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UKRAINE WAR
Quote:Peering across a dense stretch of woodland outside Denmark's capital with camouflage paint smeared across her face, 20-year-old Katrine scanned the horizon for threats. After nearly four months of military training, she and her unit spent early June conducting final exercises near the Danish army barracks in Hovelte, about 15 miles north of Copenhagen.
Katrine is one of many female soldiers who volunteered for military service earlier this year—a move that, until now, was the only path for Danish women to serve. While women have been able to join the armed forces as full-time personnel since the 1970s, they were excluded from the draft system that has long applied to men.
That is about to change. In a landmark move aimed at bolstering Denmark's military readiness, the Scandinavian country is extending compulsory enlistment to women for the first time.
Why It Matters
Denmark follows in the footsteps of its Nordic neighbors. Sweden reintroduced a gender-neutral draft in 2017 citing worsening security conditions, while Norway became the first NATO country to implement gender-equal conscription in 2013.
What to Know
Under new legislation passed by Denmark's parliament in early June, young women who turn 18 after the law takes effect will be entered into the national conscription lottery on equal footing with men. Volunteer enlistment remains an option for both genders, but for the first time, unfilled slots will be assigned through a gender-neutral draft.
The policy shift is unfolding amid heightened regional tension sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Even from the relative safety of Denmark, the conflict has left its mark. Lessons from the Ukrainian battlefield have been woven into Danish military training, giving recruits a sobering glimpse of the stakes.
"That makes it very real," Katrine said.
Quote:Russia could be forgiven for its aggression in Ukraine if such a move could usher in peace talks, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has said in comments that have prompted a rebuke from Kyiv.
Blanár said in an interview with Slovak broadcaster STVR that the war in Ukraine could not be resolved militarily, and that the West could forgive Russia as part of a return to diplomacy.
The comments from a NATO member's top diplomat sparked anger among Ukrainian voices on social media. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico already faces criticism among Kyiv's supporters over his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Elina Beketova, a Ukrainian expert at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told Newsweek Monday that Ukrainians know that "appeasing an aggressor state does not work."
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The war Putin started continues with no clear path to negotiations following Moscow's rejection of a ceasefire deal. Blanár's comments add to European concerns about the stance of an EU and NATO country toward Ukraine given Fico's opposition to continuing military aid for Kyiv and sanctions on Moscow.
What To Know
As negotiations remain stalled, Blanár said Sunday the international community may need to "perhaps" forgive Russia's actions and resume dialogue with Moscow.
In a translation of his comments, he said that "diplomatic solutions" could be sought and that there should be "communication" with Russia to prevent World War III, which could involve "even" forgiveness.
But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, formerly Twitter, Monday that "Russia's sense of impunity is the root cause of its crimes."
Sybiha's post added that it was naive to expect a criminal to stop if their crime is forgiven instead of punished and that Moscow will "hit the other cheek as well."
Beketova, a fellow at CEPA, told Newsweek that forgiveness is a complex process.
She said many Ukrainians admit that there might be a moment when they are left without external help but that doesn't mean they will stop resisting, especially when it is about protecting their home and taking back what was stolen.
Quote:Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has predicted that the dramatic increase in NATO defense spending agreed last week will lead to its collapse.
Responding to the statement on Thursday from Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, that an arms race between Russia and the West could result in the fall of Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said: "He can probably see—since he is such a wise sage—that the disastrous increase in spending of NATO countries will also lead to the collapse of this organization."
"Meanwhile, Russia—as President [Vladimir Putin] said the other day in Minsk after the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting—plans to reduce its military spending and be guided by common sense, rather than imaginary threats, as NATO member states do, including Sikorski," he said, according to Russia's state TASS news agency.
In an interview with the AFP news agency last week, Sikorski said: "Putin should understand that he is on the path of (Soviet leader Leonid) Brezhnev. He himself once said that the Soviet Union collapsed because it spent too much on armament, and now he is doing exactly the same thing."
NATO leaders' 'ironclad commitment'
NATO leaders reached a historic agreement last week to significantly increase defense spending, following strong pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. The 32-member alliance voiced an "ironclad commitment" to mutual defense in the event of an attack, reaffirming its core collective security principle.
In a joint summit statement, the leaders pledged to allocate 5% of their GDP annually to core defense needs and related security spending by 2035, aiming to strengthen both individual and collective security obligations.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte hailed the summit as "transformational."
Trump called the spending boost "something that no one really thought possible. And they said, 'You did it, sir. You did it.' Well, I don't know if I did it, but I think I did."
However, not all members are on board. Spain has already made it clear it cannot meet the target, and other countries have raised concerns. Still, the agreement includes a 2029 review, which will coincide with the next U.S. presidential elections, to assess the progress and recalibrate NATO's response to Russia's growing threat.
The alliance also reaffirmed its commitment to mutual defense, with a renewed emphasis on the principle that "an attack on one is an attack on all." Trump had cast doubt on the U.S.'s readiness to defend its allies in the lead-up to the summit.
"Together, allies have laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO," Rutte told reporters following the meeting in The Hague. "This will fuel a quantum leap in our collective defense."
Quote:President Donald Trump said he has his eyes on the 50,000 Russian troops deployed to the border near Sumy in Ukraine, where there are fears Moscow is ready to launch a new summer offensive in a war the American leader is trying to end.
"We'll see what happens. I'm watching it very closely," Trump told reporters after he landed in Florida on Tuesday for a visit to "Alligator Alcatraz."
Why It Matters
Trump said ahead of his return to the White House in January that he would achieve an end to the war in Ukraine. Since then, he has raised concerns about both sides' actions and sought to arrange ceasefire talks between the two nations.
What To Know
The direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks have yielded little beyond prisoner exchanges so far, and Moscow is continuing to make advances on the battlefield as it pounds Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones.
Ukraine's European allies are ramping up their military support for Kyiv, but a question remains about the future of vital U.S. aid as Trump attempts to broker peace in a process he has threatened to abandon if he decides it will not result in an end to the war.
Trump said recently that he is considering giving Ukraine more Patriot missile systems to help it defend its cities against the Russian strikes, which have caused dozens of civilian deaths.
Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts.
Ukraine's air force said Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's airspace overnight.
Strikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a 6-year-old child, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Monday.
NATO leaders reached a historic agreement last week to significantly increase defense spending, following strong pressure from Trump. The 32-member alliance voiced an "ironclad commitment" to mutual defense in the event of an attack, reaffirming its core principle of collective security.
In a joint summit statement, the leaders pledged to allocate 5 percent of their GDP annually to core defense needs and related security spending by 2035, aiming to strengthen both individual and collective security obligations.
Quote:President Donald Trump revealed the details of his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Trump told reporters before he boarded Air Force One for an "America 250" rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, "We had a call, it was a pretty long call, we talked about a lot of things, including Iran. We also talked about the war with Ukraine."
Trump shook his head and said, "I'm not happy about that," as the president remarked about the ongoing war he hoped to quickly end.
"No, I didn't make any progress with him today," Trump said when asked about a potential deal with Putin to end the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Putin and Trump talk Ukraine, Iran and other issues, Kremlin says
During Thursday's call, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of resolving issues with Iran through political and diplomatic means, according to his foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
On the topic of Ukraine, Ushakov said President Trump reiterated his desire for a swift end to the fighting, while Putin expressed Moscow's willingness to engage in negotiations. However, Putin also made clear that Russia remains committed to achieving its objectives in Ukraine and addressing what he described as the "root causes" of the conflict.
Putin has claimed that he launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to counter what he called a security threat from Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO and to defend Russian-speaking communities—justifications that Kyiv and its Western allies firmly reject. He has maintained that any future peace agreement must include Ukraine renouncing its NATO ambitions and acknowledging Russia's territorial gains.
