The Judicial Conference of the United States—the policymaking body for the federal judiciary—is actively discussing whether the judiciary should establish its own armed security force, independent of the U.S. Marshals Service, to protect federal judges. Traditionally, the Marshals Service, which falls under the Department of Justice, has provided security for federal judges. However, growing concerns over politicization and hostility from top Justice Department officials have prompted this unprecedented consideration. Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump have repeatedly attacked the federal judiciary in recent months, including personal criticisms of judges who have ruled against the administration. Bondi recently described federal judges as “deranged” and accused them of acting as though they are “above the law”—comments that many see as part of a broader escalation in the administration's conflict with the judiciary. The idea of forming an independent judicial security force reportedly emerged during a series of closed-door meetings in early March, when approximately 50 judges gathered in Washington for the semiannual session of the Judicial Conference. It is an extraordinary moment in American legal history: for the first time, the federal judiciary is seriously contemplating the creation of its own protective force due to a lack of trust in the existing system—one that now reports to officials openly hostile to the courts. Observers say it reflects deepening concerns over the erosion of judicial independence and the rule of law in the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from his threat to impose 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union next month, restoring a July 9 deadline to allow for talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to produce a deal. European assets rallied on Monday. The euro hit its highest level against the dollar since April 30, while European shares surged and were poised to recoup the previous session's losses. Trump had said on Friday said he was recommending a 50% tariff effective from June 1, expressing frustration that trade negotiations with the EU were not moving quickly enough. The threat roiled global financial markets and intensified a trade war that has been punctuated by frequent changes in tariff policies toward U.S. trading partners and allies. The U.S. president's softened stance two days later marked another temporary reprieve in his erratic trade policy, even if the latest whipsawing in decision making reminded policymakers and investors how quickly circumstances could change. Trump, who has repeatedly expressed disdain for the EU and its treatment of the United States on trade, relented after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told him on Sunday that the EU needed more time to come to an agreement - Reuters

Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin "absolutely CRAZY" after a weekend of major Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. "I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him," he said on Sunday. But as Trump's patience wore thin, the Kremlin took a more diplomatic approach. "This is a very important moment which is connected to an emotional overload of everyone involved," spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question from the BBC. Peskov also expressed Moscow's gratitude to the US for its efforts towards negotiations with Ukraine. At the same time as criticising Putin, Trump also accused Volodymyr Zelensky of "doing his country no favours by talking the way he does.” The Ukrainian president has not addressed Trump's accusation directly, but this morning called for more "real pressure" on Russia - BBC

• For three consecutive nights Russia has pummelled Ukraine with large-scale drone attacks, saturating its air defences and killing at least 13 people on Sunday, officials said. AFP reporters in the capital Kyiv heard loud blasts from air defences early Monday. Russia fired "355 Shahed-type drones" including decoys at Ukraine between Sunday night and early Monday, as well as nine cruise missiles, Ukraine's air force said. Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told AFP it was the largest drone attack since Moscow's invasion began. Air alerts in Kyiv lasted for six hours, officials said. In the western Khmelnytsky region, Russian aerial attacks damaged 18 residential buildings, according to authorities. Explosions were also heard in Kharkiv, where first responders extinguished fires - AFP

• Ukraine says China is supplying a range of important products to Russian military plants. The chief of Ukrainian foreign intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, said: "There is information that China supplies tooling machines, special chemical products, gunpowder, and components specifically to defence manufacturing industries. We have confirmed data on 20 Russian factories," he said. Reuters has requested a comment from the Chinese foreign ministry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, the first time he had openly accused Beijing of direct military assistance for Moscow. China dismissed the accusation as "groundless" but Kyiv imposed sanctions on three Chinese entities. Ivashchenko said Ukrainian intelligence also had information on at least five cases of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the aviation sector in 2024-2025, including the supply of equipment, spare parts and documentation - CNA

French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed a video of an apparent row with his wife Brigitte as the two of them just “joking around.” The footage filmed Sunday appears to show Brigitte Macron lightly slapping or pushing her husband in the face shortly before they disembark from a flight in Hanoi, Vietnam. The French leader at first seems surprised then turns toward the welcome delegation and waves. Before heading down the ramp, he appears to offer his arm to his wife, which she did not take. Asked about the now-viral incident on Monday, Macron told reporters that it has been blown out of proportion. “So you see a video that shows me squabbling, and joking around with my wife, and I’m surprised about it. [It] becomes a sort of disaster of planetary proposition, with everyone having their own theory about it,” he told journalists on the sidelines of his visit. “It’s all a bit rubbish,” he added. Several French news outlets reported that Macron’s office initially dismissed the video, which was filmed by The Associated Press, as fake news before backtracking. Social media accounts hostile to Macron seized on the footage, which likely prompted the Elysée’s reported initial denial. One of Macron’s aides, granted anonymity to discuss the incident, said that the images were enough “to set off the conspiracy theorists.” A second adviser blamed pro-Russian media for amplifying the video - Politico

• Southeast Asian leaders in Malaysia's capital have signed what’s being described as a landmark declaration. The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 sets the course of action for the next two decades, with the immediate challenges of more-than-usual uncertainty in global trade accompanied by tension. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that ASEAN had signed similar documents in the past that proved the group was an "anchor of stability" and "rising center of economic gravity". He said: “Today, the international order is unsettled. Geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, climate, and technological disruptions are testing the bonds between nations. These same technologies carry risks. Left unmanaged, they may deepen inequality, displace livelihoods, and outpace our rules.” In response to these challenges, Anwar also called for innovations and a people-centered integration within ASEAN. He added: "That means closing development gaps, raising the standards of living, and investing in the human spirit and potential of all our citizens."

View my on-the-ground video explainer from Ho Chi Minh City on the controversial proposed Trump Tower and golf course development in southern Vietnam

Billy Joel, the arena-filling Everyman singer-songwriter, has canceled all of his upcoming concerts, including a large-scale tour scheduled for this year and next, because of a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, he has announced. “This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” said a statement that was posted to the singer’s social media accounts. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.” Normal pressure hydrocephalus, or N.P.H., is a rare condition that occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, causing symptoms that include trouble walking and controlling one’s bladder. It can also lead to cognitive impairment, including memory problems. If the disease is diagnosed early enough, it can be treated successfully through surgery that creates a path for the fluid to flow out of the brain, alleviating symptoms. But in later stages, some of its effects can become irreversible. In his statement, Joel, 76, added, “I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for your understanding.” A representative for Joel declined to comment further. A mainstream music mainstay since the early 1970s, Joel is best known for songs like “Piano Man,” “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” “She’s Always a Woman” and “Big Shot” — just a sampling of the crowd-pleasing singalongs in his catalog, which included 43 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart - NYT

The journals…