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What You Need To Know: 

1. Italy’s Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte has given up on efforts to form a government after President Mattarella rejected his choice for economic minister.

2. Ireland overwhelmingly voted to overturn their restrictive abortion ban in referendum.

3. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made good on his promise to demolish his country’s nuclear test site as a small group of foreign journalists watched.

4. At least 30 Syrian army troops and Iranian-backed militiamen were killed when Islamic State fighters attacked a military outpost near Palmyra in eastern Syria.

5. A heatwave killed 65 people in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi amid fears the death toll could climb as the high temperatures persist.

6. Venezuela‘s President Nicolás Maduro won re-election to another six-year term, in a vote marred by an opposition boycott, low turnout, and claims of vote-rigging.

7. Voters in Burundi overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, ushering in changes that could let President Nkurunziza stay in power until 2034.

8. Colombian right-wing candidate Ivan Duque won a place in June’s presidential runoff with leftist Gustavo Petro, deepening fears a peace accord with Marxist rebels could be unraveled or the economy overhauled.

9. An Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has infected at least 35 people, killing 12.

10. Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri was nominated to be Prime Minister of Lebanon for the third time.

Afghanistan

• At least 3 dead, 15 wounded in Baghdad suicide attack
• Kidnapped U.N. staff member and son released
• Sixth member of gas pipeline clearance team killed
• Death toll in Kandahar rises to 16

Algeria

• Blogger accused of espionage sentenced to 10 years in prison

Argentina

• Cinema collapse kills at least 3
• Thousands protest negotiations with IMF

Australia

• Far-right party rejects proposed tax cuts, adding to Prime Minister’s woes
• Authorities searching for 50 athletes, officials missing after Commonwealth games
• Archbishop convicted of concealing child sex abuse

Azerbaijan

• Blast at cafe in Baku kills 2

Barbados

• Barbados elects first female PM in opposition landslide win

Brazil

• City of Sao Paulo declares state of emergency due to trucker protest
• Government authorizes army to clear trucker protest 
• President Temer scraps re-election plan, backs former minister Meirelles

Burkina Faso

• Taiwan cuts ties with Burkina Faso
• Security forces kill 3 suspected Islamist militants in early morning raid

Burundi

• Voters approve new constitution extending presidential term limits 
• Opposition push to annul vote extending President’s term

Cameroon

• Dozens killed in restive Anglophone region

Canada

• Explosion at Indian restaurant wounds 15 people

China

• China considers scrapping birth limits by 2019
• China disinvited from major U.S. military exercise
• China calls U.S. withdrawal of drills invite ‘unconstructive’
• Authorities jail Tibetan language promoter for ‘inciting separatism’

Colombia

• Conservative former President Duque and leftist Petro to meet in run-off

Congo

• Death toll in Ebola outbreak reaches 12
• 50 people killed after boat capsizes on river
• Militia attacks east Congo gold mine

Croatia

• Parliament approves new economy minister to replace Dalic

Egypt

• Officials arrests prominent activist, latest in wider crackdowns

Estonia

• Police says $13 billion laundered through Estonia

Ethiopia

• University students protest over alleged rape

Finland

• Poll leaders rule out working with nationalists after vote

France

• Two French agents accused of spying for foreign power
• Unemployment edges up, dampening Macron’s hopes

Germany

• Nationalists march in Berlin, face massive counter-protests

Guatemala

• Court sentences four military officers for civil war crimes

Guinea

• President reshuffles government as he faces strikes, civil unrest
• Parliamentary majority rejects calls for Bollore inquiry

India

• India takes U.S. steel tariffs complaint to the WTO
• At least 9 dead after police fire on protesters seeking closure of copper smelter

Iran

• U.S. to impose ‘strongest’ sanctions on Iran if no changes made

Iraq

• Bombs target communist party headquarters

Ireland

• Voters overwhelmingly chose to legalize abortion in referendum 

Israel

• Defense chief plans 2,500 new West Bank settler homes
• Army kills 3 Gazan militants after foiling border bombing 
• Israeli air strikes target boat moored in Gaza
• Israeli minister says U.S. may soon recognize Israel’s hold on Golan Heights

Italy

• PM-designate Conte gives up efforts to form a government 
• 5-Star leader says President should be impeached
• President calls in former IMF official amid political turmoil 
• 2 dead, 18 injured in train accident in Piedmont

