Faytuks Network

The U.S. cancelled a joint amphibious landing drill with South Korea scheduled for next month, citing constraints on U.S. forces due to the Iran war, Seoul's Marine Corps said Monday. The allies remain in consultations on resuming the Ssangyong exercise, a South Korean spokesperson added. - Reuters

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with President Donald Trump, for now, putting on hold a federal court ruling that had blocked his plan to use the Postal Service to restrict mail ballot distribution ahead of the November midterms. The justices granted the administration's emergency request over three dissents, allowing key parts of Trump's March 31 executive order to move forward while the legal challenge continues.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, were forced to take shelter after air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv on Monday. - Yle

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is not ruling out using military force against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere else. - Reuters

The European Commission approved €6.1 billion in additional aid for Ukraine to procure air defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and radars, bringing total approved procurement funding to €22.1 billion. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is "stepping up" as Russia intensifies its attacks. -Reuters

The European Commission approved €6.1 billion in additional aid for Ukraine to procure air defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and radars, bringing total approved procurement funding to €22.1 billion. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is "stepping up" as Russia intensifies its attacks. -Reuters

AfD leader Alice Weidel called for Germany to exit the Euro and leave the Schengen Agreement, pledging to "close" borders and return all 1.3 million Syrians in Germany to their homeland, in a ZDF summer interview. Weidel said the CDU would never win a federal election again due to the "firewall," and predicted AfD would govern in multiple German states following upcoming elections.

After 47 years, the U.S. State Department removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on Monday, according to a Treasury notification, a move first announced earlier this year pending congressional review. -Reuters

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said every country has a "defined timeline" to shut down activities identified by the U.S., and that teams from Treasury, State, and the military are meeting with global counterparts to demand action. Trump is making phone calls to world leaders "with specific request to cease their interactions" with Tehran, Bessent said.

Israel has issued a three-day ultimatum through the Board of Peace, demanding action to stop kites being launched from Gaza, Kan News reports. Israel warned that failure to halt the launches would prompt a major escalation in Gaza. “We will significantly increase the pace of strikes if this continues,” a security official said.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned nearly 60 Iran-linked entities, people, and vessels across nuclear, missile, cyber, and oil networks, while targeting five sectors for potential secondary sanctions: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping. It also suspended general licenses that allowed some remittance payments to Iran. - Reuters

The United States is sanctioning nearly 60 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels across its nuclear, missile, cyber and oil networks, while identifying digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping for potential secondary sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would pursue a “zero leakage” sanctions policy and give countries a limited period to end identified activities, including closing Iranian bank branches. Those that fail to comply could lose access to the U.S. dollar system.

The U.S. is set to impose a 7.5% tariff on Chinese goods over excess manufacturing capacity allegations ahead of a Trump-Xi summit next month, Bloomberg reported citing sources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran had tried to assassinate one of his sons recently.

San Francisco 49ers owner and CEO John “Jed” York was arrested in Ohio over the weekend and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. York was originally charged with engaging in prostitution, The Associated Press reported.

Global ocean surface temperatures have hit a record high of 21.1°C (70F), surpassing the previous record set in March 2024, according to Copernicus. Scientists warn that warming oceans can intensify extreme weather, raise sea levels and damage marine ecosystems. - BBC

Iran warned countries against joining U.S. economic pressure on Tehran, saying those that cooperate with Washington in its “aggressive actions” will definitely face "its own consequences," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the Canada-U.S. trade war worsens, saying Canada is prepared to endure economic pain rather than give in to U.S. pressure. He also warned that Ontario could restrict critical mineral exports. "I'll cut them off," Ford said of critical minerals.

The U.S. Treasury is expected to announce it will broaden the scope of secondary sanctions on countries and entities doing business with Iran, and will make any activity in certain Iranian sectors subject to secondary sanctions, according to a source familiar with Bessent's plans speaking to Reuters

Singapore will offer parents over $55,000 per child in financial support as it faces a record-low fertility rate of 0.87 and is set to become a "super-aged" society this year. PM Lawrence Wong announced the overhaul but said the government cannot fully reverse the trend and will continue relying on immigration. -FT