Author: Admin

Israeli military officials reported Wednesday that they successfully targeted and killed two senior Hamas financial operatives who oversaw the organization’s money transfer operations in Gaza.

The strike eliminated Khader Jamasi, described as the leader of Hamas’ fund transfer network, and Muhammad Harazin, who served as his deputy, according to military statements released on social media.

Military officials described both men as key players in Hamas’ financial structure, stating they were responsible for channeling substantial amounts of money to the organization’s armed forces.

The Israeli military reported that these operatives managed a system of currency exchangers throughout Gaza that moved funds to Hamas. Officials said this network processed tens of millions of dollars that were ultimately funneled to the group’s armed activities.

According to military statements, the financial operation depended on “a network of dozens of money exchangers operating throughout the Strip.”

“These funds enabled the Hamas terrorist organization to continue paying salaries to its terrorists, supporting the planning and execution of terrorist attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians,” the military stated.

This development occurs as Israeli military operations against Hamas infrastructure persist following the ceasefire that began in October 2025. Military officials say they continue working to disrupt terrorist networks and have confirmed eliminating numerous Hamas operatives, including high-ranking officials.

Israeli authorities claim Hamas has not fulfilled the terms of the US-backed 20-point plan due to the organization’s continued refusal to surrender its weapons.

Multiple senior Hamas military commanders have been eliminated in Israeli operations over recent months. In late May 2026, Mohammed Odeh, who had been newly named commander of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was eliminated in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

Earlier that same month in May 2026, an Israeli operation in Gaza City resulted in the death of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who had formerly led Hamas’s military wing in Gaza.

Military officials emphasized that Jamasi and Harazin were crucial in maintaining Hamas’ armed operations by facilitating money transfers within the Gaza Strip.

Iran’s top diplomat declared Wednesday that his country’s military forces successfully struck American military installations throughout the region, while multiple Gulf nations reported defending against incoming Iranian aerial assaults.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced through Iran’s Foreign Ministry that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had caused significant damage to American bases and military assets. According to the ministry’s statement, Iran “will not hesitate to target the source of attacks.”

Military forces in Jordan confirmed they successfully intercepted and destroyed five Iranian missiles on Wednesday. Reuters previously reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck four locations at the American al-Azraq base using long-range missiles.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported that multiple warning sirens sounded early Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s military announced it was defending against an aerial assault after the IRGC declared it had launched drone strikes against the Ali Al Salem base.

Araghchi took to social media platform X to discuss the military confrontation, stating that Iran would respond to any American military actions.

“Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination. Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe. History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders,” he wrote.

These declarations followed military exchanges between America and Iran that occurred early Wednesday. The combat operations came after CENTCOM revealed that American forces were retaliating for the destruction of a US Army Apache helicopter.

American forces targeted approximately 20 locations within Iran and reported successfully intercepting nearly all incoming missiles and drones launched in retaliation. A US official confirmed no known injuries to American personnel or damage to US installations.

American warplanes focused on Iranian air defense systems, radar equipment, and command facilities around the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times reported additional strikes occurred in Jask and Sirik coastal regions and Qeshem Island, where a communications tower and two water storage facilities sustained damage.

US Central Command posted on X that its forces had finished conducting “self-defense strikes” against Iran on June 9. CENTCOM reported that Air Force and Navy fighter aircraft used precision weapons to attack Iranian air defense networks, ground control stations, and radar surveillance sites near the Strait of Hormuz. The command characterized the mission as a “proportional response” and stated US forces remain ready to counter additional attacks.

Ukraine’s top law enforcement official has revealed that Russian agents are targeting teenage Ukrainian girls for recruitment in deadly plots against their own country’s military forces.

National police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi disclosed in a Wednesday interview with Ukrainian outlet Cenzor.NET that authorities have documented six contract murder cases this year orchestrated through the Telegram messaging platform, with one attack successfully thwarted.

“We are talking about planned murders organised by the special services of the aggressor state and carried out by Ukrainian citizens,” he said.

Russia’s FSB security service was not immediately available for comment. Russian security services accuse Kyiv of recruiting Russians for bombings in Russia, and Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for assassinating several senior Russian officers since Moscow’s 2022 invasion.

According to Vyhivskyi, Russian operatives target young women through messaging applications, offering them quick financial rewards while directing their activities from afar.

The recruits receive instructions to locate Ukrainian service members on dating platforms and are given funds by their controllers to secure apartments for meetings, Vyhivskyi explained.

The handlers also provide information about where to acquire methadone, a synthetic opioid painkiller that becomes deadly in large quantities, for spiking beverages, he added.

Ukrainian security officials report that more than 1,100 Ukrainian citizens have faced charges for arson, terrorism or sabotage against their homeland during the ongoing conflict.

Authorities apprehended a 17-year-old female suspect in the western Zhytomyr region last week after a serviceman was poisoned, with investigators saying she had been in contact through Telegram with someone believed to be a Russian intelligence operative.

The teenager had received a package containing a crystalline material that investigators believe was methadone, according to police.

Germany’s premier aviation exhibition launched Wednesday amid significant challenges, including ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts and the recent termination of a major European defense initiative that had been considered one of the continent’s most significant military projects.

The ILA aviation showcase in Berlin, which traces its origins to 1909, serves as a major platform for European defense contractors to demonstrate cutting-edge technology to government officials and military procurement teams.

The exhibition underscores European manufacturers’ efforts to close the competitive gap with American companies while encouraging regional governments to support domestic industry as defense budgets expand across the continent.

However, preparations for the event were overshadowed by the cancellation of the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS), previously promoted as Europe’s most significant defense undertaking but ultimately derailed by competition between industrial partners. The project’s failure has highlighted the challenges Europe encounters in developing large-scale military capabilities.

This development occurs as Western leaders warn of increasing threats from Russia and American officials urge Europe to accelerate rearmament efforts.

Industry sources indicate that Airbus, which had represented Germany and Spain in the FCAS program, is now exploring partnerships with Sweden’s Saab as companies work to restructure industrial partnerships.

The conflict in Iran has contributed to growing concerns, creating tension in transatlantic relationships and raising questions about NATO’s future direction, while also affecting commercial aviation through flight cancellations and increased fuel expenses.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has publicly questioned whether a piloted sixth-generation fighter aircraft remains appropriate for Germany’s air force, was scheduled to speak at the exhibition Wednesday.

MTU Aero Engines Head of Programmes Ottmar Pfaender indicated that decisions regarding future direction must be made within the coming weeks, noting the engine manufacturer’s willingness to collaborate with alternative partners.

Stephanie Lingemann, a senior executive at defense startup Helsing, suggested that technologies including software-based defense systems and autonomous warfare capabilities could be incorporated into whatever replaces FCAS.

“There’s always a chance in these kinds of endings,” she said.

The aviation showcase also provides Emirates President Tim Clark an opportunity to lobby the German government for Berlin landing rights, with one of the Gulf carrier’s A380 aircraft featured in the display.

Opening day activities were disrupted by demonstrators who blocked access routes to the venue while chanting phrases including “Free Palestine.”

Witnesses reported that dozens of police officers were deployed, with buses unable to reach the location and hundreds of attendees forced to walk to the entrance, with some expressing frustration about the delays.

The ILA exhibition runs through June 14 and will feature more than 750 exhibitors representing 37 nations.

Coinciding with the show’s launch, Germany’s cabinet endorsed a new 15-year aviation strategy designed to reduce costs and enhance research capabilities to address rising expenses and increasing international competition.

