Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the "ruthless" US embargo at the UN General Assembly, citing record damages of $8 billion and "collective punishment." Most regional blocs supported Cuba, while the US faced diplomatic pressure to prevent the debate.
Bitcoin fell to ~$63,316 after a brief rally, as renewed Israel-Iran conflict triggered a risk-off market, surging energy prices and dragging equity markets down, highlighting crypto's vulnerability to geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures.
President Trump has postponed planned military strikes against Iran for a few days, citing diplomatic pressure from Gulf allies and ongoing negotiations. US forces were prepared for an air campaign, but leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE urged restraint, fearing regional destabilization and retaliation.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday pressed China to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz even as he stressed that the US has “absolute control” over the strategic waterway. “Let’s see [China] step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” Bessent said in a Fox News interview. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and China has been buying 90 per cent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of...
