TOP NEWS

US-Russia Relations
Report: FBI Director to Visit Russia

FBI Director Kash Patel is planning a visit to Russia later this year, likely in October, two sources told Politico.

According to the sources, he will visit Moscow and St. Petersburg, and will likely be received by the Russian security service FSB. It is unclear whether he will meet Putin.

It would be an unusual visit for a sitting FBI director, writes Politico. The last of Patel's representatives to travel to Russia was Robert Mueller in 2013, a year before Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.

The FBI has not commented on the reports. 

Russian invasion  Ukraine's response
Zelensky fires Syrsky after protests

Volodymyr Zelensky is replacing Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky with high-ranking military officer Mykhailo Drapatyj. He announced this on Telegram.

The change comes after the widespread protests that have erupted in the country since former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed after a conflict with Syrskyj.

On Monday, protest leaders gave Zelensky until Friday to fire Syrskyj, who has been in the spotlight since Fedorov's resignation.

According to several media reports, Fedorov has also declined to return to the government in any role other than as Defense Minister - which Zelensky is said to have wanted.

Fedorov was Defense Minister for only six months, but became very popular during that time. He is described as the mastermind behind Ukraine's successful drone attacks on Russia.

Middle East Crisis  Iran War
Report: Pentagon budget runs out during Iran War

As a result of the war with Iran, the US Department of Defense is facing an acute budget deficit. Some critical funding is expected to run out within weeks, several sources told the Washington Post.

The lack of money has already caused the Pentagon to cut back on training and maintenance for military readiness. At the same time, costs are expected to increase further since the ceasefire between the US and Iran collapsed.

The White House has asked Congress for an immediate additional $67 billion to finance the war. But negotiations have stalled.

A source within the Trump administration says that it is therefore examining the possibility of reallocating money to strengthen military readiness. In that case, it would be at the expense of other important programs.

Political situation in India
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi arrested in India

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been arrested by police during protests in New Delhi, AFP reports.

Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital for the second day in a row to protest against the country's education system. The demonstrations are led by the fast-growing "cockroach party" youth movement, which is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Gandhi joined the protests and also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In images seen by AFP, Rahul Gandhi is seen being carried away by police through the crowd.