Trump says he will meet with Putin despite Kremlin's refusal to talk to Kiev
Donald Trump stated that he is willing to meet with Vladimir Putin, even though the latter refuses a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejecting the idea that this was a condition for a US-Russia summit.
The Kremlin confirmed that a bilateral meeting with Trump is being prepared next week, but denied that a trilateral format with Zelenskyy has been discussed. Meanwhile, Putin said that it is not yet time for a meeting with the Ukrainian president, as the necessary conditions have not been created.
Israel approves takeover of Gaza City, opposition and Britain warn of catastrophe
Israel's security cabinet approved the plan to take control of Gaza, a decision that the opposition, through Yair Lapid, called "a disaster" that would serve Hamas' interests. Lapid and former security officials warned that the move would endanger the remaining hostages, cause heavy casualties, and weaken public support for the war.
The British ambassador to Israel also said that continuing the conflict and occupying Gaza would be "a big mistake" and called for a political and diplomatic solution.
Thousands of hotels in Europe will sue Booking.com for "abusive" practices
More than 10,000 European hotels are suing Booking.com, accusing it of using "best price" clauses that they say have distorted the market and reduced their profits over the past two decades.
The lawsuit, supported by 30 national hotel associations and based on a ruling by the EU Court of Justice, seeks damages for the period 2004–2024, when the practice was abolished to adapt to new digital market rules.
Booking.com has denied violating competition law, saying the clauses helped maintain competitive prices and boost profits for most hotels.
Fire breaks out near Los Angeles: thousands evacuated, emergency declared
The Canyon Fire near Magic Mountain in California has spread rapidly, burning about 4,800 acres and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, with 250 firefighters working to bring it under control, with zero percent containment so far. The flames are threatening power lines and nearby communities, while strong winds are making the situation worse.
