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Here's today's free edition.

This is the World In Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, defended his plan to occupy Gaza City,

saying at a press conference that the expansion was the best way to end the war.

Israel's European allies have sharply criticized Mr. Netanyahu's plan,

as did Bezal Smotrich, the country's finance

minister who said he had lost faith that the Prime Minister could achieve a decisive victory.

Kayakales, the European Union's top diplomat, convened a meeting of European foreign ministers

for Monday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

She said that any deal between America and

Russia must include the EU and Ukraine. Vladimir Zelensky, Ukraine's president, has ruled out

ceding territory to Russia. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, are expected

to meet in Alaska on August 15th. Iran criticized the deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan to allow an American-run transport

route in the Caucasus.

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