**Summary:** India and Cyprus have elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, focusing on defense cooperation, economic connectivity, and support for India's permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.

**Key points:**
- The two nations signed a five-year roadmap for defense cooperation, with Cyprus expressing interest in procuring Indian military hardware.
- Leaders discussed initiating building blocks for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) via the Mediterranean.
- Cyprus plans to open a trade center in Mumbai and facilitate the integration of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system.
- Both countries established a joint task force for infrastructure and shipping to strengthen connectivity between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

**Why it matters:** This partnership strengthens India's strategic footprint in the Mediterranean and provides a gateway for Indian industry into the European market.

news.webindia123.com - Cyprus backs India for permanent UNSC seat ; Both sides reaffirm support for peaceful Cyprus settlement

hindi.business-standard.com - India - Cyprus Strategic Partnership : भारत - साइप्रस बनेगा रणनीतिक साझेदार , रक्षा सहयोग के लिए अगले पांच वर्षों की कार्ययोजना पर लगी मुहर - india and cyprus ink five year defense cooperation roadmap

austinglobe.com - Cyprus proposes starting IMEC building blocks from Mediterranean ; backs new regional security architecture with India

aninews.in - Cyprus proposes starting IMEC building blocks from Mediterranean ; backs new regional security architecture with India

India and Cyprus Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership

**Summary:** Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence for the United States, has announced her resignation effective June 30, 2026, citing the need to support her husband during his battle with a rare form of bone cancer.

**Key points:**
- Gabbard submitted her resignation letter to President Donald Trump, who expressed his appreciation for her service.
- Aaron Lukas, currently serving as her deputy, is expected to assume her responsibilities on an interim basis.
- Recent reports indicated potential friction between Gabbard and the Trump administration regarding their respective stances on the conflict with Iran.

**Why it matters:** The departure of the Director of National Intelligence marks another high-level change in the Trump cabinet, raising questions about the future direction and stability of U.S. intelligence leadership.

newsfeed.zeit.de - USA: Tulsi Gabbard tritt als US-Geheimdienstchefin zurück

newsfeed.zeit.de - Personalie: Trumps Geheimdienstkoordinatorin Gabbard tritt zurück

inquirer.net - Gabbard resigns as director of US nat'l intelligence; husband ill

deccanchronicle.com - Tulsi Gabbard Resigns As US Intelligence Chief

elfinanciero.com.mx - Tulsi Gabbard, directora de Inteligencia de Trump, renuncia al gabinete, reporta Fox News

faz.net - USA unter Trump: US-Geheimdienstchefin Tulsi Gabbard tritt zurück

lemonde.fr - Tulsi Gabbard démissionne de son poste de directrice du renseignement américain

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Resigns

**Summary:** The United States government has issued a new directive requiring foreign nationals currently in the U.S. on temporary visas to return to their home countries to apply for permanent residency, except in extraordinary circumstances.

**Key points:**
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated the policy aims to restore the original intent of U.S. immigration law.
- Applicants will now be required to process residency applications through U.S. consular offices abroad under Department of State supervision.
- The directive marks a significant shift in the status adjustment process for non-immigrants already residing in the country.

**Why it matters:** This policy change could impact hundreds of thousands of individuals annually and represents a major shift in U.S. immigration procedure under the current administration.

National Post - Canadians applying for permanent residency in the U.S. must go home first, administration rules

Daily Post Nigeria - Go to your home country – Trump orders foreigners applying for green cards

Premium Times - US says Nigerians, others seeking green cards must return home to apply

US Mandates Foreigners Apply for Green Cards from Home Countries

**Summary:** US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that trilateral peace negotiations between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine are currently suspended because previous efforts failed to yield productive results.

**Key points:**
- Rubio emphasized that the US remains open to facilitating future dialogue if the potential for meaningful progress emerges.
- The Secretary of State rejected claims that the US has been pressuring Ukraine to adopt specific positions in negotiations.
- Russian officials have previously suggested that ongoing military actions, such as drone strikes, complicate the path to peace talks.

