Pope Leo visits Ataturk's mausoleum (Anıtkabir) in Ankara.

NEW: Taiwan has begun talks with the U.S. to buy weapons under a proposed $40 billion extra defence budget for 2026–2033.

The U.S. has already provided pricing and procurement details, showing willingness to sell, but specifics won’t be public until Congress is formally notified.

Source: Reuters

NEW: A leaked State Department cable shows Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructing U.S. diplomats in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to pressure their host governments to restrict immigration.

Diplomats are told to highlight crimes allegedly linked to immigrants, report if governments seem “too supportive” of migrants, and push policies that “defend national sovereignty.”

Source: NYT

Macron:

National service will concern only volunteers.

Macron:

A new national service will be introduced progressively starting next summer.

Pope Leo met with Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara.

One year ago today, Syrian opposition forces launched an operation toward Aleppo that resulted in the collapse of the Assad regime in under two weeks.

Israel bombs Lebanon again.

Guinea-Bissau: General Horta Nta Na Man was sworn in as transitional president after officers announced they had deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

NEW: The European Parliament is urgently asking the Council of Europe to assess whether the “Rapid Support Forces” meet the criteria for inclusion on the European Union’s “terrorist list.”

Colombian President Petro on the US:

A club of pedophiles wants to end democracy in Colombia.

Harsh? Yes. But that is the reality.

Ukrainian drones carried out a strike on a Russian National Guard facility belonging to the Akhmat-North regiment in Grozny, Russia.

African Union Commission Chair Mahmud Ali Youssouf condemned the military coup in Guinea-Bissau.

He denounced the detention of President Embaló and senior officials as election results were about to be announced.

Turkish President Erdogan:

I am delighted to welcome Pope Leo XIV and his delegation to our country.

Turkish President Erdogan:

For a thousand years, people of every race, religion, sect, and origin have lived freely and without pressure on this land, which has been our homeland.

Turkish President Erdogan:

We will not allow even a single one of our people to be subjected to discrimination.

Turkish President Erdogan:

The Israeli government has been bombing civilian areas for months, including churches, mosques, hospitals, and schools.

Putin:

There were no draft peace agreements on Ukraine, only a set of questions for discussion.

Putin:

After the negotiations in Geneva between Ukraine and the United States, they decided among themselves that all these 28 points should be divided into four components; all of this was passed on to us.

Overall, we agree that this could serve as a basis for future agreements.

Mali: Images show Malian soldiers captured during clashes between the army and JNIM near Sikasso earlier this week.

Putin:

We never wanted to attack Europe.

Okay, let's put it in writing.