Egyik 19

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Europe

Germany
2 July 2024  In an evaluation adopted on 20 June this year and published today, the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges legal and policy measures that have been taken by the German federal authorities and by the Länder to protect and promote regional or minority languages. A mid-term review covers compliance by Germany with the recommendations for immediate action issued in the seventh evaluation report in 2022. These recommendations concern for the following areas and minority or regional languages: Danish, Upper Sorbian, Lower Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani. (Source: coe *)
* Council of Europe

European Council
July 2, 2024  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made an unannounced visit to Kyiv today, marking his first visit to Ukraine since the onset of the war, for talks with President Zelenskiy expected to focus on peace and bilateral relations. Orbán, a vocal critic of Western military and financial aid to Ukraine, arrived in Kyiv a day after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council. The decision to give Ukraine candidate status hence was brought forward by the outgoing Belgian presidency and the next aid package has also been cleared as EU members feared that Budapest, which has obstructed the disbursement of EU funds to help arm Ukraine, could have blocked Kyiv’s accession talks. Budapest has consistently opposed Ukraine's aspirations to join Nato and the EU, refused to send arms to Ukraine and obstructed EU aid, resisted sanctions on Russia, consistently called for peace talks, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the war. Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó has visited Russia at least five times since the war began, including a recent trip to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Despite this stance, Hungary announced last month that it would not block Nato decisions on supporting Ukraine, provided Budapest was not directly involved in the aid. Orbán also recently endorsed Rutte to become the next head of Nato, while assuring that Hungary’s forces and financial resources would not be committed to supporting Ukraine. Relations betwen Ukraine and Hungary have also been strained by what Budapest argues are discriminatory laws against ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. The visit was confirmed after negotiations on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority living in Ukraine. Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority in southwestern Ukraine. Ukraine says it has addressed all Hungarian concerns about the language rights of ethnic Hungarians. (Source: intelliNews *)
* bne IntelliNews, a news wire agency and media company. Headquarters Berlin, Germany

Bosnia and Herzegovina
02 July 2024  Members of parliaments of Serbia and Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today formed a joint “Parliamentary Forum” tasked to make proposals to institutions of both sides, at the moment when secessionist threats and moves by the leadership of the entity are increasing. (Source: dtt-net *)
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Russia
July 2, 2024  Russia claimed today to have destroyed five Ukrainian military jets in a strike on an air base near the central Ukrainian city of Myrgorod, around 150 kilometers from the Russian border. Ukraine has not said where it will base F-16s. (Source: defensepost *)
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Ukraine
(Tuesday), 2 July 2024  Viktor Orbán arrived in Ukraine today for an unannounced visit having just taken over as rotating president of the European Union. The EU opened membership talks for Ukraine the week before Hungary assumed the EU Council Presidency. For the next six months his position as head of the European Council means Mr Orbán has an influential role as a figurehead for Europe. He came to Ukraine on his second day in that role for discussions, saying there was a need to solve previous disagreements and focus on the future. Mr Orbán previously slowed agreement on a €50bn ($54bn) EU aid package designed to support Ukraine in its defence against Russia. He has been a critic of Western support for Ukraine and is seen as the European leader closest to Russian President Putin. This was Mr Orbán's first visit to Ukraine in 12 years, although he has met Mr Putin repeatedly during that time. While in Kyiv, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war that followed Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. "My first trip has taken me here because the issue of peace is important not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe. This war that you are suffering is deeply impacting European security," Mr Orbán said. "I have asked the president to consider whether... a quick ceasefire could be used to speed up peace negotiations...", Mr Orbán stressed in his own statement. "I am grateful for his frank dialogue and his answers." President Zelensky did not publicly respond to those comments. In his statement following their meeting, Mr Zelensky said it was 'very important to have Europe’s support for Ukraine maintained at sufficient level… it’s important for co-operation between all the neighbours in Europe to become more meaningful and mutually beneficial'. The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues including the 100,000 ethnic Hungarians who reside in Ukraine. Mr Orbán said the two countries were determined to put past disagreements behind them, and that he was reassured progress was being made on the rights of the ethnic Hungarians. During his joint appearance with President Zelensky the body language between them was not warm and neither took questions from the media after they gave their statements. Later, in a post on X, Ukraine's leader said Mr Orbán's visit to Ukraine was a "clear signal to all of us of the importance of unity in Europe and taking collective steps'. 'We discussed the path to a just, lasting, and fair peace.' Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kuleba said his country was open to 'work with everyone and solve problems'. “During the visit, President Zelensky had a candid but constructive discussion with Prime Minister Orbán about ways to achieve a just peace, not simply a ceasefire or peace talks.' 'Many Ukrainians believe a ceasefire would simply cement Russia’s hold over territory it has taken from Ukraine and, if negotiations were to take place, they would prefer them to be conducted from a position of strength rather than on the back foot'. (Source: bbc *)
* BBC, The British Broadcasting Corporation - a British public service broadcaster headquartered in London, England.

July 02, 2024  Ukraine has fewer than four weeks to strike a deal with its creditors or risk a default that could seriously harm the economic recovery of the war-ravaged country. Two years ago, Ukraine's private foreign bondholders had agreed to suspend debt wartime repayments - a let-off worth around 15 percent of the country's annual GDP. However, that agreement expires on August 1. If no restructuring deal is reached, Kyiv will have to either arrange an extension of the moratorium expiring on August 1 or default. A default would drain the willingness of Western voters to keep underwriting the conflict. A consortium of foreign bondholders, including BlackRock BLK and Pimco, will urge Ukraine to resume interest payments on its debt next year. Defaulting on the estimated $20 billion of outstanding private bonds could jeopardize future funding and divert focus from fighting against Russia. A deal within a month appears unlikely. (Source: miamiherald */ NewsWeek))
* Miami Herald, an American daily newspaper, headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