**Why it matters:** The suspension of these high-level diplomatic efforts underscores the ongoing difficulty in establishing a viable framework for ending the conflict in Ukraine.

lenta.ru - США захотели продуктивных мирных переговоров России и Украины

espreso.tv - "Прогресу не було багато": Рубіо констатував, що наразі тристоронні переговори з Україною та РФ не відбуваються

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Confirms Halt in Trilateral Peace Talks

**Summary:** President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 5,000 additional US troops to Poland, reversing his administration's recent order to withdraw the same number of forces from Europe.

**Key points:**
- The decision follows weeks of administration statements indicating a reduction in the American military footprint in Europe.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the move is part of ongoing re-examinations of global force deployments.
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski expressed support for the deployment.
- Defense officials and several NATO foreign ministers, including Sweden's Maria Malmer Stenergard, noted confusion regarding the strategic shift.

**Why it matters:** The abrupt policy reversal creates uncertainty regarding US commitment to NATO's eastern flank and complicates security planning for alliance members.

10news.com - NATO allies perplexed as Trump restores US troop levels in Poland

edp24.co.uk - Nato allies bewildered by Donald Trump U - turn on US troop moves in Europe

NATO Allies Confused by President Donald Trump's Reversal on US Troop Deployments to Poland

**Summary:** The 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together over 53,000 participants to address global housing crises and sustainable urban development strategies.

**Key points:**
- The forum featured more than 400 events and 400 speakers, with 55 percent of participants identified as women and girls.
- The 'Baku Call to Action' was established as a primary outcome to guide future global urban policy and housing initiatives.
- The event included the inaugural Leaders' Summit and the first-ever NGO Forum focused on global partnerships.
- The symbolic baton for the 14th session of the World Urban Forum was prepared for transfer to Mexico City for 2028.

**Why it matters:** The forum solidified a global coalition to address the urgent housing crisis and integrate sustainable, climate-resilient practices into urban governance frameworks worldwide.

day.az - WUF13-də 53 mindən çox insan iştirak edib

day.az - WUF13-də iclaslara və iştirakçılara dair statistik göstəricilər

trend.az - UN-Habitat praises Azerbaijan’s hosting of WUF13

trend.az - UN-Habitat highlights “Baku Call to Action” as key outcome of WUF13

trend.az - UN-Habitat to maintain operational momentum generated in Azerbaijan during WUF14

13th World Urban Forum Concludes in Baku with Focus on Housing and Sustainable Development

**Summary:** Ghana is actively pursuing expanded economic partnerships with China and the European Union to drive industrial transformation and leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

**Key points:**
- The Ghanaian government is marketing the country as a strategic gateway to 1.4 billion consumers via the AfCFTA.
- European investments in Ghana have surpassed US$16.24 billion across more than 2,200 projects.
- Ghanaian officials are shifting national economic priorities from stabilization to long-term industrial growth and job creation.

**Why it matters:** These efforts reflect Ghana's strategy to transition from raw material exports to a more integrated, industrial-focused economy through international investment.

myjoyonline.com - Ghana deepens economic cooperation with EU to boost trade and investment

ghanamma.com - Ghana Courts Chinese Investors as Trade Minister Markets AfCFTA Gateway to 1.4bn Consumers

Ghana Strengthens Economic Ties with China and the European Union

**Summary:** US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of 5,000 additional American troops to Poland. The decision is framed as a gesture of support for the Polish government following the election of President Karol Nawrocki.

**Key points:**
- The announcement was made by President Donald Trump via his Truth Social platform.
- President Donald Trump cited his personal relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki as a primary factor for the deployment.
- The move occurs amid broader US strategic shifts in Europe, including troop reductions in Germany.
- The deployment is intended to bolster the security of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) eastern flank.

**Why it matters:** This deployment signals a significant shift in US military posture in Europe, prioritizing bilateral relations with specific allies over traditional, uniform NATO security arrangements.

jordanzad.com - ترمب: الولايات المتحدة سترسل 5 آلاف جندي إلى بولندا

newsweek.pl - Donald Trump: do Polski trafi dodatkowe 5 tys. amerykańskich żołnierzy

zvw.de - 5 . 000 US - Soldaten nach Polen : Trump beschwört enge Beziehung - Nachrichten aus aller Welt

US President Donald Trump Announces Deployment of 5,000 Additional Troops to Poland