murthy lawsuit, by claiming that states and individuals weren’t being injured by the instructions from the Joe Biden administration to social media companies on what ideas to suppress. That ruling, killing the case because the plaintiffs didn’t have “standing,” allows Biden administration officials to continue to give censorship instructions to social media, to even coerce and threaten them, so they shut down ideas Biden dislikes.

CANADA - World-renowned psychologist and culture war crusader Dr Jordan Peterson is not afraid to voice his opinions — however unpopular they may be. The Canadian academic has been both praised and criticized for his take on trans medical issues, COVID-19 travel restrictions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But his latest claim might be the most contrarian yet. In a podcast with UK politician Nigel Farage this week, Dr Peterson said burning fossil fuels was good for the environment. 'The influx of carbon dioxide from the fossil fuel industry into the atmosphere,' he said, 'is actually a net ecological good.'

USA - Gun owners in three US states can now buy bullets from vending machines in grocery shops, after a company launched automated kiosks to make ammunition “more available”. Some shops in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas now allow customers to scan their ID on a device similar to a drinks vending machine, and walk away with rounds for their weapons. American Rounds, the company that manufactures the machines, says they are as easy to use as an ATM. “Our automated ammo dispensers are accessible 24/7, ensuring that you can buy ammunition on your own schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines,” it says on its website. The machines use “built-in AI technology, card scanning capability and facial recognition software” to match a buyer’s ID to their face and ensure they are over 18 years old.

USA - In a civilized society, authorities are able to maintain at least a basic level of law and order in the streets most of the time. Unfortunately, at this point it is up for debate whether the United States is still a “civilized society” or not. The chaos in our streets never seems to end, and those that are in charge of running things don’t seem to be able to regain control. The theft, violence and mayhem that we are witnessing in our major cities is being fueled by the worst homelessness crisis in our entire history, the worst drug crisis in our entire history, and the worst migration crisis in our entire history. If authorities cannot control our streets now, what is going to happen once our societal collapse reaches a much more advanced stage?

EUROPE - Shortly before German Economy Minister Robert Habeck’s trip to South Korea and China, there is another twist in the downward spiral of a trade war between the EU and the People’s Republic of China. At the beginning of the week, Beijing launched an anti-dumping investigation into EU pork exports to China. Punitive tariffs are likely to follow. This product group has an annual value of 2.5 billion euros. It will be China’s response to the European Commission announcement that it will impose punitive tariffs ranging from 17.4 to 38.1 per cent on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles from 4 July. These tariff hikes come on top of the regular import 10 per cent duties. This move by Brussels is highly controversial in Germany.

CHINA - China's latest stunt in the South China Sea has triggered fresh horrifying "open war" fears. Beijing deployed a monster 541-feet Coast Guard ship within 200 nautical miles of the Philippines in its latest bid to intimidate the top US ally in the Indo-Pacific. China has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Manila for months as it seeks to assert its sovereignty over the contested body of water. Xi Jinping's navy has ramped up its aggressive stance - despite repeated warnings from Washington it would intervene should the Philippines come under attack. But China has so far shown no sign it plans to listen to demands from other countries with a stake in the South China Sea to stand down.

FRANCE - As votes continue to be counted following France's shock election poll, riots break out sparking scenes of chaos amid celebrations for The New Popular Front. As the votes continue to be counted following France’s hard fought election, pockets of civil unrest have dampened the victory celebrations of The New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing alliance formed at the last minute to fight the election, who exit polls predict have won the most seats. No party appears to have won a majority, but Marine Le Pen, the co-leader of the National Rally with Jordan Bardella, has refused to admit defeat, as she defiantly told reporters her party's "victory has only been delayed", and she "sees the seeds of tomorrow's victory in today's result”.

USA - South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham added his voice on Sunday to a chorus calling for cognitive and physical evaluations for Joe Biden – but also called for the same for Donald Trump and others. The Republican lawmaker recommended such tests for all future presidential nominees as well as those who may take over from a president or a nominee. “All nominees for president going into the future should have neurological exams as part of an overall physical exam… Let’s test Trump. Let’s test Biden. Let’s test the line of succession”, the 68-year-old Graham told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday. “This is a wake-up call for the country,” he added. “We need to make sure that the people who are going to be in the line of succession are capable of being commander-in-chief under dire circumstances.”

ITALY - Mount Etna, Italy's largest volcano located in Sicily, has been erupting over recent days. The volcanic activity has escalated, with incredible images captured of lava spewing from its largest crater. Travellers at Catania airport - a major international gateway to Sicily - experienced significant delays. A minimum of 90 flights departing and arriving at Catania airport were cancelled, causing disruption for approximately 15,000 passengers. Ryanair was hit the hardest, being forced to cancel 42 flights - the highest number among all airlines. Meanwhile, Italy's Stromboli volcano - one of the most active in the world - has been spilling lava into the sea following a major eruption.

FRANCE - Violence has erupted on the streets of France after a shock exit poll predicted that a left-wing coalition is leading the snap election battle - dashing Marine Le Pen's hopes of forming the country's first hard-right government since the war. Shocking footage shows hooded and masked protesters running through the streets, launching flares and setting France ablaze - after 30,000 riot police were deployed across France amid high political tension. This comes after the second round of polls predicted the hard right National Rally (RN) is on track to come third - having led the race after the first round.

UK - Boris Johnson has warned the UK is "on the road to serfdom" amid reports Sir Keir Starmer will start to renegotiate the post-Brexit deal with the EU within weeks. The new Prime Minister is expected to use a major summit at Blenheim Palace later this month to unofficially get the ball rolling. Sir Keir is said to want lower trade barriers and have more relaxed freedom of movement rules. EU sources believe he is willing to sign Britain up to some of Brussels's rules in exchange. But Mr Johnson warned against any renegotiation of the five-year pact he signed in 2020. The former prime minister told the Mail on Sunday: "The great sell-out begins. Sir Keir, who backed Remain and a second referendum, has previously said he would seek a better deal with the EU if he won power." But the Labour leader has insisted he would not drag the UK back into the Single Market or customs union.

EUROPE - EU leaders yesterday offered to help Labour unpick Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. Irish premier Simon Harris said his country would help 'facilitate' a closer deal with the UK 'every way we can around any European table'. Mr Harris said there was a 'willingness to have those conversations' in Brussels about a new deal, which could include a form of free movement for young people. Germany said it was working with Labour 'to see how the UK can move closer to the EU'. Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, said work had 'already begun' on negotiating changes to the 'botched' Brexit deal. The Prime Minister told reporters in Edinburgh: 'We intend to improve our relationship with the EU and that means closer trading ties with the EU.' He added: 'I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that Boris Johnson saddled the UK with.'