In other news

The article explores whether cross-sex friendships can exist without sexual or romantic tension, contrasting cultural anxieties—such as Turkey’s state religious authority warning that such friendships lead to adultery—with modern social realities. It notes the persistence of the “When Harry Met Sally” view that “the sex part always gets in the way,” but situates the debate within shifting norms, secularization trends, and varying national contexts (e.g., Istanbul and Seoul). The piece suggests that while attraction can complicate these relationships, social change, gender equality, and clearer boundaries are expanding the space for genuine platonic friendships between men and women, making the question more consequential for how societies regulate intimacy, trust, and public morality.

The Economist’s Finance & economics section highlights: volatile commodity markets; Jane Street’s staff-retention tactic using an obscure French programming language; booming U.S. tax-avoidance strategies for stock gains; the growth and potential of prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi; consequences of reduced migration across Western countries; a reassessment of who the best investors are (not hedge funds, quants, or short-sellers); Japan’s soaring rice prices and political responses; Japan’s shrinking public debt alongside emerging fiscal risks; markets’ tendency to discount major geopolitical news; a deteriorating job market for new graduates; China’s struggle to revive mainland IPOs despite Hong Kong activity; and scenarios for how an Israel-Iran conflict could affect oil prices.

The article argues that tax minimization has moved from a niche tactic of the ultra-wealthy to a mainstream force reshaping U.S. finance. A booming industry of brokers, advisers, ETFs, and software now systematically reduces investors’ tax bills through tools like tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, custom ETFs, optimized lot selection, and deferral strategies—blurring lines between passive and active investing. This tax-efficiency arms race influences product design, portfolio construction, and investor behavior at scale, rewarding intermediaries that can algorithmically harvest losses and defer gains, and raising questions about market structure, fairness, and the sustainability of “passive” approaches driven as much by taxes as by fundamentals.

The article reports that Jane Street uses an unusual retention strategy: it builds and relies on a proprietary tech stack centered on an obscure, French-origin programming language, for which it even created its own compiler. By deeply embedding this niche language into trading infrastructure, the firm makes its engineers uniquely specialized, raising switching costs and helping retention—an extreme example of how hedge funds pursue an edge through custom technology.

Japan is experiencing a sharp surge in rice prices, triggering public anxiety and prompting politicians to consider increasingly drastic interventions. The situation evokes memories of the 1918 rice riots, when soaring prices sparked nationwide unrest and toppled a government. Today’s spike reflects the grain’s deep cultural and economic importance in Japan, and authorities fear political fallout if prices remain elevated.

The article reports a sharp, policy-driven collapse in net migration across rich countries—Britain, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand—since 2023. Governments tightened rules and politics turned against high inflows, leading to halved or steeper drops in net arrivals. The piece argues that while cuts may ease short‑term housing and public‑service pressures, they carry economic costs: tighter labor markets, wage and price pressures in key sectors, slower growth, fiscal strains from fewer taxpayers, and potential innovation losses. Politicians now confront the trade‑offs of lower migration and the likelihood they will need more targeted, skills‑based or temporary schemes to blunt economic damage while addressing public concerns.

The article examines how digital platforms like OnlyFans blur boundaries between legal pornography and criminalized prostitution under “Nordic Model” regimes. Sweden—long liberal on porn but restrictive on buying sex—plans to ban OnlyFans content, reflecting a broader regulatory shift as sex work migrates to the gig economy. Countries adopting buyer-criminalization policies (France, Ireland, Israel, Maine; Scotland considering) now face enforcement dilemmas online, where creators sell intimate content, custom interactions, and sometimes offline services. The piece highlights tensions between protecting vulnerable workers and respecting adult autonomy, the difficulty of policing consent and exploitation on platforms, and the risk that bans push sex work underground. It frames Sweden’s move as a bellwether for how states may extend prostitution rules to digital sex markets, with uncertain consequences for safety, income, and rights.

The article discusses a strategic shift in Taiwan’s defense planning: preparing to resist a Chinese attack without relying on rapid U.S. military intervention. Traditionally, Taiwan aimed to hold out for about a month to allow America to arrive and tip the balance. With uncertainty over future U.S. commitments, Taipei is reassessing assumptions, focusing on self-reliance, asymmetric defenses, and resilience against bombardment, blockade, and potential landings. The piece explores how this recalibration could deter Beijing by raising the costs of invasion even absent immediate U.S. support, while highlighting the political and military challenges Taiwan faces in funding, mobilization, and civil preparedness as it “thinks the unthinkable.”

The article argues prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are surging because they price uncertain futures and aggregate dispersed information—fulfilling classic economic ideals (Arrow-Debreu, Hayek). Their broader adoption, however, hinges on a few tweaks: clearer regulation (especially in the U.S.), better guardrails to prevent manipulation and resolve outcomes cleanly, more integration with traditional finance for hedging real-world risks, and improved user experience and liquidity. With these changes, prediction markets could become mainstream tools for pricing events, managing risk, and informing policy and business decisions.

