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Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, drawing criticism from Somalia and international bodies over potential military expansion.

This comes as Russia launched over 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine in its deadliest attack in months, and as European nations accelerate military spending amid doubts about U.S. commitment under Trump.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇱🇸🇴 Israel appoints ambassador to Somaliland: Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland after recognizing the breakaway region in December, drawing condemnation from Somalia as a sovereignty breach. The UN, African Union, and European Union have criticized the move, while Somali officials fear Israel may establish a military base targeting Yemen.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇸🇾 U.S. withdraws from Syrian air base: U.S. forces completed their withdrawal from Qasrak Air Base in Syria’s Hasakah province as part of a broader pullback, with Syrian forces regaining control following a Kurdish-government agreement and counter-ISIS operations. The U.S. said it will continue supporting regional counterterrorism efforts.

3️⃣ 🇻🇦🇺🇸 Pope condemns war spending, clashes with Trump: Pope Leo XIV criticized leaders spending billions on military campaigns during a Cameroon visit, remarks that followed public disagreement with President Trump over Iran military action. Trump has attacked the pope multiple times this week over the Iran conflict, with analysts saying it’s harming his standing among Catholics.

4️⃣ 🇪🇺🇳🇦🇹🇴 Europe builds independent defense capacity: European nations are ramping up military spending and developing autonomous defense capabilities, sparking tensions with NATO over procurement approaches. The shift stems from doubts about U.S. commitment under Trump and concerns over Russian activity, with significant funding directed to Ukraine and German weapons purchases.

5️⃣ 🇪🇺🇭🇺 EU races to unlock Hungary funds: European Commission officials are meeting with Péter Magyar’s incoming government Friday to begin unfreezing €17 billion in suspended funds following his election victory over Viktor Orbán. Discussions will also cover Hungary’s blocking of a €90 billion Ukraine loan, with an August deadline looming before Hungary forfeits nearly €10 billion.

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Major Story

🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

🇺🇸 Hegseth vows indefinite blockade while keeping military option open: The Defense Secretary said the U.S. will maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports as long as necessary and remain armed to strike energy infrastructure. Iranian officials expressed doubt about U.S. sincerity and warned the blockade risks collapsing the ceasefire.

🇫🇷🇩🇪 France and Germany split on US role in Hormuz security: Macron is excluding the United States from European plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while German Chancellor Merz backs U.S. involvement. The Trump administration dismissed the European effort, asserting U.S. naval forces are sufficient to protect the waterway independently.

Diplomacy

🇵🇰 Pakistan pursues diplomatic track as ceasefire deadline looms: Prime Minister Sharif is meeting Gulf leaders while military officials negotiate directly with Tehran to schedule a second round of talks, but no date has been confirmed before the April 22 ceasefire expiration. Lebanon's status, Strait of Hormuz control, and Iran's nuclear program remain unresolved sticking points.

🇺🇸 House Democrats fail again on Iran war powers resolution: A Democratic measure to restrict Trump's war authority lost narrowly with just one Republican backing it, mirroring a Senate defeat hours earlier. Some Republicans signaled potential support if hostilities persisted beyond the current month, though Trump's veto would likely block passage anyway.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump claims Iran concedes on nuclear material, talks remain stalled: The president announced Iran agreed to hand over enriched uranium buried beneath bombed nuclear sites, though Tehran has not confirmed the claim. Both sides remain far apart on enrichment timelines, Strait of Hormuz access, and war damages compensation, with potential resumed talks within days.

Economy/Oil

🇮🇷 Iran's storage capacity nears limit under U.S. blockade: A sustained naval blockade would force Iran to curtail oil production within two weeks, though Tehran maintains it can sustain output through pre-loaded tankers and withstand economic pressure longer than Washington can tolerate rising energy prices. Iranian officials argue the blockade is unenforceable and threaten escalation via Houthi allies in the Red Sea.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia’s heaviest strike in months: Russia launched over 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight in its deadliest attack in months, killing at least 18 people in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Ukrainian officials called for stronger sanctions and rapid EU loan approval following the strike that came after a brief Orthodox Easter pause.

2️⃣ 🇵🇰 Pakistan Navy tests anti-ship missile: Pakistan’s Navy successfully conducted a live-fire test of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship ballistic missile on April 15, demonstrating extended-range precision strike capability. Military leadership attended the test, which officials said affirms the Navy’s commitment to regional maritime deterrence.

3️⃣ 🇦🇺 Fire cripples major Australian refinery: A fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery burned for 13 hours Thursday, disrupting production at a facility supplying 10 percent of Australia’s fuel amid global shortages tied to the Iran conflict. Officials said Australia’s imported fuel reliance should mitigate supply disruptions despite the incident.

4️⃣ 🇰🇿🇨🇳 Kazakhstan convicts Xinjiang activists: A Kazakh court sentenced 19 activists to prison or movement curbs following their November protest against Beijing’s Xinjiang policies, the largest such crackdown by Kazakhstan’s government. The convictions came after China’s consulate submitted a diplomatic complaint and reflect Kazakhstan’s prioritization of Beijing ties over domestic freedoms.

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