Joint

• Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have launched joint military exercises involving 8,000 NATO troops in response to Russian force mobilization along the eastern border, marking the largest Baltic-focused NATO drill this year. • Russian military intelligence reports indicate approximately 35,000 Russian troops have gathered near the Belarus-Poland border; NATO commanders assess this as a potential preparation for military action. • Pentagon officials have authorized increased US military presence in the region, with 2,500 additional American troops authorized for rapid deployment if tensions escalate further.

• British and French intelligence agencies announced a coordinated investigation Friday into suspected Russian interference in upcoming European elections, citing evidence of coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting NATO members. • Intelligence officials briefed parliament and the European Commission on Russian operatives' attempts to manipulate social media narratives, exploit internal political divisions, and sow discord regarding Ukraine support policies. • The investigation focuses on a Russian intelligence network allegedly operating from St. Petersburg that has infiltrated European political parties, media outlets, and online forums with false narratives about NATO expansion and Ukraine aid.

• North Korea fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on April 17, just hours before the U.S. and South Korea began combined military exercises involving 40,000 troops, according to Japanese and South Korean defense officials. • The missiles traveled approximately 600 kilometers, prompting South Korean and Japanese military responses; U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test as destabilizing and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. • Experts note the missile design appears improved from previous tests, suggesting continued technological advancement despite international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Legal charity argues ‘job lot’ prosecution approach is unjust and primarily targets young black menJoint enterprise cases in England and Wales have soared over the past four decades, according to a report calling for a change in the law so that individuals are held accountable only for their own actions.The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) also found sentences have become harsher under the legal doctrine, which allows for individuals to be convicted of crimes they did not physically carry out if they were present at the scene or held an association with the principal culprit. Continue reading...

• Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda formalized a coordinated military command structure on April 8 at a summit in Nairobi to strengthen counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for recent attacks in the region. • The joint task force will deploy approximately 8,500 personnel across border regions, with integrated intelligence-sharing platforms and unified rules of engagement for cross-border pursuit of militant cells. • The initiative marks a significant shift in regional cooperation following a series of coordinated insurgent attacks that killed over 400 civilians and security personnel in the past six months, with international donors pledging $127 million in support.

• US and EU officials finalized a coordinated sanctions package on April 8, 2026, targeting Belarusian entities supplying weapons to Russia. • Measures freeze $300 million in assets and ban 50 officials, including Lukashenko allies facilitating troop transit. • The pact strengthens transatlantic unity against authoritarian axis, vital as Belarus hosts 10,000 Russian troops near Ukraine's border.

• US and Israeli forces launched expanded 'Juniper Oak' drills on April 4, 2026, involving 12,000 troops simulating multi-front attacks near the Lebanon border. • Drills feature F-35 joint operations and Iron Dome intercepts, responding to 150 Hezbollah rocket launches since March 15. • Exercise underscores US commitment with $3.8 billion annual aid, amid warnings from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of 'deterring wider escalation.'

• Japan and South Korea formalized a expanded military cooperation agreement on Thursday, establishing joint command structures and coordinated response protocols to address escalating North Korean weapons development and missile tests. • The two nations agreed to share real-time intelligence on North Korean military activities and established a rapid-response task force designed to coordinate anti-missile defense systems within 48 hours of any provocation. • The agreement represents the strongest formal defense partnership between the two countries in over a decade and signals growing concern about North Korea's advancing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.

• Canada and Mexico initiated formal trilateral negotiations with the United States on Thursday to revise specific provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), focusing on energy sector regulations, labor standards enforcement, and digital trade frameworks. • The negotiations emerged following months of diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration over concerns regarding Chinese investment in Mexican manufacturing sectors and alleged labor standard enforcement gaps affecting North American supply chains. • Trade analysts estimate the negotiations could result in amendments affecting approximately $1.3 trillion in annual trilateral trade flows, with particular implications for automotive, agricultural, and energy sectors across the region.

The new rules are the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a centuryDivorced couples in Japan will be able to negotiate joint custody of their children from Wednesday, in the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a century.Previously, Japan’s Civil Code required couples to decide which parent would take custody of their children when they divorce. Continue reading...

• The FBI and IRS are initiating a joint investigation into nonprofits over possible ties to domestic terrorism, targeting groups promoting extreme views on immigration, gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment. • The probe follows a memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi last year ordering lists of such organizations. • This initiative raises concerns about free speech and government overreach amid heightened security focus.

Foreign minister Anita Anand says she has drafted principles to reduce risk of regional spillover and wider shocksMiddle East crisis – live updatesCanada is pushing for a collective G7 and Middle East approach to de-escalating the Iran war, including off ramps that might bring an end to the conflict, the Canadian foreign minister, Anita Anand, has told the Guardian.In London to meet the UK’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, after of talks with the her Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, she said she hoped a G7 meeting chaired by France, this year’s president of the group, might start to build a broader collective approach to the crisis. Continue reading...

Sky News Arabia has been accused of broadcasting propaganda and whitewashing genocide in SudanSky is considering terminating its joint venture with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after accusations it is involved in broadcasting propaganda and genocide denial.Sky is in talks with its partner in the UAE on Sky News Arabia over the potential termination next year of the licence to use its brand. Continue reading...