22 June 2026
US-Iran
High-level negotiations ended in Switzerland, and now lower-level negotiations and technical talks will continue for the next 58 days. The US and Iran agreed to create a “de-confliction cell” which will address the fighting in Lebanon. According to US Vice President Vance, Iran agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into the country.
UK
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation today. He also resigned as Labour Party leader but will remain as prime minister to ensure an orderly transition to his successor, a process that could be completed by mid-July, but probably by September. Labour’s Andy Burnham, former Mayor of Greater Manchester, is seen as a frontrunner.
Colombia
Right-wing populist Abelardo de la Espriella was narrowly elected president of Colombia on Sunday, receiving 49.6% of the ballots cast on the back of his promise to dismantle armed groups in his country. De la Espriella has the backing of the US, but his victory has not yet been confirmed as he awaits election certification.
Venezuela-US
The US is providing intelligence and military aid to Venezuelan forces who are targeting criminal groups in the country’s southern jungles. Venezuela is seeking to clean up the area and make it attractive for American investment. Criminal groups, along with the military, currently control the riches coming out of Venezuela’s gold mining belt.
Israel
An investigation done by the Times of Israel has found that some obituaries published by Hamas and Islamic Jihad include the names of slain journalists. Throughout Israel’s action against Hamas, there have been accusations that Israel targeted journalists, but it seems that some of those journalists had ranks with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. The Committee to Protect Journalists has a database of slain journalists in the conflict, and that number was sitting at 276 and now sits at 259.
Afghanistan
The Taliban have deployed a 1,000-man force to Badakhshan and reshuffled local officials in a bid to secure the province’s lucrative gold mines. The Taliban want to wrestle control of the mines from local commanders and ensure that the profits go to Kandahar. Questions are rising as to whether the 1,000-strong force is there to protect the mines or to suppress any dissent.
Ukraine-Poland
President Zelensky returned Poland’s highest award, the Polish Order of the White Eagle, amid a diplomatic row between the two countries. Ukraine renamed a military unit to a controversial World War 2 unit, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Many in Ukraine see the historic unit as heroes, while Poland claims that the UPA carried out a genocide of about 100,000 ethnic Poles in Volhynia (now Volyn in Ukraine) between 1943-45.
Social Media Wires
Russian Mil-Bloggers state that Belarus is jamming Geran flights
All fuel sales in Crimea have been suspended
Featured Photo: “Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Northern Ireland” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
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The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.