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The US and Iran have agreed on a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities, with a formal signing expected in Switzerland on Friday, as British commandos intercepted a Russia-linked shadow fleet tanker in the English Channel for the first time.

Meanwhile, President Trump signalled readiness to help end the Ukraine war following separate calls with both Putin and Zelenskyy.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 UK intercepts Russian shadow fleet tanker: British commandos and the National Crime Agency boarded the Smyrtos in the English Channel, marking the first time UK forces have intercepted a Russia-linked shadow fleet vessel. The sanctioned tanker had recently departed a Russian port and was flagged for shipping Russian oil in violation of international sanctions.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇷🇺 Trump signals readiness to help end Ukraine war: In a phone call with President Putin, President Trump said ending the conflict was critical and that he was prepared to assist. Trump separately spoke with Zelenskyy ahead of the G7 summit in France, with both leaders discussing steps to bring the war closer to an end.

3️⃣ 🇪🇺🇺🇦 Ukraine and Moldova begin EU accession talks: The two countries formally entered the first phase of EU membership negotiations in Luxembourg on Monday, covering rule of law and democracy, after years of delays caused by Hungary's government under Viktor Orbán. EU officials cautioned that Ukraine has completed only an estimated 15% of agreed reforms, with full membership expected to take several years.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇻🇪 US strike kills Tren de Aragua leader in Venezuela: A U.S. military operation killed Héctor Guerrero Flores, head of the Venezuelan gang designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., at a compound in Venezuela's Bolivar state. Venezuela confirmed its participation in the joint operation.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷 Trump condemns Israeli strike on Beirut amid Iran deal talks: Trump publicly criticised Israel's attack on Beirut's Dahiyeh district, calling it poorly timed as a US-Iran peace deal appeared imminent, while Iran warned a strong response was forthcoming and held the US responsible. Israeli PM Netanyahu said the strikes were retaliatory, targeting Hezbollah in response to projectiles fired into northern Israel.

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Major Story

🇺🇸🇮🇷 US and Iran reach ceasefire deal as Strait of Hormuz set to reopen

The US and Iran have agreed on a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities, with the agreement set to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday following nearly 15 hours of Qatari-mediated talks in Tehran. 

The deal, brokered with Pakistan and Qatar as key intermediaries, extends a 60-day ceasefire, calls for the US to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports within 30 days, and commits both sides to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported 14 draft points in the memorandum, including a permanent ceasefire covering Lebanon, an end to oil sanctions, and a reiteration of Iran's commitment not to produce nuclear weapons. None of these details have been officially confirmed by either government. 

Analysts and former US officials cautioned that the agreement does not conclusively resolve the core disputes, including long-term nuclear enrichment restrictions and comprehensive sanctions relief, that both sides have identified as essential to any final deal. 

Oil prices fell approximately 4% on news of the announcement, though industry analysts warn that a full resumption of Strait traffic and replenishment of strategic reserves could take many months.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇦 Ukraine targets Russian industrial facilities in mass drone attack: Ukraine launched an overnight drone barrage against industrial sites across Russia, with Moscow claiming to have downed 249 aerial objects and unverified footage suggesting the Asot chemical plant, a key ammunition component supplier, was hit. Fires were also reported at fuel storage facilities in the Yaroslavl region, with no casualties confirmed in either incident.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱 Israel quietly expands military footprint by 1,000 sq km: According to an Al Jazeera investigation, Israel has established de facto control over roughly 1,000 square kilometres across Gaza, southern Lebanon, and southern Syria since October 2023, with satellite imagery consistently showing ground operations exceeding officially declared boundaries. Analysts described the expansion as a strategy of "calculated chaos" used to mask unmet war objectives while reshaping the region's geography without formal declaration.

3️⃣ 🇷🇴 Romania nominates second PM candidate amid political deadlock: President Nicușor Dan appointed center-right politician Adrian Veștea as prime minister after the previous candidate failed to build sufficient political support, with Veștea pledging to pursue reform and keep Romania on a pro-Western path. The nomination drew immediate backlash from within Veștea's own party, whose leader called it a "hostile act" and accused the president of trying to fracture the National Liberal Party.

4️⃣ 🇨🇭 Swiss voters reject population cap proposal: A right-wing initiative to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million was defeated, with nearly 55% voting against it amid warnings that approval would have jeopardized the country's free movement agreement with the EU. The measure, backed by the Swiss People's Party, was opposed by the government, major businesses, and all other leading parties.

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