Reader Edition

Thursday, May 7

A close-up shows Donald Trump talking, while looking serious.
EconomyMay 7, 2026

Trump Issues July 4th Ultimatum to EU: Drop Tariffs or Face the Consequences

President Trump has set a firm July 4th deadline for the European Union to eliminate trade levies on American goods, warning that failure to act will result in significantly higher tariffs.

Kashmir woman after cross border shelling
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

India-Pakistan Standoff Persists: A Fragile Peace Built on Strategic Ambiguity

A year following a 90-hour military conflict, India and Pakistan remain in a state of uneasy equilibrium, with both nations hardening their strategic postures while avoiding direct engagement.

The image shows Kim Jong Un giving a speech at the centre. Behind him, there is a close-up of the wall with names of the troops on the left and a satellite image of the complex on the right.
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Pyongyang's Memorial Reveals Staggering Cost of North Korean Alliance with Russia

A new memorial in Pyongyang suggests that over 2,300 North Korean soldiers have been killed while serving as mercenaries for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

A person holds a sign over their face with the words 'NO WAR'
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Japan Confronts Reality: Prime Minister Takaichi Bolsters Defense Amid Regional Threats

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is modernizing Japan's security posture by lifting arms export bans and expanding military capabilities, a necessary shift that has triggered protests from those clinging to the nation's post-WWII pacifist fram

Two young fans pose for photos at the gathering in Xi'an
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

China's Snooker Obsession: State-Backed Sport Gains Massive Popularity

Twenty-two-year-old Wu Yize has become a national icon in China after winning the World Snooker Championship, highlighting the country's aggressive expansion into the professional sport.

Marco Rubio shows off a glass american football model to Leo XIV
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Secretary of State Rubio Meets Pope Leo Amidst Diplomatic Friction

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday as the administration continues to clash with the pontiff over national security and immigration enforcement.

US President Donald Trump holding the World Cup trophy
PoliticsMay 7, 2026

Trump Calls Out Fifa's Extortionate World Cup Ticket Prices

Donald Trump has blasted Fifa's exorbitant $1,000 ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, stating he would refuse to pay such a fee while expressing concern for the average American fan.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil speaks during a press conference
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

German Officials Scapegoat Trump for Economic Failures

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is attempting to deflect blame for his country's projected $82 billion tax revenue shortfall by attacking President Trump’s decisive actions against the Iranian regime.

Russian National Guard officers walk across Red Square decorated for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 6, 2026.
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Putin's Victory Day Parade Stripped of Hardware as Ukraine War Stalls

For the first time in nearly two decades, Russia's Victory Day parade will feature no tanks or heavy military hardware, a clear admission that the Kremlin's resources are being depleted by the war in Ukraine.

Israeli soldiers looking at the destroyed Jabalia area, in the northern Gaza Strip, from near Kibbutz Nir Am, Israel (22 April 2026)
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Hamas Refusal to Disarm Pushes Gaza to the Brink of Renewed Conflict

Ceasefire negotiations have hit a total deadlock as Hamas refuses to decommission its weapons, forcing Israel to consider resuming military operations to ensure national security.

Li Shangfu salutes the audience before delivering a speech during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 4, 2023
Foreign PolicyMay 7, 2026

Beijing Purges Top Brass: Two Former Defense Ministers Sentenced to Death

Former Chinese defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve following bribery convictions, marking a significant escalation in the regime's internal power consolidation.