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☆ Le Pen promises French far-right will rein in aid to Ukraine, slams soccer star Mbappé
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Joseph Ataman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Le Pen: Mbappé not representativeLe Pen directed most of her ire closer to home. “I’m not contesting the existence of these comments,” Le Pen said, referring to the accusations levelled against her candidates. Top of the list of sensitivities is likely to be foreign policy, where Le Pen and Macron rarely see eye to eye. Many held similar suspicions ahead of the election of hard-right culture warrior Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2022. “It’s a form of interference, and in that sense, I find it unacceptable,” Le Pen said of the post.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron’s, Emmanuel Macron, ”, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Kylian Mbappé, Le Pen, Macron, Le, Jordan Bardella, CAESAR, Roman Pilpey, Pen, Mbappé, “, ” Mbappé, “ It’s, Kylian, Franck Fife, ” Le Pen, Bardella, CNN Le, Florent de Kersauson, Daniel Grenon, Grenon, “ I’m, “ That’s, Francois Lo Presti, Vladimir Putin, She’s, Putin, Giorgia Meloni, she’s Organizations: Paris CNN —, CNN, Macron, soccer side’s, Ukraine, National Rally, National Assembly, National, 55th Artillery Brigade, Getty, CNN Le Pen’s, BFMTV, Kyiv, ” Locations: Ukraine, Russia, France’s, Donetsk, AFP, Washington, Kyiv, France, Paris, Hamburg, Germany, Algeria, Cameroon, United States, Brittany, “, ”, Henin, Beaumont, Brussels, Crimea, 2014, Russian, Italian, There’s, Moscow

☆ Gaza: The Labour party’s position on the conflict appears to have cost it votes in the UK election
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Corbyn won 49.2% of the vote, while the Labour candidate came in second with 34.4%. Many of these seats where Labour appears to have lost votes over its position on Gaza have sizable Muslim populations. She said, after Streeting abstained from a vote on a Gaza ceasefire, she decided to enter politics and abdicate from Labour. “As a Palestinian, that place is no longer for me… The Labour party does not represent us,” she told CNN. Meanwhile Jess Phillips, also a prominent Labour figure, won her Birmingham Yardley seat by just 693 votes.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Jonathan Ashworth, Shockat Adam, ” Adam, Jeremy Corbyn, Ashworth, Corbyn, ”, Kate Hollern –, –, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed, Heather Iqbal, Birmingham Perry Barr, Ayoub Khan, Khalid Mahmood, Faiza Shaheen –, Iain Duncan Smith, “, ” Shaheen, Starmer, Israel’s, Starmer –, Israel “, Wes Streeting, Leanne Mohamad, Mohamad, Streeting, Jess Phillips, Jody McIntyre Organizations: London CNN, Gaza, Labour, Leicester South, Islington, Blackburn, Dewsbury, Batley, Conservative, Hamas, LBC, Scottish National Party, CNN, Birmingham, Workers Party of Britain Locations: Gaza, English Midlands, Birmingham, Chingford, Woodford, London, Israel, Leicester, Ilford, Blackburn, Starmer’s, Ilford North, Palestine, Birmingham Yardley

☆ Reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran’s presidential vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Michael Rios | James Legge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has won Iran’s presidential election, Iranian state news agency Press TV reported Saturday citing the country’s election headquarters, beating his hardline rival in a pivotal vote at a time of tensions at home and abroad. The first round saw the lowest voter turnout for a presidential election since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979. The lawmaker was the only reformist candidate vying for the top elected seat in the country after dozens of other candidates were barred from running. During the 2022 protests, Pezeshkian said in an interview with Iran’s IRINN TV: “It is our fault. Other factors may be more difficult to change, particularly Iran’s foreign policy.

