Author: Admin

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Following Monday’s missile exchange between Israel and Iran that marked the most significant escalation since their fragile ceasefire in April, exhausted Israeli citizens returned to practiced wartime behaviors with feelings of resignation and detachment. Citizens sought shelter during morning alarm warnings, then some remained at home while others continued daily activities like shopping or bringing children to playgrounds in efforts to preserve everyday life.

Throughout Tel Aviv, the nation’s business and cultural center, typically busy roads showed less activity than usual, with shops and establishments seeing reduced foot traffic compared to typical weekdays. This quieter environment contrasted sharply with the vibrant, multicolored Pride celebration decorations displayed throughout the city in preparation for the June 12 annual parade.

Earlier that day, projectiles were fired from Yemen and Iran targeting Israel. These attacks followed Israel’s weekend strikes on southern Beirut neighborhoods, where Israeli officials claimed Hezbollah, Tehran’s regional partner, maintained military facilities.

“We’re not normalizing it,” said Liron Eldad, a mother of two children, referring to the ongoing conflict while accompanying other parents at a Tel Aviv playground located beside a community bomb shelter. However, she added, “we can’t just sit there and be bitter.”

This response has become a predictable cycle following the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked conflicts across Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. The continuous fighting, emergency warnings and daily life interruptions have created widespread exhaustion and despair among Israeli residents.

Eldad expressed her disappointment with national leadership and anticipation for political transformation through October elections. “It’s clearly not working, what we’re doing, and instead we’re getting deeper and deeper into wars,” she stated.

Throughout Israel on Monday, educational institutions remained shuttered and medical facilities suspended non-emergency services, relocating certain patients to lower levels while Israeli defense systems neutralized incoming missiles.

Following Iran’s announcement that it would cease offensive actions against Israel, these limitations were removed and classes were scheduled to restart Tuesday. By Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also indicated that Israel’s military operations had concluded, though he warned the nation would react “with force” to any subsequent Iranian aggression.

Nevertheless, the temporary return to conflict left Israelis anxious. “I feel like I’m stuck in a place where you have no control over your life,” expressed Rana Raslan, a physician and mother who was also present at the Tel Aviv playground.

Numerous residents also criticized Netanyahu and his government coalition for rekindling the hostilities. Following Israel’s weekend Beirut strikes, Iran threatened retaliation for the assault, which Israel conducted despite Washington’s appeals to avoid major operations near the Lebanese capital.

“The behavior of the government and the prime minister, and the way he’s brought us into unending wars and his constant lies to his infantile base, don’t help me sleep well at night,” commented Moshe Regev, 63, a retired economist visiting Tel Aviv’s beachfront.

The conflict started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led forces attacked southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 kidnappings. Since that time, over 72,700 people have died in Israel’s Gaza campaign, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas administration and whose statistics are typically accepted as credible by international organizations.

A few streets inland from the coastline, 75-year-old Shlomi Yakobi, who sells fresh produce, commended Netanyahu’s leadership during the previous three years. He described this as a chaotic time that would have overwhelmed a weaker leader, noting his five decades operating a stand in Tel Aviv’s Carmel marketplace.

“People are hiding at home instead of going out,” he observed while serving apricots to several visitors. Yakobi explained that the conflict has hurt his business, though he believes the country had limited alternatives. He sometimes finds himself with excess inventory, which he gives to the neighboring synagogue.

“For two years now, you never know what’s going to happen in the next five minutes,” he said.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun issued an uncommon direct message to Israeli leadership and citizens during a CNN interview that broadcast Monday, urging them to choose diplomatic negotiations over continued warfare and cautioning that military approaches “will never provide you with security and safety.”

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed. Are you? If you are, let’s sit and talk,” Aoun stated.

Despite resistance from the armed organization Hezbollah, which continues battling Israeli forces in Lebanon’s southern region, the Lebanese administration is engaging in direct discussions with Israel through Washington’s mediation to achieve a complete halt to fighting.

Aoun indicated he would refuse to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until a war-ending agreement is secured. He clarified that such an arrangement would constitute a non-aggression agreement rather than a comprehensive peace treaty.

“We need to end the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel. Forever. And this (pact) could be a path forward for a just and lasting peace,” Aoun explained.

The Lebanese leader said his country would align with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which proposes Arab world normalization with Israel in return for Palestinian statehood and Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands.

“But we cannot jump from A to B directly. We have to go through different steps,” Aoun noted.

The conflict began March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel to support its Tehran ally. Israel countered with aerial bombardments and ground operations that have resulted in Israeli occupation of large portions of southern Lebanon.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in over 3,600 deaths and displaced more than one million Lebanese citizens. Although the U.S. announced a ceasefire April 16, combat has persisted, with Lebanon reporting nearly 3,500 Israeli strikes following the truce declaration.

Sunday saw Israel target Beirut’s southern neighborhoods in response to Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, sparking a 24-hour period of direct fire exchange between Iran and Israel that risked undermining Washington’s diplomatic efforts to broker an agreement with Tehran regarding their conflict spanning more than three months.

During his CNN appearance, Aoun expressed Lebanon’s desire for positive relations with Iran built on mutual respect and non-interference, while asserting that Lebanese citizens were dying to advance Iran’s agenda.

In interview segments that aired Friday, Aoun criticized Iran for treating Lebanon as a negotiating tool in discussions with the United States, representing some of his harshest public comments about Tehran to date.

The Pentagon on Monday published a revised roster of prominent Chinese corporations that Washington believes are supporting Beijing’s armed forces, adding e-commerce giant Alibaba, search engine company Baidu, and electric vehicle manufacturer BYD to the designation.

This long-anticipated revision replaces a previous roster from early 2025 and arrives less than four weeks following President Donald Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping during a Beijing visit, where both leaders preserved a fragile trade war ceasefire.

In February, as Trump’s China visit was still being planned, the Pentagon temporarily published an updated roster, called the 1260H or CMC list, but swiftly retracted it without providing detailed reasoning.

Monday’s release matches the retracted February roster except for adding China’s leading memory chip manufacturers CXMT and YMTC, two firms that had been dropped from the brief February index, disappointing Washington’s China hardliners.

Additional companies now included are biotechnology firm WuXi AppTec, artificial intelligence robotics company RoboSense Technology Co Ltd, and Unitree, a prominent Chinese manufacturer of humanoid and four-legged robots. On June 1, U.S. artificial intelligence chip producer Nvidia announced plans to collaborate with Unitree on building robots for research purposes.

China’s embassy in Washington has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Several companies, including two subsidiaries of Chinese state-controlled oil giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) — CNOOC China Ltd and CNOOC International Trading — were dropped from the list. Nevertheless, CNOOC subsidiary China BlueChemical Limited was added, and the department’s documentation emphasized that CNOOC operates under direct Chinese government control.

Firms may sometimes be removed not because the U.S. concludes they lack military connections to China, but because they have ceased American operations or changed their corporate names.

