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President Donald Trump has said the United States is in talks with Cuba’s leadership and separately claimed he could resolve the United Nations’ funding crisis.

Elsewhere, Russia reaffirmed support for China’s position on Taiwan, satellite images showed renewed Russian military activity near Finland, and Israel said the Rafah crossing will reopen under strict conditions amid a fragile ceasefire.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇺 Trump says US in talks with Cuban leadership: President Donald Trump said the United States is negotiating with Cuba’s leadership and expressed confidence a deal could be reached after threatening an effective oil blockade and new tariffs on fuel suppliers. Trump offered no details on a potential agreement, while Cuba accused Washington of attempting to strangle its economy amid worsening fuel shortages and power cuts.

2️⃣ 🇷🇺🇨🇳🇯🇵 Russia backs China on Taiwan, flags Japan militarisation: Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reaffirmed Moscow’s support for China’s position on Taiwan during talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and said Russia is closely monitoring Japan’s accelerated militarisation. The discussions focused on security coordination and strategic ties as Beijing continues to criticise Japan’s defence spending and comments related to a Taiwan contingency.

3️⃣ 🇷🇺🇫🇮 Satellite images show Russia reviving base near Finland: Satellite imagery shows Russia reactivating a long-dormant military garrison in Petrozavodsk near the Finnish border to host the newly formed 44th Army Corps, alongside expanded training, radar, and logistics facilities. While the buildup follows Finland’s NATO accession, most of the corps remains deployed in Ukraine, with the site currently serving as a staging and support hub.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇺🇳 Trump says he can easily fix UN funding crisis: President Donald Trump said he could resolve the United Nations’ financial problems by pressuring member states to pay outstanding dues but declined to say whether the US would cover the billions it owes. He dismissed reports the UN could face severe cutbacks or leave New York while criticising the organisation’s performance and describing it as having untapped potential.

5️⃣ 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Rafah crossing to reopen under strict conditions: Israel said the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen on Monday for Palestinians travelling on foot only after coordination with Egypt and the EU, following its closure since May 2024. The reopening comes amid a fragile ceasefire, with Israel imposing strict security checks and prioritising the exit of sick and wounded patients as broader political arrangements remain unresolved.

Major Story

🇮🇷🇺🇸 Khamenei warns of regional war

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a “regional war,” speaking at a rally in Tehran marking the anniversary of the 1979 revolution as the United States deploys additional military assets to the Middle East. He accused Washington of seeking to seize Iran’s oil and natural gas resources and described recent antigovernment protests as a failed “sedition” comparable to a coup, alleging attacks on state institutions, security forces, banks, and religious sites.

Khamenei said the unrest had been suppressed and repeated claims that foreign-backed actors were responsible, while Iranian authorities and international bodies have issued differing casualty figures. US President Donald Trump responded by expressing hope for a negotiated deal, while stating that it remains unclear whether Khamenei’s warning would prove accurate.

Iranian officials also staged public demonstrations, military parades, and parliamentary displays condemning the United States and the European Union, as tensions continued alongside limited signals from some Iranian officials that negotiations may still be under discussion.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇦🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ukraine talks to resume in Abu Dhabi: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a second round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States will take place in Abu Dhabi after earlier negotiations made little progress, particularly on territorial issues. Uncertainty remains over the scope and duration of a temporary pause in strikes on energy infrastructure amid conflicting interpretations by Kyiv and Moscow.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱 Israel moves to ban MSF from Gaza: Israel said it will terminate Médecins Sans Frontières’ operations in Gaza after the group refused to provide staff lists without assurances they would not endanger employees. MSF and UN officials warned the decision would disrupt medical care, while Israel said the requirement applies to all humanitarian organisations for security reasons.

3️⃣ 🇻🇪 Venezuela releases jailed rights activist: Venezuela freed prominent human rights activist Javier Tarazona, who had been detained since 2021, as part of a series of prisoner releases amid US pressure for political reforms. Rights groups said many detainees remain under legal restrictions as the government prepares an amnesty law expected to benefit hundreds.

4️⃣ 🇵🇰 Deadly attacks hit Pakistan’s Balochistan: Gun and bomb attacks across Pakistan’s Balochistan province killed 31 civilians and 17 security personnel, according to authorities, who said security forces killed at least 145 attackers. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility and issued higher casualty figures that were not independently verified, as Pakistan again accused India of backing the group, which India denies.

5️⃣ 🇮🇷🇪🇺 Iran designates EU militaries as terrorist groups: Iran said it now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist organisations after the EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over its crackdown on protests. Tehran’s response, announced under a reciprocal law, is expected to be largely symbolic amid escalating diplomatic tensions.

6️⃣ 🇮🇷 Calls grow for independent probe into protest deaths: Pressure is mounting inside Iran for an independent inquiry into protest-related deaths after the government said it would publish the names of those killed, officially placing the toll at 3,117. Reformists and legal experts say deep public distrust, risks to families and the lack of independent verification make the process insufficient.

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