Australia and Fiji signed a mutual defense agreement and an economic treaty in Suva on Monday. The defense pact, called the Ocean of Peace Alliance, makes the two countries obligated to aid each other in times of need. The economic treaty, the Vuvale Union, commits Australia to invest more than AUD 1 billion over the next decade. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the alliance “introduces a mutual defense obligation and there’s no higher obligation than to come to each other’s aid at a time of need.” Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he did not anticipate severe pushback from China and said the treaties reflect shared understanding of regional challenges. He said the agreements are built on three pillars: deeper security cooperation, enhanced economic integration and strengthened people‑to‑people connections. The arrangement is Fiji’s first mutual defense treaty and Australia’s fourth, following 1951 agreements with the United States and New Zealand and a 2023 treaty with Papua New Guinea. Australia has been expanding its security role in the Pacific since 2022, when China signed a secretive security pact with the Solomon Islands, raising concerns about a potential Chinese naval base. Albanese will travel to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Matthew Wale. In Brisbane, Albanese will host Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Tongan Prime Minister Fatafehi Fakafānua. The Australia‑Papua New Guinea defense treaty took effect on Wednesday. Australia and Vanuatu signed a security and economic treaty last week, preventing China from establishing a military base on the island. China expressed concern that the Vanuatu agreement, known as the Nakamal Agreement, could be directed at Beijing.
Geopolitics, diplomacy, and the stories shaping nations.
Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez marked the 215th Independence Day on July 5, saying there would be no social unrest while the country recovered from two earthquakes that struck on June 24. The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, killed 3,342 people, injured 16,470 and left 17,345 homeless, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information. Damage was reported in La Guaira and the Caracas metropolitan area. Rodriguez said the government had shown deep social solidarity. She blamed propaganda for criticism of its disaster response. She accused opponents of seeking to stir hatred and of attempting to attack Venezuelan institutions from within or without. Critics say chronic mismanagement and corruption have left the United Socialist Party unable to handle crises of this scale. Residents reported that government aid was slow to reach the hardest‑hit areas and that foreign assistance was impeded. Since taking office in January, Rodriguez has pursued reforms to open the national mining and fuel sectors to foreign investment. The United States conducted a military operation on January 3 to arrest former President Nicolas Maduro on drug and weapons charges; Maduro is now facing trial in New York. The Trump administration has continued to support Rodriguez despite the criticism. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, living in exile, organized volunteer relief efforts and said the United States' celebration of the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence highlighted shared republican ideals. She has called for new elections, asserting that her coalition has a mandate since the 2024 race, in which Maduro claimed a third term while opposition vote tallies suggested a different outcome. Machado presented Trump with a Nobel Peace Prize medal in January, an act widely interpreted as an effort to curry favor with the US president. The earthquakes remain the deadliest natural disaster in Venezuela in a century, and the political tensions surrounding the response are likely to influence upcoming elections.
At least seven people were killed and 24 were wounded in a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Monday, authorities said.
The assault involved waves of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones that struck residential buildings in the Podilskyi and Darnytsia districts, causing a partial collapse of a building and damaging several multistory structures, with some individuals believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned hours earlier that another large-scale attack was imminent and renewed calls for Western partners to supply additional Patriot air‑defense missiles, saying that any delay could embolden Russia in its four‑year war.
The attack follows a similar strike last week that killed at least 31 people, highlighting the continuing threat to civilian infrastructure in the capital.
