‘US firm in key DRC minerals deal overstated its mining experience’

TRUMP WEIGHS CONSEQUENCES FOR NATO ALLIES ON 'NAUGHTY' LIST - POLITICO Trump weighs consequences for NATO allies on 'naughty' list The White House has developed something akin to a “naughty and nice” list of NATO countries, as the Trump administration looks for ways to punish allies who refused to back the Iran war. The effort, which officials worked on ahead of NATO head Mark Rutte’s visit to Washington this month, includes an overview of members’ contributions to the alliance and places them into tiers, according to three European diplomats and a U.S. defense official familiar with the plan. It’s the latest sign that President Donald Trump plans to make good on his threats against allies who don’t adhere to his wishes. And it’s another pressure point on the increasingly frayed alliance, which has been battered by Trump’s attacks — from his push to annex Greenland to his warning of a complete withdrawal from the pact.

Just in | Iran's Revolutionary Guards Report Seizure of Two Vessels, Redirecting Them to Iranian Waters.

IRAN FIRES ON THIRD SHIP IN HORMUZ ESCALATION IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD REPORTEDLY ATTACKED A THIRD VESSEL IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE KEY SHIPPING ROUTE. THE CONTAINER SHIP FRANCESCA, OWNED BY MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING, WAS TARGETED WHILE WAITING TO ENTER… Iran Fires On Third Ship In Hormuz Chokepoint As Tehran Received 'Some Signs' US Ready To End Blockade The IRGC on Wednesday attacked a third vessel of the day in the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly escalating tensions further in the dangerous standoff. The container ship Francesca, owned by Mediterranean Shipping, was targeted while waiting to enter. "An Iranian gunboat fired on a containership northeast of Oman, before a second vessel reported being fired at off the coast of Iran," according to WSJ. "Then the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a third ship. The incidents within hours of each other demonstrate that while the aerial war between the U.S. and Iran is on pause, the fight for control of the strait continues." The same publication offers the following outline summary of where things stand on the diplomatic front: • A senior Iranian adviser said the U.S. naval blockade is “no different than bombing” and must be met “with a military response.” • Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said his country is ready to negotiate with the U.S. once it ends the blockade. • Britain will host military planners from more than 30 countries for two days of talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz starting Wednesday.