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Today, we will look at U.S. politics and developments spanning Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Let’s get to it.
Africa
-Kenyan Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen accused protesters assembled in Nairobi of a coup attempt against the government a day after deadly clashes.
The demonstrations come one year after deadly confrontations between protesters and security forces in the capital city in opposition to a proposed tax hike.
-Togolese authorities dispersed protesters after they gathered in the capital, Lome, to call for the ouster of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbé.
The Gnassingbé family has ruled the West African country since 1967.
-The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are expected to sign a U.S.-backed agreement to end fighting in eastern Congo today.
Separately, the United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
-Nigerian President Bola Tinubu will visit the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia tomorrow.
-Energy ministers from the Southern African Development Community will meet in Zimbabwe on Monday.
Other Links:
South African president fires DA deputy minister, angering coalition partner - Reuters
South Africa secures $1.5B infrastructure loan - Semafor
Ally of Cameroon president, 92, quits 'broken' government to challenge him - BBC
CAR officials issue statement claiming president is not seriously ill - Africa News
An explosion and ensuing stampede kill 29 children in a Central African Republic school - AP
UN humanitarian chief visits families in North Kivu displaced by M23 rebels - Africa News
Americas and the Caribbean
-Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a major labor reform package into law, a victory for his legislative agenda after a slew of setbacks.
Petro, who was elected in 2022, is the country’s first leftist president.
-Brazil’s central bank projects inflation to reach near its target range by the end of 2027.
-The Bank of Mexico slashed its benchmark interest rate to a three-year-low.
-At least seven homeless people have died amid a rare cold spell in Uruguay.
-The United States and Guatemala signed a security agreement yesterday.
-The assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) will conclude its annual meeting in Antigua and Barbuda today.
Founded in 1948, the 34-member grouping seeks to foster regional cooperation.
Other Links:
Brazil’s Lula challenged by 1st decree rejection in Congress in decades - AP
A year in, Haiti mission leader warns of shortfalls in troops, funds, gear - Reuters
Mass shooting in gang-plagued Mexican state leaves 12 dead and more injured - Reuters
Ecuador's most wanted drug lord 'Fito' captured in 'underground bunker' - BBC
Brazil agrees to compensate family of journalist killed during dictatorship 50 years ago - AP
Child poverty on rise in northwest and northwest of Argentina - Buenos Aires Times
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said he anticipates reaching a trade agreement with the United States before a temporary pause in duties on Vietnamese goods is set to expire next month.
-The Philippine Senate postponed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte for a second time.
-Over 470 candidates are gearing up to run for upper house elections in Japan, according to The Japan Times. The vote will be held on July 20.
-Uzbekistan and Mongolia pledged to boost bilateral cooperation as Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made an inaugural visit to Mongolia.
-The United Nations human rights commissioner concluded a visit to Sri Lanka yesterday.
-Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will conclude a visit to Xiamen, China, today.
Other Links:
Vietnam ends death penalty for 8 crimes, may spare real estate tycoon - AP
Cambodia ex-leader Hun Sen and Thailand’s prime minister make separate visits to tense border areas - AP
US, China Have Finalized Tariff Understanding, Lutnick Says - Bloomberg
India says defence gathering in China unable to adopt joint statement - Reuters
Marco Rubio to welcome Asian Quad counterparts back to Washington - South China Morning Post
Europe
-Leaders from the European Union met in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday to discuss the 27-member bloc’s strategy to address trade tensions with the United States. In April, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose sweeping tariffs on many of the group’s member states, in addition to a 10% baseline duty.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm and trade negotiator, has committed to drafting a response by July 9—the date Trump set to impose the measures.
The United Kingdom—which formally withdrew from the EU in 2020—finalized a trade pact with Washington earlier this month.
-A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said Beijing had not supplied weapons to parties in the Ukraine war.
The U.S. government has accused China of supplying Russia with weapons systems and intelligence in support of its three-year-long war against Ukraine.