The Economist argues that after decades of rapid secularisation in the West—especially in America—the rise of the religiously unaffiliated has stalled. Since 1990 “nones” grew from 5% to about 30% by 2019, reshaping social norms and weakening church-centered civic life. But new data suggest this trend has plateaued, with Christianity holding steady overall and even gaining among younger people. The piece frames this as the first halt to secular momentum in roughly 50 years, hinting at a potential religious stabilisation or modest revival in Western societies.

The article argues that the most effective forces aligning asset prices with fundamentals aren’t hedge funds, quant firms, or short-sellers. Instead, the broad, patient, and systematic flows from large diversified investors—such as index funds, pensions, insurers, and long-only asset managers—do the heavy lifting in keeping markets efficient over time. While flashy arbitrageurs get attention, it’s the scale, persistence, and risk-bearing capacity of these slow-moving institutions that most reliably correct mispricings and anchor valuations to fundamentals.

The article argues that commodity prices, notably oil, are oscillating sharply due to a mix of geopolitical shocks, shifting demand, and supply dynamics. Brent crude sits around $65—below the “goldilocks” level producers prefer—and recent Middle East tensions have amplified volatility. Structural forces exacerbate the swings: producers face investment uncertainty amid energy transitions; inventories are lean; financialization channels macro news rapidly into prices; and supply is increasingly concentrated in geopolitically sensitive regions. The result is a market where prices whipsaw more than underlying fundamentals justify, hurting both producers planning long-term projects and consumers exposed to sudden cost spikes.

The article showcases how advanced A.I. video generators like Google’s Veo 3 can now produce highly realistic short clips with synced dialogue, making it difficult to distinguish fakes from real footage. Through a quiz mixing authentic videos with A.I.-generated pieces (news segments, sports interviews, makeup tutorials, influencer vlogs, and gaming streams), the Times highlights both the impressive realism and current limitations: short clip lengths, occasional visual glitches, and struggles with on-screen text. It underscores the growing risk of misinformation—especially for news, politics, and finance—while noting that convincing fakes can be created in minutes with simple prompts, and improved through quick iteration.

The article examines how Squid Game’s final season resonated in South Korea as more than entertainment, reflecting societal anxieties about inequality, risk-taking, and harsh competition. Many local viewers were disappointed by the lack of justice as beloved characters died while wealthy villains survived, interpreting it as a commentary that “good people finish last.” Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said he aimed to mirror an increasingly extreme world and contemporary Korean realities, including political upheaval and shifting economic risks; Season 3’s contestants included figures like a crypto scammer and a transgender character. A major fan event in Seoul marked the series’ end, though a Cate Blanchett cameo and U.S. hints suggest Netflix may continue the franchise. Squid Game’s global impact boosted K-content, spurred Netflix’s multibillion-dollar investment in Korea, and broadened audience openness to non-English shows. Scholars note the series exposes the darker side of South Korea’s competitive, materialistic culture—where following the rules can still mean stepping on others to win.

Senate Republicans’ 940-page domestic policy bill would rapidly phase out Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for wind and solar by 2027 and add a new excise tax on post-2027 wind and solar projects that don’t meet stringent, likely unworkable supply-chain exclusions from China. Industry groups warn the provisions could freeze markets, slash deployments by up to 72% over the next decade (even more with the new tax), jeopardize billions in planned factories and projects, and raise electricity costs amid soaring demand. The bill also kills consumer credits for EVs, home solar, and heat pumps, tightens incentives for clean-energy manufacturing, and adds a new credit for metallurgical coal. Business groups and some conservatives criticized taxing renewables, while the White House praised the bill as cutting “wasteful” green policies. The measures could significantly hinder U.S. emissions reductions and threaten jobs and investment, much of it in Republican districts.

United Airlines has launched the first nonstop U.S. flights to Greenland in nearly 20 years, offering twice-weekly seasonal service from Newark to Nuuk through late September on a Boeing 737 Max 8. The roughly four-hour route, enabled by Nuuk’s newly extended 2,200-meter runway and new terminal, is part of Greenland’s push to grow sustainable Arctic tourism and diversify its economy away from extractive industries. Early demand is strong—United says the inaugural flight was its fastest-selling seasonal launch—and the airline may return next summer. Greenland aims to attract more North American visitors and become a regional tourism hub as additional airport upgrades are completed. Local businesses in Nuuk are expanding to meet expected growth, while United partnered with Air Greenland for ground operations and helped certify local catering to supply onboard meals. Despite past failures by other carriers, both United and Greenland view the route as a strategic test of the island’s tourism potential.

