Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Our economic development has stagnated for years — at least seven years — while other countries around us grow, some significantly.

We are forecast a potential growth of less than half a percent for the coming years.

For our country, for our prosperity, for our economy — that is simply too little.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

I hear these days that this social state should be 'cast off as ballast.'

I do not know whom that is meant to warn against.

With me, that will not happen.

NEW: Six senior ministers are preparing to tell Keir Starmer to step down at today’s Cabinet meeting.

Mahmood, Healey, Miliband, Nandy, Cooper, and Streeting agree he should announce a resignation timeline.

Starmer is expected to resist.

Source: The Telegraph

French President Macron:

Africa will no longer be seen as a place for rare earths and other resources to be extracted, but rather to be a partner.

Keir Starmer tells his ministers he wants to “keep governing.”

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We simply failed to modernize our country.

Germany needs to pull itself together.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We cannot simply continue as we have for the last 20 years.

More than 100,000 industrial jobs disappear in Germany every year.

Germany's Chancellor Merz admits previous promises were unrealistic:

The promise that geopolitical upheaval would have no impact on social policy was too optimistic.

We will have to set priorities.

We will no longer be able to do everything at once.

Iranian MP Ebrahim Rezaei:

If Iran is attacked again, we may begin 90% uranium enrichment.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirms Israel sent Iron Dome batteries to UAE:

Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.

There’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel.

When every other airline stopped flying into Israel, the Emiratis continued.

The UAE is an example.

Qatar's PM on Iran:

This current state of the Strait and what’s happening over there should never be repeated, and it should be made very clear that if anything happens to the Strait in the future, by any country, they should be paralyzed for doing such a thing.

Qatar's PM on Iran:

Iran should not use this Strait as a weapon to pressure or blackmail the Gulf countries.

It is an international water corridor that should always be protected.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan:

Hopefully, this will reach a conclusion as soon as possible, because we do not even want to think about the alternative — returning to war would, as we have seen before, serve no purpose other than increasing destruction.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Israel:

Israel is being described by everyone as the elephant in the room.

At a time when everyone is coming together to talk about peace, diplomacy, dialogue, and solutions, we see Israel pursuing a policy of further escalating all problems through violence and expansionism.

This is no longer only a regional security issue. The policies Israel is pursuing have now become a global security issue.

WATCH: Loud boos and jeers greet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the German Trade Union Confederation conference in Berlin.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Israel:

Yesterday, there were collective sanction decisions taken by the European Union against Israel.

I believe that in the coming period, global public opinion will react more strongly against Israel’s expansionist policies.

Retired French General Michel Yakovleff:

Netanyahu, he is convinced that he has Trump in the palm of his hand.

Trump listens to Netanyahu and doesn't listen to his own generals who said at the beginning... regarding the theory of regime change, the guys said it's bullshit.

Well, he believed it.

So, there you go.

BREAKING: Trump:

No Republican has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction - down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!! In the meantime, I’m off to China!

The U.S. and Ukraine are drafting a defense deal focused on drone technology and joint manufacturing.

Ukraine would export military tech to the U.S. and partner with American firms to build drones, after proving its capabilities during the wars with Russia and Iran.

The proposed deal could help Ukraine expand defense production with American funding while giving the U.S. access to battlefield-tested drone technology.

Source: CBS News

Kuwait says Iran sent a Revolutionary Guard team to attack Bubiyan Island, home to a China-backed port project, earlier this month.

Four suspects were arrested and two escaped. Iran has not responded.

Trump: