Welcome back to the Global Overview, where we look at an important deadline to finish Iran wasantisemitic terrorist attack in Englandand long awaited European Union-Mercosur free trade.
‘Absolutely against the Constitution’
Friday marked the 60-day deadline for US President Donald Trump to end hostilities in Iran. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing Trump to find out official approval from Congress to declare war. However, Trump indicated on Friday that he would not seek a congressional vote, saying instead that the 60-day clock “is completely unconstitutional.”
Welcome back to the Global Overview, where we look at an important deadline to finish Iran wasantisemitic terrorist attack in Englandand long awaited European Union-Mercosur free trade.
‘Absolutely against the Constitution’
Friday marked the 60-day deadline for US President Donald Trump to end hostilities in Iran. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing Trump to find out official approval from Congress to declare war. However, Trump indicated on Friday that he would not seek a congressional vote, saying instead that the 60-day clock “is completely unconstitutional.”
Under 1973 War Powers ResolutionThe president of the United States has 60 days from the time Congress first receives official notice of the conflict to cease offensive operations or Congress either declares war or authorizes the continued use of military force. The White House can extend this time for another 30 days but only to withdraw troops safely—not to continue the offensive campaign.
However, the Trump administration has said that the US-Iran ceasefire, which went into effect on April 7 and was extended indefinitely last week, has stopped the clock. “We are in a ceasefire now, which to our understanding means that the 60-day clock is stopping or standing on the ceasefire,” the US Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth he told lawmakers during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.
However, the War Powers Act does not provide for a suspension of the 60-day time limit while arbitration exists. “That deadline is not a recommendation; it is a requirement,” Republican Sen. Susan Collins He said on Thursday, saying that “further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy to end the conflict.”
Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council official in Trump’s first term who is now at the hawkish Washington Foundation for Defense of Democracies, he suggested that the White House may attempt to circumvent the War Authorization deadline by announcing a new mission that would serve as a follow-up to Operation Epic Fury. The new mission, Goldberg told The Associated Press, “will essentially be a self-defense mission aimed at reopening …Strait of Hormuz) while reserving the right to take offensive action in support of restoring freedom of navigation.” Throughout the truce between the US and Iran, Tehran has continued to hold a strategic waterway, and the US Navy has continued its blockade of Iranian ports.
Peace talks have it has come to an endas both sides are not ready to stop their maritime activities. Iran has reportedly sent a new peace proposal to Pakistani negotiators to try to push through the impasse, but Trump told reporters on Friday that remains unhappy. “Iran wants to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” he said. Trump did not say what demands remain in the dispute.
“There are options: Do we want to go and just blow them up and finish them off forever, or do we want to try to make a deal?” Trump added. Although the president of the United States said that his preference is not restart Trump confirmed on Friday that he had received a briefing from US Central Command recommending the resumption of strikes to push forward negotiations.
At the same time, tens of thousands of people celebration May Day on Friday and a large demonstration to demand higher wages in the midst of rising energy prices caused by the Iran war. “Working people refuse to pay the price of Donald Trump’s war in the Middle East,” said the European Trade Union Confederation, which represents 93 trade union organizations in 41 European countries. “Today’s meetings show that working people will not stand by and see their jobs and living standards destroyed.”
Today’s Most Read
What we’re after
The rise of hate. British authority charged A 45-year-old man was charged on Friday with two counts of attempted murder in the stabbings of two Jewish men in London earlier this week. The two men were wearing clothing associated with the Orthodox Jewish sect when they were attacked. Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack linked to Iran.
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, a pro-Iranian Islamist group, has done just that he claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s stabbing as well as for other attacks against Jews in recent months, including attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands. Counter-terrorism officials are investigating whether the group has direct ties to Iran or its allies to determine whether the multiple attacks are part of Tehran’s military strategy against Jews.
Reports of anti-Semitism across Europe have increased since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. On Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer elevated the country’s threat level from “high” to “severe” in response to recent injections; “severe” is the second-highest level on London’s five-point scale, as it means intelligence agencies believe there is a high probability of another attack in the next six months. Starmer also pledged Thursday to increase security for Jewish communities, announcing $34 million in security measures.
The time of multilateralism. The long awaited one The European Union-Mercosur trade agreement it went into effect temporarily on Friday. After 25 years of negotiations between the EU and Latin American officials, a free trade agreement will now take shape integrated market worth about $22 trillion and comprising more than 700 million consumers—making it one of the largest free trade zones in the world. Together, the EU and Mercosur blocs account for about 30 percent of global GDP.
Foreign leaders on both sides of the Atlantic announced the implementation of the agreement on Friday as a win for multilateralism. “Together we are sending a strong message to the world. That openness and cooperation bring prosperity to all,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. he wrote on X. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva he supported that feeling, calling the adoption of the agreement “the use of democracy.”
However, not everyone is happy with the plan. Several European officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have accused the deal of failing to protect European interests, saying the EU will be overwhelmed. cheap imported food which will ultimately raise prices and weaken environmental regulations. They have challenged the legality of the plan in the Court of Justice of the European Union, making von der Leyen legislate for a while plan to remove the Parliament.
Punish NATO. Trump on Thursday threaten to remove US troops from two NATO allies – Italy and Spain – following the same threats he made against Germany earlier this week. All three European countries have been critical of the US’s handling of the Iran war, and Rome and Madrid have denied US military withdrawal. using their foundations launch an attack.
Italy “hasn’t been of any help to us,” Trump told reporters on Thursday, calling Spain “absolutely terrible.” Earlier this week he the suspect German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks that “it is right for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” a claim that Berlin denies. His remarks came after Merz he warned on Monday that the Trump administration “does not have a persuasive strategy” in negotiations with Iran and said that the United States is “humiliated” by Tehran.
By December 2025, the United States was close 68,000 active duty military in Europe. Of those, more than 36,000 were placed in Germany, about 12,660 were in Italy, and about 4,000 were living in Spain—more than 75 percent of the total presence in the European Union. Professionals argue that the withdrawal of these forces would be a disaster for the security of the continent at a time when Trump has constant criticism NATO by placing a heavy defense burden on Washington.
What In The World?
The military leader of Mali met with the Russian ambassador in the country on Tuesday, just a few days after what happened?
A. He coordinated Islamic attacks in several cities in Mali
B. Mali’s first election since the 2021 revolution
C. Police prevent widespread protests about high fuel prices
D. The junta’s official recognition of the Palestinian state
Odds and Ends
Banksy has struck again—this time in central London. The invisible street artist he demanded on Thursday for the new statue near the Mall, the ceremonial route between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. The sculpture shows a man, blinded by a flag that has flown in his face, sliding from the edge of a pillar. Some commentators believe that the piece is a criticism of blind patriotism. Yet Westminster city council seems happy to have Banksy in its collection. “We welcome Banksy’s latest sculpture to Westminster, which is a stunning addition to the city’s public art scene,” a council spokesman said.
And The Answer Is…
A. He coordinated Islamic attacks in several cities in Mali
Moscow claimed that a local militia group, The Africa Corps, prevented a revolution in Mali over the weekend but still announced the withdrawal of Kidal, one of the targeted towns, in a statement on Monday, FP’s Nosmot Gbadamosi. report in short Africa.
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