Abdirashid Ali Sheik

Ukrainian drone interceptors are now being used in the Middle East to help take down Iranian drones, President Zelenskyy confirmed this week, as Kyiv expands its military cooperation with Gulf allies. But Ukrainian sources tell CBS News that their military advisers have not yet been invited onto U.S. military bases in the region, @aidan_stretch reports.

President Trump said that U.S. military vessels near Iran are being prepared and reloaded with ammunition in case the peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, fail. abcnews.link/adfeCdO

Trump looms large over Republican congressional primaries trib.al/kEPFurs

UK's Starmer and Trump discussed military options for Strait of Hormuz reut.rs/3OjPtBT reut.rs/3OjPtBT

Today marks 47 years since the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, a cornerstone of U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific. The TRA affirms America’s commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It makes clear that the United States will provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities and maintain the capacity to resist coercion. Together with the Six Assurances, this longstanding framework has helped safeguard Taiwan’s democracy, deter aggression, and reinforce one of America’s most important partnerships. taiwannews.com.tw/news/6337997

📍 Iranian and US delegations will come together for peace talks in Islamabad on Saturday US delegation: • JD Vance • Steve Witkoff • Jared Kushner • Brad Cooper Iranian delegation (Based on media reports): • Abbas Araghchi • Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf • Majid Takht Ravanchi • Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr 🔗 v.aa.com.tr/3901226

The five big sticking points in US-Iran talks bbc.in/3Q1Fy4y

BREAKING: US President Donald Trump says that US warships are being reloaded with weaponry to strike Iran if talks in Pakistan fail to produce a deal, in an interview with the New York Post. “We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made... And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively,” the Post quotes Trump as saying.

Iran is heading into negotiations with the U.S. in a triumphant mood, having tested the limits of American power and emerging from the war in control of the Strait of Hormuz. The question now is will Iranian leaders overplay this critical lever? on.wsj.com/4vrPGUw

Today, a decisive meeting was held in Cairo between Hamas and the CEO of the Peace Council, Nikolai Mladenov, regarding the issue of disarming armed groups in Gaza. ▪ Hamas reportedly entered the meeting with a document outlining its demands and red lines in the negotiations. ▪ The content of the document has now surfaced and was published this evening: “Hamas’ demilitarization document presented to the UN Security Council Secretary-General conditions the disarmament of the Strip on the end of the occupation, rejects any linkage between Gaza’s reconstruction and demilitarization, and calls for preserving the organization’s security framework.” @eliorlevy

Breaking News: Officials released new drawings and plans for the 250-foot triumphal arch that President Trump wants to build in Washington. nyti.ms/4cjQjH1

Somaliland’s top diplomat in Washington says formal US recognition would deliver immediate strategic gains for American forces in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Somaliland Diplomat: Recognition Is US Strategic Imperative military.com/feature/2026/0…

Vance will lead Iran peace talks. Here are his biggest moments as VP trib.al/96Vsgso

China cozies up to Somalia's government while ignoring Somaliland- just because Somaliland is independent and doesn’t bow to China’s pressure. Video from @KoriaSato (We sometimes post tweets  regarding #Somaliland, because Somaliland has recognized  #Taiwan.)

The high-stakes diplomacy that led to Pakistan hosting US-Iran peace talks bbc.in/4cBeFNC

Trump can't quit NATO alone. But he can hurt it. trib.al/kAM21AK

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians in the United States, preserving protections that allow thousands to live and work legally. The decision reaffirms a core principle that immigration decisions must follow the law and be based on evidence, not outcomes decided in advance without proper review. Ethiopia continues to face serious instability, and TPS remains a vital humanitarian safeguard. Ethiopians who have built their lives here deserve the opportunity to live and work in safety and dignity. usnews.com/news/politics/…

Somaliland News: Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland. This move aims to secure safety and energy supply via the Bab-el-Mandeb area. Places in News 2026 for UPSC Exam: Important Locations & Facts - goo.gl/alerts/iFerGE #GoogleAlerts

East Africa's Djibouti is set to vote for a president on Friday, with incumbent Ismael Omar Guelleh expected to extend his 27-year rule after parliament removed age limits that would have barred him from standing again. reuters.com/world/africa/d…

Al Shabaab militants are using at least nine companies to import drones, VHF radios, military camouflage and other terror-related cargo from China through Kenya. Security sources on Thursday said the militia uses the cargo companies’ employees to ship the consignments to Dhobley in Somalia and finally to Buale, Jilib, the de facto capital of the Islamic Emirate of Somalia controlled by the terror group. standardmedia.co.ke/national/artic…