Fire in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region after Russian drone attacks.

Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, located in Rostov region, is burning after Ukrainian attacks.

The US State Department fired its top Israel-Palestine press officer, Shahed Ghoreishi, after he pushed to acknowledge slain Gaza journalists and oppose forced Palestinian displacement.

Source: WaPo

JD Vance:

It was like one in the morning in Moscow, and nobody was expecting it. Trump says, “You know, we’ve had a pretty good meeting. I’m gonna go call Putin, see what he says about it.”

Everybody’s like, “Oh, you’re gonna call him next week?” And he’s like, “No, what time is it in Moscow? Let’s call him right now.”

Trump cuts through the BS of all these diplomatic protocols. He just says, “I’m gonna get things done. If I want to talk to somebody, I’m gonna talk to somebody.”

Meanwhile, a lot of the Europeans were saying, “No, no, no, there needs to be proper vetting, and the teams have to prepare the phone call, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

And the president was like, “No, no, I want to talk to the guy. I’m going to talk to the guy.”

US Navy sailor Jinchao “Patrick” Wei, 25, was convicted of spying for China by providing sensitive details on US warships and Marines in exchange for $12,000.

A jury found him guilty on six counts, including espionage and arms export violations. Wei, recruited on social media by a Chinese intelligence officer in 2022, faces up to life in prison at his December sentencing.

Source: NYT

JD Vance on Putin:

He's more soft spoken than you'd necessarily expect. The American media has a particular image of him. He's soft spoken in a certain way. He's very deliberate, he's very careful. Fundamentally, he's a person who looks out for the interests as he sees it of Russia.

Somalia: Al-Shabaab reportedly carried out a landmine attack at Balad-Hawo Airport.

Source: Somalia Security Insight

JD Vance:

Ukraine wants to know that it is not going to get invaded again by Russia.

Russians want certain pieces of territory, most of which they've occupied but some of which they haven't.

So that is really where the meat of the negotiation is.

JD Vance:

I told Zelensky, “As long as you behave, I won’t say anything.” He chuckled and that was a good icebreaker.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 574 strike drones and 40 missiles. The map shows their approximate route.

Trump's envoy Witkoff delivered a Russian medal from Putin to the family of Michael Gloss, a 21-year-old American and son of CIA deputy Juliane Gallina, who was killed fighting for Russia in 2024.

Though seen by some as a diplomatic jab, Witkoff framed it as an act of compassion, saying it was about shared grief and ending the war.

Source: CNN

Russian soldier attempts to save comrade from FPV drone by throwing his rifle.

It didn't go well.

Big Boy: Ukrainian FPV drone armed with a 155mm shell.

Egyptian Consulate staff drag and beat pro-Palestinian protesters in New York.

Taiwan will raise 2026 defense spending to $31.3 billion— 3.32% of GDP, the first time above 3% since 2009.

That’s a 23% jump, driven by Chinese pressure and U.S. calls.

Spending now also counts coast guard and veterans, following a “NATO model.”

Sudan: 9 people, including 5 children and 4 women, were killed and 18 others injured in an RSF attack on Abu Shouk refugee camp in Al Fashir.

NEW: Zelensky says his meeting with Putin could take place in Switzerland, Austria or Türkiye.

Zelensky:

The Russians need another 4 years to occupy our Donbas.

Zelensky:

China cannot be a security guarantor for Ukraine.