**Summary:** The United States and Iran have established a communication line to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, following a memorandum of understanding facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan.

**Key points:**
- The agreement includes a 60-day period during which commercial vessels are exempt from transit fees.
- A de-confliction cell involving Lebanon has been created to ensure the termination of military operations in the region.
- Two South Korean-managed ships successfully transited the strait following the implementation of the agreement.

**Why it matters:** The establishment of direct communication channels and a de-confliction mechanism marks a significant de-escalation effort in a critical global maritime chokepoint and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

jordanzad.com - عبور أول سفينتين مضيق هرمز بعد الاتفاق الأمريكي الإيراني

egyptindependent.com - Mediators say Iran and US form communications line for Hormuz

egyptindependent.com - US and Iran agree to create “de-confliction cell,” to end conflict in Lebanon

US and Iran Establish Communication Line for Strait of Hormuz Safe Passage

**Summary:** Judge Juan Carlos Peinado has ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and her advisor Cristina Álvarez to surrender their passports on June 24, 2026, as part of ongoing legal proceedings.

**Key points:**
- The court order requires both individuals to appear at the Juzgado de Instrucción número 41 in Madrid at 18:00 on Wednesday.
- The measure follows a decision to open a trial against the two women for alleged crimes including influence peddling and embezzlement.
- Gómez and Álvarez must also inform the court if they possess any additional passports, such as diplomatic or foreign documents.
- The judge previously imposed precautionary measures including a prohibition on leaving the country and a requirement for bi-weekly court appearances.

**Why it matters:** The case involves the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister and has triggered significant legal and political debate regarding judicial independence and the handling of high-profile corruption investigations.

rss.elconfidencial.com - El juez Peinado cita a Begoña Gómez el miércoles por la tarde para que entregue el pasaporte

huffingtonpost.es - Peinado cita el miércoles a Begoña Gómez para que entregue el pasaporte

elperiodicodearagon.com - CASO BEGOÑA GÓMEZ : Los recursos pendientes sobre el jurado , la piedra en el camino de Peinado para procesar a Begoña Gómez antes de jubilarse

eldiario.es - El juez Peinado cita a Begoña Gómez para retirarle el pasaporte el día que Sánchez comparece para hablar de corrupción

Judge Peinado orders Begoña Gómez to surrender passport

**Summary:** A shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Philippines, resulted in the deaths of three students and left five others wounded. Two minor suspects, both students at the school, are in police custody.

**Key points:**
- The incident occurred at approximately 9 a.m. on June 22, 2026, inside a classroom occupied by Grade 9 students.
- One suspect was apprehended at the school by students and parents, while the second suspect surrendered to police hours later.
- Initial police investigations suggest bullying as a possible motive for the attack.
- The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Education are coordinating to implement stricter security measures in schools nationwide.

**Why it matters:** The tragedy has prompted a national response from the Philippine government and calls for legislative review of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

japantoday.com - 2 young suspects in custody after shooting at high school in Philippines kills 3

inquirer.net - Tacloban school shooting: Teachers, students help stop suspect

inquirer.net - Officials assure tighter security in schools after Tacloban shooting

sunstar.com.ph - PNP to come up with stricter measures to prevent violence inside schools

inquirer.net - Tacloban school shooting: Gov’t moves to aid victims, probe launched

timeslive.co.za - Philippines community reeling from school shooting that killed three

newsx.com - Philippines School Shooting : 3 Killed , 5 Injured Inside High School ; One Suspect Arrested

Three Students Killed in Shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City

**Summary:** An explosion and subsequent fire occurred at the Barzan gas supply facility in Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial area on Sunday night, resulting in 54 injuries and 18 people reported missing.

**Key points:**
- The incident was attributed to a technical fault that occurred during the startup of operations at the facility.
- QatarEnergy confirmed that emergency response teams successfully contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to neighboring infrastructure.
- The Barzan facility is a critical component of Qatar's natural gas infrastructure, producing nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily.
- Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

**Why it matters:** As a major global hub for liquefied natural gas, any significant disruption at the Ras Laffan complex has the potential to impact international energy markets.

prokerala.com - 54 injured , 18 missing after explosion at Qatar Ras Laffan gas facility

jordanzad.com - قطر: 54 مصاباً و18 مفقوداً بانفجار في منطقة رأس لفان الصناعية

noi.md - Взрыв на газовом терминале Катара: десятки пострадавших и пропавшие без вести

Explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial Area Leaves 54 Injured and 18 Missing

**Summary:** UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a timetable for his departure on Monday following mounting pressure from Labour Party lawmakers. The move follows a significant by-election victory for Andy Burnham.

