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CNN cited unnamed sources saying the US military could be ready to strike Iran as early as this weekend, though no decision has been announced.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has urged the UK not to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as Hungary and Slovakia suspended diesel exports to Ukraine following the halt of Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇬🇧🇺🇸 Trump urges UK to halt Chagos transfer: President Trump told the UK not to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under a leaseback deal for Diego Garcia, calling it a mistake despite prior US backing from the State Department. The UK said the agreement secures the long-term future of the joint base, while political figures reacted along party lines and Chagos islanders protested the handover.

2️⃣ 🇭🇺🇸🇰🇺🇦 Hungary and Slovakia suspend diesel to Ukraine: Hungary and Slovakia halted diesel exports to Ukraine after Russian oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline stopped in January, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of a political decision not to restore transit and both governments prioritising domestic supply. The European Commission said their energy security is not at risk due to sufficient reserves, as Ukraine faces infrastructure damage and disputes continue over alternative routes.

3️⃣ 🇫🇷🇷🇺 France releases sanctioned ‘shadow fleet’ tanker: France freed the oil tanker Grinch after its owner paid a multimillion-euro fine following its January seizure in the Mediterranean over suspected sanctions breaches and use of a false Comoros flag. Authorities said the company failed to justify the vessel’s flag, the captain faces trial over alleged non-cooperation, and Western allies continue targeting vessels linked to Russian and Venezuelan oil evasion.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇸🇾 US to withdraw remaining Syria troops: The Wall Street Journal, citing three US officials, reported Washington is preparing to withdraw its nearly 1,000 remaining troops from Syria within two months, though the report was not independently verified and officials said it is unrelated to the Iran-focused military buildup. The move follows a US-backed January agreement aimed at integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army after clashes and territorial shifts.

5️⃣ 🇰🇭🇹🇭 Cambodia says Thailand still occupying territory: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thai forces remain “deep” inside Cambodian territory despite ceasefires, alleging barriers that have prevented about 80,000 people from returning home, while Thailand has previously said operations were within its own borders. He called for renewed border demarcation talks and suggested Trump’s Board of Peace could aid de-escalation, while defending Cambodia’s human rights record.

Major Story

🇺🇸🇮🇷 US weighs Iran strike

Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the US military could be ready to strike Iran as early as this weekend, following a buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East, though President Donald Trump has not made a final decision and continues to weigh arguments for and against action. Administration officials met in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran, and Trump was briefed on recent indirect talks in Geneva, where negotiators exchanged messages for several hours without reaching a clear resolution, despite references to agreed “guiding principles” and acknowledgment that details remain unresolved. 

The White House said diplomacy remains the president’s preferred option but confirmed that military force is still under consideration, while declining to set any timeline for a decision. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group is expected in the region, US aircraft have been repositioned closer to the Middle East, and satellite imagery reportedly indicates Iran is reinforcing parts of its nuclear infrastructure. Separately, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that US warships could be sunk, as Tehran conducts missile exercises in the Strait of Hormuz.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇬🇧 MPs weigh probe into Andrew trade envoy claims: The cross-party Business and Trade Committee will decide whether to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over allegations he shared sensitive government and commercial information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy, claims he denies. The chair said nothing is off the table as police assess complaints and a national coordination group supports forces reviewing the newly released US files.

2️⃣ 🇩🇰🇨🇦 Denmark and Canada sign defense pact: Denmark and Canada signed a defence cooperation agreement in Munich, with representatives from the Faroe Islands and Greenland joining their respective ministers. The deal expands collaboration in defence innovation, technology, capacity building, training and education, with Danish officials describing it as strengthening collective security and transatlantic ties.

3️⃣ 🇬🇧 BAE Systems posts record backlog: BAE Systems reported £36.8 billion in orders in 2025 and an £83.6 billion backlog as sales rose 10% to £30.7 billion and operating profit increased 9% to £2.93 billion, citing a “new era” of defence spending. The company secured major contracts with Turkey, Norway and the US Space Force, and forecast 7%–9% sales growth in 2026 with cumulative free cash flow above £6 billion through 2028.

4️⃣ 🇻🇦🇺🇸 Vatican declines Trump’s Board of Peace: The Vatican said it will not join President Trump’s Board of Peace, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin stating international crises should primarily be managed by the United Nations despite Pope Leo’s January invitation. The board, created to oversee Gaza’s temporary governance and holding its first meeting in Washington, has faced structural criticism, while Italy and the EU will attend as observers.

5️⃣ 🌍 Epstein files may meet crimes against humanity threshold: Independent human rights experts said the large-scale release of the “Epstein Files” contains credible evidence of systematic sexual abuse and trafficking of women and girls that could meet the legal threshold for crimes against humanity. They called for independent and impartial investigations, criticised disclosure errors exposing victim information, and stressed that no individual should be above the law.

6️⃣🇺🇦🇪🇺 CEPA releases Ukraine 2036 report on Europe’s security choices: The Center for European Policy Analysis published a report arguing that decisions taken now will determine whether Ukraine becomes a secure part of the European economic space or a gray-zone frontier, calling for a permanent European-led deterrent posture, transparent reconstruction tied to governance benchmarks, and institutional reforms before martial law ends.

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