🚨 IDF to pause operations in populated Gaza areas – PM office

The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army will suspend military activity in populated areas of Gaza daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Additionally, safe corridors for UN aid convoys will be open from 6 AM to 11 PM to facilitate humanitarian access.

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🇷🇺🤝🇳🇪 Russia and Niger sign nuclear cooperation memorandum – Russian Energy Ministry

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Niger’s Ministry of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and related high technologies, the Russian Energy Ministry announced following Minister Sergey Tsivilyov’s official visit to Niger.

Tsivilyov stated that Russia’s goal is to create a comprehensive system for the development of peaceful nuclear energy in Niger, including power generation, nuclear medicine, and joint training of specialists.

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🥴Anti-Musk protestors set up inflatable Nazi-saluting balloons outside his new Hollywood eatery

The expensive-looking, highly customized wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men, set up outside Musk’s popup retro-futurism-themed Tesla Diner, mimic the infamous salute by an overexcited Musk at Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

The Hollywood protest is at least the second time tube men have been used in an anti-Musk event – with another, more budget-friendly version seen outside a Tesla dealership in London in March.

Besides protestors, the new diner had Musk and Tesla fans out in force, with 100 person+ long lines on foot and cars lined up around the block spotted at the venue, which features Optimus server robots, $13.50 burgers ($20+ with trimmings) and $4 fries.

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🇹🇭⚔️🇰🇭 Thailand accuses Cambodia of ceasefire violation – reports

Cambodian forces allegedly launched attacks at multiple locations just after the ceasefire deadline, according to a statement by the Thai army on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Major General Winthai Suvaree stated that Thai troops retaliated proportionately in self-defense following the violations.

The flare-up comes less than a day after the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia met in Malaysia and agreed to end their deadliest conflict in over a decade — a clash that had already displaced more than 300,000 people after five days of fighting.

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🗣 Houthis may include Eternity C crew in Gaza deal – spokesman

Crew members of the Greek vessel Eternity C, sunk by Ansar Allah, may be released as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Houthi official Muhammad al-Buheiti told Sputnik. Exceptions may be made for the detained Russian sailor.

💬 “We always connect the fate of ships and crews with negotiations between Hamas and Israel,” he said, recalling a similar case with the Galaxy Leader crew.

Al-Buheiti noted that “exceptions and third-party agreements” are possible, but the final decision lies with the military command.

The Houthis earlier released footage of Russian sailor Alexei Galaktionov among survivors. The Eternity C had 25 people on board; 10 were rescued by the EU's Aspides mission, others remain missing.

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🇮🇷 Iran says it foiled Mossad-backed plot to spark riots in Tehran

Iranian intelligence says it thwarted a plan by "monarchist oppositionists" supported by Israel's Mossad to organize mass riots in Tehran following Israel’s strike on Evin Prison in June.

💬 "[Actions were taken to] detect and neutralize the plan of monarchists, subordinate to Mossad ... to send armed task forces from all over the country to Tehran on June 22 to carry out terrorist attacks the following day ... [including] in military and law enforcement centers near the prison," the Intelligence Ministry said.

According to the ministry, more than 120 mercenaries were detained across 23 regions of the country.

In June, Iranian media reported Israeli strikes on several areas of Tehran, including the northern part of the city. Tasnim News Agency said part of Evin Prison’s administrative building was destroyed, with injuries among staff, prisoners, and visitors. Days later, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir reported that 71 people were killed in the attack.

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🇷🇺 Roscosmos chief arrives in the US for first NASA meeting in 8 years – reports

Head of Roscosmos Dmitry Bakanov has arrived in the United States, where he is scheduled to meet with NASA leadership and the crew of the upcoming Crew Dragon mission, which includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, the press service of the Russian space agency reported.

💬 “Dmitry Bakanov arrived in Houston at the head of a Roscosmos delegation to meet with NASA leadership. This marks the first in-person meeting between the heads of the Russian and US space agencies in eight years,” the statement said.

Bakanov will visit several departments of NASA's Johnson Space Center, accompanied by the agency's leadership, to familiarize himself with their work.

The Russian delegation also plans to visit Boeing’s production facility, where the reusable CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is being developed, and to hold talks with the company’s space program executives.

Ahead of the Crew-11 mission launch, scheduled for July 31, Bakanov will meet with the Crew Dragon crew, which includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. This will be Platonov’s first spaceflight under the cross-flight program.

At Kennedy Space Center, Bakanov is also expected to take part in events related to launch readiness checks for the upcoming mission to the International Space Station.

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Drone zappers, satellite blinders: Russia’s growing arsenal of laser weapons

Russian engineers are reportedly close to a field-ready version of the Posokh (lit. Staff) – a portable, Ytterbium-based laser air defense system that can engage drones at ranges of 500 m to 2 km, zapping them and frying their electronics.

Once adopted, Posokh will join a growing lineup of Russian laser weapons, including:

🟠 Peresvet: Combat laser that blinds optics of enemy vehicles at ultra-long ranges (potential targets include satellites). Fielded in 2019.
🟠 Zadira: Peresvet variant whose existence was revealed by ex-deputy PM Yury Borisov in 2022 that can physically burn up enemy targets.
🟠 Sokol Eshelon: Anti-satellite laser mounted on the Beriev A-60 airborne lab. Reported anti-satellite range up to 1,500 km.