**Key points:**
- Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is considered the frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer after winning the Makerfield by-election.
- Over 100 Labour Party members of parliament have reportedly called for the Prime Minister to step down.
- Potential transition plans suggest Keir Starmer may remain in office until September to oversee upcoming international summits.
- The Prime Minister previously stated he would contest any leadership challenge, though recent reports indicate he is reconsidering his position.

**Why it matters:** The potential resignation of Keir Starmer would mark the seventh change in British leadership in a decade, signaling significant instability within the UK's governing party.

cnbc.com - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer set to outline exit plan as pressure to quit builds

thejournal.ie - Keir Starmer reportedly set to quit as Andy Burnham sworn in as MP

cyprus-mail.com - Keir Starmer could set out exit timetable as Andy Burnham emerges as successor

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Expected to Outline Resignation Plan

**Summary:** Preliminary results from the second round of Colombia's presidential election show ultraright-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella leading over leftist rival Iván Cepeda by a narrow margin.

**Key points:**
- Abelardo de la Espriella, candidate for the Defensores de la Patria movement, secured approximately 49.6% of the vote in the preliminary count.
- President Gustavo Petro has called for calm and urged citizens to wait for the official scrutiny process to conclude before declaring a winner.
- Petro alleged irregularities, specifically citing the submission of electoral forms without the required signatures of poll workers.
- The official scrutiny process, which validates the final results, is scheduled to begin on Monday.

**Why it matters:** The election represents a potential shift in Colombia's political direction, moving away from the current left-wing administration toward a platform focused on security and a hardline approach to crime.

hoy.es - El ultraderechista Espriella gana las elecciones en Colombia

latercera.com - Abelardo de la Espriella se impone por estrecho margen en la segunda vuelta presidencial en Colombia

elcomercio.pe - Abelardo de la Espriella es elegido presidente de Colombia, según el conteo preliminar

Abelardo de la Espriella leads preliminary results in Colombia's presidential election

**Summary:** Senior U.S. and Iranian delegations have gathered in Switzerland for negotiations aimed at transforming a recent ceasefire memorandum of understanding into a broader, long-term political and security settlement.

**Key points:**
- The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland to prioritize discussions on Iran's nuclear program and the stabilization of Lebanon.
- Negotiations follow a recently signed memorandum of understanding intended to end a nearly four-month conflict.
- The talks are mediated by officials from Qatar and Pakistan.

**Why it matters:** The success of these negotiations could determine the future of regional stability, the status of Iran's nuclear program, and the durability of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Xinhua - Explainer : How far can U . S .- Iran talks in Switzerland go ?- Xinhua

feeds.washingtonpost.com - U.S. and Iranian negotiators meet in Switzerland to hash out peace plan

utahindependent.com - Explainer : How far can U . S .- Iran talks in Switzerland go ?

financialpost.com - US and Iran Poised to Begin Swiss Talks on Lasting Ceasefire

U.S. and Iranian Delegations Begin High-Stakes Talks in Switzerland

**Summary:** The Greek government has officially ruled out imposing rent caps on private properties, emphasizing that its housing strategy focuses on increasing supply and supporting tenants through structural interventions.

**Key points:**
- The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family clarified that rent control is not part of the National Strategy for Housing Policy.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis introduced the 'Renovation of Residence' program, offering subsidies of up to 36,000 euros for upgrading vacant or old properties.
- The government launched the 'PosoKanei' platform to increase market transparency by allowing consumers to compare product prices across supermarkets.
- New measures include expanding the out-of-court settlement mechanism to households with debts as low as 5,000 euros.

**Why it matters:** These policy decisions reflect the government's attempt to balance inflation-driven cost-of-living pressures with market-based solutions to the housing crisis.

enikonomia.gr - Η στρατηγική της κυβέρνησης απέναντι στο πληθωριστικό ντόμινο - Παρεμβάσεις για την ακρίβεια , ανάσες για οφειλέτες και μειώσεις φόρων

businessnews.gr - Μητσοτάκης : 36 . 000 ευρώ για το πρόγραμμα « Ανακαίνιση Κατοικίας » - Το PosoKanei ήρθε για να μείνει

sofokleous10.gr - « Στοπ » στα σενάρια για πλαφόν στα ενοίκια

Greek Government Rejects Rent Caps and Announces New Housing Support Measures