作者： admin

Mysteriously missing New Jersey congressman receives Trump endorsement

For nearly four months, Republican U.S. Representative Tom Kean Jr. has not been spotted publicly in either Washington D.C. or his home district in New Jersey. Despite this unprecedented public absence that has sparked national curiosity across the United States, political analysts and party insiders widely expect him to secure the Republican Party’s nomination for re-election in Tuesday’s primary contest, boosted by a full endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

In a social media post shared to his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump threw his full weight behind Kean’s re-election bid. “Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election,” the former president wrote, adding, “HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump framed Kean as a committed champion of his right-wing America First policy agenda, falsely claiming the congressman is “working tirelessly” for his constituents even as Kean has not cast a congressional vote in months.

Kean is running unopposed in the Republican primary, meaning he has faced no pressure to hit the campaign trail or engage with voters to lock in the nomination. But public records confirm that he has missed more than 100 roll call votes on Capitol Hill since he was last seen publicly on March 5. Shortly after his final recorded vote in early March, congressional colleagues, state Republican Party officials, and national news outlets began raising questions about his whereabouts. Attempts to reach Kean via text message have gone unanswered, and formal requests for interviews with the congressman have also been ignored. One senior aide told The New York Times in a cryptic comment: “There’s no cameras where Tom is.”

In April, Kean’s office released a public statement acknowledging that the congressman was recovering from an unspecified medical issue. In the statement posted to the social platform X, Kean said his medical team had confirmed his recovery would be full, and that he expected to return to his congressional duties imminently. “My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,” Kean said, adding “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”

Nearly one month after that initial update, Kean participated in a remote telephone interview with the New Jersey Globe, a state-focused political news outlet. During that conversation, he reaffirmed that he planned to see his re-election bid through and return to public life once his recovery was complete. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents,” he said, telling the outlet he anticipated returning to congressional voting and in-person campaign events “in the next couple of weeks.” That timeline passed weeks ago, however, and as primary voters began casting ballots across his district on Tuesday, there were still no confirmed public sightings of Kean. The BBC has reached out to Kean’s congressional office for an updated comment on his status and whereabouts, but has not yet received a response.

Kean’s district is widely classified as a competitive swing seat, meaning it regularly alternates control between Republican and Democratic candidates following election cycles. The race for this district is considered a top priority for both national parties ahead of November’s general election: Republicans are desperate to hold the seat to maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Democrats have targeted it as a key pickup opportunity that could help them flip control of the chamber – and hand a high-profile defeat to Trump, who has staked political capital on supporting Kean.

Political observers note Trump’s decision to endorse Kean despite the ongoing mystery around his absence is entirely in line with the former president’s past endorsement strategy. Trump has regularly endorsed candidates facing controversy or questions about their conduct, prioritizing partisan loyalty over public accountability. If Kean secures the expected primary win on Tuesday, he will go on to face the Democratic Party’s general election nominee in November, in what is guaranteed to be one of the most closely watched House races of the 2026 cycle.

2 6 月, 2026
‘Everybody hates you’: Trump yells at Netanyahu over Lebanon escalation

A sharp diplomatic rift between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been exposed by multiple U.S. officials, who have detailed a profanity-filled phone call where Trump lashed out at Netanyahu over Israel’s planned new offensive on Beirut, Lebanon. The confrontation came on the heels of Iran’s decision to pause ongoing indirect peace talks mediated by international actors, a move Tehran made directly in response to Netanyahu’s public announcement of plans to renew strikes on the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh, a stronghold of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Citing two anonymous senior U.S. administration officials, news outlet Axios first reported that Trump unleashed a torrent of harsh criticism against Netanyahu during the conversation, steamrolling the Israeli leader and warning that any further military escalation in Lebanon would push Israel into complete international isolation. According to the officials’ accounts, Trump went so far as to call Netanyahu “fucking crazy” and bluntly stated that “everybody hates Israel” over the planned offensive. He repeatedly emphasized that his interventions were shielding Israel from global backlash, telling Netanyahu “I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.” At one point in the heated exchange, sources say Trump yelled the question “What the fuck are you doing?” in frustration at Netanyahu’s refusal to back down from the attack plans.

