North Korea's revised constitution deletes all reunification language and adds a new Article 2 defining its territory as bordering China, Russia, and "the Republic of Korea to the south", formally codifying Kim Jong Un's "two hostile states" doctrine.

It also names Kim head of state with direct nuclear command authority.

Corruption scandals (the $LIBRA crypto crash, Chief of Staff Adorni's illicit enrichment probe, kickback allegations involving his sister) and rising unemployment (7.5%, highest Q4 since COVID) overshadow his macro wins on inflation and the fiscal surplus.

Corruption is now Argentines' top concern at 43%, with disapproval near 62%.

Source: FT

The probe focuses on reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, who published claims from anonymous sources about Patel’s alleged drinking and erratic behavior.

The investigation is unusual because it does not involve classified information and appears centered on identifying leaks to a journalist.

Source: MS NOW

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops fired Type 88 anti-ship missiles from Ilocos Norte and sank the decommissioned BRP Quezon roughly 50–75 km offshore, Japan's first use of the system outside its own territory.

The drill, joined by US, Philippine, and Australian forces, simulates repelling an amphibious assault in the South China Sea, and China has condemned it as "remilitarization" and "playing with fire."

The exercise runs April 20–May 8 with ~17,000 troops from seven nations.

The move pre-positions the carrier closer to the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a possible France-UK-led multinational mission (40+ nations) to restore safe navigation through the strait.

France stresses the posture is purely defensive — focused on escorting commercial shipping — and not part of direct combat operations.

U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman stopped an Iranian-flagged tanker attempting to violate the U.S. blockade on May 6.

After repeated warnings were ignored, a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln fired several 20mm rounds, disabling the vessel’s rudder and preventing it from reaching an Iranian port.

I speak with Trump almost on a daily basis. There is full coordination between us, with no surprises.

We share common goals, and the most important goal is the removal of the enriched material from Iran — all enriched material — and the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capabilities.