Türkiye Evaluates SAMP/T and Patriot Procurement Amid Air Defense Push

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler confirmed that Türkiye is evaluating all strategic options, including SAMP/T and Patriot systems, to strengthen its air defense capabilities.

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NATO's Rutte:

The world has changed since the Cold War ended. We've seen over the last five to ten years how Russia is rapidly building up its armed forces. We see China investing heavily in its military.

We see China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia working together. We have seen a terrible, unprovoked onslaught on Ukraine.

So, for all these reasons, we cannot be naive. We need to spend the money we need to spend.

Source: Sky News

China canceled about $50 million of Sudan’s debt by writing off four interest-free loans.

China also pledged 200 million yuan in grants for energy, water, and agriculture, training for Sudanese civil servants, support for restarting Chinese investment, including CNPC operations.

Ukraine claims Japanese-made electronic components are found in ~90% of Russia’s missiles and drones.

Internal Ukrainian documents identify 13 Japanese companies, including parts used in the Kh-101 cruise missile.

Ukraine says the components are civilian electronics that reach Russia via third countries, not through direct exports.

Kyiv is urging Japan to tighten export controls to stop diversion into Russian weapons.

The EU is giving Ukraine €3.9 billion for advanced drone procurement.

von der Leyen says more military support is coming.

NATO's Rutte on his calling Trump "daddy:"

What I said was, "Somebody sometimes has to be forceful." I meant "father."

I later realized that "daddy" has so many other connotations. When he came home, he made this video: "Daddy is home." He owned it.

And that's why I like him—because he has that humor. I loved how he took my mistake and owned it himself.

Source: Sky News

NATO's Rutte on the remarks of Trump about NATO:

The suggestions that the United States is somehow stepping away from NATO are simply not supported by what we've seen here.

These are isolated cases, and they do not change the fundamental commitment of the Alliance.

Source: Sky News

Paraguay knocked Germany out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties.

Before kickoff, German commentator Jonas Friedrich dismissed Paraguay as a “third-class team,” saying the match would feel like “a domestic cup game” rather than a World Cup knockout.

He argued Germany didn’t even need confidence and that Paraguay’s previous results “changed nothing” because Germany were on “a different level.”

Germany then failed to score, missed 3 penalties, and were knocked out.

Joshua Kimmich after Germany's loss to Paraguay:

A match like this should never even go to a penalty shootout.

DOJ Dropped Abbott Baby Formula Charges Despite Mountain of Evidence

DOJ officials opted against criminally charging Abbott Laboratories under Trump administration enforcement guidelines, despite the plant's infections leading to death of 2 infants.

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Keir Starmer unveiled a 10-year Defence Investment Plan, increasing defence spending by £15 billion to nearly £300 billion over the next four years, with a major focus on drones, AI, and military modernisation in response to growing threats from Russia.

Daniel Levy | Former Israeli Peace Negotiator | US/Middle East Project (USMEP):
 

There is a genuine rift between US & Israel. No two countries are ever fully aligned.
 
Dragging the US transparently into war set up today's frustration - the salty language now directed at Israel from Washington.
 
Everything about the second Trump administration is unprecedented - which is true of Trump generally.
 
But it's too early to say whether this challenges the fundamentals of an exceptional multi-layered relationship between US & Israel.
 
There are enough indications to suggest the rift could go deeper but it depends on what different actors do next.

FULL INTERVIEW

Daniel Levy | Former Israeli Peace Negotiator | US/Middle East Project (USMEP):
 

JD Vance, by criticizing Israel harshly, is positioning himself as a 2028 presidential candidate.
 
We're heading into primary season - assuming Trump doesn't pursue a third term - and Vance clearly sees himself as a viable contender.
 
This doesn't feel like Trump sending Vance on a political suicide mission to appease the MAGA base.
 
It rather feels like Vance believing being critical of Israel can actually serve him politically.

FULL INTERVIEW

Trump Bought $5 Million Axon Stock Days Before $220 Million Taser Contract with ICE

U.S. President Trump bought up to $5 million in Axon stock just two weeks before ICE pursued a $220 million contract for the company's Tasers.

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Local reports say Ukrainian draft officers detained a single father in Kryvyi Rih, leaving his 5-year-old daughter alone.

She reportedly spent the night with her kindergarten director.

Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

American officials' dancing and celebration over Iran's failure to advance to the next round of the World Cup violates all accepted standards and norms of hosting.

Somalia: Turkish Air Force F-16 jets carried out the strikes in Godey, Lower Shabelle this morning, hitting Al-Shabaab weapons caches and hideouts.

~35 militants killed, 20+ wounded, with secondary explosions confirming the targets held munitions and vehicles prepped for attacks.

Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

We had not planned any meetings with the American side at any level over the next few days, so there is nothing for us to cancel.

What is likely to take place in Doha tomorrow is discussions with the Qatari side regarding the implementation of certain provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including the clause concerning the release of Iran's restricted assets.

Therefore, I emphasize that no meeting at any level with the American side has been scheduled for the coming days.

Meta Contractors Pretended to Be Kids to Feed Toxic Prompts to Rival Chatbots

Meta deployed hundreds of contractors posing as minors to secretly test competitor chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT with high-risk subjects like suicide, drugs, and self-harm.

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Daniel Levy | Former Israeli Peace Negotiator | US/Middle East Project (USMEP):
 

Walt & Mearsheimer wrote their landmark work on Israel lobby 20 years ago, concluding US-Israel relationship doesn't serve American interest.
 
That argument is even stronger today. The war in Iran was, in retrospect, predictable - and hard to see as serving American interest.
 
Yet the Israel lobby keeps doubling down: pulling America into things even more directly against its interests, with brute-force politics.
 
It has tried to police debate ever more aggressively, weaponizing antisemitism.
 
Right now, in ongoing primaries, there's a flood of pro-Israel money - often dark money.

FULL INTERVIEW

Daniel Levy | Former Israeli Peace Negotiator | US/Middle East Project (USMEP):
 

Antisemitism is real. But weaponizing the term to shield Israeli policy & Zionism from scrutiny actually undermines its seriousness.
 
Zionism, like any ideology, should be open to scrutiny & should be interrogated.
 
Zionism has led to decades of no peace, decades of Palestinian displacement & regional instability.
 
And it hasn't delivered better security for Jewish people - in Israel or overseas.
 
But the Israel lobby keeps doubling down on brute-force politics to stop critics.

FULL INTERVIEW