European politics has shifted sharply toward tougher migration control, with positions once seen as far-right now embraced across mainstream parties. Driven by voter backlash since the 2015–16 crisis and broader anxieties over opportunity and living costs, E.U. leaders are tightening asylum and deportation rules, expanding border checks, and externalizing asylum processing to third countries. Key developments: - Parties like Italy’s Brothers of Italy have moved from fringe to influential; Giorgia Meloni champions offshoring asylum (e.g., proposed processing in Albania), an approach now entertained by the European Commission. - Denmark’s “zero refugee” model is praised by leaders including Germany’s Friedrich Merz; Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and Meloni jointly urged revisiting European human rights constraints on expulsions. - The E.U. is reinforcing external borders and striking deals with non-E.U. states (e.g., agents in Bosnia, arrangements with Libya/Tunisia), despite human rights concerns. - Germany reinstated land border checks; Poland curtailed asylum at the Belarus border amid claims of engineered migration. - While irregular arrivals have fallen (about 20 percent in early 2025 after a steep 2024 drop) and expulsions are rising, migration along some routes persists, and tougher policies retain political appeal. Critics warn of erosion of rights, harm to migrants, and stigmatizing rhetoric, even as some local leaders stress the contributions of legal migrants. The new consensus—“tougher and stricter” controls—is now entrenched across Europe’s political spectrum.

The article recounts how, in 1975, amid widespread judicial bias against gay parents, a lesbian mother named Georgette took her 3-year-old daughter, Kara, from the child’s father and went underground with help from an informal network of lesbian activists. Framed by Georgette as a “rescue” and by Kara as a “kidnapping,” the episode reflects a little-documented facet of the lesbian mothers’ underground, where women forged documents, changed names, relied on safe houses, and avoided courts that often deemed them unfit despite the declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973. Through interviews with Georgette, now 76, and Kara, 52, the story explores the personal costs: years of secrecy, fear, and identity strain for Kara—who felt forced into the closet by association—and enduring guilt and resolve from Georgette, who believed the system left her no legal recourse. Historians and activists contextualize their experience within a broader movement where legal avenues frequently failed, making clandestine action a common Plan B. Fifty years later, mother and daughter are only beginning to reconcile the conflicting truths of what was lost and gained.

Millions packed Manhattan for the NYC Pride March amid what participants called the most hostile climate for L.G.B.T.Q. rights in decades. While Pride marked the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall riots, marchers and organizers emphasized a return to protest as new legal and political setbacks mount—especially for transgender people. Recent polls show rising support for restrictions on trans rights and an increase in Americans deeming gender transition and homosexuality morally wrong. The Trump administration’s executive orders targeting D.E.I. and “gender ideology,” a trans military ban, funding cancellations, and symbolic rollbacks have strained L.G.B.T.Q. services and research. A series of Supreme Court decisions has further curtailed protections, including upholding bans on youth gender-affirming care and allowing parents to withdraw children from L.G.B.T.Q.-related school content. Despite expanded visibility and the march’s massive turnout, many attendees described fear, regression, and renewed urgency to “pick up the torch” for rights under threat.

The op-ed warns that President Trump’s nomination of Emil Bove to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a dangerous break from traditional judicial picks, prioritizing personal loyalty over rule-of-law principles. It recounts Bove’s recent actions as acting deputy attorney general—firing Jan. 6 prosecutors, compiling lists of FBI agents, and pushing to drop charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams in a move judges and DOJ officials decried as politicized—along with a whistle-blower claim that he suggested defying court orders. The author argues Bove’s record suggests he would use judicial power to advance political ends, and that Trump’s turn against the Federalist Society underscores a shift toward “Trumpist” judges. With a lifetime seat at stake and potential elevation to the Supreme Court floated, the piece urges Republican senators to break from their deference to Trump’s executive appointments and reject Bove to defend judicial independence and the rule of law.

The op-ed argues that the U.S. cannot replicate its Iran airstrike approach with North Korea because Pyongyang already has a sizable, dispersed, and advancing nuclear arsenal—estimated around 50 warheads with material for many more and ICBMs likely able to hit U.S. cities. North Korea’s program is entrenched across dozens of sites like the Yongbyon complex, making disarmament by force or total denuclearization diplomacy unrealistic. The author contends that decades of U.S. insistence on “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization” has failed and that recent strikes on Iran only reinforce Kim Jong-un’s belief that nuclear weapons ensure regime survival. Instead, the U.S. should acknowledge North Korea’s de facto nuclear status as a diplomatic fact and pursue a freeze-for-sanctions-relief roadmap to cap growth, reduce tensions, and avert war—even if it prompts backlash from allies. Formal diplomacy and pragmatic risk management, not maximalist goals, are presented as the only viable way to contain the threat.

