Call to evacuate Tehran. Thousands of people began fleeing Tehran yesterday after Israel’s military issued evacuation orders for three hundred thousand residents and Trump posted on social media that “everyone” should leave the city of nearly ten million people. Meanwhile, a U.S. aircraft carrier group began moving from Asia to the Middle East. Trump told reporters yesterday that he was seeking something “better than a ceasefire,” while still voicing openness to talks with Iranian leaders. Iran has been sending messages to the United States seeking de-escalation, unnamed European and Middle Eastern sources told the Wall Street Journal.
Overnight attack on Kyiv. The deadliest Russian strikes on Kyiv in months killed at least fifteen people and wounded more than one hundred others, Ukrainian officials said. They came after Russia and Ukraine completed a deal yesterday to exchange bodies of soldiers killed during the war, with Ukraine reporting that it received a total of 6,057 bodies and Russia saying it received 78. Separately, Russia’s foreign ministry said that Washington had canceled an upcoming round of U.S.-Russia talks on improving relations, without giving a reason why.
North Korea-Russia talks. Russian Security Council head Sergei Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang today for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about implementing security agreements reached earlier this month, Russian state media reported. It is Shoigu’s second trip to the country in less than two weeks. Shoigu and Kim both reportedly said that bilateral ties were getting stronger; North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to a UN report.
Hurdles for U.S. battery industry. Higher trade barriers between the United States and China have contributed to a slowdown in the U.S. battery industry boom, the New York Times reported. So too have concerns about a bill that would cut subsidies for firms that use Chinese parts, which many U.S. battery plants rely on. This month, batterymaker AESC paused construction on a $1.6 billion electric vehicle battery plant, citing “policy and market uncertainty.”
Dozens killed in southern Gaza. At least fifty-one Palestinians were killed while waiting for food trucks to enter the territory today, Gaza’s health ministry and a local hospital said. Israel’s military said it was investigating what happened and “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals.” It comes after Israeli fire killed at least thirty Palestinians yesterday in the vicinity of aid distribution sites run by U.S. contractors, according to Gaza’s health ministry. In those incidents, Israel’s military told the BBC it had fired warning shots at people who were approaching and posed a threat.
Global foreign investment flows. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into developing countries fell to $435 billion in 2023, the lowest since 2005, the World Bank said in a new report yesterday. FDI to wealthy countries was also at its lowest since 1996. The bank cited factors including new trade barriers and geopolitical fragmentation, with its deputy chief economist saying the drop in investments to poorer countries should “ring alarm bells” given their development needs.
Uganda’s military courts. President Yoweri Museveni signed a law yesterday that allows civilians to be tried in military courts. The Supreme Court blocked a previous version of the proposal in January, and Uganda’s opposition maintains the new law still violates the court’s ruling. The opposition has for years said the Museveni administration uses military trials to target political opponents.
New Zealand PM in China. Christopher Luxon today begins his first trip to China since becoming New Zealand’s prime minister in 2023. Wellington has in recent years taken a more conciliatory approach toward Beijing than the other members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group, while also voicing concerns on issues like human rights. Luxon described the bilateral relationship as “complex” but “mature.” He is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
