The US sanctioned 15 members of al-Shabaab operating in Somalia for fundraising and supporting the militant group. The sanctioned individuals include leaders, operatives, and financial facilitators involved in the proliferation of improvised explosive devices.

“Al-Shabaab continues to terrorize and extort the Somali people, forcing farmers to turn over livestock as ‘donations’ and kidnapping civilians, while it destabilizes the wider region through its campaign of violence,” Treasury’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Anna Morris said.

Source: Bloomberg

Another security agency crisis in Israel.

A new security-related case is currently under investigation with the involvement of two investigative bodies: the Shin Bet security agency and the Police Internal Investigations Division (Machash).

An Israeli Shin Bet agent is being investigated for leaking classified documents to journalists and Minister Amichai Chikli.

According to the allegations, the leaked information is as follows:

• Information linked to far-right Kahanists infiltrating the police

• Leak reaches journalists and Minister Amichai Chikli

Investigation launched on April 6 under PID supervision ordered by the Israeli Attorney General.

Source: Hayom, YNet

White House Envoy Witkoff appears to have confirmed that Trump administration is no longer seeking the "full denuclearization" of Iran or the "dismantling of its nuclear program."

Instead, it now aims to impose limits on the level (3.67%) of uranium enrichment by Tehran.

Russia's Lavrov said that it was not easy to agree with the United States on the key parts of a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

"It is not easy to agree the key components of a settlement. They are being discussed," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper when asked if Moscow and Washington had agreement on some aspects of a possible peace deal.

Source: Reuters

Sudan's foreign minister has warned that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) aims to announce a parallel government to coincide with the UK's conference on Sudan this week.

Source: MEE

New Syrian security forces arrested four members for taking bribes at checkpoints in Deir ez-Zor.

A peace deal on Ukraine is nearing as the U.S. and Russia have “reached an understanding,” according to Trump’s Envoy Witkoff following his meeting with Putin.

“This peace agreement involves five territories—but it’s about much more than that.

It’s about security protocols, NATO, Article 5—there are many details.”

Philippines and the US will deploy around 14,000 troops in joint annual military exercises called Balikatan from April 21 to May 9.

The exercises will include a mobile coastal anti-ship missile system for the first time and will involve sinking a target ship and retaking an island, similar to last year's drills.

The drills will be held in Philippine areas near Taiwan and the South China Sea, and will include troops from Australia and observers from Japan, the Czech Republic, and Poland, among others.

Source: Bloomberg

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller:

Anyone who preaches hate for America will be deported.

Under this administration, people who hate America, who threaten our citizens, who rape, who murder, and who support those who rape and murder are going to be ejected from this country.

Trump has ordered a stretch of border land to be transferred to the Department of Defense, putting it under the control of the Army.

This reclassification is a move to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the federal government's use of military force for domestic law enforcement.

This is the most direct use of the military for border control under Trump, surpassing previous roles limited to wall construction, surveillance, or deportation flights.

There is no indication yet whether additional troops will be sent. There are currently 7,100 federal troops and 4,600 National Guard members deployed to the border.

Source: AP

Japan's Sony increased the price of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition by 25%, citing economic pressures and Trump-era tariffs.

Starting Monday, the console will cost £429.99 in the UK and €499.99 in Europe.

Trump Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Funding Over DEI, Policy Dispute

Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard after the university refused demands to end DEI programs, alter hiring and admissions, and cooperate with federal immigration checks.

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not compromise its autonomy or academic freedom, calling the demands “unprecedented government interference.”

The freeze is part of a broader crackdown on universities over alleged antisemitism. Harvard plans to offset losses with $750 million in private funding while pursuing legal action.

On the 2nd anniversary of the Sudan war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a series of drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure, including power stations in northern Sudan.

Ret. Gen. Osama Abdul Salam stated that RSF began drone usage early in the war, with recent strikes hitting Kosti and Khartoum.

RSF strikes power stations in Atbara, Dongola, and Kosti.

Sudan’s electricity company reported blackouts in Atbara and Dongola after unknown drones hit local power stations.

RSF shifting tactics after battlefield losses

Brigadier Jamal al-Shaheed called the escalation a serious threat, pointing to RSF’s shift toward targeting civilian infrastructure to paralyze regions under army control.

Brigadier Omar al-Bashri noted RSF's manpower losses (~100,000 fighters) and its reliance on untrained criminals (shafshafa) to fill ranks, who fled after looting.

Source: Al JAzeera

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan spoke by phone, focusing on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, regional counterterrorism efforts, and NATO cooperation.

They also discussed the situation in Syria, the Gaza humanitarian crisis, and ceasefire efforts in Ukraine.

Iran’s IRGC:

National security and our defense capabilities are a red line and will never be negotiated.

Israel has taken over about a third of the Gaza Strip, declaring new security zones and expelling civilians to pressure Hamas.

Four military corridors split Gaza into isolated zones.

• Israeli forces completed the Morag corridor, cutting Rafah off and razing parts of it. Civilians are again displaced, many losing homes and land.

• Nearly 400,000 Palestinians were displaced between March 18 and April 8. Two-thirds of Gaza is now under Israeli evacuation orders or inaccessible.

Israel Katz said, “Many territories are being seized and added to the security zones of the State of Israel.”

Israel has redrawn Gaza’s map with the Netzarim and Kissufim corridors, further isolating northern areas from the rest of the Strip.

Source: WSJ

US Treasury Secretary Bessent:

Tariffs on China are big numbers, no one thinks they are sustainable and wants them to remain.

Trump Official Warns Europe: Choose Starlink or China

Brendan Carr, Trump-appointed head of the FCC, urged European allies to back Elon Musk’s Starlink over Chinese alternatives, warning:

“If you’re concerned about Starlink, just wait for the CCP’s version.”

Source: FT

China Halts Rare Earth Exports: Critical defense production could be affected

China has suspended exports of key critical minerals, including six heavy rare earth metals and rare earth magnets, vital to U.S. military tech.

These materials power fighter jet engines, missile fins, and drone motors—making their restriction a threat to U.S. national security. Pentagon stockpiles not enough for long-term use.

As a tariff response:

The move is a direct response to President Trump’s new tariffs, and seen as a warning shot from Beijing with room for escalation.

China dominates global rare earth production and refining. U.S. defense systems are deeply reliant on these minerals.

F35 program needs rare earth:

Rare earths are in F-35s (900 lbs per jet), warships, tanks, missiles, and lasers. Submarines can contain over 9,000 lbs of these elements.

“We have more than 15 years ago—but not enough,” said AEI’s Dan Blumenthal.

Source: NYT
Photo: Newsweek