First Pass

77 stories from 9 sources

Hormuz escalation collides with faltering diplomacy

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a peace deal with Tehran would be extremely difficult while attacks linked to the conflict continue around the Strait of Hormuz. His comments signal that Washington sees no immediate diplomatic path out of the crisis.

8:00 PMAl Jazeera

Iranian attacks in the Persian Gulf are hitting more vessels and causing heavier damage, including strikes on ship engine rooms. The escalation is increasing risks to commercial shipping and energy exports through the region.

8:31 AMBloomberg Markets

Sources say Sudanese army drones struck a truck carrying people to a funeral and a market allegedly supplying fuel to the Rapid Support Forces, killing more than 200 people. The reported attacks show how civilian gatherings and supply networks are being drawn into the war.

1:30 PMBBC

A drone strike hit a market in Abyei near the Sudan South Sudan border, killing 150 people. The attack adds to the region's severe civilian insecurity.

10:18 PMAl Jazeera

Ukrainian officials say remaining silent has become riskier as President Donald Trump increasingly prioritizes Russia's interests. President Volodymyr Zelensky's sharper public response reflects concern that restraint could leave Ukraine exposed in negotiations and US policy.

4:39 PMThe New York Times

Despite a public show of warmth between Volodymyr Zelensky and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, doubts remain over the Trump administration’s policy toward Ukraine.

4:00 PMBBC

Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

China condemned a U.S. order requiring Homeland Security to remove and exclude DeepSeek products from government systems. The dispute adds another layer to the broader technology confrontation between the two countries.

11:15 PMThe New York Times

Former FDLR fighters are leaving the forest and returning to Rwanda through the Mutobo demobilization and reintegration process. They now face the difficult task of rebuilding civilian lives after years with the armed group.

8:25 PMAl Jazeera

King Charles III welcomed Oman's sultan on a state visit and praised Muscat's efforts to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks place Oman at the center of diplomatic efforts over the strategic waterway.

8:08 PMAl Jazeera

The United States appears to be reassessing its policy toward Myanmar, a country long treated as an international pariah. The shift has raised questions about whether the Trump administration is preparing to engage more directly with its authorities or economy.

7:21 PMBBC

A report says Elon Musk ordered a slowdown in Starlink service for Ukraine, amid escalating criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Musk and President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy has also reported disruptions in US intelligence sharing.

7:06 PMCNBC

Robert Kabera, a former Rwandan soldier and outspoken government critic living in exile in Uganda, was killed and beheaded. He had warned in a TikTok video this month that he feared for his life.

6:22 PMThe New York Times

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