Politico / Putin heaps conditions and queries on Ukraine ceasefire talks

• Putin expressed conditional support for a Ukraine ceasefire but listed numerous concerns, including NATO commitments and territorial recognition.

• The Russian leader will meet Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, but insists key issues like military mobilization and verification need further discussion.

• Trump reaffirmed that negotiations are ongoing, stating that many details have been discussed, but the final decision rests with Russia.

• Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev doubts Putin’s sincerity, suggesting he believes military action remains the best path to achieving his goals.

Le Monde / Johns Hopkins University forced to lay off 2,000 workers due to Trump cuts 

• Johns Hopkins University is laying off over 2,000 employees after the Trump administration cut $800 million in USAID funding.

• The layoffs affect key programs, including the medical school, public health school, and Jhpiego, a global health nonprofit.

• Hopkins, which receives $1 billion annually from NIH, is among the hardest-hit institutions and is suing the federal government over the cuts.

• Trump's freeze on foreign aid, part of his plan to assess overseas expenses, has sparked warnings about severe global humanitarian impacts.

The Guardian / ‘Several people’ arrested in EU bribery investigation linked to Huawei

• Belgian prosecutors have arrested several people and searched homes in an EU bribery investigation linked to Huawei.

• The probe alleges that European Parliament assistants took bribes and gifts to influence political decisions favoring the Chinese tech giant.

• Authorities suspect money laundering was involved, with intermediaries used to disguise payments.

• Huawei denies wrongdoing, stating it has a "zero-tolerance policy" on corruption and is cooperating with investigators.

SCMP / Mainland China calls for legal improvements to fight Taiwan independence, foreign forces

• Mainland China’s No. 3 official, Zhao Leji, called for strengthening the legal framework against Taiwan independence and foreign intervention at a symposium marking 20 years of the Anti-Secession Law.

• Senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and military leaders, attended the event, signaling a more assertive stance on Taiwan reunification.

• The meeting followed Taiwan leader William Lai’s announcement of new national security measures and his labeling of Beijing as a "foreign hostile force."

• China has recently imposed stricter legal penalties for Taiwan independence activists, including trials in absentia and potential death sentences for extreme cases.

Our opinion reads for today:

• Foreign Policy – Howard W. French / What the World Will Look Like Without a ‘West’

• Project Syndicate – Kaushik Basu / Trump’s Self-Inflicted Trade Disaster

By EsadeGeo:

• Negocios TV / El renacimiento de la política industrial europea entrevista a Juan Moscoso, Senior Fellow en EsadeGeo.

• Colpisa – Jose Mª de Areilza / ‘No sé mucho de Historia’

• ABC – Jose Mª de Areilza / ¿Es inevitable la aparición de un G-6?