Shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the U.S. military-guided route through the Strait of Hormuz after a series of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels raised doubts about its safety.

While Washington insists the strait remains open and says many ships are still transiting with U.S. coordination, maritime security firms warn there is no reliable guarantee of safe passage, and Iran has threatened to expand disruptions to other key shipping routes.

Source: Reuters

Greece is blocking the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia because a proposed ban on transporting Russian LNG to third countries would severely hurt Dynagas, a Greek shipping company that specializes in Arctic LNG transport.

Athens argues the company's highly specialized icebreaking LNG carriers cannot easily be repurposed, while other EU members say all countries have had to sacrifice businesses to maintain pressure on Moscow.

The dispute has delayed the entire sanctions package, including new measures targeting Russian banks, military firms, and the oil price cap.

Source: FT

WATCH: Ukrainian Intelligence (SBU) and Navy naval drones hit two Russian "shadow fleet" oil tankers, Louise 1 and Banda, in the Black Sea to disrupt sanctions-evading oil exports that help finance Russia's war.

Trump is expected to claim in a primetime speech Thursday night that China accessed U.S. voter data during the 2020 election and that the CIA knew but did not tell him during his first term.

Source: CBS News

Rep. Randy Fine says he'll vote against all House rules until President Trump removes outside adviser Alex Bruesewitz.

The dispute stems from a weeks-long public feud on X after Bruesewitz criticized Fine on Tucker Carlson's podcast.

Source: NOTUS

Yemen's Houthis are reportedly preparing to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping route.

The move would mirror Iran's strategy in the Strait of Hormuz and could severely disrupt global trade by forcing ships to reroute around Africa.

While the Houthis have not acted yet, they are reportedly waiting for the right moment as part of a broader Iranian strategy to increase pressure on the US and its allies.

Source: The Telegraph

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

I spoke with President Zelensky about all of our important issues.

We mutually expressed gratitude for our support of territorial integrity.

The U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on most Brazilian imports from July 22, citing unfair trade practices.

Brazil called the move unjustified and plans to challenge it through the WTO.

A separate U.S. investigation could raise total tariffs on some Brazilian goods to 37.5%.

Source: NBC News

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

More than 250,000 Serbs were ethnically cleansed, not Albanians.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

That statement does not reflect the will and policy of either the President of Serbia or the Government of Serbia. We must be responsible.

Our policy must be dialogue, compromises, conversations, and never ethnic cleansing. Period.

Now, Snežana herself is a victim of ethnic cleansing and so on, but this message must be crystal clear: our policy is completely different. Our policy is peace, stability, and no ethnic cleansing.

Ukraine’s pro-government UNITED24 Media pauses all publishing today so staff could join nationwide protests against Zelensky’s firing of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov — widely praised for transforming Ukraine’s drone and tech warfare.

Many see the move as unexplained and destabilizing mid-war.

Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv early Thursday, killing two people and injuring six, including a teenager.

The attack sparked fires in warehouses and marked Russia's sixth missile strike on Kyiv this month.

Source: Reuters

Netanyahu has postponed his planned U.S. visit after the funeral of former Sen. Lindsey Graham was delayed until later this month.

Source: N12

Many Republicans worry Trump will spend his primetime speech revisiting his 2020 election fraud claims because they believe voters are far more concerned about the economy and cost of living.

They fear it could distract from the GOP's strongest campaign message and turn off moderate voters, while MAGA allies believe the speech could energize the Republican base and help push the SAVE America Act.

Source: Politico

Kremlin:

There are currently no prospects for a quick resumption of peaceful negotiations on Ukraine.

It doesn't matter who heads the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine; the main thing is that there is someone in Kyiv who is capable of making a decision that would allow for a resolution to the conflict.

Ukraine's parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new prime minister.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

We need to replace Syrsky and the Chief of the General Staff.

Syrskyi is not willing to openly discuss all the problems. He is willing to attend meetings, engage in intrigue, and believe that someone has launched a campaign against him in the media.

Zelensky has never let me down as a member of the team in the past seven years.

However, when 90% of the people who have problems after our work at the Ministry of Defense come to him, it is difficult for him to analyze everything and make a decision.

Former Ukrainian Minister of Defence Fedorov:

I am acting according to my conscience, and I appeal to the deputies: act according to your conscience as well.

Where is your courage to speak openly about the real problems?

People are dying for freedom, and we are sitting on Bankova Street and afraid to openly say what we don't actually believe.

Kuwait's military says its air defenses are intercepting hostile drones following what it described as Iranian aggression.