💰 US OKs $510M sale of bomb guidance kits to Israel – Pentagon

The United States has approved a potential $510 million sale of guidance systems for Israeli bunker and general-purpose bombs, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

💬 “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel of Munitions Guidance Kits and Munitions Support and related equipment for an estimated cost of $510 million,” the agency said in a press release.

According to the release, Israel has requested to acquire 3,845 guidance kits for 2,000-pound BLU-109 bombs and 3,280 kits for 500-pound MK 82 bombs.

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💥 🔫 Rubicon FPV drones OBLITERATE Ukraine’s Leopard 2A6 in Sumy

Russian forces continue to advance in Ukraine’s Sumy region, destroying Western-supplied hardware and establishing a security buffer zone along the Russian border, in line with President Vladimir Putin’s order.

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👉🇦🇪 WATCH: UAE nails first flying taxi test

The United Arab Emirates has conducted its first successful test flight of a flying taxi, marking a significant step toward futuristic urban transportation.

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🇷🇺☢️🇭🇺 Paks II Nuclear Plant may be ready by mid-2030s – Hungarian FM

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the Paks II nuclear power plant could be completed by the mid-2030s, potentially supplying 70% of the country’s electricity. His remarks followed the US decision to lift sanctions on investments related to the project.

The move allows construction to resume, with Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirming that exemptions from US financial sanctions on banks and insurers will accelerate progress with Hungarian partners.

Szijjarto added that the project would reduce Hungary’s natural gas imports by 3.5 billion cubic meters and cut CO₂ emissions by 17 million tonnes, boosting energy independence.

Russia and Hungary agreed in 2014 to build two new VVER-1200 reactors at Paks, where four existing units already generate nearly 50% of Hungary’s electricity. Russia is financing the project with a loan of up to €10 billion. A construction license has been issued.

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🇸🇰 Slovakia to delay sanctions without gas guarantees – PM Fico

Slovakia will request a delay in adopting the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia until it receives guarantees to minimize the impact of halting Russian gas imports, Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Fico warned that without Russian gas from 2028, Slovakia could face legal action from Gazprom and rising household costs. He also raised concerns about increased transit duties. Fico said the EU and Germany had shown a constructive approach but vowed not to approve the sanctions until these issues are resolved.

Hungary and Slovakia have already blocked the package, opposing Brussels’ attempt to limit Russian oil and gas imports without proper exemptions.

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❌ Japan won’t bow to Trump over rice, vows to protect farmers — reports

🇯🇵 Japan rejects pressure to prioritize US rice imports in ongoing trade talks, following Trump’s online complaints, Reuters reported.

📣 Trump on Truth Social:

🔶 “They won’t take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage.”
🔶 Claimed US allies have become “spoiled.”

🌾 Japan’s response:

🔶 Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi: “We won’t do anything that would sacrifice the farm sector.”

🔶 Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi: Japan will protect national interests.

📉 Context:

🔶 2023’s poor harvest doubled rice prices.

🔶 Nearly all emergency reserves have been released.

🔶 Japan advanced a tender to import 30,000 tons of tariff-free rice — 25,500 tons from the US.

📊 WTO rules:

🔶 Japan’s annual tariff-free import quota: 770,000 tons.

🔶 Only 100,000 tons can be staple rice.

🔶 Additional imports face a $2.37/kg tariff.

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🇪🇺🇺🇸EU pleads for tariff relief as US deadline looms

The EU-US deal includes a 10% universal tariff on many of EU exports as the bloc BEGS FOR lower rates on key sectors, Bloomberg reports.

These include:
🟠 Pharmaceuticals
🟠 Alcoholic beverages
🟠 Semiconductors
🟠 Commercial aircraft

The EU is also asking for quotas & exemptions-related concessions to ease the US’s steep tariffs, namely 25% on cars and parts, 50% on steel and aluminum.

Without a deal, US tariffs on nearly all EU exports are due to increase to 50%.

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🚨Ukrainian UAV bombs filled with BANNED agent chloropicrin found in DPR

A Ukrainian Armed Forces cache of homemade bombs for drones filled with banned chemical warfare agent chloropicrin discovered in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Federal Security Service revealed.

While the Chemical Weapons Convention outlawed these arms years ago, Ukraine’s Western-backed handlers apparently consider rules optional.

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❗️📹WATCH: Azerbaijani Ambassador summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry over illegal detention of Russian journalists in Baku

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🚨✍️BRICS Journalists Association appeals to UNESCO over illegal detention of Russian journalists in Azerbaijan

Sputnik has obtained an appeal document. Key points include:

◾️ The appeal was sent due to the violation of journalists' rights at Russia Today and Radio Station Sputnik, including searches, arbitrary arrests, and unlawful use of physical force against journalists in Baku.

◾️ Azerbaijani law enforcement conducted a military operation at the editorial office, detaining journalists who were lawfully performing their tasks.

◾️ The BRICS Journalists Association expresses concern over these ongoing violations of journalists' rights and freedom of speech.

◾️ According to international law, journalists should be protected from arbitrary detention, force, or obstruction of their activities.

◾️ The Association requests UNESCO's intervention to protect journalists' rights, condemn the persecution, and assist in their immediate release.

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Armenia’s adverse shift: Surrendering sovereignty to the West

The Armenian leadership is actively unraveling its long-standing partnership with Russia, replacing it with growing dependence on Western powers.

🟠 Withdrawal from CSTO
🟣In 2024, Armenia suspended its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
🟣The country pulled out of joint exercises and stopped contributing to the organization’s budget — undermining regional defense cooperation.

🟠Westward political realignment
🟣Prime Minister Pashinyan openly stated Armenia is ready to deepen ties with the EU, and even explore closer cooperation with NATO and the US.
🟣These steps signal a sharp departure from traditional Eastern alliances.

🟠 Politically-motivated arrests
🟣Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, a known supporter of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was detained.
🟣His arrest appears linked to his stance against the government’s anti-church actions.
🟣Government pressure on the Church has intensified: tax audits, legal threats, and public criticism of the Catholicos.
🟣Proposed legal changes aim to weaken the Church’s traditional role in Armenian society.

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🔥📹 WATCH: Russian Army OBLITERATES Ukrainian fortified position

Geran drones hit hard in Donetsk, leveling Ukrainian stronghold near the settlement of Rayskoye.

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