SPOTLIGHT: BRITISH BREAKUPS AFTER BREXIT

Whatever the result, last Thursday’s referendum was always going to leave Britain deeply divided. It was also bound to divide the UK’s major political parties, whose leaders now face the daunting task of both negotiating the best possible exit deal and bringing the country together, avoiding, if possible, a breakup of the United Kingdom itself.

The clear victory for the Brexit side has already cost Prime Minister David Cameron his job. But as former London Mayor Boris Johnson — a Cameron rival and leader of the Leave camp — looks to muscle into the Conservative Party leadership, it may be the reverberations on Britain’s main opposition Labour party that may wind up being harder to resolve. And the more internal strife in the UK, the harder it will be to negotiate its exit from the European Union. What we are set to witness may be more than just a major, messy divorce, but a series of messy divorces.

  • OPPOSITION IN DISARRAY The leader of the opposition Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, was forced to appoint a new shadow cabinet this morning after at least 12 members left their top party roles over the weekend, in the wake of the Brexit result. A number of Labour MPs are blaming Corbyn for the party’s failure to convince Labour voters to back the Remain campaign. Thought to be more eurosceptic that euro-enthusiast, the 67-year-old leftist had been challenged by more centrist Labour members since his surprising election in September 2015. Corbyn so far resisted calls to resign in what The Guardian is describing as a “coup.”
  • PETITIONS A petition to demand a second referendum, with stricter rules, has garnered more than 3.6 million signatures, but at least some of the signatures are fraudulent. Another petition wants to make London independent.
  • SCOTTISH BLOCKADE Scotland’ First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reiterated threats to hold a new referendum for Scottish independence from the UK. She also said that the Scottish parliament could veto the UK’s exit from the European Union.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY

SPANISH VOTE DELIVERS HUNG PARLIAMENT, AGAIN

Amid Brexit turmoil, voters seemed to have backed away from insurgent political forces in favor of the relative security of conservatism: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) won the most seats in Spain’s parliamentary elections yesterday, a blow to anti-austerity party Podemos. But it is again unclear if Rajoy can form a ruling coalition. See how daily La Voz de Galicia featured Rajoy and his wife on its front page today.

FRENCH PM OPPOSES TTIP

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said yesterday that “there can be no transatlantic treaty,” in another blow to the controversial TTIP free trade agreement at a time when the European Commission is urging European leaders to support the negotiations, Les Échos reports.

— ON THIS DAY

From Korea to Tony Blair and the “Battle of Berne,” here’s your 57-second shot of History!

VERBATIM

“The pope is on no crusade,” the Vatican said in response to accusations from Turkey, after Pope Francis used the word “genocide” to describe the killings of 1.5 million Armenians a century ago. The pontiff also said gays, and other people the Church marginalized, deserved an apology.

CHINA AND RUSSIA STRENGTHEN TIES

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin signed more than 30 trade deals, with a particular focus on energy, as the two countries reinforced their ties in Beijing, the South China Morning Post reports. The two leaders also slammed the U.S. for its “unilateral deployment of anti-missile systems all over the world.”

— WORLDCRUNCH-TO-GO

FindFace, a revolutionary facial recognition tool made in Russia, makes it possible to instantly identify an attractive stranger or petty criminal. But it could also provide states with new ways to monitor their citizens’ activities. From Moscow, Emmanuel Grynszpan writes for Le Temps: “A few days after FindFace went viral, Russia’s online trolls came out in full force. A group of anti-pornography advocates started using the app to reveal the real identity of hundreds of young Russian women who posed nude in videos or magazines, or prostituted themselves on the internet. Some went even further by harassing the young women and their families on VK, with numerous Russian media outlets covering the ensuing controversy.”

Read the full article, Anonymity Killer, Russian App Takes Facial Recognition Mainstream.

ICELAND HAS A NEW PRESIDENT

Gudni Johannesson, a 47-year-old historian new to politics, won Iceland’s presidential election amid anger at political elites after the revelations of the Panama Papers. “The last few weeks have been unforgettable. Life changing, and in the best possible way,” Johannesson said.

47.4 METERS

Norway has set up a new record for the world’s tallest Midsummer bonfire, at 47.4 meters — 155.5 feet.

FALLUJAH LIBERATED

Iraqi forces have recaptured the city of Fallujah, more than two years after it fell into ISIS’ control and after a month-long operation, Al Jazeera reports. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited the liberated city yesterday and urged all Iraqis to “get out and celebrate.”

MY GRAND-PERE’S WORLD

A Mayan Line — Tulum, 1989

SINGAPORE PLANE CATCHES FIRE

A Singapore Airlines plane burst into flames this morning after an emergency landing at the city-state’s Changi Airport. All passengers are safe despite the scare.

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MESSI MISSES, RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL SOCCER

After missing a penalty that saw Argentina lose the Copa America at the hands (or, rather, feet) of Chile, five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi announced he wouldn’t play for his national team anymore. After Brexit, another Messi adios?

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