NATO

July 2, 2024  On July 9–11, the leaders of NATO will gather in Washington, D.C., for a historic summit, 75 years on since the alliance’s founding in 1949. The alliance is facing a war in Europe 'amid several global crises'. According to Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, the Washington summit will focus on three major topics. The first is boosting allied defense and deterrence, 'NATO’s core business.' The second is supporting Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself, 'the most urgent' agenda item. The third is continuing to strengthen NATO’s global partnerships, 'especially in the Indo-Pacific.' The summit will also be Stoltenberg’s last, as he hands over the reins to current Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. NATO’s agenda will also be competing for airtime with the U.S. presidential race.     Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO’s main priority has been to strengthen defense and deterrence. Two years ago after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO agreed to a new strategic concept at the Madrid summit that built on existing efforts. One year later, in Vilnius, allies agreed to new plans to meet that vision. Since Madrid, NATO allies have hiked up defense spending, boosted forward defense, increased high-readiness forces, modernized command and control, transformed collective defense exercising, and successfully integrated new allies Finland and Sweden. All this means NATO is ready to 'fight tonight.' The question remains as to whether NATO is ready to fight - and thereby deter - a protracted war, like the one in Ukraine. This is most relevant in Europe, 'to strengthen the European pillar' of NATO. 'The Washington summit will focus on implementing these plans to deter armed attack and defend the alliance'. 'NATO allies will take stock of the progress of the Defense Production Action Plan agreed on in Vilnius and likely commit to a new pledge to boost their industrial capacity'. 'Here, allied leaders will need to agree to four 'mores': more cash, more combat power, more capabilities, and more cooperation'. More cash means continued increases in European defense spending beyond the 2 percent of GDP target set by NATO allies a decade ago. More combat power means converting this spending into military outputs more efficiently while 'addressing personnel shortfalls across the alliance'. More capabilities means filling known gaps in critical capabilities, such as air and missile defense, long-range fires, air transport, military mobility, cyber defense, and space-based capabilities. 'More cooperation means reversing the decline in collaboration required to generate the industrial capacity allies will need to equip their own growing forces while continuing to help Ukraine'. 'In the margins of the summit', the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will also host a NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Washington on July 9. To complement stronger conventional deterrence, allies will also look to boost their defenses against hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and damage to critical infrastructure. Russia has stepped up these attacks in recent weeks to undermine further support for Ukraine. This is why NATO defense ministers recently agreed on “response options for Russia’s hostile actions against Allies,' with Stoltenberg confirming “Russia’s campaign will not deter us from supporting Ukraine.' Allies will return to this agenda in Washington, with the main focus likely to be on protecting critical undersea infrastructure.     Ukraine is unlikely to receive a formal invitation to join the NATO alliance in Washington. Kyiv’s ambitions for deeper European integration moved forward last week when it began formal accession talks with the European Union. The EU also signed a new 'Joint Security Commitment' to support Ukraine 'for the long term,' while the G7 nations agreed to loan Ukraine more than $50 billion in immobilized Russian assets. NATO’s own package for Ukraine will comprise three parts: language, coordination, and assistance. The language regarding Ukraine’s membership will need to build on the Vilnius pledge that 'Ukraine’s future is in NATO' - senior U.S. officials have referred to the Washington package as a 'strong bridge' toward membership that is 'well-lit, short, straight, unimpeded.' Negotiations on the exact wording of the final summit communiqué will likely continue until the last minute - allies will want to avoid arguing with Ukraine in public like they did at last year’s Vilnius summit.    'The summit will need to demonstrate that the Ukraine package is more than a metaphor'. This is where NATO’s enhanced role in coordinating support for Ukraine comes in. When he met with Zelensky last week, Stoltenberg confirmed he expected allies to 'agree for NATO to take the lead in coordination and provision of security assistance and training for Ukraine.' To date, that role has been filled by the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group of 50 nations, manned by around 300 soldiers at the U.S. Army’s European headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. Earlier this month NATO defense ministers confirmed they will establish a new NATO command in Wiesbaden, with nearly 700 allied personnel (including at logistics hubs in Poland). Although Hungary agreed to the initiative, it will not take part or contribute owing to concerns about preserving the “defensive character” of NATO. Stoltenberg later confirmed: 'These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict, but they will enhance our support to Ukraine to uphold its right to self-defence.' Discussions are also underway to send a senior NATO civilian representative or envoy to Kyiv to improve coordination, as it did in Afghanistan.     The Washington summit may also yield further commitments of practical assistance to Ukraine. Following the G7 “joint declaration of support for Ukraine” agreed on in Vilnius, all seven nations have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine -  including a 10-year agreement with the United States and another with Japan. By the summit it is expected that 20 NATO allies will have concluded bilateral agreements with Ukraine. South Korea is even reportedly considering a similar agreement.  NATO allies may go much further in Washington if they agree to 'Stoltenberg’s idea for a five-year, $100 billion commitment of military aid to Ukraine'. Negotiations over the details of this ambition could go down to the wire. "One reported proposal is for allies to commit to maintain current levels of support (around $40 billion annually), with future contributions proportionate to GDP, similar to the 2 percent defense spending pledge'.     According to Admiral Bauer, chair of NATO’s Military Committee, these measures will further signal NATO’s long term support for Ukraine while making assistance more stable and predictable. 'To follow through on their Vilnius pledge, NATO allies will be keen to put Ukraine on a path in Washington toward becoming a militarily capable and interoperable partner so that when the political moment comes, Ukraine’s forces can seamlessly integrate into NATO’s - just like Finland and Sweden before them'. '    As U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs O’Brien confirmed, Indo-Pacific partnerships will be a primary theme of the Washington summit'. For example, 40 percent of Europe’s trade passes through an increasingly contested South China Sea. NATO’s four established Indo-Pacific partners -  Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea - have already become regular participants at allied summits. 'At the summit, NATO allies and Indo-Pacific partners may commit to further support to Ukraine', share best practices on countering Russian and Chinese cyber operations, combating Chinese economic coercion, and stepping up defense industrial cooperation. Representatives from all of NATO’s 40+ partners will attend the summit, including the European Union and countries closer to home that are vulnerable to Russian aggression on Europe’s eastern flank such as Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO leaders are aware of Russia’s continued pressure to destabilize these countries. NATO’s cooperation is coordinated through the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative.     Mark Rutte, outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, was appointed NATO secretary general on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Rutte enjoyed the support of the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European major powers. His appointment risked being vetoed by Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán due to Rutte’s controversial statement that 'Hungary has no business being in the European Union anymore.' Orbán recently changed his mind as part of a deal that sees Hungary exempted from providing military aid to Ukraine under NATO for the duration of the war. The likelihood of Rutte’s appointment solidified recently, shortly after his top contender, Romanian president Iohannis, dropped out of the race due to scarce support for his candidacy. As a prime minister, Rutte has viewed Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s aggression as critical for the freedom of Ukrainians 'and the Netherlands' and fundamental for democracy and sovereignty across NATO, channeling more than $3 billion in Dutch military support to Kyiv since 2022. In the past, he strongly championed the idea that Europe should bolster its defense and intelligence capabilities but also acknowledged that U.S. supplies remain critical to achieve this goal. Current secretary general Stoltenberg will remain at the helm for the Washington summit before handing over to Rutte on October 1.     How might U.S. domestic politics affect the summit? The U.S. election is highly relevant for NATO allies.  Following a contentious recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity and the first presidential debate, President Biden and former president Trump are ramping up their campaigns.  The two candidates have set out distinct positions on NATO. When he took office in 2021, current president Biden stated that 'America’s alliances are our greatest asset.' 'NATO allies have been at the core of the U.S.-led response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine'. In contrast, the more transactional approach to U.S. alliances taken by Trump - which, according to Trump, led him to encourage Russia 'to do whatever the hell they want' to allies that don’t 'pay your bills' when he was in office - 'has caused widespread concern' in Europe about the NATO policies of a second Trump administration. 'It remains prevalent' despite the significant increases in defense spending made by European allies in recent years - the average spending level across non-U.S. allies is now over 2 percent of their combined GDP, and rising further - which was Trump’s main critique of NATO. Mere days after the conclusion of the summit, Trump will take center stage at the Republican National Convention, to be held from July 15–18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Source: csis *)
* The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington, D.C.
by Monaghan, a visiting fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the CSIS  in Washington, D.C;
Martinez, a program manager and research associate for the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program;
Palazzi, a research associate with the Geoeconomic Council of Advisers;
Svendsen is a research associate with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program.

