Good morning, everyone!
Today, we will look at the unfolding situation in the Middle East and other developments spanning the globe.
Let’s get to it.
Africa
-Togo suspended French-funded news outlets RFI and France 24 from operating in the West African country for three months, accusing them of bias.
-The death toll from an attack in north-central Nigeria over the weekend has risen to 150.
-The Sudanese government ordered the reopening of universities in the capital Khartoum.
-The inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit will commence today in Windhoek, Namibia.
Other Links:
Mali takes control of Canadian-owned Barrick Gold mine over tax dispute - AP
Police shoot man at close range during Kenyan protests - Africa News
Kenyan lawmakers oppose tax authority's bid for unrestricted data access - Reuters
Death toll rises in Congo Lake Tumba accident as search for survivors goes on - Reuters
Israel-Iran fallout sparks concerns for Africa’s oil buyers - Semafor
Americas and the Caribbean
-Public opinion polls show that two-thirds of Brazilian voters are concerned over the health of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is 79 years old, according to the Washington Post.
Lula was elected to a third term in 2022 after serving his first two from 2003 to 2011.
In May, he was diagnosed with labyrinthitis after suffering from vertigo.
Lula has said he intends to seek reelection next year.
Other Links:
Argentina judge approves house arrest for ex-President Kirchner - Reuters
Argentine Supreme Court Justice booed in Mexico for CFK ruling - MercoPress
Brazil's Bolsonaro, others formally accused in spy agency case - Reuters
Carney to Fast-Track ‘Nation-Building’ Projects Through Bill - Bloomberg
Tropical Storm Erick in the Pacific near southern Mexico is expected to become a hurricane - AP
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-China and Kazakhstan inked two dozen agreements in a bid to elevate bilateral relations during a state visit to the Central Asian nation by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
-North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed to aiding Russia in rebuilding its Kursk region after his forces aided Moscow in repelling an invasion by Ukraine earlier this year.
The pledge came as Kim hosted Russian official Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
-A U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan on Monday for three days of talks with officials.
-Vietnamese President Lương Cường approved sweeping constitutional and administrative reforms.
-U.S. and Malaysian trade officials will meet in Washington, D.C., today.
-China’s top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, is set to convene for its 16th session next week.
Other Links:
China’s Xi urges Israel, Iran to ‘de-escalate’, says Beijing can be peacemaker - South China Morning Post
China Is Unleashing a New Export Shock on the World - The New York Times
Cambodia threatens Thai fruits ban as tensions over border disputes continue to soar - AP
TikTok to launch shopping feature in Japan, taking on Amazon, Rakuten - Nikkei
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors assess Israel-Iran conflict; BOJ stands pat on rates - CNBC
Europe
-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired more than 440 drones and 32 rockets across Ukraine on Tuesday, with the most damage in Kyiv where a missile struck a residential block.
At least 15 people were killed and 156 were injured.
-Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country would benefit from neutrality between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The comments come ahead of the 32-member bloc’s summit slated for next week and add to a litany of critical comments Fico has made of Western institutions.
Slovakia joined the military alliance in March 2004, along with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia.
-Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Moscow today.
Other Links:
Germany's Merz says Israel doing 'dirty work for us' in Iran - DW
Israel condemns black partition walls around its pavilions at Paris Air Show - AP
Miscalculation by Spanish power grid operator REE contributed to massive blackout, report finds - Reuters
Czech coalition government faces a parliamentary no-confidence vote over bitcoin scandal - AP
Poland adds minefields to border barriers with Russia - Euronews
Poland’s Tusk set to win confidence vote, but faces uphill slog to govern - Politico Europe
Middle East
-Israel has established air superiority over Iran in recent days, but has urged the United States to use its heavier bombs and stealth fighter jets to deal a crippling blow to underground Iranian nuclear facilities.
In five days of bombing, Israel has struck Iranian nuclear and missile sites, in addition to killing top military and nuclear officials.
-President Donald Trump said that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not be assassinated, “at least for now.” Trump reportedly vetoed an Israeli plan to kill the Iranian leader days ago.
In recent days, Khamenei’s closest military and security aides have been killed by Israeli airstrikes.
Posting on his social media site regarding the escalating regional tensions, Trump declared: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
-Global oil prices have risen as tensions in the region mount.
Other Links:
Airports close across the Mideast as the Israel-Iran conflict shutters the region’s airspace - AP
Pentagon sends warplanes, aircraft carrier to Middle East as Iran-Israel conflict rages - USA Today
Donald Trump posts text from Mike Huckabee supporting US help with Iran - The Jerusalem Post
Trump dismisses Gabbard's testimony on Iran nukes: "I don't care what she said" - Axios
Israeli tanks kill 59 people in Gaza crowd trying to get food aid, medics say - Reuters
Turkish court sentences opposition politician for inciting hatred, but orders his release - AP
United States
-Virginia held gubernatorial and legislative primary elections yesterday.
Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears received their respective party nominations in the governor’s race after both running unopposed.
See full results for the lieutenant governor and attorney general races here.
-Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the House-passed rescissions package would be referred to the Appropriations Committee—an indication that the $9.4 billion in cuts to global health and public broadcasting does not have the votes to pass the upper chamber.
-Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said he remains concerned over changes to Medicaid in Trump’s domestic policy bill, saying the behemoth legislation needs “a lot of work” to win his support.
Senate Republicans cannot afford to lose more than three Republican votes to pass the bill.
Yesterday, Vice President J.D. Vance said that the White House wants the legislation through the Senate by July 4 and completed by both chambers by the August recess. Trump had initially set the July deadline.
-The Senate passed a bipartisan cryptocurrency and stablecoin regulation bill yesterday—a first for the industry.
-Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for New York City mayor.
-New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as he was escorting a defendant out of court yesterday.
-Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez reported to a federal prison yesterday in Minersville, Pennsylvania.
-The Federal Reserve will announce changes to its benchmark interest rate today.
Other Links:
Companies ask Supreme Court to quickly hear Trump tariffs challenge - NBC
Top House Democrats call for more funding for security following Minnesota shootings - ABC
Mike Lee confronted by Minnesota colleague over shooting comments - Politico
Trump swipes at Tucker Carlson over Israel-Iran criticism - The Hill
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem transported to DC-area hospital after allergic reaction, DHS says - CNN
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Notes: