A patrol boat operated by soldiers of the Guyanese Defense Force and officers of the Guyanese Police Force reportedly came under fire today from the Venezuelan-side of the Cuyuni River in the Essequibo Region, while escorting a boat containing election officials and polling supplies for Guyana’s Presidential Election on September 1st. “The patrol immediately returned fire and successfully maneuvered the escort team out of danger. No injuries were sustained by any personnel, and no election materials were damaged or compromised,” according to a joint-statement from the Defense Ministry and Police Service.

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The U.S. government has updated the chart of ships off the Venezuelan coast. There are now 8 surface vessels and 1 nuclear submarine.

The Israeli government is weighing the annexation of parts of the West Bank in response to the expected recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries, including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, according to Israeli, U.S., and European officials who spoke with Axios. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have reportedly warned European counterparts that Israel could move forward with annexation if recognition proceeds. Dermer is said to have told French officials that Israel would annex all of “Area C,” which makes up about 60% of the West Bank. Such a step would likely trigger international backlash and deepen Israel’s isolation—even among close allies. U.S. President Donald J. Trump is not expected to support the move; during his first term, he blocked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice from pursuing annexation.

Palestinian sources in Gaza claim that after Al Jazeera amplified reports of four Israeli soldiers allegedly being kidnapped in the Zeitoun neighborhood, the coverage triggered a wave of speculation. The media attention reportedly prompted senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rashq to release a strong statement and reach out to Abu Ubayda to verify the story. According to these claims, Israel intercepted the call, located Abu Ubayda, and killed him. View quoted note →

The Israeli Air Force launched a series of strikes earlier today targeting underground Hezbollah military facilities near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that the site’s existence and activities represented a breach of prior agreements between Israel and Lebanon.

Trump’s “Gaza Riviera” Proposal President Trump has outlined a sweeping plan to remake Gaza, envisioning its transformation from a war-torn territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East”—complete with resorts, smart cities, and a high-tech economy. Under the proposal, the United States would administer Gaza for at least a decade, direct reconstruction efforts, and implement a population strategy aimed at relocating Palestinians abroad. 1. U.S. Administrative Control • Duration: 10–15 years of U.S. trusteeship. • Responsibilities: Oversee the removal of 50 million+ tons of rubble, disposal of unexploded ordnance, and cleanup of environmental hazards. • Authority: Trump initially said the U.S. would “own Gaza,” though aides later clarified there would be no commitment of American troops or direct funding. 2. Palestinian Relocation • Mechanism: Financial incentives offered to Palestinians to “voluntarily” relocate to Egypt, Jordan, or other regions such as Libya, Sudan, Syria, or Somalia’s Puntland/Somaliland. • Permanence: Trump at first described relocation as permanent, ruling out return, but aides later softened this to “temporary.” • Destinations: Trump floated the creation of “six safe communities” or a “beautiful new land,” though Egypt and Jordan have publicly rejected hosting displaced Palestinians. 3. Redevelopment Plan • Economic Vision: Develop resorts, harbors, an airport, and high-tech industries. • Infrastructure: Rebuild Gaza’s devastated water, sanitation, and agriculture systems, while assessing tunnel damage left by Hamas. • Timeline: 10–15 years, possibly 25 given the destruction (with 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and half its infrastructure destroyed). • Population: Trump has alternated between suggesting Gaza would welcome “the world’s people” and asserting Palestinians would not return. 4. Security and Governance • Hamas Factor: Assumes Hamas has been eliminated, but offers no clear strategy for ensuring long-term security. • Military Role: Trump initially raised the idea of U.S. troops “if necessary,” then walked it back. Security arrangements remain undefined. • Humanitarian Framing: Trump argues Palestinians live in “hell” and would benefit from relocation to “safe, beautiful communities.” • Economic Pitch: He promises “unlimited jobs and housing,” portraying Gaza’s coast as a future global destination.

IDF: The Hamas Spoksman Obu Obeida has been confirmed ELIMINATED ❌ View quoted note →

According to Axios, senior White House officials believe that while some European leaders are publicly backing President Trump’s push to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they are privately working to undercut progress made since the Alaska Summit. Two weeks after President Donald J. Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, tangible steps toward peace remain limited. Frustrated aides argue that responsibility lies not with Trump — or even Putin — but with Europe’s unwillingness to fully commit. Washington is pressing European allies to adopt far tougher measures, including a total halt to Russian oil and gas imports and the imposition of secondary tariffs on India and China, mirroring penalties the U.S. has already placed on New Delhi.

NBC News reports that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shocked senior officials at the CIA last week — including Director John Ratcliffe — by publicly revealing the identity of an undercover officer. The disclosure came as part of a list of 37 current and former CIA personnel whose security clearances she announced would be revoked, citing allegations that they had “violated the trust placed in them by weaponizing, politicizing, manipulating, or leaking classified intelligence.” According to two former government officials, the move appeared driven by Gabbard’s effort to regain President Trump’s confidence, after falling out of favor earlier this year following her testimony and video release about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. One official noted that Gabbard seemed intent on proving her loyalty by targeting Democrats and perceived political adversaries — including individuals allegedly inside the CIA. The security clearance purge, the official added, underscored “a battle between Gabbard and Ratcliffe.”