Nine people were killed and at least 46 injured, including five children, after Russian missile strikes hit residential buildings in Kyiv early Monday morning, just before a NATO summit in Turkey. The attacks marked the second round of strikes on the Ukrainian capital in a week, following a previous barrage that killed 30 people on Thursday. Kyiv emergency services were pulling survivors from bombed-out apartment blocks, with rescuers combing through rubble for trapped residents. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said several apartment complexes, warehouses and a garage workshop were damaged, and fires broke out in some buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that intelligence indicated a second wave of Russian attacks was planned for the coming week. He urged allies not to delay supplies of long-range missiles for Ukraine’s air defence, saying any delay could cost lives. Zelensky also appealed to the United States to grant Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot defence missiles. Russia said it targeted military and energy facilities in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, while Ukraine accused Moscow of deliberately attacking civilian areas. Power was temporarily cut off in Sevastopol in Russian‑occupied Crimea overnight.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez defended Venezuela’s emergency response to the twin earthquakes that struck on June 24, which have killed more than 3,000 people, saying the country would avoid social unrest. Many Venezuelans have criticized the government for its handling of the disaster before international rescue teams arrived, expressing frustration over delays and limited resources. The government deployed the military and civil protection units to affected areas, but rescue operations faced obstacles such as damaged infrastructure and ongoing aftershocks. Rodríguez stated that the response was coordinated and that additional aid would be mobilized. She added that the death toll could increase as searches continued in collapsed buildings. Opposition figures and some local officials warned that public anger over the response might lead to protests, though no large‑scale unrest has been reported. The United Nations and several foreign governments have offered assistance, and authorities said they would assess the need for further international help as the recovery effort continues.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologized on Monday for comments he made about pop star Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview. The remarks were made on the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne, recorded at the prime minister’s official residence in Canberra and released last week. Osborne asked whether Albanese would "shag, marry or date" Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman or entertainer Rhonda Burchmore. After initially avoiding the question, Albanese said "Oh, Kylie, clearly" and added that she is "terrific." Politicians criticized the exchange; MP Zali Steggall called the remarks "entirely inappropriate" and said Albanese needed to set a better example. Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson posted on X that the comments were "disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister." Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government remains committed to gender equality and noted that the current cabinet includes an equal number of men and women. Albanese issued a brief statement early Monday saying he apologized "unequivocally" for the comments.
Fabiana Blanco, 12, was trapped for 32 hours beneath the rubble of a 10‑storey building in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, after two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on 24 Ju...
Fabiana Blanco, 12, was trapped for 32 hours beneath the rubble of a 10‑storey building in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, after two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on 24 June, the strongest measuring 7.5 magnitude. Her mother, Karina Blanco, reported that the building collapsed during the shaking and that she searched the debris for her daughter. Fabiana was found conscious amid the rubble, having used ketchup and grated cheese she discovered to stay alert. Rescue workers, including local firefighters and a volunteer named Viktor, spent the night clearing debris and eventually created a tunnel large enough to extract her at around 02:00 local time. Three people survived the collapse of the building, which housed nearly 50 residents, while the nationwide death toll from the quakes reached 3,342 with many still missing. Fabiana, now living with her grandmother, said she will take time to recover, and authorities continue search operations for those unaccounted for.
President Donald Trump will travel to Turkey for a NATO summit where he aims to ensure member nations meet a defense‑spending target of 5% of gross domestic product agreed at the 2023 summit in The Hague.
The 2023 summit set a goal for NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade, with 3.5% allocated to core defense and the remainder to other expenditures. Implementation has varied, with some countries expressing reservations about the target.
Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, after speaking with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 4. He also plans a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the summit host, and a separate discussion with Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa, who said he has no interest in expanding military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump has no bilaterals planned with other NATO leaders.
Administration officials have emphasized the need for allies to fulfill the spending commitment. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said Trump expects immediate action from allies. Luke Coffey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, described the gathering as a “report card” on the spending pledges and said a demonstration of commitment could allow Trump a “victory lap.” A bipartisan congressional delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen is traveling to Ankara to underscore congressional support for the alliance.
The administration promotes a “NATO 3.0” concept that envisions Europe assuming greater security responsibilities, allowing the United States to shift focus elsewhere. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six‑month review of U.S. forces in Europe, and earlier troop deployments to Poland created confusion after an earlier announcement of troop withdrawals from the continent.
