Threads
Stories that unfold over weeks: where things stand, what has changed and what comes next.
Latest changes
Thursday 18 June
US and Iran sign agreement to end hostilities and reopen Strait of Hormuz
Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian signed a preliminary memorandum ending military operations, lifting the US naval blockade, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. This 60-day framework sets the stage for a final peace treaty.
US tightens AI chip export controls to Middle East, affecting European cloud projects
The US Commerce Department has extended export restrictions on advanced AI accelerators to certain Middle Eastern countries, including limitations affecting some regional data-centre projects operated by European cloud providers.
Wednesday 17 June
EU Commission presents plan to curb Channel crossings and backs return hubs
The European Commission outlined a plan to combat illegal Channel crossings and supported a ministerial agreement that could allow EU funds to finance migrant return hubs located outside its territory.
US and Iran finalize preliminary accord on sanctions and Strait of Hormuz
President Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian finalized a preliminary accord requiring Tehran to reduce enriched uranium while the US suspends sanctions and allows oil exports.
US Supreme Court upholds presidential authority for sanctions and tariffs
The US Supreme Court upheld broad presidential discretion under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), endorsing the Trump administration’s use of national security emergencies to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions on allies.
G7 leaders explore 'trusted partners' route for US AI models
At the G7 summit, leaders discussed a plan to grant select 'trusted partners' access to advanced AI systems from US firms like Anthropic, following the US order blocking foreign access to these models.
US and Iran formalize war-ending memorandum
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, 2026, intended to bring an immediate and permanent end to military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, launching follow-on negotiations.
US blocks Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models
The US government has banned access to Anthropic's latest AI models for non-US citizens, forcing the company to take them offline. European officials warn this move exposes a dangerous dependence on American technology.
CNN publishes full text of US-Iran Hormuz MOU
CNN released the official 14-point text of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, confirming key elements of the emerging post-war security architecture around the Strait of Hormuz, including an immediate cessation of military operations.
EU opens diplomatic channel to Moscow as Ukraine pushes for European peace role
The European Council’s office has held brief telephone contacts with the Kremlin in recent weeks to open a communication channel, as Brussels positions itself for potential peace negotiations over Ukraine.
EU Council opens accession chapters with Ukraine and Moldova
The Council formally opened the first negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova, adopting a phased-integration approach.
US and Iran reach interim deal to end hostilities and reopen Strait of Hormuz
Bloomberg obtained the full text of a 14-point interim agreement between Washington and Tehran, set to be signed in Geneva on Friday, which would end more than three months of war and lift the US naval blockade on Iran.
China enacts new supply chain security regulations
China brought into force Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security, allowing penalties for foreign companies that relocate production or significantly reduce purchases from Chinese suppliers.
Polish government approves resolution for permanent US military base
The Polish Council of Ministers approved a resolution authorizing the Defence Minister to negotiate with Washington and prepare infrastructure for a permanent American military presence. This move signals a deepening of military cooperation with the US.
Iran to impose tolls on Strait of Hormuz shipping after 60-day grace period
Following the peace protocol signing, Tehran announced its intention to impose tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This measure will take effect after a 60-day grace period, potentially impacting global maritime trade.
US and Iran finalize interim pact to end direct conflict
The US and Iran finalized an initial pact in Washington to end their direct war, reduce Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, and suspend key US sanctions on oil exports. This agreement aims to restore a pre-war status quo.
Jeff Bezos predicts AI will cause labour shortages
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stated at VivaTech Paris that artificial intelligence will create labour shortages rather than mass unemployment, challenging common fears about job destruction. He also discussed his AI startup Prometheus and Blue Origin's lunar ambitions.
Ukraine expands deep-strike drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure
Ukrainian forces have expanded their deep-strike drone campaign against Russian oil refineries, depots, and logistics hubs, using domestically produced long-range UAVs able to hit targets well beyond 900 km from the border.
EU governments agree on common positions for Migration and Asylum Pact regulations
EU governments reached agreement on key regulations implementing the Migration and Asylum Pact, including rules for dismissing asylum claims if applicants could have obtained protection in a designated "safe country of origin" and an EU-level returns regulation.
Anthropic restores global access to powerful models after US lifts restrictions
Anthropic announced it will restore global access to its most powerful models after the US government lifted national-security-based restrictions imposed earlier in 2026. The models had been partially disabled due to bio-security and cyber-risk concerns.