Alibaba, Baidu, CXMT, YMTC, Unitree and CNOOC have not yet responded to comment requests.

The designated companies “qualify for designation as ‘Chinese military companies,’” and maintain operations within the United States, according to the Pentagon’s documentation, which federal law mandates at least yearly. The companies may request removal, the filing stated.

The roster now encompasses a wide range of China’s leading technology corporations essential to strengthening Beijing’s military and industrial capabilities, and its release may heighten tensions between the competing nations, which remain engaged in economic and geopolitical rivalry.

While the Pentagon roster doesn’t directly impose sanctions on Chinese corporations, under new legislation, the department will be barred in future years from contracting and purchasing from listed companies.

Inclusion on the roster also signals Pentagon suppliers and other federal agencies about the U.S. military’s assessment of these firms, several of which have filed lawsuits against the United States challenging their designation.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A fragile peace agreement in the Middle East has managed to survive, though just barely, despite being tested by multiple outbreaks of violence during the last two months. However, the ceasefire now faces its greatest threat of complete collapse, potentially plunging the region back into widespread warfare — with Lebanon serving as the potential trigger.

Weekend Israeli attacks targeting Hezbollah fighters in Beirut prompted retaliation from their primary backer, Iran, which conducted its initial strikes against Israel since the peace agreement took effect April 7. Israel countered with attacks on Iranian locations, while Iran’s allied forces in Yemen and Iraq made threats to expand the conflict. The U.S. and other peace brokers scrambled to keep the violence from escalating beyond control.

Should calm be restored, the underlying factors that sparked this violent episode remain unchanged.

Israel and the U.S. continue their confrontation with Iran and Hezbollah over determining the region’s future power structure, with all parties believing they operate from positions of advantage. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both confronting important elections, have conflicting priorities.

Here’s how each party evaluates the dangers, benefits and way forward:

Israel approaches its initial nationwide elections following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that sparked the region’s conflicts. Netanyahu faces demands to demonstrate power after making repeated promises to eliminate Hezbollah. Through multiple wars and combat cycles, Israel has failed to permanently stop Hezbollah attacks into northern Israel.

Netanyahu also remains cautious about seeming subordinate to Trump, facing domestic criticism that yielding to the U.S. prevents the nation from achieving its military objectives. Trump has urged Netanyahu to prevent Lebanese fighting from undermining U.S. efforts to negotiate region-wide peace, and has declared that he, not Netanyahu, is the one who “calls the shots.”

Therefore, while Israel has begun direct talks with Lebanon’s government and achieved multiple ceasefire deals with it recently, Netanyahu has continued operations in southern Lebanon, capturing significant territory and advancing further north beyond Lebanon’s Litani River. It has maintained raids in the south targeting what it claims are Hezbollah’s rocket and drone stockpiles.

Netanyahu sought a display of strength following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel Sunday — an action Israeli officials had warned would prompt Israeli attacks on Beirut.

Hezbollah has dismissed the ceasefires accepted by Israel and the Lebanese government and declared it will not stop fighting while Israel maintains its attacks and keeps forces in southern Lebanon. The militant organization has sustained attacks on Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon along with barrages into northern Israel.

Iran mostly abandoned Hezbollah to fight alone during much of an earlier 2024 conflict. Following that war, Hezbollah ended its missile attacks on Israel — although Israel maintained regular strikes on what it identified as Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. However, when Israel participated with the U.S. in attacking Iran on Feb. 28, Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel supporting its partner.

Iran’s response to Israel regarding the Beirut attacks demonstrated its readiness to risk renewed regional warfare for its Lebanese interests and most significant regional partner.

Hezbollah faces mounting pressure as Israeli forces advance north of the Litani, approaching the city of Nabatiyeh, a regional center where Hezbollah maintains broad support. The organization also confronts growing tensions with the Lebanese government, where the prime minister and president have criticized Hezbollah for resuming conflict with Israel.

Hezbollah has resisted giving up its weapons, something Lebanese officials have promised will occur. The organization has stated it would only consider abandoning its weapons as part of a broader governmental “defense strategy,” possibly one incorporating Hezbollah into the Lebanese military.

Iran’s strike against Israel for Hezbollah’s sake involves significant dangers. Should full-scale warfare resume, Iran would face additional economic damage plus attacks on its military and top leadership.

However, Iran’s leaders have attempted to display confidence that the Islamic Republic and its economy can survive the impact. They have repeatedly risked the ceasefire’s failure over the past two months by maintaining a rigid position in U.S. negotiations.

Iran is wagering that its massive disruption of Strait of Hormuz traffic provides leverage to resist U.S. and Israeli objectives in negotiations – and that Trump’s hesitation to return to war will ensure the U.S. controls Israel.

Iran has demanded Lebanon’s inclusion in any regional settlement, and seeks to prevent a pattern allowing Israel to attack Lebanese and Iranian targets without facing retaliation.

The United States and Israel coordinated the Iranian strikes that initiated the war. However, public disputes between Trump and Netanyahu have recently become visible.

The war presents risks for Trump’s Republican Party, with midterm elections in November. Trump has claimed the elections — and economic concerns — don’t influence his war decisions. However, his party and advisers likely worry about potential voter damage from an ongoing conflict that increases gas prices and other costs. The president also wants to avoid voters seeing him as pulling the United States into another expensive Middle East conflict.

Similar to Lebanon, the U.S. and Israel increasingly express different positions on Iran.

In negotiations, the U.S. has prioritized resolving Iran’s nuclear program and ensuring free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Israel, historically worried about Iran’s nuclear program, also recognizes a unique chance to weaken Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and its support for regional armed groups.

Despite extensive discussions, there’s minimal indication Iran is ready to compromise on its enriched materials and nuclear program’s future.

Gulf Arab nations want the conflict ended as rapidly as possible. Before the April ceasefire stopped most fighting, Iranian air attacks damaged regional infrastructure. Airports, desalination facilities, aluminum plants and oil installations were all hit.

Renewed broader warfare would expose those targets to additional attacks. An Iranian drone attack on Kuwait’s airport last week reminded everyone of the danger.

Meanwhile, Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz has affected oil and gas exports for Gulf nations dependent on sending tankers through the passage between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

U.S.-allied Gulf states have historically hosted American naval, air and military installations because they view the partnership as protection from Iran. Yet when war erupted, they remained vulnerable to attacks, challenging their confidence in an alliance meant to ensure security.

The Gulf states have little to benefit from extended warfare and much to lose if instability becomes the region’s standard condition.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez conducted meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Monday, focusing on expanding bilateral partnerships in trade, energy, and mining sectors, according to an announcement from the Turkish president’s office.

Rodríguez, who took office following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, traveled to Turkey after completing a visit to India where she worked on strengthening energy partnerships.

“President Erdogan expressed that our country always stands by the friendly people of Venezuela. He emphasized Turkey’s determination to further advance cooperation with Venezuela in many fields, particularly trade, energy, and mining,” the statement from the Turkish presidential communications directorate said.

