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In early July, U.S. President Donald Trump officially signed the **"One Big Beautiful Bill Act"**, a new law that will significantly impact various U.S. policies. In addition to affecting American citizens, the act will impose a **$250 "visa integrity fee"** on foreign nationals entering the U.S. on non-immigrant visas.

According to CNBC, starting from **fiscal year 2025**, all foreign nationals entering the U.S. on non-immigrant visas — including tourist, student, and H-1B work visas — will be required to pay this $250 fee. The Secretary of Homeland Security has the authority to increase the fee, and it will be adjusted over time in accordance with inflation.

Under the act, the fee is **refundable in full** if the visa holder complies with visa terms, such as departing the U.S. within the permitted time. The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with collecting the fee, though the law does not specify how the fee will be collected or refunded. The **U.S. Travel Association** also told CNBC it is unclear how travelers will pay the fee, and the implementation date remains uncertain.

Observers note that aside from one-time tourist visa holders, the actual percentage of visa holders who will apply for or receive refunds may be low. As a result, the **Congressional Budget Office (CBO)** has classified this fee as a source of government revenue, projecting it will **reduce the federal deficit by $28.9 billion ** between 2025 and 2034. Given major upcoming events in 2026 — such as the **250th anniversary of U.S. independence** and the **FIFA World Cup** — it remains to be seen how this policy will impact U.S. tourism.

On July 16, U.S. President Donald Trump officially signed the “Stopping All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act,” aimed at strengthening the crackdown on the synthetic opioid fentanyl and addressing the growing fentanyl abuse crisis. Under the new legislation, substances related to fentanyl will be classified as Schedule I controlled substances. Those caught illegally possessing, manufacturing, or trafficking fentanyl will face a minimum prison sentence of 10 years.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. A dose as small as 2 milligrams can be fatal. The raw materials used to produce fentanyl are primarily manufactured by Chinese companies and are intended for use in legitimate pain relief medications. U.S. officials have stated that fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45, making the widespread abuse of the drug one of the most serious social issues in the United States today.

Fentanyl is currently classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S., but with the implementation of the new law, related substances will be officially reclassified as Schedule I drugs. This reclassification will subject these substances to stricter regulatory oversight and allow for administrative, criminal, and civil penalties. Lawmakers believe the bill will reduce the incentive for drug trafficking organizations to produce new variants of fentanyl and enhance law enforcement’s ability to prosecute offenders more effectively.

Although the bill has received bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans, some critics warn that it may impose overly harsh penalties on individuals struggling with addiction. Civil rights groups are calling on authorities to not only crack down on drug traffickers but also to increase support for treatment and rehabilitation programs for addicts. They emphasize that addressing the fentanyl crisis requires a comprehensive approach that includes law enforcement, supply chain analysis, and improved social and mental health support systems.

On the 16th, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that tariffs for more than 150 countries, considered part of the same group, will no longer be subject to trade negotiations. Instead, the U.S. will directly send official letters informing them of the final tariff rate. Under the current plan, the rate may be 10% or 15%.

Trump said, "These countries do not have significant trade volume with us, and they are not major powers."
"We will send a notice of payment directly and inform them of their tariff rate."
"As for whether the final rate will be 10% or 15%, we haven’t decided yet."

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on July 16, marking the latest in a series of eruptions near the capital Reykjavik in recent years. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, GPS monitoring and surface deformation data suggest that the eruption is relatively small in scale and currently poses no direct threat to any infrastructure.

Since the Reykjanes Peninsula’s volcanic system reawakened in 2021, Iceland has experienced 12 eruptions. The eruptions on the peninsula are classified as *fissure eruptions*, where lava emerges from long cracks in the Earth's crust rather than erupting from a central volcanic crater. The eruption does not threaten the capital Reykjavik, nor has it released significant volcanic ash into the stratosphere, meaning air travel remains unaffected.

With a population of under 400,000, Iceland is home to more than 30 active volcanoes. Experts note that these types of fissure eruptions could recur repeatedly, potentially continuing for decades or even centuries.

On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will provide NATO with "the most advanced weapons" during a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Trump stated that if Russia fails to reach a peace agreement within the next 50 days, the U.S. will impose "extremely severe" tariffs on Russia. He emphasized that the weapons will be allocated by NATO to the areas where they are most needed.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction with Russia's actions in the Ukraine war, Trump warned that if no peace agreement is reached between Russia and Ukraine within 50 days, the U.S. will impose "extremely severe" tariffs. "We will impose secondary tariffs. If there's no deal in 50 days, the tariff rate will go up to 100%. It's that simple," Trump told reporters at the White House, signaling a tough U.S. stance on the Ukraine issue.

