1. Trump Pauses Iran Strike, Cites “Serious Negotiations”
President Donald Trump said the United States put off a “very major attack” on Iran for about two to three days as Gulf allies urged diplomacy over a new Iranian nuclear proposal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted that talks with Washington do not signal the regime’s surrender. Iran meanwhile established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage transits through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil chokepoint. Trump said the “clock is ticking” on Iran reaching a deal that ensures Tehran never acquires nuclear weapons, while holding open the option of military action. The pause marks the second major deferral of a strike since the Iran conflict escalated in March.
2. China Blocks Pentagon Official’s Beijing Visit Over $14B Taiwan Arms Package
China has refused to approve a planned visit by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, until the Trump administration decides whether to proceed with a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, people familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times. The package includes Patriot interceptor missiles and Nasams advanced surface-to-air systems. Beijing has previously cancelled talks with Colby over the same issue, using high-level military dialogue as leverage to pressure the White House to delay or downscale arms sales ahead of President Xi Jinping’s expected state visit to Washington in September. Trump called the package “a very good negotiating chip” after his summit with Xi last week.
3. Taiwan’s President Lai Open to Direct Talks With Trump
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said he would be “happy to speak” with President Donald Trump — a prospect that would break decades of diplomatic protocol since the United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. No sitting US president has spoken directly with a Taiwanese leader since then. The comment comes as the White House considers a massive $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, inflaming US-China tensions. Trump has previously spoken with Taiwan’s president-elect as a private citizen in 2016, but a direct call in office would be unprecedented and almost certainly provoke a strong response from Beijing.
4. SpaceX Files for Blockbuster IPO at Record $1.75 Trillion Valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has filed for an initial public offering, with a successful sale potentially valuing the company at a record-setting $1.75 trillion, according to a filing released this week. The IPO would be one of the largest in history, reflecting investor appetite for space infrastructure and Musk’s dominance in satellite launch markets. SpaceX has upended the commercial space industry with its reusable Falcon and Starship rockets, capturing the majority of global satellite launch contracts. The company has also become a critical Pentagon partner, operating NASA’s crewed missions and a constellation of Starlink satellites providing internet service to remote regions globally.
5. Bolivia’s President Paz Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Mass Protests
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced a cabinet reshuffle and other measures as weeks of anti-government protests escalate over economic hardship and political repression. Paz has been under mounting pressure from demonstrators demanding his resignation and early elections, with protests intensifying over the country’s currency crisis and shortages of basic goods. The reshuffle is the second in three months as Paz struggles to shore up support within his own Movement Towards Socialism party. International observers have raised concerns over a crackdown on press freedom and opposition figures in recent months, adding to Bolivia’s growing isolation from regional trading partners.