The oil-wealthy South American nation and Turkey have developed strong diplomatic relationships during the past ten years, which were reinforced when Maduro supported Erdogan following the unsuccessful coup attempt in 2016. Turkey has consistently provided diplomatic backing for Maduro, and both nations have established agreements for energy and gold trade cooperation despite facing international sanctions.

During the discussions at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, Rodríguez and Erdogan also explored strategies to increase bilateral trade from its current level of $448 million in 2025 to an ambitious goal of $3 billion.

The leaders also discussed international developments during their meeting, according to the official statement.

Israeli leadership declared Monday it would cease military strikes against Iran following a security cabinet session, with an Israeli official stating the halt came after President Trump made the request during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“At Trump’s request, we’re stopping the strikes on Iran,” the official stated.

The official clarified that military operations would persist if Hezbollah launches attacks on northern Israeli communities, saying: “We’re continuing in Lebanon with full force according to the equation that if they fire at the communities-we’ll strike in Dahieh.”

The decision follows Israeli military actions in the Beirut suburb of Dahieh that preceded Iran’s Sunday missile attack, during which the Islamic Republic fired 11 missiles toward Israel.

Despite recent tensions, the Israeli official characterized Monday’s phone conversation between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as constructive.

“Good overall. The two countries see eye to eye, despite the fact that twice we acted contrary to his public position in the last day-both in the strike in Beirut and in the response in Iran,” the official explained.

The official emphasized that Israel maintained its stance while preserving diplomatic ties with Washington: “Israel has proven its ability to stand its ground on its right to self-defense even against the president, but without breaking the rope and while maintaining the strategic partnership. The feeling is that the current escalation is behind us.”

Earlier Monday, Iranian news agency Fars reported that “Iran’s armed forces announced the end of military operations against Israel,” while issuing a warning that “if Israel attacks Lebanon again, we will respond more severely.”

Prior to Iran’s statement, President Trump posted on Truth Social that “Israel and Iran want an immediate ceasefire.”

Trump further stated that “final discussions on ‘peace’ are ongoing, but are being affected by ignorant fools who are interfering with them. The siege will continue at full force until a ‘final deal’ is reached.”

In a separate earlier post, President Trump declared that “Israel and Iran must immediately stop the ‘firing.’”

Chile has ended a diplomatic standoff lasting nearly three years by naming a new ambassador to Israel, marking one of President José Antonio Kast’s most significant foreign policy moves since taking office.

The South American nation had been without diplomatic representation in Israel for 947 days, a gap that started when former President Gabriel Boric recalled the previous ambassador in October 2023, less than a month after the Hamas attack on October 7.

Gabriel Zaliasnik, a prominent attorney and former leader of Chile’s Jewish community, will fill the vacant post. His selection represents more than just a routine diplomatic assignment – it signals a fundamental shift in how Chile approaches its relationship with Israel.

Following the announcement by Chile’s Foreign Ministry, Zaliasnik expressed gratitude on social media platform X, thanking Kast for “the trust placed in me by appointing me ambassador to the State of Israel.” He pledged that Chile would “take care of the strategic bilateral relationship of more than 70 years” and said he would assume the role “with strength and hope.”

The Foreign Ministry highlighted Zaliasnik’s credentials as a University of Chile-educated attorney, founder of the Albagli Zaliasnik law firm, and former Justice Ministry adviser on criminal procedure reform. However, his political significance extends beyond his legal background – he previously served as president of the Jewish Community of Chile and has been a vocal advocate on Israel-related issues.

The diplomatic post became vacant on October 31, 2023, when Boric ordered Ambassador Jorge Carvajal back to Santiago for consultations following the October 7 attack and Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza. Carvajal never returned to Tel Aviv and was later reassigned to the Netherlands.

Under Boric’s administration, Chile-Israel relations deteriorated significantly. The former president initially refused to receive Israeli Ambassador Gil Artzyeli’s credentials in 2022, citing the death of a Palestinian teenager during an Israeli military operation. After October 7, Chile joined Mexico in referring Gaza’s situation to the International Criminal Court and later supported South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The breakdown in relations particularly affected the more than 10,000 Chileans living in Israel. Five Chilean citizens were killed in the October 7 attack, and others were taken hostage. Community members criticized Boric for failing to provide adequate public recognition of their losses while simultaneously distancing Chile from Israel diplomatically.

The Chilean Community of Israel released a statement calling the appointment “a great day for Chilean democracy” and describing it as “an act of repair.” The organization’s president, Hernán López, and vice president, Sivan Gobrin, accused Boric of having “instrumentalized the figure of the ambassador as a weapon against the government of Israel.”

In an interview, López described the recall of the previous ambassador as making him “basically a hostage of the president to punish Israel.” He argued that this policy also punished “the Chilean community in Israel and the 10,000 Chileans who live here.”

Gabriel Silber, a former member of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies and Jewish community member, characterized the Boric years as marked by “an absolutely ideologized bilateral agenda.” He argued that previous Chilean governments, regardless of political orientation, had viewed Israel through the lens of national interest, focusing on technology, security, water management, mining, agriculture, and innovation.

“Chile, under governments of the left and the right, saw Israel as a relevant ally,” Silber explained. “What mattered was Chile’s own agenda.” He contended that this changed under Boric, who “moved toward an agenda centered on anti-Israel sentiment.”

The Jewish Community of Chile also welcomed Zaliasnik’s appointment, emphasizing the restoration of normal diplomatic ties. The organization expressed hope for “new opportunities for cooperation in areas of great relevance” and “a new stage of encounter and bridge-building between Chile and Israel.”

Dafne Englander, executive director of the Jewish Community of Chile, said the appointment fulfilled promises Kast made during his campaign. She noted that he had avoided making public statements about Israel during the election to prevent controversy, instead telling Jewish leaders he would “act” once in power.

“It is a very powerful signal,” Englander said. “It means putting Israel back in a relevant place as a strategic partner for Chile.” She emphasized that Kast chose someone who would inevitably draw criticism, demonstrating his commitment to the relationship.

The appointment has drawn criticism from Palestinian organizations in Chile. The Palestinian Community of Chile called the decision “a very serious decision,” “contrary to the national interest,” and “deeply offensive” to Chileans of Palestinian origin. The group asked the government to reverse the appointment.

Antonia Orellana, a former minister for women and gender equality under Boric, also criticized the decision, calling it “a terrible signal for Chile’s interests” and arguing that Zaliasnik had defended positions “contrary to Chile’s historical position.”

The controversy reflects deeper tensions within Chile, which hosts one of the largest Palestinian diasporas outside the Middle East. In April 2025, Maurice Khamis, president of the Palestinian Community of Chile, and Marcela Sabat, its director of public affairs, became the first Chilean-Palestinian representatives to join the PLO Central Committee.