ZONNEBEKE, Belgium (AP) — A personal postcard carried by a World War I soldier has led to the identification of his remains and brought together separated family branches more than a century after he perished on the Western Front.

Memorial services took place Wednesday in western Belgium where dozens gathered to honor six British soldiers whose identities were recently confirmed using archival records and DNA testing. The ceremony featured the dedication of six fresh white marble headstones.

Among those laid to rest at Tyne Cot Cemetery was Pvt. Thomas Whitaker, who had been carrying a postcard from Bradford in northeast England when he died in the trenches. Family members from that same area attended the service.

Three Whitaker relatives participated in the ceremony. As sunlight broke through overcast skies, 22-year-old Joe Whitaker recited a poem he composed for his great-great-uncle: “At peace in foreign hills, he finally drifts away to sleep, his mind on Bradford mills.”

The postcard Thomas carried became vital evidence for British government investigators working to confirm his identity and eventually connected Joe’s family with a previously unknown branch of the Whitaker lineage.

“The thought that (Thomas) might have been thinking of home, comforted by this postcard that he kept on him from Bradford — we were all quite taken aback by that,” Joe said.

He explained that composing the poem “felt like the right thing to do.”

Alexia Clark, who works commemorations cases for the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), explained that the six soldiers were discovered during excavation work in western Belgium. The postcard found with one soldier provided an important clue.

“And then actually when we looked at the missing list and went, ‘Oh we have got one from Bradford! Great, there’s a strong chance that he is going to be one of them,’” she said.

The JCCC team, nicknamed “the war detectives,” combined the postcard with other recovered items like a Lewis Gun and military uniforms to narrow down possibilities from the more than half million British soldiers still unaccounted for from World War I.

Investigators reached out to possible family members for DNA samples, which confirmed the identities of Thomas Whitaker along with privates Horace Frederick Cook, Frederick Martin, Charles Richard Russels, Courtney Darvill Hart and Joseph Turnley — all serving with the 2/4 Battalion Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.

Paul Turnley received a ceremonially folded British flag presented by military officials in recognition of his relative Pvt. Joseph Turnley’s sacrifice.

“Just a privileged to be laying a relative of ours to rest, to watch, to be present and then to be passed the flag… it was the greatest treasure actually,” Paul said, honoring his grandfather’s cousin.

The ceremony took place as local residents, cyclists, and students observed from a nearby farm road. A military musician performed a solemn melody on cornet while Rev. Adéle Rees offered prayers.

Pvt. Jone Wainile from the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment honor guard then recited the moving Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home tell them of us and say, ‘For your tomorrow, we gave our today.’”

Paul Whitaker reflected: “My children, my grandchildren, anyone, can come and know where Thomas is, and that is a lovely thing to have. It’s just a real privilege to have Thomas be one of the ones that has been found.”

TOKYO (AP) — A longtime Japanese political figure who delivered a groundbreaking apology regarding his nation’s wartime sexual exploitation of women has passed away, according to officials. Yohei Kono was 89 years old.

The veteran politician had emphasized building positive relationships with China, South Korea and other Asian nations that endured Japanese brutalities before and throughout World War II. According to his son’s office, former Foreign Minister Taro Kono, he passed away from natural causes on Monday.

While serving as chief Cabinet secretary in 1993, Yohei Kono issued an apology to tens of thousands of women known as “comfort women,” recognizing the Japanese military’s role in coercing them into service at military brothels. His remarks came after an official government review.

This declaration paved the way for Japan’s more comprehensive apology regarding its wartime crimes in a 1995 statement delivered by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.

The international community viewed both declarations as evidence that Japan had acknowledged its wartime history, leading to improved relationships with neighboring Asian countries. However, these statements have lost favor among Japanese conservatives who believe Japan should move away from dwelling on dark historical chapters to rebuild national pride.

Kono encountered increasing opposition and efforts to undermine his 1993 apology, particularly during the tenure of nationalist former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Kono cautioned that any efforts to sanitize historical truths “hurts the Japanese people’s reputation.”

Born in January 1937, Kono began his political career in 1967 following the death of his father, Ichiro Kono, who was also a notable lawmaker with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Yohei Kono held important political positions including speaker of the lower house, the more influential chamber of Japan’s bicameral parliament, and LDP president before stepping down in 2009.

Even in his later years, Kono stayed engaged in political affairs and made nearly annual visits to China leading political and business delegations, contributing to the stabilization of delicate relations between the two nations.

As recently as this year, he was still planning a China visit when Tokyo’s relationship with Beijing deteriorated to its worst point in years after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing in November by stating that a hypothetical Chinese military action against Taiwan would warrant Japanese military involvement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived at the American naval facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Wednesday, marking another significant visit by a top U.S. official to the communist nation as President Donald Trump intensifies diplomatic pressure on the island.

The Defense Secretary’s arrival comes just under two weeks following a visit by General Francis Donovan, the leading U.S. military commander for Latin America, who toured Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and conducted talks with a high-ranking Cuban general at the base’s boundary.

The trip also comes after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an uncommon journey to Havana in May.

Upon arriving at Guantanamo Bay, Hegseth offered no public statements and is scheduled to meet with American military personnel deployed at the facility.

During his second presidential term, Trump has frequently mentioned achieving political transformation in Cuba as one of his administration’s international objectives.

According to Michael Bustamante, who leads the Cuban studies program at the University of Miami, the visit may be designed to demonstrate American determination as Cuba faces increasing fears of a potential U.S. military strike.

“Perhaps Hegseth’s visit is intended to yet again reinforce the message that the cost of not coming to the table could be use of a military option, even as observers increasingly warn of such an operation’s potential complications,” he said.

Relations between Cuba and the United States have remained hostile since Fidel Castro’s revolutionary takeover in 1959.

Trump enjoys strong backing from hardline Cuban Americans in Florida who have advocated for U.S.-supported government change for many years, and his current administration has been progressively increasing pressure on the Cuban government.

In a significant legal move on May 20, the United States officially filed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro, accusing him of four murder counts related to the 1996 shooting down of civilian planes flown by Miami-based Cuban exiles.

This legal action represents another instance of the Trump administration’s campaign to expand U.S. influence throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The administration’s more aggressive approach in Latin America was demonstrated by a bold U.S. military operation on January 3 that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro, a socialist leader with ties to Cuba, was transported to New York to face drug trafficking allegations. He has entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba and who is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 Republican presidential race, has created concern in Havana by discussing the national security threat he believes is posed by what he describes as a failing nation located just 90 miles from Florida.

On May 5, Rubio and Donovan appeared together in front of a Cuban map in a social media post from Donovan’s Southern Command. The post indicated their discussions centered on “U.S. efforts to counter threats that undermine security, stability and democracy in our hemisphere.”

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has issued warnings that any military intervention would result in a “bloodbath” causing the deaths of thousands of both Cubans and Americans.

The current administration has essentially created a fuel embargo against the island by threatening tariffs against nations that provide Cuba with oil and other energy resources, causing widespread power failures and further damaging the country’s struggling economy.

Policy analysts warn that instability in Cuba could lead to a refugee crisis.

TOKYO – Yohei Kono, the Japanese political figure responsible for a historic 1993 government statement acknowledging women who were coerced into working at military brothels during wartime, has passed away at the age of 89.

According to local reports, he died Monday, though no cause of death was provided.

