Kazakhstan takes leading role in building a Turkic large language model
Kazakhstan has announced its readiness to take part in the creation of a Turkic large language model, a joint initiative designed to unite the scienti...
The Trump administration is considering a simplified minerals agreement with Ukraine, aiming to secure a quick deal before negotiating detailed terms, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This move follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's rejection of a previous U.S. proposal that sought to grant Washington a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves.
The rejected agreement would have given the U.S. access to key resources such as graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—essential for industries including electric vehicle production. Zelenskiy deemed the proposal overly focused on American interests and lacking necessary security guarantees for Ukraine. “I can't sell our country,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Strategic and political stakes
Trump’s push for a minerals deal comes as he weighs further military support for Kyiv and potential efforts to mediate peace talks with Russia in the ongoing three-year war. The urgency stems from Trump’s desire to demonstrate to the American public that U.S. aid to Ukraine is yielding financial returns. According to sources, he is pressing for mineral concessions valued at $500 billion as a form of compensation for past U.S. military assistance.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, is in Kyiv this week to discuss a revised proposal. Zelenskiy confirmed he would meet Kellogg on Thursday, emphasizing that “cooperation with America must be constructive.”
Despite ongoing negotiations, tensions between the two leaders have escalated. Trump labeled Zelenskiy “a dictator without elections” following the Ukrainian leader’s remarks that Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation. The strained relationship raises questions about the feasibility of a long-term minerals deal.
Challenges and alternative approaches
Sources suggest that Trump’s team may now pursue a phased approach, securing an initial agreement while deferring complex details such as ownership shares and revenue distribution. This strategy could circumvent legal and logistical challenges and allow time for further negotiations.
Experts note that while the U.S. has not historically engaged in resource-for-aid swaps, China has effectively used similar strategies to secure access to critical minerals worldwide. “The U.S. has not historically used natural resource-for-aid swaps, but it's a tried and tested tool in China's minerals playbook,” said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Ukraine, meanwhile, remains open to a revised deal that acknowledges U.S. investments while appearing less exploitative than the original proposal. Tyson Barker, former U.S. deputy special envoy for Ukraine’s economic recovery, noted that Kyiv is willing to provide the U.S. with privileged access to mineral resources, recognizing America’s substantial financial support during the war.
However, Ukraine may also need to consider offering similar terms to other key allies, including Canada, the UK, Japan, and the European Union. Barker warned that any agreement could be complicated by Russia’s control over parts of Ukraine rich in critical minerals, including lithium deposits. The fate of these resources remains uncertain as the war continues.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan seems to be adopting a balanced foreign policy as it engages with Western and regional powers in a new round of diplomatic outreach.
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will not bow to pressure from the United States or any other country, warning that any strikes deep inside Russian territory would be met with a very serious, possibly overwhelming, response.
The head coach of an National Basketball Association (NBA) team, a basketballer athlete and members of the alleged crime families were part of more than thirty people arrested in an FBI crackdown on illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.
Azerbaijan and Indonesia are expected to take leading roles in a planned international force to be deployed in Gaza, Israel Hayom has reported, after Israel opposed Turkish participation in the mission.
Britain’s King Charles and Pope Leo held a historic joint prayer in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Thursday, the first such act of worship between an English monarch and a Catholic pontiff since King Henry VIII’s break from Rome in 1534.
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