Situation Reports

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt the latest round of exchanges, which were triggered by a June 25 Iranian attack on a cargo vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz on a U.S.-backed route, Axios reported June 28.

China's commerce ministry on June 29 announced it was adding 20 Japanese companies to its export control list, cutting off their access to China's list of dual-use exports like rare earths, with the ministry noting the measures are aimed at "deterring Japan's reckless pursuit of 'new-type militarism."

The Ethiopian Finance Ministry announced that it reached an agreement in principle with a bondholder committee regarding the restructuring of a $1 billion eurobond, Reuters reported June 29.

A fourth large-scale earthquake in six days hit Venezuela June 29 as the government's limited rescue and response capacity has fueled criticism against acting President Delcy Rodriguez's administration, El Pais reported.

After a two-seater, private airplane crashed into CITIC Tower, Beijing's tallest skyscraper, on June 26, Financial Times sources claim that flights at recreational airports nationwide, along with all drone flights, were steadily grounded over June 27-28, with only commercial cargo and passenger flights allowed.

In a June 29 post on X, Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda said discussions were underway to reopen the country's two leading independent media outlets, the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, amid mounting domestic and international pressure.

Argentine President Javier Milei appointed Interior Minister Diego Santilli as the new chief of cabinet after the resignation of Manuel Adorni, who is under investigation over alleged illicit enrichment, La Nacion reported June 28.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to continue talks with U.S. envoys on ending the war in Ukraine but rejected proposals for a mutual halt to long-range strikes and for limiting fighting to the four occupied Ukrainian regions, Bloomberg reported June 28.

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham proposed a major shift toward regional governance to counter the concentration of power in London during his first major policy speech since launching his bid to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and U.K. prime minister, the Guardian reported June 29.

Australia and Vanuatu signed the Nakamal Agreement after months of delay, with Vanuatu committing not to host foreign military bases or infrastructure and to keep critical infrastructure free from militarization, according to treaty text published by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on June 29.