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Israel, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, ”, Mohammad Khatami, Mahsa, Amini, Iran’s, Sanam Vakil, Vakil, Israel “, Israel Katz, Qasem Soleimani, “, aren’t, Javad Zarif, Zarif, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Khamenei Organizations: CNN — Reformist, Press, Press TV, Foreign, Supreme, United Nations, North Africa, Chatham House, Israeli, Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps ’, Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps ’ Quds Force Locations: Jalili, Islamic Republic, Iran’s, Iran, Persian, East, London, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps ’ Quds

☆ Former MI6 Chief on foreign policy under the Labour Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFormer MI6 Chief on foreign policy under the Labour PartySir Richard Dearlove, former chief of MI6, sets out his foreign policy and national security expectations for the new Labour government in the U.K.

Persons: Labour Party Sir Richard Dearlove Organizations: Former, Labour Party, Labour

☆ Who Is David Lammy, Britain’s New Foreign Secretary?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Jenny Gross | More About Jenny Gross | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

David Lammy, the son of Guyanese immigrants who grew up poor in working-class London, on Friday became Britain’s chief diplomat, taking the lead on British foreign policy at a time of significant challenges. Mr. Lammy, 51, has deep ties to the United States, having spent summers with relatives in Brooklyn and Queens and earning a master’s degree at Harvard Law School. He met Barack Obama 20 years ago at a gathering of Black Harvard alumni, and this year he had dinner with the former U.S. president when Mr. Obama visited London. Mr. Lammy canvassed in Chicago for Mr. Obama during his first presidential campaign, and he has developed a deep network of contacts within the Democratic Party. In an essay in Foreign Affairs magazine published in April, Mr. Lammy wrote that he would focus on rebuilding ties with the European Union, which have been strained by Britain’s decision to leave the bloc, and that his priority was backing Ukraine.

Persons: David Lammy, Lammy, Barack Obama, Obama Organizations: Queens, Harvard Law School, Black Harvard, Mr, Democratic Party, Foreign Affairs, European Union Locations: United States, Brooklyn, London, Chicago, Ukraine

☆ Iranians are voting in a presidential runoff. What will it mean for the world?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Here’s what to expect on Friday’ second round of elections, and how the results could impact Iran and the world. During the first round, Pezeshkian led with 42.5% of the votes, followed by Jalili with 38.6%, according to the state news agency IRNA. In a move that shocked observers, the man who led Ghalibaf’s electoral campaign, Sami Nazari Tarkarani, also declared his support for reformist Pezeshkian, Khabar Online reported. People drive past a billboard with pictures of presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili on a street in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili attend an election debate at a television studio in Tehran, Iran on Tuesday.

Persons: CNN — Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian, –, Khamenei, ”, hardliner Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Jalili, ” Parsi, Sardar Mohsen Rashid, Rashid, Sami Nazari Tarkarani, Ghalibaf, Sanam Vakil, “, ” Sina Toossi, ” Pezeshkian, Toossi, Majid Asgaripour, Iran’s, ” Jalili, Israel sharpens, Israel “, Israel Katz, ” Ali Vaez, Vaez, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Saeed Jalili , Morteza Fakhri, Parsi, ” Vakil Organizations: CNN, Foreign, Guardian Council, IRNA, Quincy Institute, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pezeshkian, Khabar, North Africa, Chatham House, Center for International Policy, Trump, Islamic, International Atomic Energy Agency, UN, Israeli, Group, Reuters Locations: Islamic Republic, Iran, tatters, Israel, United States, Tehran, Washington, Iranian, East, London, Washington ,, Gaza, Lebanon

☆ Who is Jordan Bardella and what might his far-right party do in power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Handpicked as leader by National Rally (RN) doyenne Marine Le Pen in an effort to purge the far-right party of its racist and antisemitic roots, Bardella has taken it closer to the gates of power than ever before. Whether the RN forms a government and Bardella becomes prime minister after the July 7 runoff is not clear. So, who is Bardella, and what might his party do in power? Le Pen and Bardella address a crowd of RN supporters in Paris, after Macron called a snap election, June 9, 2024. When the prime minister and president belong to different parties – in a rare arrangement known as “cohabitation” – things can grind to a halt.

