Industry Minister Lutnick vowed to fix the US visa issue for Korean workers at Hyundai plants in the US. According to a report, Hyundai should have contacted Lutnick for visas instead of its workers obtaining "wrong" visas.
The European mission to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine would require significant logistical support, including fuel and water tankers, camouflage nets, heaters for troop tents, and other essential items. The lack of these smaller items would be apparent in the field, as US President Donald Trump's plan does not call for abandoning Europe. The European tripwire and OAR would provide time and space to deploy forces needed to face a Russian attack. The US can provide significant enablers outside of Ukraine, including command and control, logistics, in-theater air transport, and other assets. Delivering long-range air defense, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance reports would be valuable, regardless of the location. The US has a history of supporting allies with requests for additional support, as seen in the 2006 NATO-Afghanistan agreement.
Former Senior Diplomat Mahesh Sachdev has shared his insights on the one-day talks between US trade negotiator Brendan Lynch and India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal. The discussions were described as "positive and forward-looking".
The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road kicked off in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with over 200 foreign representatives from 87 countries and 165 media outlets attending. Participants highlighted the significant achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since its proposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, recognizing it as a widely embraced global public good. Pavel Negoitsa, general director of Russia's Rossiyskaya Gazeta, emphasized the BRI's support from over 100 countries and international organizations. Ben Chacko, editor of the UK's Morning Star, praised the forum as a highly multicultural and open-minded international event centered on peace and cooperative exchange. Hani Wafa, editor-in-chief of Al Riyadh Newspaper, stressed the importance of responsible media coverage in promoting the BRI's humanistic and economic benefits. Media representatives pledged to deepen collaboration by embracing the Spirit of the Silk Road, documenting and narrating the BRI's practical outcomes, and advancing cross-cultural understanding through quality journalism.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed readiness to meet with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but only in a location other than Moscow. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Putin suggested that Moscow would be an ideal venue for a possible meeting with Zelensky. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia was prepared to guarantee the safety of Zelensky and Kiev's representatives if they attended. However, Ryabkov noted that it was too early to discuss a trilateral summit between Russia, Ukraine, and the US until Kiev reacts sensibly to Russia's proposals.
US and China trade talks continue through Wednesday, with two key issues on the agenda: President Trump's threat of steep tariffs on Chinese imports and Washington's demand that TikTok be sold to a non-Chinese owner or face a US ban by September 17. Trump has threatened new tariffs on countries that "attack" American tech companies, citing digital taxes as a threat to US interests. This comes after China's anti-monopoly laws were cited by Trump as an example of the country's unfair trade practices.
Albania has opened four new chapters in its EU accession negotiations, specifically Cluster 4: "Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity". The new chapters include Transport Policy (Chapter 14), Energy (Chapter 15), Trans-European Networks (Chapter 21), and Environment and Climate Change (Chapter 27). This move follows the EU's first intergovernmental conference with Albania in July 2022, and comes as Prime Minister Edi Rama aims to conclude EU accession negotiations by the end of 2027.
The US and UK have agreed to develop the world's first micro modular nuclear power plant, with Amazon and Google signing deals to build small modular reactors in the US. The partnership aims to make nuclear energy more accessible and affordable, with President Trump's leadership playing a key role in the "nuclear renaissance". US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright sees this as an opportunity to meet rising energy demand and fuel the AI revolution.
The Australian government has unveiled a two-year plan, the Accessing New Markets Initiative, to boost exports to China. The initiative will provide A$50 million in funding and builds on the removal of Chinese trade barriers affecting A$20 billion worth of Australian goods. The plan aims to improve domestic exporters' access to the Chinese market, following Beijing's recent scrapping of several trade restrictions affecting Australian products. The initiative will focus on industries such as red meat, lobsters, and wine, which have seen increased access to the Chinese market due to improved relations between the two countries.