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United Kingdom
20:08, Mon, Jul 1, 2024  Mr Aaronovitch, the top BBC presenter who presents Radio 4's Briefing Room show has sparked fury today after calling - tweeting - for Trump to be 'murdered' by Biden. He took to X/Twitter shortly after 5 pm and said: 'If I was Biden I'd hurry up and have Trump murdered on the basis that he is a threat to America's security #SCOTUS'. The hashtag suggests his wild opinion was sparked by the ruling from the Supreme Court today, which ruled that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts. Aaronovitch's tweet sparked fury. He 'appeared to breach the BBC's rules on social media impartiality today with a controversial tweet about the US election'. Responding to journalist Montgomery who accused him of “Trump derangement syndrome”, Aaronovitch doubled down and lashed out, replying: 'Did you see the Supreme Court ruling Jack? Or were you too busy with your head up Farage's derriere?' An hour after posting the tweet, he told one critic that the post was 'satirical and based on today’s 6-3 ruling on presidential immunity'. Aaronovitch finally deleted the post after around 90 minutes, tweeting: 'There is now a 'far right' pile-on suggesting that my tweet about the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity is an incitement to violence when it’s plainly a satire'. So I’m deleting it. If nothing else though it’s given me a map of some of the daftest people on this site. “Note by the way that not one of them has a problem with the ruling itself.” Spectator columnist Barratt responded to Aaronovitch’s post with the observation: "'Impartiality' may not be in the best of health at the BBC…” (Source: express *)
* The Daily Express, newspaper. Headquarters London, United Kingdom

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Europe

Denmark
30 June 2024  King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark have begun their trip to Greenland. The couple arrived on the royal yacht, Dannebrog, in north Greenland at the Pituffik Space Base. They then travelled to Qaanaaq to greet the townspeople who performed dances and songs at the sports hall. They also attended a reception at the Town Hall. King Frederik and Queen Mary next visited Aasiaat where they were greeted by Mayor Hansen and members of the municipal council. A reception at Aasiaat Museum and Niels Egedes Plads followed with a cannon salute and choral singing at the museum and music and dancing at Niels Egedes Plads. The King and Queen first visited Greenland 20 years ago while Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and is located in North America. It borders Canada. (Source: royal-news *)
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France
30/06/2024 - 21:03  After France’s snap elections French President Macron and the 'leftist' union New Popular Front are urging voters to block the 'far right' in the decisive second-round elections on July 7. The “far right is at the gates of power,” said French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal today, adding that he would work to ensure the National Rally (RN) does not win an absolute majority. 'I would like to call on all French voters – not a single vote should go to the RN,' he said. (Source: france24 *)
* France 24, French international news television network based in Paris, owned by the French government.

30/06/2024 - 07:04  French voters are casting their ballots today in the first stage of the two-round legislative elections called by President Macron. A candidate can win in the first round by garnering 50 percent of votes cast if turnout represents at least 25 percent of the constituency's registered voters. In the case of a second round, anyone winning at least 12.5 percent of voters may stand. If no candidate garners the 12.5 percent required, the top two candidates compete in a second round. Some 49 million French are eligible to vote. Macron dissolved the National Assembly on June 9 after the 'far-right' National Rally hammered his centrist alliance in the European elections and called snap legislative elections for June 30 and July 7. Macron's decision sparked uncertainty in Europe's second-biggest economy. (Source: france24 )

30/06/2024 6:49 AM  French voters begin casting their ballots in the first of the two-round legislative elections. Voters in the overseas territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon began voting yesterday. Candidates securing more than 50% of the vote in the first round are elected, but that is rare. A second decisive round will be held on July 7. The top scorer wins. Four major blocks are competing for National Assembly's 577 seats. Macron's Renaissance party is part of the Ensemble (Together) coalition, the centrist, pro-EU and pro-NATO alliance, supporter of Ukraine's fight against Russian forces. The party was trounced by the 'far-right' National Rally (RN) party of Le Pen in the European Parliament elections earlier this month. It currently holds 250 seats. The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of 'left-wing' parties and the Greens was formed earlier this month after the snap elections was called by President Macron. Its platform includes overturning immigration and pension reforms, a wealth tax and increasing the minimum wage. It also wants to 'immediately recognize the Palestinian state" and stop "the French government's guilty support' for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. It currently holds 149 seats. In polls, NFP alliance is in second place, while Macron's centrist alliance is trailing in third. Le Pen's 'far-right' National Rally, projected to win this election, is anti-immigration and anti-EU. Le Pen heads the RN's parliamentary group which currently holds 88 seats. It is unclear whether the party will secure the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority. NR's president, Bardella, has said that if chosen as prime minister, he would not allow French missiles to be delivered to Ukraine that can strike targets within Russia itself, let alone send troops to the conflict, an idea floated by Macron. The prime minister is responsible for domestic laws, while Macron 'will remain head of the military' and in charge of decisions concerning foreign policy. The center-right Republicans are pro-business, a party that has shrunk massively after ruling France for decades. Currently, they hold 61 seats. If there is no majority, the president can name a prime minister from the group with the most seats in the National Assembly. Pre-election polls put the National Rally ahead of Macron's centrist alliance. (Source: dw *)
* Deutsche Welle, the German public, state-owned international broadcaster, headquartered in Bonn, funded by the German federal tax budget.

6:00 AM CEST, June 30, 2024  French voters around the world are casting ballots today in the first round of an exceptional parliamentary election that could put France’s government in the hands of nationalist, 'far-right' forces. Voting began early in France’s overseas territories. Macron called the early election after his party was trounced in the European Parliament election earlier in June by the National Rally. The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France’s nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed. A new coalition on the 'left', the New Popular Front, is posing a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic. Huge public spending promises by the National Rally and especially the 'left-wing' coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France’s heavy debt, already criticized by EU watchdogs. Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as President Macron’s leadership, which they see as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped and fueled that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and dominated all preelection opinion polls which suggest that the National Rally is gaining support and has a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as “cohabitation.' Macron has said he won’t step down before his presidential term expires in 2027. Cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage. Support for Le Pen’s party has spread deep and wide. The party has questioned the right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail the rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Bardella says he would use the powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for the war with Russia.
(Source: apnews *)
* The Associated Press - American news agency headquartered in New York City.

