Keir Starmer in China:

President Xi tells the story of blind men presented with an elephant.

One touches the leg and thinks it is a pillar; another feels the belly and thinks it is a wall. Too often this reflects how China is seen.

But I profoundly believe that broader and deeper engagement is our way of seeing the whole elephant, and therefore building a more sophisticated relationship fit for these times.

Keir Starmer in China:

Engaging with each other on issues of security and prosperity… is good for both China and the United Kingdom.

BREAKING: EU’s Kaja Kallas:

EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.

Türkiye has sent three F-16 fighter jets to Mogadishu as it expands its energy and space projects in Somalia.

The deployment is linked to plans for offshore oil drilling later this year and a proposed spaceport north of Mogadishu.

Source: MEE

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The Iranian Navy will conduct military exercises with China and Russia in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean in the coming days.

Source: Al Jazeera

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif:

Spoke with my brother President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran today.

We exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and agreed that sustained dialogue and diplomatic engagement are vital for peace, security, and development in our region.

We also reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening Pakistan–Iran fraternal ties through regular high-level engagement and institutional cooperation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Several countries are presently attempting to avert the eruption of all-out war in our region. None of them are European.

Europe is instead busy fanning the flames.

Moreover, as the continent is certain to be massively impacted by an all-out war in our region—including the knock-on effects of surging energy prices—the EU's current posture is deeply damaging to its own interests.

Europeans deserve better than what their governments have to offer.

EU’s Kaja Kallas:

EU today blacklisted Russia for risk of money laundering.

EU’s Kaja Kallas on Iran:

When it comes to attacks, I think the region does not need a new war.

Trump:

I had a very productive telephone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum, of Mexico. It went extremely well for both Countries.

Much of it was focused on the Border, stopping Drug Trafficking, and Trade. We will be speaking again, soon, and ultimately, setting up meetings in our respective Countries.

Mexico has a wonderful and highly intelligent Leader — They should be very happy about that!

Cuba has only 15–20 days of oil left, according to shipping data.

Source: FT

Trump:

I just spoke to the President of Venezuela and informed her that we are going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela.

American citizens will very shortly be able to go to Venezuela, and they will be safe there.

Trump:

Hopefully, we won't have a shutdown, we are working on that right now.

I think we are getting close.

Trump mocks Macron again:

I spoke with Macron; he was the first one. He was not at that time wearing sunglasses.

He said, “no, no Donald, I will not do it. You are asking for me to double the drug prices. I won’t even consider it.”

I said, “if you don’t do it, I am gonna charge you with 25% tariffs.”

He said, “I will do it.” That was the end of the conversation.

Trump:

I had a seriously overweight friend; he took the fat pill, Ozempic, I think, or one of them.

I told him it wasn’t working for him.

Trump:

The last time we had a press conference, it lasted for three hours.

Some people said, “he closed his eyes.” Look, it got pretty boring.

But I didn’t sleep; I just closed my eyes.

BREAKING: Trump:

I personally asked Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week.

He agreed to do that.

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Trump:

A lot of people said that Hamas would never disarm; it looks like they are going to disarm.

Trump:

We are going to be announcing the new head of the Fed next week.

Trump:

Europe gotta get smart. Between immigration and energy, they are destroy— it is not recognizable.

They have gotta smarten up before it’s too late.

Hegseth:

Iran has all the options to make a deal.

They should not pursue nuclear capabilities, or we will be prepared to deliver whatever Trump expects.