House Speaker Johnson said he is “deeply disappointed” the Senate approved the Epstein files bill without changes.

Talks between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian Presidential Chief-of-Staff Andriy Yermak, planned for today in Türkiye, have been called off.

The cancellation comes amid a brewing corruption scandal in Kyiv that has placed Yermak under intense scrutiny.

Source: The Economist

China Premier Visits Zambia After 28 Years

China’s premier visits Zambia for the first time in 28 years, highlighting a growing investment race as Beijing’s Tazara plans compete with Western-backed corridors and Lusaka seeks equity-driven growth.

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The Telegraph:

Zelensky is losing domestic support amid a major corruption scandal and worsening battlefield setbacks.

Despite Ukraine facing a massive budget crisis and dwindling Western funds, he’s signing huge arms “deals” that the country cannot afford, which critics say amounts to political fantasy rather than strategy.

With energy infrastructure collapsing, corruption allegations close to his inner circle, rising desertions, and Russian forces advancing, Zelensky’s behaviour looks increasingly desperate—raising fears for Ukraine’s stability and future.

Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine, targeting multiple cities with swarms of drones, Kalibr missiles, Kinzhals, and cruise missiles.

Residential buildings and energy infrastructure were hit.

BIG: South Korea is pursuing $15B in potential arms deals with the UAE, centered on joint development and possible sales of the KF-21 fighter jet.

The UAE’s interest follows stalled talks with the U.S. over the F-35 and limited alternatives like Russia’s Su-57E.

Source: Bloomberg

Map showing last night’s Russian attack on Ukraine, displaying the approximate route of UAVs and missiles.

Footage of a destroyed building in Ukraine's Ternopil.

Russia attacked the city with missiles and UAVs.

Fethullah Gülen, the head of the FETÖ terrorist organization responsible for the July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, had his U.S. lawyer Reid Weingarten send a favorable Wall Street Journal article directly to Jeffrey Epstein on August 5, 2016—just days after the failed coup attempt.

By forwarding this positive coverage to Epstein while copying senior FETÖ figure Yüksel Alp Aslandoğan, Gülen's network explicitly sought assistance and influence through Epstein's powerful U.S. connections at a critical moment when Türkiye was urgently demanding the extradition of the terrorist Gülen.

Russian drone strikes hit residential areas in Kharkiv overnight, injuring 32 people, including two children, and sparking major fires.

Top U.S. Army leaders Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George made an unannounced trip to Kyiv — the highest-level Trump administration visit to Ukraine so far — to push forward stalled peace efforts with Russia and expand U.S.–Ukraine tech-sharing, especially on drones.

Source: POLITICO

Zelensky:

Russia launched more than 470 attack drones and 48 missiles of various types—ballistic and cruise—at Ukraine overnight.

Rep. Thomas Massie:

Epstein had close ties to our own intelligence agencies and Israel's intelligence agencies.

Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto warns that Russia is already waging a “hybrid war” against Europe—targeting infrastructure, elections, public opinion, and supply chains—and says Western inaction is “absurd.”

He argues the EU and NATO are too slow and must urgently step up with stronger cyber, AI, and disinformation defenses, warning Russia could win by attrition.

Crosetto proposes a new EU hybrid-war center and a 1,500-member cyber force.

Source: POLITICO

The U.S. has approved a potential $105M package to support and upgrade Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems.

It includes upgrading M901 launchers to M903, plus spare parts, training, and logistics support.

Greece and Ukraine will jointly produce naval drones in Greek shipyards for both countries’ armed forces.

Source: Kathimerini

The UK will build a network of new munitions factories—its first major domestic explosives production in nearly 20 years—to strengthen war readiness and support Ukraine.

Backed by £1.5 billion in new funding, at least 13 sites are planned, with the first factory starting construction next year.

The factories will produce explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and other key components.

Source: Reuters

NEW: The U.S. approved a nearly $700 million sale of NASAMS air-defence missile systems to Taiwan — its second arms package in a week, bringing the total to $1 billion.

Source: Reuters

Nigeria: Militants stormed a church in Kwara state, killing three people in the attack.

NEW: China has reinstated its ban on Japanese seafood imports.