"Russia will not back down from these goals," Ushakov told reporters after the call.
Trump and Putin's Call History
The call marked the sixth publicly acknowledged conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to office earlier this year.
Their last confirmed call took place on June 14, just one day after Israel launched an attack on Iran. The renewed contact between Trump and Putin appears to reflect a mutual interest in restoring U.S.-Russia relations, which have sharply deteriorated during the ongoing war in Ukraine — now entering its fourth year.
The Trump-Putin conversation comes just two days after Russian President Putin held his first direct phone call in nearly three years with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Quote:Russia's ambitions to produce more military aircraft are being thwarted by a shortage of components caused by sanctions and a growing labor shortage, it has been reported.
Satellite images shared with Newsweek by Earth imaging company Planet Labs show the expansion of the Kazan Aviation Plant in Russia's republic of Tatarstan over the last year.
The site is said to be the only location with the capacity to replace the 40 military aircraft Kyiv said were damaged or destroyed in June's daring Operation Spiderweb drone attacks that targeted planes which can launch cruise missiles.
But a shortage of workers and components has hampered production, according to think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Oliver Ruth, an intelligence analyst who focuses on the war in Ukraine, told Newsweek sanctions had in the short to medium term "crippled" Russia's production capabilities for planes like strategic bombers.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Kyiv said its Operation Spiderweb drone attacks in June destroyed a large number of Russian military aircraft critical for Moscow's aggression in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, although Moscow has played down the impact of the strikes.
However, Russia's military aircraft production in Kazan faces growing obstacles of worker shortages and components for such a program, suggesting Moscow faces problems maintaining its aviation capabilities.
What To Know
Finnish outlet Yle first reported how satellite images taken between mid-2024 and May 2025 from Planet Labs, and later provided to Newsweek, showed the construction and expansion of at least five buildings at the Kazan site.
The site makes and maintains Russian strategic aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-160M, Tu-160M2, and Tu-22M3, as well as helicopters and civilian aircraft.
In January plans were announced for the Kazan plant to produce four Tu-214 airliners in 2025, seven in 2026, 17 in 2027 and 28 in 2028.
Military expert Marko Eklund, who analyzed the images obtained by Yle, told the Finnish outlet that the new production space would not solve the problems faced by Russia's aviation industry.
So far, production is slow and in 2024 only two Tu-160M2 and two Tu-160M— which have launched cruise missiles in Ukraine—have been commissioned.
The ISW said that the plant's annual production rate is unclear as these Tupolevs were probably under construction for some time.
Quote:The North Sea is "very unprotected" and vulnerable to possible Russian sabotage attempts on critical undersea infrastructure NATO nations heavily rely on, according to a senior Dutch military official.
Moscow's presence in the North Sea has increased, "and so the threat as well," said Rear Admiral Paul Flos, one of the founding members of the multinational Seabed Security Experimentation Center (SeaSEC) set up in The Hague to protect underwater infrastructure.
The North Sea is "very much" at risk from Russian activity, Flos told Newsweek, adding: "They're not there because they like our waters."
Critical Undersea Infrastructure
Crisscrossing beneath our oceans and seas are cables and pipelines vital to everyday life, including ensuring the lights stay on and that bank payments are processed.
Roughly 1.3 million kilometers of cables—equivalent to about 800,000 miles—are used for $10 trillion in financial transactions each day, NATO chief Mark Rutte said at the start of 2025. Undersea cables carry more than 95 percent of all internet traffic, Rutte said.
But these networks are exposed, and there are simply too many cables and pipelines to shield at any one time, said Laurence Roche, from NATO's Italy-based Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation.
It is "really hard to protect" critical undersea infrastructure, Roche told Newsweek.
NATO is certainly trying. In 2024, the alliance established a new United Kingdom-based center, specifically tasked with developing strategies to protect undersea networks, reporting to NATO's Maritime Command. The alliance then launched its "Baltic Sentry" initiative to track ships moving through the Baltic Sea after several cables and pipelines were damaged or severed in late 2023.
The U.K. also launched the Proteus, a first-of-its-kind surveillance ship, to monitor underwater activities and control uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) nearly two years ago.
North Sea and the Baltic
The Baltic Sea is better known than the North Sea for highlighting the vulnerability of the alliance's critical undersea infrastructure. It is occasionally dubbed a "NATO lake," the water bracketed by alliance members and Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave home to a formidable military footprint and Moscow's Baltic Fleet.
NATO countries have logged a spate of incidents involving critical undersea infrastructure in the past year and a half, largely blamed on suspected sabotage by Russia in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Accidental damage can, and often does, happen, but officials are increasingly speaking out about attacks blamed on Moscow.
Quote:The Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. decision to suspend some arms deliveries to Ukraine as concerns among Kyiv and its allies grow about Ukrainian civilians being left more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that war in Ukraine would end more quickly the fewer Western weapons are supplied to Kyiv.
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The White House confirmed a pause in shipments of key air defense and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns about declining U.S. stockpiles.
The U.S. freeze comes as Ukraine faces a record number of Russian drone attacks as concerns grow among U.S. lawmakers, analysts and Ukrainian voices that the decision could mean battlefield gains for Moscow and more strikes on civilians.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said arms shipments to Ukraine from allies prolong the conflict Moscow started and raise the risk of escalation.
What To Know
The U.S. confirmed this week it had paused supplying some arms to fight Russian aggression.
Among the weapons were important missiles for the Patriot air defense systems, according to the Institute for the Study of War, which also listed supplies of Stinger man-portable air defense systems, howitzer munitions and air-to-ground missiles as being affected.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the decision was made "to put America's interests first" following a review of military spending and American support to foreign countries.
Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. made the decision because it did not have enough weapons, without providing proof for the claim.
Peskov referred to "empty warehouses" housing the American arms and said that the fewer weapons given to Ukraine "the closer the end of the special military operation," referring to the official Kremlin term for its full-scale invasion.
Peskov expressed the same sentiment to reporters on Thursday, according to state news agency Tass.
The ISW said the U.S. suspension will reinforce Putin's plan, expressed in June 2024 and repeated since then, to win a war of attrition with slow advances as he waits for Western support for Ukraine to dry up.
Quote:Officials have confirmed the death of Deputy Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Mikhail Gudkov in the Kursk region, saying he died along with others during a combat mission near the border with Ukraine on July 2.
Ukrainian media outlets had earlier reported the major general's death in a HIMARS strike, citing pro-Russian military bloggers. Now, Russia's Ministry of Defense and the Governor of Primorye Oleg Kozhemyako have confirmed the loss of Gudkov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had promoted Gudkov, 42, to his position on March 28, the Institute for the Study of War think tank reported.
He was previously the commander of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade of the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry. "Eternal memory to the hero," the Defense Ministry wrote on Telegram while announcing the news of Gudkov's death.
It is a significant move for Ukrainian forces, who are under intense pressure from Russian advances in the east and the looming threat of a summer offensive—with 50,000 of Moscow's troops amassed near the Sumy border.
Russia has also pounded Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, resulting in dozens of casualties. Moscow has also accused Ukraine of hitting residential areas, resulting in deaths and injuries.
U.S. Scraps Arms Shipment
Ukraine suffered a blow recently when the Trump administration scrapped a planned shipment of weapons following a Pentagon review, with the U.S. saying it needed to replenish its own stockpiles instead.
Washington has been Ukraine's most significant military backer since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been disengaging from the war, and no end to the fighting is in sight despite recent direct peace talks.
Trump is trying to broker an end to the war, a process he has found frustrating and difficult, having entered the White House on a pledge that he could bring about peace on day one.
