The Bulletin

• Trump-Putin call: Germany's defense minister Boris Pistorius said Russian President Vladimir Putin should be judged by his actions, not words, and that he is "continuing to play for time" with "lip service" after his call with President Trump.

• Venezuelans no longer 'protected': The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Trump to end Temporary Protected Status for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, putting them at risk of deportation. Here's what to know.

• Iran nuclear deal: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he does not believe ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S. will yield any result, slamming U.S. demands that it end its uranium enrichment program. Read more.

• Romania can shoot down Russian drones: A law has come into effect in Romania that allows its armed forces to down unmanned aerial vehicles unlawfully breaching its airspace, as the NATO member acts to tackle a growing number of Russian drones landing on its shores. Know more.

• Trump admin settles with Ashli Babbitt's family: The Trump administration has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt to settle a lawsuit brought by Babbitt's estate, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

• Russia classifies population data: Russia has moved to classify key demographic statistics following a dramatic collapse in its birth rate, which has plunged to levels not seen since the late 18th or early 19th century, according to a leading Russian demographer.

The rundown: As President Trump seeks to reshape Washington's foreign policy in the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emerged as a key global partner. Here's how.

Why it matters: Credited with brokering talks in conflicts from Syria to Ukraine, Erdoğan's experience, reliability and strategic influence make him central to Trump's international agenda. Under Erdoğan's leadership, Turkey has positioned itself as a crucial mediator in regional crises, while also expanding its diplomatic and military influence. Despite past tensions, Trump views Erdoğan as a strong, transactional ally aligned with U.S. interests, especially amid growing skepticism of traditional European partners. Turkey's strategic location, military assertiveness and Erdoğan's longevity in power have boosted its relevance on the world stage.

Read more in-depth coverage:
NATO Issues Warning About Defense Spending Amid Threats from Russia, China

TL/DR: Over the past week alone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proved himself a crucial player on several geopolitical fronts.

What happens now? This evolving partnership signals a pragmatic realignment in U.S. diplomacy, with Türkiye playing an increasingly vital role in shaping a multipolar global order.

Deeper reading Turkey's Erdogan Has Become One of World's Most Powerful Men—And Trump Ally

The rundown: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said it is terminating $60 million in federal grants to Harvard University, saying that the institution failed to address antisemitic harassment and race discrimination on campus. Know more.

Why it matters: The Trump administration has already frozen or canceled federal grants and contracts for Harvard worth almost $3 billion in recent months. The reason for the termination of the grants was detailed in a May 19 letter to Harvard from Jamie Legier, the director of the Office of Grants Services at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to The Daily Caller. It cited the findings of a Harvard task force report on campus antisemitism, which was commissioned alongside a report on anti-Arab bias in the aftermath of pro-Palestinian protests that took place at Harvard and other universities last year against Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza. Harvard is now moving to self-fund research to compensate for at least some of the money lost to the federal funding cuts.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Harvard Acknowledges 'Common Ground' With Trump Admin But Won't 'Surrender'

TL/DR: Harvard has faced sanctions from the Trump administration after becoming the first U.S. university to openly defy demands to limit pro-Palestinian activism and end diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

What happens now? Arguments in Harvard's lawsuit against the government has been scheduled for July 21.

Deeper reading Trump Admin Terminates $60 Million in Harvard Grants: What To Know

The rundown: President Donald Trump gave an insight into the discussion between himself and Russian leader Vladimir Putin during their two-hour call today. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: While the focus was on peace negotiations for the war in Ukraine, and Russian-U.S. trade, Trump said Putin had also brought up First Lady Melania. Speaking at a White House Rose Garden signing ceremony for the "Take It Down" bill, Trump told the crowd, "Putin just said, 'they respect your wife a lot.'" When Trump responded, "what about me?" he said that Putin had responded, "They like Melania better." While the Russian leader said that call was "candid and very useful," he also cautioned that the talks still need to "develop the most effective paths towards peace".

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Reacts After Calls With Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky

TL/DR: Trump has also said he wants to meet with Putin in person as soon as possible.

What happens now? Putin has said that Russia is ready to work towards ending the war in Ukraine, following the call, and "expressed gratitude to Trump for the U.S. role in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine," according to Russian state TV. Trump has also said he wants to meet with Putin in person as soon as possible.

Deeper reading Trump Reveals What Putin Told Him About Melania During Two-Hour Call

The rundown: Barely a week into a U.S.-China truce in their long-running trade war, Beijing has accused Washington of violating the temporary agreement reached in Geneva. Get more details.

Why it matters: The Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Monday that the U.S. was taking "discriminatory measures" against China, after the U.S. Commerce Department recently warned American businesses to avoid Chinese-made microchips, specifically those produced by Chinese tech giant Huawei. In a general response last week, a spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry said the U.S. had "abused its export control measures and imposed stricter restrictions on Chinese chip products under unfounded allegations." In an updated statement released on its website this week, the ministry said the U.S. actions "seriously undermined the consensus reached at the high-level talks between China and the U.S. in Geneva."

Read more in-depth coverage:
China's Next-Level AI Could Overtake US: New Report

TL/DR: Both countries have walked back a series of punitive actions against the other as part of a 90-day pause agreed at the recent talks in Switzerland after U.S. President Donald Trump had imposed heavy tariffs.

What happens now? The U.S. and China are still talking behind closed doors. The U.S. and Chinese trade representatives Jamieson Greer and Li Chenggang met last week in South Korea on the margins of APEC.

Deeper reading First Cracks Emerge in US-China Trade Truce

The rundown: The Qatari prime minister defended his country's offer of a $400 million 747 jet as a gift to the Trump Administration, calling it a "normal thing" for allies and done "in full transparency and very legally". Find out more.

Why it matters: President Trump wants to accept the gift to the U.S. as a temporary replacement for the ageing Air Force One plane, which is due for an upgrade. But the gift has sparked bipartisan criticism over ethical and national security concerns. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate minority leader, called it "naked corruption". "I see it as a normal thing that happens between allies," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Tuesday. Al Thani said he did not understand why critics viewed the gift as a form of bribery or corruption toward the Trump Administration. "I don't see any honestly valid reason for that," he said, adding that nothing has been done "under the table" or as a "covert operation".

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Qatar Nexus: The Officials With Close Ties to the Middle East State

TL/DR: Al Thani noted that a lot of nations have gifted things to the U.S. and that this is subject to a "proper legal review" in what is a "clear exchange".

What happens now? The Qatari prime minister said he thought the reaction to the jet gift may be down to the fact that it is coming from a small Arab nation. "I'm hoping that people in the United States and even the politicians over there, they look at us as a friend, as a partner, as a reliable partner [and] that we've been always there for the U.S. whenever we were needed," Al Thani said.

Deeper reading Qatar Defends 'Normal' Jet Gift to Trump's US