
July 18, 2025
The World is smoldering:
EU Targets Russia With Toughest Sanctions Package in Years
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/eu-targets-russia-with-toughest-sanctions-package-in-years-59e49926?mod=world_lead_story
The European Union agreed to impose its toughest sanctions on Russia since its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, blocking attempts to revive the Nord Stream gas pipelines, lowering a price cap for Russian oil sales and hitting banks from third countries in a move that could exacerbate tensions with China.
The sanctions package comes as President Trump has started increasing pressure on the Kremlin after months of seeking a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The White House now appears closer to the European view that the Kremlin won’t end the war. European capitals hope Washington will soon join them in tightening economic pressure on Moscow.
The sanctions aim to weigh on Russia’s economy, which has withstood Western pressure for the past three years but now faces growing headwinds. In recent months, manufacturing activity is declining, consumers are tightening their belts, the state budget is strained and interest rates are at 20% to contain inflation.
Iran Is Moving to Rearm Its Militia Allies
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-militia-allies-houthis-hezbollah-a36d7de7?mod=world_lead_pos4
Iran suffered a significant setback when Israel killed top military leaders and the U.S. struck its nuclear facilities, but a pattern of high-value weapons seizures shows Tehran is making new efforts to arm its militia allies across the Middle East.
Forces allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized government this week intercepted a major shipment of missiles, drone parts and other military gear sent to Houthi rebels on the Red Sea coast. Syria’s new government says it has seized a number of weapons cargoes, including Grad rockets—for use in multiple-launch systems mounted on trucks—along its borders with Iraq and Lebanon.
The Lebanese army, meanwhile, has seized shipments brought in across its border with Syria that include Russian antitank missiles favored by Hezbollah.
Israel’s Red Lines in Syria Are Drawing It Deeper Into Conflict
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-druze-syria-conflict-36e52a7d?mod=world_lead_pos5
As Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria was collapsing late last year, Israel took the opportunity to destroy the military capabilities of one of its oldest enemies.
Since then, it has increased its demands on the new regime, insisting on a demilitarized zone south of Damascus and promising to intervene militarily if needed to protect the Druze minority who live on both sides of the border.
That is putting Israel in deepening conflict with Syria’s new leadership, as sectarian violence involving the Druze spiraled this week. Druze on both sides of the Israel-Syria border smashed through Israeli troop positions as they tried to save their families from the unfolding violence.
It is also pitting Israel more directly against Turkey, which supports the new government of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of using the Druze as a pretext to destabilize Syria.
House Passes Crypto Bills After Trump Rallies Republicans
https://www.wsj.com/finance/currencies/crypto-bills-congress-43014009?mod=politics_lead_pos3
In a bipartisan 308-122 vote on Thursday, the House passed a bill laying out standards for stablecoins, a popular type of digital currency whose price is pegged to the dollar or other traditional currency. The bill, called the Genius Act, passed the Senate in June and is now poised to become the first-ever U.S. piece of crypto legislation once President Trump signs it into law, as he has indicated he would..
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