2026, day 163
Good morning from Asia.
‘Trump ‘cancels strikes’, says deal ‘approved’’ (AJ);
‘India demands end to US attacks on ships after three sailors killed’ (Reuters);
‘Trump says US, Iran could sign peace deal as soon as this weekend’ (Reuters);
‘Iran’s Foreign Ministry says large part of deal with US finalized, but no decision made yet’ (Reuters);
‘Netanyahu reportedly not given heads-up about Trump’s announcement, was caught off guard’ (ToI);
‘Explosions heard in Bandar Abbas’ (Mehr);
‘Iranian official: Explosion heard in Sirik due to confrontation with tanker in Strait of Hormuz’ (Ynet);
‘IDF pushes deeper in into Lebanon to neutralize threat of Hezbollah’ (JPost) - “IDF assessments have determined that they can't fully disarm the terror organization but can push them back far enough into Lebanon to significantly reduce the risk to Israeli citizens”;
‘Lebanon’s Christians flee Tyre, fearing Israel’s campaign will prevent return’ (Reuters);
'’If order given, we will take over Beirut': IDF Golani cmndr. tells 'Post' about Wadi Saluki op.’ (JPost);
‘Syrian president receives invitation to US mid-June: Diplomatic source’ (Al Arabiya);
‘Turkey escalates tensions in Cyprus’ (FDD);
‘Why Europe should not choose to go it alone’ (FT) - “A secure future depends on a revitalised transatlantic alliance”;
‘Kallas defends EU’s foreign service after French paper questions its survival’ (Politico);
‘Arms maker Diehl in talks to build Ukrainian missile in Germany’ (FT);
‘Berlin, Israeli defence giant IAI sign deal for aerospace and defence innovation hub’ (Euractiv);
‘German and Spanish companies pitch themselves for alternative FCAS Jet’ (Euractiv);
‘Italy plans 40,000 troop increase and new reserve system under defence overhaul’ (Euractiv);
‘Ukraine aims to isolate Crimea from Russia, drone commander 'Madyar' says’ (Kyiv Independent);
‘How the FSB cut Russia off from the internet’ (FT) - “Shutdowns have made one of the world’s most online nations resort to cash, paper maps and pet cams”;
‘Russia ‘not looking for conflict’, says Nato’s top US commander’ (FT);
‘Russia builds up infrastructure near Europe's border to deploy over 100,000 troops’ (Ukraine Pravda);
‘US targets Cuba oil giant as Beijing and Havana deepen party ties’ (SCMP);
‘Nvidia denies Latin America role in chip smuggling as US-China AI rivalry reaches Brazil’ (SCMP);
In geoeconomics, ‘Jeff Bezos says AI will bring ‘golden ages’ not mass job losses’ (FT);
‘China races against US for AI’s holy grail: self-improving tech’ (SCMP);
‘US eyes Japanese funding for nuclear revival, Lutnick says’ (Nikkei Asia);
‘China's hydrogen push outstrips Japan's in new fuel race’ (Nikkei Asia);
‘What naphtha shortage? China extends petrochemicals lead during Iran war’ (Nikkei Asia) - “Japan seeks Asian partnerships to build more resilient supply chains”;
‘Mark Carney's trade push collides with reality of U.S. dependence’ (Reuters);
‘Trump’s threat not to renew USMCA an invitation to make a deal, U.S. Ambassador says’ (Globe & Mail);
‘Ottawa tabling bill on forced labour after Trump threatens new tariffs’ (Globe & Mail);
‘We want bigger cuts to EU budget than planned, richer countries say’ (Politico);
‘Reeves to tempt rich US expats with lower taxes’ (Telegraph) - “Chancellor seeks to ease levies on American investors who want to live in Britain”;
In politics, ‘Healey resignation torpedoes Starmer’ (Telegraph);
‘Donald Trump names former SEC head Jay Clayton as US intelligence chief’ (FT);
‘Trump and Allies Are Working on Plan to ‘Expunge’ Impeachments’ (WSJ);
‘Bardella vows 'new European architecture' if he wins power in France’ (Euractiv) - “Jordan Bardella says Ursula von der Leyen must go, and eyes close partnership with right-wing leaders in Germany and Italy”;
In markets, ‘SpaceX IPO makes Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire’ (Reuters);
‘Oil Drops to Two-Month Low as Trump Says Deal With Iran Is Close’ (BBG)