(Sunday), June 30, 2024 0:42 AM  Today, French voters will cast ballots in the first round of snap elections for the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, that could lead to the country's first 'far-right' government since the World War II. 'Political, racial tensions are the backdrop'. Citing security concerns, notably in impoverished areas in French suburbs or "banlieues," the 'far-right' National Rally wants to give a specific new legal status to police. If police officers use their arms during an intervention, they would be presumed to have acted in self-defense. Currently police officers have the same legal status as all French citizens and have to prove they acted in self-defense. Yesterday several hundred family members, friends and supporters gathered in the Paris suburb of Nanterre to remember 17-year-old Merzouk, a French teenager with North African origins who was shot dead at point-blank range by a police officer at a traffic check on June 27, 2023. His mother led a silent march to pay homage to her son. For many across France, he was the embodiment of young French Black and North African men who face police checks and discrimination more frequently than their white counterparts. The officer who fired the shot cited self-defense, and an 'extreme-right' figure started a crowdfunding campaign for the policeman that drew $1.6 million. Fueled by TikTok, riots spread with unprecedented speed before a mass police crackdown. The unrest caused, according to French authorities, more than $1 billion in damage. 'My son was executed,' his mother, Mounia, told the crowd. She expressed fear that she might run into the police officer who killed her son and has been released pending further investigation. The march ended at the spot where Merzouk was killed, and an imam sang and read a prayer the day before France's parliamentary elections. (Source: voanews *)
* Voice of America, the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Germany
29/06/2024 22:24  Members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress in the western city of Essen reelected Chrupalla and Weidel for another two years as joint party leaders today. Around 600 delegates gathered at an indoor arena. In her opening speech to the conference ahead of the vote, Weidel attacked the governing coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "Dear government, finally get out of here and clear the way for new elections," she said, before adding that firewalls against the AfD were not necessary. Weidel was referring to the refusal by Germany's mainstream parties to work with the 'far-right' party. Chrupalla, meanwhile, said the AfD was "stronger than ever" after the two leaders had brought peace to the once-divided party. According to him, the AfD now has 46,881 members, 17,723 more than at the beginning of 2023. It's expected that the membership will exceed 50,000 by the fall, he added. Chrupalla was receiving 82.72% support, Weidel received 79.77% of the vote. The AfD is being monitored by the German domestic intelligence agency (BfV) as a suspected right-wing extremist organization. The agency has warned that the party poses a racist, antisemitic and anti-democratic threat to Germany. Earlier today, at around 5:45 AM police used pepper spray and batons to stop a group of protesters breaking through a cordon near where the congress was being held. A few hundred protesters temporarily blocked the exit ramp of a motorway, while others occupied streets and intersections near the congress center. As the delegates voted, crowds gathered outside to protest the party. Several thousand police officers were deployed as part of security measures to prevent civil disorder. In all, some 100,000 protesters were expected to take part in the demos against the AfD. Police feared violence from some 1,000 'leftist' extremists who also planned to demonstrate. Mostly, it was a peaceful protest by members of church congregations, the Fridays for Future [climate movement] and Grandmothers Against the Far Right [Omas gegen Rechts]. Demonstrators, some of them hooded, attacked security forces, injuring 28 officers, one of which was left in a serious condition, injured from kicks to the head, taken to hospital. Police said they made several arrests. 'We need strong democratic forces and peaceful protest against right-wing extremism and racism,' Interior Minister Faeser wrote on X, adding that violence "cannot be justified by anything." The protest had calmed down by mid-afternoon. Despite a series of scandals, the AfD party came second in Germany in the European Parliament elections on June 9 and even took first place in the five eastern states. It's also expected to become the strongest party in September elections in three of those eastern states - Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg - amid fears other parties will not be able to form a governing coalition. The AfD's leaders are also looking to seize on the party's rising popularity, as Germany prepares for federal elections in the fall of 2025. (Source: dw)

June 29, 2024 8:00 PM  The nationalist, Eurosceptic AfD party came second with 15.9% in the European vote this month, ahead of the three parties in Scholz's coalition. AfD membership had grown by 60% to 46,881 members since January 2023, co-chief Chrupalla told nearly 600 delegates at a party convention in the western city of Essen. Some 22,000 people had joined while 4,000 had left. The AfD is on course to form a new political group in the European Parliament - a move which would require 23 MEPs from at least seven EU countries - after being expelled from the Identity and Democracy grouping last month, Weidel said. The congress was held despite resistance from city authorities - marked by the rainbow and EU flags flying on flagpoles outside the convention center - and protesters who sought to prevent AfD delegates from making it there, carriing at an anti-AfD march through the city. The interior ministry estimated some 20,000 people participated in the demonstration. The party congress will run until tomorrow, the same day neighboring France holds the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could bring 'the far right' to power. In discussing the party's policy platform, Weidel said AfD's future allies in the European Parliament should oppose the disbursal of taxpayer money to the "debt states" of Europe - a reference to countries such as Italy and Greece - and the idea that Ukraine belongs to the European Union, after it opened membership talks this week. (Source: voanews / Reuters)

European Union
Sun, 30 Jun, 2024 - 01:00  Just five years ago, young Europeans voted for parties advocating climate action, social justice, and democratic reform. But this may no longer be a viable political strategy. June’s European Parliament elections showed that many young voters have shifted to the 'far right', enabling eurosceptic, anti-immigrant, and anti-establishment parties to make significant gains. This movement is often anti-status quo, serving as a powerful warning to politicians about the need to reconsider both their message and their medium in appealing to disaffected young voters. These voters’ rightward shift is apparent across the European Union. After overwhelmingly supporting the Greens in 2019, 16% of German voters under 25 voted for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in this year’s European elections, putting the party in second place behind the center-right Christian Democrats and well ahead of chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. By contrast, the 'far-right' Sweden Democrats came in fourth, despite winning 10% of voters aged 22-30. In France, 30% of the youth vote went to Le Pen’s 'far-right' National Rally. This outcome was in line with the 2022 presidential election runoff, when Le Pen won 39% of voters aged 18-24 and 49% of those aged 25-34. 21% of Italian voters aged 18-34 helped prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy win a strong mandate to pursue its agenda. In Spain, the ultra-conservative Vox party increased its share of the youngest voters (under 25) to 12.4%. Europe’s swing to the right has led many politicians to harden their positions on issues like immigration. Young Europeans grapple with a cost-of-living risis and dwindling economic prospects. The growing frustration can be partly attributed to EU politicians’ failure to ensure stable, well-paid jobs for young people. Youth unemployment among Europeans aged 15 to 24 reached 13.8% in 2023. In Spain, the rate was 27.9%, compared to 27.7% in Greece, 20.7% in Italy, and 18.9% in Sweden. Youth unemployment in France was 15.7% in 2023; in the Netherlands 8.7%; in Germany 6%. Support for the 'far right' has increased across the bloc amid growing evidence that no matter how hard they work, most young people will end up poorer than their parents. In many European countries, young people are also navigating a housing crisis, overcrowded classrooms, and struggling healthcare systems. In the face of rising rents, exorbitant tuition fees, and stagnant real wages, young voters are increasingly asking themselves who will address their concerns. 'Far-right' politicians, while blaming immigration, at least recognise that there is a problem, and they are doing so in ways that resonate with younger voters. In the age of platforms like TikTok, veteran politicians mistake social media for a broadcast medium, fail to understand that it can be a powerful tool for fostering engagement, bonding, and identity formation. 'Far-right demagogues' tailor their messaging to young people just as dangerous as those who ignore those platforms entirely. As a generation of young voters spends much of its time on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram – in the United States, teens spend an average of 4.8 hours per day on social media – the result could be a toxic political cocktail. Many EU policymakers feel increasingly isolated as they try to do their jobs while online groups mobilise against them. To win back disaffected young people, political leaders must offer them a future they can believe in and embrace the media platforms where young people live. (Source: irishexaminer *)
by Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.
* Irish Examiner, an Irish national daily newspaper, headquartered in Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Russia
(Saturday ), 29/06/2024 - 22:16  Russian officials reported Ukrainian attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the country’s Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the Crimean Peninsula. It didn't give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region where a strike was killing five people in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border. The Belarusian military was saying it had increased its forces along Ukraine’s northern border in response to what it described as security threats - Belarus’ border agency claimed its troops downed a Ukrainian drone that had flown across the border to gather intelligence. Kyiv denied the accusations. The Ukrainian air force said today that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 1,000-kilometer front and has stepped up airstrikes in a bid to drain Ukraine’s resources. Rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian strike ripped through a nine-story residential building, leaving one dead and 12 wounded. The strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment building yesterday evening. Several residents remained missing. Seven people were killed today afternoon in Russian shelling on the town of Vilniansk, ten people were wounded, while infrastructure was also damaged. The shelling of the village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also wounded five people. (Source: france24 / AP)