Kono stood as a firm critic of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities and amend the nation’s pacifist constitution. Even following his retirement from political life, he remained an uncommon moderate voice within the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

His most significant accomplishment within a political system reluctant to confront Japan’s World War Two actions was delivering what became known as the Kono Statement in August 1993. This marked the initial instance when the government admitted that the Japanese Imperial Army had compelled women, primarily Korean, into service at military brothels.

The situation of these so-called “comfort women” damaged relations between Japan and South Korea for many years.

“The then-Japanese military was, directly or indirectly, involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations,” the statement said, adding that in many cases the women were recruited against their will and that administrative and military personnel took part in their recruitment.

“They lived in misery at comfort stations under a coercive atmosphere,” it added.

In 1995, Kono held the position of deputy premier in a coalition administration when Socialist Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama delivered a “heartfelt apology” for wartime harm and suffering caused by Japan.

Various prominent political figures opposed such expressions of remorse. Abe, who passed away in 2022, voiced concerns about both Murayama’s and Kono’s apologies. Conservative critics have also attacked these statements over the years as cold relations between Japan and South Korea persisted regarding Japan’s early 20th-century colonization of the Korean peninsula.

In 2014, a Japanese committee assigned to examine the Kono statement reported that South Korea had assisted with the delicate language of the original document.

South Korea voiced strong disappointment about the review, claiming the findings minimized the facts and challenged the conclusion that Seoul was directly involved in crafting the formal 1993 apology.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered condolences for Kono’s passing on social media Wednesday evening. “In diplomacy, (Kono) endeavoured to build a relationship of trust with neighbouring countries,” Takaichi wrote on X.

“In particular, he faced historical issues sincerely. His emphasis on dialogue and understanding should be remembered as one of the cornerstones of our country’s peace diplomacy.”

Born to a family of lawmakers, Kono came from Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo and completed his education at Tokyo’s Waseda University. He entered politics in 1967 following his father’s death.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, he held positions including deputy prime minister and foreign minister. He led the Liberal Democratic Party from 1993 to 1995, but because other parties controlled coalition governments, he became one of just two LDP leaders who never served as premier.

Kono’s son Taro is also in politics. The father and son gained attention in 2002 when Taro, then 39, provided part of his liver to his father, whose liver was deteriorating from a long-term hepatitis infection. The operation succeeded.

“Japan made a fresh start 70 years ago based on remorse for that tragic war, the many lives lost and the troubles caused to neighbouring countries,” Kono told Reuters in 2015.

“Now Japanese people worry in their hearts that we will somehow set aside that remorse and those memories, and walk the same path as in the past.”

BAMAKO, Mali — Two well-known journalists have been detained by Mali’s military government within a 48-hour period, marking another escalation in the West African nation’s restrictions on media freedom during ongoing security challenges.

According to the “Maison de La Presse,” Mali’s primary press organization, Abderhmane Keita was taken into custody Tuesday facing accusations of “undermining national unity and the credibility of the State” along with “dissemination of false and misleading information.”

During his widely-watched television show “Grand Jury,” Keita had reported that the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM group maintains control over Kidal, a northern community that fell to JNIM forces and separatist fighters during large-scale coordinated strikes in April.

Within Mali’s borders, public commentary indicating military losses to extremist organizations frequently results in criminal charges.

Keita’s detention followed Monday’s arrest of Chahana Takiou, a prominent television host and chief editor at the “22 Septembre” newspaper. The press organization reported that Takiou faces accusations of “undermining the credibility of the State through the judicial system.” Takiou had recently spoken out against how authorities implement cybercrime legislation, arguing it constitutes an assault on media freedoms.

Mali, together with its neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso, has experienced multiple military takeovers in recent years and remains under the control of armed forces leaders who seized control through force, promising enhanced citizen security.

Following their rise to power, these military governments have severed relationships with France and other Western nations, established their own defense partnership, and sought Russian military assistance to combat extremist uprisings.

According to analysts, the security climate across Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has deteriorated lately, with Islamic extremist attacks reaching unprecedented levels. Military forces face allegations of civilian killings based on suspected militant collaboration.

Simultaneously, the military leadership has intensified restrictions on political opposition and media personnel. This January, Malian officials prohibited sales of the Pan-African publication Jeune Afrique. Multiple French news organizations, including France24, TV5 Monde, and Radio France International, face broadcasting bans throughout Mali. Various opposition figures remain imprisoned for speaking against the military government.

A former high-ranking Canadian official known for her contentious exchanges with President Donald Trump is authoring a book focused on the strained diplomatic ties between Canada and America.

Publishing house Simon & Schuster revealed Wednesday that Chrystia Freeland’s upcoming work, titled “Unreliable Boyfriend,” is scheduled for release on October 13th. Freeland previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

“This is a book about power, democracy, and the choices countries make when the old rules no longer seem to apply,” Freeland explained in a publisher’s statement. “As a Canadian negotiating with the United States during years of extraordinary political turbulence, I had a front-row seat to historic change. I wanted to tell the story of what I saw — and what it means for the future.”

Before entering the political arena, Freeland established herself as both an author and journalist, bringing expertise in Russian and Ukrainian affairs along with educational credentials from Harvard University and the University of Oxford. Following Canada’s 2015 electoral cycle, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named her to the international trade ministry, launching a decade-long tenure in various governmental roles.

During Trump’s initial presidential term in 2017, she became a target of criticism from the president while both nations negotiated what eventually became the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much,” Trump remarked during that period.

More recently in 2024-25, as Trump made threats regarding tariffs on Canadian goods and floated the idea that Canada would benefit from becoming America’s 51st state, she labeled him an “existential threat” to her nation’s prospects. Trump has responded by calling her “totally toxic” and a “terrible person.”

Freeland’s relationship with Trudeau soured, leading to her cabinet resignation in 2024 over disagreements about Trump policy responses, ultimately contributing to Trudeau’s political exit. She has subsequently worked within Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration and taken on a special diplomatic role regarding Ukraine. This July, she will assume leadership of Rhodes House as Warden and serve as CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, managing the prestigious scholarship initiative. She earned her own Rhodes scholarship in 1993.

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday, declaring the nation is taking “too long to negotiate a deal” and that “now they will have to pay the price.” The president’s remarks left unclear what specific consequences Tehran might face.

Trump’s warning followed early Wednesday airstrikes launched by the United States against Iran, which the president justified by blaming Tehran for downing an American attack helicopter. Iran responded by launching attacks against regional nations.

Iranian forces targeted Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan – all countries that host American military personnel. This marked the second instance this week where mutual strikes have put strain on ceasefire efforts, following Monday’s exchange of fire between Iran and Israel.

The president posted his message on his Truth Social platform following the Iranian retaliation. The escalating cycle of attacks has raised concerns about how much strain the current deal can withstand before breaking down completely.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu simultaneously posted on X, reaffirming that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons and justifying Israel’s previous military actions against the Islamic Republic.

While both Iran and the United States appear to be seeking ways to conclude the conflict, Netanyahu seems committed to more ambitious objectives: toppling Iran’s religious government, dismantling its nuclear capabilities, and destroying the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization in Lebanon. These goals could significantly complicate any potential agreement.

Despite Trump’s repeated claims that peace talks with Iran are advancing, he has consistently alternated between expressing hope and threatening to resume full-scale warfare. Iran has demonstrated remarkable endurance despite enduring weeks of intensive bombardment, counting on its capacity to effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz – a vital channel for global oil and natural gas transport – as leverage in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Congress advanced legislation providing nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement. The House approved the measure Tuesday in a narrow 214-212 vote, with Republicans using their majority to push it through despite Democratic opposition. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.

