US Defense Secretary Hegseth on the Panama Canal:

China can’t have it, China didn’t build it, China won’t operate it.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

America cannot exist if we continue to enrich and embolden China.

President Trump is finally doing something about it.

Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson is now operating alongside USS Harry S. Truman in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

Six people have died in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River in NYC.

Iran is considering proposing an interim nuclear agreement to the US before continuing negotiations for a comprehensive agreement.

Iran believes that reaching a complex nuclear agreement within two months is unrealistic.

Source: Axios

EU leaders are planning to travel to Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in late July.

Source: SCMP

Just ahead of Eid, Trump administration approved of a potential $1.96 billion sale of 8 x MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Qatar.

Though not yet official, Qatar has formally requested the drones.

The deal is expected to be signed during Trump’s Gulf tour in May, covering Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Türkiye.

China’s Xi Fires Top General in Anti-Corruption Crackdown

President Xi Jinping dismissed General He Weidong, the PLA’s second-ranking officer and a top Communist Party official, in the most high-profile military purge in decades.

Hiss removal from the Central Military Commission follows a series of corruption-related dismissals, including the earlier suspension of CMC member Miao Hua.

Source: FT

Tesla has suspended taking new orders for Model S and Model X vehicles on its Chinese website.

Macron:

The partial suspension of American tariffs for 90 days sends out a signal and leaves the door open for talks. But this pause is a fragile one.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia and is expected to meet Putin on Friday.

This will be the third meeting between Witkoff and Putin.

Source: Axios

Trump:

I don't need Elon for anything other than I happen to like him ... I don't need his car. I actually bought one.

If no ceasefire is reached by the end of the month, Trump could move forward with additional sanctions on Russia.

Source: Axios

Americans are now responding to China's videos.

Israeli far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir:

We must bomb food stores and electricity generators in Gaza.

Palestinian Civil Defence announced 10 deaths, including seven children, in an Israeli strike today.

China's Xi:

China and the EU should fulfill their international responsibilities and jointly maintain the trend of economic globalization and the international trade environment. We should jointly resist unilateral bullying.

Spanish PM Sanchez:

China and the EU should negotiate solutions to our differences and boost cooperation in areas of common interest.

China's Xi:

Going against the world means isolating oneself.