The politics of selective scrutiny - The Tribune

• National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted counterparts from the BRICS grouping in New Delhi for a two-day meeting to discuss the global security architecture. • Key attendees included Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iran's Ghadir Nezamipour, and Brazil's Carlos Cozendey.

• The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to release an order list and several opinion announcements between Wednesday and Thursday. • Key cases include a Trump administration request to revive Arizona voter registration rules and a dispute over Pennsylvania's requirement for mail-in ballots to be dated.

• The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to enter New Mexico streets between 2023 and 2025. • This strategy was designed to help agents build more comprehensive cases against drug trafficking networks rather than making immediate seizures.

• Former President Donald Trump utilized direct rhetoric to argue that European nations have failed to meet their financial obligations to NATO. • The author, a Research Fellow at the Institute for Research in Economic and Fiscal Issues (IREF), suggests that Trump's plain language effectively communicated what bureaucratic NATO reports had signaled for decades.

• The British Pound fell to 1.32 against the US Dollar, marking a 1.65% decline over five days following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. • Starmer's departure follows intensifying internal dissent and policy reversals, exacerbated by Andy Burnham's recent parliamentary seat win, which may trigger a formal leadership challenge.

• U.S. stock futures declined on Monday as investors reacted to a potential diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran. • Mediators announced that officials from both nations have agreed to a 60-day roadmap aimed at securing a final peace deal.

• Discussions regarding the reform of South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC) have intensified following a ballot-paper shortage during the June 3 local elections. • Experts highlight that Korea's independent administration model is a global benchmark for new democracies, as it ensures political neutrality and fosters administrative expertise.

• A group of Nihangs stormed a gurdwara in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, vandalizing the premises and taking the manager hostage on the roof. • The attackers demanded the immediate release of four Nihang devotees who were previously arrested following a clash in Karnaprayag.

• Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the BJP on Monday following "Operation Tiger," a move led by ally Eknath Shinde to further weaken Uddhav Thackeray's camp. • Khera likened the current political maneuvering to "Operation Lotus" and described the actions as "dacoity" aimed at destabilizing opposition forces.

• JD Vance has met with top Iranian officials as the United States attempts to encourage Iran to "turn over a new leaf" regarding its diplomatic relations. • A severe heatwave has struck Europe, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday.

• The Japanese government is deploying specialists to Greenland to investigate the potential for mining rare earth metals and other critical minerals. • This initiative aims to reduce Japan's heavy reliance on China, which currently controls approximately 70% of the global supply of these essential materials.