France: left-wing parties split by call for impeachment
The French left is facing internal divisions once again, this time sparked by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's call to impeach President Emmanuel Macron. Mélenchon and his allies in the France Unbowed movement are pressuring Macron to appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister, threatening impeachment if he refuses. This has highlighted the fragility of the New Popular Front alliance, which includes Socialists, Greens, and Communists, and undermines the unity they displayed in recent snap elections. While the impeachment threat is unlikely to succeed (it requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament), it has exposed significant fractures within the left-wing coalition. All the other parties, including Castets’ supporters, were quick to distance themselves from the idea. This discord is seen as advantageous for Macron's camp, as it weakens the opposition.
Sicily: investigators try to establish why superyacht sank so fast
The sinking of the Bayesian superyacht in a violent storm off the Sicilian coast has left authorities investigating the causes. The yacht, which went down rapidly, claimed the lives of seven people, including UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and the chairman of Morgan Stanley, Jonathan Bloomer. Eyewitnesses and experts suggest that the storm, potentially involving a tornadic waterspout, was highly localised and unexpected. Divers have reportedly found the yacht's hatch open, which could have allowed water to flood the vessel. The mobile keel was also partially raised, possibly affecting stability. Italian prosecutors are focusing on the captain's actions during the event, with experts noting that even the most prepared crews can be overwhelmed by sudden catastrophic events.
Gaza: dead hostages recovered, peace talks continue
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have recovered the bodies of six hostages from tunnels in Khan Younis, bringing heartbreaking confirmation to their families. Meanwhile, on 20 August at least twelve Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on a school: see Over 40,000 Palestinians have now died since the conflict began. As the situation escalates, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has been involved in ceasefire negotiations, warning that this may be the last opportunity to secure a hostage and prisoner swap. While a potential agreement appears close, with Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly accepting a US ‘bridging proposal’, there still appear to be large gaps between the two sides. On the central issue of the hostages, Hamas is demanding assurances that Israel will not begin military operations again after thirty of the most vulnerable are released. Israel is concerned that Hamas will drag out a second phase in which the remaining hostages, including male soldiers, are freed.
Indonesia: protests, potential constitutional crisis
Thousands of Indonesians are protesting against their government's attempt to reverse a constitutional court ruling that would allow smaller parties to field candidates without needing 20% representation in regional assemblies. Demonstrations have erupted in Jakarta and other major cities as the parliament, dominated by supporters of outgoing president Joko Widodo, and his successor, Prabowo Subianto, swiftly moved to pass emergency legislation. This would maintain the status quo, favouring the ruling coalition: it would also prevent a prominent critic, Anies Baswedan, from running for the influential post of Jakarta governor. The court also upheld the current minimum age limit of thirty for candidates, which would bar Mr Widodo's 29-year-old son from running in a regional contest in Central Java. Despite widespread condemnation, the government has downplayed the situation as part of the ‘checks and balances’ of governance.
