Author: Admin

Defense manufacturer KNDS unveiled a new combat tank on Monday at the Eurosatory exhibition near Paris, intended as a bridge solution to replace France’s aging Leclerc tanks while a major joint French-German development program continues to fall behind schedule.

The new vehicle, designated CAPINT — short for “intermediary capability” — pairs a chassis built by KNDS’s German division with a tank gun produced by its French division. According to KNDS, the tank is designed to bolster French Army readiness and help lay the groundwork for the next-generation Main Ground Combat System, known as MGCS.

The MGCS program, which got underway in 2017, is meant to eventually replace both Germany’s Leopard 2 and France’s Leclerc tanks, with an original target of entering service between 2040 and 2045. France’s Leclerc tanks are scheduled to be retired by 2038.

In April, France’s Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told parliament that Paris had chosen to pursue an “intermediate” tank program because the MGCS effort was running roughly a decade behind schedule.

The CAPINT announcement comes just days after France and Germany scrapped their joint FCAS fighter jet program following months of disputes between Airbus and Dassault Aviation — raising further concerns about the durability of European defense cooperation.

Adding to the uncertainty, a German government spokesperson said Monday that the MGCS project would focus on “platform-independent” technologies, and acknowledged it was not yet clear whether a jointly built tank would actually come to fruition. A French government source, however, maintained that the project remains a priority for both nations as well as for KNDS.

Over the weekend, the CEO of German defense firm Rheinmetall — one of the shareholders in the MGCS initiative — was quoted as saying France was weighing significant cuts to the project’s funding.

KNDS CEO Jean-Paul Alary, speaking with reporters at Eurosatory, said the status of MGCS was a political matter he could not address directly, but warned that if the program collapsed, it would be “very bad news” for Europe.

Germany has already begun developing its own parallel tank program, with KNDS Germany and Rheinmetall working together since 2025 on an intermediate tank — referred to as either the Leopard 2AX or Leopard 3 — to eventually succeed the Leopard 2.

On the business front, KNDS is preparing for an initial public offering with a dual listing planned on stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Paris, expected to take place this year. When asked about timing, Alary said the best outcome would be to move forward “as soon as we can.”

German newspaper Handelsblatt reported Monday that Paris and Berlin had reached an agreement after the German government sought protections ahead of the IPO to prevent sensitive technology from leaving Germany. The German chancellery had not responded to a request for comment as of press time.

KNDS Chairman Tom Enders was cited in the same report as cautioning against a drift toward national protectionism, warning it could erode the foundation of European defense collaboration.

Broader security concerns — including a perceived growing threat from Russia and increasing hesitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to support European defense — have pushed governments across the continent to accelerate military investment, even as joint production efforts face headwinds.

A single by-election in northern England on Thursday has the potential to reshape British politics at the highest level — and it may come down not to the winner’s popularity, but to a bitter feud tearing apart the populist right.

Andy Burnham, currently serving as the Labour Party’s mayor of Greater Manchester, is seeking to win the parliamentary seat of Makerfield. Under Labour Party rules, he must hold a seat in parliament before he can mount a challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the party’s leadership.

The roughly 77,000 registered voters in Makerfield, a constituency in northern England, could effectively be choosing the next leader of a country of nearly 70 million people.

Opinion surveys show Burnham with a lead of between five and 12 percentage points over the right-wing Reform UK party — a margin that analysts say exists largely because the right-wing vote is being split between two parties whose leaders were once allies. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain, born from an ugly falling-out between the two men last year, are both competing for the same pool of voters.

Peter Thompson, a 78-year-old record shop owner in Ashton-in-Makerfield, said he plans to vote for Reform but worries that Restore’s presence in the race could cost the right-wing bloc the seat. “All my voting in life there’s only been two parties that have run this country, Labour and Conservatives. Look around you, it’s a mess,” he said.

“If it was a straightforward fight, I think Reform may well edge it but because there’s that many parties that you can vote for now, I think it will swing it to Labour’s advantage, unfortunately,” Thompson added.

Both Reform and Restore position themselves as anti-establishment parties with hardline stances on immigration — Restore going so far as to advocate mass deportations. Polling shows Restore pulling in around 7% to 8% support in the constituency, a figure that is seen as seriously damaging Reform’s chances.

Farage warned last week that the race is effectively a two-horse contest, arguing that supporting Restore risks electing “perhaps the most left-wing prime minister of modern times.”

Burnham’s campaign is built around themes of economic abandonment, pointing to the decline of the region’s mining and manufacturing industries. “It all adds up to 40 years of neoliberalism that have not been kind to the North of England. Forty years of trickle-down economics that did not again trickle down very much at all,” he said at the start of his campaign last month.

Official statistics offer a more complicated picture. Makerfield falls roughly in the middle of national rankings when it comes to income deprivation, and performs relatively well on employment and health measures. Its weakest scores come in housing access and services — areas that sit at the center of Burnham’s political vision, which he calls “Manchesterism” and describes as “business friendly socialism.”

Rob Ford, a professor of politics at the University of Manchester, described the seat in an interview with independent consultancy Blonde Money as one of aspirational middle-class commuters rather than a traditional working-class stronghold. “It is ‘Red Wall’ in its heritage and identity, it is not Red Wall in terms of the kind of people who live here,” Ford said, referencing the traditionally Labour-held northern seats that briefly shifted to the Conservatives in 2019 and are now key Reform targets.

The political landscape in the area has already shifted dramatically. Reform swept 24 of 25 Wigan Borough Council seats — which includes the Makerfield area — during local elections on May 7, leaving Labour’s hopes resting heavily on Burnham’s personal name recognition.

On the ground, placards backing Reform outnumber Labour signs in many neighborhoods, particularly in more working-class areas like the Stubshaw Cross estate. Labour has responded by pouring significant resources into the race, with cabinet ministers and prominent lawmakers showing up to campaign and help distribute leaflets.

While Burnham built his reputation as mayor on openness and accessibility, his return to national-level politics is being tightly managed by party operatives based in London — a reflection of just how much is riding on the outcome.

For all the high-level political maneuvering, the final result will come down to individual voters like Neil Price, a 41-year-old bricklayer from the area. “I’m going to be voting for Andy Burnham. I know he does a lot for the community round here. He does well with everything he talks about … so yeah, he’s the one I’m going to be voting for,” Price said.

PRAGUE — The Czech government has approved what is being called its most sweeping overhaul of public media in decades, agreeing to eliminate license fees and replace them with state budget funding — a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom groups and opposition politicians who say it threatens the independence of public broadcasters.

The government, which is led by the populist ANO party under Prime Minister Andrej Babis and also includes far-right and eurosceptic parties, has frequently clashed with both public and privately owned independent media outlets, accusing them of bias.

If the proposal clears parliament, funding for public broadcasters would shift away from fees currently paid by households and businesses and instead come directly from the state budget. That new level of funding would be approximately 15% less than what the broadcasters currently receive through the fee system.

Opponents of the plan warn that tying broadcaster funding to the state budget creates an opening for political influence over editorial decisions.

Babis, a billionaire businessman and a self-described admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, has framed the change as a cost-saving measure that would also fulfill a campaign promise to relieve citizens of paying the combined monthly fee of 205 crowns — roughly $9.87.

At a news conference, Babis pushed back against accusations that the plan was designed to undermine journalistic independence. “We have never threatened the independence of Czech Television… nor will we,” he said.

Czech Television and Czech Radio both enjoy strong public trust — each earned the confidence of 59% of Czech citizens in a 2025 Reuters Institute survey, the highest marks of any media outlets included in that poll.

Pavol Szalai, the Prague bureau chief for Reporters Without Borders, said the government had effectively institutionalized financial pressure on public media. He added that the move appeared to conflict with European Union guidelines on how public media should be funded.

Babis has maintained that the Czech approach mirrors funding models already in use in other European nations.

Under the specifics of the proposal, Czech Television — the larger of the two public broadcasters — would see its budget allocation drop by approximately 1 billion crowns, bringing it down to 5.74 billion crowns. The station also generates additional revenue through content licensing and advertising.

Czech Television’s director Hynek Chudarek said the financial cuts would likely force the station to lay off between 300 and 500 employees out of its current workforce of 2,900.

More than 1,000 civilians have been killed by drone strikes in war-ravaged Sudan during the first five months of this year alone, according to a senior United Nations official who addressed the issue on Monday.

Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that his office has recorded a dramatic surge in drone warfare as well as widespread rape and sexual violence throughout the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has now stretched into its fourth year.

“In Sudan, the horrific conflict has expanded and escalated, marked by a sharp increase in the use of drone warfare,” Türk told the council.

