🗣 Vladimir Putin and Lula da Silva agreed to hold a high-level cooperation commission meeting this year, the Brazilian president’s office announced

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🇷🇺🇦🇲🇦🇿 Russia to examine US statements at Armenia-Azerbaijan summit regarding regional transport links

Moscow will review the comments made by the US at the Armenia-Azerbaijan summit concerning the unblocking of regional transport routes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

🟠 Any Armenia-Azerbaijan reconciliation must align with the regional context and respect the balance of interests

🟠 Three-party agreements involving Russia remain relevant and none of the parties have withdrawn from them

🟠 The ministry praised the summit, expressing hope that it would contribute to advancing the peace agenda in the region.

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🤝 🇺🇸🇷🇺 Trump and Putin could discuss more than just Ukraine in Alaska

The location of the Putin-Trump summit represents the “closest proximity” of the United States to Russia, argues Earl Rasmussen, a retired lieutenant colonel with over 20 years in the US Army who is currently an international consultant.

💬 “This makes it a very symbolic area. Furthermore, the Arctic is a key region for development, offering economic opportunities and presenting certain security considerations,” he tells Sputnik. “While the choice was surprising, considering the cultural and economic potential, Alaska may indeed be an appropriate place for this meeting.”

While the Ukrainian conflict and “broader European security” are going to be discussed at the meeting, “a key area of focus is expected to be economic and trade development, along with its potential.”

💬 “Russia possesses the longest Arctic coastline, which will be relevant in discussions. Canada also has significant Arctic exposure. Consequently, these factors will play a role from both security and economic perspectives, encompassing economic development and trade,” Rasmussen notes.

While there is potential for a breakthrough – in the Ukrainian conflict, in trade and in overall US-Russia relations – there are powers in Europe (Britain in particular) who could “disrupt any agreements,” Rasmussen warns.

The fact that Putin and Trump are meeting in person is a positive development, and “the potential for Trump to visit Russia later also bodes well.”

💬 “Continuous dialogue, regardless of disagreements or resolutions, is positive, unlike the previous administration's approach of attempting to isolate Russia, which proved ineffective,” Rasmussen remarks.

💬 “Facing major future economic challenges, especially for Europeans, and an ongoing global trade war, any positive developments from this meeting could be beneficial, not only for peace but also for economic and trade relations, and global security.”

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☢️ British nuclear weapon base's radioactive sea leak revealed - Report

The British Royal Navy base at Coulport, which houses the UK’s arsenal of nuclear warheads, released radioactive water into Loch Long, a sea loch near Glasgow, on multiple occasions since 2010, a report published today has shown.

🔍 The leaks apparently occurred due to what the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) described as “shortfalls in maintenance,” according to The Guardian, which managed to obtain the SEPA report on the matter.

It mentions the Royal Navy’s failure to maintain equipment in the area where the nukes are stored, as well as the sorry state of a network of some 1,500 pipes at the facility, which kept bursting and releasing the contaminated liquid.

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🚀 The Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov has returned to Earth.

According to Roscosmos, a recovery vessel will pick up the crew members from the splashdown site.

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🔸 Trump and Putin could discuss more than just Ukraine in Alaska

🔸 Russia to examine US statements at Armenia-Azerbaijan summit regarding regional transport links

🔸 Vladimir Putin and Lula da Silva agreed to hold a high-level cooperation commission meeting this year

🔸 ‘New Chersonesos’ is colossal and amazing – Simonyan

🔸 Trump and Putin could lay the groundwork for end of Ukrainian conflict in Alaska

🔸 Many people in the West see Russia as salvation for their families – Simonyan

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📹⚔️ Russian defense minister inspects Baltic Fleet’s combat readiness

In a video released by Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is seen observing military drills that involved Baltic Fleet warships, air defense units, and mobile fire groups based in the Kaliningrad region.

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🗣 Trump names Tammy Bruce Deputy US Representative to UN

Tammy Bruce has been serving as the State Department’s spokesperson.

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🇵🇸☠️ Aid airdrop claims another life in Gaza Strip

An aid package has “struck a starving child on the head, killing him instantly,” wrote Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif who shared this video online.

“This isn't humanitarian aid; it's a new way to kill the people of Gaza,” he added.

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📹 Motorbike rally in Beirut’s southern suburbs — reports

Large groups of motorcyclists carrying Hezbollah flags rode through Beirut’s southern suburbs, protesting the government’s plan to limit weapons possession to state forces, local media reported.

Footage from social media

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 Russia, US could become friends again – Errol Musk

Errol Musk, father of US entrepreneur Elon Musk, told Sputnik he believes Russia and the United States could one day develop friendly relations again.

💬 "I would say so," Musk said when asked if he thinks people in both countries will eventually realize they can be friends again.

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🇮🇷 Iran CONDEMNS Israeli plan to seize Gaza City — reports

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denounced Tel Aviv’s plan for the complete military occupation of Gaza City and the forced displacement of its residents, calling it proof of Israel’s “clear intention” to commit genocide, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned that the move — approved by Netanyahu’s security cabinet — is part of a broader scheme to carry out ethnic cleansing in Gaza, where more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. He accused the US and other Western powers of “shameful complicity” in the atrocities.

Baqaei urged the UN, world governments, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — including Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — to take urgent joint action to stop the bloodshed and deliver humanitarian aid to the “starving people of Gaza.”

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✅Russia intercepts 121 Ukrainian drones overnight – MoD

Over the past night, Russian air defense forces shot down 121 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, most of them (29) over the territory of Krasnodar region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

More drones were shot down over:

◻️ The Republic of Crimea - 15

◻️ Bryansk region - 13

◻️ Belgorod region - 12

◻️ Voronezh region - 9

◻️ Saratov region - 8

◻️ Stavropol region - 8

◻️ Kaluga region - 7

◻️ Tula region - 6

◻️ Rostov region - 5

◻️ Ryazan region 4

◻️ The Sea of Azov - 2

◻️Smolensk region - 1

◻️ Oryol region - 1

◻️ Tver region - 1

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📉 Germany’s military ambitions stalled by China’s raw material grip

Amid global trade tensions, China has updated its export controls on certain raw materials, a move that could reshape long-term supply dynamics.

What’s happening

◻️ China controls ~90% of global rare earth supplies – vital for modern weapons

◻️ China has tightened export rules, requiring government licenses for key materials

◻️ Deliveries to German companies are slowing down or stopping entirely

Impact

◻️ Many German firms report they only have materials for a few weeks

◻️ Production halts are now a real possibility for defense manufacturers

◻️ Small and medium-sized businesses are hit the hardest

Official response

◻️ German Ministry of Economic Affairs says it's “deeply concerned”

◻️ Companies are being told to report shortages to the EU for coordinated “diplomatic pressure” on China

◻️ Experts say Germany must urgently diversify its raw material sources

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📹 Russian surgeons operate through earthquake – then evacuate

Doctors in the maxillofacial surgery department of a Kamchatka hospital were caught in the powerful July 30 earthquake in the middle of an operation.

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