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💻 Worldwide IT outage chaos

💻 Worldwide IT outage chaos

and von der Leyen gets second term

Ross Crabtree
July 19, 2024

Hello,

The last 24 hours have seen more developments occur regarding Israel and Palestine, and a major IT outage hit infrastructure worldwide - causing chaos.

More details here ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇦🇪 UAE: The United Arab Emirates has signaled its willingness to join a multinational "stabilization" mission in Gaza post-Israel-Hamas war, making it the first nation to offer deploying boots on the ground. UAE's special envoy, Lana Nusseibeh, emphasized the necessity of US leadership and support for steps towards a Palestinian state for the mission's success. Discussions with the US highlight the need to address Gaza's humanitarian and reconstruction needs alongside a reformed Palestinian Authority.

2️⃣🇮🇱 Israel: The Knesset has passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, citing it as an "existential danger" to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition co-sponsored the resolution, which passed with 68 votes in favor and 9 against, highlighting the ongoing tensions and lack of support for a two-state solution. Palestinian leaders and international figures have condemned the decision, calling it a setback for peace efforts and a violation of international law.

3️⃣🇺🇸 USA: The U.S. warns that Russia and China are nearing the deployment of space-based weapons, which could threaten American defense capabilities. Lieutenant General Jeff Kruse from the Defense Intelligence Agency highlighted the increasing intent of both nations to use counterspace capabilities as a deterrent or to compel behaviors. Despite denials from Moscow and Beijing, U.S. officials stress the need to be prepared for potential threats in space.

4️⃣🇺🇦 Ukraine: Ukrainian drones successfully targeted a Russian coastal defense base in Crimea, damaging key infrastructure, according to the Security Service of Ukraine. The attack, which occurred near Bay Donuzlav during a Russian naval exercise, destroyed a headquarters, control point, ammunition warehouse, electrical substation, and firing positions. This strike highlights the growing vulnerability of Crimea for Russian forces, prompting Moscow to withdraw naval assets from the peninsula.

5️⃣🌍 Global: A major IT outage caused by CrowdStrike software issues has disrupted computer systems worldwide, affecting airports, banks, supermarkets, and media companies. The outage has led to significant disruptions, including airport check-in systems and widespread "blue screen of death" errors. Recovery efforts are underway, but experts warn that resolving the havoc could take days.

Major Story

Ursula von der Leyen Secures Another Term as European Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen has secured another five years as President of the European Commission, following a decisive vote among Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg. With 401 votes in her favor—41 more than needed—von der Leyen's re-election signals strong support for her leadership. First elected in 2019, the German politician from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) has pledged to continue defending European democracy, which she claims is under attack from both internal and external forces.

In her address to MEPs, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of combating "demagogues and extremists" that threaten the European way of life. She committed to increasing military spending and maintaining ambitious climate targets. Her vision for the future includes collaboration with all democratic forces in the Parliament to strengthen Europe’s resilience. "The last five years have shown what we can do together. Let us do it again. Let us make the choice of strength," she declared.

Her re-election has garnered praise from several key European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a "clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times," while Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron lauded her leadership. Even UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed a desire to work closely with von der Leyen, highlighting her broad acceptance beyond the EU's borders.

Despite her victory, von der Leyen faced opposition from right wing groups, including the newly formed Patriots for Europe and members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. They argued that supporting her would contradict their principles. However, von der Leyen remained steadfast, focusing on uniting pro-European, pro-Ukraine, and pro-rule of law forces. With her re-election, von der Leyen aims to build on the achievements of her first term, reinforcing the EU's strength and independence in a rapidly changing global landscape.

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Other News

1️⃣🇳🇱 The Hague: The United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is set to issue an advisory opinion on the legal implications of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. While non-binding, this opinion could significantly impact international views on the occupation's legality. The ICJ's process, initiated by the U.N. General Assembly, follows previous rulings and widespread international opinions, with many states urging the court to declare the occupation illegal. The decision will be read at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).

2️⃣🇾🇪 Yemen: Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone attack in Tel Aviv, killing one person and wounding ten. The Israeli military suspects the drone was Iranian-made and launched from Yemen. In response, Israel has increased air patrols, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed retaliation.

3️⃣🇺🇸 USA: Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester has urged President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election against Donald Trump, echoing concerns from other leading Democrats. Tester, facing a tough re-election, joins other lawmakers and former President Barack Obama in questioning Biden's viability as a candidate. Pressure mounts on Biden amid fears his candidacy could jeopardize the Democratic Party's hold on both the White House and Congress.

4️⃣🇧🇩 Bangladesh: Nationwide student protests over civil service job allocations have turned increasingly violent, with at least 32 people killed and over 1,000 injured. Demonstrators clashed with police and pro-government activists, torching government buildings and disrupting telecommunications. The protests, driven by high youth unemployment, demand the end of job quotas favoring allies of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party.