The Sudanese war began on April 15, 2023, when a struggle for power between the country’s military and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces erupted into open combat in the capital city of Khartoum and across the country.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, commonly referred to as ACLED, the war has claimed at least 59,000 lives over three years — though the U.S.-based conflict monitoring organization cautioned that the true death toll is likely far greater due to challenges in gathering accurate data from the region.

ACLED also reported that at least 2,670 people — both fighters and civilians — died in drone-related incidents in 2025, representing a staggering 600% jump in drone-caused deaths and an 81% rise in drone attacks compared to the previous year.

Just last week, a drone strike attributed to the paramilitary group struck a cemetery and a gas station in the central city of el-Obeid, killing at least 15 people, according to local health officials.

Both sides in the conflict have increasingly deployed drones loaded with explosives, with attacks repeatedly hitting civilian targets such as hospitals, dams, schools, markets, and camps housing displaced people. Drone strikes have emerged as the single deadliest threat to civilians in the conflict.

The United Nations estimates that roughly 34 million people — nearly two out of every three people living in Sudan — are in need of humanitarian assistance, making it the largest such crisis in the world.

Beyond the physical destruction, the conflict has been defined by widespread atrocities. The U.N. and various international human rights organizations have characterized mass rape and killings motivated by ethnicity as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Rape and sexual violence are rampant,” Türk stated.

LONDON (AP) — The United Kingdom has announced plans to prohibit children and teenagers under 16 from accessing a wide range of social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The decision is aimed at protecting young people from harmful content and the dangers of excessive screen time.

In taking this step, the U.K. joins a growing number of nations that have moved to enforce age-based restrictions on social media access. While many parents and child advocacy organizations have praised these efforts, critics argue the measures are difficult to enforce and raise serious privacy concerns.

Here is a look at what several other countries are already doing or planning to do:

Australia — Australia’s ban was described as a first of its kind globally when it was introduced in December. The law prevents anyone under 16 from holding accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Twitch. Technology companies that fail to take reasonable steps to remove underage accounts can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, which equals roughly $35 million. While no fines have been issued yet, the government reports that companies have already shut down nearly 5 million accounts identified as belonging to children.

Vietnam — In March, the Vietnamese government announced that users under 16 would no longer be permitted to hold accounts on platforms that could expose them to addiction, pornography, online scams, and cyberbullying. The affected platforms include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and gaming platform Roblox.

Malaysia — Social media platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — are now required to put age-verification systems in place and prevent anyone under 16 from creating an account. Companies that do not comply can face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit, or approximately $2.5 million.

Norway — A law that went into effect in March stops short of an outright ban but requires users under 16 to link their social media accounts to a parent or legal guardian for supervision. The law also bans platforms from using features designed to keep users hooked, such as infinite scroll and autoplay video. Additionally, digital services must verify users’ ages through methods that go beyond simply asking someone to confirm they are over 18, in order to block access to inappropriate or prohibited content.

Canada — The Canadian government introduced legislation this month to establish a new regulatory body called the Digital Safety Commission of Canada. The commission would have the authority to ban children under 16 from social media accounts unless companies can demonstrate they are actively removing harmful content — including nonconsensual intimate images, material that encourages self-harm, content that incites violence, and material that promotes hatred.

Beyond these countries, France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Thailand, and South Korea are also considering or actively working on their own measures to limit minors’ access to social media platforms.

A London court handed down guilty verdicts Monday against two men charged in connection with a scheme to burn properties belonging to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The arson attacks took place in May 2025 and caused damage to the home Starmer had lived in before becoming prime minister, an apartment building he once had partial ownership of, and completely destroyed his former Toyota SUV. No injuries were reported.

Authorities say the plot was masterminded by a mysterious individual who communicated in Russian and went by the alias “El Money.” This person reached out to Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych through the Telegram messaging app, offering him cryptocurrency in exchange for torching the properties and filming the destruction to post online for maximum visibility.

Despite the investigation, El Money’s true identity was never determined and no charges were filed against the figure. Cmdr. Helen Flanagan, who leads the counterterrorism unit at the Metropolitan Police, said investigators found no proof that a hostile foreign government was behind the fires, as they were unable to establish El Money’s motive or employer.

“Clearly the tasking was to intimidate and create fear for the prime minister and to attack the U.K.,” Flanagan stated.

Lavrynovych, 22, and Stanislav Carpiuc, a 27-year-old Romanian citizen, were found guilty at London’s Central Criminal Court of conspiring to destroy property through arson. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was cleared of the same charge.

Lavrynovych also faced and was convicted on two separate counts of arson that could have recklessly put lives at risk.

During the proceedings, Lavrynovych admitted to starting the fires, saying he was desperate for money. He said he was motivated by a promised reward of 3,000 pounds — roughly $4,000 in cryptocurrency — which he intended to use to cover medical costs for his father. He also claimed El Money had threatened him, and that he had no knowledge of who owned the properties until after the fires were set. He told investigators he had no idea who Starmer even was.

El Money had given Lavrynovych specific instructions on the target locations, directions on how to prepare flammable mixtures, and guidance on how to avoid detection.

Messages found on Lavrynovych’s phone revealed discussions about the fires, as well as other paid acts of vandalism he had carried out — including blacking out car windshields with paint and posting anti-Islam materials in Muslim neighborhoods throughout London.

Following the attacks, El Money told Lavrynovych payment was coming and instructed him to send a coded message using the word “geranium” if he was ever stopped by police. Lavrynovych was arrested shortly after receiving that message. The court was informed he never actually received any payment for carrying out the three fires.

Carpiuc served as a go-between in the scheme, while Pochynok was allegedly brought in to record video of the fires so Lavrynovych could collect his payment.

The fires were set in the middle of the night. Residents who had been asleep were jolted awake to find smoke pouring through their front doors.

Starmer’s sister-in-law, who was staying at his former home, said she heard a loud bang and had difficulty breathing as smoke overtook the stairwell. Her 9-year-old daughter was left terrified by the ordeal.

A resident of the apartment building was forced to retreat to the rooftop after finding the hallways engulfed in smoke.

Sentencing for both convicted men is scheduled for Friday.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced Monday that he is hopeful the written text of an agreement aimed at ending the war in Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be made available to the public sometime this week, even as technical negotiations over the finer points of the deal are expected to continue.

Speaking during an interview on CNBC, Vance expressed the United States’ position that the economically critical shipping waterway should remain open without any fees on a permanent basis.

“Our expectation is that the Strait is going to be opened in a toll-free way for the long-term,” Vance said.

He added, “That’s the sort of thing that we’re going to figure out in these technical negotiations. You know that there are a lot of very important details to figure out that we’re actually going to sit at the table and discuss together and figure out a path forward.”

Both the United States and Iran have confirmed they reached terms to end the conflict and reopen the strait. The announcement brought some relief to financial markets, though the agreement may depend on a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and puts off discussions about Tehran’s nuclear program to a later date.

While still considered a framework rather than a finalized agreement, the deal represents the most significant step yet toward resolving a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and rattled global energy markets since it began with joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran back in February.

Vance indicated that Iran’s foreign minister and House speaker will serve as the country’s representatives at a signing ceremony set for Friday in Switzerland. He did not identify who would be present on behalf of the United States at that event.

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s justice minister is warning that a recent surge in violence against foreign nationals is tarnishing the country’s international reputation and triggering a backlash that is affecting South African businesses and entertainers abroad.

At a briefing held Sunday, minister Mmamoloko Kubayi urged South Africans to step back from vigilante actions and allow the government to address illegal immigration through official channels.

Over the past several weeks, South Africa has experienced a wave of protests and violent incidents directed at other African nationals — including some living in the country legally — as anti-immigrant groups point the finger at foreigners for the nation’s high unemployment rate and crime levels.

“A majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many of them are seeing their gigs being cancelled,” Kubayi said, declining to name any performers specifically.

She added that the government is extending support to South African businesses operating in other countries that have been caught in the resulting backlash.

“We do believe that it can not only hurt the brand, but can hurt our social cohesion,” she said. Kubayi also noted that even some South African citizens have been caught up in the anti-immigrant aggression simply because of their appearance or the way they speak.

Xenophobia has long been a recurring problem in South Africa, and observers say the issue has been stoked by politicians looking to build support ahead of local elections scheduled for November.

Multiple countries — among them Ghana, Malawi, and Mozambique — have moved to bring their citizens back home due to safety concerns. Malawi announced Monday that it was transporting hundreds more of its nationals home by bus from the city of Durban.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to social media platform X to express his dismay, writing: “It is profoundly heartbreaking to witness another surge of xenophobic violence in #SouthAfrica.” He described the situation as a “tragic betrayal” of the African nations that stood by South Africa during its fight against apartheid.

