India Retires Its MiG-21 Jets After 62 Years

India’s legendary MiG-21 fighter jets, in service since 1963, will officially retire on September 19, 2025, with a ceremony at Chandigarh airbase.

Operated by the 23 Squadron “Panthers,” the MiG-21 played a role in every major conflict since 1965—including the Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot strikes.

Once India’s first supersonic fighter, the MiG-21 earned both fame and infamy, nicknamed the “Flying Coffin” due to over 200 pilot deaths. Its long life was extended due to delays in fielding replacements like the Tejas Mk1A.

With its retirement, the IAF’s active combat squadrons drop to 29, the lowest since the 1960s.

Iran's Judiciary spokesperson:

75 prisoners escaped from Evin Prison following the Israeli attack.

NEW: The EU expects limited outcomes from the upcoming EU-China 25th Summit, scheduled for July 24 in Beijing, and is shifting its focus toward strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Japan.

NEW: Israeli army have killed at least 35 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn today, medical sources said.

Source: Al Jazeera

Ukraine's Zelensky:

"I held a meeting on Ukraine’s negotiation goals.

National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov reported on progress from talks with Russia in Istanbul and plans for a new round soon. Ukraine is committed to securing the release of captives, returning abducted children, stopping the killings, and preparing a leaders' summit to truly end the war."

Zelensky:

Ukraine's delegation at the negotiations with the Russian Federation in Turkey will be headed by Umerov.

It will also include representatives of intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Ukraine-Russia Talks in Istanbul

The next round of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations is set for Wednesday, July 23, at Çırağan Palace, Istanbul.

Trump has barred WSJ reporter Tarini Parti from his upcoming trip to Scotland, citing the outlet’s “fake and defamatory conduct” after it published a report claiming Trump once sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday letter featuring a nude sketch.

The reporter wasn’t involved in the article, but the ban marks escalating retaliation by Trump, who has also filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the paper.

Clash Report Exclusive | Testimony from a resident of Al-Ashir neighborhood about what happened during the forced displacement in Shahba:

- After the withdrawal of army forces, a pre-planned, organized, and deliberate attack was launched against us, prepared months in advance.

- Most of those who remained in their homes — regardless of whether they were elderly, disabled, or children — were surrounded and executed on the spot.

- We inherited this land from our ancestors, and we were forced to leave it under bombardment and fire.

Kremlin:

Moscow and Kyiv need to work a lot before discussing the prospects of a high-level meeting.

Kremlin:

There are no reasons to expect breakthroughs during the new round of negotiations (with Ukraine).

According to a report by Al Hadath citing sources, Türkiye and Syria are discussing the files of the SDF (YPG/PKK), Druze, Alawites, and agreements made with Israel.

Rep. Don Bacon says President Trump’s shift on Russia over Ukraine is welcome and credits Melania Trump for influencing the change.

US Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Costs Soar by $1.7 Billion

The price tag for the USS District of Columbia, the first of the Navy’s next-gen Columbia-class nuclear-missile submarines, has jumped to $16.1 billion — a 12% increase since 2021.

The program, a key part of the US nuclear triad alongside the B-21 bomber and Sentinel ICBM, is already 17 months behind schedule.

Source: Bloomberg

Trump has made the decision for the US to withdraw from UNESCO.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas:

The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible.

I spoke again with Gideon Sa'ar to recall our understanding on aid flow and made clear that IDF must stop killing people at distribution points.

All options remain on the table if Israel doesn’t deliver on its pledges.

NEW: Iran's Revolutionary Guards intelligence has warned citizens of increased recruitment attempts by "enemy" intelligence agencies, according to reports.

NEW: 15 people, including 4 children, died of starvation in last 24 hours; Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Source: Anadolu Agency

NEW: Trump administration seeks new partners for Golden Dome, including Jeff Bezos' Kuiper, as alternatives to Musk's SpaceX.

SpaceX’s Starlink & Starshield remain key to U.S. military communications, but the White House and Pentagon have been quietly seeking alternatives — wary of relying too heavily on Musk for the $175B space defense shield.

Source: Reuters

An Israeli sniper shot a young man livestreaming at Gaza’s port.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We continue to keep the genocide committed by Israel against the people of Gaza — surpassing even the atrocities of the Nazis by far — at the forefront of humanity's agenda.

The suffering of children in Gaza, reduced to skin and bones from hunger, is our suffering too.