Larry Lee
The Latest
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Ukraine Intensifies Attacks Inside Russia as Reuters Says Putin Is Preparing to Escalate Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly determined to intensify the war in Ukraine rather than pursue a ceasefire, according to Reuters, even as President Donald Trump expresses optimism that negotiations could bring the conflict closer to an end. The diverging assessments come as Ukraine expands long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory and both sides seek military advantages ahead of any potential diplomatic breakthrough. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly determined to intensify the war in Ukraine rather than pursue a ceasefire, according to Reuters, even as President Donald Trump expresses optimism that negotiations could bring the conflict closer to an end. The diverging assessments come as Ukraine expands long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory and both sides seek military advantages ahead of any potential diplomatic breakthrough. -
Russia Adapts to Ukraine's Deep Strikes With Electronic Warfare, Hidden Fuel Convoys and New Logistics Strategy
Russia is rapidly expanding electronic warfare capabilities and overhauling battlefield logistics to counter Ukraine's increasingly effective long-range drone campaign, according to Ukrainian military personnel interviewed by Reuters. The changes include deploying systems designed to disrupt SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, disguising military fuel shipments as civilian vehicles and restructuring supply convoys to reduce exposure to Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. 
Russia is rapidly expanding electronic warfare capabilities and overhauling battlefield logistics to counter Ukraine's increasingly effective long-range drone campaign, according to Ukrainian military personnel interviewed by Reuters. The changes include deploying systems designed to disrupt SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, disguising military fuel shipments as civilian vehicles and restructuring supply convoys to reduce exposure to Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. -
Ukraine Strikes Russia's Largest Oil Refinery as Zelensky Warns Putin: 'More Is Coming'
Ukraine said it struck Russia's largest oil refinery in Siberia, extending its long-range drone campaign more than 1,500 miles into Russian territory as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that even deeper attacks are planned. The strike on the Omsk refinery, one of Russia's most important energy facilities, comes as Kyiv intensifies efforts to target infrastructure it says helps finance Moscow's war while signaling that the reach of its domestically produced drones continues to expand. 
Ukraine said it struck Russia's largest oil refinery in Siberia, extending its long-range drone campaign more than 1,500 miles into Russian territory as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that even deeper attacks are planned. The strike on the Omsk refinery, one of Russia's most important energy facilities, comes as Kyiv intensifies efforts to target infrastructure it says helps finance Moscow's war while signaling that the reach of its domestically produced drones continues to expand. -
Saudi Arabia Weighs Expanding Red Sea Pipeline as Gulf States Move to Bypass Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia is exploring a major expansion of its oil export infrastructure to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters, as Gulf producers reassess their energy supply routes following heightened tensions with Iran. The discussions come as Tehran continues to assert greater control over the strategic waterway, prompting several regional exporters to accelerate plans aimed at bypassing one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. 
Saudi Arabia is exploring a major expansion of its oil export infrastructure to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters, as Gulf producers reassess their energy supply routes following heightened tensions with Iran. The discussions come as Tehran continues to assert greater control over the strategic waterway, prompting several regional exporters to accelerate plans aimed at bypassing one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. -
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Remains Absent as Funeral Draws Global Attention, Fueling Succession Questions
Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance since the state funeral for his father, Ali Khamenei, began on July 4, adding to uncertainty over the country's leadership transition as millions of mourners gather across Iran and officials cite security concerns for his continued absence. 
Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance since the state funeral for his father, Ali Khamenei, began on July 4, adding to uncertainty over the country's leadership transition as millions of mourners gather across Iran and officials cite security concerns for his continued absence. -
Russia Pounds Kyiv as Ukraine Fails to Intercept 23 Ballistic Missiles, Zelensky Urges More Patriot Systems
Ukraine's air defense network came under mounting pressure after a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault killed at least 12 people in the Kyiv region, highlighting Kyiv's growing shortage of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors as President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to NATO allies for additional military support ahead of this week's summit. Ukraine's air defense network came under mounting pressure after a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault killed at least 12 people in the Kyiv region, highlighting Kyiv's growing shortage of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors as President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to NATO allies for additional military support ahead of this week's summit. -
Tibetan Activist Dies After Self-Immolation Outside UN Headquarters in New York as China's New Ethnic Unity Law Sparks Global Concern
A Tibetan activist died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, an incident that has drawn renewed international attention to tensions surrounding China's governance of Tibet and the implementation of Beijing's new Ethnic Unity Law. While the New York Police Department has not officially identified the man or confirmed a motive, Tibetan exile organizations identified him as Lobga Rangzen and said the act was intended as a political protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. 
A Tibetan activist died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, an incident that has drawn renewed international attention to tensions surrounding China's governance of Tibet and the implementation of Beijing's new Ethnic Unity Law. While the New York Police Department has not officially identified the man or confirmed a motive, Tibetan exile organizations identified him as Lobga Rangzen and said the act was intended as a political protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. -
U.S. Presses Iran to Drop Strait of Hormuz Toll Plan as Nuclear Talks Face 60-Day Deadline
The Trump administration is pressing Iran to abandon a proposal to impose transit tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, viewing the issue as a critical test of whether ongoing nuclear negotiations can produce broader economic and security concessions before a 60-day deadline expires. 
The Trump administration is pressing Iran to abandon a proposal to impose transit tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, viewing the issue as a critical test of whether ongoing nuclear negotiations can produce broader economic and security concessions before a 60-day deadline expires. -
Russia Launches 74 Missiles and Nearly 500 Drones in Deadliest Attack of 2026 as War Death Toll Keeps Rising
Russia launched its largest aerial assault of 2026 against Ukraine, firing 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones in a barrage that killed at least 18 people, wounded dozens more and prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to cut short an overseas trip as Kyiv renewed urgent appeals for additional Western air-defense systems. 
Russia launched its largest aerial assault of 2026 against Ukraine, firing 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones in a barrage that killed at least 18 people, wounded dozens more and prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to cut short an overseas trip as Kyiv renewed urgent appeals for additional Western air-defense systems. -
UK's Keir Starmer to Apologize for Decades of Forced Adoptions After 185,000 Babies Were Taken From Unmarried Mothers
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver a formal state apology in Parliament on Thursday for one of the darkest chapters in modern British social policy, acknowledging the role successive governments played in a system that saw an estimated 185,000 babies taken from unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976. 
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver a formal state apology in Parliament on Thursday for one of the darkest chapters in modern British social policy, acknowledging the role successive governments played in a system that saw an estimated 185,000 babies taken from unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976.