Persons: CNN — Jordan, –, Bardella, Emmanuel Macron’s, France’s, Denis, Le Pen, Le Pen’s, Louis Aliot, Le, Macron, Julien De Rosa, Freed, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Franco, Paris Anne Hidalgo, Luc Mélenchon, ” Bardella, Julien de Rosa, Gabriel Attal, ” Mujtaba Rahman, Mario Draghi, Giorgia Meloni, Benito Mussolini, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Antonio Masiello, Hungary’s Viktor Orban –, Macron – Organizations: CNN, National Rally, National Assembly, Front, Sorbonne university, Getty, Macron’s Ensemble, Immigrants, Ministry of, Armed Forces, New Popular Front, EU, Eurasia Group, European Union Locations: Paris, France, Europe, Seine, Macron, AFP, Vichy, Spanish, Brussels, Italy, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

He’s clear-eyed,” this person told CNN. “He’s not oblivious.”In the days since Biden’s stunningly halting debate showing, Democrats across the country have expressed grave concern. Some elected officials have even begun to publicly call on Biden to drop out for the good of the party. In Tuesday’s private conversation, Biden was also “chastened” as he “blamed himself” – not his staff – for the debate performance, the person told CNN. And at one point in their conversation, Biden asked this person for advice – and then there was silence, the person told CNN, as the president waited for input.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, ”, “ He’s, Biden, ” –, ‘, ’ ”, – Organizations: CNN, The New York Times, White House Locations: France, Italy, Virginia

☆ Biden has privately acknowledged next stretch of days are critical for whether he can save his reelection bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden has privately acknowledged that the next stretch of days are critical to whether he can save his reelection bid for president, making clear to an ally Tuesday that he understands what would prompt him to accept: “It’s just not working.”“He sees the moment. “He’s not oblivious.”In the days since Biden’s stunningly halting debate showing, Democrats across the country have expressed grave concern. Some elected officials have even begun to publicly call on Biden to drop out for the good of the party. Since the debate, Biden has faced one of the toughest stretches of his presidency and his reelection campaign is reeling. Campaign officials are scrambling to calm donors who were shocked by Biden’s performance.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, ”, “ He’s, Biden, ” –, ‘, ’ ” Biden, –, ” Biden, Biden campaign’s dismissiveness, CNN’s Michael Williams Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, The New York Times, White House, Democratic, Biden campaign’s Locations: France, Italy, Virginia

☆ Why Jill Biden is unlikely to convince Joe to step down, despite mounting pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jill Biden — the president's wife of 47 years — responded to criticism of her husband's age at a Manhatten fundraiser on Friday, saying the 81-year-old is "not a young man." "When he gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that's what we're doing today," Jill said, according to The Washington Post. Jill Biden has always publicly supported the president. However, she added that Jill and the wider Biden camp's unwavering support could be more harmful than helpful. She said this mindset extends to the Democratic party, adding that many will automatically support Biden because of a "genuine fear" that the party doesn't stand a chance with a replacement nominee.

Persons: —, Jill Biden —, Joe, Jill, he's, Michael LaRosa, Biden, Margaret Thatcher, Neil Kinnock, LaRosa, Katie Rogers, Jill Biden, Megan Varner, Hillary Clinton, Rogers, Andrew Payne, Mrs Biden, Nadia Hilliard, Hilliard, Joe Biden, Justin Sullivan, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's, Quentin Fulks, Payne Organizations: Service, The Washington, Business, Vogue, New York Times, United Kingdom Labour, Times, Business Insider, The New York Times, City University of London, University College London, UCL, Democratic, Trump

☆ CNN Poll: Most voters think Democrats have a better chance of keeping White House if Biden isn’t the nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Jennifer Agiesta | Ariel Edwards-Levy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden’s support among Democratic voters has inched up to 91% from 85% in April, while 93% of Republicans back Trump (about even since April). However, most Democrats and Democratic-leaning registered voters (56%) say the party has a better shot at the presidency with someone other than Biden, while 43% say the party stands a better chance with him. Biden’s strengths are on abortion and reproductive rights (44% trust Biden, 32% Trump) and health care (44% Biden to 34% Trump). The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS from June 28-30 among a random national sample of 1,274 adults drawn from a probability-based panel, including 1,045 registered voters. For results among registered voters, it is plus or minus 3.7 points.

