Good morning.

🇨🇦 Carney, Liberals Win in Canada

Carney's Liberals won a projected 169 seats, short of the 172 needed for a majority, requiring cooperation with other parties as he navigates US trade tariffs and domestic issues. Meanwhile, the previous favorite, conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, lost his Commons seat. Tension with the US remains as the White House controversially commented that the election "does not affect President Trump's plan to make Canada America's cherished 51st state," a scenario Carney told the BBC would "never, ever happen." More - BBC

🇵🇸 War in Gaza Grinds On

Comment - Gaza has mostly fallen out of the news headlines, so much so that even significant events — such as the murder and subsequent cover-up of Palestinian medics by the IDF — get little coverage. Al Jazeera maintains a daily news tracker of events in Gaza, and just the summary is a reminder of what’s happening, mostly out of sight in the West. Here’s yesterday’s summary.

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held a second day of hearings on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians as a total Israeli blockade on humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip passes 50 days.

• United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has warned of a “new, unseen level” of humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

• Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has said in an annual report that Israel is carrying out a “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza with support from powerful countries such as the United States. The report states that Israel routinely targets civilians and engages in abuses such as torture and enforced disappearances.

• Israel released 10 Palestinians from detention into Gaza, including Assaad al-Nassasra, an ambulance driver whose whereabouts were unknown for weeks after Israeli forces opened fire on a group of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza in late March, killing 15 medics. The released detainees say they were tortured while in Israeli facilities, where such practices are said to be widespread.

• A woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the village of al-Tira near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces continue to carry out raids.

Al Jazeera’s biases aside, this is a stark reminder that the war in Gaza remains very real and it is primarily Palestinian civilians who are suffering. Al Jazeera’s Live Tracker for today

Europe Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇧🇦 Bosnia And Herzegovina, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇰 Macedonia, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇩 Moldova, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇩 Andorra, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇨 Monaco, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇸🇲 San Marino, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇸🇮 Slovenia, 🇸🇪 Sweden

Europe News Summary

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has announced a monumental $50 billion investment in the United States, reinforcing the strong economic ties between Switzerland and the global pharmaceutical industry. This move highlights the ongoing trend of multinational corporations seeking growth opportunities in the U.S. market, which remains a focal point for foreign investments [SOURCE - Jamaica Gleaner].

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's non-oil exports to Switzerland have surged, indicating a burgeoning trade relationship between the two nations. This development reflects the diversification of Azerbaijan's economy and its efforts to strengthen ties with European markets [SOURCE - Azer News].

In the realm of currency, the Swiss franc has experienced a notable surge, prompting speculation about the potential for negative interest rates. This financial shift could have broader implications for the Swiss economy and its banking sector [SOURCE - Swiss Info].

Trade relations are also evolving, as Switzerland and China have called for dialogue to address their tariff differences. This initiative aims to resolve ongoing trade tensions and foster a more cooperative economic environment [SOURCE - Swiss Info]. Additionally, the United States has expressed a desire to prioritize trade negotiations with Switzerland, which could significantly impact the bilateral trade relationship [SOURCE - Le News].

On the international relations front, Switzerland has introduced new EU sanctions targeting Russian media, aligning itself with broader European efforts to uphold international norms amid ongoing geopolitical tensions [SOURCE - Swiss Info]. This move comes as the Swiss president indicated that the U.S. is keen on finding a resolution with Switzerland regarding tariff discussions [SOURCE - The Sun].

In France, the defense industry is experiencing a boost due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with manufacturers ramping up production. Notably, India and France have finalized a ₹63,000 crore (~$7.45 billion) deal for advanced Rafale-M fighter jets, enhancing India's maritime security capabilities [SOURCE - The Economic Times]. However, India has also sought the source code for the Rafale jets, a request that France has been hesitant to fulfill [SOURCE - India.com].

In a concerning turn of events, a massive power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and France, causing widespread disruptions to transportation networks and internet services. The cause of the outage remains unclear, but authorities are working to restore normalcy [SOURCE - Daily Mail].

MENA Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇧🇭 Bahrain, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇮🇶 Iraq, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇱🇧 Lebanon, 🇱🇾 Libya, 🇸🇾 Syria, 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 🇾🇪 Yemen

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇯🇴 Jordan, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

MENA News Summary

Syria has been actively seeking to normalize its international relations, particularly with neighboring countries and global powers. The Qatari Foreign Minister has announced that Qatar is collaborating with the United States and regional allies to lift sanctions on Syria, a sentiment echoed by various international leaders, including a US Senator and the Turkish and Norwegian Foreign Ministers, who emphasize the need for sanctions relief to foster regional stability [SOURCE - Syrian Arab News Agency]. Concurrently, Syria's government has expressed a willingness to normalize ties with Israel under appropriate conditions, while Iran has reiterated its support for Syria's sovereignty and called for an end to foreign interference [SOURCE - Middle East Eye].

However, regional security remains precarious, particularly due to Israeli military actions in Syria, which the Syrian government claims threaten regional stability. A senior Syrian diplomat has urged the international community to pressure Israel to cease its attacks [SOURCE - Syrian Arab News Agency]. This ongoing tension is compounded by the recent escalation of violence in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have resulted in significant casualties, prompting Egypt to mediate a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas [SOURCE - The Jerusalem Post].

In Yemen, the conflict has intensified, with Houthi rebels launching missile attacks on northern Israel and claiming to have downed multiple US drones. The United States has responded with airstrikes targeting Houthi positions, further complicating the situation [SOURCE - IFP News]. The humanitarian impact of these conflicts is dire, with reports of civilian casualties, including a tragic incident where a US airstrike killed dozens of African migrants in Yemen [SOURCE - SBS].

Amid these tensions, diplomatic efforts continue to unfold. Egypt has celebrated 30 years of diplomatic ties with South Korea, seeking to strengthen partnerships in various sectors [SOURCE - The Korea Times]. Meanwhile, Jordan has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, a move seen as a response to security threats, raising concerns about political repression in the country [SOURCE - The Jerusalem Post].

In the economic sphere, Bahrain has taken steps to enhance its trade reputation by accepting the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, reflecting its commitment to sustainable practices [SOURCE - World Trade Organization]. Additionally, Kuwait's oil sector is witnessing significant developments, with a major contract awarded to a French company, bolstering its production capabilities [SOURCE - Manila Times].

As the region grapples with these multifaceted challenges, the ongoing nuclear talks between the US and Iran in Oman signal a potential shift in diplomatic relations. Both sides are reportedly making progress, although significant hurdles remain, particularly regarding Iran's uranium enrichment activities [SOURCE - Winnipeg Free Press].

Carpe tomorrow!