Around the World in 5 – 11
“What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man’s job?”
Friday, 30 May 2025, marked the Trump administration’s most severe action on immigration this year, as the Supreme Court permitted the revocation of temporary status for more than 500,000 immigrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem filed an emergency application to overturn the Biden administration’s programme, which granted temporary residency to approximately 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Dissenting from the decision, Justice Jackson stated that the Court had failed to acknowledge “the devastating consequences of allowing the government to precipitously upend the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million non-citizens… while their legal claims are pending.” The CHNV programme, launched in 2022, allowed individuals to enter the United States after security vetting and proof of sponsorship by a U.S. citizen. The same framework has also supported Ukrainian and Afghan nationals fleeing conflict as political refugees.
At the commencement of the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual Asian defence summit held in Singapore, President Macron urged Asian countries to renew alliances with Europe to avoid becoming “collateral damage” in the escalating power struggle between the United States and China. He warned that American and European credibility is at risk—particularly amid accusations of “double standards”—if wars in Ukraine and Gaza remain unresolved. With representatives from 47 countries in attendance, Macron questioned: if Russia is permitted to annex Ukraine, what precedent will be set for Taiwan or the Philippines? He also addressed perceptions of Western hypocrisy, noting claims that Israel has been given a “free pass” to commit atrocities against Palestinians.
After three rounds of voting, Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was elected President of the African Development Bank. Formerly head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Tah won with a 76% mandate. The African Development Bank plays a critical role in funding large-scale infrastructure projects across the continent. However, recent funding cuts totalling $555 million by the Trump administration may strain the early days of his tenure.
The White House also confirmed that Israel has “signed off” on a proposed 60-day ceasefire, including the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The previous ceasefire collapsed in March after Israel’s debilitating blockade on Gaza and resumed military operations. While Hamas has stated that the proposal does not meet its core demands, they committed to undertaking a “thorough review”. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed in an interview to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the West Bank. On Thursday, Israeli ministers announced plans to construct 22 new settlements in occupied territories—an act illegal under international law. Katz dismissed critics, saying: “They will recognise a Palestinian state on paper… but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground.” According to various sources, the Palestinian death toll has now reached 62,614 since the outset of Israel’s genocidal campaign.
Returning to the Shangri-La Dialogue, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles expressed concern over a renewed nuclear arms race, given the recent increases in nuclear stockpiles by North Korea and Iran. He emphasised the urgent need to modernise arms control agreements to curb China’s nuclear expansion and limitations on new warfare technologies. Marles called for an end to outdated Cold War assumptions and a shift towards strategies that reflect present-day defence challenges. His remarks follow U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s appeal for Australia to boost military spending to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Spring Dawn over the Elixir Terrace, Lu Guang, c.1369.
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