Trump says the United States can strike Iran whenever it chooses, while Tehran reports that 18 people have been killed, including at a wedding party. Iranian officials describe the strikes as a war crime.
9:45 PMAl Jazeera120 stories from 11 sources
Iran war widens as Russia and energy risks pressure allies
Day’s Recap
Supporting Articles
A U.S.-made bomb struck a residential area in a small Iranian town, killing five people and injuring 67, according to Iranian authorities. A weapons expert and visual analysis identified the weapon as American.
8:03 PMThe New York Times
Iran attacked U.S. allies in the Gulf after a new round of American strikes that it said killed four people at a wedding. Brent crude rose to about $95 a barrel as the conflict widened.
5:20 PMFortune
As the conflict with Iran enters its sixth month, President Trump urged Iranians to rise up against their government while the United States appears increasingly bogged down.
3:56 PMThe New York TimesThe United States carried out another wave of strikes against Iranian targets, including sites linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Trump said the military action was not intended to force Iran into negotiations.
1:36 PMCNBCFighting between the United States and Iran has resumed as a global selloff in government bonds intensifies.
12:02 PMBloomberg MarketsEl secretario de Energía de Estados Unidos, Chris Wright, dijo que más de 17 millones de barriles de petróleo atravesaron el estrecho de Ormuz el lunes, un récord durante la guerra. Donald Trump también planteó rebautizar la vía como el “Estrecho Trump”.
5:07 PMCNBC
The EU and NATO pledged stronger pressure on Russia after Germany accused Moscow of a failed drone attack on Leipzig airport, calling it part of a pattern of increasingly reckless behavior.
11:21 PMBBC
The EU is confronting a series of suspected Russian sabotage incidents, including a German airport disruption and a fire at a Polish drone factory, while continuing to expand sanctions on Moscow.
10:19 AMFortune
Chevron has pledged $7 billion to expand its Venezuelan joint ventures and double its oil production in the country. The investment comes as the White House presses for a major increase in Venezuelan output.
1:53 PMFinancial TimesEstados Unidos y Venezuela anunciaron un acuerdo que otorgaría a Washington amplio control sobre parte de la producción petrolera venezolana. El pacto plantea objetivos distintos para ambos gobiernos, pero aún deja dudas sobre su funcionamiento, alcance y condiciones.
11:07 AMBloomberg MarketsUS Energy Secretary Chris Wright discusses plans for Venezuelan oil production and exports, including agreements involving Chevron, ENI and GE Vernova. He also addresses the US strategic petroleum reserve and the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
9:55 AMBloomberg Markets
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is seeking dismissal of US charges by claiming immunity. The legal move follows his reported abduction by US forces during a January military attack on Caracas.
9:22 PMAl JazeeraNicolás Maduro asked a New York judge to dismiss the criminal case against him, arguing that his status as the head of a sovereign state gives him immunity from prosecution in the United States.
7:25 PMBloomberg MarketsDonald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington less than six weeks before the US election. Polls currently suggest Democrats could gain seats in Congress, adding domestic political pressure to the summit.
6:10 PMCNBCThe G20 finance ministers' summit ended with tensions over China's rejection of claims that its export strategy floods foreign markets with low-value goods. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent used a tough line on China ahead of an expected meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
6:09 PMWWD
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Spain to protest the government's handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta. The demonstrations reflect mounting public anger over migration policy and the enclave's border pressures.
11:06 PMAl Jazeera
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after a clash with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His departure adds to leadership vacancies at the Pentagon as the military manages a prolonged conflict with Iran.
4:51 PMFinancial Times9:45 PMAl Jazeera
Trump threatens more strikes as death toll in Iran rises to 18
Summary
Trump says the United States can strike Iran whenever it chooses, while Tehran reports that 18 people have been killed, including at a wedding party. Iranian officials describe the strikes as a war crime.
Washington is signaling that further attacks remain imminent, while civilian casualties are hardening Iran's legal
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The conflict is moving toward a cycle of retaliation in which civilian harm could drive a much wider war.
8:03 PMThe New York Times
In Small Iranian Town, a U.S. Attack Turns a Wedding Into a Tragedy
Summary
A U.S.-made bomb struck a residential area in a small Iranian town, killing five people and injuring 67, according to Iranian authorities. A weapons expert and visual analysis identified the weapon as American.
The decisive shift is the documented civilian toll from a strike that hit a residential
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Civilian casualties can reshape international support for the operation and deepen the conflict's political and humanitarian costs.
