The Trump administration has eased financial sanctions on Venezuela to help stabilize its struggling economy and address protests over low wages.

The change allows major state banks, including the Banco Central de Venezuela, to use U.S. dollars, access oil revenues, and reconnect with the global financial system.

Source: Axios

Europe is preparing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the war ends, led by Macron and the U.K., but without U.S. involvement.

The idea is to form an international, defensive mission that excludes countries directly involved in the conflict—like the U.S., Israel, and Iran—so it is more acceptable, particularly to Tehran.

Source: WSJ

The U.S. said no vessels left Iranian ports during the first day of its blockade, with six merchant ships turning back after U.S. warnings.

Over 10,000 personnel and multiple warships are involved, but no direct enforcement actions have occurred.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued, with over 20 vessels passing.

Source: WSJ

Maria Bartiromo: Is the Iran war over?

Trump: It is over.

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone crashed on April 9 over the Persian Gulf.

It suddenly dropped altitude and disappeared from tracking.

It’s a major loss (~$238 million drone) with sensitive surveillance tech onboard.

SOURCE

JD Vance:

The people telling you that Erika (Kirk) wasn’t grieving her husband are full of shit.

JD Vance:

The response to Charlie Kirk getting assassinated by a left-wing furry lover... The response should have been: “Let’s go after left-wing violence and terrorism. Let’s defund the networks of left-wing violence and terrorism.”

JD Vance:

It has frustrated me that some of the Catholic clergy have attacked the Trump Administration mercilessly on immigration.

JD Vance: How can you say that God was never on the side of those who wield the sword?

Audience member: Jesus doesn’t support genocide.

JD Vance: I agree.

VP Vance was confronted at a TPUSA event:

“You’re killing children!”

JD Vance:

I recognize that a lot of young voters don’t love the policy we have in the Middle East.

JD Vance:

Trump says to Iran: “If you commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran economically thrive.”

JD Vance:

The person who is effectively running Iran sat across from the Vice President of the U.S.—that had never happened.

I think those people wanted to make a deal… you never know, though.

JD Vance:

The people who want to kill Donald Trump, the people who want to throw Donald Trump into prison, the people who murdered our friend, and the people who celebrated afterwards are trying to achieve political power.

We cannot let them.

JD Vance is expected to lead a potential second round of talks with Iranian officials if negotiations continue before next week’s ceasefire deadline.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also expected to attend.

Source: CNN

The U.S. State Department has told Congress that Cuba may be complicit in supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, with up to 5,000 Cuban nationals reportedly fighting on Russia’s side.

The report says there’s no definitive proof Havana officially sent troops, but cites “significant indicators” the regime tolerated or enabled their involvement.

Source: Axios

Iran secretly acquired a Chinese-built spy satellite (TEE-01B) in late 2024 via the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace unit.

Leaked documents suggest the satellite was then used to monitor key U.S. military bases across the Middle East, producing time-stamped imagery and coordinates.

These were used before and after drone and missile strikes to help plan attacks and assess damage.

Source: FT

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence(GUR) says it secretly carried out two rocket launches to near-space/space during the war—one above 100 km (crossing into space) and another reaching 204 km.

They also tested a rocket launched from an aircraft at ~8,000 m, which they say is Europe’s first air-launch of its kind.

This approach could eventually enable an “airborne launch system” for missiles or even small satellites.

Source: Defence Blog

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says China will effectively be cut off from Iranian oil:

Those ships aren’t going to be allowed out anymore… they’re not going to be able to get their oil.

They can get oil. Not Iranian oil.

Trump:

Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Trump, randomly:

NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future!