Tedros also reported that five Ethiopians and five Mozambicans had lost their lives in the attacks.

South Africa’s foreign ministry pushed back on that characterization, stating that the deaths of the five Ethiopians were tied to organized crime rather than xenophobic violence. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the five Mozambicans remain under investigation, the ministry said.

“We deeply regret the tragic loss of life in these recent incidents, as one life lost is simply one too many,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri.

MADRID — Spain’s Migration Ministry announced Monday that approximately 900,000 undocumented migrants have applied for legal status through a government program that was originally projected to attract around 500,000 applicants.

The initiative is designed, in part, to bring undocumented workers into Spain’s formal labor market. The country has maintained a relatively open posture toward immigration even as many other European nations have moved to tighten their borders.

CEAR, a non-profit organization that assists refugees, anticipates the total number of applications will surpass one million before the program concludes in two weeks.

Spain’s economy has grown at a pace that has outstripped most of its European counterparts over the past two years. Migrants have played a significant role in that growth, filling critical labor gaps in industries like hospitality and elderly care while also contributing to social security funding.

Since April, Spain has issued 360,000 temporary work permits — approximately 40% of all applications submitted, according to the ministry. Applicants are permitted to start working as soon as their paperwork is accepted for review.

Pilar Cancela, Spain’s secretary of state for migration, told Reuters that the government has the capacity to process up to one million applications between April and June, though she acknowledged that the number of requests will exceed the number of permits ultimately granted.

Spain’s immigration system has long struggled with significant backlogs. Thousands of migrants from countries such as Colombia and Senegal have waited years for asylum decisions, with more than 90% of those requests ultimately denied.

According to the think tank Funcas, those rigid policies have left roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants in a prolonged limbo — living and working in Spain off the books while waiting years to obtain other forms of residency.

CEAR Director Monica Lopez spoke at a press conference Monday, calling for longer-term solutions beyond the current effort. “This is an extraordinary programme, but there should be a structural measure to facilitate access to work and residence permits, in order to avoid creating groups of people living on the margins of society,” she said.

World leaders have descended on a French spa town for a Group of Seven summit that carries added weight following President Donald Trump’s announcement of an agreement he says will end the U.S. war against Iran.

Trump arrived in Evian-les-Bains Monday afternoon for discussions with G7 leaders, some of whom have been openly critical of how he managed the roughly 15-week conflict — a war that has caused a spike in global energy prices.

Trump has clashed with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over his decision to go to war without consulting them. He has threatened to pull U.S. troops out of all four countries — each a member of the NATO alliance — in response to their lack of support.

The G7 consists of France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This year’s summit also includes guest nations Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, South Korea, Qatar, Syria, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.

Macron Stands Firm Against Trump’s Tariff Threats

French President Emmanuel Macron made clear Monday that he will not yield to Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs on French wines unless Paris scraps its digital tax on American technology companies.

In an interview with French broadcaster TF1, Macron stated that the tax was a European decision and that it is not “for the United States to decide what European or French law should be.” He added that his position is “normal” and will not shift “as long as I am here.”

European Union wines and spirits currently face a 15% tariff when exported to the United States. Macron said he plans to raise the issue in a “respectful but firm” way at the summit.

“What is important to understand is why the G7 was created,” Macron said. “To resolve many of our international imbalances, it is better to coordinate and consult with one another, especially when we are among the world’s major democracies.”

France Ready to Act on Strait of Hormuz Security

Macron said France and other Western allies are “ready to take action very quickly” to help peacefully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

France and Britain have both pushed for a mission to restore maritime security in the strait once conditions permit.

“We already have forces in the area,” Macron said during his TF1 interview, pointing to France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.

“We are ready to take action very quickly … to send aircraft, deploy a frigate, send mine-clearing vessels. We also have our aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, along with its accompanying strike group, which remains in the region and could be deployed within two or three days following confirmation” of the tentative U.S.-Iran deal, he said.

G7 European Leaders Hail Iran Deal as ‘Diplomatic Breakthrough’

Despite their ongoing disagreements with Trump over the Iran conflict, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement before the summit began, praising the United States, Iran, and the mediators for what they described as a “diplomatic breakthrough.” Canada also signed onto the statement.

The leaders stressed that detailed follow-up negotiations must happen quickly and that the agreement needs to be put into effect soon so the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened to oil tanker traffic. They said they are committed to contributing, including through possible mine-clearing operations.

Macron Thanks Security Forces Protecting the Summit

As world leaders flew into Evian-les-Bains, the quiet lakeside resort town was transformed into a heavily secured zone, with officers stationed throughout the streets checking credentials and monitoring crowds.

Macron stopped by a temporary security command center Monday morning to personally thank the officers on duty.

He described the three-day summit — which covers topics including the Middle East, Ukraine, and trade — as “a big source of pride for France, a big responsibility.”

“We’ll try to make maximum progress on all the issues that are important for our country, our continent and also for global peace and prosperity,” Macron told the assembled police officers, gendarmes, firefighters, health workers, and other personnel.

Macron said nearly 13,800 officers have been deployed for the security operation. “Only your collective mobilization makes this possible,” he said. “Good luck for the coming days. Keep up the work.”

Japan to Join G7 European Nations’ Joint Statement

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that Japan will sign onto the joint statement issued by the G7’s four European nations, which calls for cooperation in quickly reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran’s nuclear program.

When asked about the statement, Takaichi confirmed Japan had been asked to participate and said simply, “We will join.”

The statement, issued Monday in response to the U.S.-Iran peace deal, emphasized that the agreement must be implemented rapidly and comprehensively. It also noted the signatories’ readiness to help ensure safe commercial shipping and conduct mine-clearing operations in the key waterway, in line with each country’s constitutional requirements.

Takaichi did not detail what Japan’s specific contribution might be, but said she intends to have thorough discussions at the summit about achieving peace and stability across the broader Middle East region.

Trump Announces July 4 Rally at Lincoln Memorial

Even while traveling to France for the G7 summit, Trump shared plans for a major celebration marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

“On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA,’” Trump posted on social media.

Trump said the event will feature military flyovers, a personally selected music playlist, and “the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY.”

Trump had also previously announced in late May that he would headline “The Great American State Fair,” part of the America 250 celebration, after several musical performers withdrew partly due to the event’s association with Trump. Organizers indicated the president’s appearance was set for June 24 to kick off the fair.

Macron Samples the Spring Behind Evian’s Fame

In a lighter moment Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron drank a glass of water from the natural spring that gave Evian-les-Bains its worldwide reputation.

Macron visited the Cachat Spring, which takes its name from the owner of the garden through which the water once flowed in the late 1700s. The water was first scientifically analyzed in 1807 and was originally recommended as a remedy for kidney and bladder conditions. It became a popular table water starting in the 1860s and is now sold globally under the Evian brand.

Brazil’s Leader and UN Health Chief Urge Action on Pandemic Preparedness

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the head of the United Nations health agency are jointly urging world leaders to strengthen a pandemic preparedness agreement passed last year.

“Humanity promised itself, in the rawness of that grief, that it would not face such a day again unprepared,” the two wrote in a shared statement.

Negotiations over a key annex to the accord have stalled due to disagreements about sharing disease-causing pathogens — which frequently emerge in tropical developing countries — in exchange for access to technologies like vaccines, which are typically developed in wealthier nations.

The pair called on G7 leaders and other international groupings to “instruct your negotiators to come to the July session ready to conclude” the annex.

Trump Calls White House UFC Event ‘Incredible’

While en route to France aboard Air Force One, Trump posted on Truth Social praising a UFC fight night held at the White House, calling the fighters “outstanding” and the South Lawn setting “unsurpassed.”

“The White House has never looked more beautiful,” Trump added.

Brazil’s Lula First to Arrive at G7 Venue

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva became the first foreign leader to check in Monday at the Hotel Royal in Evian-les-Bains ahead of the summit’s formal opening.

Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, India, and South Korea have been invited to join select discussions as partner countries alongside the G7 members.

All world leaders, including Trump, were scheduled to receive an official welcome later Monday from French President Emmanuel Macron at the start of the summit.

The Hotel Royal, a five-star property with views of Lake Geneva and the foothills of the Alps, will host the leaders through Wednesday. The hotel is surrounded by sweeping gardens featuring flowerbeds, water features, and both English- and Japanese-inspired landscaping.

UN Human Rights Chief Welcomes US-Iran Deal

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk welcomed the announced peace agreement between the United States and Iran, while also renewing his call for the U.S. to publicly release the findings of an investigation into a deadly strike on a school in southern Iran that occurred when the war began.

