India-Pakistan Water Tensions Surge; Israel Escalates Gaza Campaign; Alberta Separatism Gains Momentum as Global Security Threats Intensify

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India has begun construction on controversial hydroelectric projects after suspending a long-standing treaty with Pakistan, while Israel has approved an expanded military campaign in Gaza despite warnings about hostage safety. Security experts are raising alarms about vulnerabilities in a widely-used open source tool that could threaten U.S. infrastructure. Meanwhile, Romania's presidential election saw a decisive victory for a Trump-aligned conservative candidate, and in Canada, Alberta's premier has promised a separation referendum if public demand materializes. The Middle East conflict widens as Israel conducts strikes in Yemen following a Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport. Adding to global economic concerns, analysts struggle to assess China's true economic health as crucial data becomes increasingly scarce. These developments underscore the complex challenges facing world leaders as regional conflicts intensify and information transparency diminishes.

Top Stories

• What Cinco de Mayo really celebrates (pbs.org)

• India starts work on hydro projects after suspending treaty with Pakistan, sources say (www.reuters.com)

• Israel okays 'conquering Gaza, holding the territories,' as IDF chief said to warn 'we could lose' the hostages (www.timesofisrael.com)

• Security Researchers Warn a Widely Used Open Source Tool Poses a 'Persistent' Risk to the US (www.wired.com)

• Conservative Trump ally secures decisive win in first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun (www.theguardian.com)

• Alberta premier promises separation referendum if signatures warrant (www.ctvnews.ca)

• Israel strikes in Yemen after Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport (www.ynetnews.com)

• How Bad Is China’s Economy? The Data Needed to Answer Is Vanishing (www.wsj.com)

United States

• Trump signs executive order to encourage US drug manufacturing (reuters.com)

• OpenAI to remain under non-profit control in change of restructuring plans (cnn.com)

• Trump administration says Harvard will receive no new grants until it meets White House demands (nbcnews.com)

• Trump order cuts funds for "gain-of-function" research (axios.com)

• Schakowsky won’t seek reelection to House seat in 2026 (thehill.com)

• Trump administration asks judge to toss suit restricting access to abortion medication (apnews.com)

Africa

• Rwanda confirms talks with US over receiving deported migrants (aljazeera.com)

• Top UN court rejects Sudan's bid to sue UAE for genocide (bbc.com)

• China, Egypt wrap up first joint air force training (globaltimes.cn)

• Poachers have killed more than 100 rhinos so far this year in South Africa, mostly in national parks (cbsnews.com)

• The US says Congo and Rwanda submit a draft peace proposal (apnews.com)

• Armed bandits kill 19, in northeast Nigeria (reuters.com)

Middle East

• Israel debates 80% tax on foreign donations to NGOs (reuters.com)

• Israel plans to capture entire Gaza Strip, officials say, as tens of thousands of reservists called up (cbsnews.com)

• Cyprus and Israel seek swift electricity link via undersea cable but Turkey objects (euronews.com)

• Turkish bank appeals Iran sanctions decision to US Supreme Court (reuters.com)

• Israel strikes in Yemen after Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport (www.ynetnews.com)

Indo-Pacific

• Philippine coast guard says China ship conducting illegal survey within EEZ (reuters.com)

• Cambodian court convicts prominent politician of incitement in latest legal move to stifle opponents (apnews.com)

• India and Pakistan Face Conflict Again - How did they de-escalate in the past? (www.bbc.co.uk)

• With militaries upgraded, risks multiply in any potential India-Pakistan conflict (reuters.com)

• Australia, New Zealand pledge support for film industry after Trump proposes tariffs (reuters.com)

• Iran’s top diplomat in Pakistan to mediate in the escalation with India over the Kashmir attack (apnews.com)

Europe

• Russian journalist who escaped house arrest in Moscow reappears in Paris after a brutal journey (apnews.com)

• EU announces €500 million package to woo scientists away from Trump's America (www.france24.com)

• Convicted Russian spies attended Brexit event in UK Parliament (www.bbc.com)

• Shein, Temu ramp up advertising in UK and France as US tariffs hit (reuters.com)

• EU Set to Propose Banning Russian Gas Imports by End of 2027 (www.bloomberg.com)

• Romanian prime minister resigns amid ruling coalition's post-presidential election fallout (euronews.com)

• Trump, Erdoğan discussing efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war (thehill.com)

Latin America

• What Cinco de Mayo really celebrates (pbs.org)

• In Milei's Argentina 'economic miracle', not everyone's a winner (reuters.com)

• Few migrants remain in the Darien Gap, but an environmental crisis has been left behind (apnews.com)

• Brazil and US are negotiating terms of understanding on tariffs, says Brazilian Finance Minister (reuters.com)

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