German Chancellor Merz:

If we are lagging behind longer than we did in the past with our growth rates, with our innovation capacities, labor market, we will lose this battle.

And we will never catch up again because the world is changing so fundamentally.

Türkiye’s state energy company TPAO won two oil & gas exploration blocks in Libya in the country’s first licensing round in 17 years.

Onshore Block C3 (Sirte Basin, ~8,200 km²) — awarded to a TPAO–Repsol consortium (Repsol is operator).

Offshore Block O7 (off Benghazi, ~10,300 km² deepwater) — TPAO (40%) with Repsol (40%, operator) and Hungary’s MOL (20%).

The awards are part of Libya’s 22-block tender launched in 2025.

Major firms like Chevron and Eni also won blocks.

Türkiye’s state oil firm TPAO has just signed a global oil and gas cooperation deal with BP, following a similar agreement with U.S. energy giant Chevron.

Both partnerships are meant to expand TPAO’s international exploration and production activities.

Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said these new joint ventures could start work in several regions — including Venezuela, as well as Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Kazakhstan.

Source: Bloomberg

NEW: International coalition forces withdrew from Syria’s al-Tanf base to Jordan.

Source: Reuters

The U.S. military shot down what it thought was a suspicious drone near El Paso, Texas during counter-drone testing around Fort Bliss.

But it turned out to be a harmless party balloon.

It briefly triggered an FAA airspace closure over El Paso International Airport.

Trump:

I have just finished meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel, and various of his Representatives.

It was a very good meeting, the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues.

There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.

If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.

Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them.

Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible.

Additionally, we discussed the tremendous progress being made in Gaza, and the Region in general. There is truly PEACE in the Middle East.

READ MORE

Trump and Netanyahu talked for more than 3 hours.

Netanyahu just left the White House.

No press conference was held, which is unusual for Trump.

Attorney General Pam Bondi:

Instead of talking about Ghislane Maxwell, we should be talking about Iryna Zarutska.

READ MORE

Attorney General Pam Bondi: Did you talk about Epstein at all the last four years?

Thomas Massie: This goes over four administrations. You don't have to go back to Biden. Let's go back to Obama. Let's go back to George Bush.

This coverup spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it.


READ MORE

Congresswoman Jayapal asks Epstein survivors in the room to stand and raise their hands if they still haven’t been able to meet with Bondi’s DOJ.

Every single one stands.

Bondi refuses to apologize and instead goes on the attack.

READ MORE

Poland and Italy say they won’t join Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” adding to a growing list of U.S. allies staying out.

Rep. Steve Cohen to Pam Bondi:

When ICE killed Mr. Pretti and Ms. Good, it was an execution and you didn’t investigate it.

Instead, you investigated Ms. Good’s widow and Mr. Pretti.

They were executed like Kristi Noem executed her dog.

READ MORE

NEW: The Pentagon has told the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group to prepare for possible deployment to the Middle East, where it would join the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Trump is weighing the move as talks with Iran continue, but no final order has been given yet.

Source: WSJ

Attorney General Pam Bondi:

You all should be apologizing.

You sit here, and you attack the President, and I am not going to have it. I'm not going to put up with it.

READ MORE

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe:

The UK has been colonized by immigrants.

Trump:

Those crazy windmills. They're made in China. They're made in China but not used by China.

Let's look for a couple of wind farms in China. See if you can find one.

Trump on Europe:

You know who likes me over there?

The people like me over there.

Gallup will stop tracking presidential approval ratings after 88 years, shifting focus to broader long-term research.

The firm said the decision was strategic and not influenced by the White House.

Switzerland will vote in mid-June on a proposal to cap its population at 10 million by 2050.

Backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, the plan would trigger limits on immigration, asylum and family reunification if the population exceeds 9.5 million.

The country currently has 9.1 million residents.

The House passed the Trump-backed SAVE America Act in a 218–213 vote.

The bill would require proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, including for mail-in ballots.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces slim chances due to opposition and the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright met with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas.