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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.