June 20, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet with E.U., U.K., French, and German counterparts today in Geneva amidst speculation of a diplomatic initiative aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Reports cite Araghchi as saying this morning, however, that talks with the United States on the future of Iran's nuclear program are not possible "until Israeli aggression stops." [more]
• U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military will actively participate in military operations targeting Iran's nuclear program. [more]

U.S. NATIONAL GUARD | Reversing a lower-court ruling, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found yesterday that President Donald Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing California National Guard troops for deployment to Los Angeles amidst recent protests in the city. The judges noted several actions against federal officers and facilities in their ruling, and said “The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.” [more]

U.S. WEATHER | Meteorologists say a so-called "heat dome" will cover large areas of the U.S. Midwest and East Coast for much of the coming week, with heat indices expected to reach as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit in some regions. [more]

U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE | In their new annual reports, trustees for both Medicare and Social Security say the programs will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2033 and 2034, respectively, unless Congress acts to address related funding issues. [more]

U.S. SOCIAL MEDIA | In an executive order signed yesterday, President Donald Trump extended the deadline for Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok to come under American ownership or face a ban in the United States. The new 90-day extension is the third time Trump has extended the deadline. [more]

U.S. AND CANADA | Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said yesterday that, depending on progress in U.S.-Canada trade talks, his country will impose new tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports beginning on July 21. [more]

GLOBAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN | In his annual report on Children in Armed Conflict, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says there was “a staggering 25% surge in grave violations” against children under the age of 18 in conflict zones from 2023 to 2024. The report notes that the highest number of violations in 2024 took place in Gaza and the West Bank, Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti. [press release] [full report] [more]

TAIWAN AND CHINA | The Taiwanese Defense Ministry says China sent 74 warplanes yesterday toward Taiwan and across the central line in the Taiwan Strait. The planes were accompanied by six Chinese military ships, according to reports. [more]

SPAIN AND NATO | In a letter sent to NATO leadership yesterday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his country cannot commit to a NATO proposal to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense needs, but plans to meet the previous spending goal of 2% of GDP. The higher defense spending proposal is due to be considered by NATO members at a summit next week in The Hague, Netherlands. [more]

SOUTH AFRICA | Elias Sithole, director of the South Africa's National Disaster Management Centre said yesterday that recent severe weather and flooding has caused the disruption of vital services in multiple provinces, prompting the declaration of a national state of emergency. Reports note at least 92 people have died in the flooding, which was most severe in the Eastern Cape province. [more]

MEXICO | Emergency officials say at least one person died in flooding yesterday amidst regional damage caused by Hurricane Erick, which struck Mexico's southern Pacific coast between the resort cities of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido as a Category 3 storm. [more]

CHINA | As the annual East Asia monsoon season ramps up, Chinese authorities issued emergency alerts yesterday for the provinces of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi amidst predictions of extreme rainfall and flash floods. [more]

RUSSIA | Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum yesterday, Russian Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov suggested that Russia is "on the brink of going into a recession." Reports note that Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Central Bank Gov. Elvira Nabiullina gave more optimistic assessments of the Russian economy at the meeting. [more]

NORWAY | Norwegian government officials announced today that their country plans to impose a temporary ban later this year on the establishment of new data centers that mine cryptocurrency with the most power-intensive technologies in order to conserve electricity for other industries. [more]

BASKETBALL | The Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-91, last night to tie the best-of-seven NBA Finals series at 3-3. The championship-deciding Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday night. [more]

SOCCER | The U.S. defeated Saudi Arabia, 1-0, last night to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1789, the deputies of the Third Estate in France, locked out of their meeting hall at Versailles, congregated on a nearby tennis court and took the Tennis Court Oath, pledging to not separate until a written constitution had been established. [more history]