MIDDLE EAST
Quote:Asenior cleric in Iran has issued a fatwa declaring that anyone who threatens Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is "an enemy of God," state media has reported.
Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi was responding to a question about any threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Israel, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A fatwa is a ruling on how to interpret Islamic law issued by a clerical authority.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
While a fatwa is not legally enforceable, it can influence judicial decisions in countries with Sharia-based legal systems.
Khosro K. Isfahani, senior research analyst at the National Union for Democracy in Iran wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the fatwa issued by Shirazi against Trump was similar to the murder fatwa issued against the author Salman Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses which led to a number of assassination attempts.
What To Know
The fatwa on threats to the supreme leader also extends to senior Shiite clerics known as Shirazi called on all Muslims around the world "to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes," Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.
Trump said amid Israel's strikes on Iran that he knew where Khamenei was hiding and that the Iranian leader was an "easy target," but also safe "for now." During the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz had threatened to kill Khamenei.
Shirazi said anyone who threatens the Leader or Marja is considered "an enemy of God" and reminded Muslims and Islamic states that it would be "haram" (forbidden) to stand in support of the enemy.
"It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes," the fatwa said.
Isfahani said on X that the fatwa had been signed and sealed responding to an Estefta (formal query) and was significant because it directly named Trump and that "unlike the nonexistent Fatwa against nukes, this one is real."
Quote:Iran's military said it had increased its level of preparedness and threatened a "crushing and devastating response" for any attack by Israeli forces.
Newsweek has contacted the Israeli prime minister's office and the U.S. State Department for comment
Why It Matters
The warning from Iran's military is an indication of the persisting tensions in the region and the threat of a return to all-out war despite the ceasefire agreed with Israel after its strikes on the military leadership and Iran's nuclear program, with the United States also attacking nuclear facilities.
Rather than seeking nuclear talks with President Donald Trump's administration, Iran has sounded a defiant note, saying it would suspend cooperation with inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
What To Know
"Our armed forces are more prepared than in the past and in the event of any renewed aggression by the Zionist regime, they will face a crushing and devastating response, Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran's military spokesperson said, according to Mehr News Agency.
Trump said the U.S. strikes resulted in the "total obliteration" of Iranian nuclear sites, but uncertainty remains over the status of the country's highly enriched uranium stockpiles. Iran has always said it does not have any military goals for its nuclear program, but it had accelerated production of near bomb-grade uranium.
The 12-day conflict that followed Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear and military facilities ended with a U.S.-Qatari brokered ceasefire, but there has been no sign of lasting agreement. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has referred to Trump as an "enemy of God".
Quote:At least two people have been killed and more than 50 more arrested in a security raid by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), which said it targeted Israeli-linked "terrorists," Iran's state-run media reported.
Why It Matters
The arrests are a sign of the uncertainty felt by Iran's security establishment after the Israeli and U.S. attacks.
Authorities have escalated a security crackdown on alleged Mossad agents following the 12-day conflict in which Israel attacked nuclear and military sites across the country, killing top commanders and scientists.
Israel has claimed widespread infiltration into Iranian territory and deemed it crucial for precision strikes during June's 'Operation Rising Lion' in which Iranian air defenses were effectively neutralized.
What To Know
IRGC ground forces along with security and intelligence agencies conducted the raids in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan under an operation named 'Martyrs of Security', the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
The IRGC did not clarify how two people were killed during the raids. It added that large amounts of weapons, including arms made in the United States, were found in the possession of those arrested.
At least six people had been executed up until last week on charges linked to espionage, such as smuggling equipment and aiding operations targeting major Iranian infrastructure, and 700 arrested, according to state media reports.
Human rights groups say Iran has one of the highest records of executions. Amnesty International described executions over accusations of espionage for Israel as "arbitrary" and called on the government to halt them.
An Israeli security source told Reuters that the strikes on Iran were supported by years of intelligence work by the military and Mossad. In Israel, police arrested five people suspected of spying for Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth's news outlet reported Tuesday.
Quote:Iran can now enrich uranium up to the 90 percent level required for nuclear weapons even though it has no desire to build them, a prominent member of the Iranian parliament said following Israeli and U.S. attacks on its nuclear program.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments highlight Iran's toughened stance on enrichment following the Israeli and U.S. strikes targeting its nuclear facilities. Since the strikes, Iran and the United States have showed no interest in immediate diplomatic talks, raising the prospect that Iran will seek to accelerate its nuclear program — though questions remain over its ability to do so after the damage caused by the attacks.
What To Know
Going forward, Iran will enrich uranium according to its needs at any levels and without abiding by conditions, according to Alaeddin Boroujerdi's statements on Iranian TV, multiple Iranian media reported.
"Iran may need to enrich uranium to 90% purity for fuel to power its ocean liner. We can do that. The only red line is the atomic bomb," the senior member of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission was quoted as saying by the UK-based Iran International English outlet. He described U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for zero enrichment as a "delusion".
It is unclear to what extent the damage at Iran's underground nuclear facilities, acknowledged by Tehran, affected the program's development.
Trump and administration officials have spoken of the "obliteration" of Iran's nuclear program by the attack but the leader of the IAEA Rafael Grossi estimated the setback for Iran was a matter of "months."
The IAEA had assessed that Iran, enriching uranium at 60 percent, was close to the 90 percent level needed for weapons grade. The UN watchdog had also expressed concerns over undeclared nuclear material and activities, accusing Iran of failing to co-operate on implementing the Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement.
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Disputing the findings, the Iranian parliament called for suspending cooperation with IAEA inspectors, citing political bias. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
"There has never been weapons-grade enrichment in Iran. Please, you can go through the reports by the IAEA and show me one single clue or evidence of Iran's nuclear program deviating from peaceful purposes," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei was quoted as saying by Iranian media on Monday.
Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had previously stated that he believes religion prohibits the development and use of nuclear weapons.
Quote:Senior Iranian commanders warned the United States and Israel of a "more crushing" response if they renew attacks on the country, according to Iranian media.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.
Why It Matters
Diplomacy has stalled with Iran threatening to ramp up its nuclear program, increasing the risks for the collapse of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel and threatening a broader military escalation in which the U.S. could become directly involved.
Iran could also escalate attacks on American targets in Middle East ally countries, as it did with the Qatari-based Al-Udeid base, following the bombing of its key nuclear facilities.
What To Know
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Armed Forces issued warnings against new attacks.
IRGC Spokesman Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini on Wednesday said Iran will have a "far more crushing, destructive, and unprecedented" response than retaliatory operations against the U.S. and Israel in June, according to Fars News Agency.
Following Israeli strikes on nuclear, military and residential infrastructure launched in mid-June, Iran launched barrages of missiles that struck Israeli territory. The 12-day conflict killed at least 28 people in Israel and 935 in Iran, according to authorities in each country.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi made the same warning against both countries, referred to as "enemies," the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
Quote:Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has evaded threats of assassination and regime change as the ceasefire declared by President Donald Trump halts the "12-Day War" that saw the Islamic Republic face an unprecedented assault from Israel and direct U.S. intervention.
But as the 86-year-old cleric emerges triumphant from the bout—declaring victory in his first post-truce remarks last week with Tehran still reeling from the Israeli air campaign—the very prospect of his downfall has accelerated discussions about his potential successor, and even given rise to speculation of a major shake-up in future governance.
And while a largely fractured array of Iranian dissidents abroad calls for a popular uprising to dismantle the Islamic Republic altogether, little evidence suggests such a development is imminent. Rather, analysts with sources on the ground tell Newsweek that if change does come in Iran, it's most likely to emerge from within, and from those with established influence.
This debate plays out amid shifts already taking place in the balance of power in Iran, home to a unique variety of political factions—a clerical ruling class and a duality of military power divided between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the conventional armed forces, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, also known as the Artesh.
