Newsweek is reporting that negotiations between the United States and Iran on ending the war are being shaped by perceptions of desperation for a deal. President Donald Trump announced that after contacts with Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon, both sides had agreed to stop shooting at each other. Newsweek said Trump's intervention followed Iran's threats to negotiations over Israel's advances into Lebanon against Hezbollah forces, and Trump appeared to achieve an Iranian goal of fully linking the war in Iran with the one in Lebanon. Netanyahu reportedly faced opposition from hardliners for backing down but stated Israel would attack Beirut if Hezbollah attacks do not cease. A U.S. official leaked to Axios that Trump was furious with Netanyahu, describing him as "f*****g crazy" and telling him everyone "hates Israel." Newsweek suggests this leak might signal conciliation to Iran but also division between the U.S. and Israel, indicating pressure for a deal. It said this move points to an implicit acceptance of Hezbollah’s armed domination of Lebanon and raises questions about U.S. stamina in ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Newsweek is also reporting that China is significantly expanding childcare subsidies to address its steadily declining birth rate. The Ministry of Finance will allocate 99.9 billion yuan, or approximately $13.9 billion, for local government initiatives supporting care for young children, marking a 10.6 percent increase from last year.
With negotiations stalled over Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, Newsweek said China and Russia are positioned to play an influential role in determining the degree to which the United States and Iran can outlast one another in a long war.
Citing pollster Gallup, Newsweek reports that most people globally are more satisfied with the freedom they have in their lives. However, the United States and other major Western powers show some of the biggest declines in perceived freedom, driven largely by women and younger people. Newsweek noted that "freedom in life" is distinct from "political freedom," with countries like Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates ranking highly in the former despite low ratings in the latter.
Separately, Newsweek is reporting on protests in Nanyuki, Kenya, against a U.S. plan to establish an Ebola isolation center at a nearby military base. The BBC reported that two people were shot dead amid these protests. Newsweek said the 50-bed isolation center, to be staffed by U.S. medics, is intended to treat U.S. citizens affected by the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite Kenya having no recorded Ebola cases.