Türk said he “deplores” the use of force by Israel and the United States against Iran, which he said has reportedly left thousands dead and caused widespread infrastructure damage. At the same time, he called Iran’s strikes on Gulf countries and Jordan, along with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, “completely unacceptable.”

“I welcome the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for further negotiations,” Türk told the Human Rights Council as it convened its latest session.

“At this fragile moment, it is clear all sides need to exercise maximum restraint and work to implement this agreement quickly and in good faith,” he added.

UK’s Starmer Calls Iran Deal a ‘Hugely Significant Opportunity’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the breakthrough in U.S.-Iran talks, describing it as a hugely significant opportunity to bring stability to the region.

Speaking at the start of a news conference at his No. 10 Downing Street office, Starmer emphasized that it is critical for all parties in the region to seize the moment and restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We will now work closely with our partners to support this agreement and to ensure that it turns into a durable, lasting peace,” he said.

Trump Warned France of 100% Wine Tariffs Before Departure

Before leaving for the summit, Trump told the New York Post in an interview that he has warned Macron the United States will “have no choice” but to impose 100% tariffs on French wines unless Paris eliminates its digital tax on American technology companies — reviving a threat that first surfaced during his first administration.

Wines and spirits from the European Union currently face a 15% tariff when entering the United States.

Israel Says It Won’t Pull Back from Lebanon

Israel’s defense minister stated Monday that his country has no intention of withdrawing from territory it has seized in Lebanon while the interim U.S.-Iran deal remains pending.

The remarks from Defense Minister Israel Katz marked the first official Israeli response following the deal’s announcement. The two sides — the U.S. and Iran — are expected to meet Friday in Geneva to formally sign the agreement, according to Pakistan.

Katz said Israel plans to remain “indefinitely” in the lands it currently holds in Lebanon, as well as in Syria and the Gaza Strip. Iran has linked the interim deal to a halt in Israeli attacks on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Katz also warned that if Iran retaliates against Israel over Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Israel will respond with “great force.”

BANGKOK (AP) — The man who previously led the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar has been taken into custody after arriving back in Yangon, following the organization’s disclosure that it had been investigating suspicious financial dealings by former board members.

Adam Castillo, who founded and owns a security risk management company called AGS Myanmar, was apprehended Thursday at Yangon International Airport, according to a source familiar with the situation who asked not to be named due to safety concerns.

AGS Myanmar told The Associated Press only that the situation was “an ongoing matter” and declined to say anything further. An email sent to Castillo through his personal website went unanswered.

The U.S. State Department confirmed it had received reports of an American citizen being held in Myanmar but said it was unable to comment further, citing privacy considerations.

Myanmar’s military-backed government issued no official statement on the detention. Requests for comment sent to the government, the Yangon regional government office, and the Yangon Regional Police Department all went unanswered. Authorities in Myanmar, a country currently engulfed in civil war, rarely engage with international press.

However, several media outlets with ties to the military — including NP News — reported that Castillo had been arrested following a formal complaint filed against him by the American Chamber of Commerce. He served as the organization’s president from 2023 to 2025.

When asked about the complaint, the chamber’s executive director, Myat Phyu The, said she was unable to share specifics but pointed to the organization’s May 29 annual report, saying it “covers the issue at hand.” The chamber works to support American business interests.

According to that report, the current board discovered last year that certain transactions had been made by “former board representatives” under suspicious circumstances, and the matter was sent to a law firm for review.

Investigators found that “a former board representative” had entered into a contract in November 2024 with a Washington-based public relations firm. That firm paid him $300,000 that was “apparently collected and disbursed outside AMCHAM Myanmar’s accounts.”

“The signature exceeded the signing limits of individual board representatives, the board never approved the agreement,” the report stated. “AMCHAM Myanmar received no funds, made no payments, and received no services, and the matter was not disclosed to the statutory auditors.”

The report references “two former members of the board” as being connected to the case, though neither is identified by name, and no information is provided about what legal steps the organization may have taken. Myat Phyu The declined to elaborate further.

A statement posted to the organization’s website on June 12 said the board “has taken appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of the organization and its members.”

Myanmar has been in turmoil since its military forcibly removed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in 2021 and violently cracked down on peaceful protests that followed. The crackdown sparked armed resistance from pro-democracy fighters and ethnic minority militias working to push out the military government.

Since the military seized control, Myanmar has seen a growing number of foreigners detained, with foreign journalists covering the country’s political crisis being particularly targeted.

AGS Myanmar, founded in 2013, lists security services on its website alongside offerings such as commercial cleaning and pest control.

Castillo’s company biography describes him as a former U.S. Marine officer who served in Afghanistan and currently chairs “Republican Overseas Myanmar,” a group established in 2024 to advance what it calls “America First policies in Myanmar and across the region.”

It remains unclear where Castillo had been traveling before returning to Myanmar and being detained. His Instagram account, however, shows that just one day before his arrest, he was attending a business forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he also promoted a book he recently published.

That memoir, titled “Finding Our Voice,” chronicles his time in Myanmar during the political upheaval, violence, and economic hardship that followed the military takeover, according to its description.

Whether the book had any connection to his detention remains unknown.

BEIRUT — An unnamed Hezbollah official revealed to Reuters on Monday that the militant group has refrained from carrying out any operations following the announcement of the Iran-U.S. deal.

The official, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that Hezbollah’s position on the ongoing ceasefire is directly tied to whether Israel complies with its terms. The official also made clear that Hezbollah firmly opposes what it described as Israeli “freedom of movement” within Lebanon.

According to the official, Iran deliberately held off on finalizing the deal with the United States in order to observe how Israel would respond to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.

As of Monday, Hezbollah had not released any formal or official statement regarding the agreement between Iran and the U.S.

LONDON — A 22-year-old Ukrainian man was convicted Monday of arson attacks targeting properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that took place last May.

The attacks unfolded over the course of five days, during which police responded to fires at a north London home connected to Starmer, a nearby residence where he previously lived and where his sister-in-law currently resides, and a blaze involving a Toyota vehicle that had once belonged to the British leader.

Roman Lavrynovych was found guilty at London’s Old Bailey Court on one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of arson with reckless disregard for whether lives were put at risk, in connection with one of the house fires. He was acquitted on charges tied to the other property.

Lavrynovych and 27-year-old Stanislav Carpiuc — a Romanian national who was born in Ukraine — were both convicted of conspiracy to commit arson. A third defendant, fellow Ukrainian Petro Pochynok, 35, was found not guilty on that same charge.

RAMALLAH, West Bank — A new report from a prominent conflict monitoring organization warns that the Palestinian economy in the occupied West Bank is on the brink of collapse, driven by a series of Israeli restrictions that severely limit opportunities for the millions of Palestinians living under long-standing military occupation.

The International Crisis Group released findings showing that Israeli measures — including limits on movement, the withholding of tax revenue, and land seizures — are not only strangling the Palestinian economy but also stoking dangerous instability in the region.

The report states bluntly: “The economic conditions necessary for any Palestinian future other than permanent subjugation are being dismantled.”

Researchers gathered information through interviews with Palestinian business leaders, mayors, and government officials to document the financial strain being felt by companies, families, and the internationally supported Palestinian Authority, which oversees cities and towns throughout the West Bank.

The report suggests Israeli policies reflect a deliberate push to “advance Israel’s own declared goal of extending its control and preventing a Palestinian state from emerging.”

Decades of military occupation have taken a toll on Palestinian economic life, with checkpoints and military gates restricting the flow of people and goods. Palestinians have long depended on employment and imports connected to Israel while facing limitations on land use and trade. The approximately 3.4 million Palestinians currently living in the West Bank are dealing with an unemployment rate of around 30%, and their economy has contracted sharply since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, Israel cancelled work permits for the vast majority of the nearly 200,000 Palestinians who had previously been employed in Israel. While Israeli officials pointed to security concerns as the reason, the move effectively stripped the Palestinian economy of close to $400 million per month — nearly one-quarter of its total economic output.

Today, many businesses are struggling to meet payroll and pay suppliers, with private sector companies reporting an estimated 50% drop in activity compared to before the war. The report attributes this to “tightened movement controls, disrupted supply chains and heightened uncertainty.”

“Palestinian society survives, but in a state of grinding immiseration. Absent remedies, the result will likely be a loss of hope and a growing risk of instability and greater violence,” the report warns.

