Weekly World News

May 20, 2024

West Asia/Middle East:

Israel’s siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip has led to a conservative death toll of 35,960, as thousands more remain buried under the rubble, and increasing casualties due to starvation and malnutrition are excluded from the official death toll. Israel’s offensive into the border city of Rafah displaced over 800,000 people, causing large numbers of casualties and pushing Gazans into flattened neighborhoods with little resources or survival essentials. Israeli military forces also cut off the crucial Rafah border crossing, ending a main supply route for humanitarian aid trucks. Fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters occurred throughout the strip, including areas in the North, where Israel claimed it had eliminated Hamas. The apparent lack of success of Israel’s military operation drew criticism from within Israel’s government. Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz threatened to resign unless Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shifted his strategy in fighting Hamas forces. Amidst Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian administration, aid has begun to arrive by sea at a US-built port on Gaza’s coast. While the entry point provides much-needed supplies to Gazans as aid from Rafah is cut off, the lack of a humanitarian distribution system remains a severe hindrance to addressing Gaza’s dire food crisis. According to the United Nations, 254 humanitarian workers have been killed by Israel’s assault since October 7th.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and 3 others were killed in a helicopter crash in the mountains of Northwestern Iran, returning from a visit to the neighboring country of Azerbaijan. The crash prompted an hours-long search that eventually led to rescue teams discovering the crash site without any survivors. Vice President Mohsen Mansouri confirmed reports of the president’s death while large-scale prayers across Iran are held for all those killed in the crash. Presidential powers will be transferred to First Prime Minister Mohammed Mokhber until a presidential election is organized in 50 days. The other 3 known victims in the crash are Iranian Foreign Minister of Affairs Hosein Amir Abdollahian, Governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province Malik Rahmati, and Tabriz Imam Mohammad Ali al-Hashem. Other members of the helicopter crew are also presumed dead.

Europe:

Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico is in stable but critical condition after surviving an assassination attempt in which he was shot several times in the town of Handlova, Slovakia. His injuries required several hours-long surgeries at a nearby hospital, where his prognosis was later declared positive. The shooter, a 71-year-old Slovakian native, was arrested and charged with attempted premeditated murder. The man was reportedly motivated by a disdain for the actions and policies of the government, including Fico’s support for halting military aid to Ukraine.

Oceania:

Protests have escalated to deadly riots in the French overseas island territory of Caledonia, where the native population has expressed unrest over a new French plan to grant non-indigenous residents in Caledonia the right to vote. About 40% of the South Pacific territory’s population are native Kanak, many of whom support independence from the French government. Fearing marginalization, the natives took to the streets in opposition to the new constitutional amendment. Violent clashes between protestors and police led to at least 6 deaths as the government declared a state of emergency. Over 600 French troops and paramilitaries were sent to New Caledonia in an attempt to disassemble dozens of roadblocks set up by the protestors, who have refused to cooperate. French forces mainly seek to regain control of a highway connecting an airport to the capital of Nouméa. The airport remains closed as hundreds of protestors are arrested and police are yet to regain order.

Asia-Pacific:

In his first foreign trip since re-election, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to China to meet with leaders and highlight the strengthening partnership between the two global powers. Russia has become China’s top crude oil exporter since Western sanctions sought to block the international sale of Russian oil. During the visit, the Russian president attended a trade fair in the city of Harbin, also known as China’s “Little Moscow” and paid tribute to a World War II memorial for Soviet troops who fought for China against Japanese occupation. Putin’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping commemorated the 75th anniversary of the relationship between Russia and the People’s Republic of China, which Putin described as “expanding and constantly developing.”

North America:

US President Biden announced another round of tariffs, including quadrupling existing tariffs on China’s electric vehicle exports. While the Biden Administration cites China’s unfair trade practices and a need to protect US economic interests, skeptics point to the move as a political maneuver to project strength against China’s growing influence as November’s general election looms.

Sources:

Channel - https://t.me/geopolitics_live