Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
US President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Europe this month for the annual G7 and NATO summits. More details of a possible visit by Biden to the Middle East were revealed this week, with the US leader traveling to Saudi Arabia and Israel in July.
A source familiar with the matter said the US leader will be traveling to Saudi Arabia and July in July, according to Reuters. The source added that the White House is set to announce the upcoming trips this week.
The source also said that Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia will also include meeting its de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The trip was also confirmed by the spokesperson of the National Security Council saying that the upcoming engagements are being planned but did not disclose any further details.
The White House has said Biden believes the crown prince is a “pariah” for his involvement in the murder of a political opponent, journalist Jamal Khashoggi back in 2018.
The journalist’s murder at a consulate in Istanbul tarnished the image of the crown prince, and the Saudi government has denied the claims of the crown prince’s alleged involvement.
The upcoming visit by Biden to Saudi Arabia would likely seek to boost relations with the country at a time when gasoline prices are increasing.
In other related news, Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan raised concerns about North Korea with China’s top diplomat Yang Jie-chi regarding Beijing’s veto of a US-led push to increase sanctions on North Korea for its repeated weapons tests.
Sullivan and Yang held a four-hour meeting in Luxembourg Monday, where Sullivan said China and the US could work together on the issue surrounding North Korea.
This comes as last week, Russia and China accused the US of stoking the tensions in the Korean peninsula during a UN session where both countries had to explain their reasons for their veto of a resolution imposing new sanctions over the renewed ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang.
This also follows the comments by deputy US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman back on June 7 that the US, South Korea, and other countries would respond appropriately should North Korea carry out another nuclear test.
