The briefing for Tuesday, April 21.

Pakistan continued preparations Tuesday for a second round of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad despite Tehran refusing to confirm whether it will send a delegation. The uncertainty follows a weekend US Navy seizure of an Iranian cargo ship, which Iran called an "act of piracy" and a violation of the fragile ceasefire. According to the AP, the two-week ceasefire that began April 8 is set to expire Wednesday, with President Trump warning that "lots of bombs" will "start going off" if no agreement is reached.

At the heart of negotiations is control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's natural gas and crude oil normally transits. The US has blockaded Iranian ports to pressure Tehran into ending its stranglehold on the waterway, which has sent Brent crude oil prices to nearly $95 per barrel—up more than 30% since late February. The European Union held emergency meetings Tuesday as its transportation ministers grapple with dwindling jet fuel supplies, with the International Energy Agency warning Europe has "maybe six weeks" of reserves remaining.

While US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the American delegation, Iranian state television broadcast a message Tuesday stating "no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad... so far." Iran's chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf accused the US of demanding surrender and claimed Iran has been preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." Despite the rhetorical skirmishing, Pakistani officials expressed confidence that Iran would send representatives, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar consulting with Egyptian and Chinese counterparts as security was tightened across Islamabad's capital in anticipation of the talks.

Apple announced Monday that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role after nearly 15 years leading the technology giant, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus set to take over on September 1. Cook, who assumed the CEO position in 2011 shortly before Steve Jobs' death, will transition to executive chairman and assist with policy engagement worldwide. During Cook's tenure, Apple became the first public company valued at $1 trillion in 2018 and is now worth $4 trillion, according to the BBC.

Ternus, 50, has spent 25 years at Apple and currently oversees hardware engineering for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. He has worked on essentially every major product release during that time, including the transition of Mac processors to Apple's own silicon, and worked under Jobs before his death. The appointment of a hardware-focused leader signals Apple may be looking to address criticism that the company has lacked innovation under Cook's leadership, with analysts noting Apple "remains structurally dependent on the phone" while searching for its next growth engine.

The leadership change comes at a critical juncture as Apple faces questions about its artificial intelligence strategy. The company has been criticized for being slow to embrace AI and has ended up integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT technology into its operating systems. Gil Luria of DA Davidson & Co told the BBC that having someone so hardware-focused at the helm suggests Apple will put more energy into new products like foldable phones and wearable devices such as eyeglasses. Cook described Ternus as "a visionary executive with the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator and the heart to lead with integrity and honour."

Japan's Cabinet approved a major change to its postwar pacifist policy Tuesday, scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports and clearing the way for sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers. The new policy allows exports to 17 countries that have signed defense equipment and technology transfer agreements with Japan, though sales to countries at war remain prohibited in principle. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the move would "ensure safety for Japan and further contribute to peace and stability in the region" as the country's security environment rapidly changes.

The policy shift represents a significant departure from Japan's post-World War II constitution, which has long limited its military to self-defense roles. Previous restrictions limited exports to just five categories: rescue, transport, alert, surveillance, and minesweeping. The change builds on earlier easings, including a 2023 revision that allowed Japan to sell US-designed Patriot missiles back to America and paved the way for joint development of a sixth-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy. Last week, Japan formalized its biggest defense deal ever—a $6.5 billion agreement to deliver Japanese-designed frigates to Australia's navy.

While the policy change has been welcomed by defense partners like Australia and attracted interest from Southeast Asia and Europe, China criticized the move as "reckless militarisation." Beijing's foreign ministry said it remains "highly vigilant and resolutely opposed" to what it sees as Japan's military expansion. The shift comes as Japan accelerates its military buildup in response to regional threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, with the government increasing funding for defense startups and academic research while adding combat roles in multinational military drills.