Persons: Joe Biden, SSRS, Donald Trump, Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Gretchen Whitmer, Whitmer, Biden, Haiyun Jiang, –, haven’t, CNN’s Edward Wu, Dana Elobaid Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, Biden, Trump, Harris, California Gov, Transportation, Michigan Gov, Democratic, New York Times, Republican, GOP, Trump –, Buttigieg, SSRS, Surveys Locations: New York, East Hampton , New York, York

☆ A growing club led by Xi and Putin to counter the US is adding a staunchly pro-Russia member
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

After adding Belarus, it will boast 10 members, representing more than 40% of the world’s population and roughly a quarter of the global economy. Growing ambitionsAs the SCO grows in international visibility and economic weight, it has also broadened in geopolitical ambitions. Putin speaks to Xi at the SCO summit two years ago in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. But the Belarus membership also creates big question marks that will hang over the organization, Gill said. After the summit in Astana, China is due to take up the rotating presidency of the SCO for a year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Moscow’s, ”, “, Eva Seiwert, Seiwert, Putin, Xi, Sergei Bobylev, Bates Gill, Gill, –, ” Gill, Modi, they’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Indian, SCO, Union, Mercator Institute for China Studies, ”, Putin, AP, National Bureau of Asian Research, “, Central, Modi, Astana –, Kremlin, Central Asia, NATO, European Union, Seven Locations: Hong Kong, China, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Astana, Kazakhstan, Beijing, Moscow, United States, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Turkey, Berlin, “, Eurasia, Samarkand, Central Asia, New Delhi, Soviet, Xi’an

☆ Four Takeaways From France’s Snap Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Aurelien Breeden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Voters are being asked to choose their representatives in the 577-seat National Assembly, the country’s lower and more prominent house of Parliament. If a new majority of lawmakers opposed to Mr. Macron is ushered in, he will be forced to appoint a political adversary as prime minister, dramatically shifting France’s domestic policy and muddling its foreign policy. That will be especially so if he is forced to govern alongside Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of the National Rally. If no clear majority emerges, the country could be headed for months of political deadlock or turmoil. Mr. Macron, who has ruled out resigning, cannot call new legislative elections for another year.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Jordan Bardella Organizations: National Assembly, National Locations: France

☆ Trying to convince voters that Biden's debate performance was a one-off will backfire, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden's aides have defended his debate performance, treating it as an unimportant one-off in a long campaign. According to The New York Times, the president's aides are trying to cast Biden's performance — branded by many as a disaster — as insignificant in the long run. Related storiesIronically, Biden's aides also appeared to blame the president's age when discussing his debate performance with Axios. "But I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth ... "By framing Biden's performance as a 'blip,' campaign surrogates are trying to reset expectations.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's, Quentin Fulks, Biden, Trump, Thomas, It's, doesn't Biden, Katherine Tangalakis, Erin Snodgrass, Andrew Payne, Donald Trump, Payne, isn't Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Business, University College London, Interact, White, Q Locations: McDonald's, United States, Raleigh

☆ Meet NATO's next chief, the 'Trump whisperer' and fierce critic of Vladimir Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewNATO has selected outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next Secretary-General. Rutte, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will take over from Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, ending the latter's decadelong run at the helm of the alliance. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Persons: —, Mark Rutte, Rutte, Vladimir Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Philippe Dickinson, Dickinson, Trump, Rachel Rizzo, he's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Michael O'Hanlon, Putin Organizations: Service, Dutch, Business, Transatlantic Security, Strategy, Security, Alliance, Trump, NATO, Atlantic Council's, Getty, Brookings Institution, Malaysia Airlines Flight Locations: Netherlands, Ukraine, Gaza, Russia, China, Dutch

