Today’s Headlines and Commentary

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote held by his party, reports the BBC. Johnson won the support of 59 percent of Tory members of parliament, which protects him from a leadership challenge for a year. But critics say the narrow vote reflects Johnson’s weakened position in the party and are calling for his resignation.

Russia says it has advanced in eastern Ukraine, with troops now occupying 97 percent of the territory in Luhansk, writes AP News. The announcement comes as Russia deploys additional reinforcements in the area and the country’s artillery barrage continues its offensive on Ukrainian forces, according to an Ukrainian official.

According to Western officials, China is covertly building a military base in Cambodia, writes the Washington Post. The reports indicate that the facility will be exclusively used by the Chinese military, which both countries deny. As China has only one other foreign military base, in Djibouti, a facility in Cambodia would significantly advance its desires for greater influence in the South China Sea. 

Dozens of people were killed at a church in Ondo, Nigeria, by gunmen disguised as worshippers, reports ABC News. The massacre occurred during Pentecost Sunday services, which celebrate the 50th day after Easter. It is unclear who orchestrated the attack , and police have yet to identify the gunmen.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he will not attend the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, following a decision from the White House not to include the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, writes the Washington Post. López Obrador is sending his foreign minister in his place and plans to meet with President Biden in July.

Five members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, were charged in a superseding indictment with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, according to the New York Times. The group’s former leader, Enrique Tarrio, is among those indicted. The charges, if proven, would carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition government was rocked by a failure to pass a bill on West Bank settlers, reports AP News. The bill would have extended Israeli legal protections to settlers in the West Bank. These protections have existed for decades through emergency regulations set to expire at the end of the month. If the regulations are not renewed, it could alter the legal status of the approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers in the region.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

James Mulvenon explained why regulatory enforcement should be strengthened against companies violating the expanded Huawei FDPR in light of numerous violations.

Max Smeets argued that the market for zero-day exploits is inefficient and prone to failure. Given this, and the information asymmetries that favor sellers, buyers are more likely to buy local than has been previously thought.

Rohini Kurup and Katherine Pompilio posted a superseding indictment charging five members of the Proud Boys with seditious conspiracy.

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of The Lawfare Podcast in which Stephanie Pell sat  down with Lindsay Polley to discuss the Venerable Equities Process and how its current state impedes its ability to advance long-term social good.

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