Despite reports of a ceasefire brokered by the Syrian government in Damascus last night, intense fighting continues between Druze-majority militias and Bedouin and tribal forces in and around Suwayda, southern Syria. Units from the Syrian Defense and Interior Ministries have been deployed along the governorate’s borders but have so far refrained from intervening or enforcing the truce—reportedly due to fears of additional Israeli airstrikes.

🚨Brazil 🇧🇷/USA 🇺🇸: Lula expresses support for Supreme Court justices sanctioned by the U.S. “My solidarity and support go to the justices of the Federal Supreme Court affected by yet another arbitrary and completely unfounded measure by the United States government. Interference by one country in the justice system of another is unacceptable and violates the basic principles of respect and sovereignty among nations. I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from whoever it may be, will compromise the most important mission of our national powers and institutions, which is to act constantly in the defense and preservation of the Democratic Rule of Law,” stated Lula.

Following a Truth Social post by U.S. President Trump, in which he said he had instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all relevant grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case—pending court approval—and declared, “This SCAM, perpetrated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”—Bondi has announced that the Department of Justice will file a motion in court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts, in accordance with the President’s directive.

Barak Ravid: After Trump calls Netanyahu, Israel says deadly Gaza church strike was a mistake. “A U.S. official told me that Trump was upset when he heard about the attack on the church, asked his team why Israel did it, and wanted to get Netanyahu on the phone right away On that call, Trump asked Netanyahu for clarification. When Netanyahu said it had been a mistake, Trump demanded he put out a statement to that effect, the official said. Soon thereafter, he did”

The U.S. State Department has announced the end of the ordered departure for diplomats and personnel stationed in Iraq. This includes staff at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the Consulate General in Erbil, who were instructed to evacuate last month amid heightened tensions with Iran.

On the eighth day of Taiwan’s ongoing “Han Kuang Exercises,” Marines from the 66th Marine Brigade simulated a defense of Songshan Airport in Taipei against a helicopter-borne assault by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Armed with FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles and FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, the brigade conducted joint operations alongside units from the Air Force, Marine Corps, Military Police, airport security, and Taipei Police to reinforce the capital’s key infrastructure.

U.S. President Trump has repeatedly dismissed the Jeffrey Epstein Files as a “major hoax” orchestrated by the Democrats, specifically naming former FBI Directors James Comey and Christopher Wray. He also criticized Republicans and others who accept the files as legitimate, calling them “stupid” and accusing them of unknowingly advancing the Democratic agenda.

Palestinian sources allege that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the current military commander of Hamas’s Qassam Brigades, has undergone cosmetic surgery to evade identification.

🇺🇸 USA: “The days of unfair trade practices are over. Thanks to President Trump, this administration is extremely focused on securing the best trade deals for the American people. The market is looking ahead and clearly understands that these deals will benefit both the United States and the global economy,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Druze activists in Suwayda clarified that a video circulating today on X and other social media platforms—shared by both Druze and Israeli accounts and alleged to show a massacre of civilians by government forces inside Suwayda National Hospital—does not depict a massacre. Instead, it shows a collection point for Druze fighters who were killed in recent clashes with the Syrian Army.