The White House blocked CNN from traveling with Trump on Air Force One for a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, according to The Washington Post.

Source: WaPo

Trump:

Russia’s Perm oil refinery, one of the country’s largest, halted operations after a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire and damaged pipelines, storage facilities and processing units.

Source: Reuters

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis:

Even if you think that Türkiye is about to invade us, do you really think that this strategic alliance with Israel is going to help us militarily?

Do you think, do you ever, ever think that Israel is going to lift its little finger maybe against the Turkish air force if needs be? Under no circumstances.

So we are not gaining anything by siding with a genocidal state, but we're losing a lot because Greece's good name has been dragged through the mud in the United Nations General Assembly.

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis:

Let me share my vision for the next 10, 20 years. What I would like to see is a treaty between Greece and Türkiye whereby we commit to non-aggression between the countries, whereby we commit, as I said before, to not drilling the bottom of the sea anywhere, developing alongside with other countries in the region a peaceful agenda for renewable energy and joining forces to end apartheid and genocide in Palestine.

South Africa’s new ambassador to the U.S., Roelf Meyer, rejected claims of a “white genocide” against Afrikaners, saying the allegations do not reflect reality.

Meyer, a former apartheid-era National Party negotiator, said crime is a serious issue in South Africa but does not amount to a targeted campaign against white people.

The Trump administration has defended its Afrikaner refugee program, arguing that white South Africans face persecution.

Source: BBC

A bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged Trump to withdraw Putin’s invitation to the G20 summit in Miami, arguing that his participation would legitimize Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The senators said Putin is responsible for launching the full-scale invasion and that allowing him to attend while Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian civilians raises “serious concerns.”

The letter was led by Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrat Jeanne Shaheen (D), and was signed by both Republican and Democratic senators.

Source: WaPo

Peter Thiel:

I think we moralize way too much.

And there's always a question I like to ask: What is the antonym of good? The moral antonym is evil. The functional antonym is bad.

A Ferrari is an evil car because it doesn't get many miles per gallon. A Trabant is a bad car. It works. It's less good than a Golf car, you know, the former East German car.

So, you know, if you're evil, you're at least competent. And if you're evil, you're not bad, and therefore you're actually maybe kind of good because you're at least getting something done.

I think it's better to be good than evil.

Peter Thiel on Germany:

The rise of the AfD reflects these failures of the centrist parties. It reflects a failure to find an economic future for Germany that is somehow inclusive and broad and works for society as a whole.

I don't think they have great solutions. I don't think they know how to balance the budget — either the parties of the extreme left or the extreme right.

Peter Thiel on AfD:

I think there can be a reasonable debate about Ukraine, a reasonable debate about China, a reasonable debate about Israel.

And at the same time, somehow I do think the AfD is wrong on all three. And you can't be wrong on all three.

Bill Clinton:

Some days I can hardly believe what is happening in this country that I love so much.

The people in charge have created one set of rules for themselves and another set for everyone else. They've weaponized government to settle personal scores, prosecute enemies, stamp out free speech.

They've even made the federal government a new profit center for themselves and their allies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian:

There are no specific ongoing health issues or challenges for Mojtaba Khamenei. On the last occasion when we met for seven-plus hours, of course, we were not used to being in seated positions for that many hours.

We changed angles and positions. We crossed our legs and so on. But of course, he was healthy enough to be able to withstand those hours in that situation.

From a medical standpoint, he's completely healthy. Hear this from me as a physician and accept it: he has no issues.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian:

When did we ever say that we are seeking nuclear weapons? Developing nuclear weapons is haram from a standpoint of belief, not from a legal perspective.

Even if some individuals in Iran may have the incentive to develop nuclear weapons, religiously speaking, they are not allowed to pursue that path.

Peter Thiel:

I’m not saying Pope Leo was an agent of the Communists, but he was at least acting as a useful idiot for the CCP.

French Presidential Candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon:

Macron wants to send military assets to a theater of war in Saudi Arabia. What for? What would we do if we were attacked? In the end, even if we did not want it, we would become belligerents.

We must debate this in Parliament, as required by Article 35 of the Constitution. We will oppose it.

Trump:

The EU Council approved temporary trade-liberalization measures for Armenian products, allowing around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU to enter without import duties, including some agricultural goods.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said the move will diversify Armenia’s trade, expand access to the EU market and deepen economic cooperation. The preferential regime will apply for two years.

Armenia said it is the only country without EU candidate status or a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement to receive such benefits.

Source: Armenpress

📸 Pete Hegseth.

More than 45,000 students across Germany joined protests against plans for compulsory military service, with demonstrations held in over 100 cities.

The protests began after the Defense Ministry started calling 18-year-old men for medical screenings under a new military service law.

While the system remains voluntary, students argue the government is moving toward a gradual return of conscription.

French President Macron said he will leave office in 2027 due to term limits but did not rule out a future return to the presidency.

In an interview with Variety, Macron said the Constitution allows only two consecutive terms, meaning he will leave after his second term, but added: “I don’t exclude anything.”