The Palestinian Authority, which serves as the West Bank’s largest employer and provider of public services, sits at the center of this crisis. Government agencies have taken on heavy debt just to remain operational, while public workers go without pay and basic infrastructure — including roads and water systems — continues to deteriorate. The failure to fund public services is leaving patients unable to access hospital care and children out of school.

The Palestinian Authority relies heavily on tax revenues collected on goods coming into the West Bank through Israeli ports, since Palestinians have no control over their own borders. However, under hard-line ministers within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Israel has withheld billions of dollars in tax funds it owes and has made unilateral deductions from those amounts. No transfers have occurred since May 2025.

Joost Hiltermann, the International Crisis Group’s special adviser for the Middle East and North Africa and the report’s author, said the world’s attention has been largely consumed by more than two years of war in Gaza, causing many to overlook the West Bank — even though the changes happening there could have broader consequences for Palestinians’ long-term aspirations.

Hiltermann noted that Israeli officials, who hold significant sway over many of the policies discussed in the report, declined to be interviewed. He did, however, point to internal disagreements within Netanyahu’s government, with settler leaders and security officials frequently at odds over how to handle the Palestinian economy.

“The security establishment doesn’t want the Palestinian Authority or economy to collapse because they would have to assume the burden of governing the territory in full after essentially destroying it,” Hiltermann said.

LONDON — Britain’s Court of Appeal delivered a ruling Monday upholding the government’s decision to classify the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, reversing an earlier court decision that had sided with the group.

Chief Justice Sue Carr wrote that Palestine Action could not credibly be described as a civil disobedience organization, as the group had argued. She noted that the group operated through covert cells and carried out deliberate destruction of property at defense companies and on military bases.

“In our judgment, that premise was seriously flawed. It was not a sustainable proposition to portray Palestine Action as a non-violent organization,” Carr stated in the ruling.

The decision overturns a February ruling by three senior High Court judges who had concluded that while the group did commit some crimes in pursuit of its political goals, the extent of those activities did not justify a terrorism designation. The ban had remained in effect throughout the government’s appeal process.

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori responded defiantly, saying the group would “fight proscription all the way” to both the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. She described the ban as “one of the most extreme attacks on free speech and the right to protest in modern British history.”

The British government moved to outlaw the group after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base in June 2025 to demonstrate against British military support for Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza — a conflict that has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths. That incident came after a series of other vandalism-related actions carried out by the group.

By being placed on the terrorism list alongside organizations such as al-Qaida and Hamas, membership in or support for Palestine Action became a criminal offense carrying a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

Since the ban took effect, more than 3,300 people have been arrested at protests for holding signs reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” Over 700 individuals have been charged under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act, though no convictions have been handed down yet.

Civil liberties advocates and supporters of the group argue that arresting people for peaceful demonstration tramples on free speech rights and the right to protest.

The group Defend Our Juries criticized the ruling, saying it would likely result in more police resources being used to detain peaceful protesters. “It appears the courts have been instrumentalized to suppress opposition to genocide, when they should be doing the precise opposite,” the group said in a statement released following the decision.

Palestine Action has been staging direct action protests at military and industrial locations across the U.K. since its founding in 2020, including break-ins at facilities operated by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK. Authorities say the group’s activities have caused millions of pounds in damage with implications for national security.

The original High Court panel acknowledged that some of those actions rose to the level of terrorist acts but said they could be prosecuted through the criminal justice system without a formal proscription order.

Just last Friday, four group members who broke into an Elbit factory in Bristol in 2024 and destroyed equipment were sentenced to prison after a judge determined they had acted as terrorists. More than 100 Palestine Action supporters were arrested outside the London courthouse where that sentencing took place.

Shipping companies across Asia and Europe are holding off on resuming passage through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it could take weeks to rebuild confidence in the route — even after the United States and Iran reached a framework agreement to reopen the critical waterway.

U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday that would end their war, lift the U.S. blockade of Iran, and reopen the strait. Global oil prices dropped roughly 5% on Monday in response to the news.

While shippers have welcomed the agreement, many are waiting for more specifics — particularly around mine clearance operations in the strait before committing to any voyages.

“Initial reactions in the shipping industry are muted. AIS data shows no wave of ships heading towards Hormuz this morning,” Jyske Bank analyst Haider Anjum wrote in a note to clients.

“The shipping companies probably want to wait until it is clear that the agreement holds, as we have already had Hormuz ‘open’ for a very short time twice before,” Anjum added.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28, has largely shut down shipping through the strait — a passage that normally handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply, as well as key commodities like aluminium and urea.

Traffic through the waterway remains minimal. India’s Petronet sent the LNG tanker Disha through Hormuz on Monday, making it the only visible shipment so far, according to data from Kpler and LSEG. The tanker had loaded its cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility on March 1-2 and had been waiting west of the strait since then, with India’s Dahej terminal as its final destination. Petronet did not respond to a request for comment.

Shipping association BIMCO said Monday that it still views transits through the strait as highly risky, with mines remaining a top concern.

“The next step is for shipowners to be reassured that transiting the Strait of Hormuz is not only permitted but also safe,” said Jakob Larsen, BIMCO’s chief safety and security officer.

A spokesperson for the Japanese Shipowners’ Association said the group welcomed the peace agreement but wanted to “wait a little longer for more concrete information” before making any decisions.

“Given the situation, we cannot simply say, ‘Right then, let’s go’ based on news of the agreement alone,” the spokesperson added.

Nippon Yusen, the country’s largest shipper, said it hoped operations would return to normal as soon as possible. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said it would only resume navigation once safety has been fully confirmed.

Germany’s shipowners’ association VDR described itself as “cautiously optimistic” about whether the deal could effectively reopen the strait. German shipper Hapag-Lloyd expressed hope that vessels would be able to cross the strait by this week.

As of June 15, an estimated 155 tankers carrying oil and chemicals were in the Middle East Gulf area, down from 201 at the end of May, according to Kpler shiptracking data. Oil Brokerage put its own estimate at 215 tankers. Under unrestricted navigation conditions, the backlog on both sides of the strait could be cleared in 8 to 10 days, according to Anoop Singh, Oil Brokerage’s global head of shipping research.

While some tankers have been quietly moving cargo along Oman’s coastline for weeks — sailing without broadcasting their location and with U.S. Navy support — experts say meaningful traffic won’t resume for some time. David Jorbenaze, global oil market leader at ICIS, said it would take weeks of de-mining operations and a normalization of insurance rates before significant shipping activity could return.

“Returning to full pre-conflict volumes is realistically a 2027 story, and only if the agreement holds without incident and production recovers at pace,” Jorbenaze said.

SEOUL, South Korea — Starbucks Korea announced Monday that it will shut all of its stores across the country early on June 22, requiring employees to undergo mandatory training on history and social sensitivity. The move comes as the company faces intense public backlash over a marketing campaign that many South Koreans viewed as deeply offensive to victims of a violent military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in 1980.

Shinsegae Group, which holds a 67.5% ownership stake in Starbucks Korea, said executives and headquarters staff will attend a training session on Wednesday led by professors specializing in history and sociology. All Starbucks locations throughout South Korea will then close at 3 p.m. the following Monday so that store employees can view a recording of that session, according to a company statement.

The controversy began when Starbucks Korea tried to market a line of stainless-steel tumblers it called the “SS Tank” by declaring May 18 as “Tank Day.” That date holds deep significance in South Korea — it marks the anniversary of a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju, which was violently crushed by the country’s military government. Troops, tanks, and helicopters were deployed during the suppression, leaving hundreds of people dead or wounded.

The campaign drew even more outrage because of its slogan, “Thwack it on the table!” Many people connected that phrase to a notorious 1987 police statement that tried to conceal the torture and death of student activist Park Jong-chol. Officials had falsely claimed that Park died after investigators “hit the desk with a thwack” during questioning.

After the promotion triggered immediate public anger, Shinsegae pulled it within hours and removed the chief executive of Starbucks Korea from the position. Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin later delivered a nationally televised apology, and police launched an investigation in response to complaints filed by relatives of Gwangju crackdown victims. Chairman Chung is also scheduled to undergo separate training alongside the chief executives of Shinsegae’s affiliated companies on June 24.

Shinsegae said the decision to close all Starbucks stores early — the first such companywide shutdown since the chain’s debut in South Korea in 1999 — along with the requirement for company-wide training, demonstrates “how seriously it views the marketing controversy and its determination to prevent a recurrence.”

The Gwangju crackdown took place just months after General Chun Doo-hwan seized control of the government through a coup in late 1979. South Korean government records indicate approximately 200 people were killed in Gwangju, though activists contend the actual number was considerably higher. Chun’s government also imprisoned tens of thousands of people under the claim of eliminating social evils.

