🇮🇱❌🇵🇸 — Israel is advancing the controversial E1 settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, inviting bids for more than 1,200 housing units near Jerusalem.

The project would connect East Jerusalem with existing Israeli settlements while effectively dividing the West Bank between north and south, which would further undermine the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state.

Leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and Belgium released a statement condemning the plan, calling it "unacceptable."

Israel maintains that Jews have the right to live in the area.

💵 🇺🇸 🌐 Foreign holdings of US Treasuries dropped -$72 billion in June, to $9.30 trillion, to the lowest level since January.

This marks the 3rd monthly decline over the last 4 months, totaling -$190 billion.

Japan, the largest foreign holder, reduced its holdings by -$26 billion in June, to $1.12 trillion, the lowest since January 2025.

The UK, the 2nd-largest holder, cut its holdings by -$9 billion, to $940 billion, the 2nd-largest on record.

China, the 3rd-largest holder, trimmed its holdings by -$26 billion, to $633 billion, the lowest since September 2008.

Meanwhile, foreign official holders, such as central banks and government entities, reduced their Treasury holdings by -$70 billion in June, to $3.78 trillion, the lowest since February 2024.

Foreign demand for US Treasuries is losing momentum.

📎 KobeissiLetter

🇺🇸 Pentagon officials considering firing longtime Stars and Stripes publisher for reporting on the dismal living conditions aboard the Lincoln

Max Lederer, who has served as the publisher of Stars and Stripes for 19 years, this week announced to colleagues his decision to retire on Sept. 30, citing fundamental differences with the Trump administration. Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin has spoken publicly, including to CBS News, about disagreements with Pentagon leaders.

It was unclear when a decision on the news outlet's leadership would be made. Spokespeople for the Defense Department didn't immediately comment.

About $15 million of Stars and Stripes' funding comes from tax dollars, roughly half of its $29 million annual budget, a person familiar with newspaper operations said, but the paper has long prided itself on editorial independence from the public affairs apparatus at the Pentagon. The remaining funding is derived from revenue through subscriptions and advertisements.

Stars and Stripes was one of the first news outlets to report on the dismal living conditions U.S. sailors endured aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The ombudsman for Stars and Stripes was fired in April, days after writing an opinion column in the newspaper where she criticized what she described as restrictions placed on wire copy and syndicated material. Jacqueline Smith sued the Pentagon in June alleging that her termination was retaliatory and violated her First Amendment rights. 

🔗 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-considers-firing-stars-stripes-publisher/

🇮🇱⚔️🇹🇷 Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian Abu al-Duhur airbase:

We will not tolerate a Turkish military entrenchment/buildup in Syria that threatens Israel.

We clarified the message clearly: Don’t.

Apparently they didn’t hear it well enough, so we made sure they understand it better.

🔗 Benjamin Netanyahu

🇹🇷⚔️🇮🇱 Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications:

Israel's election campaign has fallen under the sway of an irresponsible security-focused populism and a threat politics that is growing ever harsher.

The Netanyahu administration's effort to construct Türkiye as a new figure of threat is part and parcel of this cheap politics.

This threat politics and escalation of tensions, pursued for the sake of domestic political rivalry, carries serious risks—not only for Israeli society, but also for regional and global peace and stability.

Türkiye, as yesterday, stands today as well on the side of the oppressed against the oppressor; come what may, it will steadfastly continue to defend peace, justice, and stability in our region.

🔗 Clash Report

🇸🇦🇾🇪🇾🇪 Saudi Arabia has a tough choice to make: accept the demands of the Houthis and lift the economic blockade or continue escalating the conflict and risk its oil infrastructure come under repeated attacks

The truce had held until last month when KSA tried to prevent an Iranian commercial aircraft from picking up a Houthi delegation planning to attend the funeral of Ali Khamenei. In response for the Saudi airspace violations and bombing of the Sanaa airport, Ansarallah declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports, attacked Saudi tankers and launched missiles and drones at its oil infrastructure.

That has left Riyadh weighing tough choices: whether it should escalate against the rebels, risking more Houthi assaults on its oil facilities, or push for a new truce.

Either option would prove costly to the kingdom. Before the ceasefire, the Houthis fired regular missile and drone barrages into Saudi Arabia, undermining Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s push to promote tourism, finance and trade.

The Houthis — whom Riyadh believes are being encouraged by Tehran — are now threatening to close the Bab al-Mandeb, which has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports since Iran throttled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Its closure would deal another blow to US President Donald Trump’s efforts to ease global energy prices.

But meeting the Houthis’ conditions would also come at a huge price, with the rebels demanding that Saudi Arabia pay salaries in areas it controls, give them access to oil revenues from Yemeni government-controlled areas and pay compensation.

The Houthis also want Riyadh to allow them to use airports in their northern strongholds, as well as the free flow of shipping to rebel-controlled ports. Saudi Arabia fears this would lead to Iran increasing military support to the rebels.

As a result, observers expect Riyadh to mobilise the Yemeni factions it backs to take the fight to the Houthis, in a bid to pressure them back to the negotiating table on more favourable terms.

That perception, analysts say, has caused the Houthis to launch a pre-emptive offensive on Mocha and other regions, including Marib and Hadhramaut, frontline provinces home to Yemen’s oil resources.

🔗 https://archive.ph/imXD0

🤖 Opinions of AI are much more positive in Asian countries where the technology is being described as a public utility made available open-source.

In the U.S. views are dismal as also seen in data center backlash and its no wonder as the main message is that AI will be used as a tool to eliminate jobs and consolidate power within a small circle of oligarch-run companies whose leaders seem to hate and fear the general public.

🔗 Murtaza Hussein

🇺🇸🗳 Pete Buttigieg, Jon Ossoff and Gavin Newsom would win the U.S. presidential elections when pitted against JD Vance and Marco Rubio according to an election poll

The Trump Admin and the GOP's wider unpopularity among Americans and especially their supporters after failing to deliver on almost all the campaign promises made in 2024 is harming the presidential prospects of Trump's closest aides.

According to the poll, the only candidate Vance and Rubio could defeat is Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, while Rubio would also defeat Kamala Harris.

@CIG_telegram

📢 🇺🇸 🗳 Trump says Democrats will impeach him, and they don't know why, if the GOP loses the midterms.

📎 Disclosetv