Africa Sees Malaria Surge; US-Japan Trade Deal Announced; Ukrainians Protest Zelenskyy's Watchdog Policy

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Southern Africa faces a devastating malaria surge with Botswana recording thousands of cases and 11 deaths in 2025 compared to 218 cases and no deaths in the same period last year. Meanwhile, Syrian violence continues with reports of 1,426 killed in March, Israel tests Trump’s patience, and the US announces a major trade deal with Japan. Meanwhile, Ukrainian protesters challenge new laws weakening anti-corruption watchdogs as Zelenskyy faces domestic pressure, and Mexico grapples with drug cartels seizing control of healthcare facilities in several regions, worsening an existing public health crisis.

Top Stories

• How Long Can Israel Keep Frustrating the U.S.? - TIME

• Malaria Surges in Southern Africa - Africa CDC

• Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it - Reuters

• Trump announces ‘massive’ trade agreement with Japan - CNN

• Ukrainian protesters rally as Zelenskyy backs law weakening watchdogs - Euro News

• Drug traffickers take control of health centers in some areas of Mexico - NBC

United States

• Trump announces ‘massive’ trade agreement with Japan - CNN

• US House speaker shuts down chamber to block Epstein vote - BBC

• Trump says U.S. struck trade, military deal with the Philippines; Manila has not confirmed - CNBC

• Masked ICE agents detain former Afghan interpreter who helped U.S. military - NBC

• How Long Can Israel Keep Frustrating the U.S.? - TIME

Africa

• South Africa Telecom Sector Faces Crisis: 80% of Firms Hit by Ransomware in Past Year - Tech Africa

• Africa News Live Updates: MK’s Sahara shock, Sudan’s oil conflict, Nigeria’s budget battles - First Post

• Africa to be hit hard as UK foreign aid cuts revealed - BBC

• Malaria Surge in Southern Africa - Africa CDC

• Portugal signals support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara - Reuters

Middle East

• How Long Can Israel Keep Frustrating the U.S.? - TIME

• Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it - Reuters

• Masked ICE agents detain former Afghan interpreter who helped U.S. military - NBC

• EU warns Israel as Trump’s envoy heads to Europe for Gaza truce talks - Al Jazeera

• US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation - Al Monitor

Indo-Pacific

• Trump announces ‘massive’ trade agreement with Japan - CNN

• Trump says U.S. struck trade, military deal with the Philippines; Manila has not confirmed - CNBC

• Oil prices stabilise after US-Japan trade deal - Reuters

• Korea Weighs Easing Sensitive Farm Tariffs to Clinch Trump Deal - Bloomberg

• Gov’t denies using new prison rules after visitor allegedly barred from seeing inmate jailed for nat. sec offences - Hong Kong Free Press

Europe

• Africa to be hit hard as UK foreign aid cuts revealed - BBC

• Portugal signals support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara - Reuters

• EU warns Israel as Trump’s envoy heads to Europe for Gaza truce talks - Al Jazeera

• France moves notorious drug traffickers to supermax prison in major crackdown - France24

• Ukrainian protesters rally as Zelenskyy backs law weakening watchdogs - Euro News

Latin America

• Brazil's Supreme Court justice threatens to arrest Jair Bolsonaro - BBC

• Brazil acknowledges possibility of no US trade deal by August 1 - Reuters

• Delta and Aeromexico jets nearly collide at Mexico City airport - ABC

• Drug traffickers take control of health centers in some areas of Mexico - NBC

• ICE Arrests Haitian Oligarch Accused of Supporting Gangs - New York Times

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