The IRGC has substantially consolidated political power and influence in the decades since its establishment at the dawn of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. Some observers believe the rise of these elite forces may even eclipse that of the next supreme leader despite their sworn loyalty to the office.
Meanwhile, the Artesh, heirs to the pre-revolutionary Iranian Army commanded by the ousted monarchy, have long been superseded by the IRGC in key respects. Others feel this may be changing, especially in the wake of major leadership losses suffered in the battle with Israel and a growing Artesh presence in top positions.
In any case, "Khamenei's position is surely weakened," Arash Azizi, fellow at Boston University's Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, told Newsweek.
Quote:Iran's Foreign Minister set firm conditions for any renewed talks with the United States, signaling that Tehran remains open to diplomacy but not without conditions, in a new interview with CBS News.
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The comments signal that Iran has not given up on the potential for diplomacy, but also that it has not been battered into submission by the Israeli strikes and the U.S. attacks on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump has denied making any offers to Iran or engaging in talks following U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Tehran has been taking a toughened line, signaling its intent to reduce cooperation with U.N. inspectors and saying it has relocated key nuclear activities. That raises the prospect of toughened economic sanctions and potentially more military action.
What To Know
"In order for us to decide to reengage, we will have to first ensure that America will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations," Araghchi told CBS News.
"And I think with all these considerations, we still need more time," he said, adding that "the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut."
Trump said he had halted all efforts toward sanctions relief and other proposed measures, citing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "victory statement" after the ceasefire with Israel. Trump described the statements as full of "anger, hatred, and disgust." He added that the remarks led him to abandon any diplomatic overtures under consideration.
The U.S. and Iran had been set for a fifth round of nuclear talks when Israeli launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board passed a resolution declaring Iran in violation of its nuclear obligations.
Tehran had already cast doubt on the prospect of a deal with Washington, rejecting U.S. demands that it stop all enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. After the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities last week, Tehran said the U.S. could not be trusted. Iran says its nuclear program has only peaceful goals.
Quote:Saudi Arabia has announced the deployment of its first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and the operational readiness of its first associated unit, its Defense Ministry said.
Why It Matters
Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. partner, is strengthening missile defense capabilities amid escalating regional threats, particularly missile attacks from Iran and proxy groups such as the Yemeni Houthis.
This step highlights Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 commitment to boosting domestic defense manufacturing, supported by U.S. firms to transfer technology and build regional capabilities.
What To Know
Saudi Arabia has officially activated its first THAAD missile unit, following successful system tests and troop training, the ministry said.
Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces commander handed the unit's flag to the commander of the 1st Air Defense Group in a launch ceremony that took place at the Air Defense Forces Institute in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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Saudi Arabia began deploying its first THAAD missile system in February, according to an analysis by the open-source intelligence company Janes of footage from a graduation ceremony at the Air Defense Forces Institute. The event marked the graduation of the first Saudi THAAD operators, who completed their training at Fort Bliss, Texas, in November.
Arabian International Co. for Steel Structures, a Saudi company in Jeddah, was awarded a subcontract by Lockheed Martin last year to manufacture key THAAD components. In May, Saudi Arabia completed its first domestically produced parts of the missile launcher, Arab News reported.
The missile system at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Iran during the June conflict involving the U.S. and Israel, with the latter also benefiting from the THAAD system to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Quote:A senior Hamas official has issued a warning to Arab nations considering normalizing ties with Israel in an update on the Palestinian movement's deliberations on whether or not to proceed with the United States' ceasefire proposal in Gaza.
The statement, issued Wednesday by Hamas Political Bureau member Kamal Abu Aoun, "confirmed that the movement's leadership continues its tireless, round-the-clock efforts with various parties to reach a comprehensive agreement that leads to a complete cessation of the aggression on Gaza, emphasizing the movement's positive openness to initiatives and proposals presented by mediators."
"He expressed hope that the mediators' efforts will soon bear fruit in reaching a ceasefire and commencing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
Newsweek reached out to a representative of Hamas for comment.
Abu Aoun did not confirm whether or not the group was prepared to accept the deal on the table, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and centered around a 60-day truce and the release of the remaining 50 hostages held by the group in exchange for more than 1,400 Palestinian prisoners and bodies held by Israel.
But as he praised the efforts of Palestinians engaged in the war, soon to reach its 21st month, he also weighed in on the debate over what remains of the Arab diplomat boycott of Israel.
Abu Aoun was cited as saying "that Arab and Islamic countries are not immune from the dangers of the Zionist project and must realize that the battle does not concern Palestine alone, but rather affects the national security and strategic interests of the entire nation, and that Palestine remains the first line of defense for these interests."
He also "emphasized that normalization with the occupation does not bring prosperity, but rather deepens dependency and consolidates hegemony," according to the statement, which warned that "any path to normalization following this brutal war on Gaza is a betrayal of Jerusalem and an abdication of historical responsibility toward the Palestinian cause."
Abu Aoun also offered praise to another regional power, noting how "Turkey has been and continues to be a fundamental supporter of the Palestinian people and plays a significant role in supporting the political position of the resistance."
Quote:The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said "we have no response on the matter" when asked by Newsweek for reaction to British rapper Bobby Vylan's chants of "Kill the IDF" at the Glastonbury music festival, even as the incident sparked backlash from Israeli officials and the public and prompted government action.
The Context
The U.S. State Department said it had revoked visas for rap-punk duo Bob Vylan over chants made during their televised performance at the Glastonbury Festival, which was broadcast by the BBC. Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants of "Free Palestine," followed by "Death to the IDF," sparking criticism of the broadcaster as well.
The controversy comes as the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas rages on. It erupted in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel and killed some 1,200 people and abducted another 251, Israeli officials say. Israel's offensive in the devastated territory has killed over 55,000 people, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory.
What To Know
The UK police have launched a probe into Bob Vylan's festival chants targeting the Israeli military, according to the Associated Press.
Avon and Somerset Police initially said they would review video evidence to assess whether any offense occurred, but on Monday confirmed they had opened a criminal investigation, calling the incident a potential public order offense.
Israeli officials condemned the incident. The Israeli embassy in the United Kingdom has said it's "deeply disturbed" by the chants.
Vylan, whose supporters have rallied online, has defied criticism.
"I said what I said... Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place," wrote Bobby Vylan in a statement on Instagram addressing the controversy.
USA
Quote:House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' speech against President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act is now the longest speech in the House of Representatives' history.
The Democrat finished his remarks after speaking for 8 hours and 44 minutes in the House as Republicans race to pass the president's tax and spending bill before Friday.
The Context
On Tuesday, the Senate narrowly passed the bill after more than 24 hours of debate. Vice President JD Vance case the deciding vote. The legislation has returned to the House to approve the Senate's changes. The president has set a deadline of July 4 for lawmakers to deliver the finished bill to his desk.
The more than 1,000-page bill includes about $4.9 trillion in tax breaks, budget cuts and new work requirements for Medicaid.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said he had secured the votes to advance the measure, having passed the rule 219 votes to 213. Pennsylvania moderate Brian Fitzpatrick was the sole House Republican to join the Democrats in opposition.
Jeffries, who began his speech at 4:53 a.m. ET, is benefiting from the "magic minute" rule, a procedural perk that allows party leaders to speak for as long as they want to. In contrast, other members of the House may speak for only one minute.
What To Know
Jeffries' speech, which has now lasted over eight hours, is the longest speech ever made in the House of Representatives.
The speech broke a record belonging to former Representative Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California. As House minority leader, McCarthy tried to derail President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act, a social spending and climate plan, giving a speech that lasted eight hours and 32 minutes in November 2021. The $1.75 trillion legislative bill passed 220 votes to 213.
