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On the 17th, the UK Parliament conducted its State Opening, with King Charles III delivering the "King's Speech" to the House of Lords. Before the members of both chambers, he read out the legislative priorities of the "Keir Starmer Government," including plans to revitalize the economy, address severe housing shortages, and tackle the cost of living crisis. Additionally, the new government aims to mend the rifts caused by Brexit between the UK and the EU. Attendees included invited dignitaries such as foreign ambassadors to the UK.

King Charles III, wearing the "Imperial State Crown," was accompanied by Queen Camilla for the King's Speech, a highlight of the State Opening. The speech content is drafted by the new Cabinet and read by the monarch in the House of Lords, mainly revealing the bills and policy directions the new government intends to push in the new parliamentary session. Subsequently, both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will debate the planned bills.

The King's Speech mentioned plans to promote the "Fiscal Responsibility Bill," ensuring that major tax and spending decisions are scrutinized by the independent "Office for Budget Responsibility" (OBR). This tries to avoid problems like those produced by Prime Minister Liz Truss's 2022 budget announcement, which was released without OBR approval, resulting in significant market turmoil and a sharp fall in the pound.

In terms of economic policies, the speech also promoted the "National Wealth Fund Bill," the "Great British Energy Bill," the "Employment Rights Bill," and railway nationalization-related bills. The National Wealth Fund (NWF) will receive £7.3 billion in government funding and will lend through the UK Infrastructure Bank, with the expectation that every £1 of government investment will attract £3 in private investment. The government intends to establish the "Great British Energy" (GBE) company, a public enterprise headquartered in Scotland, focusing on clean and renewable energy.

The "Employment Rights Bill" includes measures to ban "zero-hour" labor contracts and the practice of "fire and rehire," which unfairly reduces labor costs. Railway nationalization will integrate public infrastructure with daily operating activities currently largely managed by private operators. Upon the expiration of operators' contracts, the railways will automatically revert to public ownership.

A notable aspect of the proposed legislation is the reform of the House of Lords. The Labour Party intends to abolish the legislative and voting rights of hereditary peers. The legitimacy of hereditary peers is debatable, with over 90 hereditary peers currently in the House of Lords, nearly half of whom are held by the Conservative Party.

Finally, King Charles III reiterated the UK's full support for Ukraine's NATO membership.

Deputy Minister of Health of Greece, Dimitrios Vartzopoulos, rings the Bell of World Peace and Love, praying for world peace and prosperity.

On July 16, French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's cabinet, while the appointment of a new prime minister remains stalled due to disagreements among the majority left-wing parties. With the Olympics approaching, the cabinet will continue to handle daily affairs until the event concludes.

Following the parliamentary elections on the 7th, the New People's Front (NFP), an alliance of five left-wing parties, won 182 seats. However, due to internal disagreements, they have been unable to propose a new prime minister. Some factions led by the Socialist Party and the largest far-left party, Unbowed France, have rejected each other's candidates. Macron's party and its allies hold fewer seats than the left-wing alliance but more than the right-wing National Rally.

On the 18th, a vote for the parliamentary speaker will take place. Since Attal and 17 members of his original cabinet are newly elected members, they will be allowed to vote in the speaker election and join various committees after the cabinet's resignation. This could provide crucial votes in a divided parliament.

The French constitution stipulates that the president appoints the new prime minister but does not specify the method or timeframe for the appointment. Until the new government is appointed, a caretaker government will be in place, capable of handling emergencies but unable to implement any legislative reforms or proposals.

Former U.S. President Trump, representing the Republican Party, announced his candidacy for the White House once again. On the 15th, he announced that his running mate would be Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who is also the author of the bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy." Although some media outlets suggest that an experienced running mate is necessary to boost votes, Trump's popularity surged significantly after facing challenges during a rally in Pennsylvania, making the experience of the running mate less crucial.

Trump posted on Truth Social that after long deliberation, Vance is the most suitable candidate for Vice President. Vance has had an outstanding career in the technology and finance sectors, and "he will work tirelessly to make America great again." Vance will also focus on American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and other regions.
Forty-year-old Vance comes from a blue-collar family and had a challenging upbringing. Due to his family's poverty, he joined the military right after high school and served in the Iraq War. Afterward, he attended a local university and later earned a law degree from Yale University. His 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," depicts the struggles of the American working class and received widespread acclaim, even being adapted into a film. Vance was first elected as a Senator in 2022, officially entering politics.

