Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear and missile sites with explosions heard across Tehran

“The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed, Iranian state television reported, in a major body blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of the nations’ long-simmering conflict. An anchor read a statement saying: “The news of assassination and martyrdom of Gen. Hossein Salami was confirmed,” but did not elaborate. Another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead.

Israeli leaders said the attack was necessary to head off what they described as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, and they warned of a reprisal that could target civilians in Israel.”

““We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement released by the White House that warned Iran against targeting U.S. interests or personnel.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/explosions-ring-across-iran-capital-001346234.html

Denmark to drop ‘frugal’ stance on EU budget to counter threat from Russia

“Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday she is ready to abandon her country’s traditionally thrifty stance on the EU budget in the face of the threat posed by Russia.

“For me, the most important thing is to rearm Europe,” Frederiksen said. “That’s my starting point and that’s my conclusion in all discussions, because if Europe is not able to protect ourselves and to defend ourselves, then it’s game over at some point.”

Europe, she added, is “running out of time because of Russia’s behavior” and needs “a new profile on the budget.””

https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-to-drop-frugal-stance-on-eu-budget-says-pm-frederiksen/

EU frees up billions in Covid cash for defense spending

“The EU’s executive told member countries they can repurpose hundreds of billions of euros in Covid-19 relief money to fund defense projects, reflecting a radical shift in priorities since the days of the pandemic.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/change-spending-plans-or-risk-losing-billions-brussels-warns-eu-countries/

Stop Asking How To Make Putin Walk Away From Ukraine. It’s the Wrong Question.

“Putin will never abandon his ambition of conquering Ukraine, and convincing him to do so shouldn’t be the aim of Ukraine’s global supporters. Instead, the goal should be to make it impossible for Putin to fulfill that ambition. In simpler terms: You can’t make Putin walk away from Ukraine; you have to put Ukraine out of his reach.
Trump and some of his top aides do not seem to understand this about Putin.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/06/05/putin-trump-ukraine-war-obsession-column-00386261

China helps Russia pull ahead in lethal drone war race with Ukraine

“Russia is catching up to Ukraine in drone production thanks to greater financial resources, production lines far from the front lines and especially help from China, a senior Ukrainian official told POLITICO.

“Chinese manufacturers provide them with hardware, electronics, navigation, optical and telemetry systems, engines, microcircuits, processor modules, antenna field systems, control boards, navigation. They use so-called shell companies, change names, do everything to avoid being subject to export control and avoid sanctions for their activities,” said Oleh Aleksandrov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service. “Yet officially, China sticks to all the rules. Yet only officially.”

Beijing has repeatedly denied supplying any drones or weapons components to Russia, calling Ukrainian protests “baseless accusations and political manipulation.” But Aleksandrov said Russia has a critical dependency on the supply of Chinese spare parts for both tactical and long-range drones.”

“Pavlo Palisa, a former top military commander and now deputy head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, said in a statement that so far this year, 80 percent of the damage to Russia’s equipment and personnel has been done with drones. In May alone, Ukrainian drones destroyed 89,000 Russian targets.”

“Kyiv says that its access to new drones has been curtailed by China, while Beijing has placed no such restrictions on Russia.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/china-russia-lethal-drone-war-race-ukraine-war-invasion-manufacture-putin-tech/

Russian War Goals & Ukraine Peace Talks – The Strategic Balance, Talks & A New Offensive?

Russian War Goals & Ukraine Peace Talks – The Strategic Balance, Talks & A New Offensive?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AuhsYTavHg