Representative Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, spoke for just 25 minutes less than McCarthy in February 2018—for eight hours and seven minutes—while serving as minority leader. She spoke about undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
Representative Champ Clark, a Democrat from Missouri, spoke about a tariff overhaul for five hours and 15 minutes in 1909, according to the House historian's office.
Behind him was former Representative John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, who ran out the clock by speaking for just under two hours in June 2009 in opposition to the cap-and-trade American Clean Energy and Security Act.
Quote:President Donald Trump said Thursday that it was easy to get his spending bill to a "yes," after it finally passed the House of Representatives, 218-214.
His remarks came after a flurry of celebratory posts on social media from other White House officials, following Congress's passage of the $4.5 trillion tax break and spending bill.
"I think when you go over the bill, it was very easy to get them to a 'Yes.'," Trump told reporters before he boarded Air Force One for an "America 250" rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. "We went over that bill, point after point ... Biggest tax cut in history, great for security, great on the southern border... we covered just about everything."
Only two House Republicans broke ranks and voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump's flagship tax and spending package.
Trump also insisted that he made "no deals" with Republican lawmakers in exchange for their vote.
"No deals, no deals. What I did was talk about how good the bill is. That's a deal, I guess. It was not hard," the president said.
He continued, "The biggest bill of its kind ever signed — and it's going to make this country into a rocket ship. I think we're going to have record numbers."
The president also thanked Republican House and Senate leadership for getting the bill to his desk for signage.
"This is going to be something that's amazing ... and everybody was watching it all over the world. I want to thank the Speaker [Mike Johnson] and [Majority Whip] Tom Emmer and [House Majority Leader] Steve Scalise, they worked so hard. On the Senate side, I thought [Majority Leader] Senator Thune did a fantastic job.
"This has really been going on for over a year, to be exact about 14 months. This was the culmination."
Why It Matters
Trump and his inner circle have been trying to pass the reconciliation bill for weeks, with the president setting a July 4 deadline to get it through Congress and to his desk. Despite multiple modifications and delays by Democratic Party rivals, that deadline was met.
What To Know
The president also said he believed that the bill would lead to great economic growth for the U.S., saying that would surpass gains seen during his first term in the White House.
Among the Trump administration officials celebrating the bill's passage were White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
"Congress just passed the most populist, pro-worker, pro-American, pro-sovereignty, pro-freedom and pro-growth legislation in American History," Miller wrote on X. "The agenda President Trump campaigned on—and won a historic mandate to implement—is now the law of the land. THE GOLDEN AGE IS HERE!!!"
...
What's in the One Big Beautiful Bill?
The bill continues tax cuts from Trump's first presidential term, funds his border wall plan, and increases defense spending.
The associated fiscal impact of this is offset by reducing federal support for key components of the social safety net, including food assistance and health coverage programs.
Quote:President Donald Trump headlined the Iowa State Fair on Thursday night, hours after Republicans in Congress shepherded through a massive tax and spending package that provides tax cuts for wealthy Americans largely by reducing federal funding for social safety net programs.
The Context
Thursday's vote capped weeks of nail-biting tension among Republicans as intraparty dissent threatened to derail Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which delivers on his top legislative priorities: cementing the sweeping tax cuts, which disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans, enacted during his first term, and substantially increasing funding for border security and immigration enforcement.
The Republican bill pays for the tax cuts and increased border security with deep spending reductions in critical social safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill could result in 11.8 million more uninsured Americans by 2034 and add nearly $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade.
What To Know
Trump took the stage in Iowa shortly after 8 p.m. ET and many of his staunch allies in the right-wing media showcased the size of the crowd through online platforms.
[Tweets]
"We got ... with all of the things we did, the tax cuts and rebuilding our military, not one Democrat voted for us and I think we use it in the campaign that's coming up, the midterms because we've gotta beat them ... with all of the things we've given and they wouldn't vote only because they hate Trump," the president said in Iowa. "But I hate them too, you know that?"
"I really do, I hate them. I cannot stand them because I really believe they hate our country," Trump said.
The president also claimed the GOP-led bill will rescue "over 2 billion family farms from the so-called estate tax or the death tax." The current U.S. population is a little more than 342 million.
Trump attended the Iowa State Fair in 2023, five months before the first votes were cast in the Republican presidential primary.
[Tweets]
At the time, more than 118,000 people packed the fair, according to CBS News. He won the Iowa caucuses in January 2024 by roughly 30 points.
On Thursday, the president's flagship legislation, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed the House of Representatives 218-214, with every Democrat and two Republicans voting against the measure.
It initially passed the House in May and was sent to the Senate, where it underwent significant changes before being kicked back to the House. The bill will now go to Trump's desk for signature.
Quote:California U.S. Representative and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned of an incoming "dark and harrowing time" for America on the heels of the much-debated financial package dubbed the "big, beautiful bill" passing a final vote in the House Thursday.
...
The bill's passage represents a significant political triumph for President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, empowering the administration to reshape national fiscal policy and move forward with key components of the president's second-term agenda.
The legislation's approval also amplified deep partisan divides in Washington, as Democrats warned of far-reaching consequences for Medicaid recipients, veterans, and working families.
What To Know
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, after record-breaking debates on the bill and subsequent passage in the House, Pelosi said, "Today ushers in a dark and harrowing time for America's children, seniors, Veterans, working families, and the most vulnerable in our nation."
The former Speaker of the House continued: "The Republicans' Big, Ugly Bill is the biggest transfer of money in history to the wealthy and well-connected—paid for on the backs of everyday Americans. It is an immoral Robin Hood in reverse of bad economics.
"The Big, Ugly Bill is a dangerous checklist of extreme Republican priorities: slashing funding for public schools, defunding Planned Parenthood, and making the largest cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP in history," Pelosi said.
The California lawmaker added that the bill is a "betrayal" to Americans and "balloons" the national debt. Pelosi took a swipe at Trump calling the piece of legislation "beautiful," saying "his vision for America is seriously blurred."
Before the BBB had passed the US Congress...
Quote:Elon Musk has called President Donald Trump's comments about him "so disappointing."
The Musk-Trump feud reignited over the president's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed the Senate on Tuesday. The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who sees the legislation as an unacceptable multitrillion-dollar expansion of the federal debt, has touted forming a new "America Party."
In a post on Truth Social, Trump took aim at Musk for the subsidies his companies have received, particularly for electric vehicles. The president said that without them, "Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa."
When asked by a reporter whether he would consider deporting Musk, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, Trump said: "I don't know. We'll have to take a look."
Responding to Trump's remark, Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Just plain wrong. So disappointing."
Why It Matters
Musk was one of the most prominent supporters of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, spending at least $250 million to support his bid. However, he has been deeply critical of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," a major tax and spending package that passed the Senate with Vice President JD Vance's tiebreaking vote. It now heads back to the House.
The package would raise the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion, impose large tax cuts and increase spending on border security and defense. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it would add $3.3 trillion to U.S. fiscal deficits over the next decade. The bill also reduces health insurance and food subsidies for some lower-income households.
Musk described the bill as "political suicide" and "utterly insane and destructive," adding on X, "It gives handouts to industries of the past, while severely damaging industries of the future."
What To Know
On Truth Social on Monday, Trump criticized Musk over the subsidies his companies have received and suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk previously ran, could investigate this.
"Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one," Trump wrote.
He continued: "Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!"
Quote:The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Thursday that boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a Mexican boxer, has been marked for expedited removal from the United States due to alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
DHS said that Chavez Jr. had entered the country with a valid B2 tourist visa in 2023 that expired in February 2024, and then applied for a Lawful Permanent Resident status based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen who is allegedly connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of a cartel leader.
