Friendly fire | Trump's battle for re-election is being stymied by former insiders — including John Kelly, James Mattis and John Bolton — who have turned against him. Josh Wingrove explains how the list of Trump advisers turned detractors is striking in its size, the seniority of its members and the vehemence of their critiques — especially for a president known to prize loyalty above all else. - Democrat Joe Biden leads Trump 50% to 36% in a new New York Times/Siena College poll.
- The Senate is headed toward a standoff over attempts to overhaul policing practices, with Democrats poised to block debate on a Republican plan they say is too narrow to address a national crisis over racial inequity.
Reciprocal action | The European Union may keep the door shut to Americans because its citizens can't enter the U.S. for health reasons and given continued surges in U.S. Covid-19 cases. Officials meet today to discuss who can travel to the bloc as of July 1, amid the dilemma of trying to revive their economies during tourist season while preventing a new wave of infections. - The U.S. is weighing new tariffs on $3.1 billion of exports from France, Germany, Spain and the U.K., adding to measures the Trump administration is using against the EU that could spiral into a wider transatlantic trade fight.
Another hurdle | The U.S.-China trade deal faces a fresh challenge as Beijing wants global meat and soybean shippers to attest their cargoes meet safety standards to ensure they aren't contaminated with Covid-19. Many American exporters have been reticent to take that step, fearing liability. The demand could further delay farm purchases China pledged under the phase one trade deal — even as public health authorities say the disease isn't carried by food. Pulling back | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the suspension of military actions against South Korea, signaling he's ready to ease tensions after the regime last week blew up a joint liaison office and threatened further provocations. The move came a day before the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, a milestone that had prompted talk of renewed escalation by Pyongyang. Libya's red line | The dusty Mediterranean town of Sirte — where former dictator Moammar Qaddafi was born and died — is the gateway to the largest oil reserves in Africa and has long played a large role in Libya's history. Rebel commander Khalifa Haftar controls it now, but as Tarek El-Tablawy and Mohammed Abdusamee explain, forces loyal to internationally recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj are preparing to take it back. What to Watch - Trump meets Polish President Andrzej Duda today in his first encounter with a foreign leader since the pandemic prompted global lockdowns, a visit both hope provides a boost for looming elections.
- The U.S. and Russia plan more arms-control talks as soon as July after they made enough progress to continue negotiating over nuclear-weapons stockpiles.
- President Hassan Rouhani said today that Iran was committed to working with the International Atomic Energy Agency even after the United Nations watchdog called for further inspections at the country's nuclear sites.
And finally ... The City of London is so rich in history — from the Roman era to the age of empire — that time has obscured the lives of the figures who contributed to its status, many of whom made their fortunes from slavery and colonial oppression. Now, as Alan Crawford, Greg Ritchie and Viren Vaghela explain, the Black Lives Matter movement that started in the U.S. and crossed the Atlantic has sparked questions about the institutions that profited from the slave trade. The empty plinth in front of the Museum of London where the statute of Robert Milligan, a prominent slave trader, used to stand. It was removed on June 9 in the wake of protests. Photographer: Olivia Harris/Bloomberg |
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