South Korea: Investigators seek new warrant to arrest ex-president Yoon

Source: South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]

“South Korean prosecutors asked a court on Tuesday for a new arrest warrant to detain former president Yoon Suk-yeol, after he refused a summons by investigators probing his failed martial law bid. Yoon was formally stripped of office in April, after being impeached and suspended by lawmakers over his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament. He is already standing trial on insurrection charges, personally attending court to defend himself against the allegations. However, he has refused several summons issued by a special counsel formed to investigate the martial law declaration that parliament voted to launch earlier in the month.” (06/24/25)

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3315678/south-korea-investigators-seek-new-warrant-arrest-ex-president-yoon

US Consumer Confidence Drops on Broad Concerns About Economy

Source: Bloomberg

“US consumer confidence unexpectedly declined in June, underscoring lingering anxiety about the potential impacts on the economy and job market from higher US import duties. The Conference Board’s gauge of confidence decreased 5.4 points to 93, data showed Tuesday. The figure was below all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists. A measure of consumer expectations for the next six months dropped 4.6 points, as the share of respondents anticipating better business conditions fell by the most in more than two years. The gauge of present conditions fell 6.4 points. The retreat in confidence erased nearly half of the prior month’s rebound that was due to a temporary agreement between the US and China to roll back extreme tariffs.” (06/24/25)

https://archive.is/sNZ0I

Georgia: Opposition figure Giorgi Vashadze jailed in widening crackdown

Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]

“A Georgian court has sentenced an opposition leader to seven months in prison, as a crackdown by the governing party on its rivals continues. The Tbilisi court imposed the sentence on Giorgi Vashadze, a leader of the Strategy Builder party, on Tuesday for failing to cooperate with a commission investigating abuse of power by a former government. The jailing means that nearly all of the country’s major pro-European opposition figures have now been imprisoned. The crackdown has increased accusations against the ruling Georgian Dream party that it is trampling on democracy amid ongoing protests in the wake of last year’s disputed elections.” (06/24/25)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/24/georgian-opposition-figure-giorgi-vashadze-jailed-in-widening-crackdown

France: Socialists threaten to topple Bayrou regime over pensions

Source: Financial Times [UK]

“France’s Socialist party has threatened to launch a no-confidence vote that could topple the country’s fragile government after months of negotiations over a controversial pensions reform ended without a deal. Prime Minister François Bayrou had initiated a ‘conclave’ on President Emmanuel Macron’s cornerstone reform — which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 — in a bid to maintain enough support for his governing coalition to survive in a deeply divided parliament. But the government’s survival depends on the tacit support of the centre-left Socialists, who oppose raising the retirement age but have so far abstained from calling a no-confidence vote.” (06/24/25)

https://archive.is/EDLJs

Crockett loses bid to be top Democrat on US House Oversight panel

Source: New York Post

“Outspoken progressive Rep. Jasmine Crockett [D-TX] dropped her bid Tuesday to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee after it became clear she lacked the votes. ‘It was clear by the numbers that my style of leadership is not exactly what they were looking for, and so I didn’t think that it was fair for me to then push forward and try to rebuke that,’ the lefty pol told reporters. Democrats later anointed Rep. Robert Garcia [D-CA] to become their ranking member on the Oversight panel, replacing late Rep. Gerry Connolly [D-VA] who died last month. Crockett, who has a penchant for going viral during committee hearings with her incendiary rhetoric, had touted her ability to go on the offense during the internal party battle to succeed Connolly.” [editor’s note: Another bullet dodged – SAT] [additional editor’s note: Top minority member on a US House committee is hardly a “bullet;” maybe a foam dart – TLK] (06/24/25)

https://nypost.com/2025/06/24/us-news/rep-jasmine-crockett-loses-bid-to-be-top-dem-on-oversight-panel/

Powell says Fed can wait to reduce interest rates as Trump whines

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

“The Federal Reserve will continue to wait and see how the economy evolves before deciding whether to reduce its key interest rate, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday, a stance directly at odds with President Donald Trump’s calls for immediate cuts. ‘For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,’ Powell said in testimony Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee. … Trump lashed out again early Tuesday, posting on his social media site: ‘I hope Congress really works this very dumb, hardheaded person, over. We will be paying for his incompetence for many years to come.'” (06/24/25)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/24/federal-reserve-jerome-powell/

WHO: Children killed in “appalling” Sudan hospital attack

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“‘Another appalling attack’ on a hospital in Sudan has seen more than 40 people killed, many of them children and medics, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. ‘We cannot say this louder,’ wrote Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X on Tuesday, ‘attacks on health must stop everywhere!’ Al-Mujlad Hospital was struck on Saturday, and is located in West Kordofan state, close to one of the frontlines where Sudan’s warring parties are fighting in the conflict that is now in its third year. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) blames its opponents the Sudanese army for attacking the hospital, as do two prominent civil society groups, but the army itself has yet to comment on the allegation. Since Sudan’s civil war began in April 2023, the scale of suffering is so vast that the UN has labelled it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” (06/24/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j18w3ndg9o

WI: Supreme Court Delivers Win for Environmentalists in Fight Over “Forever Chemicals”

Source: US News & World Report

“The Wisconsin Supreme Court delivered a victory for environmentalists on Tuesday in the fight over ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS, issuing a ruling that advocates said will hold polluters accountable. The liberal-controlled court ruled that state regulators can force landowners to clean up emerging pollutants such as PFAS before they are officially designated as hazardous substances. The 5-2 ruling is a defeat for the state’s powerful group representing businesses and manufacturers, which had argued the state couldn’t enforce regulations on substances before they were officially designated as hazardous. It is the latest development in a yearslong battle in Wisconsin and nationally involving regulators, environmentalists, politicians and businesses over how to deal with PFAS contamination.” (06/24/25)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/wisconsin/articles/2025-06-24/wisconsin-supreme-court-delivers-win-for-environmentalists-in-fight-over-forever-chemicals

Italy: Venice protesters claim victory in Bezos-Sanchez wedding venue change

Source: CNN

“Protesters in Venice rallying against the impending nuptials of billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez have claimed victory after their threats of disruption reportedly prompted a change of wedding venues. The group, No Space for Bezos, had called for a blockade on canals around the 14th-century Grande Scuola Misericordia in central Venice, which is thought to be where the couple wanted to hold a massive party on June 28, the day after exchanging vows. It claims the party will now move to the less picturesque venue of a ‘tese,’ or shipyard, in a renovated maritime area known as the Arsenale on the outer edge of Venice. This, it said, was victory over Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro’s condemnation of the protests. … Few details of the Bezos and Sanchez wedding have been publicly confirmed, with dates, venues and guest lists remaining closely guarded secrets.” (06/24/25)

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/travel/venice-protesters-venue-change-claim

Japan: US Marine jailed for seven years for sexual assault

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“A court in Japan has sentenced a US marine to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Okinawa last year. Lance Cpl Jamel Clayton, 22, attacked the woman in her 20s, choking her from behind and attempting sexual intercourse, the court ruled. The case is one of a string involving US servicemen based in the Okinawa archipelago, where more than half of the 54,000 US soldiers serving in Japan are based. Previous crimes committed by American personnel have sparked anger and protests by locals in Okinawa, the largest of which took place 30 years ago, when tens of thousands took to the street following the rape of a 12-year-old girl.” (06/24/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxjnee9rzo