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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
During a meeting with Germany’s chancellor yesterday at the Oval Office, President Trump compared Russia and Ukraine to “two young children fighting like crazy.” “Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.” Trump said, adding that he “gave that analogy to Putin yesterday.” When asked about the possibility of sanctioning Russia, Trump said, “We’ll be very, very, very tough, and it could be on both countries to be honest.” The comments appear to be the clearest indication yet that Trump is uncertain that he would be able to broker peace in the ongoing war. Jonathan Swan reports for the New York Times; Mary Ilyushina, Robyn Dixon, and Michael Birnbaum report for the Washington Post.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia launched large-scale drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early today, officials said. At least three people were killed and 49 injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. In a possible reference to Trump’s comments, Zelenskyy added, “If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives – that is complicity and accountability.” Ian Casey and Paul Adams report for BBC News.
International monitors at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine heard repeated gunfire seemingly targeting drones that were reportedly attacking the facility’s training center, the International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday. There was no indication of the origin of the drones and no damage was caused to the center. Reuters reports.
Ukraine’s government has criticized the decision by Belgian authorities to give Western investors €3 billion ($3.4 billion) of frozen Russian wealth, arguing that it has weakened Europe’s position against Moscow. Tom Balmforth and John O’Donnell report for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
In a bid to foster local opposition to Hamas, Israel is arming a small Palestinian militia that controls territory in southern Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed yesterday, saying the move “saves the lives of Israeli soldiers.” An Israeli official confirmed the Israeli military has armed the head of the militia, Yasser Abu Shabab. Shabab denied the claims, stating that he is backed by the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA has not commented at the time of writing, but a spokesperson for its security forces said the group does not possess any weapons in Gaza. Abeer Ayyouub, Suha Ma’ayeh, and Dov Lieber report for the Wall Street Journal.
An Israeli airstrike on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City yesterday killed five people, including three journalists, according to the Anglican church which operates the facility. The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the attack, which also injured 30 bystanders. The Israeli military said it “precisely struck” a Palestinian Islamic Jihad “terrorist” operating from a command center within the hospital’s yard. David Gritten reports for BBC News.
The rate of children in Gaza suffering acute malnutrition has nearly tripled since a ceasefire earlier this year, according to data collected by humanitarian groups and released yesterday by the U.N. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reopened two sites yesterday, a day after pausing work in response to fatal shootings close to its operations. The GHF said 26 truckloads of food were distributed in the Rafah area, and that it was looking to open more sites including in north Gaza. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Alexander Cornwell report for Reuters.
The head of Hamas in Gaza said in a pre-recorded speech yesterday the group did not reject the most recent U.S. ceasefire proposal, but instead “demanded some remarks [sic] and improvement to ensure an end to the war.” Reuters reports.
Doctors in Gaza are donating their own blood to save patients after dozens of Palestinians were killed while trying to get food aid, Doctors Without Borders said yesterday. Olivia Le Poidevin reports for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT
The Israeli military yesterday struck Hezbollah’s “drone factories” in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli strikes, which came on the eve of Eid Al Adha, represented its most significant escalation in Lebanon since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah agreed in November. There were no initial reports of casualties, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said today. Hezbollah has not commented at the time of writing, although a Hezbollah official denied there were drone production facilities at the targeted locations. Mohammed Tawfeeq and Maija Ehlinger report for CNN; Abby Sewell reports for AP News.
The Lebanese army today condemned Israel’s airstrikes on the outskirts of Beirut, warning that such actions undermine the military’s role and could eventually lead to a suspension of its cooperation with the U.S.-led committee overseeing the ceasefire. Bassem Mroue reports for AP News.
ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
Israel has assured the United States that it will not strike Iran’s nuclear facilities unless Trump indicates that diplomatic efforts with Tehran have collapsed, two Israeli officials told Axios. “We calmed the Americans and told them there is no logic in launching an attack if a good diplomatic solution can be found. This is why we are going to give it a chance and wait with any military action until it is clear that negotiations were exhausted and [White House envoy] Steve Witkoff has given up,” a second Israeli official said. Barak Ravid reports.
SYRIA DEVELOPMENTS
A BBC Arabic team which left Damascus for a planned trip to the Golan Heights were reportedly detained by Israeli forces, blindfolded, strip-searched, and threatened. “The officer threatened us with worse consequences if we approached the frontier from the Syrian side again, and said that they know everything about us and would track us down if any hidden or un-deleted photo was ever published,” one reporter commented. Feras Kilani reports for BBC News.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
After a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, Trump expressed hope that the ongoing trade tensions could soon be resolved. Calling the conversation “very good,” Trump said that follow-up negotiations would soon be planned with his economic team, adding that both leaders invited each other to their respective nations for official visits. Kevin Liptak and Simone McCarthy report for CNN.
As a matter of “reciprocity” to Trump’s travel ban, Chad announced yesterday it is suspending all visas to U.S. citizens. Wycliffe Muia, Natasha Booty and Teklemariam Bekit report for BBC News.
Russia sees slim prospects for preserving its last remaining nuclear treaty with the United States, which is set to expire in eight months, due to what it describes as the “ruined” state of relations with Washington, its top arms control official said today. Mark Trevelyan reports for Reuters.
GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Iran has reportedly ordered thousands of tons of ballistic-missile ingredients from China, sources say, as Tehran looks to strengthen its military capabilities amid ongoing talks with the United States over its nuclear program. The shipments are expected to arrive in Iran in the coming months, and some of the material may also be transferred to Iran-aligned regional militias, including the Houthis in Yemen, a source added. Laurence Norman reports for the Wall Street Journal.
