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President Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany after Chancellor Merz criticized American negotiations with Iran, while Trump and Putin discussed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire in a 90-minute call.

This comes as a federal grand jury indicted Mexico's Sinaloa governor on cartel charges, and as the nuclear test ban chief warned any nation resuming testing would trigger an unstoppable spiral.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇩🇪 Trump threatens troop withdrawal from Germany: President Trump announced his administration is reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. forces in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized American negotiations with Iran as ineffective. The threat escalates NATO tensions, as Trump has also suggested withdrawing from the alliance over European reluctance to support U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, though U.S. legislation prevents full withdrawal without congressional approval.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇷🇺 Trump and Putin float Ukraine ceasefire in 90-minute call: The Russian and American presidents discussed a potential temporary Ukraine ceasefire coinciding with Victory Day celebrations, with Putin welcoming Trump’s Iran ceasefire extension while warning against a U.S. ground operation. Putin offered to help relocate Iran’s uranium to Russia.

3️⃣ 🇲🇽 U.S. indicts Sinaloa governor on cartel charges: A federal grand jury charged Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine other Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses for allegedly assisting a Sinaloa cartel faction in exchange for bribes. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said the extradition requests lack sufficient evidence under Mexican law, while Rocha Moya categorically denied the accusations.

4️⃣ 🇬🇧 New IRA claims Belfast car bombing, threatens escalation: Northern Ireland police arrested a 66-year-old man under terrorism laws following a car bomb attack on a Belfast police station claimed by the New IRA. The dissident group stated it intended to target officers, marking a potential escalation nearly three decades after the Good Friday Agreement.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 Nuclear test ban chief warns of unstoppable testing spiral: The head of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization cautioned that if any nation resumes nuclear testing, others will follow in a spiral that may never stop. The warning follows 2025 threats from both the U.S. and Russia to resume testing, with Trump accusing Russia and China of conducting tests and ordering the Defense Department to begin testing on an equal basis.

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Major Story

🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

1️⃣ 🇱🇧🇮🇱 Israeli double-tap strike kills rescuers in Lebanon: Two successive Israeli airstrikes killed nine people, including three emergency workers responding to the initial attack, in what Lebanese officials termed a "double-tap" operation and the prime minister labeled a war crime.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump to receive briefing on new Iran military options: President Trump is reportedly scheduled to receive a Thursday briefing from CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper on new military plans, including a "short and powerful" strike wave targeting infrastructure. According to Axios, additional options include seizing part of the Strait of Hormuz using ground forces and a potential special forces mission to secure Iran's uranium stockpile.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 Hegseth defends Iran war amid $25bn cost reveal: Defense Secretary Hegseth rejected claims the Iran conflict is a quagmire and declared congressional critics pose a greater threat than Iran, as the Pentagon disclosed the war has cost $25 billion. 

Diplomatic

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump rejects Iran's Hormuz proposal and orders extended blockade: President Trump rejected Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while postponing nuclear talks, insisting Tehran must first abandon its nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal reported Trump has instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged naval blockade, choosing economic pressure over resuming bombing or withdrawing.

Oil/Economy

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 Oil prices spike on extended Iran blockade fears: Oil prices surged above $120 per barrel, briefly hitting $122, following reports that the US is preparing for an extended blockade after Trump met energy executives.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇬🇧 Trump claims King Charles agrees on Iran nuclear ban: President Trump stated at a White House state dinner that King Charles agrees Iran should never possess nuclear weapons, remarks likely to embarrass royal aides given the monarch’s required political neutrality. The King’s state visit comes amid strained U.S.-UK relations over the Iran war, with Charles emphasizing NATO’s importance and Ukraine support in a congressional address while avoiding direct mention of the Iran conflict.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇴 Trump excluded from 60-nation climate conference: The Trump administration was not invited to a climate conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels, with organizers citing a “coalition of do-ers” as their criteria. Colombia’s Environment Minister defended the exclusion, stating major emitters at UN negotiations have pushed for vetoes preventing fossil fuel discussions.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇳 U.S. and China clash over Panama sovereignty dispute: The U.S. State Department and regional allies accused China of violating Panama’s sovereignty by detaining Panama-flagged ships after Panama seized two canal ports from a Hong Kong-based company subsidiary. China’s Foreign Ministry called the U.S. hypocritical, citing America’s historical military occupation of Panama and Trump’s aggressive Latin America policies, while Panama’s president attempted to defuse tensions.

4️⃣ 🇺🇦🇮🇱 Ukraine requests Israel seize ship carrying alleged stolen grain: Ukraine asked Israel to seize the vessel Panormitis and its grain cargo, which Kyiv claims was stolen from Russian-occupied territories, requesting searches, documentation seizures, and crew questioning. The request sparked a diplomatic dispute, with Israel accusing Ukraine of “Twitter diplomacy” for publicly raising the issue before submitting formal legal requests.

5️⃣ 🇩🇪 Germany arrests Kazakh citizen on Russia espionage charges: German authorities arrested a Kazakh national accused of providing Russian intelligence with details about German military aid to Ukraine and NATO movements since May 2025. The arrest is the latest in a series of Moscow-linked espionage cases uncovered since Russia’s 2022 invasion, including alleged sabotage plots and cyberattacks aimed at undermining German support for Kyiv.

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