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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pressured Latin American governments to escalate military operations against drug cartels, threatening unilateral U.S. action if they fail to comply.

This comes as Israel launched broad strikes across Tehran and Beirut on day seven of the Iran conflict, China announced its lowest GDP growth target in decades, and President Trump replaced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇱🇦 Hegseth escalates cartel fight across Latin America: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressured regional governments to intensify military operations against drug trafficking organizations, threatening unilateral U.S. action if they fail to act effectively. The Pentagon has conducted 44 strikes on suspected smugglers in Caribbean and Pacific waters, killing at least 150 people, after the administration designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇳 US grants India waiver to buy Russian oil: The treasury department issued a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian crude oil stranded at sea amid Middle East disruptions. The measure is designed to limit financial benefit to Moscow while expecting India to shift toward U.S. oil purchases.

3️⃣ 🇺🇦 Ukraine offers air defense help to Gulf allies: Ukraine signaled willingness to provide interceptor drones and air defense training to Gulf countries confronting Iranian attacks. The offer is contingent on acquiring additional Patriot missile systems and protecting its own defenses against Russian threats.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇦🇮 Pentagon designates Anthropic supply chain risk: The U.S. Department of Defense officially deemed artificial intelligence firm Anthropic a supply chain risk in an unprecedented move. The company's chief executive announced plans to challenge the designation in court.

5️⃣ 🇨🇳 China sets lowest growth target in decades: China announced a record-low GDP growth target of 4.5-5% for 2026, the first time since 1991 the figure has fallen below 5%, signaling a strategic shift from export-led growth toward "high-quality growth" centered on technology and structural reform. Premier Li Qiang cited an aging population, weak property sector, and domestic demand challenges as headwinds, while a new five-year plan emphasizes innovation and consumption through 2030.

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Major Story

🇮🇷🇮🇱🇺🇸 Iran War Day 7: Israel launches broad strikes as US claims major naval gains

Massive escalation in Beirut and Tehran

Israel launched broad strikes across Tehran and Beirut on Friday, with the military conducting 26 waves of attacks on southern Beirut after issuing evacuation orders for over 500,000 residents, while also targeting what it described as Hezbollah command centers and drone storage facilities. The US reported Iranian missile and drone attacks have declined 90 percent and 83 percent respectively since day one, and that it has sunk over 30 Iranian ships including a drone carrier left engulfed in flames. Strikes in Tehran hit political and security sites including the Supreme National Security Council and Presidential Office, according to open-source reports. Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced new retaliatory waves claiming strikes on Israeli targets and US bases across the region, though the full scope and effects of these claimed attacks remain contested between Iranian and US-Israeli accounts.

Second Iranian vessel seeks refuge in Sri Lanka

A second Iranian naval vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, requested to dock at a Sri Lankan port after engine failure, with the country evacuating 208 crew members and maintaining its stated neutrality in the conflict.

Trump rules out ground invasion, insists on role in Iran's next leader

Trump said a US ground invasion of Iran would be a "waste of time" as the country has "lost everything," while also insisting he should be involved in selecting Iran's next supreme leader and declaring the late Khamenei's son "unacceptable." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that firepower over Iran would "surge dramatically" with help from the UK's newly granted access to military bases.

Trump offers immunity to Iranian forces who defect

Trump offered immunity to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian police who lay down their weapons, while warning others would face "guaranteed death." The offer extended to Iran's military personnel as well.

Hezbollah orders Israeli residents to evacuate border towns

Hezbollah issued an evacuation warning in Hebrew directing Israeli residents in settlements within 5 kilometers of the Lebanese border to leave immediately, stating that Israeli military aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and civilians "will not go unanswered."

White House scrambles to address soaring energy prices

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles directed advisers to present ideas for lowering gasoline prices following the conflict's impact on crude oil markets, with energy officials facing intense pressure to find solutions. The administration is considering options including a temporary gasoline tax holiday, using the military to defend energy infrastructure, and loosening sanctions on Russian oil shipments, though officials acknowledged such moves would require congressional action or carry diplomatic risks.

Gulf states reassess investments; maritime traffic halted

Gulf states began reviewing overseas investments and future commitments to manage budgetary strain from the conflict. Approximately 1,000 vessels remained anchored near the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing security concerns, with traffic down roughly 90 percent from the previous week. 

UK and allies deploy additional defenses

The UK deployed two Wildcat helicopters armed with anti-drone missiles to Cyprus and announced four additional Typhoon jets to Qatar, while France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands announced plans to send naval and air defense assets to the region. Canada's Prime Minister said he could not rule out future military participation while noting the US-Israeli strikes appeared "inconsistent with international law."

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇻🇪🇺🇸 Venezuela opens mining sector to foreign investment: Venezuela's interim government offered security assurances to foreign mining companies seeking to reopen operations. The Trump administration seeks to diversify critical mineral supplies away from China and secure resources essential for high-tech manufacturing.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇿 US warns Czech Republic on defense spending: The U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic opposed the government's plan to reduce defense spending to 1.8%. He reminded officials that NATO allies must honor commitments to increase expenditures to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 as binding agreements between sovereign nations.

3️⃣🇺🇸 Trump replaces Noem with Mullin at DHS: President Trump dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over mounting frustrations from administration officials and Republican lawmakers. He named Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement while reassigning Noem to a Western Hemisphere security role.

4️⃣ 🇨🇿🇪🇺 Czech parliament shields Babiš from fraud trial: The Czech parliament voted against stripping Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of his immunity, protecting him from standing trial on EU subsidy fraud charges related to a 2007 farm scheme worth over €1.70 million. Babiš, who has already been acquitted twice but faced a court-ordered retrial, called the charges "clearly politically motivated" and an effort to reverse the election results.

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