Conor Finnegan

NEW: Sweden has intelligence that Russia is systematically manipulating data to fool Ukraine’s western allies into believing its economy has withstood the strain of its lavish war spending and western sanctions, its intel chief tells me and @ChristopherJM ft.com/content/04a9d0…

There's a power struggle underway in Iran—and even within the delegation that went to Islamabad for the first round of talks, which offered a sense of the country's internal tensions. "Their arguments were so ferocious that Pakistani mediators are reported to have spent as much time refereeing among the Iranians as engaging the Americans. When tempers frayed, the hosts called a pause." "Inside Iran, signs of swelling military assertiveness are plentiful. Pro-regime crowds—mobilised nightly by networks tied to the IRGC—have taken to denouncing Araghchi and Ghalibaf by name. Military communiqués delivered by men in fatigues appear to have replaced clerical sermons." economist.com/middle-east-an…

“Aides fielded calls from Republican senators and Christian leaders. They asked, why would he say “Praise be to Allah” on Easter morning? Why would he use the F-word? … When one adviser later asked him about it, he said he came up with the Allah idea himself. He said he wanted to seem as unstable and insulting as possible, believing it could bring the Iranians to the table.” Read @jdawsey1 @AnnieLinskey: wsj.com/politics/natio…

“The administration has no specific, imminent operations against Cuba under consideration, according to two other U.S. officials.” nytimes.com/2026/04/18/wor… via @NYTimes

NEW: In an unusual attempt to get Trump’s ear—and go around Marco Rubio—the grandson of Cuban leader Raúl Castro tapped a wealthy Havana entrepreneur to try to personally deliver a letter to Trump outside of regular diplomatic channels With @Jose_deCordoba wsj.com/politics/natio…

Russia launched its deadliest attack of the year on Ukraine, killing at least 18 people, including a 12-year-old child, and injuring over 100 more across the country on.wsj.com/4dMmVLP

Eternally proud of @_fredramos who pitched this story and worked on it for two years. Please take a few minutes to read and check out the spectacular photos. nytimes.com/2026/04/15/wor…

A younger generation of Castros is moving into positions of power as Cuba confronts its deepest crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union. “The future of the country runs through that family—it’s a monarchy.” Always read the great @Jose_deCordoba wsj.com/world/americas…

Iran’s new national security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr's views "were so extreme that one of his subordinates—Qassem Soleimani, the notorious Quds Force leader later killed by the U.S.—temporarily quit in protest." WSJ: Iran’s Regime Has Changed—for the Worse The U.S.-Israeli attack fast-tracked the ascent of hard-liners and apocalyptic religious followers wsj.com/world/middle-e…

SCOOP: The Pentagon failed to warn ships carrying supplies for the US military before starting the war in Iran. The ships got stuck in the Persian Gulf. And for a month, they were stuck w/ a group of college students — merchant marine cadets. notus.org/defense/us-cad…

This satellite image is of Russian naval base Olenya in the High North, along with their spy ship Yantar and specialist GUGI submarines before they departed port for UK waters. These vessels are designed to survey underwater critical infrastructure during peacetime, then sabotage in conflict. In response to nefarious activity by Russian GUGI submarines and an Akula Class submarine, the Defence Secretary @JohnHealey_MP deployed our Armed Forces to track and deter any malign activity by these vessels. We worked in partnership with Norway and other allies responding to increased Russian activity in the Atlantic, north of the UK. A @RoyalNavy warship and @RoyalAirForce P-8 aircraft ensured the Russian submarines were monitored 24/7. The Akula Submarine subsequently retreated home having been closely tracked throughout and we continued to monitor the two GUGI submarines, in and around wider UK waters. Our Armed Forces left them with no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert as Putin planned and that their attempted secret operations had been exposed.

Military officers accused of rebellion remain locked up in Venezuela, despite an amnesty for prisoners that the government passed under U.S. pressure on.wsj.com/4mjd5Dn

“its next Conquest”

SCOOP: The US is considering lifting sanctions on #Venezuela’s central bank to facilitate the flow of billions of dollars into the country’s battered economy, sources familiar with the matter tell Andreina Itriago, @zerpius and me. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Just four ships passed through Hormuz on the first day of the "ceasefire", down from a daily average of ten the week before. Shipowners are worried about safety as well as the implications of paying Iran to cross: "If the Iranians are demanding a toll right now, if you pay that toll you are likely to be violating the US sanctions on Iran." ft.com/content/0ce6a1…

The scale of the killing in Israeli strikes on Lebanon Wednesday is "horrific", the UN rights chief said, urging the international community to help end the unfolding "nightmare." u.afp.com/Sbth

The Trump administration summoned a Vatican diplomat to the Pentagon, and during the tense meeting a U.S. official invoked the Avignon Papacy. On July 4, the American pope will be in Lampedusa -- he didn't pick that date by accident. @TheFP thefp.com/p/why-the-vati…

Day 1 of the ceasefire: bloodiest day of the war in Lebanon, one of the heaviest days of Iranian attacks on the Gulf since the first week, and also the Strait of Hormuz still isn't open It's a ceasefire only in the sense that America has ceased firing and declared victory

Israel leveled another building in Beirut just now, hitting Tallet Al-Khayyat in West Beirut without warning. Israel said today that it will begin expanding the areas of Beirut it targets, under the justification that Hezbollah fighters have “moved into other areas of Beirut”. Lebanese civilians are terrified that there are no safe places left.

This morning, I asked President Trump if he’s okay with the Iranians charging a toll for all ships that go through the Strait of Hormuz, he told me there may be a Joint US-Iran venture to charge tolls: “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people.” “It’s a beautiful thing”