UK and French Elections, “New Cold War” Arms Tension, and a Sahel Junta “Confederation”
On this episode of American Prestige, headlines from around the globe.

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On this episode of American Prestige, we are back with a news update after two weeks.
This week: in Gaza, another round of fledgling ceasefire talks (0:35), the Knesset officially rejects Palestinian statehood (6:05), The Lancet journal publishes a study on the likely number of Palestinian casualties thus far (10:30), Haaretz publishes a piece about the Hannibal Doctrine’s use on 10/7 (14:07), and Biden’s “aid pier” is officially kaput (17:27); the results of Iran’s presidential election (20:49); violence in Bangladesh over government job quotas (24:06); a new UN report on civilian displacement within Sudan (26:37); the respective junta governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso form a “confederation” (28:29); the Ukrainian military is losing its foothold on the eastern side of the Dnipro River (30:46); the results of the French election (34:37); the results of the UK election (38:32); Kenyan police begin arriving in Haiti as an intervention force (40:35); a New Cold War update featuring China suspending nuclear talks with the US (42:34), Russia and the US starting up a new arms race in Europe (44:21), and accused spy Evan Gershkovich’s trial moved up in Russia amid negotiations with the US (46:23).
Enjoy the full rendition of the New Cold War theme song.
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People gather to celebrate the victory of the left-wing union after the partial results of the second round of the French parliamentary elections in Paris, France on July 07, 2024.
(Luc Auffret / Anadolu / Getty Images)On this episode of American Prestige, we’re back with a news update after two weeks. This week: Concerning Gaza, another round of fledgling cease-fire talks (0:35), the Knesset’s rejection of Palestinian statehood (6:05), The Lancet’s study on the likely number of Palestinian casualties thus far (10:30), Haaretz on the Hannibal Doctrine’s use on 10/7 (14:07), and the failure of Biden’s “aid pier” (17:27); Iran’s presidential election results (20:49); violence in Bangladesh over government job quotas (24:06); a new UN report on civilian displacement within Sudan (26:37); the formation of a “confederation” by the junta governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso (28:29); the Ukrainian military’s slipping foothold on the eastern side of the Dnipro River (30:46); the results of the elections in France (34:37) and the United Kingdom (38:32); the arrival of Kenyan police in Haiti as an intervention force (40:35); a “New Cold War” update featuring China’s suspension of nuclear talks with the United States (42:34), Russia and the US’s inception of a new arms race in Europe (44:21), and accused spy Evan Gershkovich’s trial, moved up in Russia amid negotiations with the US (46:23).
Enjoy the full rendition of the New Cold War theme song.

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Jolly Saint Nick is giving the U.S. government lots of coal this year, a boon to fossil fuel companies. In this week’s news: Thailand–Cambodia fighting resumes despite Trump’s ceasefire claim (1:52); an Israeli airstrike in Gaza threatens what remains of the ceasefire (6:00), and a winter storm devastates Gaza as Israel continues blocking shelter materials and aid (9:10); Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council prepares to declare a new government amid Saudi threats (12:08); the U.S. approves the largest-ever arms package to Taiwan (16:10); China reportedly unveils a prototype advanced chipmaking tool (18:18); the Bondi Beach attack in Australia has possible Islamic State links (19:48); a New America Foundation report documents extensive U.S. airstrikes in Somalia (22:01); M23 announces its withdrawal from Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (24:49); Ukraine peace talks continue as the war nears its fourth year, including disputes over Kupiansk (27:59); Chile elects far-right president José Antonio Kast (32:23); the U.S. escalates pressure on Venezuela with military deployments and a partial oil blockade (33:27); and Congress passes a $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act, including a repeal of Syria’s Caesar Act and changes to Selective Service registration (41:40).
Listen to our special with Annelle Sheline on what’s going on in Yemen.
Don’t forget to listen to our Chinese Prestige miniseries.
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