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📰 Musk blasts UK PM

📰 Musk blasts UK PM

and Ukraine attacks into Russia

Ross Crabtree
August 07, 2024

Hi there,

Poland has bolstered its defense with new helicopter deals, Venezuela faces heightened political tensions, and Hamas has named a new leader amidst regional instability.

In the UK, Elon Musk's comments have sparked controversy, and Hezbollah vows retaliation against Israel.

All the details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇵🇱 Poland: Poland's defence ministry has inked two crucial deals with Boeing and General Electric to purchase AH-64E Apache helicopters for national security, amid rising tensions from the Ukraine war. These agreements, totaling €230 million, were signed by Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Bejda and representatives from both companies. The acquisition aims to significantly bolster Poland's military readiness.

2️⃣🇻🇪 Venezuela: Attorney General Tarek William Saab has launched a criminal investigation into opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González for alleged "incitement to insurrection" after they claimed González won the recent presidential election. Tensions have soared as the opposition published evidence suggesting González received 67% of the vote, contrary to the government-dominated CNE’s declaration of Maduro’s victory with 52%. The European Union has called on Venezuelan authorities to end the intimidation and release all political prisoners.

3️⃣🇵🇸 Palestine: Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new overall leader following Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran last week. Sinwar, a hardline figure and current leader in Gaza since 2017, was unanimously chosen in Doha amid heightened regional tensions with Iran threatening retaliation. Sinwar, viewed as an extreme figure and currently Israel's most-wanted, is accused of masterminding the deadly 2023 attacks and remains in hiding.

4️⃣🇬🇧 UK: Elon Musk dubbed Prime Minister Keir Starmer “two-tier Keir” on X, alleging police bias against white “far-right” protesters compared to minorities. Downing Street dismissed Musk’s comments as unjustified and urged Labour MPs to avoid online debates about the far-right riots, focusing on promoting unity instead. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood reiterated that anyone causing disorder would face the law equally, while Nigel Farage’s claims of “two-tier policing” were also rejected.

5️⃣🇱🇧 Lebanon: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed a "strong" retaliation for the Israeli assassination of senior commander Fuad Shukr. As tensions rise, countries are urging their citizens to leave Lebanon, fearing a broader conflict with Israel. Hezbollah has already launched drone strikes in response to recent Israeli airstrikes, which killed four Hezbollah fighters in Maifadoun.

Major Story

Ukraine's incursion into Russia

Moscow announced on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces made a significant incursion into Russian territory, the largest since the onset of the full-scale invasion. The Russian defense ministry reported that about 300 Ukrainian troops, supported by 11 tanks and over 20 armored combat vehicles, attacked border units in the Kursk region around 8 am local time. The assault resulted in at least two fatalities, with local authorities stating that a woman was killed by shelling and a man died in a drone attack. The situation was described as "difficult," and residents were advised to seek shelter.

The Russian defense ministry claimed to have repelled the attack using military aviation, and video footage showed fighter jets flying over the Kursk region. Russian reserve forces were deployed, and the ministry reported destroying sixteen Ukrainian armored vehicles. Ukrainian officials have neither confirmed nor denied involvement, maintaining their policy of silence on operations within Russian territory. However, Andriy Kovalenko from Ukraine's national security and defense council hinted at Kyiv's involvement, suggesting Russia's claims of stopping Ukrainian forces were false.

This incursion marks one of the largest Ukrainian ground assaults on Russian soil since the invasion began. Fighting continued for over 10 hours, with pro-Kremlin bloggers documenting the ongoing conflict. The Kursk region, along with Bryansk and Belgorod, has faced multiple Ukrainian attacks since March 2022, often led by anti-Putin Russian citizens fighting for Kyiv. These assaults aim to pressure Moscow by forcing it to redirect military resources from southern and eastern Ukraine battlefields.

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Other News

1️⃣🇩🇰 Denmark: A Polish man has pleaded not guilty to charges of attacking and injuring Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in June during a chance encounter in Copenhagen. The incident, which occurred just before European Parliament elections, left Frederiksen with a minor neck injury and raised concerns about public officials' safety. The defendant, who was reportedly intoxicated, denied touching Frederiksen, but a security guard testified otherwise. A verdict is expected soon.

2️⃣🇧🇩 Bangladesh: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will lead Bangladesh’s interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled amid mass protests that left hundreds dead and the nation in chaos. The decision was made during a meeting with military chiefs, student protest organizers, and civil society members, following the dissolution of parliament by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Yunus, an economist known for his work with Grameen Bank, called Hasina's resignation the "second liberation day" and is expected to return from Paris soon.

3️⃣🇺🇸 USA: A Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, has been charged with plotting political assassinations in the US, potentially targeting former President Donald Trump. Arrested in July while attempting to leave the country, Merchant allegedly sought to hire hitmen and conduct a coordinated attack, which the FBI foiled. The plot has heightened security for Trump amid ongoing threats from Iranian-linked groups, and US authorities are taking stringent measures to prevent any escalation.

4️⃣🇹🇭 Thailand: The Constitutional Court will decide the fate of the progressive Move Forward Party on Wednesday, with fears of reigniting power struggles between conservatives and elected parties. Move Forward, which won the 2023 election, faces dissolution over its campaign to amend the royal insult law, a move seen as threatening the monarchy's status. The ruling comes amid political tension, with PM Srettha Thavisin also facing potential dismissal next week, raising concerns about street demonstrations and political instability.