Trump:

Japan has committed to double its defense spending by 2027 compared to my first term.

Trump:

The United States is committed to Japan's security and we will extend the full force of the American deterrent in its defense.

Trump:

The United States and Japan will counter China's economic aggression.

Justin Trudeau privately told business leaders that Donald Trump might be serious about annexing Canada because he’s keen to control Canada's natural resources.

Previously, Canadian officials said Trump was joking when talking about Canada joining the US as the 51st state.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Japanese PM Ishiba on tariffs:

Tariffs need to be set if they are mutually beneficial.

Trump announces that Elon Musk's DOGE will soon look into more departments like the Department of Education and the Pentagon.

The United States will maintain relations with North Korea and Kim Jong-un, Trump said.

Trump has signed sanctions against South Africa for their recent land seizure bill.

He is ordering all aid to South Africa be halted and he is also ordering federal agencies to prioritize humanitarian relief and admission to the United States for Afrikaner refugees.

Zelenskiy: Ukraine’s Resources Key to Security & Partnerships

- Ukraine seeks allied partnerships (esp. U.S.) to develop its vast mineral wealth – not “give it away.”

- Putin wants Ukraine’s resources & may share them with North Korea, Iran.

"Of course, they have not seized 20% of our mineral resources, it is less. Much less. Nevertheless, it is still hundreds of billions."

- Russia hasn’t taken 20% of Ukraine’s minerals, but occupied areas hold hundreds of billions in value.

“Putin is not just grabbing them (minerals) along with the land, he is already thinking about how to get other partners in his alliance - North Korea, Iran ... and he will give them access."

- Dnipro region is crucial for protecting these resources.

"This is very rich land. This does not mean that we are giving it away to anyone, even to strategic partners.”

- Ukraine could become a U.S. LNG hub for Europe

"We are ready and willing to have contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine. And of course, we will be a hub for the whole of Europe."

Trump said that he was revoking former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s security clearances, and made clear that he was doing so because Biden had rescinded his privileges four years ago

19 state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney Genera Letitia James, are suing to block Trump and Elon Musk’s team from accessing sensitive Treasury data on millions of Americans. The lawsuit warns of major cybersecurity and privacy risks.

NEW: Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, was paid $25K by a film company owned by a Russian-American filmmaker linked to pro-Kremlin influence campaigns.

The company, Global Tree Pictures, is run by Igor Lopatonok, who has ties to a Putin-backed fund. Patel was featured in a documentary pushing “deep state” conspiracy theories and portraying Trump allies as victims.

Trump is ready to double down on sanctions against Russia to bring about an end to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the U.S. president's special envoy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Sanctions enforcement on Russian President Vladimir Putin is "only about a three" on a scale of one to 10 on how painful the economic pressure can be, Keith Kellogg said in an interview with New York Post.

“You could really increase the sanctions — especially the latest sanctions," which target oil production and exports.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame was due to meet his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi in Tanzania on Saturday as regional leaders convene in a bid to defuse the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo.

A joint summit between the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Friday and Saturday. The leaders of the province are expected to come together at this summit.

The M23 armed group quickly seized large swathes of territory in an offensive in the mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group captured the strategic city of Goma last week and is advancing towards neighboring South Kivu province in the latest chapter of decades of turmoil in the region.

The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will meet Syrian officials in Damascus today.

Director General Fernando Arias was expected to meet interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Sheibani.

In the fifth stage of the first phase of the swap deal, the Al-Qassam Brigades deployed to Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip to hand over Israeli prisoners.

At Deiral-Balah, the stage was set for the swap ceremony.

Balochistan unrest escalates: Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) intensify attacks on Pakistani forces and state projects

BLA attacks: Militants target security forces in Mastung with grenade, injuring two.

BLF attacks CPEC project: Militants destroyed construction equipment in Khuzdar, warning against cooperation with state-sponsored projects.

Pro-independence groups threaten further attacks: Both the BLA and BLF reiterated that they would target Pakistani forces and infrastructure.

Tensions are rising in Balochistan.