European officials note that while defense spending has increased, many members still rely on U.S. military support for deterrence. Liana Fix, senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, said most European nations are not yet capable of defending themselves without U.S. assistance, though they are working toward improved capabilities.
NATO has introduced the “Arctic Sentry” exercise to counter Russian and Chinese activity and to address concerns about potential U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory.
The summit will test whether NATO members will translate spending commitments into concrete plans, a development that could shape the alliance’s role in Europe’s security and U.S. strategic priorities.
Paris appeal court will decide on Tuesday at 13:30 GMT whether Marine Le Pen can run for the French presidency in 2027. The court will rule on an appeal against a 2025 conviction that found her guilty of embezzling €1.4 million of European Parliament funds to pay party employees from 2004 to 2016. Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, two suspended, and two to be served under house arrest with an electronic tag. Prosecutors request that the five‑year ban on public office, imposed on 31 March 2025, remain in place, with a four‑year jail term that includes one year under electronic supervision. Le Pen has said she is not afraid of the decision and will continue to fight for her ideas. If the court upholds the conviction, she will be barred from standing for office for more than two years, effectively preventing her candidacy. She could appeal the decision to France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, within ten days, a process that would take several months. Jordan Bardella, the party chairman since 2022, has been named as a potential replacement candidate and said he would support Le Pen’s platform if she is unable to run. Polls in early 2025 show Le Pen and Bardella each at about 30 percent for the first round. Twelve other National Rally members were convicted in March 2025, receiving sentences ranging from six months to one year with electronic tags or bans from public office.
Philippine Senate will open the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, according to a pretrial plan seen by The Associated Press. The trial is scheduled to run for 92 days. Police deployed more than 6,000 officers, including anti-riot units, to secure the Senate. Demonstrators supporting and opposing Duterte gathered outside. Duterte or her legal team may appear at the start of the proceedings. She faces charges of amassing unexplained wealth, misusing confidential state funds, and publicly threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and a former House speaker. Duterte denies the charges. A conviction could permanently disqualify her from holding public office. Conviction would require the agreement of 16 of the Senate’s 24 members. Two senators allied with the Duterte family face possible arrest on non-bailable plunder charges. Senator Ronald dela Rosa is evading an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for his role in the former president’s anti-drug campaign. Rodrigo Duterte, the vice president’s father and former president, was arrested on an ICC warrant and remains detained in The Hague, where he faces trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign. The political dispute between Duterte and President Marcos reflects differing foreign policy approaches: Marcos has expanded defense cooperation with the United States and taken a firm stance against China in the South China Sea, while Rodrigo Duterte cultivated closer ties with China and Russia and criticized the United States. Duterte’s supporters accuse her of not condemning China’s use of water cannons against Filipino forces and fishermen in disputed waters. The House of Representatives, dominated by Marcos allies, voted by a large margin to impeach Duterte last month. Duterte’s supporters allege that the impeachment is politically motivated and intended to block her presidential aspirations.
President Donald Trump has signaled a possible shift in U.S. policy toward Israel, raising questions about the future of the long‑standing alliance.
Israel relies on more than $38 billion in U.S. military assistance over a ten‑year period and has depended on diplomatic support, including repeated United Nations vetoes, during its conflict in Gaza and its campaign in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure from corruption investigations and a scheduled election later this year, which could affect his political future.
Trump has publicly criticized Netanyahu, saying the prime minister is “crazy” and accusing him of ingratitude, and has suggested that Netanyahu would be in prison without his intervention, according to reports.
JD Vance, a U.S. senator and former vice‑presidential nominee, said that most defensive weapons used by Israel are American‑made and funded by U.S. taxpayers, warning Israeli officials that criticism of a prospective U.S.–Iran deal could jeopardize that support.
Former television host Tucker Carlson, a Trump ally, has argued that the administration’s stance reflects a broader MAGA skepticism toward Israel, noting that some members of the right‑wing base have turned critical.