Khamis has been a controversial figure, stating in a 2021 interview: “I absolutely support Hamas, because Hamas is a resistance movement.” After October 7, he said the Palestinian Community condemned attacks against Israeli civilians and rejected violence as a political method.

Englander suggested that the Palestinian community leadership has little interest in separating local coexistence from the Middle East conflict. “Their objective is to keep the conflict permanently in the public arena,” she said.

The appointment ends the diplomatic vacancy but faces significant challenges. The embassy requires staffing, budget allocation, and political support to function effectively. Agreements that stalled under political pressure will need revival, and defense and technology partnerships must be carefully managed.

López expressed cautious optimism about the opening created by Zaliasnik’s appointment while acknowledging the difficulties ahead. He noted that the new ambassador arrives at “a Foreign Ministry that does not have great resources” and an embassy that is “semi-dismantled in terms of staff and budget.”

Despite these challenges, López sees an opportunity to move beyond the defensive posture of recent years. “We do not have to continue being the opposition to an antisemitic government,” he said. “We can be a normal, constructive civil organization.”

The appointment represents Kast’s first major step in repairing Chile-Israel relations. The more challenging task will be demonstrating that Zaliasnik’s selection marks not just a reversal of Boric’s policies, but the foundation for lasting strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Middle Eastern tensions reached a dangerous new level Monday as Israel and Iran launched direct military strikes against each other for the first time since a ceasefire in April, creating a widening rift between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over military strategy.

The escalation unfolded after Israel conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods on Sunday, responding to what officials described as missile attacks from the militant group targeting northern Israel. Iran, which had previously warned against further Israeli operations in Beirut, retaliated by launching ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory. Israel then responded with its own airstrikes targeting Iranian petrochemical, missile, and military installations, despite urgent appeals from the US president to avoid further military action.

Israeli defense officials reported successfully intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Israeli territory, while Iranian authorities claimed their strikes focused on Israeli air installations, including the Nevatim and Tel Nof bases. While no significant Israeli casualties were immediately confirmed, missile debris caused damage to several residential structures in a West Bank settlement, according to Israeli media reports.

Various sources provided conflicting estimates of the Iranian missile barrage, with some reports indicating approximately 30 missiles were fired toward Israel since Sunday evening, while others suggested the initial wave involved 10 or 11 projectiles. Israeli forces also intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, marking what appeared to be the first Houthi attack on Israel since the April truce.

Missile debris from the Israel-Iran exchange landed in Syria’s Daraa province, where Syrian Civil Defense teams conducted inspections on June 7. Syrian state media also reported that an Iranian missile fell near Quneitra in southwestern Syria after Israeli interception efforts.

The Iran-supported Houthi movement, which has consistently targeted Israel and maritime routes throughout the broader conflict, announced what it termed a complete blockade of Red Sea shipping for vessels connected to Israel. “We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” the Houthis’ military wing stated, warning that Israel-linked shipping would be considered legitimate military targets.

Monday’s sudden escalation threatens to undermine American-led diplomatic initiatives aimed at extending the fragile Iranian ceasefire and advancing toward a comprehensive agreement addressing Tehran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the status of Iran-backed militant groups throughout the region.

President Trump, who has consistently indicated that Washington and Tehran are approaching an agreement, pressed Netanyahu to avoid additional strikes. According to reports from American and Israeli officials, the US president contacted the Israeli prime minister by telephone from Bedminster, New Jersey, warning that continued Israeli attacks could jeopardize negotiation progress.

Subsequently, President Trump maintained that the recent military exchange would not disrupt ongoing talks. In comments to the Financial Times, he declared, “It’s not going to have any impact on the deal. I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots.”

The statement was remarkably direct even by President Trump’s standards and highlighted a growing division between Washington and Jerusalem. Netanyahu has consistently portrayed himself to Israeli voters as uniquely skilled at managing relations with the US president. However, recent days have challenged that image through reports of a contentious phone conversation in which the American president criticized the Israeli prime minister regarding Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Iran.

Washington has encouraged Israeli restraint, particularly regarding Lebanon, to maintain diplomatic channels with Tehran. Netanyahu, facing pressure from Israeli security officials and political supporters, has maintained that Israel cannot permit Hezbollah to attack northern Israel or reconstruct its military capabilities in Lebanon while using ceasefire negotiations as protection.

In a video statement last week, Netanyahu declared, “There will be no situation in which Hezbollah attacks our cities and our citizens, and its terrorist headquarters in Beirut, in Dahiyeh, will remain out of bounds.”

The tension between the two leaders reflects a fundamental strategic disagreement. The US administration seeks a regional arrangement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, extend the ceasefire, constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and reduce attacks on American and allied targets. Israel focuses on degrading Iran’s missile capabilities and striking Hezbollah, which it considers Tehran’s most threatening proxy along its northern border.

Lebanon served as the immediate catalyst. Israel attacked Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, a Hezbollah stronghold in the capital’s southern areas, following what Netanyahu described as Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel. Lebanese state media reported at least two fatalities and approximately twelve injuries from the strike. Israeli officials identified the target as a Hezbollah command facility.

The attack followed days of uncertainty regarding American-mediated efforts to stabilize the Lebanese front. Last week, Israel and Lebanon accepted elements of a ceasefire proposal discussed in Washington, but Hezbollah rejected the arrangement and insisted on complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israel continued operations in southern Lebanon and stated it would not cease activities while Hezbollah maintained armed positions near the border.

Iran has consistently argued that any broader ceasefire with the United States must encompass Lebanon. Tehran and Hezbollah have accused Israel of attempting to separate the Lebanese front from the wider conflict, allowing Washington and Tehran to negotiate while Israel continues targeting Hezbollah.

Tehran officials responded sharply following the Beirut strike. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker and chief peace negotiator, stated that American bases and Israeli assets in the region had become legitimate targets due to hostile actions, including what he termed the “violation of agreements over Lebanon.” Iranian lawmakers also threatened a “decisive and painful” response.

By early Monday, Iran had fulfilled that threat, launching ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time in two months. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described the attack as retaliation for Israeli strikes and claimed Israeli military installations were targeted.

From Tehran’s perspective, the attack served as both retaliation and warning. “The operation was carried out in response to a missile attack launched by the Zionist regime … against several radar sites in three different places” in Iran, the Revolutionary Guards stated in comments reported by AFP.

Israel then conducted retaliatory strikes inside Iran. The Israeli military reported hitting multiple targets at the Mahshahr petrochemical complex, marking the first Israeli attack on an Iranian energy-related facility since the April ceasefire, along with additional military targets. Iranian media confirmed damage to portions of the facility, though the full extent remained unclear.

Explosions were reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj, and Kermanshah, while Iranian and regional sources also indicated strikes near security-related positions elsewhere in the country. Iranian media reported attacks on security installations, including in the Madan district, and separate accounts pointed to strikes around Shiraz airport. Iranian opposition sources claimed that Basij members abandoned some positions due to targeting fears, though those reports could not be independently confirmed.

