Title: Palestine Condemns Israel's Closure of UNRWA Schools in East Jerusalem

On May 8, Sadiq Qadur, spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Education, stated that the department condemned Israel's closure of schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, deeming it "a violation of children's right to education." Qadur called on international agencies, especially UNESCO and UNICEF, to take action to defend the right of local children to education and to force Israel to reverse this decision.

German Interior Minister Orders Ban on Entry for Undocumented Migrants

On May 7 local time, Alexander Dobrindt, the newly appointed German Interior Minister, issued an order to deny entry to undocumented migrants at the German border, including asylum seekers. Dobrindt announced his decision to revoke the 2015 directive that allowed undocumented migrants from third countries to enter Germany, aiming to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, and he stated that the current number of illegal immigrants in Germany remains unacceptably high.

Poland to Shut Down Russian Consulate in Krakow over Alleged Arson Link

On May 12, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that Poland will close the Russian consulate in Krakow. The reason behind this decision is Poland's claim that Russia is linked to an arson incident in May 2024. Sikorski posted on social media that Polish authorities have found evidence of "deliberate sabotage" by Russian intelligence agents at the Marywilska Street shopping center in Warsaw. He wrote, "I have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the Russian consulate in Krakow."

US - China Tariff Cut Agreement Expected to Drive Up Freight Rates

The recent agreement between the US and China to cut trade tariffs is anticipated to lead to a rise in freight rates. This is because businesses from both countries are competing to take advantage of the 90 - day grace period to ship goods across the Pacific. In recent weeks, the rapid escalation of tariffs has caused a significant decline in freight volume. Last month, China's exports to the US decreased by 21%, and imports fell by nearly 14%. Maersk, the container giant, estimated last week that the bilateral trade volume between China and the US in April dropped by 30% to 40%.

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