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📰 Sudan's prime minister dissolves government

📰 Sudan's prime minister dissolves government

and Tusk to seek confidence vote

Billy Robinson & Ross Crabtree
June 03, 2025

Hello and welcome back.

In Poland, Prime Minister Tusk will seek a confidence vote following Nawrocki’s presidential victory; in Mexico, Sheinbaum defends the country’s historic judicial elections despite low turnout; and in the Occupied West Bank, Israel has blocked a delegation of Arab leaders from attending a summit in Ramallah.

Today’s lead story examines how Gaza’s devastation has reopened the Arab world’s deepest wounds — revealing not only a resurgence of shared anger, but also an acute sense of collective vulnerability.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Ukraine, Russia agree on POW exchanges but ceasefire talks stall: At the second round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul, both sides agreed to exchange all severely wounded prisoners and young soldiers aged 18–25, along with the repatriation of 6,000 fallen troops. Ukraine also submitted a list of deported children, demanding their return as a signal of Russia’s commitment to negotiations. While Ukraine seeks a full ceasefire and sovereignty guarantees, Russia has demanded Kyiv surrender territory and demobilise, presenting what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an ultimatum. Despite minor agreements, major political differences persist, with Zelenskyy urging tougher U.S. sanctions if talks fail. Russia offered limited ceasefires for body recovery, but broader peace remains elusive amid ongoing hostilities and hardened positions over territorial disputes.

2️⃣ 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 Hamas proposes revised Gaza ceasefire plan amid stalled negotiations: Hamas has submitted a revised 13-point ceasefire proposal, seeking a permanent cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal to pre-March 2 positions, and guaranteed humanitarian aid flows into Gaza. The draft calls for a 60-day truce, monitored by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, with staggered Israeli captive releases and parallel negotiations for a final agreement. Hamas also demands reopening the Rafah crossing and launching a multi-year reconstruction effort under international supervision. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the plan, calling it unacceptable. Hamas officials have consistently told international media they will not agree to any proposal that does not include a clearly defined framework for a total end to the genocide and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Netanyahu has said Israel will not agree to terms that prevent it from resuming its war of annihilation against Gaza.

3️⃣ 🇸🇩 🇰🇪 🇦🇪 Sudan’s PM dissolves government, sets transitional priorities amid ongoing conflict: Sudan’s new prime minister Kamil Idris has dissolved the existing government, instructing ministry secretaries and undersecretaries to oversee operations until a new cabinet is formed, according to state media. Following a cabinet meeting, Idris praised the outgoing ministers' efforts during the “War of Dignity” against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and outlined his transitional agenda. He prioritised national security, reconstruction, and a Sudanese-led dialogue excluding no political group. Idris called on foreign nations to halt support for militias, implicitly criticising the UAE and Kenya. Promising neutrality, he pledged reforms to boost exports, revitalise agriculture and industry, and deliver essential services. Emphasising justice and development, Idris stated he seeks no personal gain, but national recovery. His appointment has drawn criticism from factions fearing it could entrench military rule amid Sudan’s prolonged political crisis.

4️⃣ 🇮🇷 🇺🇸 🇺🇳 Iran signals rejection of U.S. nuclear proposals over uranium enrichment demands: Iran appears poised to reject the latest U.S. proposals on its nuclear programme after Washington insisted Tehran suspend uranium enrichment domestically without offering a clear path to lifting sanctions. The U.S. draft, the first written proposal since indirect talks began, was delivered by Oman’s foreign minister. Iranian officials criticised the plan for ignoring their key demand to maintain domestic enrichment. A collapse in negotiations could prompt renewed UN sanctions and heighten the risk of military confrontation. While the U.S. floated a regional uranium enrichment consortium excluding Iran’s territory, Tehran views such conditions as unacceptable. President Trump reiterated that any deal would prohibit Iranian enrichment entirely. Meanwhile, tensions rise as the IAEA prepares a critical report on Iran’s nuclear activities, with France, Germany, and the UK pushing for sanctions. Iran insists its programme remains peaceful and accuses Western powers of politicising inspections.

5️⃣ 🇬🇧 🇷🇺 Starmer resists setting date for 3% defence spending, citing fiscal prudence: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to commit to a specific date for raising defence spending to 3% of GDP, criticising what he called “performative fantasy politics.” Speaking at a defence site in Scotland, Starmer emphasised that while the government has accelerated its 2.5% target to 2027, further increases require fiscal certainty. The strategic defence review warns Britain must be prepared for potential conflict in Europe or the Atlantic, calling for “war-fighting readiness” and increased arms stockpiles to deter Russian aggression. However, the review outlines no immediate troop expansions or new spending commitments. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that plans to grow the British army, currently at its smallest size in three centuries, would be postponed until after the next election due to longstanding recruitment and retention difficulties.

