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HANOI, Vietnam — In a significant geopolitical realignment, Vietnam and the European Union formally elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Thursday. This designation represents Vietnam’s highest tier of diplomatic engagement, placing the EU alongside major global powers including the United States, China, and Russia in terms of diplomatic priority.

The announcement was made during an official visit to Hanoi by European Council President Antonio Costa, who emphasized the strategic importance of this strengthened alliance. “At a moment when the international rules-based order is under threat from multiple sides, we need to stand side by side as reliable and predictable partners,” Costa stated, characterizing the partnership as fundamentally about “developing spheres of shared prosperity.”

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong hailed the diplomatic upgrade as a “historic milestone” for the Southeast Asian nation, signaling a deepened commitment to multilateral cooperation. The enhanced partnership comes as both entities seek to recalibrate their economic and trade relationships in response to ongoing disruptions in global finance and supply chains, partly driven by increasing U.S. tariff pressures.

The agreement builds upon the foundation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which came into force in 2020, one of the most comprehensive trade pacts between the EU and a developing country. This new strategic framework is expected to expand cooperation beyond trade into areas including security, digital innovation, climate action, and sustainable development, creating a more robust institutional framework for long-term collaboration.

The European Union is moving toward formally designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, marking a significant policy realignment after France announced its support for the measure. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the position shift via social media, stating France would endorse the IRGC’s inclusion on the EU’s terrorist list.

This development represents a notable departure from France’s traditionally independent Middle East policy, which frequently diverged from Washington’s approach. Historically, France opposed the 2003 Iraq invasion and championed the 2015 nuclear agreement, viewing it as a commercial opportunity for French energy giants including EDF, Framatome, and TotalEnergies.

The French reversal signals strengthened alignment with United States and Israeli positions regarding Iran. This geopolitical shift was foreshadowed by leaked communications between French President Emmanuel Macron and former U.S. President Donald Trump indicating coordinated thinking on Iran policy.

Current tensions have escalated dramatically following Trump’s social media threats of ‘precision strikes’ against Iranian officials and military infrastructure. Referencing previous operations against Iran, Trump warned that future actions would be ‘far worse’ if diplomatic demands remain unmet.

European nations appear to be consolidating their stance alongside Washington amid growing regional instability. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared the Iranian government had ‘lost legitimacy’ and predicted its potential collapse within ‘a matter of weeks,’ citing the regime’s reliance on violence against protesters.

The IRGC constitutes Iran’s elite military branch, operating separately from conventional armed forces while maintaining direct accountability to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Beyond its military functions, the organization controls substantial economic interests throughout Iran.

Regional analysts suggest that heightened pressure could potentially strengthen the IRGC’s political position. Former State Department intelligence analyst Joshua Yaphe indicated that escalated conflict might result in a ‘soft coup’ scenario where the Revolutionary Guard assumes greater governmental control.

The United States previously designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019, enabling financial sanctions against the group and its international affiliates. While Iran responded with symbolic designations against U.S. military figures, American sanctions maintain greater global impact due to the dollar’s dominance in international finance.

Britain’s leading political party in recent polls, Reform UK, is actively cultivating a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates, a relationship that became prominently visible during leader Nigel Farage’s current visit to the Gulf state. The controversial MP, known for his hardline immigration policies and advocacy for mass deportations, delivered a keynote address at a private GB News event hosted at Dubai’s luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel rooftop.

The gathering, attended by approximately eighty guests, included prominent Emirati officials such as Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. According to sources present, Farage expressed profound admiration for the UAE’s development, notably remarking that he wished his constituency of Clacton could emulate Dubai’s opulent landscape.

Central to this emerging alliance is a mutual opposition to political Islam, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. Farage explicitly praised the UAE’s prohibition of the organization and pledged that a future Reform government would implement similar measures. Addressing Emirati officials directly, he stated, ‘We have a lot to learn from you, my dear sirs. We recognize you are our friends. A Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.’

The event also featured Reform’s London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham and recent Conservative defector Nadhim Zahawi, who maintains significant residential ties to Dubai. This diplomatic courtship follows Farage’s previous visit to Abu Dhabi last month, reportedly funded by the UAE government, and a private donor lunch hosted by Dubai-based billionaire Sunny Varkey.

This political alignment occurs against the backdrop of the UAE’s increasingly assertive stance against organizations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. In January 2025, the Gulf nation designated eight British groups as terrorist entities despite their legal standing in the UK. Previous investigations have revealed Emirati efforts to discredit Britain’s largest Muslim charity through private intelligence operations seeking to establish connections with political Islamist movements.

CEBU, Philippines — Southeast Asian diplomats convened Thursday in the Philippine coastal city of Cebu for critical closed-door meetings, where Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro issued a stark warning about escalating threats to the rules-based international order. Addressing the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Lazaro emphasized that aggressive acts across Asia and unilateral actions globally are undermining multilateral institutions without specifying particular nations.