South Korea's medical reform controversy has taken a major turn. The Korean Medical Association told AFP on July 14 that thousands of medical students have decided to end their 17-month-long boycott, with an estimated 8,300 students expected to return to campus. The move is expected to ease mounting pressure on the healthcare system caused by both the doctors’ strike and the student walkout.

The protest began in early 2024 when then-President Yoon Suk-yeol pushed through a plan to significantly increase medical school admissions, citing the need to address doctor shortages in South Korea’s rapidly aging society. The policy sparked fierce backlash from the medical community. In response, resident doctors went on strike and medical students boycotted classes, leading to surgery cancellations and disrupted medical services across the country. The government eventually announced a freeze on the enrollment expansion in March this year, paving the way for negotiations.

The Korean Medical Student Association said that a prolonged boycott could lead to the collapse of the medical system and thus decided to resume classes. Each medical school will determine its own schedule for reopening. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok welcomed the decision, calling it a “major breakthrough,” and revealed that President Lee Jae-myung is actively considering follow-up solutions. However, around 12,000 resident doctors—on strike since last year—have yet to return to work, and the broader crisis in the medical sector remains unresolved.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continue to escalate, with another aid distribution center hit in the latest attacks. On Saturday, July 13, at least 27 more people—mostly women and children—were killed. Gaza residents say so-called "safe zones" are a myth, calling them "death traps."

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that since early June, 798 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution sites, showing that even humanitarian zones are not spared from the conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) denied the accusations, asserting they did not target civilians near these areas.

The IDF recently released aerial footage showing plumes of smoke rising across Gaza, claiming they had carried out precision strikes on 35 Hamas targets. In reality, civilians depend on the few remaining operational aid centers for basic necessities—locations that are repeatedly bombed, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian disaster. “We were lied to. There is no safe place. Children are being killed and bleeding right before our eyes,” a Gaza resident tearfully said.

Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, have once again stalled. Hamas accused Israel of introducing new demands, including the right to maintain a military presence in Gaza after the war. Egyptian diplomatic sources confirmed that Jerusalem has continued to add new conditions, casting further doubt on the peace process.

In Israel, public pressure for a ceasefire and hostage deal is growing. Thousands have taken to the streets in recent weeks. One protester stated, “It’s time to end this war. Free the hostages and stop the fighting—there’s no time to waste.”

International voices have also joined the outcry. The UK saw large pro-Palestinian demonstrations for the second weekend in a row. Last Saturday, London police responded forcefully, arresting 41 protesters. Marchers chanted slogans like “Genocide is against international law.” The activist group “Palestine Action,” which participated in the protests, was recently designated as a banned organization by the UK government, and its appeal was rejected by the courts.

On July 9, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announcing that starting August 1, the U.S. would impose up to 50% “reciprocal tariffs” on Brazilian goods. This represents the highest tariff rate among the 22 countries currently facing U.S. trade pressure.

Trump claimed the move was in response to Brazil’s legal actions against former President Jair Bolsonaro, denouncing them as a political “witch hunt.” He described Bolsonaro as a U.S. ally who deserves support. Trump added that he is open to negotiations, but “not at this time.”

President Lula strongly criticized the measure, calling it a serious interference in Brazil’s judicial sovereignty. He announced that Brazil would invoke its Economic Reciprocity Law to impose retaliatory tariffs of the same 50% rate on U.S. products. Lula emphasized that “respect must be mutual,” warning that if Trump escalates the tariffs, Brazil will take further countermeasures accordingly. His administration also stated it may suspend parts of trade agreements, limit intellectual property protections, or pursue action through the WTO to defend national interests.

Numerous international media outlets pointed out that the U.S. decision is primarily politically motivated, particularly as the U.S. runs a trade surplus with Brazil — estimated at $4.2 to $7.4 billion in 2024. The Brazilian market reacted immediately, with prices rising on key exports like coffee beans and orange juice. Given Brazil’s dominant role in global coffee production, the move is expected to disrupt U.S. inventory levels.

Economists warn that if the tariffs take effect as planned, they could spark a bilateral trade war, slow economic growth, fuel inflation, and lead to legal complications in trade processes. Nevertheless, the U.S. market remains stable for now, as investors widely expect Trump may revise or walk back parts of the threat, and that not all measures will be implemented in full.