The officials added that Trump also publicly accused Netanyahu of ingratitude, a remark widely interpreted as a reference to Netanyahu’s ongoing ongoing corruption trial in Israel and Trump’s previous public calls for the Israeli leader to receive a full pardon. Immediately after the call, Trump moved quickly to de-escalate the situation, posting an announcement on his social media platform clarifying that no U.S. troops would be deployed to Beirut, and any U.S. military assets already en route had already been ordered to turn back. He also claimed he had held a productive discussion with Hezbollah representatives to work out the terms of a full ceasefire, writing “They agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”

Initial responses to the ceasefire proposal from regional stakeholders have revealed mixed positions. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, released a public statement Monday confirming the group supports a comprehensive ceasefire across all of Lebanese territory, noting that such an agreement should be followed by a full withdrawal of Israeli military forces from all occupied Lebanese territory. Fadlallah also made clear that Hezbollah rejects any partial truce deal that would spare Beirut from Israeli strikes in exchange for Hezbollah halting attacks on northern Israel. Shortly after Fadlallah’s statement, the Lebanese presidency officially confirmed that Hezbollah had agreed to the U.S.-brokered proposal for a mutual halt to all hostilities across the entire country.

Netanyahu, however, has refused to back down from his original stance. In a post on the social platform X, the Israeli prime minister confirmed he had spoken with Trump, and reiterated that “if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens – Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged.”

Regarding Iran’s decision to suspend indirect peace talks, Trump initially offered a dismissive response, telling reporters “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly…I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less.” Later, speaking to NBC News, Trump added that he had not received any direct communication from Iran since the suspension, and suggested that a period of diplomatic silence could be beneficial. “I think we’ve been talking too much if you want to know the truth. I think going silent would be very good, and that could be for a long time,” he said, adding “It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there. We’ll just go silent. We’ll keep the blockade. Blockade is a piece of steel.” He subsequently walked back the suggestion that talks were permanently halted, posting on social media that negotiations with Iran were continuing “at a rapid pace.”
This report was originally published by Middle East Eye, an outlet that provides independent, in-depth coverage of the Middle East and North Africa region.

2 6 月, 2026
Former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori to conclude his career at the Japan Open

Japanese tennis trailblazer Kei Nishikori, the former U.S. Open finalist and world No. 4, will bring his legendary 17-year professional career to a close on home soil this fall, competing in the 2024 Japan Open in Tokyo. Tournament organizers have granted the 36-year-old a wild card entry for the event, which is scheduled to run from September 30 to October 6, the ATP Tour officially confirmed on Tuesday.

Nishikori made his pro debut in 2007, and over the course of his career he redefined what Japanese men’s tennis could achieve on the global stage. He made history in 2014 when he became the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the U.S. Open, where he ultimately fell in straight sets to Croatian star Marin Cilic. He peaked at a career-high ranking of world No. 4, making him the highest-ranked Japanese male player in ATP history. Another standout highlight of his career came at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he defeated the legendary Rafael Nadal to claim a bronze medal.

In recent years, consistent injury struggles have sidelined Nishikori, limiting him exclusively to the lower-tier ATP Challenger Tour in 2024 and dropping his current ranking to No. 703 in the world.

Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion who served as Nishikori’s long-time coach, emphasized that Nishikori’s achievements carry even greater weight when considering the era he competed in. Nishikori built his career alongside the so-called Big Three and Big Four of men’s tennis: Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, widely regarded as the most dominant group of players in the history of the sport.

“For him to get to No. 4 in the world on two different occasions is not easy,” Chang told the Associated Press during this year’s French Open. “I tell him he’s got nothing but to feel great about what he’s accomplished in tennis.” Chang added that while retirement marks the start of a new life chapter for Nishikori, he believes the next phase spent with his young family will bring new joy and opportunity. “He’s had a great career and hopefully he finishes out well and Tokyo gives him a good send-off because I think he deserves it,” Chang said.

