Trump said that he was considering new sanctions against Russia after a weekend of deadly missile and drone strikes on civilian targets across much of Ukraine. While he is growing visibly frustrated with the state of talks meant to deliver a ceasefire, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "absolutely CRAZY!" yesterday, the US president has repeatedly threatened new sanctions in the past without following through. Chinese President Xi Jinping's government is considering a new version of its master plan to boost production of high-end technological goods, sources say, signaling its intention to keep a firm grip on manufacturing as Trump looks to bring factories back to the US. Officials are drawing up proposals for a future iteration of Xi's flagship "Made in China 2025" campaign that prioritizes technology including chip-making equipment, largely sticking with a strategy that's been criticized by the US and Europe. Robotic arms operate on a production line at the Nio factory in China's Anhui province. Photographer: Nicholas Takahashi/Bloomberg Poland is entering the final stage of a presidential-election campaign that risks leaving pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk boxed in by a nationalist rival. Tens of thousands marched in Warsaw yesterday at opposing candidate rallies by Rafał Trzaskowski, the capital's mayor and a Tusk ally, and Karol Nawrocki of the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, demonstrating the polarization in eastern Europe's biggest economy ahead of the June 1 runoff. The ballot numbers added up for Romania's Nicușor Dan, the one-time math prodigy who defeated a formidable far-right challenger to win the Black Sea nation's presidency this month to cap six months of political upheaval. But Dan, the Bucharest mayor who will be sworn in as head of state today, will confront a wholly different set of numbers as he seeks to narrow what has become the EU's widest budget deficit. Israel's military push in Gaza aims to take over 75% of the small coastal strip within two months, containing some 2 million people in three areas. The offensive seeks to finally defeat Hamas, or forcing the exile of its leadership, and press the militant group to release remaining hostages. The army already controls about 40% of Gaza. Residents amongst building rubble following an Israeli airstrike at a refugee camp in Jabaliya, northern Gaza, Friday. Photographer: Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg Trump said his administration's talks with Iran over the weekend were "very good" as he pushes to limit the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Venezuela's ruling party swept regional and parliamentary elections in a landslide yesterday, tightening President Nicolás Maduro's grip on power after a low-turnout vote marred by widespread opposition abstention and international criticism. Lawmakers in Canada's governing Liberal Party voted against adopting a mechanism that would have given them more power to oust Prime Minister Mark Carney as party leader in the future. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa — fresh off his unexpectedly strong election win — is seeking to cement his authority with a crime bill that would give his government emergency powers of the kind used in El Salvador. |