United States
Jaishankar Raises India’s Concerns Over Sweeping US Sanctions Law
India has raised its concerns directly with the United States over a new law permitting tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy. New Delhi says the measure could damage bilateral ties, disrupt global oil markets and threaten its energy security.
Taipei Fears Trump May Soften US Support to Secure China Deal
Taiwan fears Donald Trump could weaken US support for the island in return for economic concessions from China. A delayed $14 billion arms package and possible changes in Washington’s language on Taiwan have become central concerns as Trump meets Xi Jinping.
Sanctions, Blockade and Diplomacy: Iran Defies US Pressure
Iran has vowed to resist an expanding US pressure campaign as sanctions, a naval blockade and war strain its economy. Tehran says it will strengthen domestic resilience while keeping diplomacy open, but disputes over trade and the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved.
Trump and Xi Prepare for High-Stakes Washington Talks
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are preparing for high-level talks in Washington focused on trade, rare-earth supplies, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and Iran. The summit follows an agreement to extend a tariff truce, but expectations of a major breakthrough remain limited.
Trump and Delcy Rodríguez Meet as US–Venezuela Relations Enter New Phase
Donald Trump has met Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, for the first time since Nicolás Maduro’s capture. The encounter signals a thaw centred on oil and reconstruction, while questions over Venezuela’s political future remain unresolved.
Texas Hanuman Statue Targeted Again as Anti-Hindu Rhetoric Intensifies
A MAGA activist’s call to tear down the 90-foot Hanuman statue at a temple in Sugar Land, Texas, has triggered accusations of religious intolerance. Hindu Americans stress that the monument stands on private temple property and is protected by the religious freedom guaranteed to every faith.
South Korea’s Lee Proposes Sanctions Relief for North Korean Nuclear Freeze
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged sanctions relief for North Korea in return for a freeze on its expanding nuclear and missile programmes. His phased proposal replaces an immediate denuclearisation demand with a sequence of stopping, reducing and eventually dismantling the arsenal.
Trump Reportedly Halted US Strikes on Houthis at the Last Minute
Donald Trump reportedly halted planned US strikes on Yemen’s Houthis shortly before launch, despite Saudi requests for military support. The decision avoided an immediate expansion of the conflict but left Riyadh confronting renewed Houthi attacks and advances without direct American intervention.
Greenland Deal Gives US Two Additional Arctic Military Sites
The United States plans to establish two additional military sites in Greenland, expanding its Arctic footprint after months of pressure over the territory. The agreement gives Washington greater strategic access to the increasingly contested region.
US Prepares Sweeping Sanctions Targeting International Criminal Court
The United States is preparing sweeping sanctions against the International Criminal Court, potentially targeting the institution itself. The measures could disrupt its banking, payroll and technology services as Washington presses it to abandon cases involving American and Israeli officials.
Trump Unveils ‘AI Force’ and New AI Czar, Rejecting Calls to Slow Development
Donald Trump has announced plans for a new “AI Force” and AI czar, comparing the initiative to Space Force while rejecting calls to slow artificial intelligence development. The White House has not yet explained the new body’s structure, powers or whether it will be civilian or military.
On France’s Tiny Atlantic Outpost, Macron and Carney Make a Bigger Point
France’s Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Mark Carney are meeting in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory just off Canada’s coast. The summit will focus on defence, energy and technology, but its location gives it added weight amid mounting tensions with Washington.