☰
HomeLiving Beyond BordersGZERO WorldSignalIn 60 SecondsPuppet RegimeGZERO World PodcastContact UsAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyTerms

What We’re Watching: Trump-Xi phone call, Netanyahu’s coalition cracks apart, & More

June 05, 2025
 Zac Weisz
and
 Alex Kliment
and
 Lizzy Yee
US President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.
US President Donald Trump meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Trump speaks with Xi

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping spoke Thursday for the first time since the former returned to office, as a recent pause in their trade war looked set to fall apart. Both sides recently stepped back from mutual triple-digit tariffs, but Beijing has drawn fire from Trump for restricting the export of rare earths minerals used by the US auto and tech industries. No breakthroughs were announced but Trump described the call as “very positive” and said a summit is in the works.

Netanyahu’s coalition set for divorce

In what could spell the end for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, two ultra-Orthodox parties that form part of the governing coalition are reportedly set to back the Knesset’s dissolution, in protest against a potential new law that would fine religious university students who skip military service. The dissolution vote will take place on June 11. If United Torah Judaism and Shas, the two dissenting parties, join the opposition in voting to dissolve the government, there will be elections again in Israel.

US institutes new travel ban

Trump on Wednesday barred foreign nationals from 12 countries from entering the United States – including Afghanistan and Haiti – and placed partial restrictions on seven others. The ban is set to take effect on Monday 12:01 EST. The US president linked the new restrictions to Sunday’s terror attack in Colorado against a group of people who were marching in solidarity for the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Trump implemented a similar travel ban during his first term, one that the Supreme Court upheld in 2018.

More from GZERO Media

Is MAGA bailing on Bibi?

US President Donald Trump receives a nomination letter after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told him he nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, during a bilateral dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, on July 7, 2025.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The past few days have brought an unusually firm trickle of criticism of Israel from the Trump administration and its allies. Cracks are also emerging within the GOP on its support for the Jewish state.

What We’re Watching: Trump inks trade deals in Asia, Zelensky under pressure at home, India and China make nice

A financial data monitor in Tokyo shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average soaring more than 1,000 points to recover to the 40,000 level during morning trading on July 23, 2025, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had struck a trade deal with Japan.
Kyodo via Reuters

Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan on Tuesday, easing fears of escalating tensions with a key US ally (and the world’s fourth largest economy to boot)

Walmart’s US manufacturing investment is building stronger communities

Walmart

More than 60% of Walmart suppliers are small businesses.* Through a $350 billion investment in products made, grown, or assembled in the US, Walmart is helping these businesses expand, create jobs, and thrive. This effort is expected to support the creation of over 750,000 new American jobs by 2030, empowering companies like Athletic Brewing, Bon Appésweet, and Milo’s Tea to grow their teams, scale their production, and strengthen the communities they call home. Learn more about Walmart's commitment to US manufacturing. *See website for additional details.

Microsoft Elevate and AI Economy Institute announcement

Microsoft

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced new organizations that will focus on people-driven AI innovation — from educators to nonprofit and community leaders: Microsoft Elevate and the Microsoft AI Economy Institute. Microsoft Elevate is focused on bringing AI technology, skilling, and education to communities around the world by partnering with schools, community and technical colleges, nonprofits, and government agencies. The Microsoft AI Economy Institute is a new kind of corporate think tank, exploring how AI is reshaping work, education, and opportunity, and turning research into actionable solutions that will inform Microsoft’s strategy and public policy engagements. Together, these new organizations reflect Microsoft’s deep commitment to ensuring that people remain at the heart of progress in the age of AI. Learn more here.

About UsCareers PressContact Us Privacy PolicyTerms of Use
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.