Jul 26, 2026, 12:30 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump ordered a pause on military strikes against Iran after 13 consecutive nights of air raids, allowing Omani-mediated diplomatic negotiations to proceed in Tehran. Officials hope an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz can be reached over the weekend.

While Axios reported the pause was intended to facilitate diplomacy, secondary reports from The New York Times indicated that US concerns over depleting stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles and air defense assets also influenced the decision.

Additionally, Washington is reportedly evaluating a covert mission to seize or neutralize Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles, a plan analysts labeled "too risky." Separately, Tehran blamed Kyiv for a fatal attack on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea.

Sources: Point, Ukrinform

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has condemned repeated Russian drone incursions into Romania’s airspace, praising the Romanian Air Force's response following the interception of another unmanned aerial vehicle inside NATO and EU territory.

Domestically, Chișinău’s Ciocana Court ordered 30-day pretrial detention for two individuals and house arrest for a third suspect in a corruption and power abuse investigation targeting state air navigation provider Moldatsa. Meanwhile, former National Anti-Corruption Centre deputy director Cristina Ciubotaru publicly criticized the ruling Action and Solidarity Party, alleging it has adopted governance practices it once opposed.

The developments coincide with Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi’s reaffirmation that Moldova will continue seeking compensation from Moscow for damages caused by Russia's war against neighboring Ukraine.

Sources: Point, Ziarul de Gardă

Boeing has presented its MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned combat aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, marking the platform's public debut at the event.

Developed by Boeing Australia, the company characterized the system as the world's most mature Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) currently available. Defense representatives utilized the airshow to highlight recent operational milestones and to announce new international industrial partnerships aimed at advancing the platform's global development and capability integration. The autonomous system is designed to operate alongside manned aircraft to provide support during military operations.

Sources: ESUT.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a new manufacturing plant will be established in the United States to produce drones using Ukrainian technology. The project forms part of an expanding unmanned aerial vehicle cooperation agreement between Kyiv and Washington.

Speaking in an interview with American blogger Laura Loomer published on Friday, Zelenskyy stated that the facility would leverage Ukraine's battlefield-tested drone expertise for production on US soil. Detailed information regarding the production timeline, financial backing, and the precise location of the proposed facility was not disclosed in the initial report.

Sources: Defence Turk.

Police in western and southwestern Finland responded to several severe incidents over the weekend, according to local authorities.

In Turku's Herttuankulma district on Saturday morning, officers initiated an attempted manslaughter investigation after finding a severely injured man bleeding on the street. Authorities suspect a blunt instrument was used in the assault, and one male suspect has been taken into custody.

In a separate incident in Alavus early Sunday, a dispute inside a restaurant escalated into a shooting outside the venue. Ostrobothnia police reported that no injuries occurred despite firearms being discharged following an altercation between two groups.

Additionally, police in Harjavalta alerted the public overnight after a small bear was spotted wandering through the town center. Local wildlife assistance units were dispatched, and authorities advised residents not to approach the animal.

Sources: Iltalehti