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The Bank of Japan announced a reduction in bond purchases, signaling a cautious but significant move towards normalizing its ultra-loose monetary policy while keeping interest rates unchanged. This gradual approach, deferring a detailed plan until July, disappointed some market participants and led to a sharp weakening of the Japanese yen.
Hosts Germany launched their Euro 2024 campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over Scotland, immediately signaling their intent as formidable contenders. An early goal from Florian Wirtz and a pivotal red card for Scotland before halftime cemented Germany's dominance, propelling them to the top of Group A.
NASA and Boeing have indefinitely delayed the return of the Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station, where two astronauts are awaiting their journey home, due to significant technical concerns. Extensive evaluations are underway to address multiple helium leaks and propulsion system issues, ensuring crew safety remains the top priority before a new return date can be set.
French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament and called a snap legislative election after his centrist party suffered a crushing defeat to the far-right National Rally in the European Parliament elections. This bold move has plunged France into immediate political uncertainty, potentially leading to a far-right government and a "cohabitation" scenario that could severely hinder Macron's agenda and reshape both domestic and European policies.
G7 leaders have reached a landmark agreement to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan, which will be repaid using profits generated from frozen Russian sovereign assets. This crucial financial package, officially termed the "Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loan," aims to deliver sustained support for Ukraine's war efforts, economic stability, and future reconstruction.
Apple officially unveiled "Apple Intelligence" at its WWDC event, a comprehensive new suite of AI features deeply integrated across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, promising enhanced writing, image generation, and a more powerful Siri. This strategic entry into generative AI emphasizes user privacy with on-device processing and "Private Cloud Compute," rolling out later this year to newer devices like the iPhone 15 Pro and M-series Macs.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has formally announced plans to abolish tax exemptions for private schools, a move projected to raise £1.6 billion annually for state education funding. This contentious proposal, unveiled amidst the UK general election campaign, faces strong opposition from private school groups but enjoys significant support among Labour voters and education unions.
A massive heat dome is rapidly expanding across the United States, threatening millions with dangerously high, triple-digit temperatures and posing substantial risks to public health. Forecasters are issuing urgent warnings for record-breaking heat from the Midwest to the Northeast, with cities like Chicago and New York preparing for temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set for their first head-to-head debate on June 27th, 2024, hosted by CNN, marking a pivotal early moment in the intensely contested presidential campaign. This highly anticipated event in Atlanta will feature unique rules like muted microphones and no live audience, aiming to foster structured discussions and prevent interruptions between the candidates.
BRICS foreign ministers, joined by representatives from 15 invited nations, recently met in Russia to strengthen their global influence and actively challenge Western dominance by advocating for a new multipolar world order. Key discussions focused on expanding the bloc's membership and developing alternative financial mechanisms to reduce reliance on the US dollar, setting a crucial agenda for their upcoming October summit.
In a unanimous 9-0 decision on June 13, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone, thereby preserving broad nationwide access to the drug used in over 60% of U.S. abortions. The Court ruled that anti-abortion doctors and groups lacked legal standing to sue, emphasizing that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate concrete harm and averting a potential nationwide ban.
The UN Security Council overwhelmingly adopted a US-drafted resolution on June 10, 2024, demanding an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza to end the protracted conflict. This critical three-phase plan outlines a full cessation of hostilities, the release of all hostages, and Gaza's reconstruction, with Hamas welcoming it while Israel's formal endorsement is still awaited.