Ukraine aid bill clears critical hurdle in the House as Democrats supply the votes (www.nytimes.com)
Democrats stepped in to support bringing the aid package to the floor, in a remarkable breach of custom on a key vote that paved the way for its passage....
An audible sigh of relief in the Middle East (www.bbc.com)
The latest round in the region’s most dangerous rivalry appears to be over, for now....
Ocean spray emits more PFAS than industrial polluters, study finds (www.theguardian.com)
Research into release of ‘forever chemicals’ raises concerns about contamination and human exposure along world’s coastlines...
NATO secretary-general says some allies have air defense systems they could give to Ukraine (apnews.com)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday pressed member countries to give more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated Kyiv’s almost daily appeals for more Western air defense equipment....
Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on ‘historic’ return of villages (www.aljazeera.com)
Armenia has agreed to return several villages to Azerbaijan in what both countries say is an important milestone as they edge towards a peace deal after fighting two wars since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Argentina asks to join NATO as President Milei seeks a more prominent role for his nation (apnews.com)
Argentina formally requested on Thursday to join NATO as a global partner, a status that would clear the way for greater political and security cooperation at a time when the right-wing government of President Javier Milei aims to boost ties with Western powers and attract investment....
EU wants to undo Brexit, a little bit, for people 18 to 30 (www.dw.com)
The European Commission argues it was Europe’s students and young graduates who were most affected by Brexit’s mobility restrictions. The UK has reportedly responded cooly to the proposal....
China is a threat to Europe’s gunpowder supply, defense boss warns (www.politico.eu)
Saab chief cautions that Beijing dominates supplies of a key component to make powder to fire shells, and metal for submarines and warships....
China just made it even harder for people in the country to access WhatsApp and Threads (www.businessinsider.com)
Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store following a government order....
Israeli missile has struck Iran, US officials say - BBC News (www.bbc.com)
An Israeli missile has hit Iran, two US officials have told the BBC’s US partner CBS News....
France urged to repay billions of dollars to Haiti for independence ‘ransom’ (www.theguardian.com)
France should repay billions of dollars to Haiti to cover a debt formerly enslaved people were forced to pay in return for recognising the island’s independence, according to a coalition of civil society groups that is launching a new push for reparations....
Brazil’s President Lula creates two new Indigenous territories, bringing total to 10 (www.nbcnews.com)
US vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine (apnews.com)
US approves Rafah op. in exchange for no Israeli counter-strikes on Iran - report (www.jpost.com)
Iranian officials report no damage around targeted Isfahan, lift flight restrictions. (apnews.com)
Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported....
UK's Sunak proposes tougher rules to combat 'sick note culture' (www.reuters.com)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday the government would look to tighten rules for long-term sick leave in a bid to reverse a rise in the number of Britons who have permanently dropped out of the workforce....
Israeli minister Ben Gvir calls for execution of Palestinian prisoners to ease overcrowding (www.middleeasteye.net)
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, has called for the execution of Palestinian prisoners to ease overcrowding in the country’s jails....
Chinese EV makers won’t get subsidies from Mexico after US pressure (arstechnica.com)
Iran Issues Unprecedented Nuclear Threat in Duel With Israel (www.thedailybeast.com)
Argentina seeks NATO partner status amid pivot to the West (www.unionleader.com)
Australia: Teenager charged with terrorism in church attack (www.dw.com)
Australian police have charged a 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing a bishop and a priest with a terrorism offense. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment....
Iran and Israel playing with fire as old rules of confrontation are torn up (www.theguardian.com)
Reported Israeli drone strike on Isfahan may signal that this widening conflict has become more dynamic...
It's been called Israel's 'Guantanamo'. A doctor who worked in the secretive facility is now speaking out (www.abc.net.au)
Ukraine says downs Russian bomber as 8 die in missile attack (www.dw.com)
Ukraine’s military says its forces have destroyed a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber used to attack Ukrainian cities. This comes as Russian missile strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region are reported to have killed eight people....