El Chapo's Lawyer Runs for Judge in Mexico, Russia-Ukraine Exchange 1,000 Prisoners Each, and US Tells African Allies to Stand More on Their Own

Good Morning,

El Chapo's former lawyer is running to be a judge in Mexico alongside an ex-drug smuggler. Russia and Ukraine exchanged 1,000 prisoners each in their largest swap yet as the US is telling African allies to become more self-reliant militarily. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is working on a minerals deal with the US tied to peace efforts in the east while Indonesia and China are expanding trade cooperation amid US-China tensions. Meanwhile, Israel has deployed all its standing infantry and armored units to Gaza.

Top Stories

• El Chapo's former lawyer and an ex-drug smuggler are on the ballot to be judges in Mexico - Reuters

• DR Congo eyes US minerals deal tied to peace in rebel-hit east by end of June - Financial Times

• US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own - ABC

• Russia and Ukraine complete exchange of 1,000 prisoners each - EuroNews

• Indonesian president and Chinese premier meet to discuss expanding trade during US trade war - AP

• IDF deploys all standing army infantry and armored brigade to Gaza, local media report - EuroNews

United States

• Trump's tariff threat risks a trade war with Europe years in the making - NBC 

• Trump news at a glance: don’t trade threats with us, EU warns - The Guardian 

• Ukraine's Zelenskyy denounces U.S. silence after massive Russian drone-and-missile attacks - NBC

• Japan PM Ishiba aims to advance U.S. tariff talks; eyes the outcome at G-7 summit - CNBC

• US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own - ABC

Africa

• US military shifts messaging in Africa, telling allies to prepare to stand more on their own - ABC

• Ugandan military accuses EU diplomats of engaging in subversive activities - AP

• Cholera spikes in Khartoum after drone attacks cut power, water - Reuters

• DR Congo eyes US minerals deal tied to peace in rebel-hit east by end of June - Financial Times

• Former DRC president Joseph Kabila hits back as senators strip him of immunity - France24

Middle East

• US National Security Council staff fired en masse, including Mideast, Israel, Iran chiefs - Times of Israel

• Hezbollah fares well in strongholds in Lebanon local elections, but turnout low - YNet

• IDF deploys all standing army infantry and armored brigade to Gaza, local media report - EuroNews

• Malaysia denounces 'Double Standards' on Gaza 'Atrocities' - Arab News

• Swiss authorities exploring probe into US-backed Gaza aid group - Reuters

Indo-Pacific

• Indonesian president and Chinese premier meet to discuss expanding trade during US trade war - AP

• Japan flexes military muscle at biggest-ever defense expo - Asia Times 

• Australia’s Opposition Parties on Track to Return to Coalition - Bloomberg

• Veterans in Congress clean Vietnam War memorial on eve of Memorial Day - CBS

• Hong Kong urges universities to facilitate students after Harvard ban - Reuters

Europe

• France blames sabotage for second Riviera blackout, boosts security - France24 

• Trump says he’ll delay a threatened 50% tariff on the European Union until July - AP

• Russia and Ukraine complete exchange of 1,000 prisoners each - EuroNews

• Trump Says He’s ‘Not Happy’ With Putin’s Escalation of Ukraine Attacks - NYT

• France, Vietnam set to sign dozens of deals as Macron visits Hanoi - Reuters

Latin America

• Ecuador's Noboa vows to tackle violence, boost economy and create jobs in second term - The Washington Post

• Suriname votes in parliamentary elections - France24

• El Chapo's former lawyer and an ex-drug smuggler are on the ballot to be judges in Mexico - Reuters

• Venezuela Opposition Leader Arrested Ahead Of Tense Election - Barron’s

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