The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) in Amman hosted a meeting with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Egypt to discuss the technical aspects of an Arab Common Electricity Market pilot project. The initiative aims to establish a common market grounded in commercial principles, delivering energy at the lowest cost and highest quality while promoting renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. The project is part of the Arab League's objectives for economic integration and will link national grids, facilitating regional energy trade and bolstering energy security. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were selected for the pilot due to existing electricity links between them, with plans to expand to all Arab countries by 2038.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/business/nepco-hosts-4th-meeting-arab-mashreq-energy-exchange-projectIndia's strained relationship with Pakistan and a history of conflicts suggest that a potential response to terrorist attacks originating in Pakistan could lead to a crisis that may escalate into nuclear war. The US analyst Bruce Riedel stated that Pakistan sponsors the most dangerous terror group, LeT, which attempted to disrupt Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration by attacking the Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan. The Pakistani intelligence service, ISI, continues to support LeT and its leader Hafez Saeed is living freely in Lahore under ISI protection. A report by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies highlights a deeply entrenched relationship between Pakistan's military establishment, ISI, and radical religious leaders, fueling extremist ideologies and Islamist radicalism.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/global-terror-engineering-how-pakistan-tuned-its-war-machine-to-create-a-network-of-terrorism-13883868.htmlGerman Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed confidence in continued US support for Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, citing Europe's security as a top priority since World War II. He emphasized that the conflict affects all of Europe and urged the US to maintain its commitment. Pistorius also expressed skepticism about a unilateral ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting past experiences with similar statements from the Kremlin were not encouraging.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/967513-germany-relies-on-us-for-ukraine-and-europe-s-securityUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the coming week could be "very critical" for ending the war in Ukraine, amid pressure from President Donald Trump on Moscow and Kyiv to reach a deal. Rubio expressed impatience with both sides, suggesting Russia's Vladimir Putin may not want to stop the war. He emphasized the need for a negotiated settlement, stating that there would be "no military solution" to the conflict. Rubio also noted that discussions have taken place about territory with Moscow and Kyiv, but did not provide further details.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1306021-us-says-it-could-be-very-critical-week-for-ukraine-dealState Street's Timothy Graf warns that tariffs will have a significant impact on the global economy, even if they are lifted. He believes that cutting off the US's largest trading partner will lead to higher prices and negative effects on real incomes and demand. According to a poll of 29 major central banks, more than 65% are expected not to meet their inflation targets this year, with the number slightly decreasing to 15 for next year.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2025/04/28/recession-risks-surge-as-us-tariffs-send-shockwaves-through-global-economy/174828Japan is considering simplifying customs checks for imported cars in talks with the US, as part of a broader effort to boost trade between the two nations. The discussions come after US President Donald Trump met with Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, where they likely discussed ways to reduce barriers to car imports and increase bilateral trade.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250429/p2g/00m/0in/011000cThe UN Security Council, led by France, has condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a "reprehensible act of terrorism". The 15-nation council expressed solidarity with India and urged all states to cooperate with relevant authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Indian officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's counterpart Ms Patel, highlighted the importance of initiatives like the Victims of Terrorism Association (VoTAN), which aims to support victims and survivors globally. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also emphasized that terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as women and children.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/solidarity-in-wake-of-pahalgam-attack-testimony-to-international-communitys-zero-tolerance-for-terrorism-india/article69503748.eceThe US, Mexico, and Canada can enhance agricultural resilience and competitiveness by coordinating data collection and analysis to aid precision farming, sharing climate change mitigation technologies, reducing transportation bottlenecks, and fostering trilateral academic exchanges. This collective effort is crucial for North America's strategic and competitive global trading bloc, as food security is a core element of regional stability. Experts like Christopher Hernandez-Roy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) advocate for deeper integration to overcome tariff barriers, with CSIS intern Natalia Hidalgo contributing to this initiative.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/growing-together-north-american-agricultural-powerhouseUS unilateralism is undermining global stability and prosperity, according to Chinese diplomat Wang. The US is prioritizing its own interests over international cooperation, leading to a return to the "law of the jungle" where coercion and bullying are openly displayed. Wang stresses that safeguarding multilateral trade rules is the most pressing issue at present.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333103.shtml