Opposition leaders in Israel, including Yair Lapid and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, have warned that deteriorating relations with the United States could isolate the country diplomatically and militarily.
Analysts such as Daniel Byman of CSIS say Trump has the flexibility to adjust policy while maintaining support from many Republicans and potentially some Democrats, who have also become more critical of Israel.
No indication exists that the administration plans to end the bilateral relationship outright, but the debate over the scope of U.S. involvement remains open.
The outcome will depend on whether any diplomatic breakthrough with Iran or Lebanon emerges and how Israeli political dynamics evolve before the upcoming election.
An Albanian court freed 19 protesters who were detained during a demonstration against a coastal resort linked to Jared Kushner, the son‑in‑law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The court announced that two of the detainees will be placed under house arrest while five others face no charges. Lawyer Dorian Matlija said the protesters were held on suspicion of refusing police orders, organizing illegal demonstrations and disturbing public order. Police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons on Thursday to disperse a crowd of hundreds gathered outside parliament, resulting in injuries to 15 officers and the detention of 25 protesters. The largest protest to date, with tens of thousands chanting "Free the boys," occurred Saturday evening in Tirana. While the initial protests centered on the resort, the movement has broadened to include anti‑government and anti‑corruption demands, with participants calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The resort project, first unveiled in 2024, has drawn nightly gatherings since May after construction equipment appeared on a protected beach area.
Neymar said on Sunday that his international career with Brazil is over after the team's 2‑1 loss to Norway in the World Cup round of 16.
The 34‑year‑old forward, Brazil's all‑time leading scorer, last appeared for the national side in October 2023.
He was named to coach Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad despite missing the opening two group matches due to injury.
Neymar made his comeback as a substitute in a 3‑0 win over Scotland in Miami, his first appearance in the United States since 2010.
At MetLife Stadium, Norway's Erling Haaland scored twice, while Neymar converted a penalty deep into injury time.
After the final whistle, he broke down in tears and was consoled by teammates.
He told a reporter from Globo Esporte, "I tried and I tried. Now it's over. It began here and it ends here."
His exit concludes a career that started with a goal in the same stadium during a 2010 victory over the United States and leaves Brazil without its top scorer as they look ahead after the early tournament exit.
At least ten people were killed and dozens wounded after Russian ballistic missiles struck the Kyiv region on July 6, 2026, the second attack on the capital and its surroundings within a week, authorities said, on the eve of a NATO summit in Turkey.
The strikes occurred as both Ukraine and Russia have intensified long‑range attacks since the full‑scale invasion began in 2022, indicating an expanding reach of the conflict.
Rescue teams worked at the site of a damaged building in Kyiv, where emergency services reported multiple casualties. Ukrainian officials said the missiles were launched from territories under Russian control, though Russia did not comment on the attack. The assault follows a series of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv earlier in the week, including a strike on a residential area that caused civilian injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the timing coincides with the upcoming summit and reaffirmed the alliance’s support for Ukraine.
The incident underscores the continuing intensity of the war as diplomatic efforts prepare for a high‑level meeting among NATO members.
U.S. Treasury imposes sanctions on two Rwandan individuals and four companies, alleging they help finance the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through illicit mineral trade. The sanctions target Jean Malic Kalima, chairman of Gasabo Gold Refinery, and Bosco Kayobotsi, the company’s managing director, as well as Gasabo Gold Refinery Ltd, Bugambira Mines Ltd, Wolfram Mining and Processing Ltd, and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation Ltd. Treasury officials said the measures aim to disrupt networks smuggling minerals from the DRC to fund weapons and combatant payments, contributing to a humanitarian crisis. DRC economist Dady Saleh said the eastern conflict is primarily driven by competition over natural resources, noting that external powers often pursue strategic economic interests. UN experts and Global Witness have documented cross‑border flows of minerals such as coltan from Rubaya mine into Rwanda, which can enter global electronics supply chains. Rwandan officials, including Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, called the sanctions biased and unjustified. Congolese officials welcomed them as a step toward addressing alleged state‑sponsored theft. M23 rebels deny involvement in mineral trading, asserting that local miners sell independently and that security is provided only around sites. Congolese response argues that sanctions highlight Rwanda’s profit from mineral extraction and calls for broader regional responsibility.