"Under President Trump, NO ONE is above the law—including world-famous athletes," DHS wrote in a post on X. "Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over."
The Biden administration had determined he was not an enforcement priority despite U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referring him to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an "egregious public safety threat."
DHS has however determined that Chavez Jr. made "multiple fraudulent statements on his application," therefore leading to the conclusion that he had remained in the country illegally and therefore could be removed.
Chavez Jr. has fought 63 matches with 54 wins, seven losses, one draw, and one "no contest" result across several weight classes. He fought influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul on June 29, losing the fight in California.
Quote:The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the deportation of several immigrants who were placed on a flight to South Sudan in May—a conflict-ridden nation where they have no familial or cultural ties.
Why It Matters
The decision follows a ruling by the court's conservative majority that Trump Administration immigration officials have the authority to swiftly deport individuals to third countries. In doing so, the justices blocked a lower court order that had permitted immigrants to contest removals to nations other than their own where they might face serious harm.
Some nations do not cooperate with the U.S. regarding repatriations, meaning nationals from those countries are left in the U.S. under final orders of removal. The Trump administration has sought to change that by entering agreements with other countries to accept noncitizens.
What to Know
Though the migrants had been convicted of serious crimes in the United States, their legal team contended they were entitled to present claims that removal to a third country, especially one as unstable as South Sudan, posed a risk of torture.
Attorneys say they could face "imprisonment, torture and even death" in South Sudan, where renewed political tensions have raised fears of another civil war.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy of Massachusetts, a Biden appointee, had agreed in part—ruling not against deportation to third countries outright, but affirming that migrants must have a genuine opportunity to argue they would be endangered if transferred to such nations.
In a brief unsigned opinion, the majority asserted that its June 23 decision not only nullified Murphy's broader ruling but also rendered his directive concerning the South Sudan deportations "unenforceable." As is typical for rulings on the high court's emergency docket, the justices did not elaborate on the full legal reasoning behind the decision.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, criticizing the ruling for granting the government preferential treatment. "Other litigants must follow the rules, but the administration has the Supreme Court on speed dial," Sotomayor wrote.
Quote:Actor Michael Madsen, renowned for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died at the age of 67, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told Newsweek.
Newsweek has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department and Madsen's representative at EMR Media Entertainment, Liz Rodriguez, for comment via email on Thursday.
What To Know
Madsen was found unresponsive by deputies responding to a 911 call at his Malibu home, which occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told Newsweek in a phone interview.
Michael Madsen Cause of Death: What We Know
Several outlets, including NBC and The Hollywood Reporter, have reported that Madsen's manager, Ron Smith, and Liz Rodriguez, his representative at EMR Media Entertainment, believe he died from cardiac arrest.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told Newsweek he died of "natural causes."
What movies did Madsen star in?
Madsen acted in numerous movies, becoming a regular in the famed director Quentin Tarantino's films, such as Reservoir Dogs, the Kill Bill movies, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Other films include Thelma & Louise, American Night, WarGames, Free Willy, Sin City, and Scary Movie 4, among others.
The Chicago native has won dozens of awards and nominations for his work.
[spoiler=TARIFFS]
Quote:A prominent Wall Street economist who had slammed President Trump’s tariffs earlier this year now says that the president may have “outsmarted all of us” with his controversial trade policies.
Torsten Sløk, chief economist at investment giant Apollo Global Management, said that while the uncertainty surrounding trade policy has already started to weigh on the economy, Trump could lower tariffs on most of the US trading partners while using the levies to boost federal revenue.
Sløk suggested in a recently posted analysis that the administration’s approach may be more strategic than previously thought.
The optimistic outlook stands in stark contrast to his earlier position.
In April, Sløk warned that Trump’s tariffs could trigger a recession by summer, particularly harming American small businesses and potentially halting the flow of goods from China to the US, leading to layoffs and a broader economic slowdown.
This time around, Sløk suggested that one potential move could be to keep 30% tariffs on Chinese imports while imposing 10% tariffs on all other countries — offering them a 12-month window to reduce non-tariff barriers and liberalize trade access.
“Extending the deadline one year would give countries and US domestic businesses time to adjust to the new world with permanently higher tariffs,” Sløk wrote.
“It would also result in an immediate decline in uncertainty, which would be positive for business planning, employment, and financial markets.”
Beyond calming volatile markets, Sløk notes that such a move could deliver a sizable boost to US government revenue. He estimates the plan could generate $400 billion in annual tax revenue — a figure that could help offset budget deficits without raising domestic taxes.
Quote:President Donald Trump said he has made a trade deal with Vietnam, as the July 9 deadline for the end of his reciprocal tariff pause approaches.
"It will be a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday morning, July 2.
The administration is pushing to complete as many trade deals as possible before the deadline, when Trump is set to reimpose his high tariff rates.
Trump's ability to complete substantive trade deals is a major test of his aggressive tariff policy, and the reimposition of levies threatens to reignite some of the original market turmoil that helped lead to the pause.
Trump Vietnam Trade Deal
The president said Vietnamese goods imports to the U.S. will face a 20 percent tariff, with a 40 percent rate "on any Transshipping," meaning cargo that enters via an intermediary country first. The initial tariffs on imports for Vietnam announced by Trump in April were set at a minimum of 46 percent.
"In return, Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade," Trump said.
"In other words, they will 'OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,' meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff."
Quote:India is hopeful of reaching a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration very soon, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told Newsweek in an interview.
Trump has set a July 9 deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs, but trade talks have run into obstacles including discussions over duties on farm goods, steel and car parts. Trump has voiced optimism for a deal with India, an increasingly important diplomatic partner as well as being the world's most populous country and a Top Five global economy.
"We are in the middle, hopefully more than the middle, of a very intricate trade negotiation. Obviously, my hope would be that we bring it to a successful conclusion, I cannot guarantee, because there's another party to that discussion, but no question," Jaishankar said at Newsweek's office.
"I believe it's possible, and I think we'll have to watch this space for the next few days," he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a news briefing on Monday that "they are finalizing these agreements."
Trump has had a friendly relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar also underlined the importance of the ties between the countries within the Quad of countries that serve as a counterweight to China in Asia and the Pacific. The other members are Japan and Australia.
"You have four countries, in a way, four corners of the Indo-Pacific who are actually to have decided that they have a shared interest in creating a stable or more prosperous Indo-Pacific and are willing to work in a very practical basis," he said, adding that India wanted to stay on good terms with neighboring China.
"We have very strong convergences with the United States. At the same time, we are China's largest neighbor," he said.
Jaishankar was speaking nearly two months after the most serious conflict in decades between India and nuclear rival Pakistan, with India striking what it called terrorist targets across the border after an attack on civilians in Kashmir left 26 people dead.
Quote:A senior Japanese official sidestepped President Donald Trump's warning that higher tariffs were coming for Tokyo because he did not see a trade deal happening, despite ongoing talks between the two countries.
"We are aware of President Trump's remarks, but we would like to refrain from commenting on every statement made by U.S. government officials," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Early on, Trump had expressed optimism about the potential for a quick trade deal with Japan, as he sought to renegotiate terms with dozens of countries during his reciprocal tariff pause.
So far, with the deadline approaching, only a full deal with the U.K. has been struck and a partial deal with China, though the Trump administration says many more are close.
What To Know
Japan is a key U.S. ally in the Pacific. But Trump has questioned the strategic relationship, arguing that Tokyo takes advantage of Washington on trade while Americans pay to defend Japan under a longstanding security agreement.
There is a goods trade deficit with Japan because the U.S. imports more than it exports, which Trump views as a sign of unfairness in the trading arrangements. In 2024, federal trade data shows the U.S. goods trade deficit with Japan was $68.5 billion.
