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Britain is leading a new nine-nation European naval force designed for immediate combat readiness and intended to counter Russian threats, as Moscow separately reaffirmed its commitment to Mali's military junta following attacks that killed the country's defence minister.

Meanwhile, US officials warned Iran is using the ceasefire period to rapidly rebuild its missile capabilities ahead of a potential resumption of hostilities.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇬🇧🇪🇺 UK leads new European naval force: Britain and nine Joint Expeditionary Force nations agreed to establish a unified maritime force to counter Russian threats, commandable from Northwood and designed for immediate combat readiness. The US is excluded amid strained relations over the Strait of Hormuz, while Canada is considering joining as Russian incursions into British waters have risen by nearly a third in two years.

2️⃣ 🇷🇺🇲🇱 Russia refuses to leave Mali: Moscow rejected Tuareg separatist demands to withdraw following last weekend's attacks, which killed Mali's defence minister and forced Russia's Africa Corps out of a key northern town. The Kremlin reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the military junta and combating extremism.

3️⃣ 🇵🇰🇨🇳 Pakistan commissions first Chinese-built submarine: Pakistan inducted its first Hangor-class submarine at a ceremony in Sanya, China, beginning an eight-vessel acquisition intended to strengthen its naval deterrence. The submarine carries torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and special forces capacity, with the final four to be built domestically at Karachi Shipyard.

4️⃣ 🇵🇰 Fuel crisis threatens Pakistan's economy and government: Pakistan's oil import bill has surged from $300 million to $800 million following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, prompting the central bank to raise its key policy rate to 11.5 percent as analysts warn of cascading effects on food prices, transport and employment. The government faces a choice between passing costs onto consumers or subsidising fuel in breach of IMF conditions, with opposition parties moving to capitalise on the growing public discontent.

5️⃣ 🌍💱 Brics explores dollar-bypass payments system: Brics nations are assessing a digital payments framework allowing cross-border settlements in local currencies, aimed at reducing exposure to Western sanctions and dollar volatility. India faces pressure to tread carefully, with analysts warning the proposal could jeopardise its ongoing interim trade negotiations with Washington.

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Major Story

🇮🇷 Iran War Update

Military

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Hegseth accused of inflating Iran war success at Senate hearing: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced sharp criticism from Democrats at a Senate armed services committee hearing, with senior Democrat Jack Reed accusing him of feeding Trump exaggerated assessments of military success while the conflict remains stalemated. Reed also warned that Hegseth's dismissal of rules of engagement, firing of senior commanders, and pursuit of personal priorities were actively hollowing out the armed forces.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran using ceasefire to rebuild missile capabilities: U.S. officials say Iran has accelerated efforts to excavate missiles and munitions buried underground or beneath strike rubble, seeking to rapidly reconstitute its capabilities ahead of a potential resumption of hostilities. Trump is expected to decide on next steps in the coming days.

Diplomatic

1️⃣ 🇮🇷 Khamenei breaks silence with defiant Hormuz statement: Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei resurfaced publicly to assert Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and vow to protect its nuclear and missile programs, amid reports he was severely injured in the bombing that killed his predecessor. Dual blockades have pushed oil above $120 a barrel.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱🇱🇧 IDF chief declares no ceasefire in Lebanon amid renewed fighting: Israel's military chief said troops would continue operations in southern Lebanon to eliminate threats to northern communities, as Trump reportedly pushed back on Israeli requests to set a deadline on peace talks and greenlight an expanded campaign against Hezbollah. 

3️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump administration uses ceasefire to sidestep war powers deadline: A senior administration official declared the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has legally "terminated" hostilities under the War Powers Resolution, allowing the May 1 congressional deadline to pass without Trump seeking authorisation or withdrawing forces. Democrats disputed the claim, arguing no such legal provision exists, though Republican majorities in both chambers have blocked opposition efforts to curtail the war since it began.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukraine strikes deep into Russia as Putin floats ceasefire: Ukrainian drones hit a Lukoil refinery in Perm, over 1,500km from the front line, as Russia's aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities killed three and injured 79. Putin proposed a one-day ceasefire for Victory Day during a call with Trump, though Zelensky questioned whether it was substantive or merely a cover for the Moscow parade.

2️⃣ 🇪🇺🌎 EU-Mercosur deal takes provisional effect: The landmark trade agreement entered into force today after 25 years of negotiations, introducing phased tariff reductions and capped import quotas on beef, poultry and ethanol. Full implementation remains pending European Parliament approval and a European Court of Justice legal review.

3️⃣ 🇲🇲 Suu Kyi transferred to house arrest: Myanmar's military ruler commuted Aung San Suu Kyi's remaining prison sentence to house arrest, with her legal team learning of the decision through media rather than official channels. The UN welcomed the move as a meaningful step, though over 22,000 people remain detained since the 2021 coup.

4️⃣ 🇧🇪 Belgium moves to nationalise nuclear fleet: The Belgian government announced plans to fully acquire its seven nuclear reactors from French energy giant Engie, reversing decades-old phase-out legislation and suspending decommissioning plans for five reactors shut between 2022 and 2025. A takeover agreement is targeted by October 1, with the government also signalling intent to extend existing reactor operations and develop new nuclear capacity.

5️⃣ 🇮🇱🇺🇦 Israel rejects shipment of allegedly stolen Ukrainian grain: An Israeli grain importer refused to unload the bulk carrier Panormitis at Haifa after Ukraine accused Russia of systematically looting its agricultural resources, with the vessel departing without offloading its cargo. Israel's Foreign Ministry distanced itself from the decision, citing insufficient evidence from Kyiv, while the EU warned it may sanction individuals involved in circumventing restrictions on Russian trade.

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