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Intrigue

Daily flyovers

Latest news for 6 May 2026

Quick hits of consequential news from all corners of the world.

  1. 01

    IRAN

    Ctrl-z.

    President Trump has paused his Project Freedom (to escort ships out of Hormuz) hours after it began. He’s citing a request from Pakistan to potentially help finalise a deal with Iran, though his reversal came just after Iran called his bluff and struck at least two tankers transiting Hormuz, with US forces reportedly onboard. (CBS)

    Comment: Either way, it leaves the US in a bind: hope the blockade ends the regime, or risk restarting an unpopular war. Meanwhile, figures out of S&P Global Energy suggest global oil reserves plunged by 200 million barrels last month (versus a typical fluctuation in the hundreds of thousands), suggesting further price rises ahead.

  2. 02

    SPAIN

    Hot potato.

    Shockingly handsome prime minister Pedro Sánchez might have an internal struggle on his hands, after the provincial leader of Spain’s Canary Islands declined docking permission for a luxury cruise hit by the deadly hantavirus. (Independent)

    Comment: The WHO says the Canaries have a moral and legal obligation to help as the closest suitable port, and officials say the health risk is low, but folks are jittery about the rare rodent-borne illness that’s already killed three passengers.

  3. 03

    UNITED STATES

    We’re done here.

    The State Department has formally terminated ~200 career diplomats who’d already been on paid administrative leave for nearly 10 months. It completes a major Trump 2.0 reduction-in-force at Foggy Bottom. (The Hill)

    Comment: We’re sympathetic to the need for streamlining, but this feels more like a random hollowing-out of expertise, and right when the US needs it most.

  4. 04

    SWEDEN

    Spooks.

    If you see any Swedes in trench-coats or fake-moustaches, be advised that Stockholm has announced a new Swedish foreign intelligence service (UND for its local acronym). Designed to track “external threats against Sweden”, it’ll commence operations from January 2027. (Euronews)

    Comment: Yes, Sweden already has spooks abroad, but they’re with MUST (military intelligence), reporting to the military brass rather than direct to government. So UND is really a response to a) criticism that MUST and others didn’t call out Russia’s build-up, b) today’s wilder world, and c) Sweden’s new NATO responsibilities.

  5. 05

    THAILAND

    Bangin’ idea?

    The Thai foreign minister has flagged he’ll invite his Myanmar counterpart to meet foreign ministers on the sidelines of upcoming ASEAN summits. (The Straits Times)

    Comment: The point is Thailand is trying to loosen the region’s isolation of Myanmar’s regime, which has been barred from the ASEAN bloc since the 2021 coup. This rewards the regime’s sham elections from earlier this year.

  6. 06

    ARGENTINA

    Pressed to change.

    President Milei has restored journalist access to Casa Rosada (government HQ), a week after authorities blocked credentialed reporters over an alleged security breach involving smart glasses. (AP)

    Comment: The story isn’t journalists or smart glasses, but the way it all hints at a presidency feeling under siege — while Milei has managed to stabilise the economy and just got Argentina’s debt upgraded by Fitch, his approval is now at new lows, with even The Economist devoting a frontpage warning, “Javier Milei is in serious trouble”.

  7. 07

    PAKISTAN

    Signs of distress.

    Pakistan’s navy has assisted an Indian vessel after a critical technical failure left it stranded in the Arabian Sea. (Reuters)

    Comment: After decades of conflict, these reciprocal humanitarian gestures (India helped a Pakistani crew in 2024) act as stabilisers and keep hotlines alive.

  8. 08

    SUDAN

    Drone blame game.

    Sudan has accused Ethiopia and the UAE of orchestrating drone strikes on Sudan’s Khartoum international airport. Addis and the Emiratis have variously denied the allegations, but the strikes forced a 72-hour airport suspension just a week after the arrival of the first direct international commercial flight in three years. (BBC)

    Comment: Sudan’s notorious RSF paramilitary has form with these kinds of hits — the question is how much help they get. And the answer has long been… quite a bit.