July 4, Wednesday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read Ms. Emma Howard and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. A State Department spokesperson has suggested that the United States will continue to demand North Korea’s complete denuclearization.
  2. Iran’s president is criticizing the U.S. for urging other countries to stop buying Iranian oil. Hassan Rouhani has described the measure as unilateral and against international law.
  3. The U.S. administration says the worsening situation in Syria will be a key issue at the summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month.

July 2, Monday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Mr. Yoshi Ogasawara

  1. The Bank of Japan’s quarterly Tankan survey shows that business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers worsened in June from 3 months earlier.
  2. The National Security Advisor to the White House says the United States could dismantle a bulk of North Korea’s nuclear programs and other weapons of mass destructions within a year.
  3. Syrian government forces have strengthened their military offensive in the southwest of the country, reportedly killing more than 100 civilians in about 10 days.