The Guardian

Maga influencer and de facto national security adviser Laura Loomer holds outsized sway on Trump

The 32-year-old was instrumental in high-profile national security firings, and has cheerled the attacks on Iran
After years of claiming to be the vanguard of a new “America First” isolationist movement rebelling against the neoconservative policies of the George W Bush administration that led to the bloody wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Maga’s online influencers are cheering for another war in the Middle East.
And not just any war: they are applauding Donald Trump’s high-risk decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, a move that was considered a war too far even by the Bush administration.
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Europe urged to raise plight of Iran’s political prisoners in any future talks

Rights activists say Tehran’s crackdown must be on agenda in any talks on future relations between Europe and Iran
Iranian human rights groups are urging MEPs and European governments to escalate the issue of Tehran’s mistreatment of political prisoners, arguing that the crackdown on internal dissent must be on the agenda in any talks about future relations between Europe and Iran.
The Iranian foreign ministry appears to be in no rush to stage further talks with the west without clear US assurances that it will not be attacked again.
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Kyiv hails US weapons deal as Moscow dismisses Trump’s sanctions threat

US president says he will send Ukraine Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles paid for by EU allies
Trump does deal with Nato allies to arm Ukraine and warns Russia of severe sanctions
Politicians in Kyiv have welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement that billions of dollars worth of US military equipment will be sent to Ukraine, while officials in Moscow dismissed his threat of sanctions against Russia as hot air.
In a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, at the White House, Trump said the US would send Patriot anti-aircraft batteries and interceptor missiles, paid for by European allies.
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Trump does deal with Nato allies to arm Ukraine and warns Russia of severe sanctions

US president says he will supply Kyiv with billions of dollars of military equipment paid for by European allies
Kyiv hails US weapons deal as Moscow dismisses Trump’s sanctions threat
Donald Trump said he has sealed an agreement with Nato allies that will lead to large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, and warned Russia that it will face severe sanctions if Moscow does not make peace within 50 days.
After a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, Trump said they had agreed “a very big deal”, in which “billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment is going to be purchased from the United States, going to Nato … And that’s going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield.”
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Trump’s hazy Ukraine arms announcement marks a tonal U-turn

EU will buy some US weapons for Kyiv as president credits Melania Trump for his disenchantment with Putin
Kyiv hails US weapons deal as Moscow dismisses Trump’s sanctions threat
For those looking for details, Donald Trump’s rambling half-hour press conference in the Oval Office with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, offered only a handful of clues. The US will sell weapons to Ukraine, the president said, with other Nato countries paying the bill – but otherwise specifics were scant.
No sums of money were mentioned – making it hard to calibrate how much of a difference the proposed weapon supply would make to Kyiv. Details were light on what munitions would be supplied though Trump mentioned complete Patriot missile systems and Rutte added there would be “missiles and ammunition” too.
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Trump expected to announce plan to sell Patriot defence systems to Ukraine

President says US will send Kyiv ‘sophisticated’ equipment ahead of announcement as frustration with Russia grows
Europe live – latest updates
Donald Trump has indicated that the US will announce a plan to sell Patriot air defence systems and other weapons to Ukraine later on Monday, amid growing White House exasperation with Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
The president told reporters on Sunday as he returned from the Club World Cup final that the US would “send them various pieces of very sophisticated military and they’re going to pay us 100% for them”.
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US state department issues first of 1,350 termination orders after court lifted ban

Career diplomats and other staff begin receiving notices amid Trump administration cull of about 15% of workforce
The US state department has begun issuing the first of more than 1,350 termination notices as part of a huge reorganisation of America’s diplomatic corps under the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, according to internal documents and US diplomats at the state department on Friday.
Career diplomats and other staff began to receive the notices on Friday morning, days after the supreme court lifted a ban on the Trump administration moving forward with mass firings of government employees that will affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
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Netanyahu flies home without a Gaza peace deal but still keeps Trump onside

Israeli PM manages to avoid breach with US president through high-profile assurances he is seeking end to war
Benjamin Netanyahu arrived back in Israel on Friday without a ceasefire in the Gaza war despite heady predictions from US and Israeli officials that this week could provide a breakthrough in negotiations. But he did not come home completely empty-handed.
The Israeli PM’s visit was his third since Donald Trump’s inauguration, with several high-profile meetings at the White House, a nomination for Trump to receive the Nobel peace prize, and suggestions from Trump and the special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, that peace could be achieved in a week.
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Threats, delays and confusion: 10 key points to understand another week of Trump tariff turmoil

As the US president’s 9 July deadline came and went, the White House launched a range of new trade ultimatums at countries across the world
Donald Trump ramped up his trade rhetoric this week, firing off more than 20 letters to governments outlining new tariff rates if agreements aren’t reached by 1 August.
In April, Trump announced a 10% base tariff rate and additional duties ranging up to 50% for many other countries, although he later delayed the effective date for all but 10% duties until 9 July after market panic.
Trump informed powerhouse suppliers Japan, South Korea and a number of other nations at the start of this week that they will face tariffs of at least 25% starting from August unless they can quickly negotiate deals.
On Wednesday he announced more tariffs on countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Algeria, as well as a 50% tariff on products from Brazil, tying the move to what he called the “witch-hunt” trial against its former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Trump crit..

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