📈 Top News

🔥Wagner’s war on Warsaw. In a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko claimed that the Wagner fighters in Belarus were eager to “march on Warsaw” and other Polish cities.

This is what he reportedly said:

🇵🇱 What’s next? Poland is not taking this threat lightly. It has sent troops to the border to protect the country against possible incursions.

🌊 South Korea is not taking any chances with Japan’s radioactive water. It has launched “emergency radiation tests” on seawater at 108 maritime points to monitor the impact of Japan’s plan to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The tests will be done two or three times per month and the results will be announced swiftly.

Why this matters: The Japanese government has yet to dump radioactive water from the Fukushima plant into the sea. But recently, a Black Rockfish caught near the plant was found to have 180 times the legal limit of radioactive cesium, which has raised concerns among Koreans about the potential risks associated with the government's plans.

🚨 Moscow and Crimea: under fire. Russian authorities accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on Moscow and Crimea, while the Russian military unleashed new strikes on port infrastructure in southern Ukraine.

According to Moscow Mayor Sobyanin: no casualties were reported in Moscow as the drones struck 2 nonresidential buildings, while the attack in Crimea targeted an ammunition depot.

🌊 Another US nuclear submarine enters South Korea. The USS Annapolis entered a naval base on South Korea's southern island of Jeju to load military supplies while on an unspecified operational mission. This marks the second US nuclear submarine to enter South Korean waters, coming just days after the first one (the USS Kentucky) docked in the country in four decades.

🚨 North Korea’s response. Between 11:55 pm local time on Monday and midnight, North Korea fired 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward the eastern sea.

Context: North Korea launched two ballistic missiles last Wednesday after the USS Kentucky arrived in South Korea, and then fired more cruise missiles on Saturday.

What do you think Dictator Kim is thinking right now?

🇺🇳 UN Command: “Conversation has commenced.” After days of dodging calls from South Korea and the US, the UNC reported that they have commenced a conversation with North Korea over King, who made a dash for North Korea last week. However, his reasoning for crossing the border still remains a mystery.

If you missed this report from us last week, click here for more info regarding his history of assault and imprisonment.

✍🏻 In-Depth

China
Japan Puts a Wrench in China’s Chip Plans

🇯🇵 Japan blocks China’s chips. Japan joins the US and the Netherlands in limiting exports of chip-making technology to China, citing security concerns. China is not happy with Japan’s new export controls on chip-making technology, In protest, China urged Japan not to disrupt the semiconductor industry cooperation.

🚫 The new Japanese restrictions took effect on Sunday, July 23, 2023, and will require exporters to obtain government approval before shipping 23 types of chip-making equipment to China. The approval process could take up to 90 days, potentially disrupting the supply chains and production plans of Chinese chip makers and their customers.

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they are “dissatisfied with the move.”

Why does it matter? Semiconductors are the brains of modern electronics, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to cars and AI. China is the world’s largest consumer of chips but relies heavily on foreign suppliers for the most sophisticated ones. Japan is a key source of chip-making equipment and materials, accounting for about 20% of China’s imports in this sector.

China’s consumption of semiconductors: In 2022, China accounted for nearly 1/3 of total semiconductor sales worldwide, which increased by 3.2% to $573.5 billion.

Israel
Protestors Erupt Over Judicial Overhaul Passing

🔥 Judicial overhaul approved. A crucial part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial proposal to reform Israel's judicial system has been approved by Israeli lawmakers. Since its introduction in January, the plans have caused deep divisions in the nation, leading to one of the largest protest movements in Israel's history.

👀 Opposition boycotts vote. In a dramatic political showdown, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition scored a unanimous victory, with all 64 lawmakers giving a "thumbs up" to the proposed overhaul. The opposition members of parliament chose to dodge the vote, leaving the floor to the ruling coalition's celebration. The vote, which is the second of three needed for the overhaul, came after a heated session in which opposition lawmakers chanted “shame” and stormed out of the chamber.

👮‍♂️ Protests and arrests - Thousands of protesters gathered near parliament in the hours leading up to the vote, with some of them having camped there. Some banged on drums and blew horns as they blocked a route leading to the Knesset (Israeli parliament), while police used water cannons to disperse the protestors. Police said 19 people had been arrested in the protests as lawmakers began the voting process.

So why is this controversial?

The bill limits the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down government decisions that the judges deem "unreasonable." Proponents of the changes say they are needed to curb the powers of the Supreme Court. Critics say the legal revamp will undermine Israel’s democratic values and could open the door for authoritarian rule.

💡 Note:

• Skeptics argue that Netanyahu's push for the overhaul is nothing short of a clever ploy to shield himself from his corruption trial.

• A bill, already given the nod in March, fortifies the defenses around a sitting prime minister, making it difficult to declare them “unfit for office.” The criteria are narrowed down to physical or mental incapacity - demanding a unanimous nod from either the prime minister themselves or 2/3 of the cabinet, raising the stakes for those seeking to challenge the status quo.