Turkey's political tensions rise as Erdoğan's rival is jailed; Europe faces military and environmental challenges.

Good Morning,

Turkey is moving closer to autocracy as President Erdoğan's main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been jailed pending trial. Meanwhile, researchers have been hindered in their investigations into alleged Russian war crimes due to funding cuts from the previous U.S. administration. In Europe, Germany is making a significant investment in its military, reflecting a pivotal moment for the continent's defense strategy. At the same time, proposed planning reforms in the UK are raising concerns about potential job losses for thousands of ecologists.

Top Stories

• Turkey lurches toward outright autocracy as Erdoğan’s main rival is jailed (www.politico.eu)

• Researchers have lost access to evidence of alleged Russian war crimes following Trump admin funding cut (cnn.com)

• Germany is unlocking billions to supercharge its military at a seismic moment for Europe (www.cnn.com)

• UK Planning reforms to threaten thousands of ecologists’ jobs, warns sector (www.ft.com)

• China Is Ready to Blockade Taiwan. Here’s How. (www.wsj.com)

• Musk suspends accounts of Türkiye opposition candidates in X (www.politico.eu)

• Venezuela minister says no Tren de Aragua members among US deportees (www.reuters.com)

• Canada's prime minister and his opponent kick off election saying Trump must respect sovereignty (apnews.com)

United States

• Greenland officials express fury over Trump's plan to send a delegation. (www.nytimes.com)

• Gavin Newsom spent years fighting for progressive positions he now bashes on his new podcast (cnn.com)

• Why Did Elon Musk Go After Bunkers Full of Seeds? (www.nytimes.com)

• Researchers have lost access to evidence of alleged Russian war crimes following Trump admin funding cut (cnn.com)

• Civil rights groups denounce that 48 ICE detainees have been ‘forcibly disappeared’ (english.elpais.com)

• UK must stand up to Trump, says Ed Davey (www.bbc.com)

Africa

• Expelled South African ambassador returns home and says will wear US sanction as ‘badge of dignity’ (apnews.com)

• Six police personnel killed in Kenya by suspected al Shabaab fighters (reuters.com)

• Egypt willing to temporarily absorb half a million evacuated Gazans - Lebanese report (jpost.com)

Middle East

• Turkey lurches toward outright autocracy as Erdoğan’s main rival is jailed (www.politico.eu)

• Musk suspends accounts of Türkiye opposition candidates in X (www.politico.eu)

• Ukraine, US teams hold talks in Saudi Arabia, US envoy hopeful on ending war (reuters.com)

Indo-Pacific

• China’s Government Is Short of Money as Its Leaders Face Trump (www.nytimes.com)

• China Is Ready to Blockade Taiwan. Here’s How. (www.wsj.com)

• Last of six foreign hikers missing in Philippines rescued (france24.com)

Europe

• Greenland's officials express fury over Trump's plan to send delegation (www.nytimes.com)

• Europe’s new unanimity: Orbán doesn’t need to agree (www.politico.eu)

• Germany is unlocking billions to supercharge its military at a seismic moment for Europe (www.cnn.com)

• Thousands protest rise of the right in the Netherlands, France (www.euronews.com)

• Rachel Reeves to cut 10,000 civil service jobs in effort to lower government costs (www.theguardian.com)

• Kemi Badenoch is failing to hit the spot at PMQs – and everywhere else (www.theguardian.com)

Latin America

• U.S. to revoke legal status of more than a half-million migrants, urges them to self-deport (cbsnews.com)

• Peru’s Congress votes to oust the interior minister for failing to halt killings (apnews.com)

• Venezuela minister says no Tren de Aragua members among US deportees (www.reuters.com)

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