The White House indicates the legislation will allocate $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion to the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unexpected expenses. The funding is structured to ensure continuous financial support as the administration pursues its goal of deporting approximately one million individuals annually.

Economic concerns also emerged Wednesday as the Labor Department reported consumer prices climbed 4.2% in May compared to the previous year, rising from April’s 3.8% rate. Monthly price increases reached 0.5% in May, following significant jumps of 0.6% in April and 0.9% in March.

These inflation figures present challenges for both the Federal Reserve and the administration as midterm elections approach. Price increases had been moderating before widespread tariffs implemented in April 2025 made numerous products more expensive. The Iran conflict has further driven up oil and gas costs, potentially spreading price increases throughout the economy.

In Maine’s political landscape, Graham Platner clinched the Democratic Senate nomination, establishing a crucial contest against long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins. This race could influence which party controls the Senate. Trump’s influence within his party faced evaluation in South Carolina and Nevada, where he backed preferred candidates.

Immigration enforcement issues also surfaced in a federal report criticizing conditions at a Texas ICE facility. The Government Accountability Office documented serious problems at Camp East Montana, a large tent complex at Fort Bliss in El Paso, where three detainees died within six months. The report found evidence related to one death – a 55-year-old Cuban migrant who died in January after being restrained by guards – was “missing or destroyed.”

ICE opened the camp hastily in August before construction finished and failed to provide proper oversight ensuring sanitary conditions and adequate medical care, according to investigators. The Department of Homeland Security noted that ICE has replaced the facility’s contractor, with spokesperson Lauren Bis stating the change will help maintain “the highest detention standards with the ability to provide more medical care on-site.”

Cuban diplomatic tensions also intensified as Cuba’s top representative to the United States told The Associated Press that recent sanctions targeting Cuban leadership and the indictment of former President Raúl Castro serve as a “pretext” for the administration to gain American support for military intervention.

Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, whose formal title is chargé d’affaires, described the situation as “a war without bombs” during Tuesday’s interview at Cuba’s Washington embassy. She insisted Cuba poses no threat to the United States and opposes confrontation, while warning that attempts to change Cuba’s government through force would meet fierce resistance.

KYIV, June 10 – A research organization is warning that Ukraine will experience electricity shortfalls and consumer blackouts during the upcoming summer season, even with energy imports and robust solar power generation, according to the DiXi Group think tank’s latest analysis.

Throughout the ongoing conflict, Russia has continuously targeted Ukraine’s electrical generation facilities and transmission infrastructure, causing extensive damage to thermal power stations and forcing the country to boost energy imports while implementing widespread consumer power cuts.

According to DiXi’s analysis, assuming mild weather conditions and no additional infrastructure damage, the electricity deficit could reach 0.7 gigawatts during peak usage periods, but this figure could climb to 2.4 GW if temperatures rise substantially.

The situation will be further complicated by scheduled maintenance work at nuclear facilities that serve as crucial components of the nation’s power grid.

“As average daily temperatures rise, hourly power cuts will be unavoidable, and a shortage could occur even at night, when demand is at its lowest,” the organization reported.

Should high temperatures combine with additional infrastructure damage, the deficit would surge to 6.2 GW compared to total demand of 15.8 GW, representing approximately 40% of power needs.

During the 2025-2026 winter period, when Russian missile strikes destroyed more than half of Ukraine’s electricity generation infrastructure, power outages in the capital Kyiv extended for 14 to 16 hours at a time.

WASHINGTON, June 10 – A coalition of Western nations on Wednesday issued a forceful joint condemnation of Iranian-sponsored assassination schemes targeting dissidents, journalists and Jewish communities across multiple countries.

The collaborative statement, issued through the U.S. Department of State, declared: “We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now.”

The coalition specifically pointed to “lethal plotting” and related activities carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organization, Quds Force, and Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

The allied nations also denounced a recent wave of attacks throughout Europe that were claimed by the pro-Iranian organization Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI).

“Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people on our soil, undermines national sovereignty and international norms. These actions must stop immediately,” the countries stated in their joint declaration.

Britain’s communications watchdog issued a stern warning Wednesday to social media companies about potential legal action after their platforms were used to fuel recent violence in Belfast that followed a stabbing incident in the city.

The regulator, Ofcom, sent correspondence to online service providers stating that some of the Belfast disturbances appeared to have been driven by online activity and featured racially motivated attacks, fires set to homes and cars, and violence against law enforcement officers.

The agency emphasized to these companies their obligations under the Online Safety Act to evaluate and reduce illegal material on their platforms.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — All military personnel aboard a Pakistani army MI-17 helicopter died Wednesday when the aircraft went down due to mechanical failure in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, according to military officials. The number of people on the helicopter was not immediately revealed by military authorities.

The aircraft went down close to Muzaffarabad, the area’s main city, while a demonstration and work stoppage organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently prohibited coalition of different organizations, was taking place.

Military officials made no connection between the demonstration and the aircraft accident.

People who saw the incident reported the helicopter went down moments after departing from a landing area. Emergency vehicles responded to the location and took the casualties to a local medical facility.

“Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site,” the military said, adding that a board of inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash, paying tribute to the military personnel killed. In separate statements, they conveyed sympathies to the families of the victims.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the families of those killed, according to the statement.

These types of accidents occur regularly in Pakistan. In September 2025, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians on board.

MOSCOW, June 10 – Russian authorities announced Wednesday they have taken into custody at least two suspects linked to a car bombing incident in Moscow, apprehending teenagers whom the domestic security service claims were manipulated into placing the explosive device.

Two separate car bombing incidents occurred Tuesday across Moscow – one exploded during morning hours in the city’s eastern section, while security forces discovered another in the southwestern area of the capital.

Russia’s state Investigative Committee announced they have initiated a criminal investigation regarding the southwestern Moscow bombing, which was aimed at a worker from a scientific production company. Officials have not clarified how that explosive was detonated.

According to the committee’s findings, unknown individuals instructed a teenage girl to retrieve the bomb, which she then gave to a teenage boy who attached it to the vehicle alongside a GPS tracking device.

No injuries resulted from this incident, and authorities have filed charges against the detained suspects.

In the separate eastern Moscow car bombing, a driver lost their life, as reported by the Kommersant newspaper, though officials have not released the victim’s identity.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed an explosion occurred but stated that specifics cannot be revealed during the ongoing investigation.

“An explosion took place, but the details, as you understand, are not subject to disclosure in connection with the investigation that is underway,” Peskov said. “Of course, this is a matter for our special services.”

Authorities have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made regarding the second bombing incident.

Following the conflict’s beginning in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has taken credit for killing multiple high-ranking Russian officers, some of whose names have been featured on Ukraine’s public enemy registry.

A U.S. government employee stationed at the American Embassy in Myanmar has died, according to the State Department, while diplomatic sources report that Myanmar authorities have taken a Thai woman into custody as part of their investigation.

The State Department confirmed the death of the embassy worker in Yangon but declined to provide additional details about the circumstances.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones, we have no further information to provide at this time,” the State Department said in an e-mailed reply to questions from The Associated Press.

Three diplomatic community members in Myanmar, speaking anonymously because they lack authorization to discuss the matter, revealed that the man’s body was discovered approximately two weeks ago at the Sakura Residence & Hotel. The establishment offers extended-stay accommodations and serves diplomats, business professionals, and other international guests, situated roughly 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the U.S. Embassy.

