Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China’s ‘intensifying’ threats

Thai pork producers are expressing concerns over the potential influx of inexpensive US pork imports as the United States seeks duty-free access to Thailand's $3 billion pork market. This development comes amid ongoing trade negotiations and reflects the competitive pressures that local producers may face.

President Donald Trump has revoked South Africa's invitation to the upcoming G20 summit, citing allegations of human rights abuses against the Afrikaner community. This decision follows Trump's repeated claims of a supposed genocide against white South Africans, which have been widely criticized as unfounded.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to travel to Washington next week, indicating a lack of urgency to resume stalled trade talks with the United States. This visit comes amid ongoing trade tensions that have affected various sectors, including lumber and steel.

A Georgia judge has dismissed the last remaining criminal case against Donald Trump, which accused him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. This ruling effectively closes a significant chapter in the legal challenges Trump faced following the election, as prosecutors argued that the investigation should have been handled at the federal level.

U.S. diplomatic efforts are intensifying to negotiate an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with discussions involving a revised peace plan initially drafted during the Trump administration. Recent meetings have included U.S. officials and a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, following significant amendments made by Ukrainian representatives to the proposed deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an exclusive interview that Iran remains open to negotiations with the US regarding its nuclear program, despite claiming that the US is not eager for talks. He also mentioned an imminent exchange of French prisoners for an Iranian citizen within the next couple of months and asserted Iran's perceived victory in the recent conflict with Israel.

EU's foreign policy chief, Kallas, stated that Russian President Putin is seeking to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, acknowledging that victory on the battlefield is unattainable. This comes amid a push from the US to facilitate peace talks, highlighting the ongoing conflict's complexity and the need for diplomatic solutions.

Negotiations for a revised peace plan between Russia and Ukraine are advancing, with a new proposal drafted by officials from Ukraine, Europe, and the US. This updated plan reportedly drops some of the Kremlin's more extreme demands, although Moscow has not yet responded officially.