The Bassiouni Group

04/02/2026

Most companies are underestimating what it will take to meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). With the December 30th, 2026, deadline approaching, many multinationals are discovering that compliance requires new levels of supply chain visibility, geolocation data, legal coordination, and operational change.

On Wednesday, May 6th (12pm EDT), TBG's David Solomon Bassiouni and Kathrine Nasteva will co-host the "EUDR: 2026 Playbook" webinar. This session is designed for sustainability, legal, compliance, and supply chain leaders on the frontlines. Register here (https://bassiounigroup.com/events). The webinar include key insights from our experience preparing Fortune 500 clients, and we will cover the following:

🎯 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 – How to effectively navigate the new landscape and core requirements.

🎯 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 – How leading organizations can accelerate and optimize overall compliance.

🎯 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 – Latest insights and what key EU authorities actually expect.

🎯 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Where companies are getting stuck and how to tackle key issues.

🎯 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 – What you need to prioritize, including key tips on supplier engagement & the data gathering process, due diligence statements, and risk management.

If you are focused on hashtag compliance, this session will help you move from planning to ex*****on, and you can take the practical steps to avoid last-minute risk. Also, you can present any questions you might have during the Q&A portion. Click here (https://bassiounigroup.com/events).

02/20/2026

In a major decision, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) struck down the Trump administration's global tariffs -- the President's signature economic policy. SCOTUS ruled that the President does not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs.

The decision will reverberate for some time and there are a number of implications to consider in the coming days and weeks.

For now, it's likely that the administration will use other (more limited) mechanisms: "Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the administration to impose tariffs to address trade deficits, but those tariffs are limited to 15%, and can only be imposed for 150 days. Likewise, Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allow the president to impose tariffs, but only after a fact-finding by the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department." As this plays out, what happens to the trade deals negotiated over the past year and the administration's use of tariffs as a major tool in foreign policy (not just economic policy)? Could the administration go through Congress to secure a legislative path? This is possible but much harder now given Republicans' razor-thin majority in the House and pending Midterms.

Additionally, thousands of American businesses impacted by the tariffs could use the "duty drawback" provision to secure billions of dollars in refunds ($142B collected so far). The "duty drawback" provision does not apply to all businesses and there may be a messy legal fight ahead. Businesses may also expect and plan for a more predictable trade environment -- without the threat of sweeping tariffs. It's also worth noting that some companies (e.g. Costco) filed a lawsuit filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in late 2025 in the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeking a full refund of duties paid on imported goods. Today's SCOTUS decision will only strengthen Costco's argument. American consumers, who have absorbed some of the downward price pressures as businesses passed on costs, may find some relief in the mid-term.

More to come. Watch this space.

BREAKING: The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, undercutting his signature economic policy and delivering his biggest legal defeat since he returned to the White House. Read our full live coverage: bloom.bg/4coneMj

📷: Nathan Howard/Getty Images

02/05/2026

Join The Global List Podcast for part 2 of "Drone Wars: The Future of Warfare". Timely analysis of drone warfare in the Ukraine-Russia War and how it's reshaping warfare. Listen now (https://open.spotify.com/episode/46r4Un3TGMsqYcJ5x2jWlC?si=4ae00137463b429f).

Episode Summary:
Drones are redefining the battlefield and redefining . In the Ukraine-Russia War, we are witnessing the real-time and devastating impact of drones. We are also witnessing considerable and tactical adaptation. So, how are drones changing the battle space, and how will they impact the future of beyond the conflict? How are reshaping hashtag strategy, tactics, and operations? What is the significance of Operation Spiderweb, and how are both sides innovating in the sky and underwater? What is happening on the ground in Ukraine right now, and what critical factors do we need to know? We spoke to Dr. Marina Miron, a leading military expert at King's College (London), to gain deeper insights and technical analysis to understand the broader implications for the conflict as well as Europe, , and the world. Part 2 of 2.

02/05/2026

some countries are worried about publicly refusing trump’s demands.

others are not.

02/05/2026

02/05/2026

Trump administration policies and current economic conditions could lead to “a widespread collapse of American agriculture,” a coalition of former Agriculture Department officials and leaders of farm groups warned in a letter to members of Congress. Read more: https://nyti.ms/4avLBGi

02/05/2026

❄️ South Florida’s cold snap has left green thousands of iguanas immobilized — a rare sight as these reptiles, usually thriving in the heat, freeze in the chill. Once they warm up, they regain their mobility. However, many residents see them as a nuisance and are calling for their extermination while they are in this vulnerable state. The state has collected 5000 that will be killed.

People complain that they burrow under their sidewalks when it's cold. And that they eat certain plants or flowers from their landscaping. There is also some correlation to the Anoles lizard, the native lizard of Florida, who is being encroached upon.

So it seems important to mention that all creatures offer value to the ecosystem.

🦎 Green iguanas play an important role in the ecosystem:

* They help disperse seeds from fruits they eat, supporting native plants.
* Their burrows can provide shelter for other wildlife, like rabbits, lizards, and small mammals.
* They are a food source for predators, including birds of prey and large snakes, contributing to natural food webs.

🌿 Complaints about iguanas often focus on minor annoyances — fallen branches, garden plants, or their sheer numbers — but their ecological contributions are real and valuable. Even invasive species like iguanas can provide benefits, especially in disturbed urban and suburban habitats.

💡 This cold snap is a reminder: ecosystems are complex. Every animal, native or not, has a role — and survival isn’t just about human convenience. Respecting their place in the world matters, even if it challenges our expectations.

02/05/2026

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this year's elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.

No justices dissented from the brief order.

Read more at https://abc7.la/4rretFb

02/05/2026

Europeans bought over 300,000 EVs last month, boosting the year-over-year figures by a solid 50% and overtaking gas cars, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

This latest shift comes after EVs surpassed diesel cars at the end of 2023, and after plug-in hybrids outsold oil-burners a year later. Diesel-powered cars can still be bought in Europe, but their market share has been constantly declining in the past decade, going from market leader to the bottom of the pack.

02/05/2026

🔊 ‘People are arguing that Trump should free the United States right now from the New START limits in order to respond to a big and rapid buildup of China's nuclear arsenal.’ Listen now on the Reuters World News podcast https://reut.rs/4adI1z5

02/05/2026

China's solar capacity set to overtake coal in history shift.

Wind and solar combined are projected to account for about half of China’s total installed power capacity

12/24/2025

Back by popular demand, it’s the special holiday episode of The Global List Podcast -- "Christmas Around the World". Click here (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1e72lVqwElYl1zki7fPlgF) to listen, relax, sip on some eggnog/mulled wine and learn about the most interesting and quirkiest holiday traditions from the Bahamas to Germany to the U.S. Our special guest is New York Times Bestseller Alex Palmer, author of “The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World”.

The Global List Podcast is available wherever you stream your favorite podcasts e.g. Spotify, Apple, Pandora, iHeartRadio etc.

Episode Summary:

Join us for a special, holiday-themed episode of The Global List Podcast as we travel around the world – from Germany to Spain to Scotland to the Bahamas – to find the most interesting Christmas traditions, intriguing characters and fascinating customs. Our special guest is Alex Palmer, the author of the New York Times Bestseller "The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas" as well as "The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World". So grab some eggnog (or mulled wine), sit back and get ready for a Christmas journey unlike any other.