The widespread public fury over Chun’s dictatorship eventually led to massive nationwide protests in 1987, which pressured him into accepting a constitutional change that restored direct presidential elections — a moment widely regarded as the beginning of South Korea’s path toward democracy.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is headed to Moscow this week, where he plans to renew his country’s offer to serve as a host for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to a diplomatic source who spoke on Monday.

The two-day visit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, comes just ahead of a NATO summit that Turkey will host on July 7 and 8. It also follows a request made by Kyiv in April asking Ankara to step in as a mediator and host a meeting between top leaders. Turkey has managed to maintain working relationships with both Russia and Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.

According to the Turkish diplomatic source, Fidan is expected to sit down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and will also have a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During those discussions, Fidan plans to caution against any further escalation of tensions in the Black Sea. He will also reiterate Turkey’s proposal for a limited ceasefire covering ports and energy infrastructure in the region. In recent months, both Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for drone strikes targeting tankers near Turkey’s northern coastline.

On the Ukrainian side, an official indicated that Kyiv would be open to Turkey hosting direct bilateral talks — something President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for on multiple occasions.

Last month, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara told Reuters that his country was seeking a closer relationship with Turkey, including potential joint efforts in defense manufacturing.

Fidan’s agenda in Moscow will also include a discussion of the South Caucasus region, following the recent election victory of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. That conversation is expected to touch on ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan — a process that could also help move forward Turkey’s own efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

The United States and Iran, with Pakistan acting as mediator, have outlined the key terms of a preliminary agreement they say will bring an end to the war between the two countries.

TIMELINE AND STRUCTURE OF THE DEAL

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that both nations have declared an immediate and permanent halt to all military operations. The formal memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, after which Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabdi confirmed it will be made public.

Both sides have stated that the Strait of Hormuz will begin reopening and the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports will start to be lifted as soon as the document is signed. More contentious issues — including Iran’s nuclear program and existing U.S. sanctions — will be addressed through negotiations over the following 60 days.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND PORT BLOCKADE

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen Friday and that he had ordered the blockade on Iranian ports to be lifted. A senior Iranian official confirmed the strait would be reopened to all commercial vessels upon signing of the memorandum. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that under the agreement, marine traffic through the strait would be managed by Iran in coordination with Oman.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Both countries have stated that Iran agrees it will neither develop nor obtain nuclear weapons — a commitment Tehran has made repeatedly over the past several decades. The senior Iranian official said that, pending a final agreement, Iran would freeze its nuclear activities, halting further uranium enrichment and stopping any expansion of nuclear facilities.

The official also said the U.S. agreed that Iran could dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium inside Iran as part of a future comprehensive agreement. Trump said Saturday there was no immediate urgency to remove Iran’s nuclear material from the country, stating the U.S. would retrieve it “when all is calm.” He also said any final deal would include a strong inspections regime, though he offered no specifics.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham stated that any final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program would need to be reviewed and approved by Congress.

SANCTIONS AND FINANCIAL TERMS

The senior Iranian official said the U.S. agreed not to impose any new sanctions on Iran until a final deal is reached. The official added that Washington would waive oil sanctions on Iran for a set period of time, and that once a final agreement is in place, all U.S. and U.N. sanctions would be lifted on an agreed schedule.

The official also said the U.S. agreed to release $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets through a combination of direct cash transfers, cooperation among regional countries, and financial credit lines. Additionally, Washington and its regional allies would develop a reconstruction and development plan for Iran, to be negotiated with Tehran within 60 days.

Trump, however, said Iran would not receive direct cash payments, though he acknowledged sanctions could potentially be lifted.

LEBANON

Prime Minister Sharif said the permanent halt to military operations would also apply to Lebanon. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretariat stated that military operations, including those in Lebanon, would stop permanently beginning Monday night.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called for a complete end to Israeli military strikes against Lebanon, saying the United States bears responsibility for carrying out the terms of the framework deal. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, said Israeli forces would remain in security zones they have taken in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, and noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made that position clear to Trump.

Israel is anticipating a wave of new air and missile defense orders from European countries, with a senior Israeli defense ministry official saying at least one new contract is expected to be finalized within the coming weeks.

European nations are increasingly looking to strengthen their air defenses as concerns about Russia continue to grow, fueling interest in systems capable of countering both intermediate-range ballistic missiles and shorter-range rocket threats.

Moshe Patel, the director and general manager of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization, spoke about the rising demand while attending last week’s Berlin airshow. “There’s a huge interest from Europe, from Western Europe,” he said, though he declined to name the specific countries involved.

Among the systems drawing attention is Arrow, an Israeli air defense platform built to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missiles — including Russia’s Oreshnik missile. Arrow was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in partnership with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Germany has already purchased the system.

Finland, meanwhile, has acquired David’s Sling, a shorter-range system engineered to intercept ballistic missiles launched from distances between 100 and 200 kilometers — roughly 62 to 124 miles. European nations are making these purchases as they prepare for potential Russian aggression, though Moscow has denied any such intentions.

Patel pointed to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as the primary driver of European interest. “It’s mainly (driven) by what’s happening between Russia and Ukraine,” he said. “Of course, they’re looking very carefully what is happening in Iran and whatever will be good against Russia could be good for Iran. Whatever they’re doing, it will be good for all those kinds of threats.”

When asked whether European buyers were focused on Arrow or David’s Sling specifically, Patel noted that Iron Dome — a system designed to neutralize short-range threats — was also generating significant interest.

“It’s a huge advantage to those nations that have enemies right on their borders, this is the main capability, and the ability to protect a city, protect (a) strategic area,” Patel said.

On the timeline for additional contracts, Patel indicated that momentum is building. “And there are discussions that, maybe by the end of the year, we’re going to hear about more nations,” he said. “So, it looks like the decision making by those nations, it’s expedite.”

Patel declined to provide details on the financial scale of the anticipated deals, saying only that the negotiations involve “not minor numbers.”

GENEVA — The top human rights official at the United Nations on Monday expressed strong support for the newly announced peace agreement between the United States and Iran, urging all parties across the region to exercise caution as the deal takes shape.

“I welcome the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for further negotiations,” said UN human rights chief Volker Turk.

Turk added, “At this fragile moment it is clear all sides need to exercise maximum restraint and work to implement the agreement reached quickly and in good faith.”

His statement followed word from both U.S. and Iranian officials that the two countries had reached an agreement to end their ongoing conflict and restore access through the Strait of Hormuz. While described as a preliminary pact, the announcement was enough to push oil prices lower. The future of Iran’s nuclear program, however, remains a subject for future negotiations.

Though still considered a framework agreement, the deal represents the most significant step forward in resolving a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and thrown global energy markets into turmoil since it began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran back in February.

Beyond the US-Iran situation, the UN rights chief also expressed serious concern about Israeli military strikes targeting populated areas and infrastructure in Lebanon, as well as cross-border attacks carried out by Hezbollah. Turk called for an immediate halt to the fighting, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and thorough investigations into potential violations of international law by all parties involved.

Officials in southern Lebanon are urging residents who fled the fighting to stay put for now, even after a deal between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the broader conflict — because Israel says it has no plans to pull its forces out of the region.

The war between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has been devastating for Lebanon. Thousands of people have been killed, and roughly 1.2 million Lebanese have been forced from their homes since Israel launched its offensive after Hezbollah began firing on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a central role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, announced early Monday local time that a deal had been reached. He said the agreement calls for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

Despite that announcement, municipal councils in southern Lebanon — where Israeli forces have established a self-declared security zone — issued statements urging residents not to return home yet, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

Mona Mazeh, a displaced woman currently sheltering in Beirut’s Hamra district, said she has no plans to go back to her village near the southern city of Tyre anytime soon. “Frankly, we are hesitant; Israel cannot be trusted,” she said.

Israel is not a party to the US-Iran agreement, and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made clear that his country intends to hold its ground. Katz said Israel will not pull back from security zones it has established in southern Lebanon, Gaza, or Syria, and warned that Israel would strike back if Iran attacked it over events in Lebanon.

Katz also said the security zone in southern Lebanon would be cleared of local residents and what he described as “all terrorist infrastructure, including houses in contact villages” — a reference to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah itself had not issued any statement on the agreement as of Monday. However, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a political ally of the group and leader of the Shi’ite Muslim Amal Movement, said the deal established “the foundations for security and stability in the region, including Lebanon.”

In a written statement, Berri thanked both Iran and the United States for including a halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon as part of the agreement, calling that provision binding.

The Israeli military has spent weeks demolishing villages in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters who operate within civilian communities in the predominantly Shi’ite Muslim area. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese Shi’ites have taken refuge in other parts of the country.