☆ France votes in snap election that could hand power to the far right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Vandalized posters with images of local candidates for the European Parliament election mixed with those from the first round of the 2024 French legislative elections, seen on June 24 2024, in Val d Arry, Calvados. France will hold an early legislative election in two rounds on June 30 and July 7 2024, following President Emmanuel Macrons decision which was triggered by his party's heavy defeat to the far-right National Rally in the 2024 European Parliament election. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesFrench voters are heading to the polls on Sunday for the first round of voting in a snap parliamentary election that could see the far-right National Rally group become the biggest party in France's National Assembly, polls suggest. Calling the snap election, which will involve two rounds of polling on Sunday and on July 7, Macron said the vote would provide "clarification" and that "France needs a clear majority to act in serenity and harmony." French President Emmanuel Macron waits for guest arrivals for a conference in support of Ukraine with European leaders and government representatives on February 26, 2024 in Paris, France.

Persons: Emmanuel Macrons, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, Macron, Le Pen, Jordan Bardella —, Pen, Peter Garnry, Giorgia Meloni, George Dyson, Dyson, Ludovic Marin Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, National Assembly, National, Analysts, Chesnot, New Popular, National Rally, Le, Palais des Sports, Saxo Bank, Risks, Republicans, Renaissance, Nexus Institute, AFP Locations: Val d, Calvados, France, Ukraine, Paris, Germany, The Hague, Netherlands

☆ France’s Snap Elections: What to Watch For
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Aurelien Breeden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Voters are choosing their 577 representatives in the National Assembly, the country’s lower and more prominent house of Parliament, which will determine the future of Mr. Macron’s second term. A new majority of lawmakers opposed to Mr. Macron would force him to appoint a political opponent as prime minister, radically shifting France’s domestic policy and muddling its foreign policy. Mr. Macron, who has ruled out resigning, cannot call new legislative elections for another year. France’s nationalist, anti-immigrant National Rally party is widely expected to dominate the race. Mr. Macron’s centrist Renaissance party and its allies are expected to lose many seats.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron’s, Macron Organizations: National Assembly, National, Renaissance Locations: France

☆ France's army chief says small drones will lose their battlefield advantage. But Ukraine likely won't be changing tack anytime soon.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSmall aerial drones have dominated the battlefield in Ukraine, but according to French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill, they could soon lose their combat advantage. "The life of impunity of small, very simple drones over the battlefield is a snapshot in time," Schill said. ADRIAN DENNIS/ Getty ImagesThe use of drones will likely fluctuateFormer British Army officer Christopher Lincoln-Jones told Business Insider that the use of small drones in warfare would likely "ebb and flow." Greg Bagwell, the UK Royal Air Force's former Deputy Commander, told BI "there is some truth" to Schill's comments about the future of small drones in battle. Both sides are also pumping money into developing AI-powered drones that can bypass electronic warfare systems.

Persons: —, Pierre Schill, Schill, ADRIAN DENNIS, Getty, Christopher Lincoln, Jones, they're, Greg Bagwell, it's, Bagwell, Forbes Organizations: Service, French Army, Defense, Business, British Army, Royal Air, NATO, FPVs, Lincoln, Atlantic Council Locations: Ukraine, Paris, Lincoln, Russia

☆ Terrorist attacks are on the rise in Russia as Putin remains 'distracted' by war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The attacks, which killed around 20 people, raised major questions about whether the Kremlin has the resources to protect its citizens back home while pursuing its war in Ukraine. The attacks also illustrated "the diverse range of militant actors Russia has angered through its domestic and foreign policy actions," he added. North CaucasusRussia's North Caucasus region has a long history of rebellion against Kremlin rule, especially in Chechnya, where Russia battled separatists in two bloody wars — in 1994-1996 and then in 1999-2009. Despite Sunday's incident being the second major terrorist attack in just three months, Russian security services "have not really changed their strategy," Harold Chambers, a political and security analyst specializing in the North Caucasus, told BI. Russia's security services "do not seem to possess the same level of intelligence about threats — or, if they do, they are not acting on it," Youngman added.