These sources indicated that law enforcement officials are investigating the death as a potential murder and have detained a Thai woman in the case.

The Southeast Asian nation, previously called Burma, remains engulfed in conflict between its military rulers, who removed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in 2021, and various militia groups representing ethnic minorities and pro-democracy movements.

Local officials rarely share information with journalists, and when an AP reporter contacted the police station covering the hotel’s area, the duty officer declined to provide comment and ended the call.

Hotel management at the Sakura facility also refused to discuss the incident.

Both Thailand’s Embassy in Yangon and the Thai Foreign Ministry declined to confirm whether they had offered consular assistance to the detained individual or share any related information.

A leading international human rights organization on Wednesday released findings alleging Israel is conducting systematic displacement of Palestinian populations in the occupied West Bank as part of efforts to incorporate the territory.

The allegations were detailed in a comprehensive 149-page study claiming that the forced removal of West Bank Palestinian residents stems from coordinated government policy, rather than solely from actions by violent settlers.

United Nations statistics indicate that more than 100 West Bank villages have experienced complete or partial evacuation between January 2023 and April 2026. During the same period, the United Nations documented over 7,280 cases of individual Palestinian displacement due to home and structure demolitions by Israeli forces, with some individuals being displaced multiple times.

Israel, which has previously rejected similar charges — including ethnic cleansing allegations — as persistent unfair prejudice, had not immediately issued a response to the study.

“These abuses are not the result of a few ‘bad apples.’ Settler violence is a core component of a state-sanctioned campaign of ethnic cleansing,” said Agnès Callamard, the head of Amnesty. “What we are witnessing is deliberate, state-led annexation, in complete violation of international law unfolding before the eyes of the entire world.”

Israeli leadership has criticized especially severe violence by Jewish settlers but typically characterizes such incidents as anomalies. Senior Cabinet officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing administration are advocating for official annexation of the territory, with government representatives expressing support for Israeli control over the West Bank.

The human rights organization reports identifying numerous legislative proposals in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, aimed at expanding Israeli civil law and legal authority over settlement areas, including courts handling Palestinian cases. The parliament recently passed legislation establishing capital punishment as the standard sentence for West Bank Palestinians found guilty of nationalist-motivated killings.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank. The American-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant Hamas organization intended to end the Gaza conflict also recognized Palestinian statehood goals.

The organization attributes widespread displacement of Palestinian Bedouin populations in the region to settler violence, expansion of new settlements, and Israeli control of extensive unregistered territories. Human rights organizations had warned about this type of displacement prior to 2023, but it significantly escalated following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the conflict.

Human rights advocates note that Bedouin herding populations in isolated West Bank areas face the greatest displacement risk. Unlike Palestinians in urban centers throughout the West Bank, these rural residents have less capacity to resist pressure from frequently armed settlers establishing new outposts near Palestinian communities.

The anti-settlement watchdog organization Peace Now reports that 212 of at least 363 current outposts in the West Bank have been established since 2023. These outposts are constructed without Israeli government approval, with authorities sometimes removing them but often ignoring them or subsequently providing legal recognition.

The global community broadly considers the settlements illegal. Israel, however, regards the West Bank as contested territory and maintains its ultimate status requires negotiated resolution.

The human rights group stated its study examined 27 hamlets and villages in the West Bank where Palestinians experienced displacement between 2023 and 2025. Investigators conducted interviews with numerous Palestinians and attorneys, spoke with witnesses to settler violence, reviewed more than 420 videos, and examined government declarations and additional reports.

The organization also criticized the international community for failing to take action to prevent the displacement.

More than 700,000 Israelis reside in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas seized by Israel in 1967 and claimed by Palestinians for their future independent state, alongside the Gaza Strip.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian military forces carried out extensive long-distance strikes against targets located far within Russian territory on Wednesday, as part of Ukraine’s strategy to increase the war’s costs for Moscow by attacking energy infrastructure and military production facilities.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian troops successfully hit multiple military and energy infrastructure locations, including a military production facility that he stated provided components for Russian drones and missiles.

Through a social media announcement, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles successfully struck the target in Cheboksary, situated in the Chuvashiya region over 900 kilometers (more than 560 miles) away from the battle front.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted 326 Ukrainian drones during nighttime operations.

Oleg Nikolayev, the head of Chuvashiya, verified the missile strike occurred but provided no additional information. The Astra online news outlet indicated that the Ukrainian attack targeted the VNIIR-Progress plant that manufactures antennas for drones.

Zelenskyy additionally reported that Ukrainian troops attacked a refinery in Russia’s Samara region, where Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev stated that multiple industrial facilities sustained damage from drone attacks and three individuals were wounded.

Fedorishchev declined to identify the specific damaged facilities, though Astra published photographs showing a major fire at the Samara refinery.

Zelenskyy further noted that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) had targeted two oil infrastructure sites in Russia’s Vladimir region, approximately 700 kilometers from the battle zone.

In Russian-controlled Crimea, a Ukrainian drone struck the structure containing a massive panorama artwork depicting the city’s defense during the 19th century Crimean War. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-appointed head of Sevastopol, stated the painting by artist Franz Rubo was essentially destroyed.

With the more than 1,000-kilometer battle front in the four-year conflict remaining mostly unchanged as drone swarms prevent territorial gains, both nations have increasingly turned to long-distance attacks.

The progressively deeper and bold Ukrainian attacks have presented a challenge to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, contradicting his assertion that Moscow was prevailing in the war now in its fifth year.

Last week, Putin promised to enhance Russia’s air defense capabilities following Ukrainian strikes that ignited an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and struck a nearby naval facility, overshadowing his prominent economic forum in his home city.

The St. Petersburg attacks represented another setback for the Russian leader, occurring weeks after he scaled back an annual Victory Day parade in Moscow due to concerns about Ukrainian drone strikes.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported air defenses intercepted 181 of 207 Russian drones.

A wave of 26 drones attacked Kharkiv early Wednesday, wounding at least four individuals, according to regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov. He reported one person died and 15 others sustained injuries in the region during the previous 24 hours.

In Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas, 10 people were wounded overnight during multiple Russian aerial strikes, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov.

In Odesa, a mother and two children, ages 8 and 10, needed medical care after Russian drones damaged two residential structures, according to regional administration head Oleh Kiper.

ALTAY, China (AP) — Chinese officials welcomed international delegates to Xinjiang on Wednesday for a conference aimed at showcasing economic opportunities in the northwestern territory that has drawn global attention for its treatment of ethnic minorities.

The International Conference for Trans-Altai Subregional Cooperation took place in Altay, bringing together representatives from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and additional countries to explore trade partnerships and economic collaboration in the landlocked area. Chinese authorities outlined development strategies for coal, oil and gas extraction, cotton production and other industrial sectors throughout Xinjiang.

“Xinjiang has become a vivid epitome of China’s rapid economic development and fully reflected the significant advantages and vitality of China’s governance,” said Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xinjiang Committee.

Chen also outlined ambitious infrastructure expansion plans, including additional railway lines and increased air travel options for the region.

Xinjiang faces significant economic challenges compared to China’s prosperous eastern provinces. In 2020, rural residents in the territory earned an average of 13,052 yuan ($1,927) per person, while their counterparts in wealthy Zhejiang province averaged 31,930 yuan ($4,714) annually.

