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👋 Pialli!*
Welcome to Monday, where Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves Israel’s war cabinet following Benny Gantz’ resignation last week, Putin is heading to Hanoi and cleanup is underway after an oil spill hit a popular beach in Singapore. Meanwhile, Abdoul Salam Bello in pan-African newspaper Financial Afrik explores Africa’s unparalleled-and-yet-untapped potential to become a major hub for sports.
[*Nahuatl, Mexico]
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“Many sign, but not everyone.” Swiss-based Neue Zürcher Zeitung’s headline of the day summarizes the outcome of the Ukraine peace conference held in Switzerland over the weekend. Out of almost 100 delegations present, 78 countries signed a document stressing the importance of preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity as the basis of any peace agreement on Sunday. The statement is in opposition to what Russian President Vladimir Putin envisions as necessary conditions for peace, which include territorial concessions and ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine. Saudi Arabia, South Africa, India and others are among the countries that took part in the conference, but did not sign the document. China was invited but refused to participate, while no invitation was sent for Russia.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• Netanyahu disbands his inner war cabinet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet in a widely expected move that came after the departure of the centrist former general Benny Gantz. Netanyahu is now expected to hold consultations about the Gaza war with a small group of ministers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer who had been in the war cabinet. Read more about Netanyahu’s political crisis in this article from Cairo-based media Al-Manassa.
• Putin set to visit Vietnam, sparking U.S. rebuke of Hanoi. Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Hanoi this week, highlighting Communist-ruled Vietnam's loyalty to Russia and triggering a U.S. rebuke. The visit follows Hanoi avoiding a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland last weekend, while sending its deputy foreign minister to a BRICS meeting in Russia earlier last week. The United States, which upgraded relations with Hanoi last year and is Vietnam's top trading partner, reacted harshly. Read this piece from French daily Les Echos about why so many Asian countries have a neutral stance on Putin’s war on Ukraine.
• At least 19 citizens have died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Jordan's foreign ministry said 14 of its nationals had died "after suffering sun stroke due to the extreme heat wave" and a further 17 had been reported missing. The Iranian Red Crescent confirmed that five Iranian pilgrims had also lost their lives, but did not specify how they died.
• An Indian train collision has killed as many as 15. Dozens were also reported injured after a freight train collided with a passenger train in India’s West Bengal state. The cargo train hit the Kanchanjunga Express in the Darjeeling district of the eastern state on Monday morning. Initial reports suggest that the cause of the accident was human error.
• EU leaders meet to decide top jobs in Brussels. The 27 leaders of the European Union are set to gather in Brussels Monday evening as the process begins that will divvy up the bloc’s top jobs, following the June 6-9 elections saw support jump for far right parties. Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen is seemingly on track for a second term heading the European Commission.
• Zuma's MK party to join South Africa's opposition alliance. South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, has said his political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), will join the opposition alliance in parliament. He said it would coordinate resistance to the governing coalition led by the African National Congress (ANC). Despite this, MK said it maintained that last month's elections were rigged and wanted the results annulled. Read more about South Africa’s African National Congress party in this piece translated from French.
• Big win for Stereophonic at Tony awards. The 77th annual Tony awards were dominated by major wins for shows Stereophonic, Merrily We Roll Along and The Outsiders as well as actors Jeremy Strong and Daniel Radcliffe. Stereophonic, the most nominated play in Tonys history with 13 nods, picked up five awards including best play. It tells the story of a British-American rock band in the 1970s trying to make an album.
#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS
$295 million
Inside Out 2 broke opening box office records over the weekend, as it collected $295 million in ticket sales worldwide, more than any animated film in history according to Disney. The news comes after some recent weak performances for Pixar, the Disney-owned production company behind the movie. Inside Out 2 is the sequel to 2015 Oscar-winning Inside Out, which brought in $90 million in its opening week nine years ago. Charlotte O’Sullivan writes in her review for The Guardian that the movie is not as “memorable” as the original, but “is it a must see? Oui oui.”
📰 STORY OF THE DAY
Beyond soccer: Africa's sports economy is one big untapped potential
As the Olympic flame of Athens prepares to illuminate the world of sports, Africa remains in the shadows. Yet the world's youngest continent has an unparalleled potential to become a major hub for sports on a global scale, writes Abdoul Salam Bello in pan-African newspaper Financial Afrik.
🏆 As the Olympic flame of Athens prepares to illuminate the world of sports, Africa remains in the shadows. It's almost paradoxical that the world's youngest continent, where sport is a cardinal value, is struggling to emerge on the international stage. Indeed, Africa has an unparalleled potential to become a major hub for sports on a global scale. Some indicators suggest that the continent could eventually host the most prestigious of all sporting events: the Olympic Games.
📈 With an average growth rate of 5% over the past 20 years, the sports economy is thriving. On a global scale, sports account for about 1.2 trillion euros, or 2% of GDP, but only 0.5% of Africa's GDP, although growth forecasts predict an 8% increase. Despite the inherent constraints of development deficits, sports offer a comparative advantage for Africa. Indeed, 70% of its population is under 30 years old, which allows for the fostering of careers combining sports, education and training, notably through the establishment of academies and dedicated centers.
⚽ Moreover, Africa is a significant source of talent for the world, especially Europe, with hundreds of players in soccer leagues. It is now necessary to work toward an endogenous sports policy, establishing well-structured leagues to reap economic benefits. Grassroots sports should serve as a foundation for elite sports, including women and girls, by implementing a women's soccer development strategy.
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📣 VERBATIM
“I hope we'll still be proud to wear this jersey on July 7.”
— Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé has appealed to French voters ahead of the two-round parliamentary elections coming up in the country in what he defines as a “very important moment in the history of our country.” Speaking at a press conference ahead of France's first game in the UEFA European Football Championship tournament, Mbappé said he is “against extremists, against divisive ideas,” in what is an rare occurrence of high-profile athletes in France entering the political fray. French forward Marcus Thuram also urged voters “to prevent the surging nationalist far-right from taking power” ahead of the elections.
👉 MORE FROM WORLDCRUNCH
• On Heroism: The Toxic Arab Narrative, From Damascus To Gaza — DARAJ
• How October 7 May Have Triggered Israel's Ultimate Demise From Within — AL-MANASSA
• Look To The Skies: Understanding Time And Climate Through Paintings — LA MAREA
✍️ Newsletter by Emma Albright and Fabrizio La Rocca
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