Trump Reportedly Plans Four Mile Military Parade for 79th Birthday

President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, which marks both his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, according to Washington City Paper.

The parade would run about four miles from the Pentagon to the White House, though no formal request has yet been submitted to local authorities.

As war rages, Congo's neighbors smuggle out its gold and mineral wealth

Rwanda and Uganda are exploiting the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to smuggle out valuable minerals such as gold and coltan.

Armed groups, backed by governments, have seized eastern Congo's strategic mining areas. Global demand and high prices are fueling these operations.

• The M23 controls the coltan-rich town of Rubaya and earns about $800,000 a month from taxes and forced labor.
• Uganda has increased its military presence and trained local militias in the gold-mining areas, where the rebels earn up to $140 million a year.
• Congo's President Tshisekedi, overwhelmed and increasingly isolated, has sought U.S. support in exchange for access to critical minerals.

Source: WSJ

Netanyahu’s facial expressions after hearing Trump announce “direct talks with Iran will begin.”

Hackers attacked Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s social media on Tuesday, including by publishing a fake post that said troops had been attacked by the Russian army, CTK reported.

The incident on X is being analyzed, the newswire said, citing government spokeswoman Lucie Michut Jesatkova. All fake posts disappeared after “dozens of minutes,” according to CTK.

Source: Bloomberg

Brazilian President Lula da Silva says his country’s $350 billion cushion of reserves provides “peace of mind” against new U.S. tarriffs:

“Even if Trump says whatever he wants, we’re secure.”

Germany has temporarily suspended the resettlement of UN refugees, DPA reported.

Russia’s Medvedev:

Current situation rules out nuclear disarmament for decades.

Expect more destructive weapons, new states to go nuclear.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the ruling Civic Coalition’s (PO) candidate, is leading ahead of Poland’s May 18 presidential election, with 36.2% to 38.3% support, according to two polls released Tuesday.

His main rivals are Karol Nawrocki of the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, polling between 20.1% and 22.6%, and Slawomir Mentzen of the far-right Confederation, with 17.4% to 18.8%.

If no one wins over 50%, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held on June 1.

Source: Reuters

Trump administration is considering drone strikes against drug cartels in Mexico.

Early discussions have explored targeting cartel leaders and logistics networks, potentially with Mexico’s cooperation.

Source: NBC

American officials are considering a proposal to withdraw as many as 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, NBC News reported.

The U.S. is weighing a proposal to cut troop levels in Poland and Romania, as Trump seeks a ceasefire deal with Putin.

If adopted, the move could signal a U.S. pullback from Europe.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will visit Syria next week.

Source: Sky News Arabia

BREAKING: Around 10 North Korean soldiers violated demarcation line between two Koreas.

South Korean military fired warning shots, North Korean soldiers returned north.

Source: South Korean Army

Türkiye's new step on competitors' radar

China, Western powers, and private satellite firms are closely monitoring Somalia’s coastline, where Türkiye is reportedly constructing a secret spaceport near Jamaame, supported by a logistics base in Kismaayo.

Announced by President Erdogan in November, the project aims to establish a launch site near the equator—optimal for satellite launches and potentially long-range missile tests, which are difficult to carry out within Türkiye due to geographical limitations.

The site's strategic location on the Indian Ocean aligns with similar ambitions by Italy in Kenya and Saudi Arabia in Oman.

Source: Intelligence Online

Trump demands $350 billion EU energy deal to lift tariffs

President Trump rejected the EU’s offer to scrap car and industrial tariffs, insisting Brussels must commit to buying $350 billion in U.S. energy to avoid his new tarriffs.

“We can knock off $350 billion in one week,” Trump said.

China may ban U.S. film imports as a countermeasure, threatening a major revenue stream for Hollywood.

Source: Bloomberg

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te says "freedom of speech doesn’t cover calls to eliminate Taiwan."

Lai warned of growing threats from China, including disinformation, legal warfare, and gray-zone tactics.

He noted that 64 Taiwanese were prosecuted for spying for China last year, four times more than in 2021.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday:

Talks with the U.S. will be indirect, and we will not accept any other negotiation format.

We chose indirect negotiations to avoid threats and pressure from Washington.

What matters is the effectiveness of talks and the will to reach a deal. A real agreement is possible if the other side is serious.

Our main goal is lifting sanctions and easing our people’s hardship.

Morgan Ortagus, Trump administration envoy to Lebanon, leaves the Lebanese interviewer speechless:

Who is Lebanon?

President hasn't rejected it to me.

Ukraine to Hold U.S. Talks on Post-War Deal Over Minerals, Reconstruction

A Ukrainian delegation of deputy ministers will visit Washington on April 11–12 for talks on a draft deal covering post-war reconstruction and access to mineral resources.

The U.S. wants half the future revenue from key sectors as compensation for wartime aid.

Kyiv is pushing back, seeking greater investment and worried the deal could hurt its EU accession hopes.

Talks remain technical for now, with no top-level politicians attending.

Kyiv has also hired an international law firm for support.

Source: Bloomberg

Chinese are now trolling "American re-industrialization" on TikTok.