British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns

Johnson had been facing criticism over his government’s handling of a series of scandals. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns [British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to media next to 10 Downing Street in London, July 7, 2022.] Credit: Alberto Pezzali/AP United Kingdom British Prime Minister [Boris Johnson has resigned]( from his position as leader of the Conservative party. The move was finalized after a standoff with his cabinet had caused dozens of resignations. Johnson had been facing growing criticism for his government’s handling of a [series of scandals](, including officials having in-person parties while the general public was placed under COVID-19 lockdowns and alleged sexual misconduct by a deputy chief whip. Johnson will remain as prime minister until his party selects a new leader, but many politicians want him to leave sooner. China China [has responded]( to new alarms raised by US and British intelligence services, in which [they warn]( about Beijing's commercial espionage against the West for competitive gain. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the United States is “the biggest threat to world peace, stability and development.” The rhetoric comes amid the war in Ukraine and ahead of a meeting on Saturday between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the G-20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Blinken’s trip will come as his Chinese counterpart continues his [two-week diplomatic blitz]( across the region. United Nations The UN Development Program has reported that [71 million more people]( from the poorest countries around the world are facing poverty since the war in Ukraine began in February. Food and energy prices have been soaring, with both Russia and Ukraine accounting for large parts of those markets. The people who will suffer the most are the ones who were already facing poverty or on the brink, with the [most affected places]( being in the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Balkans and Caspian Basin, because of their close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Sudanese protesters demand a 'purely civilian transitional government' activist says]( [People stage a sit-in demanding a return to civilian rule and to protest the nine people who were killed in anti-military demonstrations last month, in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, July 4, 2022.]( Credit: Marwan Ali/AP This week, coup leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said he would support a [full transition]( back to civilian rule in Sudan. But the offer was promptly rejected by the political opposition. “We do not trust, nor do we believe the military,” Sudanese activist Daliah Abdel-Moneim told The World’s Marco Werman. [Solar power is the 'only business that's booming' amid financial and electricity crises in Lebanon, experts say]( [Solar panels are seen on top of a large building in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. In just two years, the country’s solar energy generation has nearly quadrupled, largely by necessity.]( Credit: Durrie Bouscaren/The World As people in Lebanon faced with electricity blackouts [install solar panels]( on their rooftops, they say they're seeing some relief. But it comes alongside frustration with the government's inability to power the country. We are grateful for your support! We just wrapped up our spring fundraiser, and want to say: thank you. Our work is dependent on your generous support, and we are so grateful to the 210 listeners who gave more than $15k to keep our independent nonprofit newsroom going strong. Thank you so much for investing in our work! --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot A dinosaur skeleton is being auctioned by Sotheby's in New York this month. 🦖 [Gorgosaurus]( was a relative of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and a full skeleton —measuring 10 feet tall and 22 feet long — will be presented at the natural history auction on July 28. Similar skeletons are already a part of museum collections, so this will be the first one available for private ownership. [A Sotheby's New York employee demonstrates the size of a Gorgosaurus dinosaur skeleton, the first to be offered at auction in New York, July 5, 2022.]( Credit: Julia Nikhinson/AP In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.