This economic inequality contributed to unrest that eventually led to violent incidents by extremist elements within the Uyghur population. Beginning in 2017, Chinese authorities detained one million or more individuals from ethnic minority communities, predominantly Uyghurs. Officials characterized these mass detentions as necessary measures to address the previous attacks.

Chinese authorities announced the closure of most detention facilities by 2021, though several camps were transformed into traditional prison complexes. Documents obtained by The Associated Press revealed that thousands of Uyghurs received lengthy prison terms based on what experts describe as fabricated or inflated accusations.

Human rights organization Global Rights Compliance reports that those not incarcerated, especially in southern Xinjiang areas with substantial Uyghur communities, face mandatory participation in government employment programs that activists say is expanding under China’s current five-year economic strategy.

Chinese officials have previously stated that what they term “anti-China forces” have distorted conditions in Xinjiang by mischaracterizing the government’s counterterrorism and anti-extremism initiatives as discriminatory actions against particular ethnic, regional or religious communities.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s armed forces launched rockets toward China using American-made mobile rocket systems during military exercises Wednesday, showcasing defensive tactics against a potential Chinese invasion.

The exercise marked the first occasion that the U.S.-provided HIMARS system fired rockets into the Taiwan Strait waters separating the island from mainland China, though the weapons platform had undergone previous testing.

“Due to the current enemy threat, we will continue HIMARS training with unwavering determination to protect Taiwan as the nation’s strongest force,” army Sgt, Wang Ming-hui said.

Military officials confirmed they deployed training rockets with shortened range capabilities that splash down in coastal waters shortly after launch.

Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway territory that must eventually reunite with mainland China. Chinese military vessels and aircraft routinely patrol near the island, while major war games have taken place in surrounding areas recently. Washington maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but opposes forced reunification and serves as the island’s primary arms supplier.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System features truck-mounted rocket pods that can emerge from concealed locations, fire missiles, and rapidly relocate using “shoot-and-scoot” strategies.

The rocket launches occurred during day two of military exercises along Taiwan’s western coastline facing China. The training operations, which also featured 155mm howitzers, practiced responses to Chinese invasion scenarios while testing quick deployment and accurate targeting abilities.

The HIMARS platform served as the drill’s main attraction. Following launch authorization, the vehicle positioned itself and fired rockets with brilliant flashes in under three minutes, highlighting its “shoot-and-scoot” maneuverability.

Washington announced intentions in December to provide Taiwan with 82 additional HIMARS units through a significant weapons package, though the deal appears suspended following President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last month.

Authorities in South Africa report that a dozen people lost their lives and at least nine others sustained injuries during a violent shooting spree that occurred Tuesday evening in Johannesburg.

Law enforcement officials believe over 10 gunmen arrived by minibus to an unplanned residential community in Cleveland, a Johannesburg neighborhood, where they began firing at residents during the nighttime hours.

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of mass violence that has plagued the South African metropolis in recent months, including two separate December attacks that claimed more than 20 lives. At least one of those previous incidents also involved multiple shooters.

These violent episodes are often connected to criminal organizations involved in unauthorized mining operations that function in the Johannesburg area. The Cleveland neighborhood where Tuesday’s attack occurred is known to have ties to such illegal mining activities.

Law enforcement described how the perpetrators “moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.”

The casualties included nine male victims and three female victims, authorities confirmed. Eleven individuals were pronounced dead at the location, while one additional victim succumbed to injuries after being transported to a medical facility.

Investigators continue their search for the suspects, with no apprehensions reported thus far. Officials stated that the reason behind the attack has not yet been determined.

Unplanned residential communities in South Africa consist of spontaneous housing developments typically constructed with temporary structures like shacks.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe explained that “Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilized to investigate the incident and track down the suspects.”

Police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni condemned the perpetrators as “heartless” but declined to connect the killings to unauthorized mining operations pending completion of the investigation.

“We are still investigating, but what we have seen here is a criminal act. We have deployed all required units,” he stated, noting that intelligence personnel have also been assigned to the location.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Four members of Indonesia’s armed forces were convicted Wednesday by a military tribunal for carrying out an acid assault against a well-known human rights lawyer, receiving prison terms ranging from 18 months to three years in a case that has heightened questions about military oversight and sparked fresh condemnation from advocacy organizations.

The convicted personnel include three naval marines — Sgt. Edi Sudarko, First Lt. Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, and Capt. Nandala Dwi Prasetya — along with air force officer Lt. Sami Lakka. All four worked for the intelligence division of Indonesia’s National Armed Forces, known as TNI. Their convictions stem from a March assault on Andrie Yunus, a civil rights attorney and senior member of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, called KontraS.

The 27-year-old Yunus sustained serious burns and lasting injury to his right eye when attackers threw hydrochloric acid at his face as he traveled by motorcycle through central Jakarta. The incident occurred after he had finished recording a podcast discussing the military’s role in Indonesia’s government.

At Jakarta Military Court, the three-judge panel imposed a three-year sentence on Sudarko, two and a half years for Cahyono, while Prasetya received two years and Lakka got 18 months. Sudarko, believed to have organized the recruitment of the other three servicemen, and Cahyono, who proposed using acid in the attack, were also dismissed from TNI.

Presiding military judge Fredy Isnartanto stated: “The defendants, as TNI service members, betrayed their duties by deliberately throwing acid at Andrie Yunus. Their actions damaged the image of the Indonesian military and demonstrated clear arrogance. The attack inflicted trauma and suffering on the victim and caused permanent damage to his eye.”

Advocacy organizations quickly condemned both the verdict and case management, contending it neglected to examine potential involvement from higher-ranking officials.

Amnesty International Indonesia stated that the comparatively lenient prosecution requests strengthened worries the proceedings could become a “show trial,” demanding that anyone who might have commanded or funded the assault be identified and tried in civilian courts.

The National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia, or Komnas HAM, initiated a comprehensive probe and discovered evidence suggesting the attack was a deliberate and organized effort, possibly involving additional people beyond the four accused. The commission identified several rights violations, including violations of security rights, protection from torture, and access to justice.

Prosecutors had earlier requested two and a half year sentences for all four military members, claiming the defendants operated independently rather than under orders, driven by frustration over Yunus’ work. They characterized the assault motivation as personal, intended to “teach him a lesson” for his military criticism.

Yunus has gained recognition for his work fighting impunity in Indonesia, focusing on security sector reform and civil rights protection. He participated actively in demonstrations last year against proposed changes to Indonesia’s military legislation that would broaden the armed forces’ involvement in civilian matters. Associates report he has experienced ongoing intimidation related to his advocacy.

During the trial that started in late April, Yunus declined to attend or provide testimony, citing continued medical treatment from skin graft procedures and distrust of the military court system, according to the Advocacy Team for Democracy, or TAUD, a civil society organization representing Yunus.

Last week, judges at the civilian South Jakarta District Court partially approved Yunus’ pretrial request, including directing Jakarta Police to maintain their investigation to guarantee justice and human rights protection.

The district court panel also acknowledged pressure from Komnas HAM on police to pursue the investigation further to reveal other perpetrators, including civilians. Both Komnas HAM and the Civil Society Coalition assert that over a dozen individuals participated in the attack.

This incident has renewed worries about military accountability and recalls previous unsolved attacks on activists, including the 2004 killing of Munir Said Thalib, a prominent human rights advocate and KontraS founder who died from arsenic poisoning during a flight to Amsterdam.

