Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Lebanon:

I have a son who is now going in and out of Lebanon with his reconnaissance unit, and I’m telling you: he and his friends deserve for us to bomb Beirut, for us to crush them.

UKMTO:

A tanker 136 NM east of Al Mukalla, Yemen was boarded by six armed individuals after reporting an unauthorised approach.

The attackers seized control and redirected the vessel toward Somalia.

U.S. immigration officials coordinated with Iranian authorities to deport more than 100 Iranians on three flights in late 2025 and early 2026, with newly released emails showing Iranian officials influenced deportee lists and requested last-minute changes.

The Trump administration continued prioritizing the deportations even during the 2025 U.S.-Iran war, while Iranian officials were also given access to some detainees.

Source: AP

Inside TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan: Warships, Submarines and Sea Drones at Center Stage

TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan puts Türkiye’s “Blue Homeland” maritime strategy on display, featuring 37 naval platforms, submarines, autonomous vessels, and demonstrations.

READ MORE

CENTCOM:

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in Middle East during a scheduled deployment after arriving in the CENTCOM theater yesterday.

Regional football powers are considering a no-confidence vote to oust FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF favour such a vote, but fear a failed challenge could strengthen Infantino, who retains significant support ahead of the 2027 FIFA election.

Source: Reuters

Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, at TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan:

As of today, we are simultaneously building more than 50 warships—37 for the Turkish Naval Forces and 24 for foreign countries.

Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport was temporarily brought to a standstill after workers halted check-in and flights amid operational difficulties and complaints over heavy workloads.

The disruption came during the busy summer travel season, with about 100,000 passengers expected to pass through the airport.

Workers cited problems handling aircraft, baggage and passengers, worsened by a shortage of available parking stands.

Netanyahu:

Ben Gurion Airport will continue to remain open and operate as usual.

Whoever stands in the way - will fly home.

Moderna announced the first ever positive Phase 3 results for a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine.

The vaccine, combined with Merck's Keytruda, showed significant improvement in preventing melanoma recurrence versus Keytruda alone.

The treatment works by sequencing each patient's tumor and using AI to identify up to 34 unique cancer markers, then creating a custom mRNA vaccine that trains the immune system to hunt remaining cancer cells.

Manufacturing is individualized, typically taking weeks per patient.

Moderna stock surged over 110%, adding tens of billions in market cap.

The companies plan regulatory filings with potential approval as early as 2027.

Trials are expanding to lung, bladder, and kidney cancers.

Where is Germany's Chancellor Merz?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has remained largely out of public view during his four-week summer break.

His last public appearance was on July 29, when he attended political events in Berlin before saying, “Happy holidays. Bye.” His exact holiday location has not been disclosed.

His absence comes as Germany faces extreme heat, wildfires, drought and political disputes. The opposition has criticized his silence, while government officials say Merz is “closely monitoring” events and remains available if needed.

Meanwhile, his coalition faces difficult pension and healthcare reforms. Merz is expected to return for a cabinet retreat next week, ahead of what could be a challenging political autumn.

Romania deployed F-16 fighter jets to destroy a marine drone approaching the Neptun Deep offshore gas project in the Black Sea.

Officials said the drone threatened hundreds of workers and critical energy infrastructure.

Ukraine denied ownership, while Romania’s president blamed Russia.

Trump:

James Braid, our Director of Legislative Affairs, will be leaving the White House in September.

Yemen's Houthis say they carried out two drone attacks targeting Abha airport and Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia.

China urges South Korea to stay neutral between Beijing and Washington, blaming US policy toward North Korea for peninsula tensions.

Wang Yi also called for renewed North-South dialogue and stronger China-South Korea economic ties.

Source: Reuters

Türkiye Slams Israel, Says Will Oppose Netanyahu’s 'Destabilizing Acts'

Türkiye’s communications chief Burhanettin Duran accused Benjamin Netanyahu of pursuing an “occupier mentality” and destabilizing the Middle East.

READ MORE

Polish PM Donald Tusk on Nord Stream 2:

Poland, regardless of who was prime minister, warned against this and did everything possible to prevent Nord Stream 2 from becoming a reality and to make Europe as independent as possible from Russian gas supplies.

Germany certainly should not prosecute those who, when their country had been attacked and Russia had revealed itself as the aggressor, undertook actions of one kind or another.

I believe that the people who should be ashamed are not those who disabled Nord Stream 2, but those who built it.

Polish PM Donald Tusk:

We have well over a million Ukrainian citizens in Poland today, and it was obvious from the beginning that such a large group would sooner or later stir emotions and that some conflicts would emerge. I understand all of that.

If ideas like the ones I hear on the right — deport everyone — were implemented… the Polish economy would certainly lose a very, very large number of workers.

Israel bombed a Syrian airbase and said it was because Türkiye was building a military presence there.

Polish PM Donald Tusk:

Today — and I will document this further in the coming days — we are safer on the eastern flank than ever before.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to make an official visit to Pakistan as Islamabad and Damascus seek closer ties.

Sharif extended the invitation during a meeting in Islamabad with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.

Al-Shaibani’s trip is his first to Pakistan and the first by a Syrian foreign minister in 19 years.