‼️Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof is staring down a no-confidence vote today that could force his entire cabinet to resign.
➡️ His fragile government was gutted Friday when the New Social Contract party quit over disagreements on taking a tougher stance against Israel’s war in Gaza. ➡️ The NSC supported stronger measures, while the rest of the cabinet - including Schoof - refused to take that line. ➡️ Now left with just 32 of 150 seats, Schoof’s survival hinges on backing from opposition parties - many of whom are making demands he can't meet. ➡️ A collapse would plunge the Netherlands into uncharted political chaos, just months before a scheduled October election. Source: Bloomberg
⚠️ US slaps India with 50% tariffs
➡️ FT: "The US has slapped punitive tariffs on India over its purchases of discounted Russian oil, dealing a blow to the world’s fastest growing large economy and deepening a rift between Washington and New Delhi. The 25 per cent levy — which came on top of a 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariff — took effect at 12.01am US eastern time on Wednesday and raised rates on India to among the highest rates in the world. President Donald Trump’s announcement this month that the US would double its tariff rate on India marked a sudden escalation of tensions, following the sides' failure to reach a breakthrough in trade talks. Negotiators had initially targeted the first stage of a trade deal by early summer". Source chart: Bloomberg
➡️ Trump administration military leaders are “thinking about” whether the U.S. should acquire equity stakes in top defense contractors, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.
➡️ Lockheed Martin, which makes most of its revenue from federal contracts, is “basically an arm of the U.S. government,” he said. ➡️ Lutnick’s remarks on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” came days after the U.S. government acquired 10% of Intel stock in a roughly $9 billion deal. Source: CNBC
And suddendly, EU exports to Kyrgystan exploded...
What happened? Source: Robin Brooks
So now Europe is supposed to pay for Ukraine ?
Not a big surprise to see EU defense stocks plummeting today... Source: FT
Trump said on social media this evening that after the meeting with Zelenskyy and other European leaders today, there are initial plans for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
"I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," Trump wrote on Truth Social. A trilateral meeting that would include Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin would follow the meeting between Ukraine and Russia, Trump added. He did not provide any details about timing or location. He said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Source: NBC
Trump with European leaders sitting around his desk is the best photo of 2025.
Source: Mike Crispi @MikeCrispi
Citizenship: Land vs. Blood
This map shows most of the world ties citizenship to bloodline, locking millions out unless their parents qualify. Only a handful of countries offer citizenship by birthplace, instantly granting nationality to anyone born on their soil. Source: @TheRabbitHole84 thru Mario Nawfal