5:20 PMFortune
Iran fires on U.S. allies in Gulf after night of American strikes it claims killed four at a wedding
Summary
Iran attacked U.S. allies in the Gulf after a new round of American strikes that it said killed four people at a wedding. Brent crude rose to about $95 a barrel as the conflict widened.
The conflict has expanded from direct U.S.-Iran strikes to attacks involving Gulf allies, increasing the
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A wider Gulf conflict could threaten both regional security and global oil supplies.
3:56 PMThe New York Times
Trump Returns to a Familiar Playbook as the War With Iran Flares Up Again
Summary
As the conflict with Iran enters its sixth month, President Trump urged Iranians to rise up against their government while the United States appears increasingly bogged down.
Trump is again pairing military pressure with an appeal for internal revolt, signaling that Washington
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A prolonged conflict combined with calls for regime opposition could widen the war without producing a viable resolution.
1:36 PMCNBC
Iran says two tankers have hit Hormuz naval mines. U.S. disputes claim
Summary
The United States carried out another wave of strikes against Iranian targets, including sites linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Trump said the military action was not intended to force Iran into negotiations.
The administration is pairing continued military pressure with a claim that diplomacy remains voluntary, a
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The strikes deepen U.S. involvement in the conflict while the administration offers no clear path from military action to a political settlement.
12:02 PMBloomberg Markets
US and Iran Renew Fighting, Global Bond Rout Deepens
Summary
Fighting between the United States and Iran has resumed as a global selloff in government bonds intensifies.
The conflict is now worsening financial conditions alongside security risks. A deeper bond rout raises
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The Iran conflict is spreading from geopolitics into global funding markets.
5:07 PMCNBC
Trump floats renaming Strait of Hormuz the 'Trump Strait'
Summary
El secretario de Energía de Estados Unidos, Chris Wright, dijo que más de 17 millones de barriles de petróleo atravesaron el estrecho de Ormuz el lunes, un récord durante la guerra. Donald Trump también planteó rebautizar la vía como el “Estrecho Trump”.
El récord de tránsito confirma que Ormuz sigue sosteniendo una parte crítica del suministro mundial
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Cualquier alteración del tránsito por Ormuz puede trasladarse rápidamente a los precios globales del petróleo y a la inflación energética.
11:21 PMBBC
EU and Nato vow to step up pressure on Russia after 'new escalation' in Germany
Summary
The EU and NATO pledged stronger pressure on Russia after Germany accused Moscow of a failed drone attack on Leipzig airport, calling it part of a pattern of increasingly reckless behavior.
The airport accusation has pushed suspected Russian activity further into European security calculations, beyond the
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
European governments are treating alleged sabotage on civilian infrastructure as a security challenge that demands a coordinated response.
10:19 AMFortune
From a German airport to a Polish drone factory fire, the EU confronts a wave of suspected Russian sabotage
Summary
The EU is confronting a series of suspected Russian sabotage incidents, including a German airport disruption and a fire at a Polish drone factory, while continuing to expand sanctions on Moscow.
The incidents are shifting the European response from punishing Russia's war effort to defending critical
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Suspected sabotage is turning the Ukraine conflict into a broader contest over the security of Europe's civilian and industrial systems.
1:53 PMFinancial Times
Chevron to double Venezuela oil production with $7bn pledge
Summary
Chevron has pledged $7 billion to expand its Venezuelan joint ventures and double its oil production in the country. The investment comes as the White House presses for a major increase in Venezuelan output.
The commitment turns Washington’s Venezuela strategy into a large commercial bet, with Chevron taking the
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A larger Venezuelan oil sector could reshape regional energy flows but also deepen US exposure to Caracas’s political decisions.
2 stories · 2 sources
11:07 AMBloomberg Markets
¿En qué consiste el “mayor acuerdo petrolero” entre EE.UU. y Venezuela?
Summary
Estados Unidos y Venezuela anunciaron un acuerdo que otorgaría a Washington amplio control sobre parte de la producción petrolera venezolana. El pacto plantea objetivos distintos para ambos gobiernos, pero aún deja dudas sobre su funcionamiento, alcance y condiciones.
El acuerdo cambia la relación petrolera al dar a Estados Unidos mayor influencia sobre un
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
El pacto podría reordenar los flujos de crudo venezolano y convertir la producción energética en una herramienta directa de negociación entre ambos países.
9:55 AMBloomberg Markets
US’s Wright on Venezuela Oil Production, SPR, Strait of Hormuz
Summary
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright discusses plans for Venezuelan oil production and exports, including agreements involving Chevron, ENI and GE Vernova. He also addresses the US strategic petroleum reserve and the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration is linking Venezuela’s energy recovery to broader US supply and security priorities. Expanded
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Washington is treating Venezuelan oil as both an economic project and a tool for managing global energy risk.