In Nabatieh, a heavily damaged city in the south, resident Mohammed Daqdouq said he traveled back Monday morning to check on his home. “We’ll need a lifetime to rebuild — to rebuild it again and bring Nabatieh back to how it was,” he said.

Iran had insisted that any broader deal with the United States include a ceasefire in Lebanon. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards originally founded Hezbollah back in 1982.

TOKYO (AP) — She’s not old enough to walk through the doors of a nightclub, but that hasn’t stopped DJ Rinoka from becoming one of the most talked-about names in techno music.

At just 9 years old, this Japanese DJ has already made history — earning a spot in the Guinness World Records as the youngest DJ in the world, a title she claimed at age 6.

“It’s fun when people get excited at the live performances,” she shared with The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Her passion for DJing started at age 4, when she stumbled across videos of DJs Amelie Lens and Nina Kraviz on YouTube. She thought they were incredibly cool and wasted no time asking for a Pioneer DDJ-200 machine as a Christmas gift.

“I like a cool, fast, intense style,” she said during the interview, sporting a cap featuring her own personal logo.

Beyond the DJ booth, Rinoka is still very much a kid. She has a pet gecko at home and travels everywhere with a stuffed toy dog named Korochan — including up on stage. The gecko, however, stays behind.

Her performance schedule is anything but ordinary for a child her age. She regularly plays at games for Tokyo’s professional baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, and shares the stage with DJs many years her senior.

When she performs, there’s a joyful confidence about her — pressing and turning buttons, bobbing along to the rhythm with pure enthusiasm.

Rinoka keeps her last name out of the public eye, and her parents have chosen to stay anonymous as well, hoping to give their only child as normal an upbringing as possible.

Outside of music, she takes hip-hop dance classes, enjoys making things out of paper and aluminum foil, and keeps up with her schoolwork like any other child her age.

Techno music itself has deep roots in American cities like Detroit and relies heavily on electronic instruments, including the now highly sought-after Roland machines. Among its many styles is the hypnotic, high-energy acid house genre that Rinoka is particularly drawn to.

The music is defined by its powerful, driving beat — the kind that makes listeners want to get up and move.

Over the decades, techno has grown into a global phenomenon, with top DJs crafting dance music for audiences around the world. And now, one of its most unlikely fans has become one of its rising stars.

“The music will continue,” Rinoka said with quiet thoughtfulness.

But when asked to choose between a career as a DJ or a life spent caring for a whole lot of geckos, she didn’t hesitate for a second.

“The geckos,” she exclaimed. “They are so cute.”

PARIS/FRANKFURT — The president of the European Central Bank expressed cautious optimism Monday over a reported U.S.-Iran ceasefire, while a fellow policymaker warned that high inflation across the euro zone is far from over.

ECB President Christine Lagarde welcomed the overnight announcement that U.S. and Iranian officials had reached a preliminary agreement to end their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passage for global energy shipments. The news sent oil prices lower and caused financial investors to scale back their expectations for future ECB rate hikes.

“If this news is confirmed by developments in the coming days and the signing of a memorandum of understanding … it is good news. We can only welcome it,” Lagarde said in an interview on France Culture radio.

The ECB had raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years just last week, aiming to slow inflation that has been driven higher by energy supply disruptions tied to the Iran conflict.

Investors who had largely anticipated two more rate hikes over the coming year pulled back those expectations on Monday, now pricing in just one additional increase with only a slim chance of another move beyond that.

Speaking separately in Frankfurt, ECB Governing Council member Joachim Nagel acknowledged that financial markets appeared to be betting on a lasting resolution to the Iran conflict. But he urged caution, saying that even if the Strait of Hormuz were to reopen in the near term, it would take months for oil supply to return to pre-war levels.

“No relief is in sight for the foreseeable future,” said Nagel, who leads Germany’s Bundesbank. “On the contrary: even if the Strait of Hormuz were to become navigable again soon, it will take months for the oil supply to return to normal.”

Nagel said euro zone inflation would remain elevated even under the ECB’s more optimistic scenario, in which energy prices decline more quickly. He also noted that inflation could actually climb again once government measures designed to cap energy costs expire. Those measures — which include a fuel price discount at the pump in Germany — had reduced the euro zone’s inflation rate by 0.4 percentage points in May, he said.

The German central banker said all options remain on the table for the ECB’s next policy meeting on July 22-23, including both holding rates steady and raising them further.

Lagarde also tempered her optimism, noting in her radio interview that “the whole question of uranium enrichment remains to be debated, agreed and concluded in the form of an agreement.”

Voters in Switzerland have turned down a proposal that would have placed a hard limit on the country’s population, with data from Sunday’s referendum revealing that older citizens and residents of major cities played a decisive role in the outcome.

The initiative, championed by the Swiss People’s Party, was rejected by a margin of 55% to 45% following a closely contested campaign. The debate centered on competing concerns — fears over unchecked immigration on one side, and the risk of Switzerland cutting itself off from Europe on the other.

The Swiss People’s Party, which is the country’s largest political party, had pushed the proposal as a way to address public worries about overcrowding straining public services, driving up crime, and increasing rental costs. Despite the defeat, the party vowed to continue pressing the issue of immigration.

Polling data revealed a clear generational divide in how voters felt about the cap. Among those 65 and older, 60% voted against the measure. Of voters aged 50 to 64, opposition stood at 57%, according to figures published by Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

On the other side, voters between the ages of 35 and 49 were the most supportive, with 51% backing the cap. Among the youngest group surveyed — those aged 18 to 34 — support came in at 48%, based on data gathered for online news outlet 20 Minuten/Tamedia by polling firm Leewas.

Political scientist Cloe Jans of polling organization GFS Bern offered some insight into the result, telling 20 Minuten that while many voters sympathized with the goals of the proposal, they were reluctant to see strict numerical limits written into law.

“In geopolitically uncertain times people aren’t keen on experiments and burning bridges unnecessarily,” she said.

The vote came after a difficult stretch for Switzerland in 2025, during which the country faced some of the steepest U.S. tariffs in Europe after President Donald Trump pushed the wealthy nation to reduce its trade surplus with the United States.

Switzerland is also currently working to finalize an agreement with the European Union aimed at strengthening economic ties. Opponents of the population cap used that context in their campaign, running posters featuring an image of a smiling Trump alongside the message: “Breaking with Europe, now of all times?”

Business organizations, the national government, and parliament all came out against the cap, cautioning that it could limit Swiss companies’ ability to draw workers from the EU — a critical source of labor.

A geographic breakdown of the results showed that Switzerland’s largest cities — Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, and Bern — firmly rejected the measure. Its strongest backing came from rural, conservative cantons in central Switzerland. The proposal also failed in Valais and Grisons, two lightly populated cantons known for their ski resorts, and generally underperformed in French-speaking parts of the country.

Under the terms of the initiative, Switzerland’s population — currently at 9.1 million — would have been required to stay below 10 million by the year 2050. Once the population hit 9.5 million, the government would have been obligated to tighten immigration restrictions.

KYIV, Ukraine — A massive Russian military assault on Ukraine on Monday left a trail of destruction, including a devastating fire at one of the nation’s most cherished religious sites and the deaths of rescue workers responding to the attacks.

The Dormition Cathedral at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — a sprawling monastic complex known for its golden domes and commonly referred to as the Monastery of the Caves — was engulfed in flames and thick smoke. Associated Press photographers on the scene captured images of firefighters working to contain the blaze while members of the clergy watched helplessly or rushed to remove valuable items from the historic, centuries-old complex.

In the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the Russian strikes proved fatal for rescue workers who had responded to the scene. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the country’s capital, many residents were wounded and others sought safety by taking shelter underground as the attacks continued.

This report is based on a photo gallery assembled by Associated Press photo editors documenting the destruction across Ukraine.

HONG KONG — Hong Kong took a politically significant step Monday, opening a public consultation period for its first-ever five-year development plan — a move that draws the territory closer to the way mainland China manages its economy.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse told reporters that mainland China launched its own 15th five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030 this year. Hong Kong has historically taken pride in keeping government involvement in the economy to a minimum, even as it has looked to Beijing for broader direction.

Tse said Hong Kong’s plan will work in step with China’s national development strategy while still maintaining the city’s free-market principles.

“Aligning with the national 15th five-year plan does not replace the free market,” she said. “Rather, it channels a clear vision and strategic planning through major policies, and that allows the market to develop more stably and clearly.”

The consultation window runs for two months, during which residents can share their thoughts through a dedicated website, by email, or by sending letters. The government also plans to hold events to gather input from residents, lawmakers, and industry representatives. Officials hope to unveil a finalized plan during the third quarter of the year.

