EU Pushes Humanitarian Access in M23-Controlled Goma in DR Congo

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EU Demands U.S. Honor Trade Deal After Tariff Ruling

The European Commission warned Washington that it will not accept any tariff increases beyond last year’s agreed ceiling, insisting that “a deal is a deal.”

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EU's Kaja Kallas on Iran:

We don't need another war in this region. We already have a lot.

It is true that Iran is at its weakest point that they have been. We should be really using this time to find a diplomatic solution.

U.S. forces have reportedly begun withdrawing from the Qasrak base in Syria’s Hasakah province and redeploying to Iraq.

The move is part of a broader drawdown of U.S.-led coalition troops.

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski:

I would have expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine.

And instead, with the help of state propaganda...the ruling party managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression.

And now it's trying to exploit that in the general election. It's quite shocking.

Zelensky: The U.S. continues to provide vital intelligence support to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President rejected any blame toward Washington, while highlighting battlefield gains and mounting Russian losses.

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China’s Commerce Ministry said it is assessing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump tariffs, amid Trump's announcement of a 10% tariff, later raised to 15%.

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Rob Jetten became the Netherlands’ youngest Prime Minister on Monday after his minority government was confirmed by King Willem-Alexander.

The 38-year-old leader of the pro-EU D66 party won a surprise election victory last October, promising to move on from the divisive era of Geert Wilders.

However, his centre-right coalition lacks a parliamentary majority and will need opposition support to pass legislation.

Pete Hegseth has summoned Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, to the Pentagon over military use of the AI model Claude.

Claude is the only AI approved for classified military systems. The Pentagon wants full access for all lawful uses, but Anthropic refuses to remove safeguards on mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

Officials say talks have stalled and are threatening to label Anthropic a “supply chain risk,” potentially canceling contracts and forcing partners to stop using Claude.

Source: Axios

Ukraine’s total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below 1.0, meaning on average Ukrainian women are having fewer than one child in their lifetime.

This is extremely low, among the lowest in the world, and is part of a major demographic crisis worsened by nearly four years of war.

Births are far outnumbered by deaths, accelerating population loss.

“It’s a catastrophe,” said leading demographer Ella Libanova.

“No country can exist without people.”

Up to 10 million people lost since 2022 (killed, displaced, or living under occupation).

Estimated 100,000–140,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed.

6 million refugees, mostly women and children, still abroad.

Ukraine is becoming a “country of widows and orphans.”

59,000 children are now living without biological parents.

Source: CNN

NEW: Indian Embassy in Tehran issued an urgent advisory telling all Indian nationals in Iran — including students, pilgrims, tourists, and businesspeople — to leave immediately by any available transport.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki proposed a law that would jail public officials for up to 10 years if they “persistently question” his powers or the legitimacy of courts and judges appointed under the previous PiS government.

Judges who refuse to recognize PiS-era appointees could also be removed from office.

The government has condemned the proposal as “autocratic,” saying it would undermine judicial independence and potentially put Poland on a collision course with the EU.

The bill is unlikely to pass under the current parliamentary majority but signals Nawrocki’s agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.

Source: NotesFromPoland

Zelensky on Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus:

NATO should consider it a legitimate target.

Lukashenko is making a serious mistake. He is playing with something far bigger than himself.

They are trying to scare Europe.

We have no choice if our civilians are being attacked.

Zelensky:

Lukashenko called me and apologized.

He was very afraid that we would strike back. He himself said:

‘Well, go ahead, strike the refinery in Mozyr if you want,’ because he did not know what we were capable of doing at that moment.

We discussed responding. Many in my team wanted to respond.

But Putin was waiting for that. He wanted us to strike Belarus so that Belarusian forces could enter the war from that direction.

Even if their forces were not large, it would have forced us to divert troops and weaken our eastern front.

We understood this trap.

Another very normal post from Trump on Truth Social.

NEW: Lebanese channel LBCI reports dozens of U.S. Embassy staff were evacuated from Lebanon via Beirut airport as a precautionary measure amid fears of regional escalation.

Trump posts about the Supreme Court and tariffs.

French President Macron:

We must work toward a total ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports.

We need the highest level of coordination against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

Finnish President Stubb:

You, Emmanuel, have long pushed the idea of European strategic autonomy. Now we see why.

Europe is never perfect — but it advances.

We usually move forward in three phases: first crisis, then chaos, and finally a sub-optimal solution — but it is still Europe.

Democrats’ secret 2024 election review found that the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza War cost Kamala Harris support.

Top Democratic National Committee officials concluded the issue was a “net negative,” particularly among young voters and progressives critical of U.S. backing of Israel.

Source: Axios

President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock:

How is it that in 80 years a woman has never served as Secretary-General?