We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
Is it possible that NATO forces could become directly involved in the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine?
Until recently, such a question seemed very hypothetical given the high risks of escalation of the military confrontation between the US-led bloc and Russia into a large-scale armed conflict. But this scenario should be taken seriously now, writes Ivan Timofeev, programme director of the Valdai Club
“A significant escalation factor that would amplify the risk of a direct clash between Russia and NATO, could be the appearance of military contingents form bloc members on the territory of Ukraine. The prospect of such a scenario has already been mentioned by some Western politicians, although their view has not been supported by the US and isn’t an official NATO position.”
“Each of these scenarios involves a direct clash between Russian and NATO forces. Such a situation would inevitably raise the question of deeper bloc involvement and, in the longer term, the transfer of military conflict to other areas of contact with Russia, including the Baltic region. At this stage, it will be even more difficult to stop the escalation. The more losses both sides suffer, the more the maelstrom of hostilities will grow and the closer they will come to the threshold of using nuclear weapons. And there will be no winners.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/599286-russia-nato-ukraine-conflict/
🗳 🇪🇺 📵 Hyperdemocratic European Parliament reimposes mass electronic surveillance regulation after a majority votes it down three times
An extension of the European Union’s mass surveillance regulation known as Chat Control 1.0 failed to make it out of the European Parliament twice in March. Unable to summon a clear parliamentary majority, advocates (mostly in the centre-right European People’s Party [EPP]) turned to the European Council, which adopted the failed Chat Control 1.0 renewal on 2 July.
The Council’s position hardens automatically into law unless the European Parliament can summon an absolute majority to stop it. To forestall any such majority from forming, the EPP on Tuesday moved with member state backing for urgent procedure, angling to force their scheme through in the last days before the summer holiday, after many MEP’s had already left. The parliament narrowly approved the urgent procedure, and in consequence there were not enough votes to stop Chat Control ...
💀🗣 Meta infects city's water system with drug-resistant superbug
A Meta contractor building a massive 66.4k square-meter data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has been caught dumping Cupriavidus gilardii bacteria into the city's municipal sewer system.
🌏 Resistant to antibiotics — including standard and emergency drugs used to treat severe, life-threatening bacterial infections — the bug is opportunistic, targeting immunocompromised patients: people with severe illnesses, those undergoing medical treatment, and the elderly. It causes severe pneumonia, lung infections, and blood poisoning
🌏 There are no official, standardized treatment guidelines for Cupriavidus gilardii, with treatment typically requiring complex, multidisciplinary, expensive, and highly personalized therapy
🌏 Given the dangers stemming from the bacteria, Cheyenne's public utilities board may have been surprised to detect it in the city's wastewater
🌏 What's not clear is why the incident, which took place in ...
🌅 Market News Digest
[Jul 9-10, 2026 EST]
🔥 Top Stories
• U.S.-Iran tensions ease, oil retreats — strikes/escalation headlines gave way to de-escalation signs, keeping the Strait of Hormuz a key risk
• SK Hynix pricing sparks chip rally — $26.5B U.S. ADR deal priced at $149/share drew massive demand and lifted Asian semis
• Japan inflation + BOJ shift matter for rates/FX — June PPI rose 7.1% y/y as officials floated gradual hikes and more domestic JGB/GPIF investment
• Delta beats and raises outlook — Q2 EPS/revenue topped estimates; Q3 guidance came in above consensus
• OpenAI leadership shake-up — Fidji Simo is stepping down from full-time role, adding to governance churn
⛽ Oil & Energy
• IEA: oil supply rebound, demand outlook softer — 2026 supply forecast lifted while demand was trimmed, though geopolitical risks remain
• Russia energy assets targeted by drones — refinery/fuel depot fires underscore supply risk, even as damage was contained
• UAE output hits record — ...