The Israeli strikes were significant not only for directly targeting Iran but because they occurred after the US president had requested restraint. For Washington, the timing could not have been worse. American and Iranian negotiators have been attempting to preserve a tentative framework that would extend the ceasefire for 60 days, reopen or stabilize transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and initiate a new phase of nuclear discussions.

Negotiations remain delicate. Iran demands sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, and recognition of its role in regulating Strait of Hormuz passage. The United States seeks stronger guarantees that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons and wants stricter terms than the 2015 nuclear agreement, which President Trump abandoned during his first term.

Iranian media indicated that all flights at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport and Mashhad International Airport were canceled indefinitely. Additional reports suggested operations at Tehran’s main international airport and portions of Iran’s western airspace were temporarily suspended following the Israeli strikes.

Foreign governments began warning their citizens about deteriorating regional security and travel conditions. The Indian Embassy in Tehran urged Indian nationals to leave Iran immediately using available commercial options and advised against travel to the country. Canada also warned its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and recommended that those already present should depart if safely possible. Other governments have cautioned about sudden airport closures, flight cancellations, and rapidly changing security conditions across the region.

Throughout the Gulf, the situation has remained unstable. Over the weekend, Iran fired missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait, claiming to target American military assets following US strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance facilities. Bahrain and Kuwait reported intercepting the attacks. US Central Command confirmed American forces shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz and reported no American casualties.

Markets responded immediately. Oil prices increased more than 3% Monday, with benchmark Brent crude rising above $96 per barrel as traders evaluated the risk of renewed fighting near the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, crucial routes for global oil, liquefied natural gas, and commercial shipping.

Houthi officials also indicated that maritime attacks could intensify. “We consider all enemy movements to be legitimate military targets for our armed forces,” the group stated after pledging to halt Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea.

In Israel, renewed missile fire prompted tightened Home Front Command restrictions nationwide. Schools and educational activities were closed throughout the country Monday, examinations were canceled, and gatherings were limited to 200 people outdoors and 500 indoors. Israelis were also instructed to ensure safe rooms and shelters remained accessible.

The escalation also created new pressure on Ben Gurion Airport. As of Monday morning, Israeli officials indicated no decision had been made to close the country’s airspace or halt Ben Gurion Airport operations, but professional discussions were underway after Home Front Command requested limiting the number of people in the airport area to 2,500 at any given time.

The Transportation Ministry argued there was no reason to close Ben Gurion Airport as long as takeoffs and landings remained feasible. Transport officials sought a broader limit, with Israeli media reporting the ministry preferred an initial cap of up to 5,000 passengers and workers rather than the 2,500-person threshold requested by Home Front Command.

The Israel Airports Authority announced that, following an assessment led by the transportation minister, Ben Gurion Airport was operating normally. The authority stated it was conducting ongoing evaluations and maintaining continuous contact with the Transportation Ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority, and other relevant bodies to preserve operational continuity and passenger service. Travelers were advised to verify with their airlines and follow official information channels.

Foreign airlines nevertheless began adjusting schedules. Wizz Air announced canceling all flights to Israel for the next 24 hours, adding to renewed uncertainty for passengers and airlines after months of disruption related to the Iran conflict.

For Israel, the challenge lies in the interconnected but distinct nature of each front. Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Iranian forces, and pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq and Syria all operate within Tehran’s regional network, but each maintains its own priorities and battlefield calculations. A strike in Beirut can provoke fire from Iran. An American strike in the Gulf can trigger attacks on Kuwait or Bahrain. A Houthi missile can force Israel to respond far from its borders.

This interconnectedness explains why the American president advocates for a comprehensive agreement. However, it also explains why Israel’s prime minister hesitates to reduce military pressure. Israeli officials argue that ceasefire diplomacy cannot become protection behind which Iran and Hezbollah rebuild military capabilities. They maintain that Hezbollah fire on northern Israel and Iranian missile launches require direct military responses.

Domestic politics have intensified the dilemma. Israeli opposition figures who criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the April ceasefire claim the government has failed to convert military gains into a lasting strategic outcome. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid stated after the April pause that “It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning.”

Yair Golan, head of the left-wing Democrats party, characterized the ceasefire as a “strategic failure” by Netanyahu. “He promised a historic victory and security for generations, and in practice, we got one of the most severe strategic failures Israel has ever known,” Golan stated.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also accused Netanyahu’s government of failing to transform the conflict into a decisive strategic victory. “Unfortunately, as every child can see, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are still standing. This is because a government that is tearing Israel apart from within cannot defeat the enemy from without,” Bennett declared.

Consequently, the region is now trapped in a volatile triangle: Washington seeks leverage for an agreement, Tehran wants concessions without appearing weak, and Jerusalem wants freedom of action against Iran and its proxies. Each side attempts to influence the ceasefire without being perceived as the party that violated it.

Currently, President Trump appears committed to maintaining negotiations despite the missiles and airstrikes. Netanyahu appears equally determined to preserve Israel’s capability to strike Hezbollah and Iran when Israeli officials believe deterrence is threatened.

This tension may characterize the next phase of the crisis. If the United States and Iran can still achieve a ceasefire extension, Israel will face pressure to limit Lebanese operations and avoid further strikes inside Iran. If the talks fail, Monday’s exchange may be remembered not as a contained flare-up but as the opening phase of a renewed regional conflict.

Regardless, the past 24 hours have demonstrated that the April ceasefire no longer functions as an effective brake on escalation. Iran has again fired directly at Israel. Israel has again struck inside Iran. Hezbollah remains a trigger point in Lebanon. The Houthis have returned to the missile equation. Civilian life and aviation in Israel and Iran are again being restricted by missile fire threats. And the US president and Netanyahu, once publicly aligned on confronting Iran, are now openly divided over how to end the conflict without allowing Tehran or its proxies to claim victory.

Israeli military leadership announced Monday that American forces assisted in defending against Iranian missile strikes, while Israeli warplanes carried out extensive attacks on Iranian military targets and prepared for potential extended combat operations.

In a military briefing, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Brigadier General Effii Defrin discussed recent tensions with Iran and claimed Tehran broke the ceasefire agreement.

“Iran allegedly connects the IDF strike in Dahieh to its attack, it violated the two-month ceasefire yesterday with its fire toward Israel. This may indicate the Iranians’ inability to sign an agreement with the Americans, and to buy time they violated the ceasefire,” Defrin stated.

Regarding collaboration with Washington, Defrin explained: “We coordinated with CENTCOM [US Central Command] also in defense. They took part in the interceptions yesterday.”

Military sources reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has held three separate conversations with CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

The armed forces revealed that numerous Israeli Air Force aircraft carried out an extensive mission against Iran’s key air defense infrastructure. Military officials said Iran had recently positioned defense equipment at various sites to rebuild detection and protection capabilities that were previously compromised. The attacks eliminated these installations and, the military stated, enhanced the Israeli Air Force’s ability to operate within Iranian airspace.

