The sentencing follows his guilty plea to charges including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The judge rejected a defense request for a shorter 24-month sentence and gave Santos until July 25th to surrender. Santos, who was expelled from Congress last year, admitted to misusing campaign donor funds and lying to election officials.

Meanwhile, China has contradicted President Trump’s assertions that active negotiations over tariffs are currently underway between the two nations. Beijing officials stated that while China remains open to dialogue, any negotiations must be conducted based on principles of equality and respect. The ongoing trade disputes continue to generate business uncertainty.

Reports indicate the U.S. government is considering significant reductions to the high tariffs recently imposed on Chinese imports, potentially lowering them to a range between 50 and 65 percent. President Trump mentioned anticipating a deal to lower tariffs substantially, though not eliminating them completely.

Health officials in Gaza report a significant rise in attacks over the past 48 hours, with dozens killed. The actions violate the terms of the recent ceasefire agreement. These events follow reports that Israel also destroyed heavy equipment needed for rescue and recovery efforts in the region.

The Vatican has initiated the centuries-old process for selecting a successor, which involves specific rituals culminating in a papal conclave. Cardinals from around the world will gather to elect the next leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics globally. Details regarding the funeral arrangements are expected soon.

This aims to move closer to the NATO target by 2030. This commitment comes amid pressure from the United States to bolster military expenditures. The Canadian government plans to allocate additional funds to modernize its armed forces and enhance operational capabilities. Officials believe this investment will strengthen national security and fulfill international obligations.

These orders allow some older coal-fired power plants to remain operational to meet rising energy demand spurred by technological advancements. citeturn0news34 The orders also halt previous coal regulations and seek to investigate state-level anti-coal policies.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Lin Jian, criticized the U.S.’s “America First” policy for disrupting global production and supply chains, hindering economic recovery. President Donald Trump announced a new 34% tariff on Chinese goods, citing China’s role in the fentanyl crisis, escalating previous tariff rounds earlier this year.