US President Vance has stated that Europe must purchase US weapons if it wishes to continue supporting Ukraine in the war. Brussels has denied this requirement under a new deal, but it is likely that Europe will increase its purchases from the US weapons industry regardless. Meanwhile, Nvidia and AMD have been granted exemptions from export restrictions to sell lower-performance chips to China, with the condition that they share 15% of future sales with the US government.
US tariffs imposed on Asian countries have put small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia at risk of collapse. The tariffs, ranging from 19-20% and sector-specific duties, are expected to disrupt cross-border commerce and livelihoods. US President Donald Trump's government has also imposed a 40% punitive levy on transshipments, which will particularly affect Asian exporters reliant on Chinese components. Experts warn that the combined impact of these economic shocks could be disastrous for many enterprises, with INSEAD's Henrich Greve stating that a tariff-economy shock after a pandemic-economy shock would be particularly devastating.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, following an invitation from Zelenskyy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are also attending, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb has confirmed his participation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is believed to be joining the talks, although her travel plans have been cut short due to a holiday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with Indonesia, citing significant progress in their bilateral partnership. He highlighted two key meetings with Indonesian President Prabowo, where they agreed to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang also congratulated Indonesia on its 80th independence day, emphasizing the importance of deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations, particularly in areas such as politics, economy, and security.
Negotiators from India and the US have cancelled a planned trip to New Delhi in August due to rising tensions between the two countries, according to a report. The trip was intended to discuss trade talks, but the cancellation is seen as a result of escalating tensions over issues such as security concerns and trade disputes.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine conflict resolution during a summit in Alaska, with Putin emphasizing the need to address crisis root causes for a settlement. Despite no agreement, Trump secured recognition of Russia on the international stage, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains hesitant to accept a peace deal that would compromise Ukraine's morale and defense capabilities. The Nordic-Baltic Eight expressed support for Ukraine and vowed to strengthen sanctions against Russia, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution based on international law and the UN Charter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a face-to-face summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin may legitimize him in the eyes of the international community. Zelensky also stated that Ukraine's troops are defending their positions along the entire front line, and he is demanding a ceasefire that includes an end to fighting on land, sea, and air, as well as the return of all prisoners of war and captured civilians. Sanctions on Moscow should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war, Zelensky added.
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has sparked controversy among developing countries in Africa, who see it as a protectionist measure that undermines global climate cooperation. The CBAM aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by imposing tariffs on imported goods from non-EU countries that don't meet EU climate standards. This move has raised concerns about its alignment with the Paris Agreement's principles of fairness and equity among nations.
A former Israeli intelligence chief, Haliva, has made extreme remarks criticizing Israel's Shin Bet security agency and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their roles in the October 7 attack. He also denounced senior officials for refusing to resign despite a "catastrophic national failure." This statement comes as Israel faces international condemnation for its actions in Gaza, including nearly 61,900 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, which has devastated the enclave and pushed it to the brink of starvation. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.