Fellow Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1, shared how Nishikori’s trailblazing career inspired her own path to the top of the sport. Speaking in Paris, Osaka noted that before Nishikori’s breakthrough, Japanese tennis had never produced a male player who reached such heights on the global tour.

“Being Japanese, being able to look up to him, seeing everything he’s achieved, in a world where Japanese tennis hadn’t been able to go as far as he did in that moment in time, it was just so inspiring,” Osaka said. “I wanted to stand next to him as the female representative. So I’m really glad that I was able to do that. I’m grateful for everything that he’s done and I want to see him play tennis one more time.”

2 6 月, 2026
White House press gala rescheduled after shooting

Nearly three months after a violent assassination attempt disrupted its annual dinner, the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) has announced the event will return to Washington D.C. next month, with upgraded security protocols in place to prevent a repeat of the incident. The annual gathering of journalists, government officials and political figures was thrown into chaos on April 25, when 31-year-old California resident Cole Allen opened fire at an exterior security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton ballroom where U.S. President Donald Trump was speaking. Trump was immediately evacuated from the venue as law enforcement responded to the threat, and no attendees or staff were harmed in the incident. Allen has since entered a plea of not guilty to federal charges that include attempted assassination of the sitting president.

In an official email circulated to WHCA members Tuesday, association president Weijia Jiang confirmed the rescheduled dinner will take place in the nation’s capital on Friday, July 24. In a defiant statement rejecting the impact of the violent act, Jiang emphasized that the association would not let intimidation cancel a longstanding tradition of press engagement with the White House. “We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for,” Jiang wrote.

The WHCA leader confirmed the event will implement substantially enhanced safety measures and revised entry procedures, and will be structured as a smaller, more intimate gathering than the original glitzy, well-attended April event. Jiang did not share further details about the new venue (the original was the Washington Hilton), ticketing arrangements, or event programming, noting that additional information would be released to members in the coming weeks. She also declined to confirm whether President Trump would attend the rescheduled dinner. The annual gala typically draws thousands of attendees from across journalism and the federal government, and traditionally includes remarks from the sitting U.S. president.

Following the April incident, Trump publicly called for the dinner to be rescheduled, and has also cited the attempted attack to justify his controversial plan to construct a new ballroom at the White House complex—a proposal that has drawn criticism from historical preservation groups and political opponents.

2 6 月, 2026
Two killed in Kenya protests over US Ebola centre: rights group

Tensions over a proposed U.S.-built Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens in Kenya boiled over into deadly violence this week, leaving at least two people dead amid widespread public anger over the project, a regional human rights group has confirmed. The unrest has thrown the future of the planned site into question, after Kenya’s High Court ordered an immediate pause to construction and implementation amid mounting legal and public pushback.

The facility, constructed on Laikipia Air Base in central Kenya roughly 200 kilometers from the capital Nairobi, was scheduled to open last week. Developed with U.S. backing, the site was designed to hold up to 50 people for quarantine, with all operations to be managed by U.S. medical personnel. Its stated purpose was to isolate American travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is currently grappling with a large, ongoing Ebola outbreak that has been declared a major public health emergency. In addition to building the facility, the U.S. State Department announced last week it would allocate $13.5 million to support Kenya’s broader national Ebola preparedness and response initiatives.

Despite the public health framing of the project, it sparked immediate public outrage across Kenya. Many Kenyans argued that allowing the U.S. to operate a quarantine center for potentially Ebola-exposed patients on Kenyan soil posed an unacceptable public health risk to local communities, particularly since Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases to date despite rigorous screening of incoming travelers. Neighboring Uganda has recorded 15 confirmed cases and one death from the current outbreak, stoking regional anxiety about the virus’s spread.

