The Bulletin

• Trump plays down 2028 presidential run: President Trump has played down reports he will seek a third White House term in 2028. The president instead discussed potential successors. Find out who they are.

• Who will be the new Pope? Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin has reclaimed his position as the favorite to succeed the late Pope Francis. Here are the latest odds on who will replace Francis.

• China accused of airspace violation: China and Japan have traded accusations of airspace violations near a group of islets in the contested East China Sea, currently administered by the United States treaty ally. Find out what happened.

• Iran's new missile: Video from Iranian state TV on Sunday showed Iran unveiling a new ballistic missile as tensions with the United States intensify over Tehran's nuclear program and regional military activities. See the video.

• Man married to US citizen detained by ICE: Martin Diaz, who came to the United States as a toddler and is married to a U.S. citizen was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Spokane, Washington. Here's why.

• Woman missing for 60 years found alive: A Wisconsin woman who disappeared more than 60 years ago has been found alive by authorities. A look at the unusual case.

• Ukraine's fighter jet obliterates Russian post: A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet targeted a Russian battalion command post in a high-precision strike in the Donetsk region. See the video.

The rundown: "I run the country and the world," U.S. President Donald Trump said while reflecting on his first 100 days back in office in an interview with The Atlantic. Newsweek spoke to experts to find out how true this is.

Why it matters: In just a few months back in office, Trump's first tasks have included launching a tariff war with adversaries and allies alike, pushing peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, stoking fears that the U.S. may pull out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and starting a serious quest to take over Greenland. "Nobody 'runs the world' and anyone who thinks he does is a dangerous idiot," Professor Andrew Bacevich, who co-founded the Quincy Institute, a Washington-based think tank which advocates for less interventionist U.S. foreign policy, said. James M. Goldgeier, a professor of international relations at the School of International Service at American University, went on to argue that Trump can't just tell others what to do. "China isn't backing down over the tariffs. Russia isn't just deciding to end its war in Ukraine because Trump tells them he wants it to end."

Read more in-depth coverage:
How Donald Trump Upended US Foreign Policy in 100 Days

TL/DR: Trump told The Atlantic he was "disliked enough by Canadians" to sway the results.

What happens now? Research scholar Barry Scott Zellen told Newsweek he thinks the president's efforts to "make peace with the world's great powers regardless of their domestic political values" will mean that "American influence will still be felt around the world."

Deeper reading Does Donald Trump Run the World? Experts Weigh In

The rundown: Rising property taxes over the past five years have exacerbated American homeowners' housing affordability struggles, with many reporting that they are now paying much more than they initially budgeted for them. Find out how this is impacting American household budget.

Why it matters: According to a new survey by property tax appeal service Ownwell, 66 percent of homeowners in the U.S. say their bill is higher than they budgeted for, while three in four (74 percent) are worried about paying even more in the near future. Between 2019 and 2024, property tax bills have gone up in nearly every U.S. metropolitan area, according to a recent report from real estate brokerage Redfin. Nationwide, property taxes increased by nearly 30 percent during the same five-year period, reaching a monthly median of $250. Homeowners were particularly concerned about rising property tax in states which currently pay the highest bill in the nation, including Colorado (85 percent), New Jersey (81 percent), California (80 percent) and New York (78 percent).

Read more in-depth coverage:
Americans To Get 'Income Tax Relief' in Tax Bill: What To Know

TL/DR: While many might not know this is a possibility, homeowners have the option of challenging their property tax assessments.

What happens now? In GOP-led states across the country, including Florida and Texas, state legislators are trying to drastically reduce property taxes, or trying to eliminate them altogether. Four states, including Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, currently have plans to abolish the property tax. No state in the union has so far eliminated the tax, though some have tried.

Deeper reading America's Property Tax Headache

The rundown: A Chinese company that will be supplying turbines for a new wind farm to serve NATO member Germany is run by a military veteran who has sworn eternal loyalty to the Communist Party and is staffed by many ex-soldiers, according to details obtained by Newsweek.

