Politics

Israel’s government has formally approved the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes legalizing a number of previously unauthorized outposts. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent ultra-nationalist and vocal proponent of annexationist policies, announced the decision on Thursday. He stated that the new developments will be concentrated in the northern West Bank, though specific locations have not been publicly disclosed.

Global equity markets delivered a mixed performance on Wednesday following signs of waning demand for long-dated Japanese government bonds (JGBs). Investors around the world are grappling with persistent concerns over mounting sovereign debt and the gradual withdrawal of central bank support. While major European indices eked out modest gains, U.S. futures showed slight declines ahead of key economic data and corporate earnings. Meanwhile, Asian shares closed mostly lower, reflecting the impact of Japan’s under-subscribed bond sale and broader anxieties over global yield pressures.

Samoa’s first female prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, has conceded defeat after her government failed to secure approval for the national budget in parliament, triggering an early election. On Tuesday morning in Apia, lawmakers voted 34–16 against the proposed 2025–26 appropriation, effectively bringing Fiame’s administration to an abrupt end. The vote follows months of political infighting within her ruling FAST Party and marks the first time a Samoan government’s term has been cut short by a failed budget.

In the opening days of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, tech titan Elon Musk emerged as an unlikely fixture at the heart of American politics. Traveling from SpaceX launches to Mar-a-Lago, Musk lent his star power—and tens of millions of dollars—to Trump’s agenda, spearheading a high-profile “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) and promising sweeping cuts to the federal bureaucracy. Six months later, however, Musk’s political profile has dimmed. Mentions of his name have disappeared from Truth Social, funding appeals no longer invoke his endorsement, and even Republican strategists publicly urge him to refocus on his business empire. What happened to the world’s richest man in Trump’s inner circle, and what does his political drift mean for the administration—and for Musk himself?

CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine — In a rare sign of cooperation following the first direct peace negotiations in over three years, Ukraine and Russia initiated a large-scale exchange of prisoners on Friday at the Belarus border crossing in northern Ukraine. The swap, which involves 1,000 detainees from each side, was agreed in principle during the brief Istanbul talks last week.

In the intricate realm of diplomacy, success often hinges not on the might of armies or the depth of treasuries, but on the subtleties of conversation. A century ago, diplomats relied on formal communiqués and treaties; today, they must master the art of persuasion, nuance and—perhaps above all—respect. As former Australian diplomat Mark Pierce argues in a recent reflection, understanding how different nations interpret and reciprocate respect can mean the difference between forging alliances or sowing contempt.

Geneva—After three years of intense negotiations, the World Health Assembly in Geneva has adopted a legally binding “pandemic agreement” aimed at ensuring the world is better prepared for—and protected from—future disease outbreaks. Touted by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as “a gift to the world,” the accord establishes key mechanisms for equitable vaccine allocation, transparent information sharing and coordinated research during pandemics. However, the absence of the United States—the WHO’s largest traditional donor—has raised questions about the treaty’s ultimate effectiveness.

In the wake of a U.S.-brokered declaration of principles signed in Washington on April 25, optimism abounds that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda will finally bring stability to the war-torn Great Lakes region. The accord, spearheaded by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, simultaneously underscores America’s pivot from oil to critical minerals as the linchpin of its foreign policy. Yet analysts and historians caution that without a broader vision encompassing governance reforms, economic diversification and true partnership, this “minerals for peace” initiative risks repeating the transactional mistakes of past decades.