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The results of Poland’s presidential runoff were announced on June 2nd, with conservative nationalist candidate **Nawrocki** narrowly winning the election with **50.89% of the vote**. His victory signals a possible strengthening of Poland’s ties with the Trump administration and a shift toward nationalist policies, posing a challenge to pro-EU forces.

At 42 years old, Nawrocki had trailed Civic Coalition candidate **Zosaszkowski** in the first round of voting on May 18th, but managed a comeback in the runoff. Zosaszkowski ultimately lost with **49.11% of the vote**.

Nawrocki’s campaign focused on themes of patriotism, traditional Catholic values, and a strong defense of Polish sovereignty against the influence of major EU member states. His win is expected to energize right-wing populist movements across Europe and could impact Poland’s military cooperation with the United States. Some members of parliament have accused the Trump administration of interfering in the election.

While Nawrocki has pledged continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, he has also criticized the government’s welfare policies for Ukrainian refugees, insisting that social benefits should primarily support Polish citizens.

Nawrocki is expected to continue the conservative policies of outgoing President Andrzej Duda, including opposition to abortion legalization and controversial judicial reforms. He will take office on **August 6**, and his presidency may strain Poland’s relationship with the European Union while further aligning the country with the Trump administration.

European Commission President **Ursula von der Leyen** and Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky** expressed hope for continued cooperation with Poland, while nationalist leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister **Viktor Orbán** congratulated Nawrocki on his victory.

The UK-based authoritative research institute **Oxford Economics** recently released its **2025 Global Cities Report**, ranking 1,000 major cities worldwide. New York, London, and Paris once again claimed the top three positions. Among Asian cities, seven made it into the top 100, with **Taipei ranked 60th**, climbing five spots from last year—an indication of its steadily improving urban competitiveness.

According to the report, the top ten cities are: **New York**, **London**, **Paris**, **San Jose**, **Seattle**, **Melbourne**, **Sydney**, **Boston**, **Tokyo**, and **San Francisco**. The rankings are based on five key dimensions: **Economy**, **Human Capital**, **Quality of Life**, **Environment**, and **Governance**, with each category scored out of 100 points.

Taipei received the following scores:

* Economy: **50.0**
* Human Capital: **67.7**
* Quality of Life: **90.4**
* Environment: **72.2**
* Governance: **88.1**
Taipei’s **overall average score was 75.0**, securing the **60th position**, a notable improvement from **65th place last year**. Notably, Taipei's scores in **Quality of Life** and **Governance** even surpassed those of **New York**, the top-ranked city.

A total of **seven Asian cities (excluding the Middle East)** entered the top 100, namely:

* **Tokyo (9th)**
* **Seoul (15th)**
* **Singapore (21st)**
* **Taipei (60th)**
* **Hong Kong (72nd)**
* **Kuala Lumpur (79th)**
* **Osaka–Kyoto (100th)**

However, due to the high weighting of economic scale and high-tech talent in the evaluation, **cities in North America and Western Europe continue to dominate** the top 100.

New York maintains its top spot with **a perfect score in the Economy category**, thanks to its leading roles in global finance, technology, advertising, and media, backed by its massive economic scale and robust performance. London and Paris ranked 8th and 11th respectively in the Economy category. **London** stands out in **Human Capital**, with numerous world-class universities, multinational headquarters, and a diverse workforce. **Paris**, on the other hand, relies on its **service and tourism industries** to sustain stable economic growth.

On May 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to revoke temporary legal status granted to over 500,000 immigrants during the Biden administration. This decision reinforces the Court's support for Trump’s hardline immigration policies, although several justices expressed reservations about the manner of implementation.

According to international media reports, during his presidency, Joe Biden introduced a humanitarian parole program for citizens of Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Known as the CHNV program, it allowed a total of 30,000 people from these four countries to enter the U.S. each month for a period of two years, provided they passed security checks and had U.S.-based sponsors offering financial support. The Biden administration implemented this program as part of its efforts to reduce illegal border crossings from these countries.

On his first day in office, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the program. In March, DHS announced the program’s termination. However, in early April, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s executive action. The Trump administration then filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, which on May 30 overturned the lower court's decision, enabling Trump to revoke the temporary legal status of migrants from the four countries.

Earlier in May, the Supreme Court had already agreed to allow the Trump administration to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans living and working in the U.S.

Out of the nine justices, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. In her dissent, Justice Jackson wrote that the Court’s decision would “throw the lives of 500,000 people around us into chaos before their legal claims can be fully resolved.” Several immigrant rights groups and affected migrants have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that deportation would expose them to "serious danger, persecution, or even death."

For decades, the U.S. has used humanitarian visa programs to admit immigrants fleeing war and turmoil, including Cubans in the 1960s. The Biden administration also launched a similar program in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

During his campaign, Trump pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. In March of this year, he cited the 1798 "Alien Enemies Act" to deport Venezuelan gang members, sending them to a prison in El Salvador. The last time the U.S. invoked the Alien Enemies Act was during World War II, when it was used to detain and deport individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent.