Violent protests erupted near the Laikipia facility on Monday, with local media footage showing clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd of protesters, who had gathered to oppose the center. Hussein Khalid, a leader with Kenyan human rights organization VOCAL Africa, announced via a post on X Tuesday that a 27-year-old man had been shot and killed during the clashes, dying instantly at the protest site. Khalid told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a second fatality had also been confirmed, though the identity of the second victim was still being finalized as of Tuesday. Kenyan police have so far declined to confirm the two deaths when contacted by AFP.

As unrest grew, Kenyan President William Ruto issued a public defense of the project this week, seeking to calm public fears. In a post on X Tuesday, Ruto argued that the U.S. facility was “neither unique nor exceptional” and instead framed it as one component of Kenya’s broader national Ebola preparedness infrastructure. Ruto added that the facility would “serve the people of Kenya and our friends, including the Americans,” and told the public, “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. So people should relax.”

The legal challenge to the facility, filed by Kenyan human rights organization Katiba Institute, resulted in a major win for opponents this week. The Kenyan High Court extended an existing temporary halt to the project on Tuesday, and ordered the Kenyan government to disclose all formal agreements related to the facility within seven days, increasing transparency around the controversial deal.

On Tuesday, a new wave of peaceful demonstrations unfolded in central Nairobi. Protesters wore white protective medical gear, carried a mock coffin marked with the word “Ebola,” and held signs reading “Reject Ebola in Kenya” to demand the project be scrapped entirely.

The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC has grown significantly since it was first declared in mid-May. The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its case count Tuesday, confirming 321 total confirmed cases and 48 deaths linked to the outbreak. So far, one U.S. citizen – a medical missionary working in the DRC – has contracted Ebola during the outbreak; he was evacuated from the region and is currently receiving treatment in Germany.

The controversial quarantine plan has also drawn criticism from U.S. political leaders. Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the initiative in a post on X, arguing that the U.S. government should take responsibility for repatriating and treating American citizens exposed to Ebola rather than outsourcing that responsibility to a foreign government.

2 6 月, 2026
General Mills agrees to sell Häagen-Dazs shops in China to investor group

In a significant shift of foreign brand ownership in China’s consumer market, U.S. food conglomerate General Mills has announced it will divest its Häagen-Dazs brick-and-mortar ice cream shop operations across mainland China to a consortium of investors led by popular Chinese domestic tea brand Ningji.

The Minneapolis-based parent company of the premium ice cream brand confirmed the deal in a public statement released late Monday. Under the terms of the agreement, the newly formed investor group will secure exclusive rights to operate the Häagen-Dazs brand for physical ice cream parlors and corporate/holiday gifting lines throughout mainland China. General Mills will retain control over supplying Häagen-Dazs products to Chinese retail chains and food service channels, keeping a foothold in the world’s second-largest consumer economy despite the ownership transfer.

Financial details of the pending transaction, including the sale price, have not been made public to date. The deal is on track to finalize before the end of 2024, per General Mills’ timeline. When reached for comment Tuesday, the company declined to share the exact number of Häagen-Dazs shops currently operating across mainland China. Public filings from the company’s most recent annual report show it runs 332 ice cream parlors globally, with no breakdown by region.

Ningji, the Chinese tea brand participating in the acquisition, is a relatively young fast-growing player in China’s competitive beverage space. Founded in 2021, the chain now operates roughly 3,000 retail tea outlets across the country, and has previously secured major backing from two high-profile investors: Beijing-based ByteDance, the global tech giant behind the short-video platform TikTok, and Chinese venture capital firm Shunwei Capital.

Industry analysts point to deeper trends that have prompted this ownership shift, as well as changing consumer preferences that have eroded Häagen-Dazs’ once-dominant position in China’s premium ice cream segment. Yaling Jiang, an independent consumer market analyst based in China, notes that Häagen-Dazs has long charged premium price points in China, but failed to keep up with shifting consumer expectations by updating its product value proposition or building stronger cultural resonance with local shoppers.

