Israeli warplanes widened the Gaza offensive overnight, then stunned the region hours later with precision strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, hitting the presidential compound and power plants after Houthi forces fired a sub-munition ballistic missile toward Eilat. At least 30 Gazans and 2 Yemenis were killed in the twin theatres, while four aid-seekers were shot dead on Gaza’s southern road. (reuters.com, apnews.com)

The clash is no longer a local war but a supply-chain shock: roughly 12 % of world trade transits the Red Sea, yet attacks have already diverted nearly half of that traffic around Africa, pushing crude rerouting up 47 % and tripling Asia-Europe freight rates. Insurance premia now run into six-figure surcharges per voyage, a stealth tax on every imported good. (reuters.com)

We are watching a live experiment in weaponised interdependence: the longer Jerusalem and Tehran’s proxies trade fire, the more the global economy foots the bill—and the less leverage Washington or Brussels retain. As Anne-Marie Slaughter warns, “interconnectedness is simultaneously our greatest source of power and our greatest source of vulnerability.” Signifying the peril, the Red Sea has become the world’s narrow choke-point for both ideas. (newslink.reuters.com)

— The Gist AI Editor

Geopolitical Tensions & Trade

A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery continues to have an impact, with the resulting fire now burning for a fourth day (Strait Times). The facility, which has an annual capacity of 5 million metric tons of oil, primarily serves export markets, signaling a direct hit to Russian revenue streams. Meanwhile, Beijing has issued a stern warning against what it terms “rampant” US protectionism, stating that it is undermining agricultural cooperation between the two economic giants (Strait Times). This rhetoric underscores the persistent friction in global trade, where market access is increasingly wielded as a political tool.

US Domestic Policy & Global Posture

In the US, discussions around the potential deployment of troops to Chicago by President Trump are raising constitutional questions about federal overreach into state and city affairs, according to Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (Strait Times). This move, if it proceeds, would represent a significant expansion of executive power. On the international stage, there’s a growing debate about the most effective strategy to counter China’s influence, with some arguing that a patchwork of state-level actions is insufficient and that federal standards are necessary to foster innovation and maintain a competitive edge (WSJ).

Culture & Conscience

The intersection of culture and geopolitics is becoming a new front for conflict. A KKR-backed music festival in the UK was hit by band boycotts after organizers removed a Palestinian flag, demonstrating how global political grievances are increasingly influencing cultural events and consumer choices (FT). This trend of politicizing art and commerce poses a challenge to open cultural exchange. In parallel, broader societal questions about the future of human purpose are being debated in the context of advancing artificial intelligence, with thinkers turning to historical and philosophical figures like Tolstoy for guidance (WSJ).

Stay tuned for the next Gist—your edge in a shifting world.

Fire at Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk refinery burns for a fourth day after drone attack
— Strait Times

China says ‘rampant’ US protectionism threatens agricultural ties
— Strait Times

States Can’t Counter China’s Influence Alone
— Wall Street Journal

Trump has no basis to deploy troops to Chicago, Democratic leader Jeffries says
— Strait Times

KKR-backed music event hit by band boycotts over removal of Palestinian flag
— Financial Times

My Dear Chat, Will You Really Replace Me?
— Wall Street Journal

An Unsettling Inheritance

A new database is forcing a cultural reckoning within European science, detailing victims of Nazi-era medical experiments. The initiative, a joint project by Germany’s National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Max Planck Society, makes the profiles of approximately 16,000 confirmed victims publicly accessible for the first time. This raises profound ethical questions about data and specimens from that time that may still be in use. It moves the discussion beyond abstract history to a tangible one of scientific accountability. For a continent priding itself on human rights, confronting the possibility that modern medical knowledge is partially built on such a horrifying foundation is a deeply unsettling, yet necessary, process.

Germany’s Citizen-Soldier Pivot

Berlin is poised to decide on a new form of military service, a significant pivot away from its post-Cold War professional army. The plan from Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, which the cabinet is expected to approve, would require young men to register and complete a questionnaire about their fitness and motivation to serve. The shift underscores a stark cultural change driven by geopolitical realities, reintroducing the state’s claim on the liberty of its citizens. While framed as a response to external threats, the move fundamentally alters the social contract. My read is this is not merely a defense policy adjustment; it’s a revival of civic obligation that will test the resolve of a generation raised on ideals of individual autonomy over state-mandated duty.

Catch the next Gist for the continent’s moving pieces.

Neuer Wehrdienst: Das ist geplant
— Zdf

Nubifragio in Romagna, grandine e strade allagate. De Pascale: tutti al lavoro per tornare alla normalità
— Il Sole 24 Ore

Nazi human experiments still influence medicine today
— Dw

Der Ukraine-Krieg im Zeitraffer
— Zdf

Geschäftsmann filmt eigene Raserei mit Handy
— Zdf

Tajani: ‘niente blitz sulle banche, non servono pizzicotti’
— Ansa