A former U.S.A.I.D. communications lead argues the agency’s impending dissolution under the Trump administration will quietly end America’s capacity to prevent mass deaths from famine and crises, largely because U.S.A.I.D. failed to make its lifesaving impact visible to the American public. Citing the 2020–23 Horn of Africa drought, where U.S. aid funded over 70% of the response and likely averted 2.1–3.9 million deaths at a cost of about $6 per U.S. household in 2022, he contends the work was extraordinarily effective yet barely communicated beyond Congress. That inward focus left the public unaware of what their taxes accomplished, enabling political leaders to cut aid and dismantle critical systems like FEWS NET and food storage contracts. With no other nation poised to fill the gap, he warns future preventable catastrophes will be deadlier, and urges any future revival of U.S. global aid to prioritize public awareness as essential, not optional.

China warned countries against making tariff relief deals with the US that harm China’s interests as a 90-day reprieve on US “reciprocal tariffs” ends July 9. In a Ministry of Commerce statement, Beijing said it would take firm countermeasures if its interests are used as a bargaining chip, urged nations to defend principled stances, and called for resolving disputes through equal consultations under multilateral trade rules. It condemned the US tariffs, imposed by President Trump in April, as unilateral bullying.

Chinese museums are capitalizing on China’s booming “emotional consumption” for cute collectibles by launching themed merchandise to boost revenue. With domestic tourism rebounding—1.5 billion museum visits in 2024—items like the National Museum of China’s empress headdress fridge magnet have gone viral, selling over 1 million units. Institutions such as the Palace Museum report strong gift shop demand, with an estimated 30–40% of visitors purchasing souvenirs, as museums seek to offset budget gaps and ride the collectibles craze popularized by brands like Pop Mart.

Hong Kong Palace Museum will host “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” from November 20, 2025 to August 31, 2026, featuring 250 artefacts including a Tutankhamen statue and feline mummies. Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the partnership marks the first with a Hong Kong museum and is intended as a starting point for broader collaborations, potentially including additional notable artefacts, mummies, and newly discovered items. He hopes the exhibition will spur interest in Egypt and future cultural exchanges.

Quemoy (Kinmen), a Taipei-administered island just kilometers from mainland China’s Xiamen, illustrates the constraints on both Beijing’s and Taipei’s cross-strait strategies. Once a militarized frontline, it is now a quiet community where a statue of Chiang Kai-shek—reviled by many in Taiwan yet reframed on the mainland as a historical link—symbolizes competing narratives. Beijing’s integration overtures and proximity have not decisively shifted local loyalties, while Taipei’s efforts to project democratic governance and use Kinmen as a deterrent showcase also face limits given the island’s economic and social ties to the mainland. On-the-ground interviews suggest Kinmen residents balance practical engagement with the mainland against political identification with Taiwan, revealing how geography, history, and daily life constrain both sides’ influence.

A suspect known as “Totoy” has reignited the Philippines’ 2021–22 case of 34 missing cockfighting workers, alleging a network of about 30 people—including roughly 20 police officers and around 10 civilians—were involved. He claims a wealthy mastermind with high-level influence orchestrated the abductions, and that a well-known female celebrity, who allegedly attended key meetings, had detailed knowledge of the disappearances. Totoy also says more than 30 bodies were dumped in Taal Lake. The allegations suggest possible police complicity and a broader cover-up, pushing authorities to revisit the long-dormant case.

Chinese dramas are gaining global traction and serving as potential soft power for China. The historical fantasy Legend of Zang Hai, about a revenge-driven protagonist who evolves into a protector amid palace intrigue, has topped rankings across Asia, trended worldwide on X, and earned an 8.8/10 on IMDb. Viewers praise its complex plotting, high production values, strong performances, and incorporation of traditional arts like shadow puppetry and Kunqu opera. Experts suggest such slick, culturally rooted C-dramas can enhance China’s image abroad as international audiences increasingly binge these hits on major platforms.

After a deadly June 12 crash near Ahmedabad that killed nearly 300 people and shook confidence in India’s aviation sector, Tata Group chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has taken direct control of Air India’s daily operations. Addressing employees days later, he framed the tragedy as a mandate to overhaul safety and rebuild trust. Tata, which reacquired Air India in 2022 to restore it as a world-class carrier, now faces a critical test as investigators probe the cause and scrutiny intensifies over safety oversight amid India’s rapid airline expansion. Chandrasekaran’s crisis leadership aims to steady the airline and accelerate systemic safety and operational reforms.

Chinese civil servants are increasingly avoiding dining out amid a tightened austerity campaign that has intensified through “ceng ceng jia ma” — the layering of stricter local controls on top of central directives to show political loyalty. Officials report dine-out bans and self-imposed caution as departments escalate measures beyond national rules, echoing patterns seen during zero-Covid. The trend reflects a climate of overcontrol and risk aversion within the bureaucracy, with lifestyle changes adopted to “play safe” even if temporary.

Researchers analyzing genomes from over 130 skeletons at the 9,000-year-old Neolithic city of Çatalhöyük in Turkey found strong evidence of a matrilineal, likely matriarchal society. Burials within houses were linked primarily through maternal lines, suggesting husbands moved into wives’ households. Genetic data indicate 70–100% of female offspring stayed connected to their buildings, while adult males often moved away. Females received significantly more grave goods—about five times more than males—indicating preferential treatment. The findings challenge assumptions of universal patrilineal norms and align with other ancient DNA studies (e.g., Iron Age Britain) showing women-centered kin networks and potential control over land and property.