Jiang added that Häagen-Dazs’ core offering — traditional high-fat, dense ice cream — has already passed its popularity peak in China. Domestic and international competitors have increasingly captured market share by promoting lighter, lower-fat gelato options that align with growing consumer interest in health-conscious treats, a shift that has left the legacy premium brand playing catch-up.

This Häagen-Dazs divestment is far from an isolated case. A growing number of foreign food and beverage brands are transferring majority ownership of their China operations to local investors, a trend unfolding against a backdrop of stagnating domestic consumer confidence and slowing overall economic growth in China.

Just last November, coffee giant Starbucks announced a $4 billion joint venture deal with Chinese private equity firm Boyu Capital, which saw Boyu take up to a 60% stake in the company’s mainland China operations. In February of this year, Restaurant Brands International, the Toronto-based parent company of U.S. fast food chain Burger King, formed a joint venture with Chinese investment firm CPE to manage and expand Burger King’s footprint across China. Under that agreement, CPE injected roughly $350 million into the joint venture and took an 83% majority stake in the Chinese Burger King business.

2 6 月, 2026
Married at First Sight UK allegations ‘deeply disturbing’, says watchdog

The UK’s broadcast regulator Ofcom has described rape allegations against popular reality series *Married at First Sight UK* (MAFS UK) as deeply shocking and disturbing, launching an official regulatory review after an explosive investigative report exposed claims of sexual assault against multiple cast members. The controversy unfolded two weeks ago, when BBC’s *Panorama* aired an investigation bringing forward three separate allegations from female cast members: two women claimed they were raped during filming, while a third reported being subjected to a non-consensual sexual act. All men named in the allegations have denied any wrongdoing.

Following the release of the investigation, a cross-party group of members of Parliament contacted both Channel 4, the network that airs MAFS UK, and Ofcom, demanding clear answers about how the allegations were handled ahead of broadcast. The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee submitted a formal list of questions addressing the two bodies’ responses to the claims, putting increased pressure on regulators and network executives to account for cast welfare oversights.

In an official response to MPs, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Ofcom’s Group Director of Broadcast and Media, confirmed the watchdog takes the allegations extremely seriously. Squires noted that Ofcom has been in direct communication with Channel 4 leadership since *Panorama* first raised public concerns, and that the network has already commissioned an independent external review focused on contributor welfare protocols across the series. “We have asked Channel 4 to provide us with an advance copy, and we will urgently review the findings to determine whether any regulatory action is necessary,” Squires wrote in the official correspondence.

When asked by MPs when Ofcom first received concerns about cast mistreatment on the series, Squires explained that individual complaints remain confidential during ongoing assessment. She did confirm that Ofcom has received viewer complaints about the series dating back to its debut season in 2015, noting that receiving a high volume of audience complaints about specific broadcast content is not uncommon for popular reality programming. Crucially, she added that after thorough review, none of the past viewer complaints raised substantive enough concerns to trigger a formal investigation prior to the *Panorama* report.

Channel 4 CEO Priya Dogre also released a formal response to MPs’ questions, addressing lingering criticism over the network’s handling of the allegations ahead of broadcast. Dogre confirmed that Channel 4 was aware of some details related to the claims, but not the full scope of information exposed by *Panorama*, before the most recent relevant season went to air. She emphasized that all broadcast decisions were made based on the information available to network leaders at the time, and pushed back against claims the network dismissed the allegations out of hand. The network’s initial description of the claims as “wholly uncorroborated and disputed” was taken out of context by the BBC, Dogre argued, adding that MAFS UK operates under some of the most comprehensive and robust contributor welfare protocols in the UK reality TV industry.

In the wake of the scandal, Channel 4 has pulled all episodes of the series from its on-demand streaming platform, and one of the show’s major commercial sponsors has already ended its partnership with the program. London’s Metropolitan Police has also issued a public call for any additional potential victims of sexual assault connected to the series to come forward to assist with any potential investigations.

