Three Russia-linked “shadow fleet” tankers were struck by Ukrainian sea drones last night near Kilyos — just 2–3 km from Türkiye’s coast.

Two drones hit Velora but failed to detonate; a third struck James II nearby.

Altura (previously hit in March) was also damaged. All crew evacuated safely.

The blasts were felt in Istanbul’s Rumelifeneri neighborhood.

A serious fire or oil spill could have threatened Istanbul and its airport.

The Trump administration has been pushing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 bill featuring Trump's portrait — which would be the first living person on U.S. currency since 1866, when it was banned by law.

Two Treasury political appointees pushed bureau staff on this, even providing mock-up designs. The bureau's director told them it was illegal and would take years — and was abruptly reassigned in April.

The political appointee who led the push has since been named acting director.

Source: WaPo

The Pentagon confirmed U.S. troops in active war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data.

In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Central Command reported "multiple threat reports" of adversaries exploiting such data to surveil or target personnel.

Lawmakers are now pushing the Pentagon to act, calling the adtech industry a national security threat. Their recommendations include disabling ad IDs on military devices, auto-disabling location sharing in the field, and ditching Chrome for more privacy-focused browsers.

Source: Reuters

Netanyahu: We are now in 60% of the Gaza Strip, more or less. We were at 50%; now we’ve moved to 60%. My directive is to move to—

Audience: 100! 100!

Netanyahu: Wait, let’s go in order. First 70%. Let’s start with that.

Netanyahu on Lebanon:

We are striking them and will strike them very hard.

We know that the struggle continues; therefore, it has no end unless you surrender.

Russian official Sergei Shoigu:

The warning for foreign ambassadors to leave Kyiv was “completely serious and deliberate.”

The strike on Kyiv that Russia had warned about could be carried out at any moment.

Russian official Sergei Shoigu:

The Russian base in Armenia exists and operates there for the sake of Armenia’s security.

EU's Kaja Kallas:

We can’t be mediators, really, because we are defending the interests of Europe and the interests of Ukraine, because Ukraine is also in Europe.

We can’t be mediators. We can’t be neutral, treating them equally, because we have been clearly on Ukraine’s side.

EU's Kaja Kallas:

Too many countries continue to do business with Moscow while simultaneously enjoying privileged access to European markets and investments.

So Europe must use its leverage more effectively when it comes to trade, investment, market access, and partnerships.

And this is why we are also preparing new sanctions on Russia to really pressure them, so that they would go from pretending to negotiate to actually coming to the negotiation table.

BIG: The U.S. and Iran have agreed on a 60-day ceasefire extension and nuclear talks framework, but Trump is personally holding up the signing.

He’s asked mediators for a few days to think it over before making a final call.

Source: Axios

Angela Merkel on Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization:

The destruction of a civilization is clearly against international law.

Angela Merkel:

Underestimating Putin would be a mistake — even now. But not believing in ourselves would be just as much a mistake.

In my last European Council meeting in 2021, I pointed out that just a few days earlier President Biden had met President Putin in Geneva, and I proposed that we Europeans should also find a format to meet with President Putin.

That failed at the time because people said, ‘No, on Russia policy we do not have a common position.’ And I think you then have to keep working until you do have a common position.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. plans to block Iranian airlines from accessing landing rights, refueling services, and ticket sales as part of increased economic pressure on Iran.

Italian PM Meloni:

Decades ago this nation decided to give up nuclear energy. We paid the price for it.

Italian PM Meloni:

When you ask someone else to take care of your defense, you pay for it.

You pay for it in terms of autonomy.

You pay for it in terms of the ability to defend your interests in international scenarios.

I want Italy to be a nation that doesn’t have to thank anyone.

Bessent:

The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized.

All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.

NEW: Israel freezes ties with Guterres’ office after the UN added Israeli entities to its conflict-related sexual violence blacklist.

Ambassador Danny Danon announced “no further contact” with the Secretary-General’s office and canceled a planned UN visit.

Netanyahu:

We are emerging from this campaign as the strongest power in the Middle East.

We have never been stronger.

Netanyahu:

Israel is no longer merely a regional power — it is already a global power.

And why a global power? Because we possess world-class technologies.

Today, they see it — in the Gulf and elsewhere.

We are now in a position to leverage our power in many directions.