👋 ສະບາຍດີ*
Welcome to Monday, where Washington and Beijing agree to cut tariffs for at least three months, Russia launches more drone attacks on Ukraine as Moscow rejects ceasefire offers, and today’s quiz question is about a different kind of marathon record. Meanwhile, Hossam Al-Farran in Beirut-based Daraj tells the story of Lebanese singer-turned radical Fadel Chaker and how his story highlights the country’s broken justice system.
[*Sabaidee – Lao, Laos]
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🗞️ FRONT PAGE
Filipino daily Manila Bulletin lends its frontpage to the country’s midterm elections Monday in what is largely seen as a proxy battle between President Ferdinand Marcos and former Vice President Sara Duterte, who used to be allies. Duterte was impeached in February by the senate for alleged “high crimes,” which include corruption and an assassination plot against the president. A month later, Duterte’s father and former president Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested and flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to answer for alleged crimes against humanity over a war on drugs which is said to have killed thousands. Still, even from behind bars, Duterte father remains widely popular at home and is expected to be reelected as mayor of Davao City for the eighth time. If Sara Duterte fails to attain at least 9 of the 24 votes, she will be publicly barred from public office.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• U.S. and China strike deal to slash tariffs by 115% in bid to end trade war. The United States and China announced a joint agreement Monday to cut tariffs on each other’s goods for 90 days in a major de-escalation of their trade war. Speaking after talks with Chinese officials in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both sides will cut tariffs by 115% from Wednesday. This means U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will decrease from 145% to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods will fall to 10% from 125%. Wall Street stock futures surged and European markets opened on a positive note following the announcement, as the talks boosted hopes a global recession might be avoided.
• Ukraine reports Russian drone attacks after Moscow turns down ceasefire proposal. The Ukrainian air force said on Monday that Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks. This comes after the Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and European leaders over the weekend. Russia hasn’t responded yet to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s challenge to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey later this week.
• Hamas to release U.S.-Israeli hostage, Israel says no ceasefire. Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living captive with U.S. nationality in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said that there would be no ceasefire and that plans for an intensified military campaign would continue. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates starting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Israeli President Issac Herzog will visit Berlin on Monday to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations with Germany, commemorating the beginning of their postwar relationship. For more, check this piece by French analyst Pierre Haski: The Middle East’s Endless Wars — Israel Sees An Opportunity.
• Kurdish PKK militants announce decision to dissolve and end Turkey insurgency. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced the historic decision Monday to disband and disarm, according to media close to the militant separatist group, ending 40 years of armed conflict with the Turkish state. The group said in a statement the “practical process” of dissolution would be managed by their imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who had urged his fighters to disarm and disband in February. The PKK’s original claim was to carve out a homeland for Kurds, but in recent years, the group has called for more autonomy within Turkey instead.
• Military officials of India, Pakistan to speak as ceasefire holds. Top military officials from India and Pakistan are due to speak Monday to discuss the next steps of the ceasefire agreed between both countries over the weekend. There were no reports of explosions or projectiles overnight, after some initial ceasefire violations and nearly four days of intense shelling and aerial incursions from both sides. U.S. President Donald Trump had announced the ceasefire on Saturday.
• Pope Leo XIV starts first week with international press meeting. Pope Leo XIV’s first week as leader of the world’s Roman Catholics began with his first press conference at the Vatican on Monday. The pontiff, who was elected by the Vatican conclave on May 8, will hold his inauguration mass on Sunday, May 18. Read more in this article from La Stampa translated by Worldcrunch: Leo XIV’s Conclave: The Inside Story Of How An American Emerged, And The Italians Folded.
• News Quiz! A 37-year-old Frenchman set a new world record by completing a marathon while wearing what?
A. A three-piece suit
B. Pyjamas
C. An inflatable sumo costume
D. A wedding dress
[Answer below]
💬 LEXICON
Gulf of Arabia
According to the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or the “Gulf of Arabia” during his three-day trip to the Middle East, where he lands Tuesday. While Trump told reporters “I’ll have to make a decision. I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings,” the suggestion has sparked widespread anger in Iran, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying: “The name is woven into our history, our poetry, our very soul,” and altering it would “bring the wrath of all Iranians.” This controversy comes on the heels of another naming dispute earlier this year, with Trump rebranding the Gulf of Mexico into “Gulf of America”: Read more about it here.
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
🇮🇷 Despite widespread discontent at home, Iran’s regime is likely to survive for the foreseeable future — in part, because Western powers prefer maintaining the regional status quo to the unknown.
— KAYHAN-LONDON
⚖️ Lebanese singer-turned radical Fadel Chaker was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in deadly clashes in 2013. Yet his story reflects the contradictions of Lebanon and the tragedy of its broken justice system.
— DARAJ
🌱 In Western Sahara, a small green revolution is being led by women in the harshest of conditions. Their goal: to build a network of gardens in the desert.
— LA MAREA
📣 VERBATIM
“I will be waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally.”
— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken to X to express his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday, and work toward a full ceasefire. His announcement follows Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to accept Russia’s offer of direct talks as well as European leaders pushing for a 30-day pause in fighting during a summit in Kyiv on Saturday. Zelensky had previously said his country would only agree to open direct negotiations with Russia once a ceasefire was in place.
Let us know what’s happening in your corner of the world!
✍️ Newsletter by Anne-Sophie Goninet, Bertrand Hauger & Cecilia Laurent Monpetit
Quiz Answer: B. Emmanuel Bonnier has beaten an unexpected world record over the weekend after he finished a marathon wearing pyjamas in the French city of Saumur. He beat the previous record held by a British man by more than 4 minutes. It’s not the first time the 37-year-old has taken up such a challenge as he held the record for a marathon run in a three-piece suit in 2023 — but Bonnier lost his crown two weeks ago at the London marathon.