The ministerial gathering occurs amid growing regional concerns over multiple flashpoints. Several ASEAN members have expressed unease about the U.S.-orchestrated arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, while China’s increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan and in the contested South China Sea continues to generate apprehension among member states. This places ASEAN in a delicate diplomatic position as both the United States and China represent significant trading and security partners for the bloc.

Lazaro highlighted the persistent challenges facing the region, stating: ‘Across our region, we continue to see tensions at sea, protracted internal conflicts and unresolved border and humanitarian concerns.’ She further noted that developments beyond Southeast Asia ‘continue to affect regional stability and erode multilateral institutions and the rules-based international order.’

The Philippines, currently holding ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship after Myanmar’s suspension following the 2021 military coup, faces the complex task of maintaining unity within the diverse bloc. Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN encompasses governments ranging from vibrant democracies to authoritarian states with varying international alignments.

Additional agenda items include addressing last year’s deadly border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, advancing a largely unsuccessful five-point peace plan for Myanmar, and concluding negotiations with China on a South China Sea code of conduct before year’s end. China’s expansive maritime claims overlap with those of four ASEAN members: the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei, making the waterway a persistent source of regional tension.

A town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, descended into chaos on Tuesday when an assailant sprayed Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with an unidentified chemical substance. Authorities have characterized the incident as a targeted attack occurring against a backdrop of intensifying political and social tensions in the region.

The assailant, identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, rushed toward the stage moments after Representative Omar, who is of Somali origin, called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Security personnel swiftly subdued the individual, and forensic analysis later revealed the syringe contained a light-brown liquid emitting a potent, vinegar-like odor, which remains under official identification.

Despite the alarming assault, Congresswoman Omar demonstrated remarkable composure, continuing her address for approximately 25 minutes following the disruption. She later took to social media to declare, “This small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win.”

The attack occurs within a complex socio-political climate. Minnesota has experienced repeated clashes between ICE agents and the public following operations ordered by former President Donald Trump targeting immigrants. Trump has historically directed inflammatory rhetoric toward Somalis, once referring to them as “garbage” and suggesting they “go back to their country.” Following this incident, Trump further escalated tensions by suggesting to ABC News that Omar may have staged the attack herself, calling her “a fraud.”

This event has ignited fierce debate regarding political violence and incendiary rhetoric. Journalist Mehdi Hasan and numerous online commentators have drawn direct connections between the violent act and the persistent anti-immigrant and anti-Somali discourse propagated by Trump and certain Republican figures. Data from the U.S. Capitol Police reveals a disturbing 57% increase in investigated threats against lawmakers between 2024 and 2025, with Omar consistently ranking among the most frequently targeted officials.

The political landscape is further complicated by the Feeding Our Future scandal, a massive fraud case in which a Minnesota nonprofit misappropriated hundreds of millions from federal nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. While dozens have been indicted and over fifty convicted, some GOP figures have aggressively, and thus far without evidence, attempted to link Omar and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the controversy through community ties.

In the aftermath, responses have been mixed. Governor Walz condemned the attack and called for an immediate end to “cruel, inflammatory, dehumanizing rhetoric.” Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace expressed being “deeply disturbed” by the physical attack on a fellow legislator, despite her stated vehement disagreements with Omar, which have included past calls for her deportation. The incident has profoundly underscored the dangerous intersection of political polarization, violence, and the treatment of historically marginalized public officials.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — As Bangladesh approaches its February 12 general election, the political landscape remains deeply fractured following the exclusion of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from the electoral process. From her exile in India, Hasina has issued a stark warning that the exclusionary approach could plunge the nation into prolonged instability.

The ousted leader, who was sentenced to death in absentia for her government’s crackdown on student protests in 2024 that resulted in hundreds of casualties and ended her 15-year rule, contends that the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has deliberately disenfranchised millions of her supporters. In correspondence with international media, Hasina emphasized that political exclusion inevitably deepens resentment, undermines institutional legitimacy, and creates conditions for future turmoil.

With over 127 million eligible voters, this election represents Bangladesh’s most significant political event in decades. The Yunus administration has pledged to ensure electoral integrity, with security forces committed to maintaining order and international observers from the European Union and Commonwealth monitoring the process. However, concerns persist regarding the genuineness of inclusivity and democratic standards.

The political vacuum following Hasina’s August 2024 departure has been marked by heightened security challenges and allegations of civil rights violations. Human rights organizations have documented worrying patterns of arbitrary detentions and attacks on minority communities, while press freedoms have deteriorated with several journalists facing criminal charges.

The electoral contest now primarily features the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman—son of Hasina’s late rival Khaleda Zia—and a coalition of Islamist groups headed by Jamaat-e-Islami, which faced severe repression during Hasina’s tenure. This configuration marks a dramatic shift from previous political arrangements, raising questions about the country’s democratic trajectory.

Hasina has dismissed her conviction as the product of a ‘kangaroo court’ while acknowledging that Bangladesh’s political culture must evolve beyond cycles of boycotts and exclusions. She maintains that only a government possessing genuine popular consent can heal the nation’s deep divisions and guide it toward stability.