Elon Musk announced the decommissioning of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft following US President Donald Trump’s threat to cancel government contracts and subsidies. The Crew Dragon, critical for ferrying astronauts to the ISS under a $4.9 billion NASA deal, will cease operations despite being the only certified U.S. space transport vehicle. NASA confirmed that it would continue to execute the President’s space vision, although Boeing’s Starliner remains unreliable. The escalating Musk-Trump feud also triggered a sharp 15% drop in Tesla shares, wiping out over $100 billion in market value. The next planned Dragon mission, Axiom-4, now hangs in the balance.
HAMAS OPEN TO CEASEFIRE TALKS
Hamas has expressed readiness for “serious” negotiations with Israel to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. The statement comes amid renewed mediation efforts involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. While earlier talks stalled, Hamas blames Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for hindering progress, citing a lack of guarantees to prevent future conflict after hostage releases. Meanwhile, Israel recovered the bodies of two hostages killed in the October 7 attack. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called their return a “stark reminder” of the suffering endured by hostage families still awaiting closure.
RUSSIA RETALIATES WITH MASSIVE STRIKES
Russia unleashed one of its largest air attacks on Ukraine early Friday, launching 452 drones and missiles, of which 406 were intercepted. The strikes followed Ukraine’s recent raid on Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet, damaging over a third of its missile carriers. At least three people were killed and dozens injured, including four deaths reported in Kyiv alone. Ukraine retaliated with strikes on Russian airfields. Despite the scale of the attack, Ukrainian morale remains strong. President Putin, in a call with U.S. President Trump, warned of retaliation. Trump’s neutral stance sparked concern among Ukrainians fearing further civilian-targeted aggression.
NORTH KOREA SALVAGES DAMAGED DESTROYER
North Korea has salvaged a capsized naval destroyer after its failed launch in late May, calling the incident a “criminal act.” The vessel, now docked at Chongjin port, will undergo repairs at Rajin within 10 days, ahead of the upcoming Workers’ Party congress. Kim Jong-un has ordered accountability, leading to arrests of top military officials. Analysts believe the 4,500-tonne warship, reportedly North Korea’s most advanced, enhances naval capability despite trailing regional powers. South Korea suspects Russian support in its construction. This comes amid growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, raising Western concerns over technology transfers and UN sanctions violations.
EU OCEAN PACT FACES BACKLASH
The European Commission unveiled its new European Ocean Pact ahead of the UN Oceans Conference, promising stronger marine protection, a unified policy framework, and support for the blue economy. However, six major environmental NGOs criticised the pact as “lacklustre,” citing a lack of binding targets and concrete enforcement measures. They warned that without urgent action, destructive practices like bottom trawling and overfishing will persist, even in protected areas. While EU leaders tout the pact as a forward-looking blueprint, critics say it reflects weak political will. NGOs urge immediate reforms to safeguard Europe’s marine biodiversity and ensure laws are enforced at sea.