US releases text of Iran ceasefire deal
The US released the text of its ceasefire memorandum with Iran, committing to lift its naval blockade and fund Iranian reconstruction, while Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and negotiate its nuclear program over 60 days.
Trump defends Iran's right to ballistic missiles
Donald Trump confirmed a 14-point preliminary peace agreement with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz and neutralizing enriched uranium, while stating it would be "unfair" to deny Tehran ballistic missiles.
Egypt and Qatar establish joint mediation cell for Gaza
Egyptian and Qatari officials established a formal joint mediation cell to coordinate indirect talks between Israel, Palestinian factions, and international stakeholders on ceasefire compliance and post-war governance in Gaza, aiming to synchronize their diplomatic efforts.
EU Council opens diplomatic channel to Moscow
The European Council's office has initiated telephone contacts with the Kremlin in recent weeks. This move aims to establish a communication channel as Brussels positions itself for potential peace negotiations concerning Ukraine.
China invokes anti-extraterritoriality rules against EU probe
Chinese authorities utilized the Regulations on Countering Foreign Improper Extraterritorial Jurisdiction for the first time against the EU, ordering a domestic 5G equipment producer not to comply with an EU anti-subsidy investigation.
UN confirms Phase II Gaza ceasefire, formalizing Egypt-Qatar mechanism
The UN confirmed the start of Phase II of the Gaza ceasefire, with the Egypt-Qatar joint mediation cell becoming a formal monitoring mechanism to oversee compliance and coordinate hostage exchanges, with EU envoys attached.
UK, Germany, France deepen AI safety institute cooperation
The UK, Germany, and France expanded joint testing of cyber and autonomy risks in frontier models, including sharing red-team methodologies and exchanging technical staff to run comparable evaluations.
OpenAI and Amazon form strategic partnership for enterprise AI agents
OpenAI and Amazon announced a strategic partnership where AWS will become the exclusive third-party cloud distribution provider for OpenAI's Frontier platform.
European Parliament approves Turnberry tariff agreement with US
The European Parliament approved the Turnberry agreement, eliminating customs duties on most American imports. This aims to stabilize the confrontational trade relationship and preempt new US tariff escalations against EU goods, including safeguard clauses.
Trump links Ukraine aid to Strait of Hormuz demining at G7
President Donald Trump offered to support Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia at the G7 summit, conditional on European naval assistance for demining the Strait of Hormuz.
Ukraine proposes 'airport truce' to European capitals
Ukrainian diplomats have increased outreach in EU capitals to promote an 'airport truce' proposal, suggesting both sides exclude civilian and dual-use airport infrastructure from aerial attacks.
US formally shuts down USAID operations
The formal shutdown of USAID operations has accelerated a shift toward bilateral health and development memorandums of understanding, bundling medical support with access to critical minerals and migration controls.
European Commission publishes one-year assessment of Draghi report implementation
The European Commission released a factsheet assessing progress on the Draghi competitiveness blueprint, noting modest improvements in growth and productivity but warning the EU remains off track for required investment levels.
US-Iran protocol agreement met with mixed reactions
The signing of a US-Iran protocol agreement has been met with bitter relief in Tehran, silence from congressional Republicans, and alarm in Israel. This deal addresses the 100-day military campaign, but Israel fears it merely postpones the nuclear question.
Italy's data protection authority opens investigation into generative model training
Italy's data protection authority has opened one of the first AI Act-related investigations into the training and deployment of a large generative model. The probe examines data governance, transparency, and fundamental rights impact assessment processes.
US and Iran sign peace protocol, ending months-long war
The Presidents of the United States and Iran remotely signed the Islamabad memorandum, formally ending a months-long conflict. The agreement includes Iran's commitment to dilute enriched uranium, marking a key step towards de-escalation.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue border exchanges
Low-intensity exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Lebanon border have continued since June 17, involving artillery and drone strikes, but no large-scale ground incursions have been reported.
EU leaders endorse "New European Competitiveness Deal"
EU heads of state and government endorsed the outline of a "New European Competitiveness Deal" at a recent European Council summit. This deal is framed as the political response to the Draghi and Letta reports on the bloc’s economic decline.
EU Commission presents plan to curb Channel crossings
The European Commission outlined a plan to fight illegal Channel crossings, alongside a ministerial agreement that could see EU funds finance migrant return hubs beyond its territory. This initiative aims to address migration challenges at the EU's external borders.
US Supreme Court limits Congress's ability to block presidential executive orders
The US Supreme Court issued a ruling that limits Congress's power to block or modify presidential executive orders in national security and foreign relations.