Ukraine–Russia War
Ukraine launches ~600 retaliatory drones at Russia, killing at least four Ukraine launched a wave of nearly 600 drones overnight across 14 Russian regions including Moscow, in one of the largest attacks of the war. At least four people were killed — three in the Moscow region and one in Belgorod. President Zelensky called the strikes “justified” in response to deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities last week. — Guardian · NYT · BBC · France 24 · Al Jazeera
Global Health
WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a global health emergency WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The outbreak has caused more than 300 suspected cases and approximately 80–88 deaths. WHO said the outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency like COVID-19 and advised against closing international borders. — Al Jazeera · BBC · France 24
US lags on pandemic preparedness after COVID, experts say Experts warn that slashed funding and growing misinformation are among the greatest challenges facing US public health. The current hantavirus outbreak is shining a spotlight on deteriorating capacity to test for rare diseases, prevent outbreaks, and restore public trust. — Guardian
Middle East & North Africa
Israel maintained two secret outposts in the Iraqi desert Israel spent over a year preparing a covert site in Iraq for its operations against Iran, regional officials say. Iraqi officials later confirmed the existence of a second base. The outposts were kept secret for months. — NYT
Israel’s strikes on Doha and Tehran demonstrate new warfare capability An analysis argues that Israel’s attacks on Doha and Tehran demonstrate a new capability that may make warfare more unpredictable, changing the “geometry of war.” — Al Jazeera
Mysterious traders made millions on well-timed bets on Iran The US Congress has demanded answers about traders who appear to have had confidential information about the oil market and made well-timed bets around events involving Iran. — France 24
Palestinian president’s son elected to top Fatah post Yasser Abbas, 64, the son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, won a seat on the central committee of the Fatah party, extending the family’s grip on the movement. The PA is under mounting pressure to hold long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections. — France 24
Africa & Security
Joint US-Nigeria operation kills senior IS leader President Trump announced that a joint operation by US and Nigerian forces killed a top leader of the Islamic State group in Nigeria. — France 24
US Politics
Republican Senator Cassidy loses Louisiana primary after opposing Trump Senator Bill Cassidy, one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, has lost his Louisiana primary race. — Al Jazeera
Workers rushing to repaint DC reflecting pool may be at risk, union warns A union monitoring the renovation of the reflecting pool on Washington’s National Mall — ordered by Donald Trump ahead of the US 250th anniversary celebrations — has raised safety concerns about workers rushing to finish the project on time. — Guardian
UK & European Politics
Labour leadership talk dismissed as ‘froth and nonsense’ Senior minister Lisa Nandy said no candidate has launched a challenge to Keir Starmer, despite “feverish speculation” around Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting. Nandy also dismissed Streeting’s call for Britain to rejoin the EU as “odd,” saying it risked reopening a debate settled by the Brexit referendum. — Guardian (live) · Guardian
Turkey
Erdogan’s push for more babies isn’t working Using cash grants and subsidized loans, President Erdogan’s government is trying to increase Turkey’s birthrate. Few parents are listening. — NYT
Asia & Mountaineering
Two Nepali Sherpa climbers break their own Everest records Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record with his 32nd summit of Mount Everest, while Lhakpa Sherpa broke her own women’s record with her 11th summit. — Al Jazeera
Uyghur foreign fighters in Syria and why China worries about them Thousands of Uyghurs became key fighters against Syria’s Assad regime. NPR spent weeks with some of them, interviewing them for the first time about why they fled China for Syria. — NPR
Consumer & Culture
Swatch store launches descend into chaos across Europe and New York The launch of limited-edition Swatch “Royal Pop” watches (an Audemars Piguet collaboration) caused crowding and scuffles in several cities. French police fired teargas near Paris, and UK shops closed for safety as hundreds queued — some for days. — Guardian
Gaza Sunbirds paracycling crew arrives at Cannes Film Festival Members of the Gaza Sunbirds, a Palestinian paracycling crew formed by amputee athletes from Gaza, made a symbolic arrival by sea at Cannes for the screening of a documentary about them. — France 24
Finance & Markets
Japan’s SBI and Rakuten Securities plan crypto investment trusts Japan’s SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities are planning to offer crypto investment trusts, expanding digital asset access for Japanese retail investors. — CoinDesk
Is a SpaceX-Tesla merger Elon Musk’s endgame? Motley Fool examines four factors investors should consider if Elon Musk decides to merge SpaceX with Tesla. — Motley Fool
$100K Parent PLUS loan dilemma after student drops out A MarketWatch reader asks about refinancing a $100,000 Parent PLUS loan taken for a daughter who dropped out of college citing mental-health issues, with “little to no chance” of repayment. — MarketWatch
Chinese scientists simulate “false vacuum decay” mechanism Researchers at Tsinghua University used a programmable quantum simulator to recreate the core mechanism behind “false vacuum decay” — one of the most unsettling ideas in theoretical physics. Results were published in Physical Review Letters. — SCMP
Sports
Egyptian teen Amina Orfi wins PSA World Squash Championship Orfi, 18, beat compatriot Nour El-Sherbini in a five-game thriller to win the PSA World Championship title in Giza. — Al Jazeera
Premier League title race enters final week Arsenal are two points ahead of Manchester City but have a slightly inferior goal difference as the season enters its final week with two games remaining. — Al Jazeera
Conor McGregor to fight Max Holloway in UFC return MMA legend Conor McGregor will compete for the first time in five years at UFC 329 on July 11 in the United States. — Al Jazeera