You are invited to join us for Global Crisis Watch 350, on Friday, June 27th at 17:00 BST / 12:00 EDT.
The highlighted topics will include:
US Supreme Court Backs Trump in Third-Country Deportation Case
The US Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to resume deporting migrants to third countries – nations that are not their countries of origin – even without giving them an opportunity to express fears of torture or persecution. The decision reverses a lower court injunction requiring due process protections before such deportations could occur.
The case centers on eight migrants from countries including Myanmar, Cuba and Mexico, who were deported to South Sudan despite a previous ruling from Boston District Judge Brian Murphy. He had blocked such deportations in April, stating that migrants must be informed and given a chance to raise fear-based objections, especially when facing transfer to conflict zones. The Biden-appointed judge criticized the government for trying to sidestep constitutional and international obligations.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority did not provide a signed opinion, but the three liberal justices expressed strong objection. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Kagan and Jackson, accused the majority of “rewarding lawlessness,” warning that the decision could expose people to grave danger without legal recourse.
The Department of Homeland Security welcomed the decision, calling it “a victory for the safety and security of the American people.” The administration has justified third-country deportations by claiming that certain migrants – often labeled as dangerous criminals – cannot be returned to their home countries due to diplomatic refusals. However, lawyers for the migrants argue many of those deported have no criminal convictions and that the administration is acting punitively and illegally.
Currently, some deportees are being held at a US military base in Djibouti, in makeshift conditions. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stationed there report poor health and security risks, including threats from nearby conflict zones.
This ruling is the latest in a series of legal victories for President Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown, including the rollback of protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba.
Trump Shuts Down VOA in Move Critics Call ‘Death of Independent Journalism’
The US government has issued layoff notices to hundreds of Voice of America (VOA) employees, effectively dismantling the US-funded broadcaster that has operated since World War II. The move, ordered by the Trump administration, has resulted in the loss of more than 85% of the staff at VOA and its parent organisation, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), amounting to approximately 1,400 jobs since March.
The administration cited systemic dysfunction, political bias and government waste as the rationale behind the shutdown. Kari Lake, Trump’s appointee overseeing the agency, described the layoffs as part of a broader effort to reduce federal bureaucracy. However, critics have called it a blow to independent journalism and US global influence.
VOA was originally founded to counter Nazi propaganda and has since played a key role in broadcasting news to regions lacking press freedom, including Iran, Russia, North Korea and China. Its Persian-language service was especially vital in reaching Iranian audiences amid recent tensions, but those staff members were also among those abruptly dismissed—some reportedly being barred from re- entering their offices mid-shift.
Journalists involved in a legal battle to save the outlet described the mass firings as the “death of 83 years of independent journalism.” VOA’s chief correspondent, Steve Herman, called the move “a historic act of self-sabotage,” warning that the outlet’s closure risks permanently weakening America’s soft-power influence abroad.
The Trump administration has increasingly targeted publicly funded media, also urging Congress to cut off funds to NPR (National Public Radio) and PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). While legal challenges are ongoing, and appeals have been made for continued Congressional support, observers warn that the longer VOA remains off the air, the less likely it is to recover its international audience or reputation.
It remains unclear what, if anything, will replace VOA’s programming. Some speculate that pro-Trump networks like One America News could attempt to fill the gap.
Canada Joins EU Defence Pact, Launches Talks on AI and Digital Trade
At their 20th summit, the European Union and Canada deepened their strategic relationship by launching a new Security and Defence Partnership and initiating negotiations for a Digital Trade Agreement. The move comes amid global geopolitical uncertainty and questions over long-term US commitment to NATO and transatlantic cooperation.
The new Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) allows Canada to collaborate more closely with the EU on crisis management, cyber and hybrid threats, maritime security and joint defence procurement. Canada will also post a defence representative to the EU and may eventually gain access to the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defence procurement fund. EU leaders hailed the partnership as one of the most comprehensive frameworks ever offered to a non-EU country.
European Council President António Costa called the agreement “a powerful political statement,” while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it marked a conscious effort to shape a new world order through strong partnerships. The deal also reaffirms EU and Canadian support for Ukraine and Moldova, and includes a shared stance on Middle East tensions, with calls for a Gaza ceasefire and concerns over Iran’s destabilising actions.
In parallel, the EU and Canada launched talks on a Digital Trade Agreement to modernise economic ties in the digital era. Building on the success of their existing CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) – which has boosted bilateral trade by 65% – the new talks will centre on cooperation in AI, cybersecurity, digital standards and platform regulation. The agreement is intended to facilitate secure data flows, promote AI innovation and align digital identities across borders.
Canada is the second country after the UK to sign a defence partnership with the EU in recent weeks, a reflection of the EU’s push to strengthen alliances with like- minded democracies as US foreign policy grows more unpredictable.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to free and fair trade, shared values and mutual security, marking a new chapter in transatlantic relations.
Colombian Soldiers Freed After Mass Kidnapping in Rebel-Held Region
The Colombian army has freed 57 soldiers who were held captive over the weekend in the conflict-ridden Micay Canyon region of southwestern Colombia. The soldiers were seized in two separate incidents by large groups of civilians believed to be acting under orders from EMC (Estado Mayor Central), the largest dissident faction of the former FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebel group. The military described the detentions as a “kidnapping,” triggered by the arrest of a suspected EMC member. No shots were fired in the rescue operation, though 20 people were arrested.
The Micay Canyon region remains one of Colombia’s most volatile zones due to its strategic importance in cocaine production and trafficking. More than 90% of locals depend on coca cultivation for survival, making military presence a threat to their livelihoods. This incident underscores the enduring influence of armed groups like EMC, which have resisted peace efforts and operate through extortion, illegal mining, forced recruitment and drug trafficking.
The kidnappings followed a broader wave of coordinated violence on 10th June across Cauca and Valle del Cauca, where FARC dissident fronts carried out 24 attacks using explosives and firearms. These attacks killed seven people, injured at least 28 and targeted infrastructure in regions home to Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities.
Human rights groups, including NOMADESC and WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. They point to the failure of successive governments to fully implement the 2016 peace agreement, protect civilians or follow through on post-protest promises. Between 2016 and mid-2025, Colombia recorded 644 massacres, with 2,354 lives lost – highlighting a security strategy that has prioritized military metrics over human safety and social stability.
Analysts argue that President Petro’s administration must realign with its original vision of human-centered peacebuilding and fulfill commitments to the region’s most vulnerable. Without addressing the deep-rooted structural drivers of conflict, peace will remain out of reach for many Colombians.
Plus, all the stories that are catching our attention wherever we live in the world. Feel free to join us and add your voice to the conversation.