During nighttime operations, multiple Israeli Air Force jets attacked nine Iranian air defense installations across western and central Iran. On Monday morning, Israeli aircraft also hit three manufacturing facilities at a petrochemical site in southwest Iran.

The IDF indicated it is readying for several additional days of combat and has prepared for the potential of an extended confrontation.

By Monday midday, Iran had fired no fewer than 20 ballistic missiles toward Israel, the military reported. The IDF stated these missiles were either stopped by defenses or struck unpopulated regions.

The IDF additionally noted that Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launched two ballistic missiles at Israel on Monday morning. Military officials said one projectile was intercepted while the other failed to reach Israeli territory.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee shared social media updates from a Jerusalem bomb shelter Monday while Iranian missiles targeted Israeli territory, expressing strong support for Israel and harsh criticism of Iran during the attack.

Writing on X during the missile barrage, Huckabee stated: “Iran fired missiles at Israel last night & early today. The missile alerts sounded at 6am in Jerusalem. They were intercepted thank God! Iran & its proxy agents of evil want to incinerate America & Israel. Mothership of Satan is in Tehran.”

Approximately one hour afterward, the ambassador shared another update indicating he had moved to a shelter as more warning sirens activated.

“In the shelter now. Hearing loud booms overhead. Hopefully it’s the interception. Another day we live under threat of crazed Iranian regime,” he posted.

These social media messages occurred during ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran that extended into Monday. Iranian forces launched eleven separate missile volleys at Israel the night before, forcing Israeli citizens to take cover in shelters. The Home Front Command shuttered educational institutions and limited large public events, while major medical centers relocated their operations to basement levels.

Huckabee’s statements backed Israel’s defensive measures and held Iran responsible for escalating tensions.

Meanwhile, President Trump revealed he had advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching counter-strikes following Iran’s assault.

During a conversation with Channel 12’s Barak Ravid on Sunday evening, President Trump commented: “The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody. Hopefully Israel is not going to retaliate. If Bibi strikes them back, it’s just gonna keep going like the last 47 years, or the last 3000 years.”

President Trump additionally stated: “We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now.”

“I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one,” he added. “I don’t want to see an additional attack tonight.”

In a separate Financial Times interview, President Trump declared: “Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept a deal with Iran. He doesn’t decide, I decide.”

He further noted that “the (Iranian) attack did not change my desire to complete the negotiations with Iran.”

Israeli military officials announced Monday they successfully intercepted all Iranian missiles launched toward their air bases, while acknowledging their forces struck a petrochemical facility in Iran during the latest exchange between the two nations.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they shot down all missiles fired from Iran on Monday morning, contradicting Tehran’s assertions that Iranian projectiles successfully hit the Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases.

An Israeli official verified that their Air Force targeted a petrochemical plant in Iran. The governor of Iran’s Khuzestan province informed the Iranian news agency Fars that Israeli forces attacked the Karoun petrochemical plant in Mahshahr, resulting in partial damage to the facility.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a statement explaining their actions: “The operation was carried out in response to a missile attack launched by the Zionist regime… against several radar sites in three different places” in Iran.

Emergency sirens echoed throughout Israel, forcing citizens into protective shelters. The Home Front Command maintained active restrictions, including limitations on school activities and gatherings exceeding 200 people.

The Health Ministry’s director-general ordered hospitals to move operations to underground areas and prepare staff for emergency protocols. The IDF simultaneously mobilized to support hospital operations.

Rescue services reported damage to multiple homes in a West Bank settlement from debris believed to be from an Iranian missile. No casualties were recorded, with the IDF determining the damage likely resulted from fragments of an intercepted projectile.

Alerts extended beyond Israeli borders. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed sirens in Al-Kharj province and near the Prince Sultan US base. Early Monday, the US Department of Defense noted “there are indications of missiles or drones in Jordanian airspace,” prompting the US Embassy in Jordan to advise residents to stay near protected locations.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter posted on X late Sunday: “Iran launched 11 ballistic missiles toward Israel today. Each of these missiles can destroy an entire neighborhood and kill hundreds. No self-respecting nation in the world would tolerate such an attack, and neither will Israel. Israel is now targeting Iranian surface-to-surface missile launch sites, as well as infrastructure facilities unrelated to the energy sector.”

These comments followed President Trump’s statement that he encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid responding to Sunday’s Iranian strikes. In an interview with Channel 12’s Barak Ravid, President Trump stated: “The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody. Hopefully Israel is not going to retaliate. If Bibi strikes them back, it’s just gonna keep going like the last 47 years, or the last 3000 years.”

President Trump continued: “We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now.”

“I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one,” he added. “I don’t want to see an additional attack tonight.”

In remarks to the Financial Times, President Trump also declared that “Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept a deal with Iran. He doesn’t decide, I decide.” He emphasized that “the (Iranian) attack did not change my desire to complete the negotiations with Iran.”

WASHINGTON — The United States imposed travel restrictions on over 100 Nicaraguan government officials and their relatives Monday, escalating pressure on the Central American nation’s leadership over human rights violations.

The new penalties were announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cited the recent death of imprisoned activist Brooklyn Rivera as a key factor in the decision. Rivera had been a vocal critic of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo before his death last month while in custody.

“The United States stands with the Nicaraguan people who, like Rivera, aspire to see a free Nicaragua,” Rubio stated.

Nicaraguan government representatives have not yet provided a response to the sanctions announcement.

These latest restrictions bring the total number of Nicaraguan officials and family members barred from U.S. entry to more than 2,350. Officials did not disclose the names of those targeted in this most recent action.

The U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on X expressing concern about six of Rivera’s relatives and associates who have disappeared, condemning their vanishing.

Earlier this year in April, the current administration imposed penalties on two sons of Nicaragua’s co-ruling couple.

Rivera was a prominent Indigenous rights advocate who dedicated years to championing his community’s causes before authorities detained him in September 2023. His imprisonment occurred amid an extended government campaign against civil society groups and opposition voices that started after widespread demonstrations in 2018, which officials violently suppressed.

According to Nicaragua’s government, Rivera’s death resulted from a bacterial infection that developed after his health deteriorated following a COVID-19 diagnosis, causing both physical and neurological decline.

International human rights advocates and organizations condemned Rivera’s death, and U.S. officials had demanded his freedom after the government released images showing him hospitalized in serious condition.

Nicaragua’s administration has detained political opponents, religious figures, journalists and others before forcing them into exile, removing citizenship and seizing property from hundreds of individuals. The government has closed over 5,000 organizations since 2018, mostly religious groups, while compelling thousands of citizens to leave the country.

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s presidential runoff election has left the nation without a clear leader as counting continues in an extremely tight race between conservative Keiko Fujimori and nationalist congressman Roberto Sánchez.

