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🇪🇺 von der Leyen secures second term

🇪🇺 von der Leyen secures second term

and new sanctions on Iran

June 28, 2024

Happy Friday!

Today's headlines feature two stories from Iran: the nation is gearing up for its presidential election to replace the deceased former president Ebrahim Raisi, and the US has imposed new sanctions due to Iran's ongoing nuclear arms program.

In Kenya, President William Ruto has u-turned his decision on a tax hike following deadly protests. Meanwhile, former high-ranking members of Bolivia's military have been arrested after a failed coup attempt.

This week's spotlight is on Ursula von der Leyen, who has secured a second term as President of the European Commission.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇰🇪 President Ruto scraps tax increase legislation: Kenyan President William Ruto withdrew a contentious tax increase bill following violent protests across the country after its parliamentary approval. The decision came after clashes between police and protesters resulted in at least 23 deaths and numerous injuries. Ruto, addressing the nation, acknowledged the public's strong opposition to the 2024 finance bill and announced its withdrawal. He framed the move as a response to the people's demands, emphasising his commitment to living within the country's means. To further ease tensions, Ruto proposed a dialogue involving youth, civil society, religious organisations, and professional bodies, and called for austerity measures to reduce government spending.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷 Two candidates drop out of Iran’s upcoming presidential election: Iranian presidential candidate Alireza Zakani officially withdrew from the upcoming snap election on June 27, just days before the vote. Zakani, currently serving as Tehran's mayor, announced on social media that upholding the legacy of late President Ebrahim Raisi was more important than his own candidacy. In his resignation, he urged fellow candidates Saeed Jalili and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to unite and prevent another reformist administration from taking power in the Islamic Republic. Zakani emphasised the need for unity and coherence among revolutionary forces, advising his colleagues to carefully select their associates to continue the Islamic revolution's teachings.

3️⃣ 🇧🇴 Former senior military officers arrested over failed coup: Seventeen individuals, including the former heads of Bolivia's army and navy, have been arrested for their alleged roles in a failed coup attempt to overthrow President Luis Arce. Bolivia’s Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, announced the arrests and accused former army chief Gen. Juan José Zúñiga Macías and former navy head R Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador of leading the plot to destabilise the democratically elected government. Del Castillo stated that the conspirators, who had been plotting for at least three weeks, face charges that could result in 15 to 30 years of imprisonment. The coup attempt culminated on Wednesday when security forces regained control of Plaza Murillo and stormed the government palace. Before his arrest, Zúñiga claimed his goal was to establish "a true democracy."

4️⃣ 🇲🇳 Class crisis a key talking point in advance of Mongolia elections: Mongolia will hold its first parliamentary election since expanding the body to 126 seats on Friday, introducing uncertainty into a system long dominated by two political parties and marred by corruption. The election comes at a time of widespread disillusionment among Mongolians, who feel the government primarily serves business interests and the wealthy. Gantamur Dash—a photographer in Ulaanbaatar's central square”expressed the sentiment, saying, "We have democracy only in appearance. Only a few live luxurious lives while the rest of the population remains poor."

5️⃣ 🇰🇵 🇰🇷 North Korea tests several warhead missiles: North Korea announced on Thursday that it successfully tested a missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, according to state news agency KCNA. However, South Korea dismissed the claim as a "deception" to cover up a failed launch. The test, conducted on Wednesday, involved the first-stage, solid-fuel engine of an intermediate-range ballistic missile.

Major Story

CC-BY-4.0: © European Union

🇪🇺 A SECOND TERM FOR EU PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN

Ursula von der Leyen has secured a second term as President of the European Commission following an agreement among EU leaders at a Brussels summit.

Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, will become the EU's top diplomat, representing the bloc globally for the next five years. Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been elected as President of the European Council, tasked with mediating among the 27 EU heads of state and government.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed satisfaction on X (formerly Twitter), noting the acceptance of Kallas, von der Leyen, and Costa, along with approved defence plans, as positive outcomes for both Poland and Europe.

In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen made history as the first woman to lead the EU executive, narrowly securing MEP support. Although her backing groups hold a theoretical majority of 55%, she is likely to seek broader support. Formerly a German government minister, von der Leyen is praised for her management of the EU's response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest European conflict since 1945.

Her position was strengthened after the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) won the most seats in recent European Parliament elections. A recent deal among EU leaders from the EPP, the Socialists, and the centrist Renew group further solidified her frontrunner status.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who leads the European Conservatives and Reformists group and opposed the agreement, abstained on von der Leyen's vote and opposed Costa and Kallas, accusing the six male leaders involved of oligarchic behaviour.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Washington places new sanctions on Iran: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced new sanctions on Iran's petroleum sector due to concerns over the country's expanding nuclear program, which has raised fears of potential atomic bomb development. The sanctions target three unnamed entities involved in transporting Iranian petroleum or petrochemical products. Blinken's announcement comes amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran's proxy Hizbollah, a dominant Shia group in Lebanon. In his statement on Thursday, Blinken emphasised that Iran's recent uranium enrichment efforts "Have no credible peaceful purpose."