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🌎 Maduro is back

🌎 Maduro is back

and Middle East tensions hit new highs

Ross Crabtree
July 29, 2024

Welcome back,

This weekend has seen tensions across the Middle East rachet up to the next level once again - with fears of a wider war between Hezbollah and Israel resurfacing.

Meanwhile, in big news for South America, incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of the country’s elections on Sunday.

All the details below ⤵️

Major Story

Rocket Strike Heightens Tensions Between Israel and Hezbollah

A tragic rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has further escalated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The incident, which killed 12 children and teenagers on a football field, has put the region on the brink of an all-out war. In response, the University of Haifa, located less than 50km from the Lebanese border, has ordered staff to work from home if they are based above the fifth floor, fearing further attacks.

Since October 8, cross-border fire between Israel and Lebanon has been steadily increasing, following Hezbollah's solidarity attack in support of Hamas. Frequent attacks by Hezbollah have targeted northern Israel and the Golan Heights, while Israel has retaliated with air strikes and missiles into southern Lebanon. These skirmishes have resulted in the deaths of over 450 people in Lebanon and 40 in Israel, with both sides attempting to avoid a full-scale confrontation until now.

In the wake of the Golan Heights tragedy, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned from the US to lead a security cabinet meeting, promising severe repercussions for Hezbollah. While Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Israel Katz, call for decisive action, the potential for a devastating war looms large. Hezbollah, with its vast arsenal and backing from Iran, poses a significant threat, and an escalation could have dire consequences for the region. As international calls for restraint intensify, the world watches to see if the fragile peace can hold or if the situation will spiral into further conflict.

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Other News

1️⃣🇲🇽 Mexico: Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman Lopez's son were arrested in a sting operation after being lured to the US. They were detained in El Paso, Texas, where US Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed they face charges for leading the cartel's deadly fentanyl operations. The arrests are a significant blow to one of the world's most violent criminal organizations.

2️⃣🇮🇹 Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed a three-year economic cooperation deal with China to boost ties in green technology, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. The agreement follows Italy's withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative and aims to correct a trade imbalance. Meloni's visit to Beijing also included discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and an Italy-China business forum attended by major Italian companies.

3️⃣🇫🇷 France: Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin indicated that far-left extremists are likely behind last week's sabotage of the SNCF rail network, which coincided with the Olympic Games opening ceremony. The coordinated pre-dawn attacks on signal substations and cables caused major travel disruptions, affecting 800,000 people and resulting in significant costs to the state-owned rail operator. Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete confirmed that all trains were operational by Monday morning.

4️⃣🇪🇺 EU: Brussels is developing a two-step trade plan to address potential challenges if Donald Trump wins the US presidency. The strategy involves offering a quick trade deal to Trump and preparing for targeted retaliation against potential tariffs. This approach aims to balance cooperation with readiness to defend EU interests, recalling the painful trade conflicts during Trump's first term.