9:22 PMAl Jazeera
Venezuela’s Maduro asserts immunity in US court, urges dismissal of charges
Summary
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is seeking dismissal of US charges by claiming immunity. The legal move follows his reported abduction by US forces during a January military attack on Caracas.
Maduro's defense puts the legality of the US operation and his status as a former
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The case could set a precedent for prosecuting foreign leaders captured through military force.
7:25 PMBloomberg Markets
Maduro Asks US Court to Dismiss Charges in Drug-Trafficking Case
Summary
Nicolás Maduro asked a New York judge to dismiss the criminal case against him, arguing that his status as the head of a sovereign state gives him immunity from prosecution in the United States.
Maduro is testing whether the US courts will recognize immunity claims from a leader Washington
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The decision could determine whether Maduro faces trial and set a broader precedent for prosecuting sitting foreign leaders.
6:10 PMCNBC
Trump and Xi are set to meet in DC. Why some China watchers have low expectations
Summary
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington less than six weeks before the US election. Polls currently suggest Democrats could gain seats in Congress, adding domestic political pressure to the summit.
The timing makes the meeting as much an electoral event as a diplomatic one. Both
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Domestic politics could constrain the world's most consequential bilateral relationship just when both sides need crisis-management channels.
6:09 PMWWD
Bessent Spouts Tough-on-China Rhetoric at G20, Setting Stage for Meeting Between Trump and Xi
Summary
The G20 finance ministers' summit ended with tensions over China's rejection of claims that its export strategy floods foreign markets with low-value goods. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent used a tough line on China ahead of an expected meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
The dispute keeps trade imbalances at the center of US-China relations before the leaders meet.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The summit sets a confrontational baseline for the Trump-Xi meeting and raises the risk of renewed trade measures.
11:06 PMAl Jazeera
Tens of thousands rally across Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis
Summary
Tens of thousands of people rallied across Spain to protest the government's handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta. The demonstrations reflect mounting public anger over migration policy and the enclave's border pressures.
The protests turn Ceuta from a border-management problem into a national political liability. Pressure on
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Ceuta is becoming a test of whether Spain can manage migration without turning border pressure into a wider political crisis.
2 stories · 2 sources
4:51 PMFinancial Times
Pentagon chaos deepens after Driscoll quits in clash with Hegseth
Summary
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after a clash with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His departure adds to leadership vacancies at the Pentagon as the military manages a prolonged conflict with Iran.
Driscoll's exit removes a senior civilian official at a time when the Pentagon needs stable
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
A leadership rupture inside the Pentagon could affect the speed and coherence of U.S. military decisions during an active conflict.
Other Developments
A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.
US forces boarded and sank a boat they said served as a floating refueling station for drug traffickers in the eastern Pacific. The operation marks a direct use of force against alleged maritime smuggling infrastructure.
10:52 PMAl Jazeera
More than 80 people have been killed in mob violence linked to rumors circulated on social media, according to data gathered across six African countries. The violence has been fueled by false accusations and rapidly spreading claims.
8:58 PMBBC
Survivors and victims' families are pursuing legal action over the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, in which at least 69 people were killed. No one has been prosecuted, and the claim seeks restitution.
7:49 AMBBCÉdouard Balladur, who served as France's prime minister, has died at 97. His tenure was tied to France's contested role during the 1994 Rwandan genocide and to the corruption scandal known as the Karachi affair.
7:09 PMThe New York TimesU.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the White House is preparing tariffs on semiconductors as G20 officials, technology executives and ministers discuss AI policy, trade and innovation.
5:46 PMCNBC
The discussion examines how foreign leaders try to manage President Donald Trump's second term through leverage, displays of strength and personal relationships. It focuses on the bargaining dynamics shaping his dealings with other governments.
4:35 PMThe New York Times
China's president visited Egypt to present Beijing as a stabilizing partner in the Middle East. The visit also offered a contrast with the United States and deepened China's relationships with regional governments.
4:26 PMFortune
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the destruction of 40 Palestinian memorials in the West Bank. The demand followed an attack by a member of his party who shattered a monument in a Palestinian village with a sledgehammer.
2:27 PMHyperallergic
France and Germany are pushing to restructure the EU's diplomatic service as Brussels seeks budget savings. The proposal would alter how the bloc organizes and conducts foreign policy.
1:22 PMFinancial Times
The United States and major technology companies urged G20 countries to take a less restrictive approach to AI regulation, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arguing against rules focused on theoretical harms.