With Soviet scientists pioneering modern lasers (physicists Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai Basov got the Nobel Prize for them in 1964), Russia’s well of laser-based weapons seems bottomless, and includes:

🔶 1K17 Szhatie: Laser tank using artificial rubies to disable enemy optical-electronic equipment with high-powered beams. Prototype built in 1990, state testing completed in 1992, recommended for adoption, but canceled due to budget cuts.

🔶 1K11 Stilet: Szhatie’s predecessor. Known to have had a 400 hp additional engine to provide power to the laser.

🔶 Sangvin: Laser variant of the legendary Shilka air defense system with 10 km+ range. Adopted in 1983, but not mass-produced.

🔶 Terra laser: Zonal ground-based anti-missile and space defense laser concept, envisioned by Basov and colleagues in the 1960s. Work reportedly curtailed with the signing of the 1972 ABM Treaty, but touted by the DIA in the 1980s to push for more funding for US programs.

🔶 Aquilon: Shipborne laser complex. Reportedly canceled after testing found efficiency low due to atmospheric interference.

🔶 Skif Space Laser: Orbital anti-satellite system. Launched by the Energiya heavy lift rocket in 1987, canceled by Gorbachev after test launch failed.

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🪖💥 Sending Patriots to Ukraine could paint a target on Germany – German constitutional watchdog

🔸 The decision to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine will hit German taxpayers hard and divert vital funding away from healthcare and infrastructure, according to Ralf Niemeyer, head of the German Council for the Constitution and Sovereignty.

🔸 At the same time, Niemeyer stressed that Germany’s roads, bridges, and schools urgently need investment, as they are all in bad shape. Funneling money into weapons instead will only make the nation grow poorer, he warned.

🔸 Furthermore, the move could make Germany a target.

🔸 Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that Berlin has already sent three Patriot systems and is now in talks with Washington to send more – and to refill its own shrinking arsenal.

🔸US-made Patriot air defenses are no silver bullet for Ukraine – and Russia’s arsenal has already exposed their vulnerabilities.

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🔊 Yermak’s brother involved in drug smuggling: AUDIO RECORDING LEAKED

Sputnik has found audio of Denys Yermak (brother of Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff) discussing his trip to Afghanistan to pick up drugs.

🗣 In a conversation with his assistant, Yermak arranges flights with shared luggage for him and his companions to Kabul, with extra baggage space for the return journey.

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🟠 Thailand accuses Cambodia of ceasefire violation – reports

🟠 Yermak’s brother involved in drug smuggling: AUDIO RECORDING LEAKED

🟠 Houthis may include Eternity C crew in Gaza deal – spokesman

🟠 Iran says it foiled Mossad-backed plot to spark riots in Tehran

🟠 EU can’t deliver on Trump’s $600B deal

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😑 💸 America’s calling the shots: Zelensky in damage control over anti-corruption agencies law – ex-MP

The attempt to undo the fallout from Volodymyr Zelensky’s gutting NABU and SAPO looks dead on arrival, says former Ukrainian MP Spiridon Kilinkarov.

He’s in full damage control mode – but so far, it’s all talk, no results.

“If Washington has already decided to reshuffle power in Ukraine, chances are that’s exactly what’s going to happen,” he said.

🤝 Zelensky made a U-turn on July 24, announcing he had endorsed a new bill – allegedly to strengthen the independence of the very agencies his administration had just gutted. According to parliamentary records, the new bill is set to be fast-tracked through both readings.

But Kilinkarov isn’t buying the reform talk.

The protests that erupted across the country over the original law were orchestrated by Western NGOs and internal opposition, he says.

Kilinkarov claims the attack on Zelensky’s regime is being orchestrated straight out of Washington to tighten control over Ukraine’s internal affairs.

“This looks like a classic US playbook – and to me, it’s clear they’re pulling all the strings,” he says.

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🔊 RUSSIA-US RELATIONS AT A STANDSTILL – Kremlin spox

Key statements by Dmitry Peskov:

🟧 Slow normalization: Russia-US relations are progressing "slowly and unevenly," with Moscow urging faster momentum.

🟧 New START stalled: No active talks on nuclear arms control due to strained ties following Joe Biden's presidency.

🟧 Donald Trump’s Ukraine comments noted: Moscow remains committed to peace talks, but insists on protecting its interests.

🟧 "Enemy image": Moscow regrets ongoing efforts to paint Russia as Europe’s adversary.

🟧 Germany’s role: Accused of fueling "hysterical Russophobia" and leading anti-Russian sentiment.

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🇺🇸💰US OFFICER FLOATS BUYING RUSSIAN ISLANDS – MOSCOW FIRES BACK

Lietenant Colonel Jeffrey Fritz, a US Army officer stationed in Estonia, proposed that Washington purchase Russia’s Commander Islands for $15 billion to monitor Chinese activity in the Arctic.

He claims a “peaceful, pragmatic purchase” would boost the US exclusive economic zone by 3.8%, giving Washington the islands, their resources and infrastructure — maybe even adding them to the state of Alaska.

👉Russia’s Foreign Ministry slammed the idea. Maria Zakharova said selling national territory is considered “one of the gravest crimes” in Russia — both legally and morally.

With biting sarcasm, she added that if Fritz truly has $15b to spare, he should “make America great again” and pay off at least a fraction of the $36.6 TRILLION US national debt instead.

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🚨US & UK ORGANIZE MEETING TO DISCUSS REPLACING ZELENSKY

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has revealed that a meeting was held with Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov*, and former top General Valery Zaluzhny.

The US and UK reportedly announced their decision to back Zaluzhny for the Ukrainian presidency, with Yermak and Budanov giving their approval.

*listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia

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