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US President Donald Trump has denied claims that he urged Ukraine to attack Moscow, saying, “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.”

The comments follow reports that Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a July 4 call if Ukraine could strike Russian cities. Trump dismissed the claims, saying he wants to stop the war, not escalate it. His spokesperson said he was “just asking a question”, according to Firstpost.

Trump ruled out sending long-range missiles to Ukraine but warned Russia to agree to a ceasefire within 50 days or face heavy sanctions and tariffs.

He called the war “a Biden war” and said his focus is on ending the conflict. Speaking alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump confirmed new US-made weapons will go to NATO allies, not directly to Ukraine, according to Firstpost.

Slovakia has blocked the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, delaying efforts to step up pressure over the war in Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking in Brussels—the seat of EU leadership—said the European Commission had addressed Slovakia’s concerns, but the country still withheld support. She stressed the need for tougher sanctions as Russia intensifies its attacks and reportedly uses banned weapons, according to Firstpost.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the latest proposal, criticising the plan to phase out Russian gas by 2028 as “imbecile.” He insisted Slovakia must keep its current contract with Russia until 2034 but signaled openness to further talks.

The Trump administration has launched a trade investigation into Brazil, accusing it of unfair policies targeting US businesses. The probe will examine digital trade restrictions, preferential tariffs, and weak enforcement of intellectual property rights, according to Firstpost.

US President Trump also criticized Brazil’s prosecution of former leader Jair Bolsonaro, calling it a “witch hunt,” and announced a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports starting August 1. Brazil’s President Lula has pledged to match any US tariff hikes.

Last year, US–Brazil trade hit $90bn, with Washington reporting a $7.4bn surplus.

Israel has bombed Syrian forces near Suweida, saying they posed a threat to local Druze communities after days of sectarian violence. Over 200 people have been killed in clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, reportedly triggered by the abduction of a Druze merchant, according to BBC.

Isareli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes aimed to prevent attacks on the Druze, who share deep ties with communities in Israel. Syria condemned the strikes, blaming Israel for civilian and military deaths.

A ceasefire was announced Tuesday after Syrian forces entered Suweida for the first time since Assad’s fall. But rights groups accused them of executing civilians and looting homes. Locals described the situation as “catastrophic,” with many fleeing despite a curfew, BBC reported.

The UK has quietly relocated 4,500 Afghans after a major data breach exposed nearly 19,000 people at risk under Taliban rule. The leak, caused by a UK Ministry of Defence official mistakenly emailing a sensitive spreadsheet in 2022, revealed names and contact details, according to BBC.

The government learned of the breach in 2023 when some details surfaced on Facebook but kept it hidden under a court gag order—lifted only this week by a High Court judge.

In response, a secret scheme called the Afghan Relocation Route was set up, costing over £400m so far. While the scheme is now closing, relocation offers already made will still be honoured.

Defence Secretary John Healey apologised in Parliament, calling it a serious error. The people affected were only informed this week. Some 600 Afghan soldiers and 1,800 family members are still waiting in Afghanistan, BBC reported.

Russia has described US President Donald Trump’s recent comments as “serious” after he announced new arms deliveries to Ukraine and threatened sanctions on countries buying Russian exports, Firstpost reported.

Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said he still wants to be a mediator.

Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said some of the remarks were aimed directly at Putin and require careful review. He added that decisions from the United States and its allies are seen by Ukraine as encouragement to continue the war, according to Firstpost.

Russia reaffirmed its readiness for direct talks and said it is still waiting for Ukraine to respond.

Israel has struck Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and Syria’s Suwayda, amid continued bombardment of Gaza that killed at least 78 more Palestinians in a day. Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 58,000 have died since the war began.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers torched Palestinian land and vehicles in Burqa, just hours after diplomats and church leaders met in nearby Taybeh calling for peace, Al Jazeera reported.

The war follows the October 7 attacks, which killed 1,139 people in Israel and saw over 200 taken captive.

Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will invest hundreds of billions of dollars to build massive AI data centres in the US, aiming to develop advanced “superintelligence.”

The first centre, Prometheus, will open in Ohio by 2026. Another, Hyperion, will be built in Louisiana and fully operational by 2030. Some centres will span areas nearly the size of Manhattan, according to BBC.

Experts say Meta is positioning itself at the forefront of AI by combining top talent with powerful hardware.

The announcement lifted Meta’s shares by 1 percent. However, concerns remain over the high energy and water demands of AI infrastructure, BBC reported.