STOCKHOLM, June 10 – A former Swedish military employee faces charges of attempting to conduct espionage activities on behalf of Russia, according to an announcement from Swedish prosecution officials on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old defendant previously served in Sweden’s armed forces, where his position granted him access to highly sensitive classified materials, prosecutors revealed in their statement.

“The suspect attempted to disclose (the information) by travelling to Moscow in November 2025 and meeting with representatives of the Russian intelligence and security service there,” Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in the statement.

Officials from the Russian embassy in Stockholm have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the charges.

The accused individual has remained in custody since January and is scheduled to face trial in Stockholm beginning June 15.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s political party confirmed Wednesday that the Israeli prime minister will pursue re-election this year, following comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump questioning whether Netanyahu would seek another term.

The Likud Party issued a short statement declaring that Netanyahu would compete in the upcoming election and, with divine blessing, would emerge victorious. While the election date hasn’t been officially set, it must take place by October.

The announcement followed remarks from Trump to ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, who shared on X that the former president expressed uncertainty about Netanyahu’s political future.

“I don’t know, he’s had an amazing career. Does he want to continue?” Trump was quoted as telling the journalist.

This will mark the first Israeli election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault, which represented the nation’s most severe security breakdown and triggered Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu has experienced a challenging period since regaining office in December 2022, leading what has been described as the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history. His government confronted widespread anti-government demonstrations prior to the conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

Public opinion surveys consistently suggest his coalition would struggle to secure a majority in the next election. Research released June 9 by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute think tank indicated that 61% of Israeli citizens believe he should not seek re-election.

Nevertheless, polling data also reveals that opposition parties would likely fall short of a parliamentary majority unless they partner with Arab parties, an alliance some opposition figures have rejected.

According to U.S. and Israeli officials, Trump and Netanyahu maintain a strong relationship despite occasional tensions, including recent disagreements as Trump has urged Israel to reduce military operations in Lebanon while Washington pursues peace negotiations with Tehran. The two leaders jointly initiated the Iran conflict in February.

Trump recently admitted to calling Netanyahu “fucking crazy” during a heated phone conversation, though he emphasized their good working relationship. He has consistently urged Israel’s president to grant Netanyahu a pardon regarding pending corruption allegations, which Netanyahu disputes.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — A Sudanese man, age 30, is scheduled to appear before a Belfast court facing attempted murder charges in connection with a brutal knife attack that seriously wounded a victim and sparked violent anti-immigrant demonstrations throughout Northern Ireland.

Groups of masked individuals torched multiple residences they suspected of housing immigrants, ignited garbage containers and a Belfast public bus, and hurled debris at law enforcement officers during Tuesday evening’s unrest. Emergency responders pulled multiple individuals from blazing houses.

Leaders from both sides of Northern Ireland’s coalition government denounced the violence. First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein characterized it as “thuggery.”

“Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice,” she said.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, said that “taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong.”

Monday’s assault, captured in disturbing video that rapidly circulated across social platforms, was exploited by anti-immigration groups. The injured party, a man in his 40s, remains hospitalized with severe wounds to his eyes, face and back following the north Belfast incident.

Authorities stated the accused is a Sudanese national who arrived in Northern Ireland from the neighboring Republic of Ireland in 2023, sought asylum and received a 5-year residency authorization.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland indicated no evidence suggests the assault involves terrorism and they are not pursuing additional suspects.

The street disturbances occurred despite political appeals for restraint.

Prime Minister Starmer described the knife attack as “sickening” and declared he had “no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.”

Demonstrations were promoted online by far-right organizers including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long said social media instigators who “yesterday would have struggled to find Belfast on a map” were “weaponizing” the fears of local people.

“If you’re driving people from their homes based on nothing but the color of their skin, you can’t dress that up any other way, it’s racism, and those bad faith actors need to take a step back,” she told the BBC.

Last week a separate case of a university student who was stabbed to death in Southampton, England in December was seized on by activists and U.S. Vice President JD Vance who blamed immigration for the violence.

Henry Nowak, who was white, was killed by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh who falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist assault by Nowak. When police officers arrived, they initially treated the wounded Nowak as a suspect before noticing his injury and trying to resuscitate him.

Digwa was convicted of murder for stabbing Nowak with a Sikh dagger and sentenced last week to life in prison with a minimum 21-year term. But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks. Several people were charged with violent disorder over the protest.

HAVANA, June 10 – An 85-year-old former government worker named Sagrado Armando Garcia recently collapsed at home, but his son couldn’t transport him to medical care because there was no fuel available for their vehicle. Garcia has experienced episodes of severe hunger-induced dizziness that left him worried he might collapse again.

Garcia dedicated years of service to Cuba’s Ministry of Social Security, trusting in a system that pledged to protect citizens during their retirement years. That confidence has now disappeared.

“They are leaving us to our fate,” he said.

For years, Cuba has battled against severe U.S. economic sanctions while attempting to fulfill the promises made by the communist government to provide essential services for workers: subsidized food, healthcare, education, public transportation, and pensions.

The island’s elderly residents – already familiar with deteriorating public services, electrical blackouts and persistent shortages of food and medicine – now confront even more difficult circumstances following the administration’s decision in late January to eliminate the country’s fuel supply.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson directed Reuters to recent testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attributes Cuba’s problems to internal corruption and mismanagement rather than U.S. sanctions.

“Cuba was having blackouts well before January 3rd of this year, for two reasons: they were no longer getting free oil from Venezuela, and they did not invest a single dollar back into their plants,” the spokesperson said, citing Rubio. “Cuba is a mess.”

AGING POPULATION AT HIGH RISK

Monthly pensions have decreased to approximately $7 on the black-market exchange, as the peso has lost roughly one-third of its value compared to the dollar since the blockade began.

The Cuban government has requested assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme to help maintain two daily meals for vulnerable and elderly populations.

Cuba represents the most rapidly aging country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over 25% of residents are above age 60, based on Cuban government statistics, due to declining birth rates and massive emigration of younger citizens. The total population has dropped below 10 million since 2021, representing a 10% decrease.

Etienne Labande, the WFP representative in Havana, explained that the combination of rising prices and diminishing pensions and rations has created dangerous circumstances for many seniors, who cannot afford adequate food or medical treatment.

“This is a very high-risk population right now, a situation that worsened starting in January,” he told Reuters. “Inflation has skyrocketed, there’s no public transportation, and getting around costs a lot of money.”

The Ministry of Internal Commerce, which oversees public food kitchens, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CRUMBLING SERVICES

Cuba’s public healthcare system, previously considered a major accomplishment of communist governance, has deteriorated under years of sanctions.

The number of doctors in Cuba dropped by 30% between 2019 and 2024, according to Cuban government figures – the most recent year of publicly available data – while 70% of essential medicines were either scarce or completely unavailable.

The waiting list for surgeries is expected to reach 160,000 patients by year’s end, a 60% increase, according to the Cuban health ministry. Most medications, including blood pressure treatments, are in short supply, doctors told Reuters.

HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS

On an island where typical monthly earnings hover around $15, even modest amounts of money sent by relatives abroad make a difference.

For elderly Cubans who don’t receive remittances from abroad, conditions are especially tight.

“In this crisis that Cuba has been experiencing since January, the elderly are most affected,” Bryan Arbuelles, a member of the clergy at the San Juan de Letran church in Havana, said. “They are people who worked for decades but whose pension is now not enough to live on.”

He added: “The outlook is terrible.”

Regina Zaida Jorge, a 74-year-old retired doctor who lives alone in the former servants’ quarters of a once-regal old house, receives no money from outside Cuba.