Australian divers from the Sydney Project completed the first-ever dive to the SS Nemesis, a coal ship that sank in a 1904 storm with all 32 aboard, resting about 16 miles off Sydney at a depth of roughly 525 feet. After weather delays, two teams descended in pitch-black conditions on June 18, following a guide line to briefly survey the wreck’s crushed bow, bridge, smokestacks, and scattered coal. No personal artifacts were seen. The dive offered crystal-clear visibility but allowed only nine minutes on site, followed by a six-hour decompression ascent. The wreck was first located in 2022 and identified in 2023 by a remotely operated vessel. A follow-up mission is planned to complete a detailed scan.

U.K. authorities seized 2.4 metric tons of cocaine worth about £96 million ($132 million) from a ship arriving from Panama at London Gateway port, marking the country’s sixth-largest cocaine bust. The intelligence-led operation found the drugs under containers. Officials highlighted intensified intelligence and international cooperation against trafficking. The U.K. is a major European cocaine market, with cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales up 31% from 2022 to 2023. The seizure follows recent large cocaine interdictions by Mexican and U.S. authorities.

Russian drones hit Odesa overnight, killing a married couple and injuring at least 17, including three children, after a drone struck a residential tower. Ukraine’s Security Service said it used special drones to attack Russia’s Kirovske airfield in occupied Crimea, destroying Mi-8, Mi-26, and Mi-28 helicopters and a Pantsir-S1 air defense system. Russia claimed to have downed over 40 Ukrainian drones over western Russia and Crimea. The conflict’s escalating drone warfare has caused significant civilian harm; a UN report says short-range drone attacks have killed at least 395 civilians and injured 2,635 since 2022, with nearly 90% attributed to Russian forces. Overall civilian casualties exceed 13,300 dead and 34,700 injured, according to the UN.

Two men, Felipe Orduna-Torres, 32, and Armando Gonzales-Ortega, 55, were sentenced to decades in prison for leading a human smuggling operation that resulted in the 2022 deaths of 53 migrants in a sealed, overheated tractor-trailer in San Antonio—the deadliest such incident in U.S. history. Orduna-Torres, identified as the leader, received two life sentences plus 20 years; Gonzales-Ortega, his top assistant, received 87.5 years. Both were fined $250,000. The migrants, from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, had paid $12,000–$15,000 each and were loaded in Laredo into a trailer with broken AC for a three-hour trip; 48 were found dead at the scene, five more died at hospitals, including six children and a pregnant woman. Only 11 survived. Five other defendants, including the driver, have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year.

President Trump announced he is immediately ending U.S. trade talks with Canada in response to Canada’s digital services tax, which imposes a 3% levy on revenue from large tech companies and could cost U.S. firms about $2 billion. He said the U.S. will set new tariffs on Canada within a week, criticizing the tax as a direct attack and citing longstanding disputes over Canadian dairy tariffs. The move follows a recent G7 meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Canadian officials and business groups framed the talks as ongoing negotiations with expected ups and downs.

The Mexican navy intercepted a semisubmersible “narco sub” off Guerrero on the Pacific coast, seizing 3.5 tons of cocaine packed in 180 bundles and arresting three aboard. Authorities released video of the operation. The bust adds to a string of major maritime drug seizures since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, with over 44.8 tons of cocaine seized at sea and other record operations, including large meth lab raids. Semisubmersibles remain a favored smuggling method, with similar interceptions off Mexico in recent months.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo delivered a four-hour closing argument, calling the sex trafficking and racketeering case “badly exaggerated” and a “fake trial,” framing Combs’ conduct and “freak-offs” as consensual elements of a “swingers lifestyle.” He attacked the credibility of ex-girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and an anonymous witness “Jane,” argued alleged abuse amounted to domestic violence rather than sex trafficking, and said there was no evidence of a criminal enterprise or co-conspirators. He also claimed escorts were paid for their time, not for sex. Prosecutor Maurene Comey rebutted that violence and sex were inseparable, saying victims were coerced and trapped, and questioned why Ventura would risk perjury after a civil settlement. Jurors return Monday for instructions before deliberations; Combs faces potential life in prison on the most serious counts.

Thousands protested in Bangkok demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign after a leaked call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, in which she criticized a Thai military commander and addressed Hun Sen as “uncle.” The uproar led a key coalition partner to quit and prompted a Constitutional Court review on whether to consider a petition for her removal over alleged unprofessionalism. Paetongtarn apologized, defended the call as negotiation, and vowed not to speak with Hun Sen again. The rally—the largest since Pheu Thai took power in 2023—was led by nationalist groups long opposed to the Shinawatras, amid heightened Thai-Cambodian tensions following a deadly border clash and reciprocal trade and media restrictions.

