Trump Threatens Powell With Lawsuit; Former Korean First Lady Arrested; US Announces Sanctions on Congolese Group

Good Morning,

President Trump ramped up his pressure on Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, threatening to allow a lawsuit over the central bank's $3.1 billion renovation project to move forward. In foreign policy moves, the U.S. government sanctioned an armed group accused of illicit trading in minerals in eastern Congo as Washington tries to spearhead peace efforts there while pushing for U.S. access to the region's minerals. Meanwhile, human rights concerns mounted as Saudi Arabia executed eight people in a single day, while legal proceedings advanced with former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee being arrested and Poland charging a suspect over parcel bombs amid Russia sabotage fears. Weather disruptions continued in Mexico City, where torrential rains forced airport closures for a second consecutive day, highlighting the intersection of climate and infrastructure challenges facing major global cities.

Top Stories

• Trump threatens Fed chair Powell with ‘major lawsuit,’ demands interest rate cut - CNBC

• US announces sanctions against armed group and companies profiting from conflict minerals in Congo - Associated Press

• Saudi Arabia executes eight people in single day - Middle East Eye

• Former Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee arrested - Korea Herald

• Poland charges suspect over parcel bomb amid Russia sabotage fears - Euro News

• Torrential rains shut down flights at Mexico City airport for second day - ABC

United States

• US announces sanctions against armed group and companies profiting from conflict minerals in Congo - Associated Press

• Trump threatens Fed chair Powell with ‘major lawsuit,’ demands interest rate cut - CNBC

• National Guard appears in DC after Trump surges federal authorities - CNN

• The Risks of the Trump-Putin Summit - Foreign Policy

• Chinese man pleads guilty to smuggling 850 protected turtles worth over $1 million from U.S. - CBS

Africa

• US announces sanctions against armed group and companies profiting from conflict minerals in Congo - Associated Press

• Iran, South Africa pledge to deepen military and anti-terrorism collaboration - Tehran Times

• Sudan war: Forty killed in attack on Abu Shouk camp near to el-Fasher, aid group says - BBC

• Congo army and rebels trade blame over clashes, troop buildup - Reuters

• Fuel-Price Backlash Shakes Leading African Oil Producer - Bloomberg

Middle East

• Iran, South Africa pledge to deepen military and anti-terrorism collaboration - Tehran Times

• Saudi Arabia executes eight people in single day - Middle East Eye

• Israel in talks with South Sudan about Gazan resettlement plans - report - Jerusalem Post

• Saudi shipping company denies transporting weapons to Israel - Middle East Monitor

• Jordan’s king meets Syrian FM, US envoy over Syria developments - Arab News

Indo-Pacific

• Chinese man pleads guilty to smuggling 850 protected turtles worth over $1 million from U.S. - CBS

• China releases mandate on natural assets at national parks - Asia News Network

• Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea - SCMP

• ‘Nazi salute’ social media trend condemned by Hong Kong’s holocaust memorial centre - HKFP

• Former Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee arrested - Korea Herald

Europe

• The Risks of the Trump-Putin Summit - Foreign Policy

• ‘We’re being cooked alive:’ Europe burns as temperatures soar above 100 degrees - CNN

• State Dept. human rights reports scale back criticism of El Salvador, but fault U.K., Germany - CBS

• Migrants encamped on Paris city hall forecourt evacuated - France24

• Poland charges suspect over parcel bomb amid Russia sabotage fears - Euro News

Latin America

• Mexico transfers 26 cartel figures wanted by US authorities in deal with Trump administration - Associated Press

• State Dept. human rights reports scale back criticism of El Salvador, but fault U.K., Germany - CBS

• Mexico and Brazil Rebut Trump’s Claims About Violence in Their Cities - New York Times

• The unprecedented feud between the US and Brazil - FT

• Torrential rains shut down flights at Mexico City airport for second day - ABC

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