Trump said talks were stuck due to a Japanese refusal to accept U.S. rice imports in exchange for selling millions of cars into the American market, which the president called an "easy" demand for Tokyo to accept, Reuters reported.
He said Japan could face a tariff of 30 to 35 percent if no deal is made, higher than the 24 percent reciprocal tariff Trump had originally imposed, and then paused, in early April. The tariff pause ends on July 9, though Trump has touted flexibility on the deadline.
Aoki continued that he "would like to mention that Japan and the United States are continuing sincere and earnest consultations vigorously, and during Minister Akazawa's recent visit to the United States, it was agreed to continue vigorous consultations between Japan and the United States."
Ryosei Akazawa is Japan's economic revitalization minister and has been leading the trade talks with the U.S. on behalf of Tokyo, regularly visiting Washington.
ASIA
Quote:North Korea continues to give the United States the cold shoulder, despite President Donald Trump's apparent willingness to resume dialogue with the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un.
State media has branded Washington a "hostile force" after Trump expressed confidence in his ability to end a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
Why It Matters
Trump claims to have considerable leverage over Kim, citing their correspondence during his first term in office. During this period, he also met with Kim face-to-face in a failed effort to entice the North Korean leader to draw down his regime's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons program, which Pyongyang claims is necessary to deter aggression by the U.S. and its South Korean ally.
The stalled talks sent bilateral ties into a chill, with North Korea moving to enshrine its nuclear weapons capability into its constitution and resuming its ballistic missile launches and bellicose rhetoric that drove up tensions with the South.
Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment.
What To Know
Rodong Sinmun, the official mouthpiece of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, took aim at the U.S.—without mentioning it by name—in an editorial published Sunday.
"Hostile forces have, for over 10 years, clung to unprecedentedly harsh sanctions and blockades in an attempt to make us abandon the path of self-reliance," the article said.
It went on to praise North Korea's continued determination to resist "imperialists," saying that their designs can only be countered by "stockpiling strong power to defend the nation's sovereignty and security."
The article was published just two days after Trump touted his "good relationship" with Kim, but did not confirm or deny he had reached out to the North Korean strongman.
Trump also expressed confidence he could resolve any conflict that might break out between Pyongyang and Seoul. Because Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, the neighbors technically remain in a state of war.
Earlier this month, North Korea-focused outlet NK News reported Trump had written a letter to Kim, seeking to open the door for renewed dialogue.
According to an "informed high-level source" cited by the outlet, in-person attempts to deliver the letter were rebuffed by staff members of North Korea's U.N. office.
Quote:The former commander of North Korea's navy has reemerged in state media just weeks after being scrubbed from official photographs over the botched launch of a warship in May.
The ex-commander, Kim Myong Sik, appeared alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a documentary that aired on state television over the weekend, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
Why It Matters
The news unfolded as North Korea presses forward with upgrades to the country's military forces. These efforts extend to North Korea's modest navy, with Kim Jong Un previously calling for the addition of nuclear-capable warships.
North Korea analysts have speculated that the public management of the aftermath of the botched launch and how officials were disciplined—or, in Kim Myong Sik's case, at least partially rehabilitated—is closely tied to Kim Jong Un's attempts to portray an image of strong leadership and control over the military modernization efforts.
What To Know
The documentary marked Kim Myong Sik's first public appearance since his name and image were deleted from earlier broadcasts and he was confirmed removed from the top naval post following a May 21 incident, which left a new destroyer damaged and partially submerged.
Kim Jong Un was infuriated by the debacle, labeling it "a serious accident and criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which should never occur and could not be tolerated," the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
Subsequently, Kim Myong Sik and Hong Gil Ho, then manager of Chongjin Shipyard, were erased from photos of earlier inspection visits shown by Korean Central Television in mid-June.
This type of removal from official imagery had not occurred since the 2013 execution of Jang Song Thaek, the leader's uncle and a high-ranking official.
The fate of the ousted navy chief drew speculation from analysts, especially after state media said he had been replaced by Park Kwang Seop. Both Kim Myong Sik and Hong were "conspicuously absent" from the destroyer's relaunch ceremony.
The former commander's presence in the documentary, where he appeared at official events with Kim Jong Un, contrasts sharply with his earlier erasure from state coverage.
Kim Myong Sik's public reappearance is being viewed by analysts as a sign Kim's anger has subsided or as a tactical effort to maintain continuity among the military's upper ranks.
Quote:China continues to expand its military reach around the world as one of its naval ships was seen transiting the Strait of Gibraltar and heading into the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend.
The presence of the Chinese navy near NATO member states comes as the United States has dispatched an aircraft carrier-led strike group from the East Coast for a mission in Europe.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email.
Why It Matters
The Chinese military possesses the world's largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 vessels in service—enabling Beijing to flex its military muscle both within and beyond East Asia.
In January, a Chinese three-ship flotilla concluded a 339-day overseas mission, during which it carried out escort missions, port visits and war games across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Situated between Morocco, Spain and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, the Strait of Gibraltar serves as a passage for about 300 ships daily. American warships, along with those of other NATO allies, frequently transit this key strait as part of their operations.
What To Know
A Chinese Type 636 distant-ocean survey ship crossed the Strait of Gibraltar westward from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday afternoon local time, according to Daniel Ferro—a Gibraltar-based user on X, formerly Twitter—who photographed the ship.
This type of Chinese naval vessel collects oceanographic and meteorological data to support chart production and the development of forecasting systems as the country's navy expands its geographic operations, according to a report prepared by the U.S. Naval War College.
The mission of the Chinese survey ship—operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy—remains unclear. It is also not clear whether the vessel—which, as Ferro noted, is "a long way from home"—will make any port calls during its deployment in the Atlantic Ocean.
Quote:Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, has reportedly received missile launch systems from the United States that are designed to sink invading ships.
An official from China's Defense Ministry said last week that Beijing opposed any form of what he called "military collusion"—including arms sales—between the U.S. and Taiwan.
Newsweek has contacted the Taiwanese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
While the U.S. has maintained diplomatic ties with China since 1979, it is required by law—under the Taiwan Relations Act—to provide the island with defensive arms to "resist any attempt to resolve differences" across the Taiwan Strait by means other than peaceful ones.
China possesses the world's largest navy by hull count, including amphibious ships designed to project air and ground power in island-landing operations. Beijing has vowed to reserve all "necessary" options, including the use of force, to achieve unification with Taiwan.
What To Know
Citing a source familiar with the matter, the Taiwanese Central News Agency reported on Saturday that the first five Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher vehicles—part of the Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems—had been delivered from the U.S. to Taiwan, along with a radar truck. Newsweek has been unable to independently verify this report.
In 2020, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the U.S. would sell 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and up to 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles to Taiwan at an estimated total cost of $2.37 billion.
According to its manufacturer, Boeing, the Harpoon Block II missile is armed with a 500-pound penetrating high-explosive warhead and is capable of striking ships more than 77 miles away. Taiwan is scheduled to receive all of its Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems by 2028.
Quote:Taiwan began preparations this week for its annual Han Kuang military exercise in response to what its government describes as escalating military pressure from China.
The war games—scheduled to last 10 days and nine nights from July 9—are to be the largest ever across Taiwan proper and its outlying islands, officials said. More than 22,000 reservists are due to be mobilized and the exercise is scheduled to run concurrently with island-wide civil defense drills.
Why It Matters
The Han Kuang exercise will be held against the backdrop of an increased risk of conflict across the Taiwan Strait, a flash point that could drag the United States and China into a major war over Taiwan's future.
China claims Taiwan as its own despite Taipei's objections. The United States does not recognize Taiwan's statehood but has political and economic stakes in a peaceful resolution to the decades-long dispute, and is obliged by U.S. law to help Taipei arm itself against a possible attack.
