Geopolitics and Conflict 🌍

• US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Trump Doesn't Rule Out Using 'Mother of All Bombs' In an interview, US President Trump did not rule out the possibility of using the large aerial explosive bomb known as the 'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAB) against Iran after the US midterm elections. The US military is currently preparing to strike Iran's energy and nuclear facilities, while at the same time, reports of two cargo ships being sunk in the Strait of Hormuz have emerged, leading to a dangerous escalation of Middle East conflict. • Spillover from the Russia-Ukraine War: White House Order to Limit Ukrainian 'Starlink' Speeds Sparks Internal Conflict Reuters and The Washington Post revealed that the White House ordered a speed limit on the Starlink and Starshield systems, relied upon by the Ukrainian military, to suppress oil prices before the US midterm elections, thereby pressuring Ukraine to cease airstrikes on Russian energy facilities. In response, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would no longer adhere to the energy ceasefire agreement and used Neptune missiles for a night raid on a Russian military airfield. • Attack on Presidential Palace in Yemen's Interim Capital Yemeni rebel group 'Houthi' launched a missile strike on the Ma'ashiq Palace, the presidential palace in Yemen's interim capital of Aden. The incident resulted in at least 4 deaths and over 10 injuries, with the Yemeni Prime Minister narrowly escaping harm. • Trump Reveals Discussions with China and Russia on 'Denuclearization' Trump disclosed that Washington is currently in talks with Russia and China to discuss how to promote the joint reduction of nuclear weapons by countries possessing the world's largest nuclear arsenals, and anticipates that China's nuclear arsenal will catch up to the US within five years.