In terms of foreign policy, Vance adheres to "realism," prioritizing American interests and opposing military aid to Ukraine. On the issue of Taiwan, Vance advocates for strategic ambiguity, believing that the United States should make it difficult for China to attack Taiwan, but if China does launch an attack, the U.S. should act at the appropriate time. Vance has expressed anger over Trump's actions during last year's Capitol riot, stating that "better options" are available. This presidential race for the White House will be closely watched.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has condemned Israel's recent airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to no longer remain silent in the face of this unending slaughter.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health reported that Israel's attack on Al-Mawasi on the 13th resulted in at least 92 deaths and 300 injuries. This area had been designated by Israel as a "safe zone" along the Mediterranean coast. The Gaza Civil Defense indicated that Israel also struck a makeshift mosque in the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing 20 people. Additionally, a school providing refuge for the displaced was attacked, resulting in 15 deaths on the same day.

A statement from the Brazilian presidency noted that the recent bombings in the Gaza Strip have caused the deaths of hundreds of innocent people, which is unacceptable. Even more shocking is the continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Since last year, these relentless attacks have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with many people living in designated humanitarian zones, which should have been protected, also falling victim.

The Brazilian presidency's statement urged the political leaders of the democratic world to no longer remain silent in the face of Israel's endless slaughter.

July 15, 2024 — Gunfire erupted at a rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump, with reports indicating that he was injured. The incident has quickly drawn widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally.

The event took place on Monday afternoon local time, during Trump's speech when gunfire suddenly broke out, causing chaos at the scene. Trump was swiftly escorted away and taken to the hospital for treatment. The medical team has stated that his injuries are not life-threatening but further observation is required.

This violent incident has prompted condemnation from leaders and politicians both within the United States and abroad. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement strongly condemning the act of violence and reiterated that any form of political violence is intolerable. Numerous international leaders have also expressed their condolences and condemnation, underscoring the importance of upholding democracy and freedom of speech.

Local police have initiated an investigation and are urging witnesses to come forward with any information to quickly apprehend the suspect. No organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the incident at this time.

The event has once again brought attention to the issue of gun violence in the United States. Multiple human rights and anti-violence organizations are calling on the government to implement stricter gun control measures to ensure public safety.

Guatemala City, July 14, 2024 — Today, the President of Guatemala issued a formal apology on behalf of the government to nearly 28,000 children who were forcibly adopted abroad and their families. Over several decades, these children were illegally taken from their families and arranged for adoption overseas, causing irreparable harm and trauma to countless families.

In a public apology ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, the President expressed deep sympathy and regret to the victims and their families. He stated that this action was a severe violation of human rights, and the government is committed to taking all possible measures to compensate the victims and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.

The President emphasized in his speech, “Today, we stand at a crossroads of history, and we must confront the mistakes of the past to build a fairer and more just future. To those children who were forcibly taken from their homes and their families, we deeply apologize. We will do everything in our power to help them rebuild their lives and ensure that their rights are fully protected.”

The exposure of this event has drawn widespread attention and condemnation from the international community. The Guatemalan government has launched a detailed investigation and is working with several international organizations to seek legal and humanitarian aid. Currently, the government is striving to establish a specialized assistance program to provide psychological, legal, and financial support to the victims and their families.

In addition to the public apology, the government plans to establish a dedicated fund to support efforts to reunite victims with their lost relatives. The government calls on the international community and relevant countries to cooperate in helping these forcibly adopted children find their biological families and restore their identities and dignity.

This apology marks an important step for the Guatemalan government in addressing historical wrongs and restoring social justice. The government is committed to strengthening child rights protection in the future, ensuring that all children can grow up in a safe and loving environment.

The multinational joint military exercise "Pitch Black," held every two years, is taking place from July 12 to August 2, setting a new record for scale with participation from 20 countries. Approximately 4,400 air force personnel and over 140 fighter jets are involved, and for the first time, an aircraft carrier is participating.