-Ukraine’s top military chief said the country’s forces halted a Russian advance in its northern Sumy region.
-Denmark will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union next week.
Other Links:
EU leaders call for Gaza ceasefire, discussion on critical Israel report - Reuters
Slovakia demands delay in vote on Russian sanctions over energy concerns - Reuters
EU votes to make hand luggage for air passengers free of charge - Euronews
Dollar drops to lowest since 2021 against euro, sterling - Reuters
Europeans angry with Musk still aren't buying his cars as Tesla sales drop for fifth month in a row - ABC
Homes burn in Greece as wildfire sweeps through coastal towns - BBC
Middle East
-Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public remarks since a 12-day conflict with Israel concluded earlier this week, saying the United States “gained nothing” for strikes taken on three of the country’s underground nuclear facilities.
The 86-year-old leader had been out of public view for a week.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet next week to restart negotiations to limit Tehran’s nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there were no plans for a meeting though Tehran was assessing whether talks would be in its interest.
-Trump called on the Israeli government to drop charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
-Israel halted aid shipments into northern Gaza on Thursday after images circulated of what appeared to be masked men looting aid trucks. Shipments continued to enter the coastal enclave from the south.
Local clan leaders said the masked men were protecting the shipments.
-The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its economic forecast for Saudi Arabia yesterday, saying it expects the Gulf economy to expand by 3.5% in 2025.
Other Links:
Tensions Grow Between Iran and the U.N. Nuclear Watchdog - The New York Times
Israel's gas fields resume operations after shutdown during Iran conflict - Reuters
An Israeli strike kills 18 Palestinians in central Gaza as turmoil mounts over food distribution - AP
Pentagon leaders cite military tactics to show destruction from US attacks on Iran - AP
Turkey backs NATO's 5% defence spending goal, plans nationwide air shield, source says - Reuters
United States
-Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough rejected key Medicaid changes in President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill on Thursday—a major setback as Republicans seek to pass the legislation through the upper chamber by July 4.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the body would not vote to overrule MacDonough after several Republican senators called for her to be sidelined or fired.
The Senate parliamentarian serves as a non-partisan referee of the chamber, interpreting its rules and precedents.
-The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Trump’s first slate of judicial nominees on Thursday.
-Senator John Cornyn’s conservative challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, holds a double-digit lead in the Republican primary field, according to a Paxton-aligned super PAC.
Prospective Democratic candidates met last month to discuss who is best positioned to run for the seat.
-A Trump-aligned super PAC has started running ads against Congressman Thomas Massie in his northeastern Kentucky district after he criticized the administration’s authority to launch strikes on Iran last week.
-The White House said it would restrict future intelligence sharing with lawmakers after an early report of the U.S. strikes on Iran was leaked.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the administration’s outrage over the leak, while Democrats scorned the move.
-Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is set to announce her campaign for governor of New York.
-New York City Mayor Eric Adams kicked off his reelection bid yesterday.
-Bill Moyers, who served as press secretary to President Lyndon Johnson and was a longtime broadcast journalist, died at the age of 91 on Thursday.
-The Supreme Court will conclude its nine-month term today and is expected to issue rulings in six outstanding cases.
Other Links:
Justice Department says it intends to try Kilmar Abrego Garcia on smuggling charges - AP
US Rep. LaMonica McIver pleads not guilty to assault charges stemming from immigration center visit - ABC
Trump slings insults at Mamdani, other Democrats after NYC primary - Axios
D.C. delegate in Congress insists for second time she's running for re-election. Her office again says no decision yet. - NBC
Pence sent letter to Jan. 6 defendant who refused Trump pardon - The Hill
Summer Gas Prices Haven’t Been This Low Since 2021 - The New York Times
That’s all for today. See you next week.
Notes:
https://scowcroft.substack.com/p/tsg-weekly-calendar-june-23-29