North America

United States
(Sunday), 07:15 BST, 30 June 2024  Allies within the Democratic Party acknowledged the difficulty Biden had in getting words out at this week's event in Atlanta, Georgia, some warning there was "panic" in the party as others suggested it was time for change. Biden, 81, refused to stand down after his performance on Thursday night, urging that in spite of his age he still knew how to do the job and would defend American democracy. Trump, 78, has threatened to cut spending, raised questions over the future of NATO and ominously said he could end the war in 'one day' if elected. Biden, has backed Ukraine with billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid since 2022. 'As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that knew – that was respected by Putin, he would have never – he would have never invaded Ukraine,' Trump claimed during the debate. He said Biden had given '$200 billion now or more to Ukraine'. Reuters reported earlier this week that two advisers close to Trump have presented him with a plan to end the war that involves threatening to withhold weapons unless Ukraine enters into peace talks with Russia. 'European allies call on Democrats to axe Biden following disastrous debate amid fears a win for Trump could impact support for Ukraine'. There is growing concern that if Trump is re-elected, support for Ukraine may too dry up. 'American democracy killed before our eyes by gerontocracy!' said Verhofstadt, a member of the European parliament and a former prime minister of Belgium. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously cheered on Biden's prospects for re-election. A spokesperson for Scholz did not comment on the specifics of the debate, but said the chancellor valued Biden highly and had never spoken to Trump as their terms did not overlap. 'Biden can't do it,' said Matteo Renzi, a centrist who was close to the Democrats while serving as Italy's prime minister. 'It's important to manage one's ride into the sunset,' foreign affairs minister for Poland, Sikorski, wrote in a cryptic reflection on legendary Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius' 'screwed up' succession, 'starting Rome's decline'. /videos/ (Source: dailymail *)
* Daily Mail, a British daily newspaper, published in London.

(Sunday), Jun 30, 2024 09:44 IST  Biden expected to discuss campaign future with family today, NBC News reported. A person familiar with the situation said he will ultimately listen only to his wife, Jill, 'who has ultimate influence with him'. White House denies Biden dropping out of race. And the family gathering is not a formal discussion about the campaign's future. Biden reassures supporters, campaign sees surge in fundraising. His campaign has reported a surge in fundraising, with over $27 million raised by Friday evening, including $3 million at a New York City fundraiser focused on the LGBTQ+ community. (Source: indiatoday *)
* India Today, a weekly Indian English-language news magazine, based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

Jun 30, 2024 08:26 AM IST  First Lady Jill's public support for President Biden has sparked controversy among Democrats. She is now under scrutiny from Democratic donors for not advising the President to withdraw from the 2024 race. They are now advocating for a change in presidential candidacy. Seemingly joining the chorus of people slamming her for pushing the prez for rerun, now Jill's ex-husband, Stevenson, expressed disappointment, suggesting that she has changed a lot. 'The Dr. Jill I've seen on TV in the last five years is not the same person I married or even recognize,' Stevenson remarked. Stevenson who was married to the First Lady from 1970 to 1975 added: “She’s matriculated into a completely different woman”. 'I just don’t understand why she is so adamant about defending him and keeping him in the race since it appears that he’s struggling.' After praising his ex-wife’s former abilities and recalling how he watched her grow, he expressed his disbelief to see her 'front and center in the middle of this battle.' 'People say she’s the one who wants to be president now,' he said. In 2020, as Biden embarked on his campaign for the presidency, he leveled allegations against Biden, accusing him of being a ‘home wrecker.’ The First Lady's ex-husband once supported Biden in his bid for a seat in the US Senate in 1972. He previously alleged that Jill and Biden's relationship began while she was still married to him in 1974. (Source: hindustantimes *)
* Hindustan Times, an Indian English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi.

(Sunday), 30 Jun, 2024 06:43  Private call of top Democrats fuels more insider anger about Biden’s debate performance. In the Friday’s debate the president, who already faced serious concerns about his physical and mental stamina, offered a performance punctuated by repeated stumbles, uncomfortable pauses and a quiet speaking style that was often difficult to understand. Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Harrison and Biden campaign manager Rodriguez largely ignored Biden’s weak showing and the avalanche of criticism that followed when they held a call which spanned roughly an hour with dozens of committee members across the country, a group of some of the most influential members of the party. The call may have worsened a widespread sense of panic among elected officials, donors and other stakeholders, multiple committee members on the call said. Harrison offered what they described as a rosy assessment of Biden’s path forward, the people said. The chat function was disabled and there were no questions allowed. Biden’s closest allies insist he remains well-positioned to compete against Republican Trump and have given no indication they will push him to end his campaign. Those best positioned to replace him - US Vice-President Harris, California governor Newsom and Michigan governor Whitmer among them - reiterated their support for Biden after the debate. After Saturday’s DNC call, the Biden campaign released a memo from senior adviser O’Malley Dillon insisting the debate had no tangible impact on the election. “On every metric that matters, data shows it did nothing to change the American people’s perception, our supporters are more fired up than ever, and Trump only reminded voters of why they fired him four years ago and failed to expand his appeal beyond his Maga base,' O’Malley Dillon wrote. “If we do see changes in polling in the coming weeks, it will not be the first time that overblown media narratives have driven temporary dips in the polls,” she added. 'This should not be a close race,' Salazar, an elected DNC member from Colorado who was on the call said, pointing to Trump’s criminal record and long history of falsehoods. 'They’re the ones who should be looking for a new nominee, not us. And unfortunately for us, because of our president’s performance on Thursday night, that is now an open discussion.' (Source: nzherald *)
* The New Zealand Herald, a daily newspaper, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand

(Saturday), 29 June 2024, 13:22  Supporters - party donors and congressmen - have called on the 81-year-old Biden to abandon his run for re-election to the presidency after appearing frozen and muddling his words multiple times during the first head-to-head TV debate of the 2024 election campaign against his opponent Trump, who was widely acknowledged the winner of the debate. He is facing calls from a number of Democratic strategists, donors and politicians to suspend his campaign in favour of a younger candidate at this year’s party convention in August. Biden given 'one week to stand down' by Democrats despite Obama defending US President. One congressman told Yglesias, a US political blogger: 'I think the president has one week to prove he is not dead.' Axelrod, who was a top White House and campaign official for former President Obama, said: 'How his voice sounded. He seemed a little disoriented. There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.' Buell, a well-known Democratic donor, said: “Do we have time to put somebody else in there?” Current Democrat officials and politicians have publicly rallied around Biden despite his poor performance. Addressing Thursday’s debate, Mr Biden went on the offensive as he told the crowds: “I don't know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating with a guy who has the morals of an alley cat.' The President has clapped back at criticism and taken to the stand at a rally in North Carolina. Mr Biden was met with chants of “four more years” - less than 24 hours after his presidential debate had been labelled ‘disastrous’. He then hit out at Mr Trump's conviction from last month's hush money trial, as he said Trump isn't just a convicted felon, 'Trump is a one-man crime wave." He has 'more trials coming up', he then added. The US president also addressed concerns expressed by voters about his age after some of his recent appearances. He had been told he has a week to win over the Democrats before they try and get rid of him in the first presidential debate. He said: “Folks, I don't walk as easy as I used to, I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. "But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong. “I know like millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up.” He also added: “I wouldn’t be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because the stakes are too high.” It comes after Mr Biden appeared to forget what he was trying to say on several occasions during the debate, and at times spoke incomprehensibly. It did not take long for Mr Biden to lose his train of thought, as he suddenly started speaking about Medicare as he made a point about taxing billionaires before appearing to freeze. Former President Obama has also weighed in on the matter saying "Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know." "It would be difficult and very unusual for the Democrats to find a new nominee ahead of the convention, which begins on August 19". The convention is when the party officially chooses its nominee ahead of the actual election in November. (Source: lbc *)
* LBC News, a rolling news radio station based in the United Kingdom.

06/29/2024 07:00 AM EDT  Amid all of the Democratic panic-texting prompted by President Biden’s shaky debate performance Thursday, one name was curiously absent from many of those conversations: Vice President Harris. Names including California Gov. Newsom and Michigan Gov. Whitmer trended online as potential replacements for Biden on the Democratic ticket, while Harris - by several measures the most obvious and best-positioned candidate - was left to publicly defend Biden at the single worst moment of their four-year-old political partnership. Some allies of the first Black and South Asian woman to be vice president fumed Friday about the lack of attention Harris drew as a possible replacement - not a surrogate - for Biden, passed over in the Beltway chatter for the likes of Newsom, Whitmer and even Govs. Pritzker of Illinois and Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Her best strategy is to internally just be an amazing VP. She quickly made clear to her staff that they shouldn’t try to sugarcoat how badly her running mate had performed. Harris told her advisers her role was simple: project confidence as quickly and clearly as possible as a leader of the party, while preserving credibility by recognizing how weak the debate had been. Harris’ other two objectives were to zero in on attacking Trump and move the conversation away from the debate and toward Biden’s record. Harris, despite a rocky couple of years in the polls, still has the highest name ID of any plausible Biden replacement. A recent poll found that 41 percent of Democratic voters chose Harris as a hypothetical 2028 nominee. The next closest was Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, with 15 percent, and Newsom, with 14 percent. Were Biden to leave the presidential race, only Harris would have access to the coffers of the campaign she’s already a part of. Any other candidate would be faced with the tall task of building an infrastructure in a matter of months. Harris’ allies are not shy about pointing out the optics of substituting any other candidate (likely White, possibly male) for Harris — a move that they suggest would upset not only Black delegates at the convention but also Black voters with whom the Biden campaign is already on shaky ground. Still, she faces skepticism from the Democratic rank-and-file, who have been repelled by Harris’ weak polling numbers and see any of the more-popular-if-lesser-known governors as preferable - someone up who would not only be a good president, but be a good candidate. (Source: politico*)
* Politico, an American political digital newspaper. Headquarters Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.

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Europe

Bulgaria
28 June 2024  Bulgarian president won’t attend NATO summit, disagrees with support for Ukraine. Radev “does not accept some provisions of the framework positions adopted by the Council of Ministers regarding commitments that our country undertakes regarding the war in Ukraine,” his press office said. Due to the political crisis, Bulgaria is currently without a regular government, and the caretaker prime minister is Dimitar Glavchev, a former deputy from the largest GERB (EPP) party. This caretaker position is appointed by the president, who is given greater representative power. Radev was elected by the parliament (and by the government) to lead the delegation in Washington, but in light of his refusal, Glavchev, also foreign minister, will attend. He has long opposed sending military aid to Ukraine and often talks about how Western military support hinders the achievement of peace. Similarly, the president has opposed the decision to allow Western weapons to fire on Russian territory, repeatedly accusing NATO of fuelling the conflict and of crossing “red lines that would have kept the war from spiralling out of control'. (Source: euractiv)

France
28 June 2024  Nation-state or Islamic Republic of France, Houellebecq’s question. Nine years ago, Houellebecq wrote Submission, wich not only describes contemporary France in an eerily naturalistic and politically-incorrect manner, but also makes a dystopian prophecy: that the French progressive fixation in favour of Islam and against traditional and national values will one day lead to France becoming an Islamic republic. He even describes 'exactly' how such a thing will happen. In the fictional second round of the 2022 Presidential Elections, writes Houellebecq, le Pen faces a Muslim opponent. With the support of the socialists, the liberals and the Left, France’s Islamist Party sweeps to power. Islamic law is then enforced, women are side-lined from professional and public office posts, universities are shut down and conversion to Islam is encouraged. What the author is suggesting is that French ruling elites hate their nation’s conservative values and ethnic tradition so much that they would prefer to see their country embrace the Sharia, rather than re-establish itself as a European nation-state. Earlier this week Macron spoke of a “civil war' if the far Right wins. Muslim extremists recently warned that 'all hell will break loose' if the National Rally comes to govern France. Is France in danger of being politically taken over by Islamists? Houellebecq himself has often been accused of bigotry. In fact, he is one of France’s top “love to hate” figures. He is despised, mocked and ridiculed on a regular basis. In 2010, his earlier novel, La Carte et le Territoire, won the prestigious Prix Goncourt. On January 7 2015, the day when Submission was published in France, Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly magazine, came out with a front page caricature of the author, making fun of him and his predictions. On that same day the magazine’s offices were attacked by two French-born Algerian Muslim brothers, who murdered 12 people and injured 11 others. /photo/ (Source: brusselssignal)

