The Wall Street Journal: Netanyahu splits with Trump, Apple eyes Chinese chips, and Garmin takes on Whoop

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly broke with President Donald Trump over a plan for Hamas disarmament, a rare open split between the two leaders. The same day's coverage ranged from Washington politics to Silicon Valley supply chains: Trump endorsed Michael Alfonso, the 26-year-old son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a Republican primary in Wisconsin, while Apple held early-stage talks with Chinese chipmaker CXMT about memory chip supplies amid a supply squeeze. The Netanyahu-Trump rupture landed against a tense backdrop in the Gulf. Iran issued new demands for major concessions shortly after the White House signalled that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial passage was near, according to the Journal's reporting. The strait is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments, and its closure has rippled through markets. Together, the stories capture a moment of strain on multiple fronts: an alliance under pressure, a diplomatic opening in doubt, and a technology industry scrambling for components. Even the Journal's lifestyle coverage reflected competition, from Garmin's screenless Cirqa band challenging Whoop to the newly cut-throat world of estate-sale shopping.

Netanyahu breaks with Trump as Iran raises new demands

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly broken with President Trump over a plan for Hamas disarmament, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The split marks a rare open disagreement between the two leaders, who have generally presented a united front on matters relating to Gaza and the broader conflict.

Separately, the Journal reported that Iran issued new demands for major concessions shortly after the White House signaled that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial passage was near. The strait is one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints, and any prolonged disruption to traffic through it carries consequences for global energy markets and trade.

The timing of Tehran's move complicates the White House's efforts. Just as officials were suggesting an agreement was within reach, the fresh demands threatened to stall progress and raised questions about how close a resolution actually is. Together, the two reports point to mounting strain on the administration's Middle East diplomacy on multiple fronts at once.

Trump endorses Duffy's 26-year-old son-in-law in Wisconsin primary

President Trump has thrown his weight behind a political newcomer with close family ties to his cabinet. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump endorsed Michael Alfonso, the 26-year-old son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a Republican primary in Wisconsin.

Alfonso's age and his connection to Duffy make the endorsement notable. At 26, he would be among the younger candidates to receive the president's backing in a contested primary. The endorsement also illustrates Trump's willingness to reward loyalty within his own administration — Duffy serves as his Transportation Secretary, and the president's support now extends to a member of the secretary's family.

The race is in Wisconsin, a perennial battleground state where Republican primaries often draw national attention. Trump's endorsement has frequently proven decisive in such contests, giving Alfonso a significant advantage over his primary rivals.

Apple in early talks with China's CXMT on memory chips

Apple has held early-stage discussions with Chinese chipmaker CXMT about securing memory chip supplies, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The talks come as the technology industry grapples with a supply squeeze on memory components, a constraint that has pushed device makers to look beyond their established suppliers.

The discussions were described as preliminary, with no agreement reported. For Apple, turning to CXMT would mark a notable step: the Chinese manufacturer is not among the company's traditional memory suppliers, and any deal would deepen Apple's exposure to China's semiconductor sector at a time of persistent tension between Washington and Beijing over chip technology. The report did not indicate how advanced the talks were or what volumes might be involved.

Garmin's screenless Cirqa band and the estate-sale boom

The Journal's review of Garmin's Cirqa examined a health-tracking band that does away with a screen entirely, pitching the device as an alternative to Whoop, the subscription-based tracker that has built a following among athletes and sleep obsessives. The Cirqa represents Garmin's bid for a slice of that market, betting that some users prefer their data on a phone and nothing on the wrist but sensors.

Elsewhere in its pages, the paper turned to the changing culture of estate-sale shopping. What was once a leisurely weekend pastime, the feature described, has hardened into a fiercely competitive pursuit, with buyers jostling for furniture, housewares and collectibles. The shift reflects how resale has professionalised, turning casual browsing into something closer to a contact sport.

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