Recent statements emanating from Beijing have cast doubt on assertions made by US President Donald Trump regarding direct communication with President Xi Jinping and ongoing tariff negotiations. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Monday that no such conversation had taken place recently, nor were bilateral consultations underway concerning tariffs.

This contradicts President Trump’s recent interview with Time magazine, where he claimed direct contact with President Xi and the existence of negotiations aimed at resolving the tariff dispute. Beijing has repeatedly denied these claims, accusing Washington of public misrepresentation.

While speculation regarding potential tariff reductions by the US side has circulated, China maintains that a resolution necessitates the complete removal of all unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States. The escalating tariff war has demonstrably impacted global markets and commercial operations, prompting China to exempt select US imports and downplay the overall impact on its economic growth. The discrepancy in narratives underscores the complexities inherent in the current US-China trade relationship.

Reports indicate that at least 27 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight and into Monday. These reports, sourced from Hamas-controlled local health officials, remain unverified and do not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.

The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement regarding these recent strikes. Israel has consistently asserted its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties during military operations, accusing Hamas of utilizing the civilian population as human shields.

Despite these claims, Palestinian civilians maintain that no location within Gaza feels safe amidst the ongoing conflict.

This latest escalation further exacerbates already heightened tensions and ongoing violence, with no immediate prospects for de-escalation currently apparent.

Russian authorities have announced the arrest of a suspect in connection to the car bomb assassination of General Yaroslav Moskalik, which occurred outside Moscow on Friday. The Federal Security Service (FSB) has identified the suspect as Ignat Kuzin, allegedly a Ukrainian agent.

According to the FSB, Kuzin is accused of rigging a Volkswagen Golf with an improvised explosive device sourced from a Ukrainian intelligence cache. The device was reportedly detonated remotely from Ukrainian territory.

The FSB has released video footage of Kuzin’s arrest.

While Kyiv has yet to comment on the incident, the attack bears resemblance to previous targeted assassinations of military personnel and prominent supporters of the Kremlin’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine. The investigation remains ongoing.