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The United States said it reached a tariff agreement with Taiwan that includes lower duties and major new investment pledges from Taiwanese technology firms, as European NATO allies deployed limited forces to Greenland amid renewed US claims over the territory.

In the Gulf, regional allies urged restraint as the US weighed potential action against Iran, with naval movements, sanctions announcements, and assessments from US officials underscoring the risk of wider escalation.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇹🇼 US–Taiwan tariff deal boosts chip investment: The US said it reached an agreement with Taiwan to cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15%, including caps on sector-specific duties, while Taiwanese semiconductor and technology firms pledged at least $250bn in new US investments with additional credit guarantees. The deal follows months of negotiations and includes more favorable treatment on future semiconductor duties.

2️⃣ 🇬🇱🇪🇺🇺🇸 European troops deploy to Greenland amid US claims: European Nato allies including France, Germany, the UK and Nordic states deployed small numbers of personnel to Greenland for Danish-led joint exercises described as a limited reconnaissance mission. The deployment comes as President Trump reiterated the US needs Greenland for national security, while European leaders rejected annexation and warned of political consequences.

3️⃣ 🇺🇬🗳️ Votes counted amid Uganda election disruption: Votes are being counted in Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections amid an internet shutdown, long delays caused by malfunctioning biometric machines, and opposition allegations of ballot-stuffing and removal of polling agents. The electoral commission acknowledged technical problems and extended voting, while results are due by Saturday.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇻🇪 US seizes sixth Venezuela-linked oil tanker: The US seized a sixth Venezuela-linked oil tanker, the Veronica, in a pre-dawn operation carried out without incident as Washington enforces a quarantine on sanctioned vessels exporting Venezuelan oil. The seizure comes amid sharply reduced exports and ahead of President Trump’s meeting with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

5️⃣ 🇷🇺 Kremlin backs Trump on Ukraine talks: The Kremlin said it agrees with President Trump’s claim that Ukraine is obstructing a peace deal, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov endorsing Trump’s view that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is holding up negotiations. European leaders rejected the assessment, accused Russia of delaying talks, and Putin reiterated demands for security guarantees.

Major Story

🇮🇷🇺🇸 Gulf allies urge restraint as US weighs Iran strike

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Oman warned President Donald Trump against launching airstrikes on Iran, citing fears that a US attack could trigger a wider regional conflict, and their lobbying appeared to contribute to Trump holding off on military action for now. Saudi Arabia denied the US use of its airspace, while Gulf and Turkish officials continued diplomatic contacts with both Washington and Tehran amid heightened tensions. 

As threats from Iran mounted, the US withdrew key personnel from the al-Udeid airbase in Qatar and announced the movement of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group from the South China Sea toward the Middle East. US officials said Trump is continuing to monitor the situation, having been advised that large-scale strikes may not topple Iran’s leadership and could escalate the conflict, while sanctions were announced targeting figures linked to Iran’s protest crackdown. Information on casualties and internal conditions in Iran remains unclear due to internet restrictions and limited independent verification.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇨🇦🇨🇳 Canada hails reset with China during Beijing visit: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada and China are entering a new era of relations during his first visit to Beijing in eight years, with both sides welcoming renewed engagement on economic, energy, financial and security issues. The visit comes as Canada seeks to diversify trade away from the US amid higher American tariffs.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱🇱🇧 Lebanese fear Israeli escalation after US signals: Lebanon is facing rising anxiety over renewed Israeli military escalation as Israel carries out frequent strikes despite a ceasefire, with the UN citing thousands of violations and widespread displacement continuing. Fears deepened after reports that President Trump gave Prime Minister Netanyahu approval to intensify action against Hezbollah, though the level of US authorization remains unclear.

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