Repeat asylum claims rise as Afghan nationals lead first-time applications
The number of first-time asylum applicants in the European Union fell by 27% in August 2025, Eurostat data shows. A total of 51,465 people applied for...
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Washington this Friday, signaling his willingness to sign a landmark agreement on critical minerals.
The deal, which would see Ukraine share a portion of its vast rare earth and other mineral revenues with the United States, is touted by Trump as potentially a “trillion-dollar deal.”
“I hear that he’s coming in Friday, certainly it’s okay with me, if he’d like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that’s a big deal, very big deal,” Trump said from the Oval Office. He added that the minerals at issue include rare earths and other resources critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid, and consumer goods.
The agreement remains in negotiations, with major sticking points including the extent of security guarantees for Ukraine and whether mineral rights should be exchanged solely for future U.S. military aid or also cover previous support provided by the Biden administration. Despite the progress, Ukraine has yet to sign the deal as talks continue.
Trump also lambasted his predecessor, stating that “Joe Biden was throwing money around like it’s cotton candy,” and insisted that the U.S. must secure its investments and recover funds spent aiding Ukraine. “We want to be secured. We want to get that money back. The American taxpayer now is going to get their money back plus,” he asserted.
Ukrainian reserves of critical minerals could be worth trillions, with Ukraine holding about 5% of the world’s total mineral resources, according to a 2024 World Economic Forum report. The country is known for its large deposits of lithium, semiconductor-grade neon gas, beryllium, uranium, zirconium, apatite, iron ore, and manganese.
U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz emphasized that any economic investment in Ukraine’s mineral resources would be defended, calling such investments “one of the best security guarantees that Ukraine could hope for.”
In an unexpected twist, Trump also expressed interest in potentially purchasing minerals from Russian territory, noting that Russia “has very good rare earth also” and suggesting that trade deals with Russia could be mutually beneficial. However, he denied any plans to lift sanctions on Russia, even as discussions continue on ending the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
The anticipated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House is seen as a critical step in finalizing the deal, which could reshape economic and security ties in the region while significantly impacting the global minerals market.
Ukraine is facing a sharp escalation in fighting across several fronts, with Russian forces launching large-scale offensive operations while Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of what it described as a broader offensive aimed at securing full control of the strategic territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of a broader offensive aimed at seizing full control of the area.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is taking part in the at the 7th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian leaders, which is being held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The number of newly enrolled international students at U.S. colleges and universities fell by 17% this autumn, a report shows, with policies under the Trump administration cited as a key factor.
The number of first-time asylum applicants in the European Union fell by 27% in August 2025, Eurostat data shows. A total of 51,465 people applied for international protection for the first time, down from 70,290 in August 2024 and 55,390 in July 2025.
The U.S. Southern Command announced on Sunday that a military strike in the Eastern Pacific killed three individuals suspected of narcotics smuggling. The operation was carried out by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler stated on Monday that it would take at least two months to reach initial conclusions and analyse the black box of a Turkish cargo plane that crashed in Georgia last week, resulting in the deaths of 20 soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that his country will purchase 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France. The deal forms part of a broader defence cooperation agreement signed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
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