Massive wildfires have once again broken out in western Canada. As the fires spread rapidly, authorities have declared national-level states of emergency in the provinces of **Manitoba** and **Saskatchewan**. The government has deployed military forces to assist with disaster relief and ordered urgent evacuations, with approximately **20,000 residents forced to flee their homes**.

The dense smoke from the wildfires has even drifted across the border into multiple areas of the **United States**, raising widespread concern.

The wildfire season in Canada typically runs from **May to September**, and this year the fires began in **Saskatchewan** and have since spread into **Manitoba**. So far, **158 wildfires** have been reported nationwide, **83 of which are currently out of control**. In Manitoba alone, **22 wildfires remain uncontained**. To date, more than **490,000 acres (approximately 200,000 hectares)** of land have been burned across the country. The situation is significantly more severe than the five-year average for the same period.

With temperatures continuing to rise and no rain in the forecast, experts warn the fires could worsen further.

Meteorological agencies predict that smoke from the wildfires will begin affecting parts of the **U.S.**, including **Minnesota** and **Chicago, Illinois**, starting **May 30**. Air quality alerts have already been issued in these regions.

Experts are also warning that strong winds and dry conditions will make it extremely difficult to contain the fires in the short term. Residents are urged to stay informed of the latest alerts and evacuation notices.

U.S. President Donald Trump on the 27th once again took aim at Harvard University, announcing the cancellation of 30 cooperative programs with a total budget of \$100 million. Hundreds of students staged protests on campus, opposing Trump’s restrictions on international students and the defunding of Harvard.

The General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal government contracts, determined that Harvard engaged in discriminatory admissions and hiring practices and failed to protect Jewish students from harassment. The GSA has ordered federal agencies to review their research and training collaborations with Harvard, with the estimated impact reaching \$100 million. According to the Associated Press, Harvard has already lost over \$2.6 billion in federal funding for refusing to comply with several of Trump’s policies. Trump has also revoked Harvard’s tax-exempt status, banned it from admitting international students, and required foreign students to transfer elsewhere. A judge has temporarily halted the enforcement of this ban, with a hearing scheduled for May 29 — which coincides with Harvard’s commencement ceremony.

During the protests, students held signs reading “Trump = Traitor” and “Let those who belong in the classroom stay,” condemning Trump for forcing Harvard to submit to government oversight of students. International students expressed anxiety about their uncertain futures, while professors voiced concern that the situation would discourage top scholars from coming to the U.S. Harvard has filed a lawsuit, accusing the government of violating due process and infringing on the university’s constitutional right to free speech.

In a previous interview, Trump claimed that a significant portion of Harvard’s federal funding — spent on foreign students who make up around 30% of the student body — amounted to exploiting the U.S., and he threatened further budget cuts, suggesting the funds be redirected to vocational schools across the country. On the 28th, Trump again asserted that the appropriate cap for international students at Harvard should be 15%.

Seizing the opportunity, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced plans to welcome affected Harvard students to the University of Tokyo. Meanwhile, universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau also reached out to this group of students.

On May 25 (EST), former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strong condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin on his social media platform, Truth Social, in response to Russia’s large-scale airstrikes against Ukraine. Trump described Putin as having "gone completely insane."

These attacks marked the most extensive aerial assault Russia has launched against Ukraine in the past three years.

According to Ukrainian official statistics, from May 23 to 25, Russian forces carried out airstrikes on Ukraine for three consecutive nights, resulting in at least 29 deaths and dozens of injuries. The attacks on May 24 and 25 were the most massive to date, with record-high numbers of drones and missiles deployed.

Foreign media reported that Trump, despite previously having a good relationship with Putin, said the Russian leader's recent actions were "completely irrational" and that he had "lost total control." He criticized the indiscriminate drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, which have led to significant civilian casualties. "He's killing a lot of people for no reason, and I’m not just talking about soldiers," Trump stated. He also revealed that he is "definitely considering" a new round of sanctions against Russia, despite his past reservations about imposing sanctions.

However, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his May 25 public remarks accusing the U.S. of "silence" that emboldened Russia’s aggression. Trump called Zelenskyy’s comments "unhelpful to Ukraine" and even said they were "creating more problems."

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 26 that Trump’s comments were an "emotional reaction," but added that Russia still appreciates Trump’s past efforts to promote Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

On the same day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in an interview with the German public broadcaster ARD, said the war could last longer than expected and called on the U.S. to maintain its support for Ukraine. He noted, "Trump is clearly becoming increasingly frustrated with Putin over the massive weekend attacks on Kyiv and other cities."

Reuters reports: On the 25th, U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview in New Jersey that the country’s tariff policy is aimed at strengthening domestic defense and artificial intelligence (AI) industries, rather than boosting production of sneakers and T-shirts. He agreed with Treasury Secretary Bessent’s view that the U.S. does not need a booming textile industry, but should instead focus on high-tech and military manufacturing.

The National Council of Textile Organizations expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the U.S. textile industry produced a large amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to supply the military with 8,000 essential products to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries. They argued that the textile sector still holds strategic value for the U.S. and should not be easily dismissed.