For context, MAFS UK is one of Channel 4’s most popular unscripted series, following single people who agree to marry a complete stranger during an on-camera mock wedding ceremony. While the unions are not legally binding, the series films contestants nearly every day as they go on a honeymoon, move in together, and navigate building a new relationship from scratch.

2 6 月, 2026
Marco Silva to leave Fulham as Benfica links grow

After five transformative years in charge of west London’s Premier League side Fulham, Portuguese head coach Marco Silva has officially confirmed he will step down from his role this summer, amid widespread speculation linking him to a return to Portuguese top-flight football to take over at Benfica. The 48-year-old’s current contract with Fulham expires at the end of June, and while he has stopped short of publicly naming his next role, reports from football industry outlets confirm he has already entered preliminary negotiations with Benfica, where he would fill the vacancy created by Jose Mourinho’s expected departure for a second managerial spell at Real Madrid. Silva’s tenure at Fulham stands as one of the most successful and long-lasting in the current Premier League landscape, making him the third-longest serving active manager in the division by time in post, a rare marker of stability in the notoriously fast-changing world of top-flight club management. In an emotional open letter published to Fulham supporters, Silva paid tribute to the fanbase that stood behind him throughout his five seasons at Craven Cottage. “To our fans, I asked you, from day one, to always be with us. And that’s what you did these past five years. We achieved a lot together,” he wrote. “My staff and I always felt your support. It will never be forgotten. Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage.” When Silva first took the helm at Fulham in 2020, the club was competing in the second-tier Championship, far from the consistent top-flight presence it has become under his leadership. He quickly turned the squad’s fortunes around, delivering the Championship title in the 2021-2022 season to secure an immediate promotion back to the Premier League. Over the following three seasons, he exceeded all expectations: he steered the club to a top-half Premier League finish in their first season back, then broke the club’s all-time Premier League record with a 54-point tally in 2025. He also led Fulham to the first League Cup semi-final appearance in the club’s 145-year history in 2024. This season, the Cottagers wrapped up their campaign in 11th place in the Premier League, falling just short of qualifying for European competition. Silva boasts a wide-ranging managerial resume that includes stints at fellow Premier League sides Hull City, Watford and Everton, as well as Greek giants Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon, Benfica’s long-standing cross-city rivals. Fulham owner Shahid Khan released a statement honoring Silva’s contributions and outlining the club’s path forward, confirming the organization will move quickly but deliberately to find a replacement that meets the club’s high standards and satisfies the expectations of its global fanbase. “Marco Silva leaves our club with my gratitude and best wishes. Fulham and Marco were an excellent fit for five seasons, but change is inevitable in this game, and we’ve accordingly prepared for this moment,” Khan said. He added that the club remains an incredibly desirable post for any top managerial talent, pointing to the quality of the current squad, the iconic Craven Cottage stadium, the loyal supporter base, and his ongoing financial and strategic commitment to growing the club as key draws for incoming candidates. For Benfica, the potential appointment of Silva comes after a mixed 2024-2025 campaign that saw the club finish third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga under current manager Jose Mourinho, who is widely expected to be confirmed as Real Madrid’s new manager in the coming weeks.

2 6 月, 2026
Trump administration proposes 25% tariffs on Brazil, citing “unreasonable’’ trade practices

In a late announcement issued Monday, the second Trump administration unveiled a proposal to levy 25% tariffs on a portion of Brazilian imports to the United States, opening a new flashpoint in bilateral trade tensions between the two Western Hemisphere powers. The proposal follows a months-long investigation conducted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), which accuses Brazil, the world’s 10th-largest economy, of maintaining trade practices that Washington labels unreasonable and harmful to American commercial interests. Among the specific allegations cited are insufficient anti-corruption enforcement by Brazilian authorities and existing unfair Brazilian tariff barriers that disadvantage U.S. exporters.

