On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to Communist forces, ending a war that had raged on for nearly two decades, taking millions of lives and leaving thousands displaced.
The Vietnam War (1955–1975) was a conflict between communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and its allies. After years of brutal fighting, the U.S. withdrew in 1973, and Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces in 1975, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.
Fifty years after the fall of Saigon, a new poll shows the Vietnam War remains the least supported of the major American wars of the past century.
The Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll found that sentiment is even stronger among those who fought in the war: 46 percent of Vietnam veterans said they don’t believe it was justified, while 41 percent said they do.
More than 3 million people still suffer serious health issues linked to exposure to Agent Orange, the chemical used by U.S. forces during the conflict.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Ukraine, United States Expected To Sign Minerals Deal - UPI
The BBC, CNN, and Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions, that the two sides were prepared to sign a deal.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, speaking on Ukrainian TV, confirmed Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was en route to Washington to sign the deal.
"Yes, we are planning to sign the deal today," a senior Ukrainian official told Politico. "The United States also agreed to contribute to the reconstruction fund. For example, if the U.S. gives Ukraine air defense systems, their money [...] can be considered as a contribution to the fund."
2. Russia, N. Korea Announce Road Bridge To Symbolize 'Unbreakable' Ties - AFP
Russia and North Korea started building the first road bridge between the neighbors, both countries touting it as a symbol of their growing alliance.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that work for the road link across the Tumen river had started, in a video meeting with the Chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, Pak Thae-song. The river forms the natural border between the two countries.
3. Investigation Exposes China’s Global Campaign Of Transnational Repression - RFA
Led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the project, China Targets, brought together more than 100 journalists from 42 media organizations.
Over a 10-month period, reporters interviewed 105 individuals across 23 countries who had been pursued, harassed, or threatened by Chinese authorities - often for merely expressing dissent online or engaging in peaceful activism. China Targets documents how protests were suppressed during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s foreign visits.
4. Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spy Tied To Killing Of Senior Military Officer - RFE/RL
Iran’s judiciary said it has executed Mohsen Langarneshin for allegedly spying for Israel and being involved in the high-profile assassination of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) colonel in 2022.
In addition to his alleged involvement in the killing of IRGC Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei in May 2022, Langarneshin was also accused of playing a role in a January 2023 drone attack on a military factory in Isfahan.
5. U.S. Sanctions Iran Ballistic Missile Propellant Procurement Network - UPI
The United States has sanctioned a network of firms accused of procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients for Iran, as the Trump administration and the Tehran regime hold negotiations on Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The U.S. departments of State and Treasury announced the sanctions Tuesday against six individuals and six entities based in Iran and China. They are accused by the Trump administration of facilitating the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from China for Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
6. Stocks Slip, Trump Says Boom Coming After Biden-Era Drag - TIPP Insights
President Donald Trump urged Americans to be "patient" with his tariff strategy, blaming former President Joe Biden for what he called an economic "overhang."
Writing on Truth Social, Trump distanced himself from recent market volatility, claiming, “This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s.” He insisted the current slowdown, highlighted by a 0.3% economic contraction in Q1, has “nothing to do with tariffs,” and predicted a historic boom once the Biden-era data clears.
7. Trump Admin Cracks Down On Media Leaks - TIPP Insights
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revealed that 11 individuals are under investigation for illegally leaking classified intelligence to the media, ABC News reported.
The probe is part of a broader Trump administration crackdown on unauthorized disclosures. The announcement comes just days after Gabbard said three intelligence officials were referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution.
8. North Korea Test-Fires Missiles From New Warship - D.W.
North Korean's state news agency KCNA said the country conducted its first test-firing of its new "Choe Hyon-class" warship earlier this week.
Leader Kim Jong Un and other officials attended the test, where supersonic and strategic cruise as well as anti-air missiles were launched. KCNA reported that Kim said the time had come for "accelerating the nuclear armament of the navy" for maritime sovereignty and for the sake of national defense.
9. Pakistan Warns Of 'Credible Intelligence' India Will Launch Attack In Next 24 To 36 Hours - UPI
Pakistan accused India of planning an imminent military strike using a terror attack that killed 26 Indian tourists in the disputed Kashmir region last week as a "false pretext" to hit out at its neighbor.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad had "credible intelligence" that the strike by New Delhi would be launched in the next 24 to 36 hours, warning that reckless actions by Indian forces would be met with a forceful response.
10. Russia, China, India Vying For Influence In Afghanistan As Taliban Seeks Legitimacy - RFE/RL
Afghanistan's Taliban rulers were shunned by foreign governments after seizing power in 2021, but recently the hard-line militants have notched up some big wins in their diplomatic efforts to forge international ties.
This week, Indian special envoy Anand Prakash was in Kabul for talks with senior Taliban leaders on boosting political and trade links. That came after Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov hosted a Taliban delegation in Tashkent to talk about a proposed trans-Afghan rail link. And last week, in the biggest win of all, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations and agreed that ambassadors would be appointed in Kabul and Moscow.
11. Oil Prices On Track For Biggest Monthly Drop Since 2021 As Trade War Sparks Recession, Demand Fears - Yahoo Finance
West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) futures were down over 3.5% on Wednesday to trade as low as $58.20 a barrel, while Brent crude (BZ=F), the international benchmark, also fell over 3.5% to as low as $60.93 a barrel.
Oil prices sank to session lows after a Reuters report indicated OPEC leader Saudi Arabia, is willing to live with lower prices for a prolonged period, hinting a faster unwind of production cuts in order to expand market share.
12. AI Companions Present Risks For Young Users, U.S. Watchdog Warns - AFP
AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for minors, leading tech watchdog, Common Sense, said in a study published.
The watchdog, Common Sense, tested several platforms, namely Nomi, Character AI, and Replika, to assess their responses. While some specific cases "show promise," they are not safe for kids, concluded the organization, which makes recommendations on children's use of technological content and products.
13. Side Effect Fears Prevent Many Depression, Anxiety Sufferers From Taking Meds, Survey Shows - UPI Health
Fear of side effects prevents more than half of those diagnosed with treatable depression and anxiety from taking medications that could help them, according to a survey released by a genetic testing company.
Myriad Genetics, the Salt Lake City-based maker of the GeneSight Psychotropic test, said the results of its latest GeneSight Mental Health Monitor survey showed 52% of Americans diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety are reluctant to use antidepressants or similar drugs, even though they overwhelmingly agree the medications are "somewhat" or "very" effective.
