German AfD Leader Alice Weidel:

Most of those migrants will go home anyway once they no longer receive money from the German state.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Germany's best years are not behind us, dear friends.

If we do it right, very good years lie ahead of us.

Germany's Chancellor Merz to his critics:

Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. (quoting George Bernard Shaw)

Cultural pessimists, prophets of doom, whiners, the outraged, professional critics — dismissed!

We are going to work with confidence and optimism, and we will bring our country back on course!

Zelensky:

Beginning with the liberation of Snake Island and continuing with our operations against the Russian fleet, Russian ports, and the occupation forces in our Ukrainian Crimea, we are proving that this space—the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov—will certainly never be a place of peace for Russia.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

After 80 years in freedom, in peace, in prosperity... it is now also and above all about opening up to the young people in our country exactly this perspective that we — yes, the older generation — had the great fortune to have had.

This young generation, they ask us today:

Will we still find good jobs? Can we still build up property, build a home of our own? Can we still start families and can we, if necessary, trust in a functioning welfare state in the future?

Freedom, peace, and prosperity do not come by themselves.

Zelensky:

Everyone can now see that we have taken the initiative away from Russia, and we are returning this war to where it came from—to Russian soil, to Russian skies, and to Russia's shores, to the home harbor of this war.

Of course, this is difficult—extraordinarily difficult—but it is precisely what is necessary so that Russians feel what they are doing and understand that a war of aggression always has consequences.

Germany's Chancellor Merz on his reforms:

The majority of the population does not reject reforms per se.

They are ready to go along with such reforms, to accept them... But anyone who demands changes from the people — and we are doing that — must state openly what is changing, why it has to change, and who will be affected by it.

It must be fair and everyone must make their contribution.

Zelensky:

Every pure heart in the world expects only one thing from Ukraine: that we defeat this Russian scum.

And we certainly will. We will defend our state.

Zelensky:

Despite having fewer means, despite having fewer resources, Ukrainians have achieved greater, more tangible, and more inspiring results.

Most importantly, they have every right to be proud of themselves—rightfully so—because they are defending what is their own.

For this, Ukrainians are respected by the entire world.

Trump:

Has anyone ever seen a Happy Dumocrat?

Germany's Chancellor Merz on pension reform:

We have decided to get a very comprehensive pension reform underway now... possibly the most difficult reform project of our time, at least the most difficult reform project in social policy.

There will no longer be this trend — ever higher contributions, ever lower benefits. It will be reversed.

We do not make politics for one electoral term.

We make politics, especially in old-age security, for the next generation.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We are on the way back to a lean, efficient state.

Yes, I'll go one step further: We are on the way back to the principle of trust.

That is why we are abolishing bureaucracy, that is why we want to give people back personal responsibility.

We want to move from a state legislation of mistrust to a state legislation of trust.

Von der Leyen Condemns Israeli Settlement Expansion

The European Commission president has intensified pressure on EU member states to vote on suspending trade preferences with Israel as she condemned West Bank settlement expansion.

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Scriptural Diplomacy

Iran paired foreign delegations at Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral with politically targeted Quranic verses, confronting rivals like Saudi Arabia and rallying regional allies like Hezbollah and Hamas with tailored scriptural messages.

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DoJ Defies Federal Court Order on Epstein Files

U.S. Department of Justice is refusing to comply with a federal court order to hand over redacted Jeffrey Epstein investigative files.

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European Parliament Moves to Ban Far-Right German AfD Party's EU Coalition

The Parliament is considering a move that could deregister the AfD-led Europe of Sovereign Nations party and strip it of EU funding for alleged violations of core values.

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Trump told Axios that Netanyahu requested a White House meeting, which could happen as soon as next week.

Trump said the two leaders have a good relationship, adding: "We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is."

Source: Axios

Trump said the U.S. could strike Iran's leadership gathered for Ali Khamenei's funeral but won't because it wants to preserve nuclear negotiations.

"One shot [and we can take them all out], but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with."

Source: Axios

Trump said he was surprised to see Iranians crying at Ali Khamenei's funeral, saying he thought people hated the former supreme leader and suggesting the displays of grief might not be genuine.

"I was surprised to see some Iranians crying. I thought people hated Khamenei... Maybe it's fake tears."

Source: Axios

Trump claimed Iran is "begging to make a deal" but said both sides agreed to pause nuclear talks for a week until events surrounding Ali Khamenei's funeral conclude.

He added that neither side would attack the other during the pause.

Source: Axios

U.S. official to Axios:

Many of Trump's closest advisers think that Bibi Netanyahu was wrong about everything.