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US-Russia Treaty Expires, Raising Fears of New Nuclear Arms Race
The last remaining treaty capping the nuclear arsenals of Russia and the United States expired on Thursday, raising concerns about a potential new arms race. For the first time in over half a century, there are no legal limits on the number of missiles and warheads held by the two nations, according to Sky News.
Vasily Kashin, a research fellow at Moscow's Higher School of Economics, described the situation as "serious" to Sky News, highlighting the potential dangers of an unconstrained arms buildup.
Meanwhile, in other international developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video call to discuss enhancing cooperation and maintaining strategic stability, Al Jazeera reported. The two leaders also addressed their respective relationships with the United States. This call comes as some Western countries explore opportunities with China following trade clashes with the U.S.
Adding to the geopolitical complexities, U.S. Vice President JD Vance proposed creating a new critical mineral trading bloc to counter China's dominance in rare earth mineral manufacturing, according to Al Jazeera. Vance stated that the past year's trade war exposed the dependence of many countries on China for these critical minerals. The proposal includes coordinating pricing floors.
In other news from Europe, Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, appeared in court on Wednesday, Sky News reported. The 29-year-old denied that videos found on his phone depicted acts of rape and broke down during his testimony in a trial where he faces 38 charges, including rape and domestic violence. Hoiby's defense alluded to the pressure he felt due to his mother's position in the royal family, saying he had "an extreme need for affirmation."
Separately, files revealed that Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly attempted to meet with Vladimir Putin, according to Sky News. Emails from 2013 onwards show Epstein's efforts to connect with Putin through former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland. While Putin's name appears over 1,000 times in the files, there is no evidence that the two ever met, and the inclusion of his name does not imply any wrongdoing.
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