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a US-brokered peace deal in Washington aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern DR Congo, with provisions for the disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of armed groups, and commitments on territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities, and return of refugees. The accord follows months of mediation, including by Qatar, and comes amid intensified fighting led by M23 rebels and accusations—denied by Kigali—of Rwandan support for M23 and Congolese backing of the FDLR. Key details remain unclear, including whether M23 will withdraw, how and by whom FDLR will be neutralized, and the status and timeline of any Rwandan troop disengagement. The US and DR Congo framed the deal as a major breakthrough, with potential US access to critical minerals, but skepticism persists given past failed agreements and unresolved security guarantees.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding festivities in Venice drew both celebrity attention and local backlash. While the city hosted around 200 A-list guests and saw minimal disruption, activists protested over-tourism, climate impact, and wealth inequality, unfurling “No space for Bezos” banners and prompting a venue shift to the Arsenale for security. Venice officials praised the event as “high-quality tourism,” hoping it boosts the wedding sector, and noted Bezos donated about €3 million to preservation efforts, with the wedding expected to generate up to €30 million for the city. Residents remain divided: some decry Venice’s transformation into a tourist playground pushing locals out, while others welcome high-spending visitors over “low-cost” mass tourism.

Norwegian police say Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, is suspected of three rapes and 23 other offences, including sexually offensive behavior, abuse in a close relationship, and bodily harm. He was arrested three times in 2024 and has been under investigation since August that year. After a 10-month probe involving witness interviews, searches, and digital evidence review, police have sent the case to prosecutors to decide on charges. Some sexual offence cases were dropped due to statute of limitations or lack of evidence. Høiby’s lawyer says he takes the allegations seriously but denies most, especially those of sexual abuse and violence. The Royal House declined further comment.

US President Donald Trump announced he is immediately ending trade talks with Canada and will impose new tariffs within a week, citing Canada’s 3% digital services tax on big tech firms as “egregious.” The move jeopardizes a mid-July target for a trade deal and escalates an already tense tariff standoff. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said negotiations will continue, while business groups are split—some urging Ottawa to drop the tax to reset talks. Analysts view Trump’s threat as leverage typical of his negotiating style, potentially pressuring Canada but leaving room for a deal. The US is Canada’s largest trading partner, and recent tariffs have already disrupted cross-border supply chains.

Canada is on heightened alert after Iran’s recent attacks on Israel, with Public Safety Canada keeping the terrorism threat at “medium.” Former justice minister and human-rights advocate Irwin Cotler—under RCMP protection due to Iranian threats—warns of potential “transnational repression,” including possible IRGC-linked sleeper cells targeting Iranian dissidents, journalists, Jews, and Israelis in Canada. He cites recent executions and arrests in Iran and urges Ottawa to create an independent agency to counter foreign intimidation and prosecute collaborators, noting IRGC activity may be underestimated. Foreign Minister Anita Anand reaffirmed concerns about Iranian interference, Canada’s terrorist designation of the IRGC, the lack of diplomatic ties since 2012, and ongoing demands for accountability over Iran’s 2020 downing of Flight PS752. The border agency has deemed 20 suspected senior Iranian officials inadmissible to Canada.

Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, has been charged after a months-long investigation with multiple offenses including one count of rape with intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. Oslo police initially cited victims in the double digits; Høiby’s attorney says allegations have been reduced to seven accusers, with others dropped. Police report extensive witness interviews, searches, and digital evidence review. Høiby has cooperated with questioning and denies the allegations. The Royal House said the case is proceeding through the legal system and offered no further comment.

UK authorities seized 2.4 metric tons of cocaine worth about $132 million from a ship arriving from Panama at London Gateway port, in one of the country’s largest drug busts on record (sixth-largest). The haul was found under containers following an intelligence-led operation. Officials highlighted increased intelligence sharing and international cooperation against trafficking. The UK is a major European cocaine market, and cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales rose 31% from 2022 to 2023.

Two 5-year-old European brown bears, Mish and Lucy, briefly escaped their enclosure at Wildwood Devon in southwest England and were found in a staff-only food storage area eating snacks, including a week’s worth of honey. Visitors were moved to a secure building as a precaution, and the bears were monitored via surveillance until they returned to their enclosure, later falling asleep. The park said the escape stemmed from an operational error, not a structural failure, and is investigating to prevent a repeat. Police responded; no public threat or injuries were reported.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez married in a lavish, three-day celebration in Venice, exchanging vows on 27 June 2025 on San Giorgio island. Sanchez shared Instagram photos of her Dolce & Gabbana lace mermaid gown with a tulle veil. The star-studded guest list included the Kardashians, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Usher, Tom Brady, and supermodel Vittoria Ceretti. Events reportedly cost €40–48m, with guests based at luxury venues including the Aman hotel. The festivities drew local protests criticizing Venice being used by ultra-wealthy visitors, with activists unfurling a “The 1% ruins the world” banner in St Mark’s Square.

