⚠️ Breaking: Trump orders US Navy to "shoot and kill" any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz. US boards second Iranian oil tanker (Majestic X) in 48 hours. Brent crude at $102.43/barrel. 2,680+ Indian sailors evacuated from the region.
The US has ordered its navy to fire on any vessel placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Persian Gulf escalate sharply. The directive came after US forces boarded the stateless tanker M/T Majestic X — carrying Iranian oil — in the Indian Ocean, the second seizure in 48 hours. Iran attacked three cargo ships in the strait on Wednesday and seized two of them, calling it retaliation for the US naval blockade of its ports. India says 2,680 of its sailors have been evacuated since the conflict began, and two vessels with 22 Indian crew came under fire. Meanwhile, the US Senate rejected (46–51) a Democratic resolution to halt Trump's Iran war for the fifth time this year. Brent crude hit $102.43/barrel on Thursday.
Source: BBC · AP News · Reuters
US Navy Secretary John Phelan stepped down with immediate effect Thursday, the latest in a string of high-level Pentagon departures. Reports suggest the resignation came amid tension over US shipbuilding priorities and the administration's escalating naval posture in the Middle East. The role is largely administrative, but his exit underscores deeper fractures in the defense leadership as the US simultaneously manages the Iran standoff and broader strategic competition.
Source: AP News · BBC
Prime Minister Mark Carney has drawn a firm line against US pressure, asserting that Canada will not accept terms imposed by Washington. The statement comes as the US continues to wield tariffs as leverage and Canada diversifies its trade relationships — particularly with the EU and UK. Carney's stance reflects a broader realignment in Canadian economic policy, moving away from over-reliance on the US market.
Source: AP News
The UK government has confirmed that the medical and lifestyle data of all 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank — one of the world's largest health databases — appeared for sale on Alibaba's e-commerce platform in China. The data included gender, age, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and biological sample measures. No personally identifying information (names, addresses, NHS numbers) was included, and the government says no purchases were made. Three research institutions had their access suspended as the listings constitute a breach of their contracts. The ICO is investigating. UK Biobank's CEO called it a "clear breach" of the agreements researchers signed. The incident is being called a "profound betrayal" by opposition MPs.
Source: BBC
As the Iran standoff chokes global shipping, crypto scammers are exploiting the chaos — sending messages to shipping companies posing as Iranian authorities and demanding Bitcoin or Tether payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. At least one ship that came under Iranian gunfire may have been tricked by these messages. The Greek maritime risk firm MARISKS first flagged the scam on April 20. The scheme adds a dangerous new layer to an already volatile situation: ships now face both a US naval blockade and a cryptocurrency fraud operation exploiting the same corridor.
Source: Ars Technica · Reuters