Trump’s travel ban. Trump signed a proclamation yesterday that bans entry to the United States for citizens of twelve countries and restricts it for citizens of seven more. Trump cited factors such as insufficient security vetting of travelers, high rates of visa overstays, and governments that did not take back deportees. The ban applies to immigrant and non-immigrant travelers, with some exceptions; most of the countries affected are in the Middle East and Africa. The ban goes into effect on June 9 and is expected to lead to legal challenges.
Restriction on international students. Trump issued another proclamation yesterday preventing international students from entering the United States to study at Harvard and directing the State Department to consider revoking some existing student visas. A previous Trump administration effort to revoke Harvard’s authority to enroll international students was blocked in court. The university called the step “illegal” and said it would continue to “protect its international students.”
Khamenei’s pushback on deal. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said yesterday that U.S. efforts to persuade the country to abandon its nuclear program were “100 percent against our interests.” While Trump has publicly said he seeks a deal in which Iran does not enrich uranium at all, multiple media outlets have reported that a U.S. proposal would allow some enrichment for a period of time. Trump said yesterday that he spoke about the Iran talks with Putin, who “suggested that he will participate in the discussions.”
Modi likely skips G7. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not invited to this year’s G7 summit in Canada, unnamed Indian officials told Bloomberg. Though India is not a G7 member, Modi has attended every summit since 2019. The officials said Modi would probably not attend the summit even if invited due to uncertainty over the new Canadian government’s stance on Indian separatists. Relations between Canada and India have chilled since September 2023, when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of a role in the killing of a Sikh nationalist on Canadian soil, which India denied.
Bulgaria to join euro. The European Commission and the European Central Bank yesterday approved Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone in January 2026. The country has one final procedural hurdle, approval by European finance ministers, but is expected to pass. EU demands around anti-corruption measures have thwarted Bulgaria’s ambitions to join the currency for years. The move has also drawn opposition from some inside Bulgaria, including pro-Russian politicians.
Wildfires in Canada. More than thirty-three thousand people in three Canadian provinces have evacuated due to wildfires that have also sent smoke into the United States and Europe. Hot and dry conditions helped reignite fires that smouldered under the snow since last year, a University of British Columbia fire ecologist said. Canadian authorities are working to contain the blazes and declared an emergency in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.
DRC reporting restriction. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has banned media from reporting on former President Joseph Kabila and his party, citing a broader ban on the party itself. The current government accuses Kabila of treason and links to M23 rebels, which he denies. Kabila returned from self-imposed exile in April and says he seeks peace with the rebels. The government threatened suspension for outlets that violate the reporting ban. M23 said media organizations in areas it controls would not abide by it.
U.S. vetoes Gaza truce resolution. The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution yesterday that called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. All other fourteen members voted in favor. The acting U.S. ambassador to the UN said Washington opposed the resolution because it did not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza, arguing the omittance would hinder efforts to reach a truce.