A youth netball team composed entirely of UK-based players is representing Pakistan at the Asian Youth Netball Championship in Jeonju, South Korea (27 June–4 July 2025). Many of the players previously missed the 2024 Asian Championship in India due to visa delays but have since been sanctioned by Pakistan Netball to compete under Pakistan’s flag. Led by captain Sumayya Safdar and coached by former England captain Amanda Newton, the team trains intermittently due to players being spread across the UK but shows strong commitment and cohesion. Co-founder of Pakistan Netball Academy UK Sadia Hussain says the squad aims to inspire more British Asian and Muslim girls to take up netball by addressing cultural barriers around clothing and family acceptance. The team views the tournament as both a competitive milestone and a chance to represent their roots.

Hundreds of protesters in Venice demonstrated against Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding, arguing it exacerbated overtourism, rising local costs, and climate-related pressures on the city. Activists displayed banners like “No space for Bezos” and claimed they disrupted plans, pushing the final party to the Arsenale. Despite Bezos donating €1m to local environmental research groups, protesters dismissed it as insufficient. The multimillion-pound celebration spanned multiple luxury venues with about 200 VIP guests, while city officials defended hosting the event as part of Venice’s tradition of welcoming prominent visitors.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision along ideological lines, curtailed federal district courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions blocking presidential executive actions. Framed as a rebuke to judicial overreach, the ruling empowers the executive branch to advance policies—especially on issues like immigration—with fewer immediate court barriers. Conservatives, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, argued courts shouldn’t exceed their powers even when the executive acts unlawfully; liberal justices warned it invites constitutional bypassing and undermines checks and balances. Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, called it a dangerous step toward authoritarianism. Critics plan to pivot to class-action lawsuits. The decision caps a consequential week for President Trump, bolstering his agenda at home alongside major foreign policy moves.

Australia accuses China of taking undue credit for Pacific aid by branding Asian Development Bank projects—largely funded by Australia and Japan—as Chinese, citing Bougainville’s Kieta-Aropa runway upgrade carried out by state-owned CRCC. Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy says this misleads locals and has pressed the ADB to prioritize quality over lowest bids and curb nationalized branding; the ADB says it will ensure clearer funding acknowledgment. The dispute underscores intensifying influence competition as Bougainville moves toward a hoped-for 2027 independence, with China expanding security ties across the region and US and Australian analysts warning of strategic stakes. Bougainville leaders counter that limited Western options and urgent development needs justify considering Chinese partnerships.

Jamaica’s film industry is gaining momentum through the Black River film festival and new government funding aimed at building local content and global partnerships. The festival, held in St Elizabeth, connected Jamaican film-makers with US, European and African producers, including Netflix’s Samad Davis and Canal+ executives, and showcased local and international films. Organizer Ava Eagle Brown is leveraging Jamaica’s brand and the J$1bn (US$6.2m) Jamaica Screen Development Initiative (JSDI) to spur co-productions and expand Jamaican stories worldwide. The JSDI’s two-year program offers grants across development, production, completion, festival/market attendance, and marketing/distribution, with the goal of shifting Jamaica from mainly hosting foreign shoots to creating its own content and upskilling local crews. Government support also includes J$10m from the CHASE fund for the festival. Industry figures say collaborations can improve distribution and drive economic growth, building on a creative sector that contributed US$2.2bn (5.2% of GDP) in 2022. Participants emphasized authenticity—language, fashion, and culture—as Jamaica seeks a film brand as globally resonant as its music and sport.

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer-journalist Agather Atuhaire plan to sue Tanzania’s government domestically and in regional courts, alleging illegal detention, sexual torture, and degrading treatment during a May visit to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu. They say security officials abducted them in Dar es Salaam, beat them, subjected them to sexual assault, and dumped them at their countries’ borders. Tanzania’s UN representative called the claims “highly doubtful” but said investigations are under way. The case highlights an escalating crackdown ahead of October elections under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, with recent killings, kidnappings, attacks on critics, deregistration of a dissenting church, and arrests over social media. Critics say Hassan’s government is reverting to fear tactics reminiscent of predecessor John Magufuli, targeting even foreign activists amid opposition disqualification and treason charges against Lissu.

Nearly 52 years after British-Chilean priest Michael (Miguel) Woodward was abducted, tortured, and believed killed aboard the Chilean navy ship Esmeralda following Pinochet’s 1973 coup, a third excavation at Valparaíso’s Playa Ancha cemetery again found no trace of his remains. Despite decades of obstruction and slow legal progress—two low-ranking officers were convicted but never jailed—Chile’s 2023 National Search Plan has centralized efforts to locate 1,469 disappeared victims, though no discoveries have yet been made. Advocates and relatives, including community organizer Javier Rodríguez, vow to continue pressing for truth and justice amid concerns that witnesses are dying and a rightward political shift after November’s election could stall the program. Further searches for Woodward are planned, with families stressing that his case is one among hundreds still unresolved.