The scale and scope of this year's drills reflect the island's growing apprehension, but also its desire to apply lessons learned from recent conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, for example, about asymmetric weapons systems and territorial defense.
What To Know
Taiwan's Defense Ministry is calling up an additional 7,000 reservists to join this year's Han Kuang exercise, said Taipei defense chief Wellington Koo. One of the objectives is to assess how long it would take to ensure reservists are combat ready in wartime, Koo said.
Taiwan's armed forces have an active-duty strength of just over 150,000, compared with China's standing army of over 2 million soldiers.
This year, days of live-fire training across Taiwan's archipelagic territory will run twice as long as in previous annual drills, according to plans, covering so-called "gray zone" activity that falls short of conflict, anti-landing joint operations as well as a protracted defense of the island's vulnerable sites.
The Taiwan army is expected to stage another test of its newly acquired HIMARS rocket launchers alongside indigenous anti-air, anti-ship and ground-attack missiles.
For the first time, a convenience store chain will participate in parallel civil defense drills to distribute humanitarian supplies. Other urban training protocols include air-raid guidance and daytime evacuation rehearsals.
Quote:The Chinese Rocket Force's increasingly capable missile fleet is a growing threat to U.S. bases and security partners in the Asia-Pacific, top Pentagon officials told lawmakers.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via email for comment outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is responsible for China's missile and nuclear arsenal and is a key component of Beijing's efforts to surpass Washington as the region's leading military power.
In some areas, the Rocket Force's capabilities have already surpassed those of the United States, such as with its so-called "carrier killer" hypersonic missiles. While these weapons remain untested in combat, they could potentially keep American forces at bay in a wartime scenario.
What To Know
"The PLA's Rocket Force (PLARF) is advancing its long-term modernization plans to enhance its strategic deterrence capabilities," read a written testimony by U.S. Air Force and Space Force leadership prepared for a Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing.
China's missile arsenal is estimated to include 400 ground-launched cruise missiles capable of reaching anywhere within the so-called First Island Chain, a stretch of islands from Japan to Indonesia that Washington considers crucial for containing China's navy in the event of a conflict, such as one over Beijing-claimed Taiwan.
China is also believed to field 1,300 intermediate-range ballistic missiles that can strike targets even further afield, threatening the Second Island Chain, which includes U.S. military bases in Guam.
Another 500 medium-range missiles put parts of Alaska and U.S.-allied Australia within range, while 900 short-range ballistic missiles could easily cross the narrow Taiwan Strait to strike the self-ruled democracy.
The Rocket Force's arsenal also includes 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the world.
China's advances in hypersonic missile technology—difficult-to-intercept missiles that travel at over five times the speed of sound—remain a major concern for the Pentagon.
Quote:South Korea dispatched a coast guard vessel last week to monitor Chinese survey ships operating in a contested part of the Yellow Sea, according to Stanford-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight.
Newsweek reached out to the Korean coast guard and Chinese Foreign Ministry by email with requests for comment outside office hours.
Why It Matters
The Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) was established by a 2001 agreement between China and South Korea to allow joint fishing in the area where their exclusive economic zones overlap. Other activities, including scientific surveys, are not explicitly permitted and generally require consent from the other party.
Analysts have accused Chinese civilian research vessels of suspicious behavior and raised concerns that they gather intelligence—such as on natural resources, undersea cables and local military activities—that could be used by the People's Liberation Army to strengthen China's position in disputed areas.
What To Know
Vessel-tracking data shared by SeaLight showed that four Chinese research vessels entered the PMZ on June 15, reportedly for a "water quality investigation," according to Beijing.
In a ship-tracking illustration shared to X (formerly Twitter) by SeaLight director Ray Powell, a South Korean Coast Guard cutter was seen moving in to monitor the Chinese survey ships. China responded by dispatching one of its own coast guard vessels on June 24 to provide escort.
The research vessels were still in the area as of Saturday, Powell said.
The PMZ has already been a source of tension over the presence of two Chinese aquaculture cages and a former oil rig, roughly the size of a football field, which Beijing installed without consulting Seoul. China has refused to remove the structure from the area.
South Korean officials worry these moves may be part of broader efforts to expand China's presence in the Yellow Sea—mirroring concerns voiced by other neighbors over Beijing's activities in the South China Sea.
Last month, China's decision to declare a "no-sail zone" within the PMZ for its advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, also drew a protest from Seoul over restrictions to freedom of navigation.
Quote:The Chinese military has deployed a spy ship, a patrol aircraft and drones in waters around Japan's southwestern islands in recent days, according to the United States ally.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Japan forms part of the so-called First Island Chain—a Western Pacific defensive line—alongside Taiwan and the Philippines, under a U.S. containment strategy that aims to limit China's military activities within its surrounding airspace and waters in the event of war.
Meanwhile, China has been expanding its military reach and presence both within and beyond the First Island Chain, including through its recently concluded simultaneous deployments of two aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea—located on the eastern side of the First Island Chain.
What To Know
A Chinese intelligence-gathering vessel was spotted passing through the Miyako Strait—which lies between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako in Japan's southwestern waters—en route from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea on Saturday, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.
The Type 815A spy ship has been identified as CNS Yuhengxing by its hull number 798. It remains unclear whether it was deployed to monitor the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which was seen underway in nearby waters of the Philippine Sea on Monday.
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While the U.S. aircraft carrier was operating in the area, the Chinese military on Monday deployed a Y-9 patrol plane and a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone to the Miyako Strait. Both aircraft flew over waters south of Japan's southwestern islands before returning to China.
A pair of Chinese drones—whose types were not identified by Japan's Defense Ministry—were tracked flying over the East China Sea two days later. They transited between Taiwan and Japan's Yonaguni Island as they headed southward off the eastern coast of Taiwan.
A map provided by Japan's Defense Ministry indicates that one of the Chinese military drones returned to China via the so-called Yonaguni Gap—a waterway less than 70 miles wide that separates Taiwan's east coast from Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni.
However, the second Chinese drone continued its southward flight on Wednesday until it exited the Japanese military's monitoring zone. It is unclear whether the drone returned to China by flying over waters between southern Taiwan and the northern Philippines.
Japan scrambled fighter jets on both Monday and Wednesday in response to Chinese aerial activities near the nation's airspace, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in its press releases.
Quote:China's foreign ministry described the country's territorial dispute with India as "complicated" following last week's meeting between the two countries' defense chiefs.
Newsweek reached out to the Indian defense ministry via emailed request for comment.
Why It Matters
The world's longest disputed land border, stretching roughly 2,100 miles, has been a flash point for decades, leading to military buildups and periodic skirmishes—including a deadly melee in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun in Qingdao on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defense ministers' summit—the first such visit to China by a senior Indian minister since the 2020 crisis.
During the meeting, Singh called for "bridging the trust deficit" that has persisted since the 2020 incident and pushed for a permanent solution to the border delimitation issue, according to an Indian defense ministry press release.
What To Know
Asked to respond to Singh's remarks during the Chinese Foreign Ministry's regular press briefing on Monday, spokesperson Mao Ning pointed to communications mechanisms the neighbors have established at various levels as a sign of progress.
Pressed further on the prospect of a timeline for resolving issues related to the poorly defined border, Mao described the matter as "complicated" and said it would take time to settle.
"We hope that India will work with China in the same direction, continue to stay in communication on relevant issues, and jointly keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil," she added.
The 2020 clash in Galwan Valley in the India-administered territory of Ladakh was the deadliest in decades, with India reporting 20 troops killed and China reporting four.
Since then, India and China have held over 20 rounds of commander-level talks, with periodic announcements on agreements regarding disengagement and patrolling management.
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
