German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to meet (NYT) with U.S. President Joe Biden and other top U.S. officials at the White House today for what is likely Merkel’s last visit to the United States as chancellor. The leaders aim to signal stability in the U.S.-Germany relationship and are due to discuss a range of issues (WaPo), including those related to Afghanistan, China, Iran, and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
 
Biden and Merkel have long supported strong U.S.-European ties and an international alliance system, but during the Donald Trump administration, Merkel helped chart a direction for European foreign policy that was less dependent on the United States. And while Biden has encouraged U.S. allies to jointly counter China’s rise, Merkel has called for cooperation with China (AP) on issues such as the pandemic and climate change. Her sixteen-year tenure will end after September elections, though her Christian Democratic Union of Germany party is leading in polls.

The foreign ministers of China and India met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and discussed efforts to resolve their border dispute (Hindu). Until it is fully resolved, bilateral relations on other matters cannot proceed, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
 
This video explains the China-India border conflict.
 
China: At least three Chinese provinces have moved to shut down cryptocurrency mining (SCMP) after Beijing announced in May that it will increase the enforcement of laws against cryptocurrency mining and trading.

During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, the foreign ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan called for an end to violence (TOLOnews) against civilians and authorities in Afghanistan, a peaceful settlement of the country’s conflict, and for the Afghan government to strengthen its position.
 
Pakistan: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said preliminary investigations into a bus crash yesterday that killed thirteen people, including nine Chinese nationals, show that it was an accident (Dawn) and not a terrorist attack. However, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that terrorism cannot be ruled out.

Lebanese Prime Minister–designate Saad Hariri presented what appears to be his final attempt at a cabinet proposal (Al Jazeera) to President Michel Aoun in an effort to end nine months of political deadlock.
 
Israel, Turkey: The countries’ presidents agreed on a phone call to work toward improving strained bilateral ties (Reuters), Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the country’s military mission to counter jihadis in Africa’s Sahel region will end (AFP) in the first quarter of 2022. More than five thousand French troops are currently stationed in the region.
 
For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s John Campbell looks at Macron’s drawdown plan.
 
Gambia: Former junta member Yankuba Touray was sentenced to death (AFP) for participating in the 1995 murder of former Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.

The United Kingdom plans to ban civil lawsuits (Guardian) related to the Troubles and move efforts to investigate abuses committed during that period to a new, independent body, similar to truth and reconciliation commissions in other countries. Northern Ireland’s political parties and Ireland’s government opposed the proposal.
 
This Backgrounder looks at the future of peace in Northern Ireland.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced that the country will lift import duties (BBC) on food, medicine, and personal hygiene items that travelers bring into Cuba, a concession after nationwide protests that began on Sunday. Critics say the move is insufficient; due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, few flights are arriving in Cuba.
 
Haiti: Haitian authorities issued arrest warrants (Al Jazeera) for five “armed and dangerous” suspects in last week’s killing of President Jovenel Moise, including a former senator and a former government official.

More than ninety-three thousand people in the United States died from drug overdoses in 2020, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The total represents a 29 percent rise (CNN) from the previous year and the highest number ever recorded.