Kremlin:

Romania's presidential elections were strange because all candidates were not allowed to run.

Kremlin:

Russia will achieve the goals of the special operation, but it is preferable to achieve them through political and diplomatic means.

China fully respects Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Danish counterpart, urging Denmark to reciprocate on China’s sovereignty concerns.

Wang’s comments came after Denmark hosted former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

NEW: IDF has issued its first wide evacuation warning in Gaza, urging residents of Khan Younis, Bani Suheila, and Abasan to move west to the Mawasi area.

Chinese “kill switches” capable of crippling power grids have been found in equipment at US solar farms.

The devices, including hidden cellular radios, were discovered in Chinese-made inverters used to connect solar panels and wind turbines to grids worldwide.

Source: The Times

BIG: Germany has ended its opposition to nuclear power in a major shift under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, agreeing to support French efforts to treat nuclear power on par with renewables in EU legislation.

“This will be a sea-change policy shift,” said a German official, while a senior French diplomat noted that “all the biases against nuclear power” in EU laws will be removed.

Berlin is also exploring closer cooperation with Paris on nuclear deterrence against Russia, with a German official saying:

“We are now actually finally open to talk to France about nuclear deterrence for Europe. Better late than never.”

Source: FT

U.S. Vice President JD Vance considered a visit to Israel on Tuesday but canceled due to the expanding military operation in Gaza, a senior U.S. official told Axios.

The official said Vance didn’t want the trip to signal support for the operation while the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Source: Axios

Japan’s Debt Dilemma – “Worse than Greece?”

With 263% gross debt-to-GDP, rising interest costs, and a rapidly aging population, Japan faces serious fiscal challenges.

Top 3 Largest Employers in the World (2024)

🇮🇳 Ministry of Defence (India) - 2.99M employees
🇺🇸 U.S. Department of Defense - 2.93M employees
🇨🇳 People’s Liberation Army (China) - 2.55M employees

Earlier this month, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert warned civic leaders near Edwards Air Force Base that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring massive disruption to their region from the outset.

“If this war happens, it’s going to happen here,” Wickert said.

He noted that critical targets like Northrop Grumman factories, which produce the B-21 Raider bomber, could face strikes.

Source: Reuters

Spain’s Prime Minister Sanchez:

Israel should be banned from Eurovision.

British PM Starmer:

The situation in Gaza is unacceptable and intolerable, and we are working with partners to see what we can do about it.

Zelensky:

Ukraine is not afraid of direct talks with Russia, and it is important that the Russian leadership does not prolong the war.

Joe Biden has posted his first photo since announcing his cancer diagnosis.

JD Vance:

We realize that there is a bit of an impasse in talks over the war in Ukraine.

JD Vance:

Putin doesn't seem to quite know how to get out of the war.

JD Vance:

If Russia is not willing to engage, eventually the US has to say that this is not our war.

Trump is attacking Beyoncé 50 minutes before his scheduled call with Putin.

China has accused the US of undermining Geneva agreements following the latest adjustment to chip export restrictions.

China urged Washington to "correct its mistakes" and respect prior commitments.

White House:

Trump will call Zelensky once his talk with Putin ends.

White House:

We are communicating with both sides of the conflict in Gaza.