USA - An internal Pentagon email outlines options for the United States to punish NATO allies it believes failed to support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reviewing the US position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands, a US official told Reuters. The policy options are detailed in a note expressing frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight right, known as ABO, for the Iran war, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the email. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro responded to the reports, saying that "we [Spain] do not work off of emails, we work from official documents and positions."

POLAND - Polish PM warns EU must be 'real alliance'. Tusk spoke on the occasion of an informal EU summit in Cyprus where EU leaders will also discuss the war in the Middle East and energy measures in response and the Union's next long-term budget. Europe's "biggest, most important question" is whether the United States is ready to be a loyal NATO partner in case of a Russian attack, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Financial Times. He also called for the European Union to become a "real alliance" in protecting the continent, reflecting growing worries about US President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies and threats towards his European partners. "My obsession now and my mission is to reintegrate Europe. It means common defense... a common effort to protect our eastern borders."

MIDDLE EAST - The Strait of Hormuz continues to confound the US as it seeks to secure a deal with Iran. The Hormuz closure has become the proverbial Pandora’s Box, and many issues have emerged from this crisis that were neither expected nor part of previous discussions about a deal. The big question going into the weekend is whether the US might consider walking away from the ceasefire and resuming strikes, or whether it could ratchet up pressure in other ways. The White House continues to appear like it would like to secure a deal, but the Hormuz issue has expanded the American goals. Iran wants Hormuz, Lebanon, and other issues to be included in any deal. The US was initially focused on Iran’s enriched uranium and its ballistic-missile program. Those are two issues that matter greatly to Israel. This enables a lot of leverage for Iran. The notion of a Pandora’s box is taken from a Greek myth about a kind of jar or urn that when opened, all sorts of maladies and evil came out of it. The concept is that one thing can produce a number of unforeseen and negative consequences.

UK - If you stood anywhere inside the Palace of Westminster and chucked a paper dart right now, you could be pretty sure you would hit someone discussing one of three questions: will Sir Keir Starmer go, when will he go, and who will replace him? It is self-evident that if people are talking about the Prime Minister’s future, they are not discussing how this Government is going to make the country better, and the problem for Britain is that the same is true in No 10. Instead of finding solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, energy prices, illegal immigration or defence spending, the collective brainpower of Downing Street is preoccupied with fighting one crisis after another just to keep Sir Keir in a job. Forget having a five-year plan. Whitehall sources say there isn’t even a five-day plan right now, as each day’s main target is simply surviving until tomorrow.

USA - With spring in full force and summer on the way, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising the alarm on tick bites. The agency says the bites are sending Americans to the emergency room (ER) at the highest rate in nearly 10 years. During the second week of April, 71 out of every 100,000 emergency room visits were for tick bites, according to the CDC. The administration’s data notes that the Northeast region of the country has seen the largest spike in ER visits, followed by the Midwest. To avoid potential tick bites, the CDC recommends steering clear of wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. They also advise checking animals that go outside every day during warm weather. Ticks can spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites (pathogens) that cause diseases.

USA - Residents across Nevada and parts of California were startled on Wednesday after a series of earthquakes sent shockwaves across hundreds of miles. At least four notable tremors were detected near Carson City, Nevada, ranging from 2.6 to 4.8 magnitude. The swarm struck at 10.23am PT (1.23pm ET) near Silver Springs, Nevada, an area that has experienced an uptick in seismic activity in recent weeks. One local posted on Facebook: 'It's the same area that's been rocking us the past week. It's not stopping; I fear volcanic activity. There are volcanic features in this region, but officials say they are generally considered extinct or dormant rather than active, immediate threats. The US Geological Survey reported that shaking was felt as far west as areas outside Sacramento, California. One Californian shared on Facebook that they felt shaking in Colfax, which is about 140 miles west of the Nevada epicenter. On Thursday, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in Northern California, sparking concerns of a possible tsunami.

USA - It could worsen heat and humidity in the West this summer, and also boost the risks of Pacific hurricanes as well as wildfires in the region. A massive ocean hot spot is stretching across a 5,000-mile swath of the Pacific — from Micronesia to the coastal waters of California. Across this zone, waters are as much as 6 to 8 degrees above average.

USA - DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer warned Bloomberg TV earlier this morning that a persistent Gulf energy shock could morph into broader trouble for the global economy. "Well we have seen this before, that you have recognized by consumers as having an impact that sparks broader discussion, the real economic implications for people. Now, this hasn't happened yet. We're trying to prevent that from happening. The 10, 12 million barrels of crude oil per day, it will come to that tipping point. Solutions are needed and political momentum is building up to resolve the situation in the Strait of Hormuz," Meyer said. Meyer's reference to the "tipping point" is clear: if Gulf oil losses of 10 to 12 million barrels per day are not offset soon, global energy and product prices will stay elevated, causing significant knock-on effects throughout the world economy.

EUROPE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has turned EU governance into a “super authoritarian” system, former European Council President Charles Michel has said, accusing her of overstepping her mandate. Michel, who worked alongside von der Leyen for five years from 2019 until 2024, has become the latest figure to criticize her leadership style. “There is a super authoritarian governance,” he said in an interview with The Brussels Times on Monday. “[The European] commissioners have absolutely no role anymore.” Under EU treaties, the 27 commissioners collectively propose laws, enforce treaties, and manage the EU budget, while the president sets political guidelines and allocates portfolios. Von der Leyen has been accused of concentrating power in her own office, reducing commissioners to little more than administrators.

IRAN - Iranian officials have struck a defiant tone ahead of a possible new round of talks with Washington, warning that Tehran is prepared to “reveal new cards on the battlefield” while rejecting any negotiations conducted “under the shadow of threats.” Trump warned on Sunday that if Iran doesn’t accept his administration’s “fair and reasonable deal,” the US will “knock out every single power plant, and every single bridge, in Iran.” According to Axios, Iranian negotiators had been stalling amid reported pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to take a harder line and refuse talks unless the US first ends its blockade. The report claimed that Pakistani, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators had urged Tehran to attend, and that Iran’s team reportedly received the green light from the supreme leader on Monday night.