The ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, which began in February, has expanded to include Iranian proxy attacks on Gulf infrastructure, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and even a port in Egypt. The conflict is deepening divisions within the Middle East, straining relations with the US, and forcing Gulf states to diversify security and economic partnerships. The region faces significant economic disruption from attacks on energy and water infrastructure, prompting measures like overseas oil storage, while the long-term political and security landscape remains uncertain.

President Trump expressed confidence that Russia will not attack NATO countries, despite European concerns and recent Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace. He dismissed reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a warning during his Moscow visit, calling it routine intelligence contact. In an Axios interview, Trump reiterated that he is not concerned about Russia attacking NATO members, described the Ratcliffe meeting as 'standard business,' and asserted that no message was delivered. Russian intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin confirmed the meeting as routine. The remarks come amid heightened tensions over potential Russian provocations, ongoing support for Ukraine, and recent Russian threats against the UK and France.

Background: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security had planned to purchase up to $20 million worth of electric shock gloves for ICE officers, drawing criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups. Today, ICE has finalized the procurement, awarding a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 G.L.O.V.E. electric shock gloves to a Kentucky-based company, despite ongoing concerns about excessive force and recent fatal shootings by ICE agents. The gloves, which deliver painful shocks on contact, are intended as a non-lethal option, but critics question their safety and accountability. The contract details were published in official documents, confirming the earlier plan. The procurement is part of President Trump's strict deportation policies and is marketed as a de-escalation tool, but critics point to recent deadly incidents involving ICE agents and question the agency's ability to use them responsibly.

Background: Anthropic filed for an IPO amid enterprise AI cost fatigue and is in a legal dispute with the US Department of Defense over contractual terms that could allow AI use in mass surveillance or autonomous weapons, leading to a ban on Claude use by US agencies. Today: A US federal judge blocked the Pentagon's exclusion of Anthropic from military contracts, ruling that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's classification of the AI firm as a national security risk was illegal and baseless. Judge Rita Lin emphasized that national security references cannot be used to punish government critics. The dispute stemmed from Anthropic's refusal to provide its AI models for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons systems, with the company arguing the exclusion could cost it billions. The US Department of Justice and the Pentagon warned against private firms restricting military operations, as Anthropic also faces a legal challenge over exclusion from civilian government contracts. In a 59-page ruling, Judge Lin stated that the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk was unlawful and baseless, emphasizing that 'the empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics.' The court noted that the Pentagon continued pursuing work with Anthropic even after the designation, undermining claims of genuine security concerns. Anthropic welcomed the ruling and reiterated its commitment to working with the government on national security. The government is expected to appeal. Separately, Anthropic is contesting another Pentagon designation under a different statute in the D.C. Circuit.