British Prime Minister Starmer: The regional election results will not weaken my resolve; I will continue to fight.

U.S. Treasury yields drift lower in Asian trading as markets await April jobs data due later in the day. First Citizens Bank’s Phil Neuhart says a modest payroll gain alongside unemployment steady at 4.3% would signal a cooling but stable labor market, marked by “low-hire, low-fire” conditions. He adds such a report would likely keep the Federal Reserve on hold—neither weak enough to force cuts nor strong enough to revive inflation concerns. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expect 55,000 job additions.

1. US and Iran Clash in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump Says Ceasefire Remains Intact —The US and Iran clashed directly in the Strait of Hormuz, with the US military claiming it retaliated after being attacked by missiles and drones. Trump stated that today's strikes against Iran "beat them to a pulp." He also stated that despite the strikes, the ceasefire agreement remains in effect. 2. Threatens Iran to Quickly Reach an Agreement —Trump posted that three US destroyers had just successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, during which they were attacked. The three destroyers sustained no damage. He added that if Iran does not quickly sign an agreement, they will be struck back with even greater force and cruelty in the future! 3. US Media Reports "Project Freedom" to be Restarted, Trump Says Pakistan Requests No Restart —According to the Wall Street Journal, US officials stated that the Trump administration is currently seeking to restart the "Project Freedom" operation, with the Pentagon giving an earliest timeline of this week. Trump stated that Pakistan has requested the US not to conduct "Project Freedom" during negotiations with Iran. Al Jazeera, citing US officials, denied the reports in the US media that the Trump administration was seeking to restart "Project Freedom." 4. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Restore U.S. Military Base and Airspace Access —U.S. and Saudi officials revealed that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on U.S. military use of their bases and airspace, clearing a key obstacle for Trump's "freedom of navigation plan" to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. 5. No Need to Restrict U.S. Oil Exports —Trump stated that there is no need to restrict U.S. oil or jet fuel exports. "We don't need them," Trump said on Thursday, "and we have plenty of oil." 6. U.S. Court Rules Trump's 10% Global Tariffs Invalid —The U.S. Trade Court ruled on Thursday that Trump's latest 10% tariff measures were invalid. The court's ruling did not fully block Trump's 10% tariffs, only targeting the two companies that filed the lawsuit. 7. Extends EU's Tariff Agreement Approval Deadline to July 4 —Trump stated that he will set a July 4 deadline for the EU to approve its trade agreement with the U.S. Trump also threatened that if EU tariffs on U.S. goods are not reduced to zero by the deadline, EU tariffs will immediately increase significantly. 8. Criticizing World Cup Ticket Prices – In an interview, Trump criticized the exorbitant ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, stating that even he wouldn't spend $1,000 to see the US team play Paraguay in the opening match next month. 9. Posting Numerous Images to Boast About His Achievements – Trump posted multiple images on social media, including a US warship shooting down an Iranian aerial target with a laser weapon, oil prices falling 20% since Biden's presidency, the S&P 500 reaching a record high, and Iran's "short trip" lasting only six weeks.