Romanian President Nicușor Dan:

This morning, at 8:30 a.m., a new drone was shot down in Romanian airspace, 10 km west of the locality of Sfântu Gheorghe (Delta). The drone was shot down by a Romanian pilot from an F-16 aircraft.

Germany's Chancellery refused to answer whether it received advance intelligence warnings about the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage, citing national security so broadly that it declined to respond even in classified form.

This unusual level of secrecy suggests the government may have received warnings but failed to act, though the Chancellery neither confirms nor denies that claim.

Source: Ostdeutsche Allgemeine

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.

Iran's Tasnim:

Satellite images show the destruction of a U.S. special forces ammunition depot at King Faisal Base in Jordan.

Hunter Biden to Nick Fuentes:

You said I was a degenerate crackhead.

I'm not even mad about that because I was a degenerate crackhead.

Source: Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan

Zelensky:

There have been very good results from long-range strikes in the waters of the Caspian Sea.

Drones struck vessels that were being used to transport military cargo from Iran.

Ukraine hit Russia’s Tyumen oil refinery — over 2,000 km from the border.

Governor confirmed a drone hit the site and started a fire.

Italy’s Defence Minister Crosetto offered ousted Ukrainian Defence Minister Fedorov an adviser role in Rome, praising him for rewriting battlefield rules with drones.

Fedorov was “moved” but hasn’t accepted.

He’s holding out for his old job back.

Source: Reuters

Khan Removed From ICC Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations

ICC member states voted 82 in-favor of dismissing prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations.

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UN Chief Heads to Damascus After 14-Year Gap

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres starts his visit to Syria, the first such trip since before the 2011 war. The Secretary will meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa and address the parliament as Damascus rebuilds global ties.

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Trump's tariffs are becoming a permanent feature of U.S. trade policy.

After the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariffs, the administration is rebuilding them using more legally durable trade laws, with more tariffs expected on industries and countries in the coming months.

Businesses now expect a lasting 10–15% baseline tariff, while critics warn higher costs and unpredictable new duties will continue disrupting global trade.

Source: Reuters

Zelensky: "I Am Ready" to Sign Peace Deal at Oval Office

Pro-Trump influencer Laura Loomer asked President Zelensky about signing a peace deal in the Oval Office; he said he is "ready," pending Trump's decision.

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Trump administration warned Ukraine not to hit non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea after Chevron and other industry players raised concerns.

The trigger: a July 7 drone strike (unclaimed by Kyiv) hit four tankers near the CPC terminal off Novorossiysk, including the empty, Chevron-chartered Yasa Polaris.

CPC handles ~80% of Kazakh oil exports and ~2% of global supply.

Chevron owns 50% of Tengizchevroil.

CEO Mike Wirth spoke with the White House this week; the warning to Ukraine followed.

Source: WSJ

Win for the Cockroaches: India's Education Minister Resigns

India's education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after youth-led "Cockroach" movement protests over an exam leak scandal linked to student suicides, marking a rare defeat for Modi's government.

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China is using film diplomacy across Africa to improve its image and expand its soft power.

Through film festivals, screenings, cultural exchanges, and co-productions in countries like Burundi, Kenya, and Morocco, Beijing aims to build goodwill and strengthen long-term cultural ties.

Source: SCMP

Iranian state media circulates a video captioned “People of Bandar Jask, weapons in hand, are waiting for the arrival of American forces,” showing armed locals or militia in the Gulf of Oman town.

Bandar Jask and nearby areas (Sirik, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas) have been hit repeatedly in U.S. strikes.

Türk Wins Second Term Despite US, Israel, Russia Opposition as UN High Commissioner

The UN General Assembly voted to reappoint Volker Türk as human rights chief for a second term, despite fierce opposition from the US, Russia and Israel.

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Iran's IRGC is using Channel migrant-smuggling routes to plant operatives in the UK alongside regular small-boat crossings, with unnamed Iranian officials boasting they already have "revolutionary people" in London awaiting orders.

Smugglers said Iran owns parts of some routes and migrants sometimes owe Tehran favours for cheaper passage.

MI5's chief is cited saying he's tracked 20+ potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in the UK over the past year.

Source: The Telegraph

Wildfires Force 200,000 to Flee France and Spain

Wildfires in France and Spain have deepened with blazes near Madrid declared beyond control and 141,000 people evacuated across France's Gironde and Landes regions alone.

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