Iran Receives Chinese Missiles; FBI Confirms Epstein Suicide; Trump Raises Tariffs on East Asian Allies

Good Morning,

President Trump's Justice Department and FBI have concluded they have no evidence that convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a "client list" or was murdered. Meanwhile, Kenya continues to grapple with political unrest as at least 11 people have died in recent anti-government protests, adding to the ongoing tensions that have plagued the country since last year's demonstrations. In Middle Eastern developments, Iran has reportedly received Chinese surface-to-air missile systems following the recent Israel ceasefire agreement, potentially shifting regional military dynamics. Trade relations take center stage as President Trump announces new 25% tariffs on Japanese and South Korean goods, marking a significant escalation in trade policy. Additionally, a Russian minister recently dismissed by Putin has been found dead, while Colombia's president has walked back previous accusations against U.S. officials in diplomatic correspondence with the Trump administration.

Top Stories

• DOJ, FBI conclude Epstein had no "client list," died by suicide - Axios

• Kenya: at least 10 dead in ongoing protests, 29 injured nationwide - Africa News

• Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal - Middle East Eye

• Trump Announces Higher Tariffs of 25% on Goods From Japan and S. Korea - New York Times

• Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead - BBC

• Colombia’s president backtracks on accusations against US officials in letter to Trump - Associated Press

United States

• Man killed after exchanging gunfire with Border Patrol agents in Texas - NBC

• Trump says US will send more weapons to Ukraine - Washington Post

• Trump Announces Higher Tariffs of 25% on Goods From Japan and S. Korea - New York Times

• DOJ, FBI conclude Epstein had no "client list," died by suicide - Axios

• This company wants to be the first to mine the ocean floor, with Trump's help - NPR

Africa  

• Kenya: at least 10 dead in ongoing protests, 29 injured nationwide - Africa News

• Eight migrants deported from Djibouti to South Sudan, Homeland Security says - Reuters

• Top South African official accuses police minister of colluding with crime syndicates - Associate Press

• How an al-Qaeda offshoot became one of Africa's deadliest militant groups - BBC

• South Africa's one million invisible children without birth certificates - France24

Middle East

• Trump and Netanyahu Meet as New Middle East Tests Loom - Wall Street Journal

• Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal - Middle East Eye

• Hezbollah chief says won’t disarm until Israel leaves southern Lebanon - Al Jazeera

• Proposal outlines large-scale 'Humanitarian Transit Areas' for Palestinians in Gaza - Reuters

• US to remove Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from list of foreign terrorist groups - BBC

Indo-Pacific

• Trump Announces Higher Tariffs of 25% on Goods From Japan and S. Korea - New York Times

• U.S. deports men from Asia and Latin America with criminal records to South Sudan after legal saga - CBS

• Alarms ring in Taipei as Beijing activates another Taiwan Strait flight route - SCMP

• Heat wave grips South Korea as monsoon ends early in south - Asia News Network 

• Will Trade War Make South India the Next Manufacturing Hub? - Bloomberg

Europe

• Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead - BBC

• EU-China tensions escalate over medical device trade restrictions - Euro News

• France concerned over ‘worrying’ disappearance of citizen in Iran - France24

• French police are slashing boats but migrants are still determined to reach the UK - Associated Press

• Poland begins controls on borders with Germany and Lithuania - The Guardian

Latin America

• U.S. deports men from Asia and Latin America with criminal records to South Sudan after legal saga - CBS

• Why Are Protesters in Mexico City Angry at Remote Workers? - New York Times

• In Peru, criminal gangs are targeting schools in poor neighborhoods for extortion - NPR

• Colombia’s president backtracks on accusations against US officials in letter to Trump - Associated Press

• Illegal loggers profit from Brazil’s carbon credit projects - Reuters

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