Middle East & Iran–US Tensions
Iran warns US amid Strait of Hormuz escalation Iran’s parliamentary speaker said a “new equation of the Strait of Hormuz is in the process of being solidified,” as the standoff between Tehran and Washington deepens. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is travelling to Beijing for talks on bilateral relations and regional developments. Donald Trump has sent warships to break Iran’s blockade of the strait. — The Guardian · Live updates
Iranian official warns of escalation in Strait of Hormuz standoff Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, accused the United States of violating the shaky cease-fire after Iranian forces fired at vessels the US Navy was guiding through the strait. — New York Times · Live updates
Macron to speak with Iranian president on Tuesday French President Emmanuel Macron is set to speak with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Europe has been keen to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed following US-Israeli strikes, to offset the economic impact on the continent. — Middle East Eye · Article
Israel and US coordinating new strikes on Iran: report Israel and the US are coordinating a potential new round of strikes on Iran that could target energy infrastructure and senior Iranian officials, according to CNN. An Israeli source said most plans were largely mapped out before the ceasefire that came into effect late last month. — Middle East Eye · Article
German minesweeper sets sail for possible Hormuz mission A German minesweeper has departed for the Mediterranean in preparation for a possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz. Berlin said it is prepared to contribute to ensure freedom of navigation but will act only if certain conditions are met. — France24 · Article
Israel & Palestine
Israeli officers ‘threaten Gaza flotilla activists with death’ during interrogations Lawyers say two activists seized by Israeli forces in international waters are being subjected to “psychological torture” as their detention is extended for another week. — Middle East Eye · Article
How Israel is encroaching in southern Syria A report by Sijil Centre reveals Israel’s systematic violations in southern Syrian territory, alleging that security is being used as a guise to seize land and resources, including through smart borders, military gates, and land seizures. — Middle East Eye · Article
Europe
Romania’s coalition government collapses after PM loses no-confidence vote Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was voted out of office after the largest coalition partner, PSD, quit the pro-EU government over unpopular austerity measures. The parliament voted 281 in favour of the no-confidence motion, putting the country’s access to EU funds at risk. — DW · Article — France24 · Article — The Guardian · Live updates
Two killed after car driven into crowd in Leipzig, Germany Two people were killed and many injured after a car was driven into a crowd in the German city of Leipzig. A 33-year-old German citizen was detained following the incident. — BBC · Article
Zelenskyy condemns Russian ‘cynicism’ over parade truce as attack kills five Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of “utter cynicism” for killing five people in overnight strikes at the same time as seeking a truce so it could stage a military parade in Moscow. Three Naftogaz employees and two emergency workers died in an attack on a gas facility in the Poltava region. — The Guardian · Article
Asia & Africa
Modi’s BJP wins West Bengal for the first time Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party has wrested control of the opposition stronghold of West Bengal in key state elections. Opposition parties have sharply criticized the polls after the Election Commission removed millions of voters from electoral rolls. — Al Jazeera · Article — France24 · Article
Tuareg rebels hold dozens of soldiers prisoner in Mali Exclusive video obtained by Al Jazeera shows dozens of soldiers held prisoner by Tuareg separatists in northern Mali. — Al Jazeera · Video
China courts Europe amid US dysfunction China is hoping to secure new allies for a future multipolar world order as the partnership between the US and European powers slides into crisis. — DW · Article
Americas
Trump’s secret oil deals in Venezuela linger Trump officials and their Venezuelan allies have promised a new era of accountability to unlock Venezuela’s immense oil wealth, but the country’s oil industry remains opaque. — New York Times · Article
Ohio heads to polls as Ramaswamy seeks Republican governor nomination Vivek Ramaswamy, endorsed by Trump, faces a long-shot challenge from car designer and YouTube provocateur Casey Putsch in Ohio’s Republican primary for governor. — The Guardian · Live updates
Health & Science
Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship: 3 dead Two hantavirus cases have been confirmed and five more are suspected aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Among the seven cases, three people have died, one is critically ill, and three have mild symptoms, according to the WHO. — Al Jazeera · Article — New York Times · Article
Slow Alzheimer’s diagnoses mean UK patients miss out on experimental treatments Alzheimer’s Research UK says trials of Alzheimer’s drugs reached a record high this year, but too few UK patients are taking part because they lack formal or accurate diagnoses. — The Guardian · Article
UK Politics
Met police chief condemned over pro-Palestine protest claims A coalition of campaign groups called on Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley to retract comments claiming that pro-Palestine protest organisers repeatedly intended to include synagogues on their planned demonstration routes in London. — Middle East Eye · Article
‘Starmer’s referendum’: UK local elections could expose a fractured country Thursday’s local polls could deliver a sharp setback for Labour, with Reform UK and the Greens expected to gain, analysts say. — Al Jazeera · Article
Markets & Finance
Stock futures gain after oil pullback; S&P 500 futures up 0.4% US stock futures rose as a ceasefire in the Middle East appeared to hold after a series of clashes involving shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. All three major averages had slipped on Monday as tensions threatened the staying power of the ceasefire. — Bloomberg · Article — CNBC · Article
Ferrari tops Wall Street’s Q1 expectations ahead of EV debut Ferrari NV beat Wall Street’s first-quarter earnings expectations and reconfirmed its guidance for the year. — CNBC · Article
Coinbase cuts 14% of workforce, citing AI acceleration Coinbase will cut roughly 14% of its workforce, citing market volatility and the rapid changes AI is bringing to how the company operates. Shares gained on the news. — CNBC · Article
a16z crypto raises $2.2 billion for fifth fund Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm raised $2.2 billion, pointing to growing use of stablecoins, onchain finance, and improving regulation. The firm says crypto fundamentals are at an “all-time high.” — The Block · Article — CoinDesk · Article
Gold timing indicator hits bottom — history suggests rally ahead Gold and gold miners historically perform best after investors give up. MarketWatch reports this “extreme pessimism” could be the contrarian tailwind the market has been waiting for. — MarketWatch · Article
BlackRock exec compares AI’s economic impact to ‘10 Manhattan Projects’ Tony Kim, head of BlackRock’s fundamental equities global technology team, says AI is rewiring the global economy and the transformation will keep accelerating. — MarketWatch · Article
RBA delivers third rate hike, signals a pause The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered its third rate hike while signaling a potential pause. The US dollar traded mostly softer. — Seeking Alpha · Article
Central banks hold rates steady as energy shock tests inflation fight Central banks are holding rates steady as rising energy costs test the global inflation fight. — Al Jazeera · Video