IN DIPLOMACY- Egypt will continue to work towards a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said yesterday, as Israel’s new coalition government ordered fresh airstrikes on Gaza in response to incendiary balloons allegedly released by Hamas into southern Israel. Egypt was the key broker of a ceasefire in the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas last month. The New York Times and the Financial Times have the story.

US citizens could soon be allowed to travel to Europe after European Union (EU) members agreed to gradually lift their tourism ban on travellers coming from the states, the Associated Press reports. The non-binding recommendation is set to be formalized on Friday, though individual countries in the bloc will likely retain the right to impose additional entry requirements. All EU countries are expected to start using the joint covid-19 digital travel certificate system as of 1 July, though non-EU citizens are currently not eligible to obtain one.

The Tokyo Olympics might need a public bailout to the tune of USD 800 mn if the games go on without public spectators, according to a Financial Times analysis of the olympic committee’s balance sheet. The organizing committee has yet to make a final decision on audience capacity at this year’s games which have been slated to begin on 23 July. If public health officials in the country — who have been pushing for a complete ban on spectators — get their way, the committee may be faced with no option other than a taxpayer-funded bailout to cover the cost of the competition.