Putin gets lavish welcome in North Korea

Plus, deadly heatwaves around the world.

Sign up for Reuters newsletters  Daily Briefing Daily Briefing By Edson Caldas Hello. Today is Juneteenth in the United States, a day that marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, now in its fourth year as a federal holiday. Elsewhere, we are covering Putin's visit to North Korea, extreme heat on the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, and the latest from the war in Gaza. Plus, the world's most valuable company. Today's Top News   Kim said North Korea-Russia relations are entering a period of "new high prosperity". KCNA via REUTERS Putin in Pyongyang Cheering crowds and lavish ceremonies greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang, where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed "full support" for Russia's war in Ukraine and pledged stronger strategic ties with Moscow. NATO is concerned about support Russia could provide for North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Meanwhile, China is keeping its distance and avoiding any trilateral arrangement. Putin's next stop? Vietnam. Extreme heat Hundreds of visitors have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca amid scorching heat, according to press reports and foreign ministries.  In India, severe heatwaves, landslides and floods killed at least 11 people. In Greece, a 55-year-old American has been found dead on the island of Mathraki, the third tourist death in a week following a period of unusually hot weather. And in the US, cities are breaking decades-old temperature records as a heatwave stretches from central to eastern portions of the country, in what officials are warning could become a deadly weather event. In other news Israeli forces may have repeatedly violated fundamental principles of the laws of war and failed to distinguish between civilians and fighters in their Gaza Strip military campaign, the United Nations human rights office said. Follow the latest on the war. Police in New Caledonia arrested protest leader Christian Tein at the headquarters of the biggest pro-independence political party, the Caledonian Union, as he prepared to hold a press conference. Business & Markets   Nvidia has become the world's most valuable company following a staggering rally in its shares, underlining the outsized role investors expect artificial intelligence to play in the global economy over the coming years. Here's the impact on global stocks. US senators attacked the CEO of Boeing for the planemaker's tarnished safety record, overshadowing his apology to families who lost loved ones in two 737 MAX crashes and acceptance of responsibility after a January mid-air emergency. British inflation returned to its 2% target in May for the first time in nearly three years, but underlying price pressures remained strong, meaning the Bank of England is likely to wait longer before cutting interest rates. Switzerland's financial regulator ruled that the UBS takeover of Credit Suisse did not create any competition concerns, despite recommendations from the country's antitrust watchdog that it merited further scrutiny. Johnson & Johnson faces a new proposed class action seeking damages and medical monitoring on behalf of women who have been diagnosed with cancer, or might develop it in the future, allegedly as a result of using the company's talc products. The Wider Image Inspired by Olympics debut, Japan's seniors blaze breakdancing trail. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Saruwaka Kiyoshie, a 74-year-old surfer and master of classical Japanese dance, is getting her feet wet in a new sport after it was confirmed for the 2024 Paris Games. She is a member of Ara Style Senior, Japan's only breakdancing club made up of elderly citizens. Read more And Finally... Britain's Royal Ascot, in pictures. Action Images via REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge From horses to royals to hats, we take a closer look at scenes and style from the annual racing event at Britain's Ascot Racecourse. See the photo gallery Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters.com Reuters Daily Briefing is sent 5 days a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here. Reuters Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement © 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036