Major Story

🇵🇸 GAZA EXPOSES THE ARAB WORLD’S FORGOTTEN SOLIDARITY

The devastation in Gaza has become a mirror for the Arab world’s collective wounds. For over 18 months, the suffering of Palestinians has reignited a dormant solidarity across the 400 million Arabs, exposing not only shared anger but also a stark sense of vulnerability. Gaza’s plight highlights a deeper precarity stretching across Arab societies, aggravated by economic disparities and democratic stagnation, with no robust regional architecture to guarantee security or unity. Arab traditions and Islamic teachings have long championed communal responsibility and collective protection, yet these values have been conspicuously absent. While regional powers lobbied the U.S. to lift sanctions on Syria, Gaza remains isolated under blockade and bombardment, laying bare the failure of both states and civil societies to act decisively.

The Failure of the Arab League

Established in 1945, the Arab League today is seen as a relic, powerless to defend Gaza or uphold its own defence pact of 1950. While non-state actors challenge Israel, Arab governments avoid confrontation, leaving treaties and declarations unfulfilled. Reviving the League would require radical reform: an elected Arab parliament representing citizens directly, binding governments to the collective will rather than fragmented state interests.

Unrealised Potential and the ‘Paradox of Riches’

Despite vast assets—over 13 million square kilometres of land and nearly 500 million people—the Arab world remains geopolitically underpowered. In contrast to the EU’s economic cohesion, the Arab states lack a unified political or strategic framework. Their combined GDP is dwarfed by that of the U.S. or even Germany, illustrating a chronic underperformance relative to their demographic and territorial advantages. The irony deepens when compared to Israel, a state of just ten million people and a tiny territorial footprint, which has succeeded in projecting formidable regional power. Arabs once took pride in a common linguistic and cultural heritage; rekindling that collective identity could form the foundation for renewed solidarity.

Toward an Arab Reset

The Arab world must move beyond fragmented nationalism toward genuine regional cooperation. Gaza’s plight stands as a stark reminder that solidarity cannot be deferred. As Toda Institute’s Larbi Sadiki writes, a democratic, inclusive Arab League, grounded in collective security, economic integration, and shared values, could be the first step in restoring Arab agency in a rapidly shifting world order.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇵🇱 🇪🇺 Tusk to seek confidence vote after Nawrocki’s presidential win: Polish prime minister Donald Tusk announced plans for a parliamentary confidence vote following opposition-backed Karol Nawrocki’s presidential victory. Tusk vowed to demonstrate resilience, insisting the result would not derail his government’s agenda. Nawrocki, a right-wing populist aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to challenge Tusk’s reforms, including those on rule of law and same-sex partnerships. Tusk acknowledged past difficulties working with an uncooperative president and hinted at contingency plans, though he left open the possibility of cooperation with Nawrocki. Despite internal coalition tensions, Tusk appears likely to withstand the vote, as his bloc controls 242 of 460 parliamentary seats. Parliament Speaker Szymon Hołownia described the election outcome as a serious warning for the government and coalition stability.

2️⃣ 🇲🇽 Sheinbaum hails Mexico’s historic judicial elections despite low turnout: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the country’s unprecedented judicial elections despite turnout plummeting to just 13%, the lowest in federal voting history. Sunday’s vote, the first globally to elect an entire judiciary—from local magistrates to supreme court justices—was championed by Sheinbaum as a “complete success,” declaring Mexico “the most democratic country in the world.” The Morena-led reform aimed to reduce corruption by making the judiciary more accountable to the public. However, critics warned it could compromise judicial independence, flood the courts with underqualified candidates, and politicise the system. Opposition figures, citing ballot irregularities and voter confusion, condemned the election as a “fraud.” With no turnout threshold required, results will trickle in over two weeks. Experts anticipate scrutiny over political and criminal influences in the reshaped courts, as preparations begin for a second round in 2027.

3️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 🇪🇬 🇯🇴 Israel blocks Ramallah summit for Arab leaders: Israel has barred a planned visit by foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to Ramallah, where they intended to meet Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the move, calling it a provocative escalation. Israeli officials justified the decision by accusing the Palestinian Authority of hosting a meeting to promote Palestinian statehood, which Israel opposes. Palestinian officials denounced the action as unprecedented and are consulting with Arab states on a response. The decision comes ahead of a major conference in New York co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia focused on Palestinian statehood. Tensions remain high amid Israel’s ongoing West Bank settlement expansion and recent international criticism, including France’s call for recognising Palestinian statehood as a political necessity.