GERMANY - Days before Europe marked the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II, Berlin unveiled something unprecedented in the history of the modern Federal Republic: Its first-ever military strategy, titled ‘Responsibility for Europe.’ A country that spent decades defining itself through restraint and repentance now openly declares its ambition to build “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” Germany insists that this transformation is merely defensive. The declared threat is Russia, the declared mission deterrence. But history teaches Europeans to pay close attention whenever Berlin starts talking about military necessity, strategic leadership, and continental responsibility. The new doctrine is the ideological burial of postwar Germany. For decades, German society was built upon an anti-militarist consensus. Military force was viewed with suspicion, and pacifism became a civic religion. The very idea of German military leadership in Europe was politically toxic. But in only a few years, much has changed. A growing part of German society has accepted the narrative of an imminent Russian threat and abandoned the pacifism that had been carefully cultivated since 1945.

UK - Downing Street has refused to rule out Britain rejoining the EU after the next election. Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman declined five opportunities to clarify whether the Prime Minister agreed with Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham’s comments that the UK needed to reverse Brexit. Mr Streeting, who quit as health secretary last week, said at the weekend that he would seek a mandate to “one day” rejoin the EU if he won a Labour leadership election. The spokesman did not reject Mr Streeting’s remarks outright, saying: “Our position is set out in the manifesto for this Parliament... The next manifesto is a matter for the party and I’m sure they’ll set out their position for the next election.” Mr Streeting, who has said he would stand against Sir Keir in a future Labour leadership contest, had claimed leaving the EU had been a “catastrophic mistake”.

MIDDLE EAST - The threats are flying and the rhetoric is escalating. Donald Trump’s latest broadside against Iran’s regime – “they better get moving FAST or there won’t be anything left of them” – may be empty bombast, or a ploy to extract concessions in behind-the-scenes talks. But what if Iran simply digs in and offers no more flexibility? Trump may then believe that he has no choice except to restart the war – on pause since a ceasefire on April 7. And that moment of decision could be arriving soon. Nothing should diminish Trump’s primary responsibility for having begun this conflict alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, at the end of February. The president has paid a heavy price for his failure to define a consistent objective, or anticipate that Iran would retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz, bombarding its Gulf neighbours and triggering the greatest oil supply shock in history. If this war has a second round, it could prove even more destructive than the first.

IRAN - Iran’s new “supreme leader”, Mojtaba Khamenei, cannot appear in public and may be lying comatose in an underground hospital bed. More than 13,000 air strikes have proved that American and Israeli jets rule the skies above the Islamic Republic. Yet, despite everything, the regime strives to create an aura of brazen confidence. After Donald Trump denounced Iran’s “totally unacceptable” response to an American peace plan, the foreign ministry spokesman in Tehran replied simply: “We don’t care if others are happy or not.” Having suffered 40 days of round-the-clock bombing from two of the most formidable air forces in the world, Iran is now enduring a US naval blockade designed to strangle its seaborne oil exports and sever its economic lifeline once and for all. So is the regime’s defiance justified, or evidence of delusion and folly?

USA - Donald Trump warned Iran that there would be “nothing left” of the country if its leaders did not agree to a peace deal with the United States. Washington has been locked in conflict with Tehran since US and Israeli forces launched joint strikes on February 28, and has struggled to make any diplomatic progress toward ending a war that has shaken the Middle East. “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform. “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” His latest threat towards Iran – evidence of his growing frustration over the deadlock in talks to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz – followed indications that Tehran would reject Washington’s latest peace proposal.

USA - The mainstream media's outrage over religious expressions by government institutions and politicians is highly selective. At bottom, if the event is Christian, they attack. If it's any other religion, they applaud. Did the mainstream media publish indignant diatribes when leftist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani held Muslim dinners at City Hall and Gracie Manor for Ramadan? The answer is no, of course they didn't. Because Islam is celebrated by modern liberal movements and Christianity is despised. And, it's important to take note of what leftists hate, because if they hate it, it's probably good. Progressive outlets are in an uproar this week over a White House sponsored Christian prayer event scheduled to take place on this Sunday at the National Mall. The Trump administration and the Freedom 250 nonprofit will host "Rededicate 250," which will feature Cabinet members and conservative religious leaders to mark the nation's 250th anniversary.

USA - Friday on “The Alex Marlow Show,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr talked about cooking. Kennedy said, “We are in the middle of spiritual malaise in this country… And if we’re going to fix that, one of the ways that we can start to achieve that is by reinstituting this ritual, this sacred ritual of cooking a meal with our families every night.”

UK - Britain risks losing its leadership role in NATO unless it increases its nuclear weapons stockpile, according to a report backed by a former adviser to George W Bush. Franklin Miller, who advised the former US president on nuclear issues, has joined calls for the UK to strengthen its nuclear deterrent amid the rising threat posed by Russia and China. A report published by the Policy Exchange think tank argues Britain has a capable nuclear weapons system in Trident. However, experts fear it may not be enough to maintain “credibility” within NATO. The paper argues that the US’s leadership of NATO is “increasingly being questioned”, with Mr Miller warning the “lamentable… unsteadiness in America’s commitment to NATO” should prompt Britain to assume a greater leadership role. The paper said the UK must invest more in updating its nuclear deterrent and be prepared to lead NATO’s response should the US refuse to act.

MIDDLE EAST - Trump administration officials are encouraging the United Arab Emirates to get more heavily involved in the Iran war and seize one of Tehran’s Gulf islands, The Telegraph understands. Some in Donald Trump’s circle have suggested the UAE should take Lavan Island, which was reportedly bombed in secret military strikes by the Emiratis in early April, a former senior Trump security official told The Telegraph. “Go take ’em!” the official said. “It would be UAE boots on the ground instead of US.” The encouragement comes amid disclosures about the UAE’s increasing engagement in the 11-week conflict and its growing ties with Israel. The Emirates have borne the brunt of Tehran’s retaliation since Israel and America began striking Iran in late February.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - A new Ebola outbreak has killed 65 people and infected at least 246 others in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to Africa’s top public health body. The outbreak of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever is in eastern Ituri province, a volatile and remote region more than 620 miles from the nation’s capital of Kinshasa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Congolese government has yet to formally declare an outbreak but a press conference is expected within hours. The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids, such as vomit, blood, or semen, and through broken skin, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.