Blue Origin successfully launched its 13th crewed New Shepard mission (NS-33) from West Texas, shortly after founder Jeff Bezos married Lauren Sanchez in Venice. The suborbital program has now flown over 60 people and carried 175 scientific payloads past the Kármán line, the boundary of space.

The Philippines’ small-scale fishing communities, vital to national jobs and food security, are being pummeled by climate change—stronger, more frequent typhoons and rising seas—compounded by decades of mangrove loss and destructive fishing. After disasters like 2013’s Super Typhoon Haiyan, some villages have relocated to safer ground, while fishers are leading grassroots solutions: community sea patrols (Bantay Dagat) to curb illegal fishing, creation and monitoring of marine protected areas, shifting to more selective methods like spearfishing, hatcheries to restock crabs, moving seaweed farms to cooler, deeper waters, and large-scale mangrove restoration. Despite limited resources and initial resistance, these efforts are boosting fish stocks, deterring illegal activity, and creating tourism income, offering a fragile but growing lifeline amid escalating climate threats largely driven by wealthier nations.

Thailand, which decriminalized cannabis in 2022, has imposed strict new rules limiting it to medical use. As of late June 2025, buyers must present a doctor’s prescription (from Thailand or their home country), licensed shops must keep detailed sales records, and advertising, online or vending machine sales are banned. Authorities plan regular inspections and stiffer penalties for violations. The government cites rising youth use, public nuisance complaints, and a surge in smuggling as reasons, and the health minister aims to eventually reclassify cannabis as a narcotic. The crackdown disrupts a rapidly grown, tourism-driven industry of 18,000+ dispensaries, drawing criticism from advocates who say unclear laws and weak enforcement—not legalization itself—fueled problems. Tourists are warned not to view Thailand as a recreational cannabis destination.

France-backed Eutelsat, now 30% state-owned after a €1.35 billion injection, is positioned as a strategic European asset for sovereign satellite communications but remains far behind SpaceX’s Starlink in scale and capability. Eutelsat’s OneWeb operates about 650 LEO satellites versus Starlink’s 7,000+; many OneWeb satellites need replacement, and Eutelsat trails in capital, manufacturing, launch access, spectrum, and user terminals. Experts say matching Starlink in mass-market broadband within five years is unlikely, though Eutelsat could succeed in government, defense, and enterprise segments where sovereignty matters. Technical differences (OneWeb’s current bent-pipe architecture and mixed GEO/LEO strategy) further distinguish it from Starlink. While Europe aims to reduce reliance on U.S. systems, Starlink remains dominant, including in Ukraine, where Eutelsat is a supplemental—not replacement—provider. Eutelsat plans second-generation upgrades and deeper European anchoring, with potential added U.K. backing.

The first half of 2025 saw sharp market swings driven by trade tensions, Middle East shocks, and political uncertainty, with Germany’s Dax outperforming Europe and the FTSE 100 also strong, while the CAC 40 lagged. Goldman Sachs expects even higher equity volatility in the second half due to elevated policy uncertainty and a weakening macro backdrop. Focus this week shifts to the ECB Forum in Sintra, where central bankers, including Christine Lagarde and Jerome Powell, will weigh policy amid U.S. political pressure on the Fed and ongoing tariff risks. In the U.K., Labour marks one year in power with sliding approval ratings despite trade deals and a stronger pound, as domestic economic strains and political headwinds erode support.

Irish-language rap group Kneecap performed to a packed Glastonbury crowd despite political backlash and a terrorism charge against member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 London show. On bail ahead of an August hearing, Ó hAnnaidh proclaimed his freedom on stage as the trio led chants supporting Palestine and criticizing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Thanking organizers for resisting cancellation pressure, they maintained they do not support Hezbollah or Hamas and said critics are silencing them over their pro-Palestinian stance. Some gigs have been canceled amid controversy, and the BBC did not air their set live. The festival also featured surprise and headline performances from acts including Pulp, Lorde, Neil Young, Charli XCX, and others.

Sudan’s civil war has turned Adre, a Chadian border town of 40,000, into a strained transit hub for about 235,000 Sudanese refugees amid sharp U.S. aid cuts and broader funding shortfalls. Services are collapsing: water prices have quadrupled, food rations may run out after July, and UN agencies report 30% budget reductions and staff cuts. Refugees stay in Adre for proximity to Sudan and economic opportunities despite rising crime and pressure from authorities to relocate to interior camps; many who were moved returned. A new camp at Tine, 180 km north, has received 46,000 recent arrivals who face severe shortages, sleeping outdoors and relying on scant community kitchens. With only 13% of requested funding secured for Chad, humanitarian leaders warn that without renewed support, conditions could spiral into a larger security and humanitarian crisis.