LA Riots Escalate, IDF Stops Greta’s Gaza Boat, Spanish Daredevils

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🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

Spanish national daily ABC highlights Carlos Alcaraz’s epic victory at Roland Garros on Sunday, where he came back from two sets down and saved three match points to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy, in the longest final in the clay tournament’s history clocking in at five hours and 29 minutes. With the win, as the front page reads, “Alcaraz confirms his romance with Paris,” as he lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires for the second time in a row.

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• Israel captures Gaza aid boat. Israeli naval forces seized a ship operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition early Monday as it headed for Gaza to deliver aid and raise awareness of the current humanitarian crisis and blockade. Prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the 12-member crew. Hamas condemned the seizure as “state terrorism,” while international human rights advocates voiced support for further attempts to challenge the blockade. Meanwhile, the IDF says it found Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar’s body in a tunnel near Gaza’s European Hospital, citing it as evidence of Hamas using civilian sites for military purposes. For more, French international affairs commentator Pierre Haski wrote recently about the “predictable disaster” of Israeli food aid in Gaza.

• Anti-ICE protests escalate in California. Violent protests in Los Angeles, sparked by the arrest of 44 people on alleged immigration violations, intensified over the weekend, with at least 10 people arrested. U.S. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops on Sunday, a move that California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom called unlawful and politically motivated. Amid this conflict between state and federal jurisdiction, the southern Californian city of Glendale terminated its long-standing contract with ICE on Sunday, citing it as a violation to the city’s commitment to public safety and trust.

• Putin approves naval revamp. Kremlin aide Nikolai Patrushev confirms that Vladimir Putin has approved a long-term naval strategy aimed to reestablish Russia as a leading maritime power. Though it has suffered losses in Ukraine, Russia’s navy is already ranked third in the world, and this new initiative predicts vast change to the global naval balance and oceanic threats by 2050. Worldcrunch translated this Die Zeit article last month about Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.

• U.S. and China hold trade talks. U.S. and Chinese delegations are meeting in London on Monday to reinforce a fragile truce in their ongoing trade dispute, following a 90-day suspension of major tariffs agreed upon last month. The talks, sparked by continued tensions over tech, resources, and visas, aim to stabilize relations amid global economic concerns, with the UK hosting but not participating. 

• Colombian senator Uribe shot during presidential campaign. Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot twice in the head mid-speech during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday, with a 15-year-old suspect arrested at the scene. His wife confirms he survived surgery and remains under intensive care, as the Colombian government calls for unity and a full investigation amid revived fears of political violence.

• Iran prohibits dog walking. Iranian officials expanded a ban on dog walking and transporting dogs in vehicles to at least 18 cities this past week for public health and order concerns, despite no national law outright banning dog ownership. Viewed by the regime as “un-Islamic” and a Western influence, dog ownership is rising among young Iranians as a subtle form of rebellion against strict social restrictions. 

• News Quiz! What surprise duet were fans treated to this weekend, during a concert at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium?

A. Beyoncé and Usher
B. Charli XCX and Chappell Roan
C. Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney
D. Olivia Rodrigo and David Byrne
[Answer below]

#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS

-34.5%

China’s exports to the U.S. plummeted by 34.5% year on year in May — the steepest drop since February 2020 — as elevated U.S. tariffs dampened shipments. Overall, China’s exports rose by just 4.8% in May, a marked slowdown from April’s growth. Imports also declined, as the U.S. had stocked up on Chinese goods earlier in the year ahead of the new tariffs. While Beijing had anticipated a downturn, the actual figures came in worse than expected. Trade talks are set today between the U.S. and China in London.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

🇨🇳 China is taking a growing interest in investing in Latin America — just as the Trump administration is making the United States less reliable. But what are Beijing’s real motivations?
— EL ESPECTADOR

🌎 The West once promised freedom, justice and reason. But after centuries of global dominance, war crimes and broken ideals, its future hangs in the balance. As nationalism rises and China stakes its claim, is the West entering its final act?
— DIE ZEIT

🇮🇳 Amid the India-Pakistan conflict in May, Hyderabad’s famous Karachi Bakery was vandalized. Why is this well-loved Indian chain being villainized?— THE WIRE

📣 VERBATIM

“If you see this, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters.”

— In a pre-recorded video message on X, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg warned that her British‑flagged, Gaza-bound aid ship Madleen, part of the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was stopped by Israeli forces in the eastern Mediterranean. The Israeli government confirmed the interception, making light of the vessel which it nicknamed the “selfie yacht,” and assured would be safely making its way to the shores of Israel.