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Europe
Hungary
July 9, 2024 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is getting it in the neck from the rest of the Western allies for going to Russia to meet with President Putin and daring to talk about peace. The EU 'elite' are furious that Orbán took it on himself to simply ask Russian President Putin what he wants to bring the war to an end. And why shouldn’t he ask? Surely stopping this war as soon as possible is in everyone’s interests? Zelenskiy has refused to consider anyone’s peace plan other than his own that he presented at the G20 summit in November 2022. Over 100 were killed in a massive daytime missile attack that in particular hit the biggest children’s hospital in Ukraine, that specialises in treating children with complicated problems like cancer. Even Putin is now regularly signalling that he is open for talks, although the conditions he has offered so far are a non-starter for President Zelenskiy. Orbán went from Moscow on to meet Chinese President Xi in Beijing, who was, again, surprisingly outspoken about the need to end the conflict in Ukraine. ’But no one trusts Xi either’. The final leg on Orbán’s “peace mission” will be the Nato summit that is about to start in Washington. Orbán doesn’t care. Thanks to the need for a unanimous vote on all important EU business, he can just withhold Hungary’s vote on some important issue and watch the rest of Brussels squirm if they try. He is now trying to capitalise on the lurch to the right and build up a “Patriots of Europe” bloc in the European Parliament from the influx of fresh ’far right and populist’ MEP blood. ’While uber-Russia hawk European Commission President von der Leyen has been reappointed president and Kallas made EU foreign policy chief’, the polls show the majority of the EU population are ready for a negotiated ceasefire to begin. The cracks in the EU-Ukraine unity are getting wider - there is a growing disconnect between what the EU elite want and what the public want. (Source: intellinews *)
* bne IntelliNews, a news wire agency and media company. Headquarters Berlin, Germany
European Parliament
09.07.2024 The ’conservative’ European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament (EP), the Socialist and Democratic Alliance and Liberals (Renew), the Greens, Conservatives and Reformists, and the Left are negotiating the distribution of EP committees. The EPP is targeting the Foreign Affairs Committee, Constitutional Affairs Committee, and Agriculture Committee. Environment, Trade, Regional Affairs and Economic and Monetary Affairs committees could be among those assigned to the Socialists.. “Whoever is elected to this parliament by European citizens has the right to work like everyone else and this must be guaranteed,” EPP’s leader Weber told. 'However, those who are against the European project, such as Viktor Orbán, who said 'he wants to dismantle' the EP, as well cannot represent this institution,' he added. (Source: aa *)
* Anadolu Agency, a state-run news agency. Headquarters Ankara, Turkey.
Belarus
6:54 PM CEST, July 9, 2024 Belarus, the country of 9.5 million is hosting Chinese troops for a joint military drill near its border with NATO member Poland. The 11-day drill named Eagle Assault 2024 started yesterday at a shooting range in the Brest region close to Poland. The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that as part of the joint drill, the Belarusian and Chinese troops will practice airborne assault, river crossing and residential area combat. A statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry said the forces will also practice hostage rescue and counter-terrorism operations. “The joint training aims to enhance the coordination capabilities of the participating troops and deepen practical cooperation between the two armies,” it said. Belarus last week joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a ’regional’ security organization established in 2001 by China and Russia to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and the wider region. (Source: apnews *)
* The Associated Press, an American news agency headquartered in New York City, U.S
Russia
9 Jul 2024 Russian President Putin presented the ‘Order of St. Andrew’ award to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders offered strong words of support for their countries’ relationship. /video/: (Source: aljazeera *): https://tinyurl.com/mu6dwc3c
* Al Jazeera Media Network, a media conglomerate headquartered at Doha. Qatar
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