France To Recognize Palestinian State, Thai-Cambodian Clashes, Artistic Aquatics

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🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

Turkish daily Hürriyet devotes its front page to the wildfires that killed 10 firefighters and rescue workers in a forested area of Eskisehir province amid a searing Mediterranean heatwave. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli warned that strong winds and blazing heat were creating extremely dangerous conditions, while six separate wildfires were still burning across the country.

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• U.S., Israel condemn French plan to recognize Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will become the first G7 nation to recognize a Palestinian state before the UN in September. American and Israeli politicians have criticized the decision, which Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu called “a launch pad to annihilate Israel” and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled “reckless.” This comes as the U.S. quits Gaza ceasefire talks, which U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said was due to Hamas’ “lack of desire” for a truce and their lack of “coordination” or “good faith.” Read more in this analysis from France Inter, translated from French by Worldcrunch: France May Be Set To Recognize Palestinian Statehood — What Prompted Macron’s Change Of Heart?

• Thailand, Cambodia fighting continues for second day. The two Southeast Asian states have continued to exchange heavy fire on Friday in their worst conflict in over a decade, which both parties have blamed the other for starting. At least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands have been displaced in the fighting across the disputed border. Cambodia has accused Thailand of using cluster bombs, and Thailand has alleged Cambodia is purposefully targeting civilians. Bangkok warned the escalating conflict could “move toward war.”

• Zelensky submits anti-corruption bill post-protests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a draft law that would restore the independence of two anti-corruption agencies. This backtracks a controversial law that put them under government control, sparking nationwide protest and undermining Ukraine’s ability to join the EU. Zelensky said the purpose of the new bill was to protect the anti-corruption agencies from Russian influence.

• Iran reaffirms right to enrich uranium ahead of E3 meeting. Ahead of today’s talks with Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that European countries should understand Iran will continue enriching uranium and that their “position remains unshakable.” The meeting with the European states, which have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, will be the first since the Israeli and U.S. strikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites. For more, read this article in La Stampa, translated from Italian by Worldcrunch: Istanbul Calling, When Diplomacy Deserves Another Chance.

• ICC finds Central African Republic rebels guilty of war crimes. International Criminal Court judges have convicted two leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group in the Central African Republic of multiple counts of war crimes. The Hague sentenced former CAR soccer federation president Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona to 12 years in prison, and Alfred Yekatom, a rebel leader known as “Rambo,” to 15 years for their involvement as senior leaders of the militia during conflict with the largely Muslim Seleka rebel group in 2013 and 2014, which led to thousands of deaths. 

• Female exec in Coldplay concert video resigns. Kristin Cabot is no longer working for U.S. tech company Astronomer, the firm told BBC, after she was apparently caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing the company’s former CEO Andy Byron. The video, which showed the pair swaying to music at the concert before trying to hide, gained millions of views on social media. Byron left the company last week after it was announced he would be put on leave and investigated. 

• News Quiz! Seasonal ocean swells peeling sand away have made Hawaiian petroglyphs dating back at least a half-millennium visible again on Oahu for the first time in nine years. What do these rock carvings most likely depict?

A. Humpback whales
B. Ancient surfboards
C. Stick-figure humans
D. Islanders playing ukulele
[Answer below]

#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS

$6.4 billion

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih announced $6.4 billion of investments in Syria at a Damascus forum on Thursday. This reflects efforts by Saudi Arabia to deepen its ties with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government and help rebuild the country, which has been devastated by a 14-year civil war. The deals include $2.93 billion for real estate and infrastructure projects and about $1.07 billion for the telecommunications and information technology sector.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

🇵🇸 The Israeli army is believed to be poised to soon start forcing hundreds of thousands of displaced people from Gaza into Rafah, turning the city into a massive detention camp.
— DARAJ

🇮🇷 Europe, Iran and global powers are meeting in Istanbul on Friday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The talks may determine whether dialogue or confrontation will shape their future relations. It’s also a reminder that diplomacy is a better way than war to settle disputes.
— LA STAMPA

🇨🇺 Cuba has long been a country where very few people work, the fields do not produce, and it is one of the most aged countries in Latin America. A revolution that is no more.
— CONFIDENCIAL

📣 VERBATIM

“Let’s be clear: The Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”

– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, saying such a move “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.” Macron said he would make the formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia welcomed the French leader’s “historic decision,” calling all countries “that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take similar positive steps.”