The exercise is hosted by Australia and conducted at RAAF Base Darwin, RAAF Base Tindal in Northern Australia, and Amberley Air Force Base in Queensland. Participating countries include the USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with Italy, Spain, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea participating for the first time.

The participating aircraft include France's Rafale jets, Germany's EFA jets, the UK's EFA Typhoon jets, Spain's EFA jets, and the USA's F-22A stealth jets. Italy has deployed F-35A stealth jets, EFA jets, Navy F-35B stealth jets, and AV-8B attack jets.
The Philippines is sending jets overseas for the first time since 1963, deploying four FA-50 fighter jets and 162 personnel. India has deployed Su-30MKI jets, C-17 transport aircraft, an Il-78 tanker, and a team of 150 personnel.

Indonesia and Malaysia have deployed F-16A/B and F-16C/D jets and F/A-18D two-seat jets, respectively. Thailand and Singapore have deployed JAS39C/D Gripen jets and F-16C/D and F-15SG jets, respectively. Japan and South Korea have deployed F-2A/B jets and F-15K two-seat jets. As the host nation, Australia has deployed F-35A stealth jets, F/A-18F two-seat jets, and EA-18G electronic warfare jets.

The commander of the exercise, RAAF Brigadier General Peter Robinson, stated that the exercise provides the capability for participating nations to operate jointly, validating their shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability.

The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services submitted the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on the 8th, proposing a budget of $919.9 billion for Senate review. The bill includes numerous provisions related to the security of the Taiwan Strait, such as establishing a regional emergency military stockpile in Taiwan, ensuring Taiwan's alignment with U.S. defense strategy, expanding global defense production, integrating Taiwan into the defense industry cooperation, and enhancing supply chain security and resilience to meet Taiwan's defense needs and improve U.S. military deployment capabilities in the Taiwan Strait.

The bill is 1,197 pages long and aims to strengthen U.S. long-term military competitiveness, modernize the battlefield, build U.S. combat power, and enhance military cooperation among international alliances. The Indo-Pacific-related provisions include expanding and strengthening U.S. alliance networks, enhancing U.S. military posture, supporting Taiwan, and countering China. Notably, the bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense to establish a long-term regional emergency military stockpile in Taiwan, strengthen Taiwan's defense supply chain cooperation to prevent disruptions, and meet the defense needs of the Taiwan Strait.

Previously, in June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the NDAA with an approved amount of $883.7 billion. Once the Senate passes its version of the bill, both chambers will need to reconcile the texts to produce a consistent version. After both chambers vote to pass the reconciled bill, it will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.

At the NATO Washington Summit on the 10th, a joint statement was released, with all countries unanimously agreeing that Ukraine is on an "irreversible" path to joining NATO, but this is conditional upon the end of the Russia-Ukraine war. The statement emphasized that Ukraine's future lies within NATO, and the alliance will steadfastly support Ukraine.

The statement also announced support to strengthen Ukraine's defense, including the delivery of NATO-provided F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the US, Netherlands, and Denmark this summer. President Zelensky also expressed his gratitude on Twitter. Additionally, NATO committed to long-term military assistance to Ukraine, establishing a NATO center to ensure Ukraine receives weapons deliveries and corresponding training, equipment maintenance, and repairs. The plan, codenamed NSATU (NATO Security Assistance and Training to Ukraine), will be based at the US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany.

However, these measures are still insufficient to drive back the Russian military. In fact, NATO does not seek a Ukrainian victory. The statement pointed out that "NATO does not seek confrontation, nor does it pose a threat to Russia. We remain willing to maintain communication channels with Moscow to reduce risks and prevent escalation."

The statement also did not forget to criticize China, accusing it of providing components for Russia's weapons, which has been a decisive factor in the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war. The statement reiterated support for Ukraine's accession to NATO, stating that when all member countries agree, and Ukraine's democratic, economic, and military reforms meet NATO's criteria, it will receive an invitation to join NATO. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that this will not happen now, but rather after the war, to ensure that Russia does not attack Ukraine again.