USTR chief Jamieson Greer acknowledged that the Trump administration had held what he described as constructive discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other senior Brazilian economic and trade officials in recent weeks. Despite those talks, however, Greer confirmed that the two sides remain far apart on addressing the core concerns raised during the Section 301 investigation. “We continue to have substantial differences in resolving the issues identified in this investigation,” Greer stated in formal comments accompanying the proposal. To allow for public and industry input, the USTR has scheduled a public hearing on the planned tariffs for July 6, giving interested stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the potential economic impacts of the new duties.

The current proposal marks a strategic shift for the Trump administration, coming after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major legal blow to the administration’s earlier trade actions in February. In a landmark ruling, the high court found that Trump had overstepped his executive authority when he imposed a 25%? No correction: Last year, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods using the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a move widely interpreted as a protest against the Brazilian judiciary’s prosecution of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, Trump’s political ally. Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist who preceded Lula in office, is currently facing trial for his role in attempted coup efforts to overturn his narrow 2022 electoral defeat, a case that has drawn harsh criticism from Trump and his allies.

The Supreme Court’s February ruling invalidated all sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump under IEEPA, eliminating a key tool the administration had used to pressure trading partners and wiping out billions in projected tariff revenue. Unlike IEEPA, however, tariffs authorized under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act — the legal authority the administration is relying on for the new Brazilian tariffs — have withstood repeated legal challenges in U.S. courts. Trade analysts note the administration’s new move is part of a broader strategy to shift its aggressive trade agenda to a more legally solid foundation, while also working to recover lost tariff revenue from the scrapped IEEPA duties.

Ryan Majerus, a trade attorney and partner at the international law firm King & Spalding, pointed out that the proposed tariff package carves out exceptions for more than half of all U.S. imports from Brazil. Key excluded products include Brazilian civilian aircraft and critical industrial minerals, which are heavily relied on by U.S. manufacturing and aerospace sectors. The exemption of these strategically important goods suggests the administration has sought to limit potential economic backlash from U.S. industries that depend on Brazilian imports, while still maintaining pressure on the Brazilian government to make trade and policy concessions.

2 6 月, 2026
Zimbabwe justice minister introduces bill to extend 83-year-old president’s term

Zimbabwe’s legislative branch has become the center of a heated national debate this week after the country’s justice minister tabled a sweeping constitutional amendment bill that would reshape the nation’s electoral landscape and extend the sitting president’s time in office. The proposed changes, introduced Tuesday in Parliament, would adjust the timeline of upcoming national polls, lengthen all elected officials’ tenures, and fundamentally alter how the country chooses its head of state.

If enacted, the bill would push back the 2028 presidential election by two years, extending 83-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s current term until 2030. Beyond delaying the upcoming poll, the legislation would extend the five-year term limit for all elected positions — including president, members of Parliament, municipal councilors and mayors — to seven years. Most notably, the proposal would also move presidential selection away from the current system of direct popular vote to appointment by sitting members of the national legislature.

This executive overhaul has already sparked sharp backlash and escalated political friction across the southern African nation, where government critics have long faced routine detention and official harassment. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed last week that the ruling administration is pushing for an expedited legislative timeline, with a target to pass the measure through the majority-ruling Parliament by the end of June, before sending it to Mnangagwa to sign into law.

Mnangagwa first took office in 2017, when a military-assisted popular uprising removed his long-time mentor and former ruler Robert Mugabe, who led the country for decades before his 2019 death. The ruling ZANU-PF party controls an overwhelming majority in Parliament, and maintains aligned working relations with a faction of Zimbabwe’s fractured opposition movement, putting the bill on a clear path toward passage in the legislative branch.

Critics of the amendment argue that altering presidential tenure requires a public referendum to gain legitimate democratic support, asserting that such a fundamental change to the nation’s foundational law cannot be enacted by Parliament alone. Supporters of the proposal push back, noting that the constitutional cap of two total presidential terms would remain intact under the changes — only the length of each individual term would increase. Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has not yet issued a ruling on multiple pending legal challenges brought against the amendment, leaving the final legal fate of the proposal uncertain.

2 6 月, 2026