According to Tse, the plan will reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a global hub for finance, shipping, and trade.

Among the proposals, officials want to speed up development of the Northern Metropolis — a large-scale project aimed at building a technology center and university town near the mainland Chinese tech city of Shenzhen, just across the border.

The plan also looks to deepen Hong Kong’s involvement in the Greater Bay Area, Beijing’s initiative to create an integrated economic and business zone that includes Hong Kong, Macao, and nine other mainland cities.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said on June 9 that the five-year plan would better blend what he called a “capable government” with “an efficient market,” with the government taking a leading role in boosting the market’s competitiveness. Lee added that the plan would help residents identify personal development opportunities and make business planning easier.

A Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong and Macao affairs was expected to visit the city Tuesday for a two-day trip focused on reviewing the territory’s alignment with the national 2026–2030 plan and progress on the Northern Metropolis project.

John Burns, a politics and public administration professor at the University of Hong Kong, acknowledged that the city had previously put itself at a disadvantage by lacking strategic planning. However, he was skeptical about the consultation process, noting that public consultations in Hong Kong have long lost credibility because officials rarely change direction based on public feedback.

“This is the government selling its notion of a local five-year plan to the community that dovetails with central government priorities,” Burns said, also pointing out that the consultation document lacks specific targets or timelines.

Since Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, the former colony has grown increasingly tied to the mainland through economic links, cultural connections, and shared transportation and border infrastructure.

Although Hong Kong maintains its own government, legislature, and court system under Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework, China’s influence over the territory has grown considerably in recent years.

After widespread anti-government protests erupted in 2019, Beijing enacted a national security law that Hong Kong authorities say was needed to restore stability. Critics say the law has effectively crushed all political opposition. Many prominent activists have been imprisoned under it, and the city’s legislature is now dominated by politicians loyal to Beijing following a sweeping overhaul of the electoral system.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s defense minister announced Monday that the country has no intention of pulling back from territory it has captured in Lebanon, a stance that could complicate an interim agreement reached just hours earlier between the United States and Iran.

The U.S.-Iran deal includes provisions to open the Strait of Hormuz and extend a fragile ceasefire, though full details were not immediately made public. Iran indicated it would not begin carrying out the agreement until a formal signing ceremony, which key mediator Pakistan said is scheduled to take place Friday in Switzerland.

Even before the ink could dry, the agreement faced significant obstacles. Israel continued its military operations against the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon — including airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday — nearly derailing the negotiations. Israel joined the United States in launching the war on February 28.

In Israel’s first official response following the deal’s announcement, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel intends to remain in the territories it controls in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip “indefinitely.” Iran has made halting Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon a condition tied to the interim agreement.

Katz went further, warning that if Iran retaliates against Israel for its strikes in Lebanon, Israel would respond with “great force.”

Over the past two and a half years, Israel has taken control of areas across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria totaling roughly 1,000 square kilometers — approximately 386 square miles — a stretch of land slightly smaller than New York City.

The U.S.-Iran deal gives both sides just 60 days to reach an agreement on what to do with Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its broader nuclear program. Resolving those same issues took years during Tehran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump walked away from that deal during his first term in office, setting in motion the chain of events that eventually led to the current conflict.

Trump took to social media to celebrate the agreement, writing “Congratulations to all!” as he marked his 80th birthday Sunday with a UFC cage match event at the White House. He also wrote that he was authorizing “the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz” and “the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which had been imposed in response to Iran’s control of the critical shipping route. He later clarified that the strait would not reopen until Friday’s signing.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the deal on state television but echoed that implementation would not begin until the formal signing on Friday. He noted the agreement came out of talks that also involved Qatar, another mediator in the negotiations.

Pakistan was the first country to publicly announce the deal. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said “both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” and noted that mediators would facilitate meetings this week to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”

Two senior Pakistani officials, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said broader negotiations on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the following 60 days, with the possibility of extending that timeline if needed.

Iranian state television, citing the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council, reported that hostilities on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” and that the U.S. naval blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”

Qatari mediators departed Tehran after 17 hours of negotiations, according to an official familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each party are expected to take place in Doha this week.

It remained unclear who from Iran would sign the agreement on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the White House was still working out the details of who would attend, saying, “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”

Concern was already surfacing among some Republicans. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who referred to Vance as “the architect of the deal,” posted online: “I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.”

Governments across the globe are cracking down on children’s use of social media, with an increasing number of countries passing laws or proposing new rules to limit how young people interact with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

AUSTRALIA

Australia made history in December by becoming the first nation in the world to ban social media for anyone under the age of 16. The law, which took effect December 10, 2025, is considered one of the strictest tech regulations anywhere. Platforms that don’t comply could be hit with fines reaching A$49.5 million — roughly $34.9 million in U.S. dollars.

BRITAIN

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 15 that Britain is on track to approve a similar ban on social media for children under 16 before Christmas, with the rules expected to go into effect around Spring 2027. Starmer also issued a warning on June 8 that tech giants operating in Britain must take action to prevent children from sharing nude images on their devices — or face laws requiring them to do so. Under the proposed plan, companies like Apple and Google would need to build or turn on tools that detect and block nude images for minors. Adults would still be able to access such content through an age verification process.

CHINA

China’s internet regulator has already rolled out what it calls a “minor mode” system, which imposes device-level restrictions and app-specific rules that limit screen time based on a child’s age.

DENMARK

Denmark announced in November that it would ban social media for children under 15, though parents would have the option to grant access to certain platforms for kids as young as 13.

FRANCE

France’s National Assembly voted in January to ban children under 15 from social media, driven by growing alarm over cyberbullying and mental health dangers. The legislation still needs to clear the Senate before returning to the lower house for a final vote.

GERMANY

In Germany, children between the ages of 13 and 16 may use social media only with parental approval. However, child safety advocates argue the current controls don’t go far enough.

GREECE

A senior Greek government source told Reuters on February 3 that the country is “very close” to announcing a ban on social media for children under 15.

INDIA

India’s chief economic adviser called for age restrictions on social media platforms in January, describing them as “predatory” in the way they keep users hooked. The comments came just two days after the tourist state of Goa said it was considering restrictions similar to those in Australia.

ITALY

Italian law currently requires children under 14 to have parental consent before creating a social media account, while those 14 and older can sign up without it.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia’s communications regulator announced on June 1 that the country has started blocking anyone under 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms.

NORWAY

The Norwegian government put forward a proposal in 2024 to raise the age at which children can independently agree to social media terms of service — from 13 to 15. Parents would still be allowed to give consent on behalf of younger children. The government is also working on legislation to set a firm minimum age of 15 for social media use.

POLAND

Poland’s ruling party announced on February 27 that it is crafting legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and to require platforms to handle age verification themselves.

SLOVENIA

Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said on February 6 that Slovenia is working on a law that would bar children under 15 from accessing social media.

SPAIN

Spain’s Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez told Reuters in May that the country will move forward with new rules to make social networks and artificial intelligence safer, despite heavy lobbying from the tech industry. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had announced in February that Spain would prohibit social media access for anyone under 16, with platforms required to put age verification systems in place.

SWEDEN

A government-appointed commission recommended on June 2 that Sweden set a minimum age of 15 for social media use. Investigator Lisa Englund Krafft, speaking at a news conference alongside Social Affairs and Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed, said the ban could be structured so that platforms bear responsibility for verifying users’ ages.

TURKEY

Turkey’s parliament passed a law on April 24 banning children under 15 from social media and introducing new regulations for digital platforms, including companies that make game software.

UNITED STATES

In the U.S., a bill aimed at pushing social media companies to better protect young users cleared a major hurdle on May 12 when Republican Senator Ted Cruz announced his support. Cruz said he would back the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require social media companies to “exercise reasonable care” when designing features that could harm minors. This legislation is separate from the long-standing Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which already prohibits companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental approval. While several individual states have passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to use social media, those laws have faced legal challenges on free speech grounds.

EUROPEAN UNION

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on May 12 that the EU will pursue stronger protections for children against harmful social media features. She said the Commission plans to target “addictive and harmful design practices” through its upcoming Digital Fairness Act, expected to be formally proposed later this year, while an expert panel works on recommendations. The European Parliament had already passed a resolution in November calling for an EU-wide ban on social media access for children under 16 without parental consent, and an outright ban for those under 13.

TECH INDUSTRY

Major social media platforms — including TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat — say users must be at least 13 years old to create an account. But child safety advocates say these measures fall far short, and official data from several European countries shows that large numbers of children under 13 already have active social media profiles.