🇫🇷🇧🇯⚡️ — A French Air Force B-350 ASLR (reg. F-GYEE) took off from Cotonou and is conducting surveillance and intelligence-gathering flights over the capital, Porto-Novo, in support of the current government.

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🇺🇸🇮🇱🇪🇬⚡️ — The White House is prepared to arrange a summit between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President Sisi, according to Axios.

➡️ But U.S. officials say Netanyahu must first approve a major strategic natural gas deal with Egypt and take additional economic steps to persuade Sisi to agree to a meeting.

➡️ Washington is pushing a broader plan to use economic diplomacy, energy, tech, and regional investments, to improve Israel’s relations with Arab countries, reboot the Abraham Accords, and support the Gaza ceasefire process.

➡️ The U.S. is considering similar projects with Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.

➡️ Jared Kushner told Netanyahu that Israel must present a positive economic agenda, not only focus on Iran, and should leverage its tech, AI, energy, water, and renewable resources. U.S. officials argue Egypt is the best starting point, praising Cairo’s role in the Gaza peace deal and hostage recoveries.

➡️ Sisi has been hesitant about a summit, partly because Netanyahu previously backed out of an invitation to a Gaza peace summit in 2024. Israel has also delayed approving the gas deal, worth billions and supplying up to 25% of Egypt’s electricity, due to internal politics.

➡️ Netanyahu has now set up a team to prepare economic proposals for a possible meeting.

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🇫🇷🇧🇯⚡️ — Colonel Pascal Tigri, the Benin coup leader, has appeared again in a new video, urging the population to back the coup and calling on France not to intervene.

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🇧🇯⚡️ — NEW: 13 Beninese soldiers have been arrested following the failed coup attempt this morning, including several of the perpetrators.

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🇫🇷🇪🇺🇨🇳⚡️ — French President Emmanuel Macron warned during his state visit to China that France and the EU may impose tariffs on Chinese imports unless Beijing reduces its large trade surplus, Les Echos reports.

➡️ He called the current imbalance “unsustainable” and said Europe could resort to U.S.-style protective measures if China doesn’t adjust its trade practices.

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🇸🇩❌🇸🇩 — A drone strike by the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces hit the army-controlled town of Kalogi in South Kordofan, Sudan, targeting a kindergarten and a hospital, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians, according to AFP.

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🇫🇷📞🇳🇬 — French President Macron spoke with Nigerian President Tinubu, pledging France’s support against security threats, particularly ISWAP in northern Nigeria.

➡️ France will strengthen cooperation with Nigerian authorities and aid affected populations, while calling on all partners to actively engage in addressing the crisis.

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🇺🇸🇮🇱🇶🇦⚡️ — The U.S., Israel, and Qatar are holding a high-level trilateral meeting in New York today to repair ties after a failed Israeli strike in Doha as part of efforts to advance the Gaza peace process, according to Axios.

➡️ White House envoy Steve Witkoff is hosting, with Israel’s Mossad chief David Barnea and a senior Qatari official attending.

➡️ The meeting, the first under a new trilateral coordination mechanism, is expected to focus on implementing the Gaza peace deal, including sensitive issues like Hamas disarmament and the transition to the agreement’s second phase.

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🇯🇵🇺🇸🇨🇳⚡️ — Japan has urged the U.S. to publicly support Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her comments on Taiwan, which angered China, according to FT.

➡️ Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an “existential threat” to Japan, justifying military action. China responded with threats and warned its citizens against Japan, while also locking radars onto Japanese jets near Okinawa.

➡️ Tokyo believes U.S. officials have offered insufficient backing, despite some support from the U.S. ambassador in Japan.

➡️ Washington’s response has largely been limited to social media posts, rather than strong public statements. Japan expressed disappointment, noting that Takaichi’s statement clearly outlined Japan’s support for U.S. forces in a Taiwan contingency.

➡️ U.S. officials have reaffirmed commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance in private calls, but there has been no direct public defense of Takaichi, despite her warm relationship with Trump.

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🇧🇯💥❗️ — BREAKING: At least six explosions were heard in Cotonou, Benin, in a matter of minutes.

➡️ Local sources are claiming airstrikes from an aircraft, but this is unconfirmed at this time.

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