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⬅️ Chinese troops arrive in Belarus

⬅️ Chinese troops arrive in Belarus

and shock election result in France

July 08, 2024

Good morning,

This weekend, the new UK government set a decisive tone on foreign policy, while a surprising election result in France promises to ignite coalition-building chaos.

Additionally, Chinese troops arrived in Belarus over the weekend to participate in joint anti-terrorism exercises near the Polish border.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇫🇷 France: In a shocking election result, Jean-Luc Mélenchon's left-wing alliance emerged victorious, with President Macron's centrists making a surprising comeback and pushing Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally into third place. Despite their success, no single party gained an outright majority, leading to a hung parliament. This unexpected outcome signals a period of political instability in France, with Mélenchon calling for a New Popular Front government.

2️⃣🇧🇾 Belarus: Chinese soldiers arrivied in Belarus on July 6 for joint anti-terrorism exercises, scheduled from July 8-19. The drills aim to strengthen Belarusian-Chinese military cooperation and follow Belarus’s recent accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a bloc promoted by Beijing and Moscow. This move underscores China's growing influence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

3️⃣🇪🇺 EU: Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán's right-wing alliance, Patriots for Europe, has gained official EU Parliament group status after Belgium’s Vlaams Belang joined. This follows support from Dutch and Spanish far-right parties, bringing representation from seven countries, meeting the EU's requirement for official group formation. The alliance now includes parties from Hungary, Austria, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands.

4️⃣🇺🇸 US: Prominent House Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to step aside from the election race amid concerns about his age and mental acuity following a shaky debate performance. Despite Biden's active campaigning in Pennsylvania, top Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries and Jim Himes, expressed fears that his candidacy could cost the party control of the White House, Senate, and House. His campaign plans further appearances in Michigan, Texas, and Nevada.

5️⃣🇮🇱 Israel: Senior Hamas official Ehab Al-Ghussein was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City, which also claimed three other lives. The strike targeted a site where the Israeli army claimed terrorists were operating, near the Holy Family Church. Meanwhile, Israel issued new evacuation orders in Gaza City and PM Netanyahu stated any ceasefire must allow Israel to resume fighting to dismantle Hamas and retrieve hostages. The conflict continues with heavy casualties on both sides.

Major Story

Credit: Rwendland

Keir Starmer has called for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in discussions with regional leaders. On Sunday morning, the Prime Minister engaged in his inaugural phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to a Downing Street spokesperson, Starmer expressed his desire to strengthen the UK's close relationship with Israel and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to counter threats.

During his conversation with Netanyahu, Starmer extended his condolences for the lives lost following the October attacks and stressed the immediate need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting Israel's security while addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in the region.

In his call with President Abbas, Starmer conveyed his satisfaction in speaking with the Palestinian leader amid the ongoing suffering and devastation in Gaza. The Prime Minister updated Abbas on his priorities, including securing a ceasefire, facilitating the return of hostages, and accelerating humanitarian aid and financial support for the Palestinian Authority. He reassured Abbas that the UK's longstanding policy on Palestinian recognition remains unchanged, affirming the undeniable rights of the Palestinian people.

This marks a significant shift in the UK's official stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previously, the Conservative government opposed immediate ceasefire calls, arguing they would benefit Hamas. Former Foreign Secretary David Cameron had advocated for a "sustainable ceasefire" instead. The conflict remains a contentious issue for Starmer, who faced a major rebellion within the Labour Party earlier this year over ceasefire demands. Labour MPs, some of whom faced challenges from pro-Palestine candidates in the recent election, will likely continue to pressure the government for a resolution.

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Other News

1️⃣🇬🇧 UK: New Foreign Secretary David Lammy aims to reset UK-EU ties, emphasizing a cooperative approach. On his first trip, Lammy visited Germany, Poland, and Sweden to bolster support for Ukraine and signal the UK's enduring commitment.

2️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: A state of emergency has been declared in the Voronezh region following a suspected Ukrainian drone strike that ignited an ammunitions depot, causing ongoing detonations. Governor Alexander Gusev confirmed no casualties, but evacuations in the Podgorensky district are underway. This incident is part of a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure, including recent attacks on oil depots. Meanwhile, UK PM Keir Starmer reiterated his commitment to Ukraine's defense in a call with President Zelensky, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.

3️⃣🇮🇷 Iran: An Iranian warship, the Sahand, capsized during repairs at the port of Bandar Abbas, killing two officers and injuring several others. While state media reports attribute the incident to water ingress, some analysts, like Israeli security expert Ronen Solomon, suggest it could be the result of an Israeli cyber attack. This follows a history of naval accidents for Iran and recent heightened tensions with Israel, including a cyber attack on the Iranian port of Shahid Rajaee in 2020.

4️⃣🇮🇷 Iran: Newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered his first speech, emphasizing honesty and accountability, and acknowledging past failures in fulfilling promises. Pezeshkian, who won against hard-liner Saeed Jalili, aims to improve relations with the West and ease the mandatory headscarf law, despite his commitment to Iran's Shiite theocracy and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's authority. His moderate approach faces challenges from hard-liners, ongoing regional conflicts, and Western concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

5️⃣🇬🇧 UK: Newly appointed Defence Secretary John Healey visited Odesa and pledged increased military support for Ukraine, including more artillery, ammunition, and Brimstone missiles. Healey emphasized the UK's unwavering commitment to Ukraine, aiming to fast-track previously committed aid within 100 days. This visit reaffirms Britain's resolve to confront Russian aggression and bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities, with the UK having provided over £7.6 billion in military support since the invasion began.