#vantageonfirstpost

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The US and Taiwan have signed a trade deal. In January, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had claimed that Taipei would invest towards building chips and chipmaking factories in the US. According to him, Taiwan agreed to invest at least $250 billion in production capacity and to guarantee $250 billion in credit. The intended goal is to “bring 40% of Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain to the U.S”, according to Lutnick. What is Trump’s endgame? Palki Sharma tells you.

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Fuel pumps are running dry across Cuba as the island nation faces a deepening energy crisis. Power cuts lasting hours have plunged millions into darkness, forcing residents to navigate their homes with makeshift torches. Long queues snake through petrol stations whilst buses and trains run less frequently. Airlines are suspending flights to Cuba due to jet fuel shortages, and hotels are shutting down as tourism evaporates. The crisis intensified after US pressure cut Venezuela's oil supplies following President Maduro's capture. Washington has threatened tariffs on countries supplying fuel to Cuba. Havana is rationing fuel for hospitals and water systems whilst seeking international support from Mexico, China and Chile.

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The nature of war has evolved — from ships to weapons, spies, and now attention. UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called the decline in reading a national security threat, as non-readers are more vulnerable to misinformation, which Britain links to Russian influence. Even Uttar Pradesh has introduced 10 minutes of mandatory newspaper reading in schools to build habits and cut screen time. Palki Sharma tells you why governments are encouraging reading.

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A recently surfaced wedding video from Iran has triggered a political row in the country. The video shows a top Iranian leader's daughter and wife in revealing clothes, contrary to Iran's strict anti-women laws. Why is Iran's regime imposing different rules on ordinary citizens and the ruling class? Palki Sharma tells you why this double standard is a global problem in politics.

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Zelensky Signs Controversial Anti-Corruption Bill, Sparking Protests | Vantage with Palki Sharma Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a controversial bill that puts two key anti-corruption agencies under government control, triggering the largest protests against his leadership since the war began. The new law allows the prosecutor general to shut down cases against top officials and transfer investigations elsewhere. Zelenskyy defended the move, claiming the agencies were compromised by Russian influence — but civil society and western allies see it as a blow to Ukraine’s democratic reforms. Protesters in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa have accused Zelenskyy of undermining Ukraine’s anti-corruption gains since 2014, comparing him to the ousted pro-Russian leader Viktor Yanukovych. Western officials warn the decision risks harming Ukraine’s EU membership prospects and emboldening its enemies.

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Apple just pulled off a high-stakes airlift—1.5 million iPhones flown out of India to dodge U.S. tariffs. In a global scramble sparked by Trump’s trade move, Apple mobilized workers, bent customs rules, and chartered six cargo jets to beat the deadline. But they weren’t alone—Dell, Microsoft, and others joined the shipping frenzy. Ports overflowed. Supply chains strained. Some companies froze. And while tariffs are paused for now, this was more than a scare—it was a warning. Palki Sharma tells you why.

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Anti-Erdogan Protests Intensify after Chief Rival Taken to Jail | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G Tens of Thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul and other Turkish cities on Sunday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was taken to Marmara prison. Imamoglu will be imprisoned until the results of the corruption case against him. The protesters in Turkiye (Turkey) believe Imamoglu's imprisonment is the latest example of Erdogan's growing authoritarianism. The demonstrators say they are protesting to protect their democracy. Will the protests continue to grow, or will Erdogan get away with his "political coup"?

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Is Someone Behind the Deaths of Boeing Whistleblowers?

Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems who had flagged safety concerns and alleged misconduct by the aircraft manufacturer, died after a sudden and severe infection. Dean fell ill just over two weeks ago with breathing difficulties. He is the second Boeing-linked whistleblower to have died in the last two months. The last one was John Barnett who died by suicide while embroiled in a lawsuit alleging retaliation for exposing safety concerns with the 787 Dreamliner. This comes as the company has come under heightened scrutiny over multiple issues. Is someone behind the death of these Boeing whistleblowers? Palki Sharma tells you.

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