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Description: The fourth round of talks between US and Iran, scheduled to take place in Rome on 10 May were abruptly canceled in the midst of growing threats regarding a military intervention from the US. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through the social platform X announced the cancellation citing technical and logistical reasons, however, sources familiar with the negotiations stated that mounting threats from the US and their constant bombardment of Yemen’s Houthi strongholds were the reason behind it. US President Donald Trump reiterated his position on imposing the so – called maximum pressure strategy by putting new Iranian entities under sanctions last week wh
Description: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in Washington as they signed a breakthrough rare earth minerals agreement. The agreement outlined the formation of a joint investment fund between the US and Ukraine, and a US lease on mining rights on Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits. The proceeds from the mining projects would initially be used for Ukraine’s infrastructure and economic resuscitation, all the while benefiting the US by allowing them access to raw materials which are virtually used in every high – tech industry nowadays. Information regarding the other crucial elements of the agreement was scarc
Description: Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined the Chinese social media giant TikTok, $600 million for breaching several GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements. TikTok was accused of sending private customer data from European users to Chinese – based servers which was in breach of EU flagship data protection rules. TikTok has its headquarters in Ireland which makes the DPC the primary regulatory body assigned to monitor regulatory compliance. The fine was the third largest amongst EU regulators while TikTok was also warned of being in violation of data protection rules between 2020 and 2022 when the company was initially accused of enablin
Description: Germany’s internal intelligence agency, the BfV, has classified the entirety of the far – right party AfD, as an extremist entity. The classification would enable the agency and other legal bodies and institutions broad jurisdictions when investigating the AfD, which came as the second largest supported party in the recent federal election. BfV reached their decision citing the AfD’s extremist sentiments, which mostly revolved around excluding the ethnic minorities from equally participating in the country’s socio – economic system and including Islamophobic and xenophobic narratives in their political charter. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has deemed the cl
Description: The US Treasury Department has announced the designation of two powerful Haitian gangs, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gang as terrorist organizations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio elaborated that the US administration considered these organizations a severe threat to national security and all entities discovered to cooperate with the gangs would be internationally prosecuted. The designation comes as a raging gang war ruptured in the country in 2020 which led to devastating massacres of civilians and severe humanitarian and security crisis in the country. Impact: The US designation of Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations figuratively gives a
Description: In line with the scheduled UK – EU summit on 19 May, official sources from the European Union and the Office of the Prime Minister in the UK signaled a potential strategic partnership agreement. Both the EU and the UK are facing severe challenges after the blanket imposition of US tariffs and would aim at bolstering mutual cooperation in key sectors such as economy, defense and trade. The cooperation would undertake crucial strategic issues such as a comprehensive defense and security pact on Ukraine which would reaffirm the positions of the UK and the EU regarding the war. Closer trade cooperation is also expected to be agreed, as the EU faces 20% tariffs from
Description: Russian President Valdimir Putin announced a unilateral three – day ceasefire beginning on 08 May, coinciding with the Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II. Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy proposed for the unilateral ceasefire to be extended into a permanent one, as the US has repeatedly threatened to abandon the peace initiative if constructive results aren’t achieved soon. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stated that Russia categorically rejects Zelenskyy’s proposal as it suspects it would be used for frontline recuperation and rearmament instead of initiating dire
Description: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Philippine’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila where they discussed closer defensive cooperation between the countries and the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Ishiba and Marcos both stated that Japan and the Philippines would substantially intensify cooperation to counter the growing Chinese aggression in the surrounding disputed waters, which China claims in their entirety. The meeting also emphasized the impact of the US tariffs and the possibility for both countries to reinforce bilateral trade ties to boost their national economies. The defense pacts would mostly cover closer logistical cooperation between th
Description: China has allegedly waived 125% tariffs on ethane imports from the US as part of their strategy to alleviate the pressure from their trade war with the US on domestic companies. The unverified information comes after last week’s exemption on tariffs by China on imports from the US regarding various pharmaceutical, aerospace and semiconductor products. China is one of the largest importers of US gas products with around 492 thousand barrels per day, an amount projected to increase to 530 thousand barrels per day in 2025. Sources within the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and China’s customs services have neither confirmed nor denied the reports for the tariffs exemp
Description: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, where alongside their respective delegations, discussions were held regarding boosting trade and economic ties and strengthening defensive cooperation. Erdogan emphasized the importance of Turkey’s defense industry cooperation with Italy, highlighting successful joint ventures such as the cooperation between Italy’s Leonardo SpA and Turkey’s Baykar in drone development and manufacturing. Ministers from both countries have reportedly exchanged memorandums of cooperation with multiple company executives also being present at the meeting. Meloni and Erdogan also announced