Current tallies from 93% of counted ballots show Fujimori leading with 8.75 million votes representing 50.095%, while Sánchez trails closely with 8.73 million votes at 49.905%.

The eventual victor will become Peru’s ninth president within a decade. Both candidates — Fujimori, whose father was a disgraced former president, and Sánchez, who supports an incarcerated ex-president — advanced to this runoff after defeating 33 other contenders in April’s initial election, though neither secured even 20% support in that contest. Election officials required over a month to confirm their advancement.

Roberto Burneo, the nation’s top election official, urged voters and political groups to “act with democratic responsibility” during the ongoing count. He indicated final results would be announced within 30 days.

Voter participation in Lima, the capital, seemed reduced compared to the earlier election, with minimal waiting lines at most polling locations despite mandatory voting requirements. The extended counting timeline stems from regulations requiring every ballot and summary sheet from each polling station to be transported to over 100 counting facilities. Ballots and tally sheets must also be shipped to Lima from 63 countries for inclusion in the count.

Criminal activity, especially extortion, dominated voter concerns. A 2025 survey by the state’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics revealed 84% of urban respondents feared becoming crime victims within the next year.

Analysts connect Peru’s growing organized crime influence to profits that established criminal organizations generate from unauthorized gold mining operations in the Andes and Amazon regions.

Neither candidate’s anti-crime platforms resonated strongly with voters, many of whom connect both potential presidents to problematic Peruvian political figures.

Fujimori carries associations with her deceased father Alberto Fujimori’s authoritarian and corrupt administration from the 1990s. She assumed Peru’s first lady role in 1994 following her parents’ divorce.

Sánchez maintains close ties to jailed former President Pedro Castillo, widely viewed as corrupt and disorganized. Castillo’s 16-month presidency featured over 70 Cabinet personnel changes.

April’s official election results showed Fujimori capturing 17% of votes while Sánchez earned 12%. An Ipsos poll conducted one week before the election found comparable support levels for both candidates, with approximately 30% of voters remaining undecided.

Food vendor Magali Quiquia chose to submit a blank ballot, explaining she found neither candidate appealing.

“Five years ago, I was disappointed by Castillo with his corruption, and … Roberto Sánchez is the same,” said Quiquia, 44. She continued that she believes “Fujimori hasn’t done anything either” despite her party holding multiple Congressional seats.

Peruvians between ages 18 and 70 must vote or face fines reaching $32.

Over 27 million citizens are registered voters. Approximately 1.2 million were projected to vote internationally, primarily from the United States and Argentina.

Throughout her fourth presidential bid, the 51-year-old Fujimori focused on crime reduction promises. Her platform included deploying tracking technology against extortion, militarizing national borders, and expanding police and military presence in dangerous zones. She also proposed requiring prisoners to work and “repay society” under her leadership.

During the sole pre-runoff debate, Fujimori supported her father’s administration and vowed to eliminate crime as effectively as he defeated the Shining Path extremist organization. Sunday evening, she counseled supporters to stay patient.

“So far, there is no winner in this race,” Fujimori stated from a Lima hotel.

Sánchez, a 57-year-old former minister with strong rural support, committed to fighting police corruption and advancing reforms allowing military assistance in security operations. The wide-brimmed peasant hat wearer, a gift from Castillo, told debate audiences he would welcome “all options to generate jobs and progress” while emphasizing support for Chinese investments.

Sunday evening, he appeared on a Lima hotel balcony, thanking Indigenous communities, farmers and other supporters “who have decided to come and reclaim the government for the people.”

The runoff winner will begin a five-year term on July 28.

TORONTO (AP) — Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour officially assumed her duties as Canada’s governor general following Monday’s installation ceremony.

In her new role, the governor general serves as the official representative of Britain’s King Charles III. Canada remains part of the Commonwealth, with the British monarch serving as the nation’s head of state.

At 79 years old, Arbour takes over from Mary Simon, who made history in 2021 as Canada’s first Indigenous person to hold the position. While the governor general carries significant constitutional responsibilities, the role functions primarily in a ceremonial and symbolic capacity. Prime Minister Mark Carney selected a Francophone candidate for the position.

The installation was marked by the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces performing “God Save the King” while the Governor General’s Flag was hoisted above Parliament Hill.

Arbour brings extensive credentials as an internationally recognized legal expert, judicial leader, and champion of human rights and justice. Her judicial career included appointments to the Supreme Court of Ontario, Ontario’s Court of Appeal, and Canada’s Supreme Court.

The United Nations appointed her in 1996 to serve as Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals addressing crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Under her leadership, these efforts achieved the first genocide conviction since the 1948 Genocide Convention and marked the first time war crimes charges were brought against a serving head of state.

From 2017 to 2018, she held the position of U.N. Special Representative for International Migration.

During her inaugural address as the monarch’s Canadian representative, she emphasized that peaceful coexistence amid differences remains essential for preserving a society governed by law and established rules.

Arbour addressed concerns about artificial intelligence’s expanding influence, warning against excessive dependence on such technology. She pointed out that immediate access to enormous volumes of information creates a strong temptation to ignore the credibility of information sources.

“The lines between knowledge and belief, between truth and falsehood, between facts and assumptions are increasingly blurred,” Arbour said. “AI could be threatening not only the way we live and work, but also the control we exercise over our own destiny.”

She highlighted Canada’s significant global resources, noting the country encompasses nearly 7% of the world’s land area and contains 20% of global freshwater reserves, while representing just half of 1% of the world’s population.

She said the world “looks at us with justifiable envy.”

Last week, Arbour held a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace.

While the United States broke away from British rule, Canada maintained its colonial status until 1867 and continues operating as a constitutional monarchy featuring a British-modeled parliamentary government.

(Note: This article contains offensive language in a later section)

JERUSALEM, June 8 – Israel carried out fresh attacks against Iran on Monday, openly ignoring Donald Trump’s public demands for restraint, in what appears to be an effort to secure influence in peace negotiations where the U.S. president has sidelined Israeli participation.

Although Trump had openly urged Israel to cease hostilities, Israeli forces targeted Iranian sites for the first time since an April ceasefire, following Iranian missile attacks on Israel that Tehran described as payback for Israeli operations against Lebanon’s capital.

Both Israel and Iran ended their exchange Monday after Trump instructed them to cease fire, though each nation indicated fighting could potentially resume.

However, by conducting these operations, Israel delivered a clear signal to Washington that any final Iran agreement must consider Israeli concerns, according to Danny Orbach, a military historian at Israel’s Hebrew University.

“Because if it tramples too heavily on Israeli interests, Israel can overturn the table.”

TRUMP EXCLUDES ISRAEL FROM NEGOTIATIONS

Trump, who initiated the conflict alongside Israel in February, has been pursuing a negotiated resolution with Iran while keeping Israel out of those discussions.

