“Apple has announced a new iPhone which brings artificial intelligence (AI) features at a lower cost than its flagship handsets. The iPhone 16e has the same processor as the larger iPhone 16, Apple said, with similar storage options, though a lower spec elsewhere, including fewer cameras. Apple has been struggling to find a new product that excites consumers — sales of iPhones dropped at the end of last year. It will be hoping that bringing enhanced AI functionality to a less expensive phone will address that — however analysts have been cautious about the sales boost such tools bring. Its name is clearly a nod to its iPhone SE series, which were released from 2016 to 2022, and similarly priced significantly lower.” (02/19/25)
“Qatar’s emir has held talks with Iran’s president in Tehran amid high tensions in the region, kicking off a state visit that is expected to include a meeting with the country’s supreme leader. ‘It’s my pleasure to visit Iran today in a time where the region is witnessing a lot of challenges and developments that necessitate coordination,’ said Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at a joint news briefing with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday. … The leaders discussed ‘the unity of the Syrian territories and the participation of all categories in Syria to determine their future,’ Sheikh Tamim said.” (02/19/25)
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will skip a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the leading rich and developing nations that starts on Thursday after criticizing host South Africa’s policies as anti-American. Instead, Rubio was headed back to the United States on Wednesday from his first trip to the Middle East as America’s chief diplomat, and after leading a U.S. delegation in talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia over the war in Ukraine. Rubio spoke with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Union’s foreign policy chief to brief them immediately after Tuesday’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the State Department said. Top European diplomats, as well as Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are all expected at the Group of 20 meeting in Johannesburg while the U.S. will be represented by a lower-level delegation.” (02/19/25)
“The EU is considering redirecting €93bn in untapped pandemic recovery funds into its defence sector as part of efforts to increase investment and military spending after the Trump administration warned it could withdraw US security support from the continent. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the financing option at a meeting of the centre-right European People’s party on Tuesday, according to four people with knowledge of the discussion. The bloc’s additional financing needs for defence are estimated at about €500bn over the next decade. The EU could also repurpose regional development funds, von der Leyen said and mentioned ‘common European financing’ as another option being explored, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.” (02/19/25)
“Brazil’s attorney general on Tuesday, February 19, formally charged far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others over an alleged coup attempt after his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro, 69, and his co-accused were hit with five charges over the alleged bid to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after a bitter election race. Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco filed the charges at the Supreme Court ‘based on manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets and exchanges of messages that reveal the scheme to disrupt the democratic order,’ his office said in a statement. ‘They describe, in detail, the conspiratorial plot set up and executed against democratic institutions.’ … Bolsonaro has denied the accusations and said he was the victim of ‘persecution.'” (02/19/25)
“President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he plans to impose tariffs of around 25% on [American buyers of] auto imports as well as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals shipped to the United States as early as April 2. Trump recently enacted a 10% across-board-tariff on [American buyers of] goods coming from China and 25% tariffs on [American buyers of] all steel and aluminum imports. For tariffs on [American buyers of] semiconductor chips and drugs, he told reporters at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida that he intended to eventually increase the rate even more. … The revelation comes days after Trump ordered an investigation into other nations’ tax and tariff policies, paving the way for new reciprocal tariffs to take effect as soon as April 2, the day after the investigation is set to conclude, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary said last week.” (02/19/25)
“Hamas said it’s ready to exchange its remaining Israeli hostages all at once with Palestinian [hostages] during the Gaza truce’s second phase as a step leading to a ‘permanent ceasefire’ and the full withdrawal of Israel’s forces from the enclave. The militant group is attempting to hold onto its two longstanding demands as Israel’s security cabinet has a stated war goal of removing Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US and many other countries, as a governing and military force in Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim said on Telegram that the group refuses to be either expelled from the Gaza Strip or disarmed, adding that any arrangements for the future of Gaza will be based on national consensus.” (02/18/25)
“Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. For nearly half a century, Peltier’s imprisonment has symbolized systemic injustice for Native Americans across the country who believe in his innocence. The decision to release the 80-year-old to home confinement was celebrated by supporters. … After being released from USP Coleman, a high-security prison, Peltier planned to return to North Dakota, where he is expected to celebrate with friends and family on Wednesday.” (02/18/25)
“In the first major negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion nearly three years ago, U.S. officials and their Russian counterparts met in Saudi Arabia after refusing to include Ukraine or other European countries in the talks. As the gathering wrapped on Tuesday, it was still unclear on what terms the bloody conflict could stop. And Ukraine and its European allies questioned whether a deal guaranteeing lasting security could be reached at all without the invaded country’s input. The meeting represented the first thaw in U.S.-Russia relations in years, even amid accusations that the U.S. was making concessions to Russia by holding direct talks in the first place. The negotiations covered security guarantees and territory, according to the U.S. delegation.” (02/18/25)
“The European Union is considering backing investments in overseas fossil fuel infrastructure and shifting to long-term contracts to cut the high energy prices damaging European industries, according to a leaked proposal seen by POLITICO. The move would mark a major change in the bloc’s energy policies, strengthening the continent’s links to the carbon-intensive liquefied natural gas it eventually wants to phase out. Currently, the EU only signs short-term LNG contracts and has worked to limit the use of public money to expand fossil fuel extraction. Notably, the plan also raises the prospect that European government funds could help finance American LNG projects — just as Brussels officials try to hammer out a deal with United States President Donald Trump to buy more American energy and avoid a trade war.” (02/18/25)
