WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
1. 🇸🇾 Israel and Syria struck a ceasefire deal. After a deadly weeklong conflict in southern Syria between the Druze minority and other tribal groups, Israel launched airstrikes near Damascus, claiming to defend the Druze, who also live in Israel. Now, Syrian President al-Sharaa and Israeli PM Netanyahu have confirmed a ceasefire deal, brokered by the US. Hundreds were killed in the Sweida region before the ceasefire took hold.
2. 🇯🇵 Japan set up a “foreigner task force.” The new task force will coordinate Japanese policies on foreigners, as “crimes or nuisance behaviors” among them have rapidly risen. The country has imported millions of foreign migrants in recent years to fill labor gaps, and anger at the new arrivals has empowered the Japanese populist right. One such party, the nationalist Sanseitō, has been campaigning on a “Japan first” message ahead of nationwide elections this Sunday.
3. 🇪🇺 The European Union passed its 18th sanctions package on Russia. The package had initially been delayed by Slovakia, which demanded carve-outs that would allow it to continue buying Russian gas. The package includes a price cap on Russian oil and sanctions on nearly two dozen banks. The EU has been urging the United States to impose new sanctions on Russia, a measure the Trump administration has thus far refused to take.
4. 🇺🇦 Ukraine has a new prime minister. Yulia Svyrydenko was appointed this week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a cabinet reshuffle. Svyrydenko previously negotiated the mineral agreement signed by the Trump administration. The move comes amid President Donald Trump's agreement to send defensive weaponry, but Ukraine has still been unable to stop Russia from making slow progress on the battlefield.
INSIDER RADAR
Japanese defense minister on the new Axis powers
Insiders behind the paywall: Gen Nakatani, Friedrich Merz, Marco Rubio, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
The Trump administration secured the release of 10 wrongfully jailed Americans in Venezuela in exchange for hundreds of suspected Tren de Aragua members.
The Israeli Mossad director came to Washington to press the US to help persuade other countries to accept Gazans.
Lebanon banned its banks from engaging with the financial arm of Hezbollah.
The UK sanctioned three Russian spies, arguing that they had been involved in attacks on civilians in Ukraine.
The most clicked link in our last newsletter was the EPA moving ahead with a major overhaul.
France opens the floodgates to Gazans
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
A French court recently granted asylum to a mother and son from Gaza who had sought refuge in the country.
The ruling, however, is sweeping in its implications: it declared that because of Israel’s conduct in conducting its war against Hamas, all Gazans are eligible for asylum…
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame Ukraine’s new prime minister
Mentioned behind the paywall: Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Fox News, and The Washington Examiner.
_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 Do you think other countries should take in more Gazans?Results will be in tomorrow's newsletter |
POLLS RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Do you believe certain illegal migrant workers should receive legal status?
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 👍 Yes (330)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👎 No (966)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (148)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💬 Other (48)
👍 Yes: “Yes, if they are not committing crimes there could be a procedure in place to keep them in the country and benefit from their taxes and contribution.” — Valeria
👎 No: “They need to all be deported and follow the LEGAL method of becoming a citizen.” — Jim
🤔 Unsure: “I'm afraid it might encourage others to try and enter the country illegally. Congress should look at temporary visas for different categories of people.” — Patricia
💬 Other: “Not without extreme vetting, and subject to revocation if convicted of a crime.” — HJ
_POP QUIZ_
Who delayed the EU’s Russia sanctions? |
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ariel David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
You Missed 34% of Today's Coverage
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