Trump Readies, Then Cancels Houthi Strikes As Saudis Plea for Intervention

The US president ordered the Pentagon to prepare attacks on Houthi targets after a direct appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but reversed course quickly.

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A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to UKMTO.

Two crew members suffered minor injuries, but the vessel continued under its own power.

Kremlin:

Russia has no disputes with European countries that could become a source of conflict.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration after the White House revoked their press access, arguing the move violates the First Amendment.

The outlets said they were targeted because of their reporting, while Trump defended the ban by saying he did not have to allow outlets that publish “negative stories” into the White House.

Source: CNN

Trump:

The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.

It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW! Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Trump:

Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine. A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission.

This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended. The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame!

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

It is a dramatic and unprecedented result for the CDU in Germany that we were unable to clear the 5% threshold and that an entire parliamentary group has been thrown out of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament.

We were just 1,000 votes short of returning to the state parliament.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

The election results and the reasons for these results go far beyond my own person.

We are experiencing a profound transformation of the political party system in Germany, as we are in many other countries around the world.

In yesterday’s election here in Berlin, for example, more than 40% voted for forces that are destructive, that call our political and parliamentary system into question, and that try to inspire people with radical and simple solutions.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We will talk about the work and structure of the party, about our program and about the profile of the CDU.

To put it openly: on too many questions, we no longer have satisfactory answers, and we will change that — we have to change that.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

In Germany, with Konrad Adenauer, we left nationalism behind us.

We will ensure that this remains the case in the future.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Especially here in Berlin, Jewish life in Germany is no longer safe.

That is the gravest burden of recent years, and it is something that must deeply concern all democratic parties in Germany.

I personally stand for doing everything possible to ensure that Jewish life in Germany, and here in the capital Berlin, is safe.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Colleagues in the European Union and many investors have been asking me for weeks: "What is actually going on in Germany?"

What worries me most of all is that, not only in Berlin but especially in Berlin, for several months we have been experiencing increasing, radical and openly expressed antisemitism.

David Milstein, a senior adviser to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee who holds a top-secret security clearance, solicited cash wedding gifts from Israeli citizens, asking for payments in U.S. dollars or Israeli shekels.

After being questioned, Milstein said the message had been sent to the broader guest list by mistake and told invitees: “Please know we cannot accept gifts of any kind.”

The episode raised counterintelligence concerns. One intelligence official called Milstein “a giant walking counterintelligence red flag” and said the solicitation was “absolutely jaw dropping.”

Milstein has not been accused of a crime or of improperly accessing intelligence.

Source: POLITICO

IRGC published a video of what it claims is the moment an MQ-1 U.S. military drone was intercepted and destroyed this morning.

IRGC Spokesperson:

Our targets will no longer necessarily be the previous targets; we actually have new targets that have not yet been attacked, and in the event of an aggression, we will indeed strike these new targets.

IRGC Spokesperson:

Geographically, there is still room for this war to expand.

German state premiers held a secret meeting without Chancellor Friedrich Merz that lasted more than two hours, nearly until 11 p.m.

According to Stern, tensions had already erupted earlier at CDU headquarters, with several premiers strongly opposing Merz’s push for tougher reforms and warning that public resistance could not be ignored.

The CDU leadership meets again today, followed by the federal executive board and the parliamentary group tomorrow.

Source: Stern

Bessent on China:

Trump and Xi Jinping both have great respect for each other.

In Xi Jinping’s eyes, Donald Trump is a different kind of leader than he has seen in the past.

The entire White House TV pool — including Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC — is backing CNN after the White House prevented it from carrying out its assigned pool duties.

The networks will stop covering events designated as presidential pool coverage, including Trump’s trip to New York, limiting live coverage of several events.

Trump banned CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House after aide Natalie Harp showed him clips and articles about recent negative coverage.

The decision reportedly surprised some advisers. Trump later said there was “no reason” beyond not wanting the outlets there and suggested access could return if they “straighten themselves out.”

Source: CNN