The Bulletin

• Turmoil in NATO ally worries US: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed concern over political unrest in Turkey, citing its impact on regional stability and U.S. interests. Here's what to know.

• Portugal's travel warning for the US: Portugal said it has updated its travel advice for the U.S. to reflect tighter entry conditions and changes around gender recognition. The Portuguese foreign ministry confirmed the changes in a statement to Newsweek. Check it out here.

• Houthis threaten US with air defenses: The Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis warned they were strengthening air defenses in a challenge to US military strikes against the group that has threatened one of the world's most important shipping routes through the Red Sea. Know more.

• US reaffirms support for Ukraine's sovereignty: A White House National Security Council spokesperson reasserted U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal that the country be placed under a temporary US-backed administration. Find out more.

• Europeans told to stockpile food: EU households should stockpile essential supplies to last them 72 hours, to give them resilience in the face of conflict and catastrophes, the European Commission has said.

• Elise Stefanik out as UN ambassador nominee: President Trump pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to become United Nations ambassador on Thursday amid concerns about how her confirmation would affect Republicans' slim majority in the House. Here's who could replace her.

• College student under fire: The 20-year-old student from New Hampshire at Brown, emailed all 3,805 non-instructional, full-time staff members at the Ivy League institution last week to learn how they spent their day and whether their roles were justified as tuition nears $100,000 per year. Read more.

The rundown: Federal workers in health care roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have expressed concerns about delivering sensitive information to patients over the phone as they fear they will work in "cubicle farms" when they return to work. Here's what they have to say.

Why it matters: Following President Trump's executive order mandating the return of federal employees to in-person roles, some VA crisis responders now answer calls in open cubicles instead of private office spaces, compromising confidentiality. An oncology pharmacist expressed concerns about discussing sensitive topics like end-of-life care in public areas, fearing it could damage veterans' trust in their health privacy. Another VA employee in Arizona echoed these worries, highlighting the inefficiency of white noise machines for maintaining confidentiality. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency has overseen significant federal job cuts, with critics questioning the impact on government services. 

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Suffers Legal Blow Over Mass Federal Worker Cuts

TL/DR: Upon assuming office, President Trump issued an executive order banning federal workers from working remotely and demanding that remote and teleworkers transition to in-person roles.

What happens now? VA officials have promised to ensure secure workspaces for employees, but concerns persist.

Deeper reading Federal Workers Raise Privacy Concerns Amid Return to Office Order

The rundown: A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, with a building collapsing more than 600 miles away in Thailand. Get the latest.

Why it matters: A high-rise building under construction in Thai capital Bangkok collapsed, leaving at least 43 people trapped in the rubble, according to Thai media. In Myanmar, where information is sparse due to the ongoing civil war, there are reports of casualties and collapsed buildings in Mandalay, its second largest city and close to the epicenter of the quake. In Thailand, the National Institute for Emergency Medicine said 50 people were injured in the Bangkok building collapse. Forty were taken to the hospital and one other person died. A further eight people are missing, and one is trapped in the rubble. Meanwhile, videos emerging after the earthquake show a building under construction completely collapsing, with others shaking.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Huge Myanmar Earthquake Collapses Bangkok High-Rise Building

TL/DR: The greater Bangkok area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments.

What happens now? The military in Myanmar declared a state of emergency in six regions, AFP reports. The news agency also said a major hospital in the Myanmar capital Naypyidaw is a "mass casualty area".

Deeper reading Powerful Myanmar Earthquake Shakes Millions Across Southeast Asia: Live Updates

The rundown: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered more extensive comments on the "mistake" of including a journalist in a group chat about U.S. battle plans than he did in the chat itself. Here's what he said.

Why it matters: Rubio drew attention Wednesday by delivering the sharpest criticism yet by a senior administration official of the inadvertent inclusion of a journalist on a group chat on Signal that detailed plans for imminent U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen earlier this month. "Obviously someone made a mistake," Rubio told reporters. "Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you ain't supposed to be on that thing." The remarks, while not lengthy, were far more substantive than Rubio's comments in the actual Signal chat where Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials offered unvarnished views on national security and defense issues.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Marco Rubio Weighs in on Signal War Plans Leak: 'A Big Mistake'

TL/DR: "Obviously someone made a mistake," Rubio told reporters. "Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you ain't supposed to be on that thing."

What happens now? If Rubio privately shares those views, he didn't let on. The only digital trail he left in the Signal chat was the name of an aide and a terse congratulations.

Deeper reading How Marco Rubio Is Staying Above the Fray in Signal Controversy

The rundown: China taunted the United States on Thursday, claiming that Washington has what it called an "astonishing historical record in reneging on promises and betraying allies." Get more details.

Why it matters: The remarks, made by Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference on Thursday, were in response to a question on the issue of Washington's security commitments to Manila. Military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines should not harm other nations' security interests or undermine regional peace and stability, said Wu. While Wu did not elaborate on his remarks on America's promises and alliances, it is reported that Washington has considered withholding its military support from NATO allies that fail to allocate a set percentage of gross domestic product to defense.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Sends Ominous Warning to US Ally: 'Playing With Fire'

TL/DR: The Philippines is a major security ally of Washington in the Indo-Pacific region and the countries have signed a mutual defense treaty.

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will push the Philippines to boost its defense spending to deter China's aggression. It had previously urged Japan, which is another U.S. treaty ally in the Indo-Pacific region, to spend far more on its defense.

Deeper reading US Has 'Astonishing' Record of Betraying Allies: China

The rundown: The declining U.S. birth rate, and the broader demographic shifts it contributes towards, have become a growing concern for policymakers and economists alike. Here's why.

Why it matters: Economic and demographic experts told Newsweek that the trend is one that threatens to destabilize not only the U.S. economy—potentially resulting in several percentage points being knocked off America's annual GDP growth—but global markets as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of births declined 2 percent between 2022 and 2023, with the general fertility rate dropping 3 percent to 54.5 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. According to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, just under 24 births occurred per 1,000 people in 1960, whereas by 2022, that number had declined to 11. A shrinking workforce, a depleted consumer base, reduced tax revenue and added strains on Social Security can all be listed among the possible impacts of an unchecked drop in fertility.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Impact On US Birth Rates

TL/DR: "I think it's the single most important issue facing economies across the world, and by some distance," said James Pomeroy, a global economist at HSBC.

What happens now? Kasey Buckles, an economics professor at the University of Notre Dame, told Newsweek that there are many ways to tackle the challenges that accompany low birth rates beyond encouraging people to have more children. "One of the key ones is immigration," she said. "Immigration policy is much more likely to have large, immediate impacts on the size of the working-age population than efforts to increase fertility through policy."

Deeper reading America's Birth Rate Sparks Fears for the Economy