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US President Donald Trump said Monday that China must supply more magnets or face tariffs of up to 200 percent, highlighting the strategic importance of rare earth elements. China controls about 90 percent of the global magnet market, essential for products like semiconductor chips used in smartphones, according to Al Jazeera.

The remarks follow China’s April restrictions on rare earth exports in retaliation for US tariff hikes, even as exports surged in July. Trump recently extended a 90-day deadline on tariffs, allowing more time for negotiations, and the US also announced a 10 percent stake in Intel, a major chipmaker dependent on these materials.

Venezuela is deploying 15,000 troops to its border with Colombia to combat drug trafficking, using aircraft, drones, and river patrols, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said. The move follows US naval deployments in the southern Caribbean aimed at Latin American cartels, according to Al Jazeera.

The troop buildup comes amid US accusations linking President Nicolas Maduro and Cabello to the Cartel de los Soles, with rewards of $50m and $25m offered for their capture. Maduro condemned the US, calling it an “imperialist threat,” and launched a nationwide militia drive.

US will send additional naval vessels and 4,500 personnel to the region, reinforcing anti-cartel operations, Al Jazeera reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Iran of directing anti-Jewish attacks in Sydney and Melbourne last year and announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador to Canberra. The attacks caused property damage but no casualties, Al Jazeera reported.

Australia has also suspended operations at its Tehran embassy, relocated diplomats, and plans to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the ambassador and three staff members have seven days to leave, marking the first expulsion since World War II.

According to Al Jazeera, there has been no immediate response from Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that Ukrainian and US officials will meet this week to explore the possibility of peace talks with Russia.

Speaking alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelenskiy said he will consult with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg on the discussions. He added that while a basic plan for security guarantees is shaping up, further work is needed before confirming whether Russia is willing to participate, Xinhua reported.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he had begun arranging a potential meeting between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed opposition to nuclear weapons and pledged to fast-track the Rasht-Astara railway during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted multilateral platforms like the EAEU, SCO, and BRICS to strengthen cooperation.

Putin briefed Pezeshkian on his talks with US President Donald Trump, calling the outcome positive for resolving the Ukraine conflict. He noted growing bilateral trade, progress on joint projects including the Bushehr nuclear plant, and reaffirmed Russia’s support for Iran’s uranium enrichment rights, according to Xinhua.

Korean Air has finalized its largest-ever order, worth $50bn, for 103 Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines and servicing. Announced during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington, the deal includes $36.2bn for Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, 777-9, and 787 jets, and $13.7bn for GE engines and long-term maintenance, Reuters reported.

CEO Cho Won-tae said about 80 percent of the new planes will replace older aircraft, while supporting expansion into US and Latin American markets. The order will also aid integration with Asiana Airlines, acquired last year. Boeing said the purchase will help Korean Air operate one of the world’s most efficient fleets. US officials praised the deal as a significant boost for aerospace exports and American manufacturing, according to Reuters.

Israeli forces have set up military positions in Rakhlah, a strategic village about 20 km southwest of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. According to Xinhua, the posts, established on August 21, overlook three key roads linking the Syrian capital with Lebanon’s Baalbek and Beirut.

The monitor said this gives Israel a major strategic advantage, placing its forces within artillery range of vital highways considered essential supply routes for Hezbollah. It suggested the move is part of Israel’s broader plan to encircle the group.

Syrian authorities have not commented, while Israel’s presence near Damascus signals a sharp escalation, Xinhua reported.

China has urged the United States to stop undermining its cooperation with Latin America, dismissing Washington’s accusations of resource exploitation in the region, according to Xinhua.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that US remarks reflect a “Cold War mentality” and run counter to reality. He stressed that China’s partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean are based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit, contributing to local economic and social development.

Guo emphasized that the region is “no one’s backyard” and countries there have the right to choose their own partners. He called on Washington to end its interference and instead support Latin America’s development, Xinhua reported.