Ukrainian drones ignite blaze at Russia’s Saratov Oil Refinery, locals report – The Kyiv Independent

  1. Ukrainian drones ignite blaze at Russia's Saratov Oil Refinery, locals report  The Kyiv Independent
  2. Russia’s Key Black Sea Port Hit in Overnight Drone Attack  Bloomberg.com
  3. Russia says Ukrainian drone attack killed four in Novorossiysk  Reuters
  4. Ukraine, Russia trade drone strikes, killing 6  DW.com
  5. Defense Forces strike oil terminal, warships and Kalibr launchers in Novorossiysk  Ukrinform
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Military and intelligence officials discuss smaller presence in the Middle East as US looks for another post-9/11 strategy – CNN

  1. Military and intelligence officials discuss smaller presence in the Middle East as US looks for another post-9/11 strategy  CNN
  2. US Plans To Shrink Middle East Military Footprint After Iran War: Report  NDTV
  3. Iran’s drones prompt a rethink of major US bases in Mideast  stripes.com
  4. The Post-U.S. Middle East Is Beginning to Take Shape  Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
  5. US hubris has led to a Middle East quagmire  Arab News
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Canada’s retaliatory US tariffs take effect as trade dispute grows

Counter-measures covering several sectors come after Trump announced 50% tariffs on Canadian goods

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of American imports have come into effect, escalating a trade fight that has been marked by intensifying tensions between US president Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney.

The tariffs took effect at 12.01am on Tuesday, and range from 15% to 50% and apply to products covering $20bn in imports from the US. The measures target sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics – industries that have been most affected by US tariffs.

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Majority of Tory and Reform voters do not back cuts to disability benefits, survey finds

Nearly half of respondents say spending on personal independence payments should be increased

There is little appetite for cuts to disability benefits even among Conservative and Reform voters, and proposals to reduce spending could prove politically risky, according to an authoritative national survey.

The British Social Attitudes (BSA) report found that while support for welfare spending as a whole had dipped sharply in recent years, just 7% of respondents backed cuts to disability benefits – and 49% said they should be increased.

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NSW Greens MP pleads with federal colleagues not to back National party motion to block koala park deal

Federal Greens partyroom split over plan for NSW to get millions of dollars’ worth in carbon credits for creating a koala national park

A New South Wales Greens MP has pleaded with her federal colleagues not to vote with the Coalition and One Nation to block a plan for the NSW government to get millions of dollars’ worth in carbon credits for creating a koala national park.

Sue Higginson, a former lawyer and forest campaigner turned NSW upper house MP, is the first member of the minor party to speak in detail about a dispute that has split the Greens and environmentalists.

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Israeli airstrikes on a village in southern Lebanon kill 12 people, including 2 children – Politico

  1. Israeli airstrikes on a village in southern Lebanon kill 12 people, including 2 children  Politico
  2. Israel-Hezbollah clashes kill 11 as Mideast conflict escalation gathers pace after U.S.-Iran strikes  CNBC
  3. Israel Launches Deadly Strikes in Lebanon as Military Campaign Intensifies  The New York Times
  4. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanese town kill 12 as fears of escalation mount  Reuters
  5. Israeli airstrikes on a village in southern Lebanon kill 9 people, wound 13  NBC News
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