8:45 AMPYMNTS10:52 PMAl Jazeera
US forces board and destroy alleged cartel boat in eastern Pacific
Summary
US forces boarded and sank a boat they said served as a floating refueling station for drug traffickers in the eastern Pacific. The operation marks a direct use of force against alleged maritime smuggling infrastructure.
The action expands interdiction from stopping suspected shipments to destroying a support vessel. That may
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The operation sets a more aggressive precedent for US maritime action against suspected criminal networks.
8:58 PMBBC
'The crowd shouted that we'd stolen someone's genitals' - deadly rumours spread on social media
Summary
More than 80 people have been killed in mob violence linked to rumors circulated on social media, according to data gathered across six African countries. The violence has been fueled by false accusations and rapidly spreading claims.
The scale of the deaths shows that online misinformation is functioning as a trigger for
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Digital rumors can become a lethal security threat when institutions cannot verify claims or stop mobs from mobilizing.
7:49 AMBBC
Sharpeville massacre survivors start legal fight for justice in South Africa
Summary
Survivors and victims' families are pursuing legal action over the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, in which at least 69 people were killed. No one has been prosecuted, and the claim seeks restitution.
The legal effort reopens one of South Africa's central unresolved apartheid-era crimes. It tests whether
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The case could determine whether South Africa's post-apartheid justice process can still address crimes left unresolved.
7:09 PMThe New York Times
Édouard Balladur, Embattled French Prime Minister, Dies at 97
Summary
Édouard Balladur, who served as France's prime minister, has died at 97. His tenure was tied to France's contested role during the 1994 Rwandan genocide and to the corruption scandal known as the Karachi affair.
Balladur's legacy is inseparable from questions about French responsibility abroad and political corruption at home.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The obituary reopens unresolved debates about France's foreign-policy accountability and the integrity of its political system.
5:46 PMCNBC
G20 tech takeaways: Lutnick pitches adoption of U.S. AI, pushes data center buildout
Summary
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the White House is preparing tariffs on semiconductors as G20 officials, technology executives and ministers discuss AI policy, trade and innovation.
The semiconductor tariff threat brings industrial protection deeper into the G20's technology agenda. It could
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
New chip tariffs would affect one of the world's most strategic supply chains and intensify technology tensions among major economies.
4:35 PMThe New York Times
Inside Trump’s Second Term
Summary
The discussion examines how foreign leaders try to manage President Donald Trump's second term through leverage, displays of strength and personal relationships. It focuses on the bargaining dynamics shaping his dealings with other governments.
The central shift is that foreign policy under Trump requires leaders to manage both US
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Trump's personal negotiating style is becoming a strategic variable that foreign governments must account for alongside US institutions and formal commitments.
4:26 PMFortune
China builds ‘soft power’ with Egypt as Jinping cultivates relationships with Middle East allies
Summary
China's president visited Egypt to present Beijing as a stabilizing partner in the Middle East. The visit also offered a contrast with the United States and deepened China's relationships with regional governments.
Beijing is using diplomacy, economic ties and the language of stability to expand influence without
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
China's outreach could steadily increase its political influence in a region where the US still provides much of the security framework.
2:27 PMHyperallergic
Israel's Smotrich Calls to Destroy 40 Palestinian Memorials in West Bank
Summary
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the destruction of 40 Palestinian memorials in the West Bank. The demand followed an attack by a member of his party who shattered a monument in a Palestinian village with a sledgehammer.
The call turns an isolated act of vandalism into an openly backed campaign against Palestinian
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
Targeting memorials expands the conflict from land control to the systematic erasure of Palestinian identity and history.
1:22 PMFinancial Times
EU accelerates plans to break up diplomatic service
Summary
France and Germany are pushing to restructure the EU's diplomatic service as Brussels seeks budget savings. The proposal would alter how the bloc organizes and conducts foreign policy.
The decisive shift is the conversion of budget pressure into a fight over diplomatic authority.
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The EU may trade administrative savings for less coherent foreign policy.
8:45 AMPYMNTS
US and Big Tech Advocate Looser AI Rules at G20 Gathering
Summary
The United States and major technology companies urged G20 countries to take a less restrictive approach to AI regulation, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arguing against rules focused on theoretical harms.
The debate is shifting toward whether governments should regulate demonstrated risks or impose safeguards before
Unlock the full First Pass Analysis to get a better understanding of why this story mattersWhy it matters
The G20 debate could influence whether AI governance prioritizes rapid adoption or precautionary safeguards.
Make it yours
Build Your First Pass.
Pick your topics, set your cadence, and receive your personalized First Pass in your inbox. It’s that simple!