Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich on Iran:

I don't believe Israel has any interest in entering the conflict with Iran right now.

The current reality, in which there is a confrontation between the United States and Iran, is good for us.

Q: Do you have a message for your European allies?

Trump: They’re lucky to have me as a friend.

Source: LCI

Trump on Iran:

If we don't get 100% of what we want from Iran, we will absolutely consider resuming the full-scale war.

Source: LCI

Zelensky:

Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located there.

These images subsequently appear in Iran. At the same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes – both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted.

On July 19 and 20 alone, four air bases fell within the area of interest of Russian satellites – two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait. The purpose is clear.

None of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further. Russia must be stopped. This war must be stopped. Pressure on the aggressor must work.

Iran's Foreign Ministry says Ukraine attacked an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and injuring another.

It condemned the attack as a violation of international law and an act of aggression.

German battery maker Varta AG filed for insolvency along with three subsidiaries after shareholders Porsche and Michael Tojner refused to inject fresh capital.

It's the company's second collapse in under two years.

The killer blow came in May when Apple dropped Varta as its AirPods battery supplier for cheaper Chinese ones, forcing the Nördlingen plant to close and 350 jobs to go.

Ukrainian military correspondent Yulia Kirienko is publicly disputing the official casualty figures from Thursday's Russian ballistic missile strike on a defense-industry demo day near Kyiv, arguing the true toll is far higher than reported.

She says the "10 killed" figure only reflects bodies recovered.

Search dogs are still on site because two to three missiles hitting open ground "tore some people into molecules" and that with over 300 people present, the wounded are in the hundreds, not the official ~100.

The strike hit an ARMADA-organized drone and anti-drone tech demonstration at a Kapitanivka training range in Bucha district.

Russia claims it deliberately targeted Ukrainian drone developers.

Zelensky said the event "should never have taken place" and prosecutors have opened a parallel probe into possible negligence over its operational security.

A drone crashed near Ben-Gvir's home in Hebron.

Details are still being investigated.

Source: N12

Ben-Gvir and his family are safe and doing well.

IRGC spokesperson:

Israel knows what kind of calamity we will bring upon it if it returns to the war and we focus our attention on it.

IRGC spokesperson:

Any country—whether the United Kingdom, the countries on the Persian Gulf, or others—if they support the United States in the war, they will be our legitimate targets.

Recently, U.S. B-1 aircraft used airfields in the United Kingdom. If they cooperate, they will be our definite and legitimate target.

We have a specific scenario for every situation.

IRGC spokesperson:

According to the agreement, it was decided that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would take place according to the arrangements announced by Iran.

However, as had been anticipated, the United States broke its commitment and announced another channel for passage through the Strait.

Following this breach of commitment, the IRGC prevented the passage of ships and struck the violating vessel.

It was expected that the United States would return to complying with its commitments, but it did not, and instead attacked our coasts, islands, and some of our radar installations.

Therefore, the new act of aggression was once again from the United States.

Former 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega said CBS News executives pressured her to make several stories appear more politically slanted, calling some requested edits driven by "misinformation or politics."

She said executives asked her to:

Add footage of protesters attacking people they mistakenly identified as ICE agents, though she said no such video existed.

Mention Vice President JD Vance in a story about poverty in West Virginia, despite the piece not focusing on politics.

Describe Iran as being "outgunned by the United States and Israel," which she called "an administration talking point."

Vega said none of the requested changes made it into the broadcasts.

She added, "Never in my career, until now, have I felt that those edits... came from a place of misinformation or politics."

CBS denied the allegations, saying they were "not based in reality."

Editor in chief Bari Weiss said what critics call "editorial interference" is "the job description of an editor in chief."

Source: ABC News

NEW: A vehicle drove into a crowd near Berlin's Christopher Street Day (CSD) event around 10:00 p.m., injuring multiple people.

Police have not yet confirmed the cause or motive.

Emergency services declared a mass casualty incident and deployed dozens of responders.

The situation is still developing.

Source: BILD

Mission of France to the UN in Geneva:

The US used to be a beacon of human rights. Not anymore.

Today, it stands alongside North Korea, Nicaragua, Mali & Russia, isolated. And the world no longer listens to it.

Trump has temporarily backed away from plans to escalate the war with Iran after senior advisers warned that a larger military campaign could dangerously deplete U.S. air-defense missile stockpiles, particularly Patriot interceptors needed to protect American forces in the Middle East.

Source: NYT

Berlin police are searching for a 21-year-old suspect, Abdul B, in connection with the Pride event attack in the Tiergarten area.

Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine reportedly urged caution as Trump considered escalating the conflict with Iran.

Caine warned about dwindling U.S. weapons stockpiles and the broader risks of a prolonged military campaign.

Following nearly two weeks of nightly strikes, the U.S. paused its bombing campaign on Friday, though it remains unclear whether those concerns drove the decision.

Source: CNN

Brazil blocked visas for two senior U.S. State Department officials, preventing a planned visit over concerns they intended to question the security of Brazil's electronic voting system ahead of the October presidential election.

Brazilian officials believed the trip could undermine public confidence in the country's elections, while the U.S. State Department denied that claim, saying the visit was meant to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and free speech.

The U.S. officials also planned to meet with presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who has repeated disputed claims about election fraud.

Source: NYT

Andy Burnham says he'd challenge Trump if it was "right for Britain," insisting he would "defend your own national interest before anything else."

Romanian President Nicușor Dan:

A new drone was shot down this morning, at 10:13 a.m., by an F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, over Romania's territorial waters, in the Sulina–Chilia area.

According to the investigation conducted by the General Prosecutor's Office, the drone shot down on Friday morning is of the Shahed type, used by the Russian Federation in the war of aggression against Ukraine. Investigations into the drones shot down yesterday and today are ongoing.

Romania's diplomatic protest against the Russian Federation will be based on these investigations.

It is inadmissible and intolerable for the Russian Federation to continue violating Romania's airspace, which is, at the same time, NATO airspace and European Union airspace. Such actions are unacceptable, and we treat them with the utmost seriousness, alongside our allies.