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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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Japan PM vows defense shakeup over China tensions

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked a diplomatic dispute with Beijing last year by saying Tokyo could defend Taiwan if China were to invade.
Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister.Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via Reuters

Trump issues 15-day warning to Iran on nuclear deal

The US president warned that if Iran does not agree to a deal, “it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”
An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of an Iranian missile and Donald Trump, in Tehran. Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters

US ups pressure on Iran with huge air power assembly

Two aircraft carriers and dozens of land-based planes have moved to the Gulf, enough to wage what experts said could be a sustained war against Iran.
A US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters

Germany says France lagging behind on defense spending

Berlin, which greenlit a huge debt-fuelled expansion of its military outlay, said Paris was lagging behind on its commitments. .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, Merz’ adviser for Foreign and Security policy Guenter Sautter and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk attend a joint meeting at the 62nd Munich Security Conference.European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via Reuters.

Russia’s mounting woes as Ukraine makes territorial push

Ukraine has in the past five days made its fastest territorial gains since 2023, according to AFP.
Service members of the 48th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a 2S22 Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops near a front line.Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Reuters

US talks with Iran, Russia appear unlikely to make progress

Discussions resumed this week in Geneva aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear program and finalizing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Voldymyr Zelenskyy. Liesa Johannssen/File Photo/Reuters

US weighs expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal

Within hours of New START lapsing last week, a senior State Department official complained of the pact’s “unacceptable” constraints.

EU planning to expedite Ukraine’s entry into the bloc

Ukraine received EU candidate status in 2022, but progress has been stalled by Hungary.

Macron signals possible resumption of dialogue with Russia

Macron broke off dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin seven months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Iranian FM says nuclear talks with US were ‘good start’

However, Tehran rejected a core US demand to end nuclear enrichment.

Fears mount of global nuclear arms race

The New START treaty between the US and Russia expired, while China said it would not join talks to curb proliferation.

Tensions flare between US, Iran ahead of nuclear talks

An American jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea, and Iranian boats tried to block a US-flagged tanker.

Russian attacks on Ukraine cast doubt on peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the latest strikes showed that Russia does not “take diplomacy seriously.”

Russian strikes on Ukraine contradict Trump’s ceasefire claim

A drone killed 12 mine workers on a bus, while a separate attack hit a maternity hospital, injuring six.

Trump says Russia will pause attacks during cold spell

Temperatures in Ukraine are expected to hit -24°C (-11°F) this weekend; Russian attacks have left millions without heating.

Chinese tourism to Japan plummets following Taiwan spat

Beijing urged its citizens not to travel to Japan after its prime minister said her country may support Taiwan militarily.

Threat of US strike on Iran appears to wane

Officials reportedly advised US President Donald Trump that an attack would be unlikely to topple the government.

Defense stocks surge on rising calls for militarization

Donald Trump’s calls for a more than 50% increase to his country’s military budget have lifted the valuations of domestic arms firms.