Latest news for 20 May 2025

UNITED STATES

President Trump’s latest Putin chat.

The US president’s two-hour call with his Russian counterpart ended with a tweet that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly bring an end to the war”. (BBC)

Comment: Call us cynical (we’ve heard worse), but Putin’s actions (like ignoring Trump’s two 30-day ceasefire calls) increasingly reveal he has no interest in any meaningful negotiations. He won’t end his war until he’s forced.

ISRAEL

IDF to take full control of Gaza.

Following cabinet approval earlier this month, the Israeli military has now moved to seize all of Gaza in what Prime Minister Netanyahu says is a bid to fully defeat Hamas. For the first time, he’s also acknowledged Gazans are approaching starvation, and cites international pressure in easing his 2.5-month blockade. (FT)

Comment: We wonder whether Trump’s cold shoulder to Israel during last week’s Gulf tour might’ve empowered other Western leaders to scale their scrutiny back up over Israel’s actions, with (for example) the leaders of the UK, Canada, and France now jointly threatening concrete action if Israel doesn’t halt this latest offensive.

HONG KONG

CATL stocks surge after IPO.

Shares in the world’s biggest EV battery-maker have surged 13% since listing in Hong Kong today (Tuesday), with the China-based firm raising ~$4.6B in the world’s biggest IPO so far this year. (Independent)

Comment: We wrote about the hottest IPOs of 2025 here.

SOUTH KOREA

Presidential candidates go head to head in first debate.

The opposition frontrunner Lee Jae-myung clashed with the ruling party’s Kim Moon-soo on Sunday’s televised debate, the first of three. (Al Jazeera)

Comment: Interestingly, Lee (a centre-left pragmatist) warned that Korea “should not go all-in” with its traditional US alliance. That sort of public hedging will remain common while the world watches how Trump 2.0 approaches his allies.

PAKISTAN

China helped Pakistan during India clash?

According to a research group linked to India’s defence ministry, China helped Pakistan reorganise its radar and air defence systems earlier this month, suggesting a much closer security partnership than Beijing has let on. (Bloomberg $)

PORTUGAL

PM’s party wins election, but no majority.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s centre-right party has won Portugal’s third snap election in three years, but again fell short of a majority. He called this latest ballot in response to a corruption scandal. (Guardian)

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

ICJ sides with EG on island dispute.

The world’s top court has sided with Equatorial Guinea in a long-running territorial dispute with Gabon, effectively handing it three contested (and oil-rich) uninhabited islands. (AfricaNews)