Drone War Escalation: Russia launched a sweeping overnight drone strike hitting Odesa port infrastructure and damaging residential areas in Kharkiv and Poltava, as Kyiv reported a major missile-and-drone escalation that killed 24 in a Kyiv apartment attack. Ukraine’s Counterplay: Ukraine’s drone campaign is increasingly described as forcing Russia to spend heavily to defend far-flung assets, while Kyiv pushes back with mass drone interception and long-range strikes. AI, Info Ops, and Trust: London Mayor Sadiq Khan blamed AI-driven “decline” narratives on Russia, China and the US, while Dutch media debate flared over how Kremlin-style stories can slip into mainstream coverage. Global Tech & Security: L3Harris unveiled a radio-based software upgrade to detect and jam FPV drones, signaling how counter-drone tools are moving into everyday battlefield gear. Diplomacy Under Strain: Trump’s China trip ended without breakthroughs on trade or Iran, even as BRICS foreign ministers met in India amid energy-market pressure and divisions over the Middle East. Regional Focus: KazanForum opened with record participation from 103 countries, underscoring Russia’s push to deepen ties with the Islamic world.