European Commission
3:45 AM CEST, June 28, 2024 The 65-year-old German politician von der Leyen, the 62-year-old socialist, former prime minister of Portugal Costa and the 47-year-old lawyer, Estonian staunch supporter of Ukraine Kallas were endorsed by 'European Union leaders' for the EU’s top jobs the European Council with the final nominee.    Von der Leyen's second term now needs to be approved by European lawmakers in a vote likely to take place in July. She has been 'praised' for her leading role during the COVID-19 crisis, when the EU bought vaccines collectively for its citizens, but she also found herself receiving sharp criticism for the opacity of the negotiations with vaccine makers. She has also embodied the EU’s plans to become climate neutral by 2050, but her commitment to the Green Deal policies has been questioned in the buildup to the European elections as the EU seemed cautious not to antagonize farmers who argued that EU environmental and climate laws were driving them toward bankruptcy.    The Socialists came in second place and Costa’s choice was controversial because of his government’s involvement in a widespread corruption investigation that forced him to resign as prime minister last year. Costa denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.    Kallas was chosen despite the liberal group she belongs to losing ground in the European elections, slipping to fourth place behind the 'far-right' ECR.    Like von der Leyen, Kallas 'must' also be confirmed by the EU Parliament. (Source: apnews)

European Council
June 28, 2024   Yesterday, European Union signed security commitments with Ukraine and disburses new €1.9 billion under the Ukraine Facility. President of the European Council Michel, President of the European Commission von der Leyen, and President Zelensky signed the document on the margins of the European Council, which is taking place in Brussels on 27 and 28 June. The commitments include following chapters: long-term provision of military equipment; EU and Ukraine’s defence industries corporation; resilience, cyber and hybrid threats; military and civilian mine action; civilian security sector reform and support to law enforcement; preventing and countering the diversion of firearms and small arms and light weapons; support to energy security, energy transition, and nuclear safety and security; sharing intelligence and satellite imagery. Concerning the provision of the military equipment, the document says that with the creation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund within the European Peace Facility, the European Union will continue to support the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training to Ukraine. 'Building on the EU and bilateral initiatives on ammunition, notably the 1 million rounds initiative, missiles and air defence, the European Union and Member States will speed up and intensify the delivery of all the necessary military assistance. The Ukraine Assistance Fund will have a budget of €5 billion for 2024,' as noted in the commitments. Von der Leyen also announced on X that the EU will disburse a new €1.9 billion to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility, to keep the Ukrainian state running. (Source: euneighbourseast)

Asia

Iraq
Jun. 28 (2024)  'Yemen’s Armed Forces and Iraq’s anti-terror fighters - Iraq’s Islamic Resistance, which is an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters' - have carried out a fresh joint anti-Israeli operation, targeting the port of Haifa. The Armed Forces and the Iraqi fighters have been staging numerous anti-Israeli strikes, either separately or in cooperation with one another, 'since last October, when the Israeli regime began a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip'. It vowed that the forces would continue their operations in the Red and Arabian Seas as well as the Indian Ocean as long as the Israeli regime kept up the brutal military onslaught and a simultaneous siege that it has been enforcing against Gaza. (Source: mehrnews)

North America

United States
Jun. 28, 2024 6:43AM EDT  For the sake of the United States, Dr. Jill must step up now to help oust her husband. 'The threat of a second Trump presidency is enormous, far bigger than most Americans seem to grasp - Trump is scheming on a radical executive power-grab which could put everything from the Fed to control of the media in his hands, while he also promises vast human rights abuses, an end to a freedom-and-democracy-pursuing liberal international order, and a series of economic plans that would radically drive up prices and plunge the nation into financial free-fall. It’s no exaggeration to say that a second Trump presidency could mean everything from the termination of abortion rights nationwide, to deportation camps for immigrants, to the end of America as a beacon of economic and political stability, to the rise of global autocratic and imperialist power from Russia, China, and other dangerous actors'. (Source: thedailybeast)
by 'Filipovic'

June 28, 2024  The US has refused to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, instead believing that strengthening sanctions and imposing export restrictions is a more effective way to slow down Moscow’s war machine, US State Department spokesman Miller told on June 24. This position contrasts sharply with the efforts of some US senators who have been advocating for Russia to be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. In particular, on June 20, Senators Graham and Blumenthal introduced a bill to the Senate as a means. President Biden previously decided against designating Russia as a state sponsor of terror in September 2022, following a unanimous resolution passed by the US Senate in July 2022, which called for such a designation. (Source: intellinews)

June 28, 2024  Marine Corps Order 5231.4 outlines the service’s approach to AI. The Marine Corps has pursued a two-track model with innovation at the lowest levels and resources at the highest. Bridging the gap between these parallel efforts will be critical to meaningful progress. "Only incremental progress has been made'. "The service is slow in moving towards its goals because it has decided, de facto, to pursue a two-track development strategy". It has concentrated efforts and resources at the highest echelons of the institution while relying on the rare confluence of expertise and individual initiative for progress at the lowest levels. "Every day, thousands of marines perform routine data-collection tasks and make hundreds of data-based decisions. They compile manning data on whiteboards to decide to staff units, screenshot weather forecasts and paste them into weekly commander’s update briefings, and submit training entries by hand. But anyone who has used ChatGPT or other large-scale data analytic services in the last two years knows the immense power of generative AI to streamline these processes and improve the quality of these decisions by basing them on fresh and comprehensive data. The U.S. Marine Corps has finally caught wind. Gen. Smith’s new message calls for the service to recognize that '[t]echnology has exponentially increased information’s effects on the modern battlefield, making our need to exploit data more important than ever.” The service’s stand-in forces operating concept relies on marine operating forces to integrate into networks of sensors, using automation and machine learning to simplify decision processes and kill chains. Forces deployed forward in littoral environments will be sustained by a supply system that uses data analysis for predictive maintenance, identifying which repair parts the force will need in advance'. 'Beyond education and planning, AI and machine learning can transform how the Marine Corps fights. During an operation, AI could employ a networked collection of manned and unmanned systems to reconnoiter and attack an adversary. It could also synthesize and display data from sensor networks more quickly than human analysts or sift through thousands of images to identify particular scenes or locations of interest. Either algorithms can decide themselves or enable commanders to make data-informed decisions in previously unthinkable ways. From AI-enabled decision-making to enhanced situational awareness, this technology has the potential to revolutionize military operations. A team of think tank researchers even used AI recently to rethink the Unified Command Plan. But, achieving these futuristic visions will require the service to develop technical skills and familiarity with this technology before implementing it'. "Marines in the operating forces perform innumerable routine tasks that could be easily automated. For example, marines in staff sections grab data and format it into weekly command and staff briefings each week. Intelligence officers retrieve weather forecast data from their higher headquarters. Supply officers insert information supply levels into the brief. Medical and dental readiness numbers are usually displayed in a green/yellow/red stoplight chart. This data is compiled - by hand - in PowerPoint slide decks. These simple tasks could be automated, saving thousands of hours across an entire Marine expeditionary force. Commanders would benefit by making decisions based on the most up-to-date information rather than relying on stale data captured hours before'. "The Army’s use of the 18th Airborne Corps to bridge the gap between service-level programs and individual initiatives offers a clear example for how to do so. The 18th Airborne Corps fills a contingency-response role like the Marine Corps. Located at Fort Liberty, it is the headquarters element containing the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, along with the 10th Mountain and 3rd Infantry Divisions. As part of a broader modernization program, the 18th Airborne Corps has focused on creating a technology ecosystem to foster innovation. Individual soldiers across the corps can build personal applications that aggregate, analyze, and present information in customizable dashboards that streamline work processes and allow for data-informed decision-making". If the Marine Corps followed the 18th Airborne Corps model, it would designate one operating force unit as the service lead for data analysis and automation to link service headquarters with tactical units. Once designated, II Marine Expeditionary Force should establish an office, directorate, or company responsible for the entire force’s data literacy and automation effort. The Marine Corps should build the groundwork by training its workforce and building familiarity during garrison operations. Designating one major command to act as the service lead would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal. (Source: warontherocks)
by McGee, an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, currently serving with the Marine Innovation Unit.

