Trump’s stance on Ukraine. NATO agreed yesterday to expand its ground-based air defense capabilities five-fold, Bloomberg reported. The move came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was at the White House seeking a more active U.S. role in pressuring Russia toward peace in Ukraine. After months of pushing for peace talks, Trump yesterday compared the war to a children’s brawl, saying it is sometimes better to let children “fight for a while” before “pulling them apart.”
Sanctions on ICC judges. Washington announced sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges yesterday, calling recent ICC investigations of Israel’s war conduct in Gaza and the United States’ war conduct in Afghanistan “illegitimate.” The court condemned the sanctions, which it called “a clear attempt to undermine” its independence.
Pyongyang-Moscow bond. North Korea will “unconditionally support” Russia’s war against Ukraine, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged during a meeting with Russia’s security council secretary in Pyongyang. Both countries acknowledged in April that North Korean troops had been deployed to participate in Russia's war in Ukraine; last October the Pentagon estimated they numbered around ten thousand.
India’s rare earth approach. New Delhi is holding talks with companies about creating a long-term reserve of rare earth magnets and is considering tax breaks for firms that produce the magnets domestically, unnamed sources told Reuters. If successful, the stockpile would reduce India’s reliance on China. India’s heavy industry ministry did not comment.
Israel backs armed Gaza groups. Israel has “activated” some groups inside of Gaza to oppose Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday after the news was leaked by a political opponent. Unnamed Israeli officials told Ynet that one such militia is run by local clan leader Yasser Abu Shabab; some Palestinians have accused the group of looting aid in the past. In recent weeks, Abu Shabab’s group said it was protecting aid shipments.
Ghana supports Western Sahara plan. Ghana yesterday became the latest country to endorse Morocco’s plan to settle the disputed status of the Western Sahara region, where Algeria-backed separatists seek independence. The plan—which is backed by Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States—would allow Morocco to maintain sovereignty over the region but give it greater autonomy.
Coal power in China. China approved more coal power plant capacity in the first quarter of 2025 than it did in the first half of 2024, according to a new Greenpeace report. The uptick threatens China’s recent progress toward green energy; 2024 saw Beijing’s new coal approvals decline on a year-on-year basis. China has set a 2030 target for its carbon emissions to peak.
Responses to U.S. migration curbs. The African Union urged dialogue and called for the United States to protect its borders in a way that is “balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the longstanding partnership between the United States and Africa” after Trump announced a travel ban Wednesday night affecting multiple African countries. Trump simultaneously announced a ban on entry for Harvard University international students, but a judge temporarily blocked it yesterday.
