U.S. Issues Cuba Health Alert as Illnesses Rise 
Merz Rejects AfD Alliance After Saxony-Anhalt Surge 
Iran Vows Tougher Response as US Sanctions Squeeze Economy 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
Israeli Strikes Kill Four in Gaza, Including Two Children 
Canada Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect 
USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves Thailand After Five-Day Port Visit 
Australia Plans New Rules Giving Users Control Over Social Media Feeds 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Infrastructure 
Oil Prices Rise as Hormuz Tensions Threaten Supply 
Cuba Says No US Talks as Blockade Costs Hit $8.1 Billion 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
Yen Rebounds as BOJ Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
Add as a preferred source on Google
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States would significantly intensify its military operations against Iran within the next two to three weeks, while warning of devastating strikes on the country's power grid if Tehran refuses to reach a negotiated agreement.
Speaking from the White House, Trump declared that Washington's forces had already severely degraded Iran's naval and missile capabilities and suggested the operations had contributed to internal political instability within the Iranian government. He framed Iran's nuclear ambitions as a direct and dangerous threat to American national security, vowing that the U.S. would complete its military objectives in the near term.
Trump doubled down on his threat to simultaneously target Iran's electricity-generating infrastructure should diplomatic efforts fail. "If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants," he warned, reinforcing an April 6 ultimatum that remained in effect. The remarks clarified that any military wind-down would only follow an initial escalation phase, contradicting earlier signals of an imminent pullback.
On the issue of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply flows — Trump declined to commit U.S. forces to reopening the passage. Instead, he urged oil-dependent nations, particularly those in South and East Asia, to independently secure the waterway or source energy from the United States.
Iran, meanwhile, denied that any direct negotiations with Washington had occurred and rejected Trump's claims that Tehran had sought a ceasefire, according to Iranian state media.
Markets responded sharply to the developments. U.S. stock futures dropped nearly 1% following Trump's remarks, while Brent crude oil prices surged more than 5%, reflecting growing investor anxiety over the month-long conflict and its potential to disrupt global energy supplies.
