NEW: France urges its citizens to leave Mali ASAP amid worsening security.

Situation described as “extremely volatile”.

Trigger: April 25 coordinated attacks across Mali (incl. Bamako).

Trump met with oil executives as the Iran war disrupts global supply and drives up prices.

Gas has risen to about $4.18 per gallon, creating political pressure, while the U.S. has limited options to ease the surge.

Source: Axios

North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is nearing a point where it could overwhelm U.S. missile defenses.

U.S. system: 44 interceptors (~$65 billion), usually 2 per target → can handle ~20–25 incoming missiles.

North Korea: producing 12–15 warheads/year, rapidly expanding stockpile.

ICBMs: multiple types (Hwasong-15/17/18/19), with dozens of launchers possible.

New tech: solid-fuel missiles + decoys make interception harder.

Source: Bloomberg

A new, large civilian flotilla is heading toward Gaza.

Scale: ~60–70 vessels currently (target 100+), 1,000–3,000 participants from 100+ countries.

Route: Departed Spain & France → regrouped in Sicily (Apr 26) → now crossing Mediterranean toward Gaza (some near Crete).

Mission: Deliver humanitarian aid, challenge Israel’s naval blockade, draw global attention.

Israel says the flotilla is Hamas-linked, imposed sanctions, likely to intercept.

Kremlin says Russia is not leaving OPEC+.

German Chancellor Merz:

No chancellor before me has had to endure this.

If you look at what is being spread about me… how I’m attacked and demeaned...

But, I’m not complaining.

Source: Spiegel

Zelensky thanks King Charles III for his support.

German Chancellor Merz:

I had doubts from the very beginning about what started with the Iran war.

We in Germany and in Europe are suffering considerably from the consequences — for example, from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This has direct effects on our energy supply and massive effects on our economic performance.

And therefore, I am pushing for this conflict to be resolved.

German Chancellor Merz:

The developments over the past year — not least in Iran in recent months — show how important investments in our defense capability are.

We want to be able to defend ourselves.

Russia will hold its May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow without tanks or heavy military equipment, citing the current situation.

An Israeli activist confronts the Israeli ambassador about the genocide in Gaza during his speech in Leipzig:

Israel is killing children every day!

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha:

Ukraine has officially addressed Israel through diplomatic and legal channels, requesting action on the “PANORMITIS” vessel.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has submitted a relevant request to the Israeli authorities based on a Ukrainian court ruling to arrest the vessel as part of the ongoing investigation.

The vessel is suspected of carrying a grain cargo that was illegally transported from a closed port in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in violation of international law and Ukrainian legislation.

This is not Twitter diplomacy, but a very concrete legal and diplomatic request for international legal assistance that necessitates a response. We expect the Israeli side to take it seriously rather than responding with emotional statements.

NEW: Armed attackers opened fire on a police patrol in Zahedan, Iran this morning.

Two officers — First Sergeant Mohammadreza Nezamdoost and First Lieutenant Ali Momeni — were killed, and two others were wounded.

Israel’s war cost has reached about NIS 405 billion (~$137 billion) since Oct. 7, according to Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron, putting heavy strain on the economy.

Debt jumped from ~60% to ~70% of GDP, wiping out years of fiscal gains.

Defense spending surged +130% to NIS 143B (8.8% of GDP).

Officials warn of a “trauma economy” if trends continue.

Risk: debt could climb toward ~80% of GDP.

Mali: Tuareg rebel spokesman Mohamed Ramadane says Mali’s junta is on the brink amid a major offensive:

“The regime will fall.”

Rebels (FLA + JNIM) launched coordinated attacks across Mali, including Kidal, Gao, and near Bamako.

Kidal was captured, with army/Russian forces withdrawing.

JNIM was described as “partners” / “cousins” in the fight.

Source: AFP

Iran’s currency has hit a new record low, crashing to ~1.8 million rials per $1 on the open market.

No Israel, No Job

Germany-based Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner doubled down: support for Israel is a core company value, non-negotiable.

These are the news outlets owned by Axel Springer.

Türkiye’s intelligence agency (MİT) declassified a 1964 “top secret” document on Iran's Khomeini’s exile.

He was kept under tight surveillance in Bursa (1964–65).

Referred to only as “the Iranian guest”.

Given codename: “Belli”.

Local intel unit handled all housing + movements.

Japan is going all-in on cheap, disposable drones.

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited startup AirKamuy, which makes cardboard drones (~$2K each) used by the military.

5-min assembly, no tools.

Flat-pack, mass-producible.

Designed to be used once.

Germany now produces more ammunition than the U.S.

Rheinmetall boosted artillery output from 70K → 1.1M rounds/year.

Production more than quadrupled.

A new survey finds many Americans feel stressed by political news—especially Democrats—but still can’t look away.

About 6 in 10 adults say they try to avoid news about Trump, yet most continue consuming it anyway.

Source: AP