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US forces reportedly struck Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces targeted American destroyers, while a federal court ruled Trump's across-the-board 10% global tariffs exceeded presidential authority.

This comes as China sentenced two former defence ministers to death as part of Xi Jinping's military anti-corruption purge, and Russia threatened strikes on Kyiv ahead of its Victory Day commemorations.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇪🇺🇷🇺 EU weighs direct talks with Russia over Ukraine: European Council President António Costa said the bloc is considering engaging Moscow directly, with Zelenskyy’s backing, though he acknowledged no signs Russia is ready for serious negotiations. US-led peace efforts, from which EU capitals were excluded, remain stalled since a trilateral meeting in February, with Russia demanding full control of the Donbas and recognition of its territorial annexations, which Ukraine has rejected.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇺 US rules out imminent military action against Cuba: Washington is offering Havana tens of millions in humanitarian aid, Starlink access, and agricultural support in exchange for political reforms, though officials say they are not optimistic the offer will be accepted. The Trump administration simultaneously imposed new sanctions on a Cuban military-run conglomerate, while Havana insists its internal governance and political prisoners are non-negotiable.

3️⃣ 🌍 WHO says hantavirus outbreak not a pandemic threat: Three people have died and five cases have been confirmed aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, but the WHO assessed the public health risk as low, noting the virus spreads very differently from COVID-19. Dozens of passengers who disembarked in St Helena before the virus was identified are being traced across multiple countries, with the ship due to arrive in the Canary Islands on 10 May.

4️⃣ 🇧🇷🇺🇸 Lula and Trump meet at White House amid trade tensions: The two leaders held a three-hour meeting covering trade, tariffs, and bilateral relations, with both expressing satisfaction despite cancelling a scheduled joint press appearance. Brazil faces a 10 percent tariff expiring in July alongside a Section 301 investigation into alleged unfair trade practices, with tensions persisting over digital trade and timber exports.

5️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia threatens Kyiv strikes ahead of Victory Day parade: Moscow warned foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, threatening retaliatory strikes on decision-making centres if its May 9 commemorations were disrupted, while fighting continued despite Ukraine’s unilateral ceasefire declaration. At least four people were killed in Russian attacks on Wednesday, with Kyiv having struck deep inside Russia earlier in the week.

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Major Story

🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US strikes Iranian ports amid Hormuz transit: American forces reportedly struck Iran's Qeshm port, Bandar Abbas, and the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint, with CENTCOM framing the action as self-defense after Iranian forces targeted US destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A senior US official said the strikes did not signal a return to war, while also confirming Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had briefly withdrawn basing and airspace access for Project Freedom before reversing course.

Diplomatic

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US-Iran deal framework under consideration: Iran is reviewing a US 14-point memorandum that could serve as a framework for nuclear negotiations, with Pakistan acting as mediator, though Iranian lawmakers have publicly dismissed the proposal. Trump predicted the war would end quickly while simultaneously threatening heavier strikes if no agreement is reached.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Gulf states push UN sanctions threat over Hormuz: The US and Gulf nations are advancing a Security Council resolution that would threaten Iran with sanctions if it fails to halt ship attacks, remove sea mines, and restore free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign minister said transit would only resume if the war ends and sanctions are lifted, while Russia and China are reportedly considering a competing text.

3️⃣ 🇸🇦🇦🇪 Saudi refusal grounded Project Freedom: Saudi Arabia's denial of access to its Prince Sultan airbase and airspace forced Trump to shelve the planned military escort operation through the Strait of Hormuz, even after a direct call between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to change Riyadh's position. The standoff has widened a Gulf rift, with the UAE — already having left OPEC — now reportedly considering withdrawing from the Arab League over frustrations with Saudi caution.

4️⃣ 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Gaza ceasefire talks collapse over disarmament: Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached a deadlock, with Israel demanding Hamas disarm under Trump's 20-point plan before completing first-phase obligations, while Hamas is conditioning any progress on an end to military operations and greater humanitarian access. At least 846 people have been killed in Gaza since the October ceasefire, and Israeli media reports suggest a resumption of full-scale fighting is being actively considered.

Oil/Economy

1️⃣ 🇨🇳🇮🇷 First Chinese tanker attacked near Hormuz: A Chinese-owned oil products tanker caught fire off the UAE coast on Monday in what was reported as the first attack on a Chinese vessel since the conflict began.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇨🇳 China sentences two former defence ministers to death: Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were handed death sentences with a two-year reprieve for bribery as part of Xi Jinping’s long-running military anti-corruption purge, with the sentences expected to be commuted to life imprisonment. The court ruled out any further commutation or parole, while the purge has left the Central Military Commission with just one member besides Xi himself.

2️⃣ 🇪🇺 German experts say European defence autonomy is within reach: A paper published by the Kiel Institute identified ten critical capability gaps — including command and control, drone warfare, and missile defence — and estimated full autonomy would cost around €50 billion annually over the next decade. The authors argued the primary obstacle is political will rather than finances or industrial capacity, calling for a coordinated effort they compared in ambition to the Manhattan Project.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 US trade court strikes down Trump’s 10% global tariffs: A federal trade court ruled 2-1 that the across-the-board tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the 1974 trade law invoked to justify them, following a legal challenge by small businesses. The court found that the trade deficits cited by Trump did not meet the legal threshold required under a law permitting temporary duties only to address balance-of-payments crises or imminent currency depreciation.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸 Trump strategy labels Europe a terrorism incubator: The administration’s new counterterrorism strategy accused Europe of fostering terrorism through mass migration, warning that current immigration policies make further attacks “guaranteed.” The strategy also expands domestic focus to include what it terms “violent left-wing extremists” and groups described as “radically pro-transgender,” while placing Latin American drug cartels among its central targets.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸🇻🇦 Rubio visits Vatican to repair rift with Pope Leo XIV: The secretary of state met the pontiff in an effort to ease tensions caused by Trump’s social media attacks on Leo over his opposition to the Iran war and criticism of US immigration policy. Cuba was also on the agenda, with the Vatican expressing concern over potential US military action there, while Leo reiterated he had never endorsed Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, directly contradicting Trump’s characterisation of his position.

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