Persons: —, Molotov, Lucas Webber, Wilayat Kavkaz, Vladimir Putin, Mark Youngman, Youngman, STRINGER, Webber, Russia's, Harold Chambers, Chambers Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Business, Soufan, Dagestan region's, Center for, Washington DC, Anadolu, Getty, Islamic, Tass, Federal, Crocus City Hall, Islamic State Locations: Russia's, Dagestan, Ukraine, New York, Russia, Northern Caucasus, North Caucasus, Washington, Makhachkala, Derbent, Russian, Rostov, Crocus, Moscow, Tajikistan, Dagestan's, Caucasus, Chechnya, Syria, Iraq, Islamic State, Africa, Iran

☆ China and Russia are in a bad marriage that the West shouldn't try to break up
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Already, Russia's military and China's People's Liberation Army have held around 25 joint exercises since 2005, involving ships, aircraft and ground troops. Equally important is that China has become a key enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine. Advertisement"Policymakers and planners should avoid overestimating the state of military cooperation and operational integration that exists between Russia and China," RAND warned. AdvertisementDespite boasting of their military ties, Russia and China don't have much faith in each other's military prowess. In their 2001 friendship treaty, China and Russia did agree to consult with each other should either nation be attacked.

Persons: Mladen Antonov, Russia's, Mark Cozad, Cozad, Hitler, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Communist, Business, NATO, RAND Corp, Liberation Army, British, RAND, PLA, People's, Army, Russian, Grand Alliance, Western Allies, Central, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Soviet Union, China, Beijing, Moscow, U.S, Russian, Europe, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, Britain, South Korea, America, Vietnam, Korea, Syria, West, Central Asia, United States, Forbes

A second round of voting, which will pit the reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, against Saeed Jalili, an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator, will take place on July 5. The runoff was in part the result of low voter turnout and a crowded field of four candidates, three of whom competed for the conservative vote. Iranian law requires a winner to receive more than 50 percent of all votes cast. Iran’s economy is cratering under punishing Western sanctions, its citizens’ freedoms are increasingly curtailed and its foreign policy is largely shaped by hard-line leaders. In speeches, televised debates and round-table discussions, the candidates criticized government policies and ridiculed rosy official assessments of Iran’s economic prospects as harmful delusions.

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, —

☆ Silicon Valley figures are not holding back after Biden's disastrous debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSeveral Silicon Valley figures have offered their thoughts on President Joe Biden's performance in Thursday's presidential debate — and it's not a pretty picture. AdvertisementSome Silicon Valley figures have warmed up to TrumpHeading into Thursday's debate, the election was clearly splitting opinion among Silicon Valley figures. AdvertisementTonight was a clear victory … for memes — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2024Plenty of other tech figures did not hold back when discussing Biden's performance, however. Some tech figures leaned into mockery. Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham posted on X that "Biden bombing the debate" was good for the party as a better candidate would emerge.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, it's, influencers, Donald Trump, Biden, Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, Joe Biden, Kimberly White, Elon Musk, Musk, Elon, there's, Hoffman, Khosla, Trump, David Sacks, Sacks, — David Sacks, @DavidSacks, Jason Calacanis, Biden —, Nikita Bier, Shaun Maguire, Delian Asparouhov, Ralph Wiggum, Sarah Guo, Paul Graham, — Paul Graham, @paulg Organizations: Service, Business, Republican, Trump, Cuban Missile, America, Founders Fund, Democrats, Biden Locations: America, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Sequoia, Delian, San Francisco, Silicon