A Pennsylvania appellate court ruled Monday that the state's constitution guarantees a right to abortion while striking down a decades-old law banning Medicaid funding for abortion procedures. The seven-judge Commonwealth Court panel's decision marks the first time abortion rights have been protected under Pennsylvania's constitution, joining a handful of states where advocates have successfully turned to state constitutions for protection after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ruling is a major victory for Planned Parenthood and abortion clinic operators who sued Pennsylvania over Medicaid restrictions in 2019.

The court majority rejected arguments from the attorney general's office that the state had an interest in "protecting fetal life" that justified excluding abortion from Medicaid coverage. "If the state believes certain medical procedures may psychologically harm women, the state can license, regulate, and educate around such care," the opinion stated. "That is less intrusive than taking an entire medical procedure off the table categorically for some women." Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who declined to defend the law, praised the decision, saying "a woman's ability to access reproductive care should never be determined by her income."

The case could still be appealed to Pennsylvania's Supreme Court. Abortion opponents quickly criticized the ruling, with Pennsylvania Family Institute president Michael Geer arguing the court "overstepped its authority" and forced Pennsylvanians "who believe life begins at conception to subsidize the killing of unborn children." The decision follows a complex legal journey that began in 2019, with the state Supreme Court in 2024 overturning a lower court ruling and determining that previous decisions had not fully considered state constitutional protections beyond those in the federal constitution. Under current Pennsylvania law, abortion remains legal through 23 weeks of pregnancy.

The Trump administration began processing refunds Monday for tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court in February, opening an online portal for companies to claim more than $160 billion in duties collected under the "Liberation Day" tariffs. The system, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (Cape), will process refunds for roughly 330,000 importers as lump sums rather than requiring item-by-item applications. Customs and Border Protection said successful applicants can expect refunds plus interest within 60 to 90 days. As of early April, more than 56,000 importers had completed preliminary steps to apply, with claims worth $127 billion.

The refunds relate to levies charged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. However, individual consumers who paid higher prices due to the tariffs have no direct means to claim compensation. While some shoppers have filed class-action lawsuits against companies like Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica and FedEx arguing that refunds should be passed to customers, few businesses have announced plans to do so. Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the retailer plans to pass refunds to customers "through lower prices and better values," but most companies are expected to retain the money.

The situation is complicated by the fact that many importers raised prices but often not enough to fully offset tariff costs, and also incurred debt and other expenses related to the duties. Lamp-maker Sue Johnson told the BBC her supplier doubled material costs due to tariffs but she expects no relief: "Maybe they'll get repaid, but I have no hope they're going to refund me." Trump administration officials have made clear they don't expect consumers to benefit, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying in February, "I got a feeling the American people won't see it." Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urged companies receiving refunds to give them to workers as bonuses instead.

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar announced his first cabinet nominees Monday following his Tisza party's landslide victory over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the April 12 election. Magyar's center-right party secured 141 seats out of 199 in parliament—the largest majority in Hungary's post-Communist history and a two-thirds supermajority that will allow the reversal of many policies implemented during Orbán's 16 years in power. Orbán's far-right Fidesz party will control just 52 seats, down from 135 before the election.

At a Budapest news conference, Magyar revealed several key appointments including Anita Orbán (not related to the prime minister) for minister of foreign affairs, István Kapitány for minister of economy and energy, and András Kármán for minister of finance. The incoming government will expand the number of ministries to 16 from the current 12, creating separate ministries for health, environmental protection, and education that did not exist under Orbán. Magyar, expected to become prime minister, said his party would create a government "that will be worthy of the Hungarian people's trust."

The new parliament's inaugural session will take place May 9 or 10, Magyar said, followed immediately by the election of a prime minister and confirmation of cabinet appointments in the following days. Magyar has vowed to conduct a major overhaul of Hungary's governmental structure, restore democratic institutions and the rule of law that eroded under Orbán, and hold accountable those responsible for what he calls widespread official corruption. Security has been tightened across Islamabad as Pakistan prepares to host the talks.