Lebanon

• Prime Minister Hariri wins majority support to be PM
• Parliament elects Hezbollah ally Ferzli deputy speaker
• Parliament re-elects Shi’ite Berri as speaker

Libya

• At least 7 killed by car bomb in Benghazi
• Clashes intensify in East Libya as car bomb kills 2

Malaysia

• Former leader Najib grilled by anti-corruption agency
• Large amounts of cash found at apartment of ousted PM’s son and daughter

Mexico

• Presidential race seen little changed by second debate

Myanmar

• Finance minister resigns
• Rohingya insurgents killed Hindu villagers

North Korea

• North Korea demolishes nuclear test site as journalists watch
• Kim Jong-un commits to summit with Trump, denuclearization

Pakistan

• Heatwave kills 65 people in Karachi
• Gunmen kill 2 policemen in southwestern Quetta
• Authorities approve bill to merge tribal regions with country

Palestine

• Dozens of Palestinians injured by Israeli gunfire in Gaza
• Palestinians demand full ICC investigation into “Israeli war crimes”
• President Abbas hospitalized with pneumonia

Panama

• Former President to stop fighting extradition from U.S.

Paraguay

• Paraguay opens embassy in Jerusalem
• Paraguay suspends arms imports in bid to stop illegal trafficking

Romania

• Court acquits former PM Tariceanu of false testimony charges 

Russia

• Investigation shows Russian military missile downed flight MH17
• Militants in Eastern Syria kill 4 soldiers
• President Putin meets French President Macron, says North Korea summit end regrettable
• Putin to step down as President after term expires in 2024
• Russia delays U.N. sanctions on Libya human-trafficking leaders

Saudi Arabia

• New arrests in crackdown on activists 

Somalia

• Dozens killed in clashes between two Somali regions in land dispute
• Storm in Somaliland kills dozens, wipes out farms
• Al Shabaab suicide bomber hits military convoy

South Africa

• Zuma ally resigns after anti-corruption protests

South Sudan

• U.S. proposes U.N. sanctions against six senior South Sudan officials
• Peace talks end without deal

Spain

• German court rejects call for Puigdemont to be rearrested
• Ruling party fined in major corruption case
• Authorities rescue over 500 migrants in the Mediterranean
• Leaders of Podemos win confidence vote after house purchase investigation

Syria

• At least 30 killed in ISIS attack on Syrian army near Palmyra
• Army, police celebrate recapturing all of Damascus 
• Air strikes on pro-government positions kill 12
• Suspected Israeli strike targets Hezbollah in Syria

Thailand

• Protest leaders surrender as pro-democracy march disperses 

Turkey

• Court sentences 104 people to life in prison in post-coup case
• 1 dead, 4 injured in explosives factory blast
• Police detain 51 suspected ISIS members
• Roadside bomb kills 2 village guards in southeast

Uganda

• Bus crash kills at least 22, including children

Ukraine

• FBI seek to thwart major cyber attack on Ukraine
• Ukraine tests U.S. missile systems for first time

United States of America

• President Trump says U.S. team in North Korea planning summit with Kim Jong-un
• American freed from Venezuela jail after 2 years 
• U.S. warships sail near South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing
• Top commander in Europe wants more resources, forces to deter Russia
• Secretary of State says ‘sonic attack’ in China 
• Japan, Russia, Turkey bring potential U.S. tariff retaliation to $3.5 billion

Venezuela

• Maduro re-elected President amid low turnout, global criticism
• Authorities arrest 15 military officials over vote period
• Election runner-up to formally challenge result
• Foreign minister says new U.S. sanctions are illegal
• President Maduro expels top U.S. diplomat

Vietnam

• U.S. slaps heavy duties on Chinese steel shipped from Vietnam
• Vietnam says Chinese bombers in disputed South China Sea increase tensions

Yemen

• Powerful cyclone strikes Yemen; 6 dead, 30 missing
• U.S. alarmed by strike on Turkish ship delivery wheat to Yemen
• 5 killed, 22 wounded by Houthi missile in Marib

Zimbabwe

• President applies to re-join Commonwealth, invites poll observers
• Army won’t allow opposition to rule