Defense
US bets on Gaza cease-fire talks as assassinations tilt Mideast toward bigger war
American officials don’t seem to have a realistic plan B and are not thrilled with Israel’s suspected actions.
Germany’s Scholz under friendly fire over US missile plan
Israel claims it killed Hezbollah commander in Beirut strike
EU pushing for final Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal after talks stall
Japan wants reassurance Britain’s new government has its back
European capitals scramble to avoid Middle East escalation
Emmanuel Macron nominates Thierry Breton for another term at European Commission
Israel urges NATO to expel Turkey over threats to ‘invade’
Israel’s foreign ministry demanded Turkey’s “expulsion from the regional alliance.”
US shrugs off ‘all-out war’ worries in Middle East
Senior Israeli officials are using strong language to warn Hezbollah that more fighting could break out.
Europe’s €10 trillion gamble
From Athens to Berlin, governments are coalescing around an idea to turbocharge the economy. If successful, it could be transformative ― but it’s a big if.
Airlines suspend Lebanon flights as fears of Israel-Hezbollah war grow
Lufthansa said it suspended five routes to and from the Lebanese capital until July 30 out of “an abundance of caution.”
Turkey threatens to ‘enter’ Israel to protect Palestinians
Turkey “must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine,” the president said.
The 11 MEPs who actually matter
Here are the EU lawmakers to keep your eye on in the new term.
China pressures lawmakers from Slovakia, other countries to skip Taiwan summit
China contacted lawmakers in a bid to pressure them to not attend a democracy summit on the island of Taiwan.
Putin threatens retaliation if US deploys long-range missiles in Germany
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy missiles within striking distance of the West should the U.S. move forward with its missile deployment in Germany.
US revamps Japan command amid China’s threats
Washington’s pledge to shore up its top Indo-Pacific ally will endure “irrespective of” the American election result, Antony Blinken says in Tokyo.
Ukraine drones reportedly hit Russian airfield in Arctic
The drones struck a long-range missile carrier at the Olenya base, Ukrainian Pravda reported.
Israel launches retaliatory strikes after Golan Heights rocket attack
Fears grow of an escalation as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office says “Hezbollah will pay a heavy price.”
Golan Heights rocket attack fans fears of Israel-Hezbollah escalation
Israel accused Iran-backed Hezbollah of the strike, but the Lebanese group denied responsibility.
At least 30 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on school, Gaza officials say
Israel says the attack targeted a “Hamas command and control center” in the shool.
EU finally sends €1.5B from Russian assets to Ukraine
Most of the funds will be used to buy weapons for Kyiv.
Harris makes a forceful case for Israel-Gaza cease-fire after Netanyahu meeting
The vice president did not diverge from Biden administration policy except in tone.
Fincantieri CEO on Trump, defense spending and consolidation
SNEAK PEEK — Fincantieri boss Pierroberto Folgiero is looking to the Middle East and Southeast Asia for growth, he told Jacopo. — The U.K.’s new government is …
EU’s rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink struggles to take off
EU wants to forge a satellite system for its armies and spy agencies but it’s facing major cost overruns and delays.
US sees new Chinese, Russian military cooperation on eve of visit to region
An unprecedented exercise by Chinese and Russian bombers forced the U.S. and Canada to scramble fighter planes along the Alaskan coast.
Israel privately pressures Biden admin to fast-track more weapons during Netanyahu visit
The delegation traveling with the prime minister is circulating a list that lays out weapons systems they want greenlit.
Germany wants a Brexit mega deal
Berlin wants to expand the British prime minister’s proposed security pact into a broader EU-UK “reset.”
Romania confirms Russian drones in its airspace
Ukraine’s air force said three Russian Shahed kamikaze drones crossed the border.
Denmark, Netherlands say 14 Leopard tanks will be dispatched to Ukraine within weeks
Kyiv has requested more land fire power.
Is IRIS² heading for a rethink?
SNEAK PEEK — The EU’s IRIS² satellite communications network project is increasingly troubled. — NATO seeks to make procuring arms faster, the alliance’s procurement agency boss Stacy …
Russia cracks down on personal phones on the frontline
Ukrainian open-source investigators said the new restrictions will make it harder to analyze Russian movements.