Energy & Trade: Turkey and Iraq are close to signing a 12-month extension of their 1973 crude oil pipeline transit deal, due to expire July 27, to keep flows moving from Kirkuk to Ceyhan as shipping disruptions keep pressure on alternative routes. Gaza Diplomacy: Hamas and other Palestinian factions held talks in Cairo with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey mediating, with disarmament and Israeli withdrawal at the center of the agenda for Gaza’s future. Cyprus Tensions: UN chief António Guterres warned of “deep concern” after Turkish and Turkish Cypriot personnel advanced into the Pyla buffer zone, saying access restrictions and reinforced deployments have made the situation “fragile.” NATO & US Politics: US President Donald Trump flew partway home from Turkey on an older Air Force One amid renewed Iran-strike tensions, while the US Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times reporters over coverage of security gaps tied to the Qatar-gifted jet. Regional Security: The US and Iran traded strikes again around the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington hitting Iran-linked targets and Tehran responding with attacks involving Gulf states. Culture & Heritage: Excavations at Türkiye’s Ani site in Kars are uncovering new clues about Seljuk-era daily life, including marketplace and residential areas.