White House Denies Report China Seeking Spy Base In Cuba, But Menendez Demands Answers

"China is seeking to establish a spy base in Cuba in order to better eavesdrop on the United
States, in an alleged plot which is reminiscent of Cold War intelligence maneuvering among great powers.

Beijing is reportedly in direct talks with the Cuban government, with The Wall Street Journal being the first to report Thursday that the two had reached a "secret agreement" to establish the base. However, hours later in a press briefing White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby rejected the report as inaccurate." ZH

Ukraine accuses Russia of shelling rescuers amid dam evacuations

 "Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of shelling Ukrainian emergency workers who are
trying to rescue people from floodwaters caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam." AlJazeera

Russia says ammonia pipeline blast may end grain deal

"Moscow has accused Ukrainian "sabotage" groups for the blast that damaged the Togliatti-
Odesa pipeline on Monday.

And the Kremlin says it will not renew last year's grain export deal with Kyiv unless the pipeline is operational." BBC

Saudi Arabia condemns armed attack on embassy

"Saudi Arabia has condemned an attack on its embassy in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, where a
power struggle has raged since April 15, killing hundreds and causing a mass exodus. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that armed groups had stormed and vandalized its building in the conflict-torn city and also destroyed the property and housing of Saudi employees." RT

U.S. Issues Air Quality Warnings, Restrict Flights Over Smoke from Canada Fires

"U.S. agencies warned the public to avoid inhaling smoke from Canadian wildfires, which
also disrupted travel.....“Everyone should stay indoors as much as possible, especially sensitive groups such as children, elderly, pregnant women and people with heart and lung conditions like asthma and bronchitis,” the department continued.....Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, said the fires have burned about 9.4 million acres of forest. The fires have caused at least 26,000 people in Canada to be evacuated." Breitbart

Ukraine's Military Says Counteroffensive Has Begun, Intensified Fighting Confirmed

"Ukraine's forces have finally launched their long-awaited counteroffensive.

The servicemembers said this "crucial phase" in the war has now begun with fresh, intensified attacks in the southeast, coming also as severe flooding from the Kakhovka dam explosion continues to unfold. David Ignatius is calling it Ukraine's "D-Day" - but it's too early to tell if any actual gains have been made and sustained, amid the usual conflicting battlefield claims. Russia's military has said it is crushing the Ukrainian campaign." ZeroHedge