It was a week of absolute mayhem in the world of Brexit and U.K. politics. In case you missed it: Boris Johnson sacked a healthy chunk of the Conservative Party's MPs after they rebelled, the opposition did its best to block a no-deal Brexit and Johnson failed to get a snap election on the books.
What's next: It's fancifulto say with certainty how it plays out from here (BuzzFeed News has a fun rundown of all of the possibilities), but here are 3 things that are reasonably likely to occur.
It's the end of the world as we know it. The world is disintegrating, and much of the highly visible noise and chaos is a symptom of a much deeper problem.
Driving the news: In Hong Kong, millions of demonstrators are taking to the streets in a desperate attempt to preserve their democratic freedoms. In Argentina, the government has been forced to implement capital controls to prevent money from fleeing the country. In Britain, incoming Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lost his majority, his long-coveted control over legislation, and even his attempt to call a new election. Brexit uncertainty has never been greater.
LONDON — Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a briefing with reporters Thursday that he does not rule out a meeting between President Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the near future, stressing that he has full confidence in Trump’s negotiation positions.
Why it matters: This was the first time Netanyahu has spoken publicly about the possibility of direct talks between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime. Netanyahu was very concerned about a possible meeting between Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the G7 summit in France last week, and frantically tried to get Trump on the phone to stop the two leaders from meeting.
White House special envoy for the Middle East peace process Jason Greenblatt will be leaving the Trump administration in the next several weeks to return to the private sector.
Why it matters: Greenblatt is a key member of the White House Middle East "peace team," which consists of Jared Kushner, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Kushner deputy Avi Berkowitz. In June, the White House rolled out the economic component of its peace plan. It has yet to reveal the political component due to upcoming Israeli elections.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, Jo Johnson, announced Thursday that he will resign as a member of Parliament and government education minister, saying he's "torn between family loyalty and national interest."
Why it matters: Jo's decision to stand down as an MP at the next election, which could come as soon as next month, is a "thinly-veiled attack" on Boris' leadership, per the Financial Times. Jo supported remaining in the European Union in 2016, but Boris has pledged a "do or die" stance to ensure Brexit takes place on Oct. 31.
The Bahamas soon will seek billions in foreign aid after Hurricane Dorian, and the Trump administration is considering the national security implications if China rushes to help.
Why it matters: China has projected power around the globe through its infrastructure spending, and this will create an opening for massive investments just off U.S. waters.
The Chinese government "understands, respects and supports" the withdrawal of Hong Kong's controversial extradition bill, the city's embattled leader Carrie Lam told a news conference on Thursday.
Why it matters: Lam's announcement Wednesday that she was formally withdrawing the bill that would have seen citizens extradited to mainland China was a key demand of protesters. The proposed bill triggered weeks of massive protests in the Chinese-controlled territory, and the Asian financial hub has since been plunged into crisis as the demonstrations developed into a broader pro-democracy movement.
The U.K. House of Commons voted 327-299 on Wednesday to pass a bill forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek a Brexit extension rather than take the country out of the European Union on Oct. 31 without a divorce deal.
Why it matters: Less than a day after expelling 21 rebel lawmakers from his own Conservative Party, Johnson saw his government defeated in Parliament for the 2nd consecutive time. Hours later, Parliament rejected Johnson's proposal to hold a general election on Oct. 15, which he hoped could earn him a fresh majority to resolve the Brexit impasse.
France has proposed offering about $15 billion in credit lines for Iran if it comes back into compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Reuters reports.
The catch: The prospective deal hinges on the Trump administration not blocking it.
