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PaperclipPerfector  13hr ago (text post)   196 thread views

Transnational Thursday for May 15, 2025

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Some headlines below for your consideration, focused on risks. The high level overview is that Trump's Middle East trip is going well, India/Pakistan situation not that worrying. I was also surprised that the PKK announced its disbandment. Generally things seem less tense than a couple weeks ago.

Satellite images show Russian military buildup near Finnish border

Cotton Introduces Bill to Prevent Diversion of Advanced Chips to America’s Adversaries and Protect U.S. Product Integrity

Kurdish militant group, PKK decides to disband and end armed struggle with Turkiye

On May 14, a formation of Chinese Coast Guard vessels patrolled the territorial waters around my Diaoyu Islands.

PM Modi outlines harder stance against terrorists. Says that any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and decisive response; that India will not tolerate "nuclear blackmail" and will respond with precise strikes; that there will be no distinction between terrorist groups and their sponsors

Türkiye Says It Is Closely Monitoring PKK Disbandment to Secure Peace

Did Pakistan agree to ceasefire after IAF bombed nuclear assets in Kairana Hills? Did it cause leak of radiation?

Iran 'ready to make nuclear concessions'

Amazon will work with AI company recently launched by Saudi Arabia’s ruler to invest upwards of $5 billion-plus in building an AI Zone in Saudi Arabia

Genocide in Syria: Jihadists Massacre Druze, Christians, 'Infidels'

Nvidia sending 18,000 of its top AI chips to Saudi Arabia

Trump, Saudis secure $600B investment deal to include billions in US defense weapons

Similar to a 600B number earlier this year

Taiwan military conducts its first live-fire test of American-made HIMARS, military expert says: its survivability is very fragile.

Nigerian state, Borno, with 6M people, bans the sale of petrol in order to reduce the mobility of jihadist militants

EU finalizes 17th sanctions package targeting Russia's shadow fleet and defense sector

German police arrest three men over alleged Russian parcel bomb plot

Inside Putin's New Kill Squad: Russian Dictator Launches 'KGB 2.0'

Amid beating from India, Baloch rebels also claim 71 attacks on Pakistani forces

No radiation leak from any nuclear facility in Pakistan, says IAEA amid buzz after Indian claims

Macron open to deploying French nuclear weapons in Europe

Estonia tried to detain vessel from Russia's shadow fleeet, did not succeed

No radiation leak from any nuclear facility in Pakistan, says IAEA amid buzz after Indian claims

Addressing a press conference, Air Marshal AK Bharti said that Indian forces did not know about the site. He said, "We did not hit Kirana hills, whatever is there."

During a press briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about social media buzz on ‘nuclear leakage’ in Pakistan after the Indian strikes.

“…Those are questions for them (Pakistan) to answer, not for us. Our position was made very clear during the defence briefing. As for your question, the Pakistani minister has already made some remarks on that,” he said.

India explicitly denied hitting nuclear facilities. The buzz was manufactured by media/social-media accounts.

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