U.K. police confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a British couple is in critical condition after having been exposed to the nerve agent Novichock — the same used on a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter in the U.K. in March, reports the AP.
Bottom line: It is unclear whether this instance is related to the poisoning of Skripal, which was blamed on the Russian government. However, both incidents occurred near Salisbury, England, just miles apart.
President Trump’s every-man-for-himself foreign policy resembles the world of the 1930s, when Europe was dominated by populist and nationalistic politics and veering toward a catastrophic war, according to the co-author of a new book on geopolitics.
Why it matters: With his assault on institutions, set up seven decades ago to soften the frictions that led to World War II, Trump risks re-igniting the emotions that put nations at each other's throats, says Ivo Daalder, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Israel and the United States formed a joint working group a few months ago that is focused on internal efforts to encourage protests within Iran and pressure the country's government.
Why it matters: The Obama administration almost completely refused to discuss any potential efforts for stirring unrest or encouraging protest inside Iran with Israel due to its efforts to complete the Iran nuclear deal. The joint team is a major example of the Trump administration's policy shift in the region.
President Trump told reporters last week that he would “have to see” if the U.S. would change its policy on recognizing Russian occupation of Crimea, implying that the issue would be on the table when he meets President Putin later this month. But Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, said Crimea was not on the agenda for the summit because the peninsula, which Russia took by force in 2014, is already an “inseparable part of Russia.”
Be smart: The truth is that a 180º shift in U.S. policy on nonrecognition of Crimea is exactly what the Kremlin wants. It would give Putin a big win at home and abroad while setting a precedent for future land grabs by Russia, China and others.
President Trump credited himself for preventing a war between the United States and North Korea in a Tuesday morning tweet, stating that "only the Opposition Party, which includes the Fake News, is complaining" about the current state of affairs.
Why it matters: The U.S. has more gun deaths per day than any other rich nation in the world. China's tourists spend $261 billion annually, according to the report, and the U.S. could lose a slice of that pie if tourism is to dip on such fears.
