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Donald Trump said it is "ridiculous" for the US to maintain its "one-sided" relationship with NATO, days before the alliance's summit in Ankara.

This comes as Iran threatened a forceful response against ships using unapproved routes in the Strait of Hormuz, and as German prosecutors accused a former Ukrainian officer of a war crime over the Nord Stream blasts.

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1️⃣ 🇩🇪🇺🇦 Germany accuses Ukrainian officer of Nord Stream war crime: Prosecutors charged former Ukrainian army officer Serhii K at a Hamburg court over the 2022 Nord Stream blasts, accusing him of taking part in a war crime and acting on behalf of Ukrainian state authorities. He allegedly led a team of divers that planted military-grade explosives near Bornholm, a charge he denies, while Kyiv said it lacked enough information to respond in detail.

2️⃣ 🇮🇷 Iran threatens ships over unapproved Hormuz routes: Iran's military command warned that vessels departing from its designated route in the Strait of Hormuz will face an "immediate and forceful response," a day after Qatari mediators hailed positive progress in indirect US-Iranian talks. At least 49 attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded in the strait since the war began, with daily transits still far below pre-conflict levels.

3️⃣ 🇨🇳 China's ethnic unity law extends overseas reach: Beijing's Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress took effect, with Article 63 allowing legal action against organisations and individuals abroad deemed to undermine ethnic unity or create division. Amnesty International warned the provision could justify transnational repression, while Taiwan's president urged citizens to be cautious when travelling or living in China.

4️⃣ 🇰🇼 Kuwait seeks consortiums for $7bn pipeline stake: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation asked some asset managers bidding for a stake in its oil pipeline network to bring in other investors, with BlackRock's GIP, Brookfield, EIG, KKR and Apollo reportedly advancing to the next stage. A deal would see Kuwait join Saudi Arabia and the UAE in leasing pipeline infrastructure to international investors to raise funds.

5️⃣ 🇪🇺🇺🇸 Trump court win threatens €1.7tn EU-US data deal: European privacy regulators and activists are challenging the Data Privacy Framework after the US Supreme Court granted Trump the right to fire members of independent agencies, which they argue undermines the independent oversight the EU requires. Activist Max Schrems, whose challenges toppled two previous deals, said the basis for any EU-US data transfer agreement "is dead."

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Major Story

🇺🇸 Trump calls NATO support ridiculous

US President Donald Trump said it is "ridiculous" for the United States to continue its "one-sided" relationship with NATO, writing on Truth Social that the allies "were not there for us" and that the relationship "is not reciprocal."

The comments came less than a week before a NATO summit bringing together all 32 member states in Ankara on July 7 and 8.

Trump has repeatedly criticised European allies over their response to the war in Iran and insists Europe should take the lead role in its own defence, with Washington already moving to scale back commitments.

His post included a chart showing the United States investing vastly more in defence than the other member states depicted.

Under pressure from Trump, NATO leaders agreed last year to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇮🇪🇷🇺 Pressure mounts on Ireland over alumina sales to Russia: Dublin is weighing whether to allow EU sanctions on alumina after an investigation exposed ties between Aughinish Alumina, Europe's largest refinery, and Russian smelters owned by parent company Rusal, but says no decision will come until an internal probe concludes. Zelenskyy called for the trade to stop, saying every tonne of raw materials reaching Russia is used against Ukraine.

2️⃣ 🇸🇾 Bomb blast strikes cafe in central Damascus: An explosive device planted inside a crowded cafe 100 metres from the Palace of Justice left at least nine people deceased and 22 injured, the most severe bombing in the capital since a church attack in June 2025. No group claimed responsibility, and the city's governor vowed those responsible would be punished as interim authorities struggle to restore security.

3️⃣ 🇨🇳 Beijing says pilot crashed into skyscraper deliberately: Authorities concluded the pilot who flew a small plane into the 109-storey CITIC Tower, Beijing's tallest building, acted for "personal reasons," saying the 66-year-old was deceased at the scene with 13 others injured. Videos of the crash were scrubbed from the Chinese internet, and at least three aviation firms said they were told to suspend light aircraft operations.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸🇨🇳 Man self-immolates outside UN in Tibet protest: A 52-year-old man holding a Tibetan flag set himself on fire opposite the UN headquarters in New York in an apparent protest against Chinese rule over Tibet, and was later pronounced deceased at hospital. Named by Tibet's government-in-exile as Lobga Rangzen, he had accused Beijing of policies aimed at destroying Tibetan identity, after China's ethnic unity law took effect.

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