NATO
28 June 2024  'If Russia is not punished for what they are doing, then there will be a pause of one, two years, and then everything will continue: the atrocities, the human suffering, everything.” Kallas adds that it will not just be Ukraine at risk of an emboldened Putin. 'I mean other countries around Russia. Moldova… The imperialistic dream has never died.' Few doubt that Estonia could be a prime target in such a situation. In 1949 her mother (then six months old), her grandmother and her great-grandmother were all sent to Siberia under Stalin’s mass deportations of Baltic citizens who were deemed “anti-Soviet”. “It was a stranger who gave my grandmother a jar of milk that kept my mother alive during this journey,” she told the European Parliament in a speech on 9 March. Her father, Siim, oversaw the country’s shift to democratic capitalism as president of the Bank of Estonia in the 1990s, and served as prime minister between 2002 and 2003 before becoming a European Commissioner. Baltic leader Kallas studied law and economics and worked as a lawyer before she was elected to the European Parliament for the liberal Estonian Reform Party in 2014. She returned to Tallinn to head the Reform Party, winning a leadership election in April 2018, and became Estonia’s female prime minister in January 2021, at the helm of a coalition with the centre-left Estonian Centre Party. Her government sent lethal weapons to Kyiv as early as December 2021. (After February 2022) her government accelerated its transfer of arms to Ukraine, sending FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles and artillery such as D-30 howitzers. She told European lawmakers: “We will, in the future, speak about ‘before times’ and ‘after times’.” The leader of a country with a population about the same size as Birmingham’s she has been cited 11,560 times in the international media in the two months from 1 March to 2 May. Kallas will be among the Nato leaders at the alliance’s landmark summit. What needs to happen there? 'We need the deterrence posture to turn into a defence posture,' she replies. This means a shift from warding Russia off an attack on Nato to being capable of preventing it from taking Nato territory at short notice. She specifies that this requires a division-level Nato presence in each Baltic state (a significant increase in troops from those already present, led by the UK in Estonia), more intelligence sharing and a shift from air policing to air defence. “Where now they just fly up and say ‘You can’t fly here’, air defence means that if someone comes into our airspace, we have a right to take them down as well.' She attributes to Putin the notion that 'if Russia can’t become the West, then the West must become Russia'. The Kremlin, argues Estonia’s prime minister, will continue trying to undermine Western unity through cyber threats and by promoting myths about morally corrupt and 'anti-family liberal' societies. (Source: newstatesman)
by 'Cliffe

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Interjú Orbán Viktor miniszterelnökkel

orosz-ukrán háborúról, választás tétjéről, reptér visszavásárlásáról;

 a Kossuth Rádió Jó reggelt, Magyarország! című műsorában

- hangzóanyag -

 Források:

- (soundcloud):

https://tinyurl.com/3tea4jpz

- (hirado / Kossuth Rádió):

https://tinyurl.com/hutwycj6

Kulcsszavak:

I. világháború    II. világháború    Afrika    Egyesült Államok    Európa    Európai Parlament    Európai Unió    Franciaország    hangzóanyag    Katar    Kína    Kuba    Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér    Magyarország    NATO    Németország    Oroszország    Szlovákia    Ukrajna
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 "Tudom, kik és miért lőttek le" - közli Fico Robert, szlovák miniszterelnök

- video -

(magyar szinkronnal, angol nyelvű felirattal)

(Forrás: YouTube / Hetek)

https://tinyurl.com/m45wpcye

(2024. VI. 8.-ig: 42 710 megtekintés.

Kulcsszavak:

Európai Unió    Irak    Kína    Magyarország    NATO    Oroszország    Szlovákia    Ukrajna    Visegrádi országok

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Ukraine
June 4, 2024  Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is starting to get upset. On June 2, he gave an interview to the Guardian newspaper in which he said Trump risks becoming a 'loser president' if he cuts military aid to Ukraine. Moreover, if Trump imposes what Zelensky called a "bad peace deal" on Ukraine, it would mean the end of the United States as a 'global actor." According to Zelensky, the United States "will no longer be the leader of the world." This is what the former comedian says, who became the president of Ukraine due to a strange election in 2019. He doesn't have a lot of international geopolitical experience on his CV, but Zelenskyy has a go. Trump leads the polls in November. Zelensky is taking a risk, but he knows what the alternative is - Zelensky is trying to drag the United States into direct war with Russia. The Ukrainians actually attacked a massive radar installation (and possibly a second one) deep inside Russia that is part of the ballistic nuclear early warning network. A Ukrainian 'intelligence officer' bragged to Western media in a cavalier tone of someone who had no idea what he was talking about: 'Those radars were Russia's eyes, and we at least partially shut them down." This Ukrainian does not understand what this means. Attacking the early warning system of any nuclear power plant is highly destabilizing, as it can be interpreted as preparation for a nuclear strike. Then when the next administration takes over, there will be no chance of negotiation; those radars, Russia's eyes, will act against US forces. After November, the Biden administration doesn't care. But Ukraine would be a stupid war for America. It is stupid for America in the same way that most wars since the end of the Cold War have been stupid. These were wars of choice, not wars of necessity. And Zelensky drags America into the war - or Zelensky loses. Washington must tell the small bantam cockerel, big attitude, that he must learn to negotiate peace or he will end up in a stew pot. (Source: brusselssignal)

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