Introduction On April 17, 2025, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni became the first European leader to meet face-to-face with U.S. President Donald Trump since his administration announced—and then partially suspended—a sweeping 20% tariff on European exports. The meeting, held at the White House, comes at a critical
Introduction The nuclear standoff between Iran and the United States has reached a pivotal juncture. On April 17, 2025, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), described the ongoing negotiations as being at a “very crucial” stage during a visit to Tehran. The next round of
Introduction U.S. stock markets experienced a sharp sell-off on Thursday, April 17, 2025, as a confluence of political and economic shocks rattled investor confidence. President Donald Trump’s public demand for the dismissal of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, combined with sweeping new restrictions on U.S. technology exports
Introduction Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a stark warning in a closely watched speech at the Economic Club of Chicago, cautioning that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff hikes are “significantly larger than anticipated” and will likely result in higher inflation and slower economic growth. Powell’s remarks, which
Introduction Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia—most recently marked by his high-profile visit to Malaysia—signals a pivotal moment in China’s regional strategy. As the United States escalates tariffs and pushes for economic “decoupling,” Beijing is intensifying outreach to ASEAN countries and Vietnam,
Introduction In a significant legal confrontation between the judiciary and the Trump administration, a federal judge has found probable cause to hold the administration in criminal contempt for willfully defying court orders related to the deportation of migrants under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act. The case centers on the
Introduction On April 15, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a comprehensive executive order aimed at reducing health care costs for Americans, with a central focus on lowering prescription drug prices, increasing transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain, and reforming Medicare payment structures[1][2][3]. The order builds on Trump’
Global Affairs
Global Affairs
Introduction Israeli military operations in Gaza have escalated sharply in recent days, with at least 13 Palestinians killed since dawn and hospitals facing catastrophic shortages amid ongoing bombardment and a near-total blockade on supplies. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, with widespread starvation, mass displacement, and overwhelmed medical facilities as Israel
Global Affairs
Introduction On April 15, 2025, the United States deployed B-1B Lancer long-range bombers in a high-profile joint aerial drill with South Korea, coinciding with North Korea’s most important national holiday—the 113th birthday of its founder, Kim Il Sung. The exercise, which also involved South Korean F-35A stealth fighters,
Global Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Introduction The United States is on the verge of imposing sweeping new tariffs on imported semiconductors, manufacturing equipment, and pharmaceuticals, signaling a major escalation in the Trump administration’s trade and industrial policy. This move comes amid persistent volatility in the bond market, rising Treasury yields, and mounting fears of
Domestic Affairs
Introduction In a dramatic escalation of federal border enforcement, the Trump administration has initiated steps to place a federal buffer zone along the U.S.-Mexico border—known as the Roosevelt Reservation—under direct military jurisdiction. This move, formalized in a presidential memorandum, would allow the U.S. Army to
Domestic Affairs
Domestic Affairs
Global Affairs
Global Affairs
Global Affairs
Introduction On April 11, 2025, Estonian authorities detained the oil tanker Kiwala in the Gulf of Finland, marking the first time Estonia has seized a vessel linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The Kiwala, sanctioned by the EU, UK, Canada, and Switzerland, was found to be stateless and in