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A US naval blockade of Iranian ports is now in effect, while back-channel mediators reportedly pursue a deal after talks in Islamabad ended without agreement.

Elsewhere, Canada's Carney secured a Liberal majority, Hungary's incoming PM signaled an end to its block on the EU's €90 billion Ukraine loan, and Britain shelved its planned Chagos Islands handover after the US withdrew support.

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1️⃣ 🇪🇸🇨🇳 Spain and China pledge multilateral cooperation: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, with both leaders committing to strengthen bilateral ties and jointly defend multilateralism amid ongoing global conflicts and trade tensions. The visit, Sánchez's fourth to China in just over three years, comes as he faces a strained relationship with the U.S. over his opposition to the war in Iran.

2️⃣ 🇭🇺🇺🇦 Hungary to drop block on EU Ukraine loan: Incoming PM Péter Magyar signaled his government will end its opposition to the EU's €90 billion loan to Ukraine, bringing a four-month standoff caused by outgoing PM Viktor Orbán to a close. Magyar confirmed Hungary will opt out of contributing to the funds, citing the country's strained fiscal position.

3️⃣ 🇬🇧 UK shelves Chagos Islands handover after US withdrawal: Britain has abandoned its legislation to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Washington withdrew support for the deal. The agreement, which would have leased the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years, has collapsed after updating a required 1966 UK-US agreement became unachievable without U.S. backing.

4️⃣ 🇸🇸 Opposition retakes strategic South Sudan town: Opposition forces seized the town of Akobo in Jonglei State, ousting government troops and capturing military vehicles and weapons during fighting that began over the weekend. The UN Mission in South Sudan has called for a cessation of hostilities and warned of worsening humanitarian conditions, with its local base also set to close due to budget cuts.

5️⃣ 🇨🇦 Carney secures Liberal majority government: Canadian PM Mark Carney's Liberal party reached 172 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons after winning a special election in the University-Rosedale riding, securing a parliamentary majority. The result allows Carney to pass legislation without opposition support and consolidates his hold on power until at least 2029.

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Major Story

🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

🇺🇸🇮🇷 US naval blockade of Iran takes effect: The US blockade of Iranian ports came into effect, targeting Iran's oil-dependent economy and pressuring Tehran to accept demands over uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz. No allies have joined the effort, with the UK, Germany, France and several other European nations all ruling out participation.

Diplomacy

🇮🇷 Iran calls US blockade piracy as oil tops $100: Iran's military condemned the naval blockade as illegal, warning that no Gulf ports would be safe if its own were threatened, as oil prices surged nearly 8 percent with WTI and Brent both crossing $100 a barrel.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 US-Iran back-channel talks continue despite Islamabad failure: Mediators are pushing for lower-level technical discussions after weekend negotiations ended without a deal, with key disputes remaining over Iran's nuclear facilities, a 440kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and conflicting interpretations of the ceasefire terms. One diplomat described both sides as having entered with maximalist positions.

🇱🇧 Hezbollah rejects Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged Lebanon's government to boycott planned talks with Israel in Washington, calling them a ploy to pressure the group into disarming. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 2,055 people and displaced 1.2 million since early March.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇰🇵 North Korea tests missiles from new destroyer: Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon as part of operational trials. State media reported Kim was also briefed on weapons plans for two additional destroyers under construction, with an analyst noting it marked the first official acknowledgement of a fourth destroyer being built.

2️⃣ 🇧🇷 Brazil's fugitive ex-intel chief detained in US: Alexandre Ramagem, sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in a coup plot to keep Jair Bolsonaro in power, was detained by U.S. immigration authorities in Florida after fleeing Brazil. The circumstances remain disputed, with a Bolsonaro ally claiming the arrest stemmed from a traffic stop rather than Brazil's extradition request.

3️⃣ 🇵🇪 Peru election headed for June runoff amid chaos: Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori led the first round with around 17 percent of the vote, well short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second round scheduled for June 7. The election was marred by logistical failures that prevented roughly 63,000 people from voting, prompting authorities to extend polling and detain one election official over the disruptions.

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