“Hard to watch” is how multiple foreign diplomats described Thursday night’s debate between Biden and Trump to CNN. I had difficulties understanding what he was saying, and I understand English pretty well,” said a second European diplomat. Biden’s debate flop was front-page news across Europe, with left- and right-leaning newspapers excoriating the president – even in France, where the country has its own elections coming up this weekend. “There are many options that are discussed, but we don’t see, any that are self-evident,” the first European diplomat said. Moscow’s state TV station, Russia 1, lampooned Biden’s debate performance.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, ”, “ Trump, “, –, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Trump, Radek Sikorski, “ Marcus Aurelius, Commudos, didn’t, Kamala, Harris, Trump’s, Volodymyr, Zelensky, Biden pilloried, Joe’Matosed ”, “ Biden, Biden’s, Emmanuel Macron’s, Ansa, Russia’s, Olga Skabeeva laughingly Organizations: CNN, Biden, NATO, Democratic Party, ”, “, strongmen, Arab, Financial Times, Sun, Guardian, Monde, TV Locations: Europe, East, Asia, European, Arab, Asian, France, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Afghanistan, Polish, California, Israel, British, Atlanta, Greece’s, Italy, Puglia

☆ Iran votes for its new president amid economic strife, crackdowns and regional war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranians will go to the polls against the backdrop of a battered economy, widespread popular discontent and harsh crackdowns on dissent. Iran is also dealing with high inflation, heavy Western sanctions, mounting tensions with the U.S., ramped-up Iranian nuclear enrichment and the Israel-Hamas war. On issues of foreign policy and war, the Iranian president wields some influence and is the country's public-facing messenger. But power and critical decision-making in Iran ultimately lies with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and unelected institutions like the Revolutionary Guards. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks with media after casting his ballot during the Iranian Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections at the Leadership office in Tehran, Iran, on March 1, 2024.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Ebrahim Raisi, —, Iran's, Ali Vaez, Rafat, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Masoud Pezeshkian, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Alireza Zakani, Qalibaf, Jalili, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Masoud, Pezeshkian, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Pourmohammadi, Ayatollah Khamenei, Morteza Nikoubazl Organizations: Western, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Supreme National Security Council, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Revolutionary, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, House, Revolutionary Guards, Iran's, Iranian Parliamentary Locations: Tehran, AFP Iran, Iran, Israel, Iranian, Iran's, Washington

☆ Iranians vote for a new president under the shadow of conflict and economic woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Joseph Ataman | Frederik Pleitgen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The vote takes place amid deteriorating relations with the West, an advancing Iranian nuclear program, and an increasing risk of direct war with Israel. Iranian presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s supporters gathered on the final day of campaigning to hear him speak, in Tehran, Iran on Thursday. Some polls have shown increasing popularity for Pezeshkian, with the rest of the conservatives splitting the vote. Khamenei urged Iranians to head to the polls and vote after he cast his ballot in the election on Friday morning. Saeed Jalili, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator and Iranian presidential candidate, holds a rally in Tehran, Iran, on June 24.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, Ali Khamenei, Mahsa, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s, Joseph Ataman, Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Khamenei, Amini’s, Pezeshkian, Iran’s, Amirhossein Qazizadeh, Hashemi, Alireza Zakani, Qazizadeh, who’ve, ”, Arash Azizi, Saddam Hussein, Masoud, Morteza, “, Sina Toossi, Narges Mohammadi, ” Ahmad, Ghalibaf, ” Ghalibaf, ” Mariam, Raisi, ” Cheers, ” Mohammad, ” Parsi, Javad Zarif, Zarif, ” Khamenei, Trump, Biden Organizations: Iran CNN —, Foreign, Iran’s, West, CNN, Iran’s Guardian Council, Center for Middle East, Global, Quincy Institute, Experts, Islamic, Center for International Policy, Trump, Pezeshkian, Getty, Washington Locations: Tehran, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Berlin, Iraq, Washington, Washington ,, Shiroudi, ”

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