Following the departure of President Bashar al-Assad from Syria due to advancing rebel forces, various foreign powers are competing for influence in the region, marking a significant geopolitical shift in the Middle East.
President Biden is set to issue an executive order aimed at restricting foreign governments' ability to purchase sensitive personal data of Americans, such as health and geolocation information, due to national security concerns. The order will empower the Justice Department to regulate commercial transactions that pose a risk to national security and require better protection of sensitive government information, including data on US military members. The move comes in response to the growing threat of foreign powers buying Americans' personal data from data brokers, with a focus on countries like China and Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his call for a sovereign Europe that is less dependent on foreign powers, particularly the US and China. He emphasized the need for Europe to develop its own technological and industrial capabilities, as well as its own defense strategy. Macron's comments come as Europe faces increasing pressure from the US and China on issues such as trade, technology, and security.