Trump’s recent tariff policies have caused global market fluctuations, particularly after he threatened on May 23 to impose a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1. He also warned Apple that iPhones sold in the U.S. but not manufactured domestically could face a 25% tariff. However, on the 25th, Trump confirmed that in order to continue trade negotiations, he has agreed to postpone the EU tariff deadline to July 9.

On the 25th, Russia launched its largest airstrike on Ukraine since the war began, targeting the capital Kyiv and other cities, leaving 13 dead and dozens injured. Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russia’s actions, saying he didn’t understand what Putin was thinking and revealed he is considering intensifying sanctions against Moscow.

According to reports, this assault marks the most extensive aerial attack since the start of the war, involving 298 drones and 69 missiles. The strike killed at least 13 people and injured many more. The timing is especially sensitive, as Russia and Ukraine have been in negotiations to reach a ceasefire. “We’re talking peace, and at the same time Putin is firing rockets at Kyiv and other cities,” Trump said, expressing his surprise at the escalation. “I’ve known Putin a long time and got along with him fine, but now he’s firing rockets into cities and killing civilians—this, I do not like at all.”

On the 23rd, Ukraine and Russia conducted their largest prisoner exchange in over three years, offering a glimmer of hope for a ceasefire. However, just hours later, Moscow launched an even larger drone and missile attack. In terms of sheer volume, it was the biggest airstrike against Ukraine since the war began.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that it intercepted 266 drones and 45 missiles. Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv (Ukraine’s second-largest city), the southern city of Mykolaiv, and the western city of Ternopil, as well as in Sumy, Dnipro, and Odesa. Twenty-two locations across Ukraine were directly hit. In response, several Polish fighter jets were scrambled and air defense systems activated to secure the country’s airspace.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly condemned the airstrike and called on the international community to pressure Russia into a ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelensky also denounced Moscow’s deliberate attacks on innocent people and ordinary cities, stating that Russia is the main obstacle to ending the war. He urged the United States to take a stand, insisting that the only way to force Moscow into a ceasefire is to increase sanctions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again made headlines by announcing via social media that starting June 1, he plans to impose a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union—just hours before scheduled trade talks between the U.S. and EU. The announcement sent shockwaves through global financial markets, with major U.S. and European stock indices closing in the red, triggering renewed volatility across global stock and currency markets.

On May 23, Trump first posted that he would impose at least a 25% tariff on iPhones produced overseas, stating, "I’ve long told Apple’s Tim Cook that iPhones destined for the U.S. should be made in America—not in India or elsewhere." He followed up with another post criticizing the EU, claiming it has been "very difficult to deal with" on trade and that "no progress" has been made, threatening to slap a 50% tariff on EU goods starting June 1.

The EU has long resisted Trump’s demands, particularly regarding the value-added tax (VAT), which Trump views as an unfair trade practice. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Economic Policy, previously stated that VAT is not part of bilateral trade negotiations. He emphasized that the U.S.-EU trade relationship is unique and must be based on mutual respect rather than threats, adding that the EU is ready to defend its interests at any time.

Following Trump’s posts, stock markets in both the U.S. and Europe initially plummeted, but losses narrowed by the end of the trading day. The S&P 500 ultimately closed down 0.67%. Many analysts believe Trump's threat is yet another negotiation tactic. According to the Financial Times, the industries most likely to be impacted by the proposed tariffs include pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and automotive sectors. EU Commission data shows that the U.S. is the EU’s largest trading partner, with exports to the U.S. exceeding €530 billion in 2024. Major exporters include Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland.

In April, Trump introduced the idea of "reciprocal tariffs" on all U.S. trade partners, initially setting the EU rate at 20%, then postponing implementation for 90 days to allow for negotiations. The New York Times reports that the EU had offered to significantly reduce tariffs on a reciprocal basis and to increase purchases of U.S. energy products. However, European officials have often expressed frustration over the unclear objectives of U.S. trade policy and uncertainty over who is actually in charge. Trump’s unpredictable stance has added to the confusion. Observers believe Trump ultimately aims to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and boost domestic employment. However, multiple media outlets have pointed out that manufacturing products like the iPhone domestically poses serious challenges, including a lack of supporting supply chains and a shortage of large numbers of low-cost skilled workers. Implementing such a shift abruptly would result in high costs and logistical hurdles.

Media reports state that U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariff measures in early April, sparking international turmoil. On the 21st, twelve U.S. states filed a lawsuit with the United States Court of International Trade, accusing Trump of exceeding presidential authority and calling for a suspension of the tariff measures.

According to the report, Democratic attorneys general from New York, Illinois, Oregon, and nine other states argued that Trump severely misinterpreted the **International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)** as a legal basis for implementing his tariff policy. They emphasized that the IEEPA is intended for addressing extraordinary threats to the United States, and that a trade deficit does not constitute a national emergency. Moreover, the law does not grant the president the authority to impose tariffs — the power to levy taxes, including tariffs, belongs to Congress as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

The report also notes that the case will be heard by a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of International Trade, with a decision expected in the coming weeks. Brett Shumate, an attorney for the Department of Justice, defended the administration by arguing that the IEEPA grants the president authority to engage in trade negotiations and advance foreign policy objectives. He stated that the tariffs were intended to exert pressure and provide the president with necessary leverage.