Western countries are preparing to table a resolution at an upcoming meeting of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, declaring Iran in violation of its safeguards obligations for the first time in two decades, a senior Western diplomat said yesterday. The draft resolution is expected to be submitted jointly by France, the U.K., and Germany with the United States. Stephanie Liechtenstein reports for AP News.
The U.K. is facing an “extraordinary” threat from Russian and Iranian plots, with the hostile states paying local criminals to carry out acts of violence, espionage, and intimidation, a British government adviser told the New York Times. Lizzie Dearden and Mark Landler report.
U.S. IMMIGRATION DEVELOPMENTS
The Trump administration is terminating deportation protections granted to thousands of Nepalese people after a 2015 earthquake destroyed the country, according to a government notice issued yesterday. Ryan Patrick Jones reports for Reuters.
Nearly a dozen ICE officers and eight deportees are reportedly ill and stranded inside a metal shipping container in the sweltering heat of Djibouti, where they face ongoing risks of malaria and potential rocket attacks from nearby Yemen, according to a federal court filing released yesterday. Trump officials had transferred the immigrants to the East African nation after U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy blocked flights taking the immigrants to South Sudan without an opportunity to contest their removal. Maria Sacchetti reports for the Washington Post; Laura Romero reports for ABC News.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS
Trump yesterday threatened Elon Musk’s federal contracts, saying, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget … is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” As White House aides signal a possible détente, Trump’s remarks represent the increasing implosion of the former political alliance, with the relationship deteriorating rapidly since Musk left the White House last week. Gregory Svirnovskiy reports for POLITICO.
In an unprecedented move, the Trump administration yesterday imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). “As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel,” a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio said — referencing the tribunal’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former Defense Yoav Minister Gallant, and its previous investigation into alleged war crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Humeyra Pamuk and Stephanie van den Berg report for Reuters.
The United States yesterday announced Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich as its nominee for the next top U.S. general in Europe, who will also take on the customary role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Trump’s decision to nominate Grynkewich, who must be confirmed by the Senate, is expected to reassure European NATO allies and some Republicans amid concerns over a potential reduction in U.S. military leadership within the alliance. Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, and Lili Bayer report for Reuters.
The Trump administration is ending its “Quiet Skies” traveler surveillance program, a counterterrorism operation that sought to increase airplane security, Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem announced yesterday. Karoun Demirjian and Julian E. Barnes report for the New York Times.
Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, placed one of her senior advisers in a position within the Office of the Inspector General for the intelligence community, officials say. The move, which raises concerns about the potential compromise of the watchdog’s independence and integrity, comes as the office investigates the use of the Signal messaging app by senior government officials. Meryl Kornfield and Ellen Nakashima report for the Washington Post.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a lawsuit by the Mexican government against U.S. manufacturers that sought to hold the companies responsible for drug cartel violence. Abbie Vansickle reports for the New York Times.
A group of Democratic lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to clarify who is overseeing the government’s efforts to eliminate China-backed hackers from U.S. critical infrastructure and telecommunications networks. Sam Sabin reports for Axios.
In an ethics complaint to the Florida Bar filed yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been accused of committing “serious professional misconduct that threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice.” The complaint claims Bondi “has sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations,” threatening them with discipline or termination if they failed to “to zealously pursue the President’s political objectives.” Jay Weaver reports for the Miami Herald.
A man accused of yelling “Free Palestine” and firebombing demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza was charged by the Boulder County district attorney with 118 counts, including attempted murder, in a Colorado court yesterday. Colleen Slevin and Jesse Bedayn report for AP News.
Senate Republicans are devising a plan that would protect some NASA programs from large funding cuts proposed by the White House, including reducing the agency’s annual funding by around 25%. Micah Maidenberg reports for the Wall Street Journal.
It will cost “probably less than $400 million” to retrofit the luxury Qatari jet that Trump said he is receiving as a gift from the Qataris to use as the new Air Force One, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said yesterday. Natasha Bertrand reports for CNN.
The House yesterday passed 211-199 a bill that would remove Small Business Administration offices from “sanctuary cities” that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Katherine Hapgood reports for POLITICO.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION
A federal judge yesterday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s effort to prevent foreign students from enrolling at Harvard. Stephanie Saul and Andrés R. Martinez report for the New York Times.
A group of immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit yesterday arguing that deporting U.S. migrants to El Salvador is unconstitutional. Filed in Federal District Court in Washington, the suit argues that the underlying agreement between the two countries violates due process protections, the right to a public trial, and the prohibition against cruel treatment. Alan Feuer reports for the New York Times.
A federal judge yesterday ordered the Trump administration to restore AmeriCorps-funded programs across 24 states and Washington, D.C. However, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman’s ruling does not halt the administration’s efforts to place a large portion of the agency’s workforce on administrative leave, with plans to terminate their employment by June 24. Mariana Alfaro reports for the Washington Post.
An 18-year-old Massachusetts student on a now-lapsed visa who arrived in the United States at 7 years old was released from custody yesterday after a judge granted him bond, following his arrest by ICE over the weekend during a traffic stop. Authorities said the agents had been looking for the teenager’s father, who owns the car he was driving at the time. Nate Raymond reports for Reuters; Leah Willingham reports for AP News.
Faculty members and researchers from the University of California filed a lawsuit late Wednesday against Trump and multiple federal agencies, aiming to launch a first-of-its-kind class action challenging the administration’s broad cuts to research funding. Tyler Kingkade reports for NBC News.
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