Middle East & Security
Senior IS Leader Killed in Joint US-Nigeria Operation
President Trump said the operation eliminated “the most active terrorist in the world,” Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in a joint US-Nigeria operation. Source: BBC
Hamas Confirms Top Commander Killed in Israeli Air Strike
Friday’s strike is the latest launched by Israel on Gaza despite a ceasefire with Hamas. Hamas confirmed the death of a top commander. Source: BBC
Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon Continue Despite Ceasefire Extension
Despite Lebanon and Israel extending the ceasefire deal for another 45 days, Israel continues to bomb southern Lebanon. Source: Al Jazeera
Israel’s Image Crisis: Becoming Too Big to Spin?
Israel has never spent more on its national propaganda campaigns, according to an Al Jazeera analysis. Source: Al Jazeera
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
China Will Host Putin Days After Trump’s Visit
Russian President Putin will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with President Xi Jinping. The Kremlin said he had watched President Trump’s visit closely. Source: NYT
Trump Calls China Trip “Historic Moment”
Trump’s return to China generated positive optics for host and guest alike, but brought less apparent progress on some of the biggest bilateral sticking points, from tariffs and trade to US arms sales to Taiwan. Source: Bloomberg
State Banquet, Selfies with Musk and Huang’s Noodle Run: The Spectacle of Trump’s Beijing Visit
The visit was full of friendly overtures, orchestrated pageantry, business dealmaking, and headline-grabbing sideshows. Source: CNBC
Rubio, Once a China Hawk, Strikes Softer Tone to Align With Trump
As a senator, Marco Rubio even hinted at the need for regime change in China. Now he talks about cooperation. Source: NYT
The War in Ukraine Is at a Standstill as Societal Fatigue Grows in Russia
With the peace process stalled, there are signs of growing public fatigue in Russia with the Kremlin’s war as Ukraine uses robotic warfare to stay in the fight. Source: NPR
United Kingdom
Tens of Thousands Descend on London for Far-Right and Pro-Palestine Marches
Police are deploying thousands of officers to monitor both Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” march and the annual Nakba Day pro-Palestine march. Two arrests were made near Euston station. Sources: Guardian · NYT · France24
Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton Win Battle to Stop 29-Storey Block by Thames
A planning inspector backed a council’s rejection of a Rockwell Property development near Battersea Bridge, calling it “not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall.” Celebrities including Jagger, Clapton, Felicity Kendal, and Harry Hill fought the plan for two years. Source: Guardian
US Politics & Law
SCOTUS Dissent Hints at Next Phase of Abortion Rights Fight
Justice Clarence Thomas argues the Comstock Act, passed in 1873, prohibits the mailing of abortion medication, signaling a potential new legal front. Source: The Intercept
At Least Five Trump-Pardoned Capitol Attackers Accused of New Crimes
Ryan Nichols became the latest Capitol attacker pardoned by Trump to face new charges — he allegedly brandished a gun during an argument in Harleton, Texas. Source: Guardian
Republican Louisiana Senator in Tough Primary After Trump Backs Opponent
Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to impeach Trump after January 6, faces a primary challenge from Trump-backed Julia Letlow. Source: Guardian
The Push to Indict Raúl Castro, Cuba’s Former President
Cuba’s former president could soon face US charges in the 1996 killings of four volunteer airmen from a humanitarian group that searched for migrants at sea. Source: NYT
Americas & Crime
10 Mexican Government Officials Indicted in US Over Sinaloa Cartel Ties
The former Secretary of Public Security for Mexico’s Sinaloa state appeared in US federal court on charges he and other officials took bribes to help the cartel smuggle drugs into the US. Source: SCMP
How a Times Reporter Found Cartel Gold at the Royal Canadian Mint
Illegal Colombian gold was transformed into legal North American gold through bureaucratic sleights of hand, ending up at the Royal Canadian Mint. Source: NYT
Asia-Pacific
At Least Eight Killed as Train Hits Bus in Bangkok
A freight train crashed into a public bus near an airport rail link station in Bangkok’s city centre, sparking a fire that engulfed the bus. At least 25 others were injured. Sources: Al Jazeera · BBC
Divers in Maldives Resume Search for Italian Scuba Divers Who Drowned in Cave
Maldivian authorities resumed the high-risk operation to recover the bodies of four Italian divers believed to have died while exploring a deep underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll. Source: Guardian
Scientists Identify Massive New Dinosaur in Thailand
A newly identified dinosaur from remains discovered in Thailand is estimated to have weighed as much as nine adult elephants. Source: France24
Europe
Andalucía Votes in Election Seen as Gauge of Spain’s Political Trajectory
Conservatives are expected to keep their majority in Spain’s most populous region, while socialists face a drubbing. The ballot also tests the trajectory of far-right Vox. Source: Guardian
Pope Leo XIV to Visit France in September
Pope Leo XIV will make the first official state visit by a pontiff to France in 18 years when he travels to Paris in September, the Vatican announced. Source: France24
Business & Finance
AI Adoption Causing Employers to Reduce Entry-Level Hiring
A University of Hong Kong student reports sending 30-40 job applications with only one interview, saying “each company has opened only one to three positions because AI has taken the rest.” Source: SCMP
XRP Beat Bitcoin Gains as CLARITY Act Advanced
XRP outperformed bitcoin as the CLARITY Act moved forward, but analysts say a real bull run still needs Congressional action. Source: CoinDesk
Markets Weekly Outlook: The Kevin Warsh Repricing and Inflation
Seeking Alpha’s weekly markets outlook focuses on the Kevin Warsh repricing and current inflation dynamics. Source: Seeking Alpha
Son of Steve Jobs Looks to Invest in UK Cancer Care
Reed Jobs, motivated by his father’s death from pancreatic cancer, is looking for his $1bn venture capital fund Yosemite to invest in UK cancer care, calling UK research “world class.” Source: Guardian
Other Notable
John Travolta Feted at Cannes with Surprise Honorary Palme d’Or
John Travolta was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival before the premiere of his directorial debut “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.” Source: France24
How Kansas City Became an Unlikely 2026 World Cup Host
Kansas City overcame major odds to become one of 11 venues in the United States for the biggest World Cup ever. Source: Al Jazeera
Florida Tightens Rules on Capturing Giant Manta Rays
Florida wildlife officials voted to tighten policies on capturing threatened giant manta rays after a viral video showed a captured ray in severe distress, but stopped short of a full ban. Source: Guardian