Her small apartment lacks running water, forcing her to carry it daily from a rooftop cistern. She survives on government rations and food donations from the Catholic Church.

“The policies here were designed to guarantee the basics,” she said. “But deep down they are cosmetic measures, to keep you alive. You have to forget about aspiring to have a television, a telephone; the pension isn’t enough for anything.”

She explained that she had given “everything” as a low-paid state worker to a system unable to provide her with necessities as fundamental as a bar of soap.

Now that she is a pensioner struggling to survive, she said, “I feel like I sacrificed myself in vain.”

Last year, U.S. sanctions prompted top money transfer company Western Union to halt services to Cuba.

Some still find a way to get an external cash injection.

Sonia Belmonte Puebla, 73, receives small amounts of money in dollars from a daughter in Florida.

Unlike many of her generation, she said she is enjoying her old age, living independently at home with her husband with little need for state assistance.

“I can treat myself now and then and eat well,” Belmonte said.

During Israeli aircraft strikes on Beirut’s southern neighborhoods last March, a detained man seized his chance to flee. While residents evacuated in terror, he broke free from a Hezbollah detention facility and headed toward the hills above Lebanon’s capital city.

He vanished into the Ukrainian Embassy compound located in Baabda’s upscale diplomatic district.

His current whereabouts remain unknown, caught in an intelligence operation as Hezbollah works to expose Israeli operatives who have penetrated the organization.

Lebanese authorities identify the individual as Khaled al-Aydi, described as a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also possesses Ukrainian citizenship. Hezbollah had been holding him in Beirut’s suburbs, with Lebanese officials claiming he participated in a failed Israeli intelligence scheme involving planned bombings and targeted killings.

Information about al-Aydi’s escape and the Lebanese military court proceedings came from three judicial officials and two senior security officials in Lebanon who requested anonymity since they lacked authorization for public statements. A senior political official within Hezbollah also shared details.

Al-Aydi’s vanishing act may create political complications for Lebanon’s government, which has stayed largely quiet regarding this matter.

Should proof surface that al-Aydi fled Lebanon with government assistance, it might anger Hezbollah’s predominantly Shiite Muslim supporters. The government already faces criticism for conducting direct negotiations with Israel, which has maintained intense combat with Hezbollah since the Iran war’s beginning.

According to a Lebanese government document acquired by The Associated Press, the Ukrainian embassy requested Lebanese officials in March to help al-Aydi leave the country following his escape from Hezbollah custody. However, Lebanon’s General Security agency denied the request, citing a judicial arrest warrant issued in September 2025, the document shows.

Israel’s Mossad intelligence service refused to provide comments. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry similarly declined to respond.

A Ukrainian official familiar with the situation stated that al-Aydi is neither in the Ukrainian Embassy nor its compound in Lebanon. The official, speaking anonymously due to the matter’s sensitivity, wouldn’t reveal al-Aydi’s location and declined to confirm whether he was ever at the embassy or if Ukraine assisted his escape, citing security concerns for the embassy and staff.

Through human assets and advanced surveillance technology, Israel has developed extensive intelligence operations in Lebanon. This network has enabled dramatic strikes against Hezbollah.

In the most sophisticated operation, Israel penetrated Hezbollah’s supply network and provided the Iran-supported militant organization with thousands of explosive-rigged pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel triggered the devices remotely in September 2024, resulting in at least 37 deaths. Shortly afterward, Israeli air attacks eliminated Hezbollah’s long-serving leader, Hassan Nasrallah, while he hid in a heavily protected underground facility.

Prior to that operation, Israel’s intelligence penetration of Hezbollah enabled strikes against the group’s top leadership and field commanders “with relative ease,” according to Nicholas Blanford, an expert on the militant organization at the Atlantic Council.

Following the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Hezbollah and Lebanese officials have intensified efforts against suspected intelligence networks. Approximately 50 individuals have received convictions and are serving prison terms, while others face ongoing investigations, judicial officials reported.

“We were successful in detecting many spy networks, and the state was also successful in this matter,” said Hezbollah political official Wafiq Safa. However, “the Israelis are always working to recruit young Lebanese people from all communities.”

Numerous suspected intelligence operations have included current or former Hezbollah members or people with family connections to the organization.

Al-Aydi, by contrast, was an outsider. He obtained Ukrainian citizenship through his mother, the Lebanese government document AP reviewed shows. The method of his alleged Israeli recruitment remains unknown.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians sought refuge in Lebanon during Syria’s 14-year civil conflict. However, Al-Aydi arrived in the country in August 2025 on a flight from Ethiopia, according to one Lebanese security official.

Although Hezbollah started in the 1980s as a small guerrilla force opposing Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, it expanded significantly after its 2006 conflict with Israel, making it “easier for the Israelis to penetrate,” Blanford explained. The group’s involvement in Syria’s civil war created additional vulnerabilities as recruitment standards dropped, he noted.

Lebanon’s economic difficulties also helped Israel’s recruitment activities, Blanford said.

Court filings in Lebanon’s military court show operatives receiving payments between $2,500 and $20,000 for intelligence on Hezbollah weapons storage sites and political headquarters. Many suspected agents were contacted by Israeli handlers via social media platforms, judicial officials stated.

One notable case involved Mohammad Hadi Saleh, a singer and well-known religious performer in circles linked to Hezbollah. Authorities arrested him in May 2025 and charged him with supplying the Mossad with maps and coordinates of important Hezbollah locations later targeted in Israeli operations. He remains imprisoned awaiting trial.

“It’s ironic that they (Hezbollah) were spending a lot of time accusing their opponents of being Israeli spies, and it turns out that the spies were actually from within the organization and its support base,” explained Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

Recruitment activities persist. During the recent war, Israel distributed leaflets over Lebanon containing QR codes that, according to the Lebanese army, connect people to an Israeli military unit responsible for recruiting agents.

Lebanon’s General Security announced in October it had dismantled a network planning bombings and assassinations in Lebanon, including an operation targeting events for the one-year anniversary of Nasrallah’s death. Officials found a motorcycle equipped with explosives and a car modified to carry explosives, security and judicial officials reported.

Al-Aydi and six others, all Lebanese, face charges. One of the six also escaped, while the others remain in a Lebanese prison awaiting trial, judicial officials said. Only al-Aydi was held by Hezbollah, probably because he was considered a valuable prisoner.

The military court claims the operation was directed by a Mossad handler residing in Germany who contacted others through encrypted messaging applications. The court issued a summons to the Ukrainian embassy that received no response.

Safa mentioned there was a failed attempt to smuggle al-Aydi out of Lebanon to Syria. He provided no additional details.

The two senior Lebanese security officials believe al-Aydi has departed the country. Whether he crossed into Syria remains unclear, as officials there reported having no information about him.

Relations between Lebanon’s government and Hezbollah have reached a low point. The government was upset by the militant group’s independent decision to engage in another conflict with Israel, while Hezbollah is angry the government chose to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially broader security and political agreements directly with Israel.

Al-Aydi’s escape might worsen tensions and create difficulties for the Lebanese state.

If Lebanese authorities denied al-Aydi permission to leave the country, the U.S. and Ukraine were “well-positioned to exert significant pressure” to secure his release, Hage Ali said. Conversely, if the state appears to have allowed al-Aydi’s escape, it would face “public anger, predominantly among Lebanese Shia” sympathetic to Hezbollah, which could use that sentiment to increase internal tensions, he said.