235 killed in Venezuela earthquakes, UN suspended Hormuz ship evacuation, US General Christopher Donahue to step down, Xi hosts "middle powers" visits, Germany pension overhaul

The two Venezuela earthquakes killed at least 235 people, injured over 4,300 others, and triggered a national state of emergency. The U.N. International Maritime Organization (IMO) has temporarily suspended its evacuation operation to escort stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz. This decision followed a projectile attack on a cargo vessel on June 25, 2026. Xi Jinping has indeed hosted more than a dozen world leaders in 2026, and this surge in high‑level visits reflects a broader geopolitical shift: many so‑called “middle powers” are exploring diplomatic space beyond the United States. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and NATO’s Allied Land Command, is unexpectedly stepping down from his post on July 2, 2026. Germany is planning a sweeping overhaul of its creaking pension system to stave off collapse as 13.3 million baby boomers approach retirement by 2040. On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to allow the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians. The U.S. government has banned Swedish electric vehicle maker Polestar from selling its new vehicles in the United States starting with the 2027 model year. Samsung Group plans to unveil a sweeping, 10-year 1,000 trillion won ($648 billion) investment plan on Monday to solidify South Korea's role in the global artificial intelligence boom. South Sudan faces a significant risk of Ebola spillover due to an active, expanding outbreak of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain originating in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda. The Zimbabwe Senate has passed Constitutional Amendment Bill 3, allowing Parliament to elect the president and extending President Mnangagwa’s term in office until 2030. Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at the Ras Tanura terminal in the Persian Gulf after a near four-month halt. The European Union co-chaired a closed-door, "technical-level" meeting with a Taliban delegation in Brussels on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to discuss the return and deportation of Afghan migrants.