Why it matters: The history of military and political involvement – and continued expressions of loyalty – by the founder and president of Ming Yang Group, Zhang Chuanwei, underlines a potential security challenge for European countries as their drive to install more renewable energy sources risks a growing dependency on technology from China for the electricity for homes, businesses and defense systems. The Waterkant wind farm project in the North Sea is going ahead with Ming Yang Smart Energy as the supplier despite a warning from a German government defense think tank, according to a confidential report seen by Newsweek. The project is close to three NATO states – Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Waterkant is the first project for Ming Yang in the North Sea and comes as debate swirls in Europe over the role of Chinese suppliers.

Read more in-depth coverage:
F-35 Crisis Puts Pressure on Europe To Develop Sixth-Gen Fighter Jets

TL/DR: It is not unusual for Chinese industry leaders, including those in non-state owned companies, to have ties to the Communist Party or its military, the People's Liberation Army, but Zhang's are particularly strong.

What happens now? The readiness of some European countries and NATO members to tie their futures to an increasingly powerful China also threatens to put them under greater scrutiny from the United States as its relations worsen with its main global adversary.

Deeper reading Exclusive: Chinese Firm Behind NATO Ally's Windfarm Is Tied to Army

The rundown: Yemen's Houthi militant group called on international airlines to halt all flights to Israeli airports, warning that failure to do so could endanger both aircraft and crew, following an attack that disrupted air traffic at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Here's everything you need to know.

Why it matters: The attack marks a significant escalation in regional tensions amid the war in Gaza, signaling the Houthis' growing reach and intent to directly challenge Israel and its allies. The Iran-backed group threats to international air and maritime traffic – despite a sustained U.S. military campaign – draws the Red Sea and Middle East deeper into the conflict zone. The Houthis called upon all international airlines to "to cancel all scheduled flights" to Israeli airports "to preserve the safety of their aircraft and their agents," the group's military spokesperson said in a statement. On Sunday, a missile launched by Yemen's Houthis struck near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, briefly disrupting air traffic. The U.S. military has increasingly launched airstrikes against the group's target in Yemen and warned Iran against lethal support.

Read more in-depth coverage:
U.S. War on the Houthis: Five Things to Watch

TL/DR: The escalation comes as the group intensified efforts to enforce a naval blockade in the Red Sea, targeting Israeli vessels.

What happens now? Israel has vowed strong retaliation against Houthis and its Iranian backers. Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh Tehran would strike back if the U.S. or Israel attacked.

Deeper reading Houthis Warn Global Airlines After Missile Attack

The rundown: Americans have given their view on whether President Donald Trump inherited a weakened economy from his predecessor, or if the current difficulties are the result of his own policies. Find out here.

Why it matters: According to a new poll by Gallup, nearly half Americans (46 percent) view Trump as more responsible for the current state of the economy, compared to 27 percent who chose Joe Biden. One-in-five (21 percent) said that responsibility was equally shared between both the former and current president, while five percent blamed neither. In response to either weak or underwhelming economic indicators, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that economic difficulties are the result of Biden's policies. Last week, Trump attempted to avoid blame for the Commerce Department's GDP reading—which revealed a 0.3 percent year-on-year contraction—as well as the continued volatility in the U.S. stock market. According to a recent CNN poll, 69 percent of Americans believe recession is likely to occur within the year, including 32 percent who consider the possibility very likely.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Donald Trump Dismisses Price Increases—'That's Peanuts'

TL/DR: "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," the president posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. "I didn't take over until January 20th."

What happens now? Optimism regarding the health of the U.S. economy could be boosted by a trade deal being struck with China, which the administration claims is imminent despite Beijing's noncommittal stance. However, the majority of Americans are still fearful about the possibility of a recession.

Deeper reading Is It Trump or Biden's Economy? Americans Weigh In