Iran began a procession Monday through Tehran for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose coffin and that of family members killed in a February airstrike were placed on a truck as mourners gathered.
The ceremony, which started Saturday and will run through Thursday, involves a 12‑hour journey to Mehrabad International Airport before the coffins are taken to Mashhad for burial at the Imam Reza shrine, Khamenei’s birthplace. Authorities have closed streets and restricted airspace to accommodate the event.
The truck was decorated with ornamental grating resembling that surrounding the shrine of an imam and moved slowly amid crowds of black‑clad mourners who reached out to touch the grating, threw scarves, and were cooled by misted water sprayed by attendants. Revolutionary Guard Gen. Hasan Hasanzsdeh, overseeing the procession, said the route would cover the capital’s main streets.
Some participants carried signs that called for the killing of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; an effigy of Trump was displayed hanging along the route. U.S. federal authorities have tracked Iranian threats against Trump and other officials for years, a response to the 2020 U.S. strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, though Iran has denied any plot to assassinate Trump.
Meanwhile, the United States is continuing negotiations with Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rolling back Iran’s nuclear program, and reaching a permanent end to the conflict, but talks are expected to remain on hold until after the burial.
The burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad is scheduled for Thursday, after which the mourning period will end.
England defeated Mexico 3-2 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Sunday, securing a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the third consecutive tournament. The match began after a one‑hour delay caused by thunderstorms. Mexico opened the scoring in the first half when Julián Quiñones volleyed home from a free‑kick scramble, equalising the early lead England had taken through a Jude Bellingham header from a Bukayo Saka cross. Bellingham added a second goal two minutes later after a break down the right, with Harry Kane providing the assist. England created difficulty for themselves early in the match but held firm. Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute for a high‑foot sliding challenge on Jesús Gallardo, becoming the fourth English player dismissed at a World Cup. Kane converted a penalty in the 60th minute after a VAR‑reviewed handball by his own clearance, restoring a two‑goal advantage. Mexico reduced the deficit when Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty in the 78th minute following a handball by Kane. The match ended with England holding on for the victory. Tuchel said the team had to fight and find a way despite the difficult circumstances, while Aguirre noted that errors cost his side the result. England will face Norway in the quarter‑finals, after Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1 earlier in the round of 32.
Four-month-old Ahmad Marouf Zeid died on Sunday evening after Israeli forces prevented his ambulance from reaching the Arab Specialized Hospital for more than an hour, according to Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam.
The checkpoint at Deir Ammar, west of Ramallah, required the vehicle to stop while soldiers fired tear gas at people attempting to pass, Ghannam said.
The death occurred amid heightened tension in the West Bank since Israel began its operation in Gaza more than 1,000 days ago. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,087 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023. On the same day, Israeli forces shot dead a 16‑year‑old boy at the Qalandiya refugee camp near Ramallah and wounded two 14‑year‑olds, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. An Israeli drone strike on Omar al‑Mukhtar Street in Gaza City killed at least two Palestinians and wounded several others, health officials said. Gaza’s Health Ministry recorded 1,066 deaths and 3,445 wounds since the ceasefire with Hamas took effect in October, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza to 73,090.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges Palestinians face in obtaining urgent medical care through West Bank checkpoints.
England defeated Mexico 3-2 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Sunday, advancing to the quarter‑final to face Norway. The match, which saw England reduced to ten players after a sending‑off, was decided by goals from Jude Bellingham (two) and a penalty converted by Harry Kane. Mexico responded with two goals to narrow the deficit, but England held on for the victory. The result marks Mexico's first defeat at the stadium in World Cup history.