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As the Middle East stands on the precipice of conflict, China and India have agreed to accelerate negotiations regarding their disputed Himalayan border.

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1️⃣🇮🇷 Iran: The UNSC condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, warning it could escalate to an all-out war in the Middle East. Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for the attack, pledging decisive responses, while the US, UK, and France highlighted Iran's destabilizing role.

2️⃣🇻🇪 Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro blamed a "far-right conspiracy" for the unrest following allegations of election fraud. Despite international condemnation and calls for recognition of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the rightful winner, Maduro remains defiant, accusing González and his backer María Corina Machado of attempting a coup. The country faces increasing isolation, with flights suspended and protests met with heavy crackdowns. 

3️⃣🇺🇦 Ukraine: Ukraine has flown its first combat missions with American-made F-16 fighter jets, marking a significant boost in its defense against Russia. The F-16s, received from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, are currently used in air defense. Despite the fanfare, experts caution that the jets are not a war-winning solution, with only a few Ukrainian pilots qualified to fly them and restrictions due to Russian missile threats.

4️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: A historic prisoner exchange may see Russia freeing 20-30 political prisoners and journalists in a deal with the US and Germany. This would include high-profile dissidents like Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, as well as US journalist Evan Gershkovich. The swap, possibly occurring soon, marks the largest such exchange since the Cold War's end.

5️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: Russian missile troops conducted drills on Matua, one of the disputed Kuril islands claimed by Japan. The exercises included moving and camouflaging vehicles, highlighting ongoing tensions since the islands were seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War Two. The territorial dispute continues to hinder a peace treaty between Russia and Japan.

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Germany has accused China of orchestrating a significant cyber attack in 2021 that compromised its Federal Office for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG), potentially exposing sensitive data crucial for protecting critical infrastructure. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the actions of Chinese state actors, emphasizing the threat these cyber attacks pose to Germany and Europe's digital sovereignty. The German foreign office has lodged a formal complaint with the Chinese ambassador in Berlin following a three-year inquiry that identified the involvement of Chinese hacking groups APT15 and APT31, both linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

The attack highlights the ongoing debate within Germany's government on balancing trade relations with China while addressing national security concerns. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has favored maintaining strong trade ties with China's largest trading partner, despite criticism from other ministers who stress the urgency of addressing security risks. The recent decision to remove Chinese technology from Germany's 5G networks underscores these tensions. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has warned that Chinese cyber attacks are expected to intensify, targeting IT and service providers working with government agencies.

China's cyber strategy aims to steal valuable corporate intellectual property, with attacks becoming more sophisticated and far-reaching. The BfV's latest report indicates a qualitative and quantitative leap in Chinese cyber espionage, posing significant challenges to Germany's digital security. As the German government grapples with how to respond, the incident underscores the broader geopolitical struggle over cybersecurity and the complexities of international trade relations.

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1️⃣🇨🇳 China: China and India have agreed to accelerate negotiations regarding their disputed Himalayan border, aiming to maintain peace and tranquility in the region. This decision follows the 30th meeting of the China-India Border Affairs Consultation and Coordination Working Mechanism held in New Delhi. Both nations are committed to resolving the long-standing boundary issues. 

2️⃣🇪🇺 Eurozone: Inflation edged up to 2.6% in July, slightly above June's 2.5%, raising expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will cut interest rates at its September meeting. This follows the ECB's June decision to lower its benchmark deposit rate from 4% to 3.75%, anticipating inflation to meet the 2% target by next year.

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Prisoners of Geography

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