Middle East Ceasefire Diplomacy: Trump said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to stop fighting, with troops “turned back” from Beirut, as Iran-linked reporting claimed talks with Washington were paused and Tehran threatened to block key straits. US Election Integrity & Courts: A federal judge sentenced a Canadian citizen to prison for falsely claiming US citizenship to vote in North Carolina, while California election officials reported fire-damaged ballots and vandalism at a vote center ahead of the June 2 primary. Philippines Poll Readiness: Comelec said it is fully prepared for BARMM’s September 14 parliamentary elections, including testing automated counting machines and enforcing a stricter gun ban. Latin America Runoff Politics: Colombia’s first-round presidential vote elevated Abelardo de la Espriella, signaling a broader “law and order” push amid public frustration with security and institutions. Russia Internal Pressure: Reports say Putin is facing warnings from finance officials that war spending is becoming unsustainable, with debate over possible defense cuts. Europe Election Meddling Warning: The European Commission accused Russia of hybrid tactics to influence Armenia’s parliamentary elections. US Military Rights Ruling: A divided appeals court panel ruled the Trump administration’s policy barring transgender troops was illegal. Africa Governance & Infrastructure: Zambia launched a K230m rural roads project and rolled out a “Count Me In” voter campaign for the 2026 elections. Asia Security Tensions: Japan and Iran held talks on Hormuz passage safety, while China accused Japan’s defense minister of baseless claims amid a widening Tokyo-Beijing dispute.