International Relations 15 January 2026 - 5 March 2026

Intel under fire: US senators question chip-tool tests tied to China-linked ACM Research
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Intel under fire: US senators question chip-tool tests tied to China-linked ACM Research

U.S. senators pressed Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan for details on tests of ACM Research chipmaking tools, citing national security concerns. Intel said ACM tools are not used in its production processes and that it complies with U.S. law. Lawmakers asked Intel to confirm by March 20 it would not use equipment from firms with Entity-Listed affiliates without government approval. ACM Research did not immediately comment.
March 6, 2026
Intel back in Washington spotlight as senators press China-linked tool tests and 18A plans shift
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Intel back in Washington spotlight as senators press China-linked tool tests and 18A plans shift

U.S. senators Warren and Cotton pressed Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to explain reports the company tested ACM Research chipmaking tools linked to Chinese firms on a U.S. trade blacklist. Intel said ACM tools are not used in its production and that it complies with U.S. laws. CFO David Zinsner said Intel is reconsidering offering its 18A chipmaking process to outside customers.
March 5, 2026
Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets
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Korea stocks crash 12% as Iran war spikes oil and rewrites rate-cut bets

South Korea’s KOSPI plunged 12% Wednesday, its largest one-day drop on record, as chip stocks tumbled and the Iran conflict sent oil prices higher. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each fell about 20% this week. Wall Street and Asian markets saw sharp swings, with traders focused on the Strait of Hormuz and inflation risks. Europe stabilized, but Spain lagged after U.S. trade threats linked to Iran.
March 4, 2026
Gold price today: Bullion holds near $5,170 as U.S.-Iran talks test the latest rally
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Gold price today: Bullion holds near $5,170 as U.S.-Iran talks test the latest rally

Spot gold held at $5,168.72 an ounce after-hours Thursday, with U.S. April futures down 0.6% at $5,194.20 as traders watched U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and tariff signals. Oman reported “significant progress” in the talks, with more meetings set for next week. U.S. jobless claims rose slightly, while silver, platinum, and palladium all fell sharply.
February 26, 2026
Brent crude price slips near $71 as Iran talks and Trump tariffs keep traders on edge
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Brent crude price slips near $71 as Iran talks and Trump tariffs keep traders on edge

Brent crude fell 37 cents to $71.39 a barrel Monday after hitting a six-month high, while U.S. WTI dropped 27 cents to $66.21. Traders are watching Thursday’s U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of Trump-era tariffs. A winter storm in the U.S. Northeast pushed diesel crack spreads up 5%. Europe’s oil and gas sector index hit a record high as Brent briefly touched $72.44.
February 23, 2026
Slovakia taps emergency oil reserves as Druzhba shutdown shifts pressure to Croatia’s Adria pipeline
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Slovakia taps emergency oil reserves as Druzhba shutdown shifts pressure to Croatia’s Adria pipeline

Slovakia declared an oil supply emergency and authorized the release of up to 250,000 tonnes from state reserves for Slovnaft after Russian crude flows through the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted. Prime Minister Robert Fico said using Croatia’s Adria pipeline would cost over five times more. Croatia signaled limits on routing more Russian oil, citing sanctions and rising costs. EU officials said Slovakia and Hungary hold 90 days of reserves but want a repair timeline from Ukraine.
February 18, 2026
U.S. and China Skip New AI Weapons Pledge in Spain as Only 35 Nations Sign
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U.S. and China Skip New AI Weapons Pledge in Spain as Only 35 Nations Sign

The U.S. and China declined to sign a new declaration on military AI use at a Spain summit, with only 35 of 85 countries backing the voluntary principles. Delegates cited strained U.S.-Europe relations and uncertainty over future alliances as reasons for hesitation. The agreement, reached at the REAIM meeting in A Coruna, is non-binding. Signatories include Canada, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Ukraine.
February 6, 2026
Italy says it blocked Russia-linked cyberattacks on Milano Cortina Olympics sites and a U.S. embassy
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Italy says it blocked Russia-linked cyberattacks on Milano Cortina Olympics sites and a U.S. embassy

Italy blocked cyberattacks targeting its foreign ministry, an embassy in Washington, and Milano Cortina Winter Olympics sites, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Wednesday. He linked the attacks to Russian actors but gave no technical details. A U.S. official in Milan said no credible threats are tracked, though cyberattacks remain a daily risk as the Games open Friday.
February 5, 2026
Trump unveils $12B ‘Project Vault’ minerals stockpile as U.S. moves to blunt China leverage
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Trump unveils $12B ‘Project Vault’ minerals stockpile as U.S. moves to blunt China leverage

President Trump launched Project Vault, a $12 billion program to build a U.S. strategic reserve of critical minerals, combining a $10 billion Export-Import Bank loan with private investment. Shares of rare-earth and critical-minerals companies rose after the announcement. General Motors, Lockheed Martin, and Google joined the initiative for emergency access to supplies. The plan aims to reduce reliance on China, which dominates global processing.
February 2, 2026
Trump administration pushes out Liz Cannon, Commerce official behind Chinese car curb, sources say
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Trump administration pushes out Liz Cannon, Commerce official behind Chinese car curb, sources say

Elizabeth “Liz” Cannon, head of the Commerce Department’s ICTS unit, will leave her post on Feb. 20 after being ousted by the Trump administration, according to sources. Cannon’s team helped finalize rules barring nearly all Chinese passenger cars from the U.S. Her departure follows Commerce’s decision to drop plans restricting Chinese-made drones. The administration plans to replace her with a political appointee.
January 23, 2026
France may send Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran as Starlink goes free during the blackout
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France may send Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran as Starlink goes free during the blackout

France is weighing the transfer of Eutelsat satellite internet terminals to Iran after Tehran cut off national internet access during protests, French officials said. Starlink, with over 9,000 satellites, has made its service free in Iran and issued a firmware update to counter jamming, activists told AP. Eutelsat, backed by France and the UK, operates just over 600 satellites. Starlink remains banned in Iran, and users risk severe penalties.
January 15, 2026