The president has openly pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid actions that might derail negotiations, including maintaining restraint in Lebanon, which Israel entered in March while pursuing the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Iran maintains it will reject any peace agreement with Washington unless Lebanon also observes a ceasefire.

Netanyahu canceled planned Beirut airstrikes last week following a Trump phone call. Trump later acknowledged calling the Israeli leader “fucking crazy” during their heated conversation, though he maintained their relationship remains positive.

Netanyahu’s domestic opponents criticized him for essentially giving up sovereignty by limiting Israeli military operations to preserve U.S. diplomatic efforts, despite having no negotiating role.

ISRAEL SEEKS TO RETAIN ABILITY TO ATTACK IN LEBANON

Following Israel’s Lebanon operation Sunday and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, Trump indicated he considered the matter settled.

“Each of them had their fun,” he told the Axios website. “Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one,” Trump said.

However, Israel determined that only by targeting Iran directly could it demonstrate that Iran should not gain future authority over Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Israel could not tolerate a situation where Iranian attacks on Israel were viewed as legitimate “tit-for-tat response” to Israeli operations in Lebanon, a senior Israeli defence official told Reuters.

Prior to authorizing Iran strikes, Netanyahu assembled top security and defence officials to evaluate objectives of potential short-term escalation, according to the senior defence official and two other Israeli officials with knowledge of the discussions.

One objective involved establishing that any future U.S.-Iran agreement would preserve Israel’s authority to target Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and maintain troop deployments there, the senior defence official explained.

Netanyahu had discussed this concern during weekend conversations with Trump, the senior defence official noted.

Netanyahu has remained silent publicly since resuming Iran operations early Monday. His office did not immediately respond to comment requests.

ISRAEL CANNOT SUSTAIN LONG IRAN AIR CAMPAIGN ALONE, ANALYSTS SAY

The short-lived renewal of Israel-Iran hostilities and Netanyahu’s defiance of Trump’s instructions represent the latest incident highlighting tensions that have periodically surfaced between the two conservative leaders.

Privately, Netanyahu has admitted difficulty swaying Trump’s Iran policy, telling staff he has “no manoeuvre” to influence the president’s choices.

While Israel possesses capabilities to attack Iran independently, it would still require Washington’s approval and assistance to maintain extended air operations beyond several weeks, military experts indicate.

“There’s no doubt that Israel (cannot) go alone in this war for a long, long time, because (the) ammunition is consumable,” said Yehoshua Kalisky, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Kenya’s former top judicial official David Maraga reported being taken into custody Monday during demonstrations opposing proposed development within Nairobi National Park.

The former Chief Justice was detained and subsequently freed while participating in a road blockade near the park’s primary entrance. He donned a green shirt matching those of fellow demonstrators.

Authorities have not yet provided an explanation for the detention.

In a social media post, Maraga stated he was apprehended while attempting to deliver a formal complaint to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

“Our national heritage and environment must be safeguarded from greed and unnecessary destruction without public participation,” he said.

Hundreds of environmental advocates participated in demonstrations opposing the proposed park development and orphanage relocation, describing the plans as an effort to seize public property.

The nation has a history of illegal land seizures, with conservation groups frequently objecting when parks and environmental areas face encroachment.

Kenya’s Amnesty International chapter voiced support for the demonstrators and demanded public involvement in choices affecting the nation’s environmental legacy.

“We want to categorically state that Nairobi National Park is not for sale; our public spaces, our environment, and our rights cannot be traded away behind closed doors,” the rights group said.

On Sunday, the Kenya Wildlife Service justified the development as part of orphanage expansion and visitor enhancement efforts, rejecting accusations of land seizure.

BERLIN — A temporary contemporary art exhibition featuring modern installations, video and audio works, photography, and classic oil paintings will debut this week at Bellevue Palace, Germany’s presidential residence, before the building undergoes extensive renovations.

During a media preview Monday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his enthusiasm for opening the largely vacant Berlin residence to artists and the general public.

“We need art,” Steinmeier stated. “A democracy without free art loses its capacity for self-criticism, and art without freedom loses its social relevance.”

The historic structure, originally constructed as a Prussian royal palace during the 1700s, will undergo comprehensive restoration work including roof repairs, installation of modern air conditioning, and office upgrades. The renovation timeline spans eight years, which means Steinmeier will not return to live there, as his second and final presidential term concludes next year.

The temporary exhibition called Freiraum Kunst, meaning roughly “free art space,” has been coordinated by the city’s Academy of Arts.

Academy president Manos Tsangaris expressed gratitude to Steinmeier for allowing the use of “these wonderful spaces.”

“An opportunity like this to truly bring art to life is something we greatly appreciate,” he stated.

The exhibition opens Friday for public viewing and continues through June 28. The presidential residence, typically closed to visitors, will welcome anyone who secures complimentary tickets through online reservations.

Public enthusiasm for touring the official presidential home was overwhelming, causing the reservation website to crash within hours of launching last month.

The art showcase is expected to draw significant attention, featuring pieces by renowned artists Katharina Grosse, Wolfgang Tillmans and Monica Bonvicini, among others.

Visitors entering the palace will first encounter two works by artist El Bocho. One piece displays an enlarged portrait of a young woman with vibrant orange hair titled “Die Bundespräsidentin,” meaning The Female President.

Opposite hangs a painting depicting three anonymous men in business attire called “Die Alten” or “The Old Ones.” Curator Anh-Linh Ngo explained the artist aims to question why Germany has not yet elected a female president.

Exhibition organizers noted that all participating artists received complete creative freedom regarding their messages to viewers, with many choosing to engage with the building’s political significance.

Artist Karin Sander crafted a small-scale sculpture of Steinmeier and positioned it within the “political speeches room” — the sole area artists were instructed not to modify, as it must remain available for potential presidential addresses.

The 36-centimeter (14-inch) plaster figure now stands on a pedestal at the room’s center, surrounded by elaborate chandeliers and light-blue silk drapery. It will remain there until the actual Steinmeier, whose duties are primarily ceremonial, requires the space for speeches or formally inaugurates his temporary residence near Berlin’s main railway station.

The presidential relocation, already underway, should conclude by summer’s end.

Before completing their visit, guests will pass through the former entrance hall, which will host film presentations, dance and musical performances, and literary readings. Visitors will also have opportunities to interact directly with participating artists.

The director of the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency urged Iran on Monday to restart cooperation so that inspections can begin again at nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel one year ago, while Western nations pushed for a formal demand at the agency’s governing board meeting.

Rafael Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency, made his appeal as Iran continues to withhold information about what occurred at the bombed nuclear locations or the fate of nuclear materials, including uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels, that were housed at those facilities.

Although the bombing attacks destroyed or severely damaged uranium-enrichment equipment, officials believe much of the highly enriched uranium survived, including material enriched up to 60% – dangerously close to the approximately 90% level needed for weapons production.

Speaking to the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors during their quarterly session, Grossi emphasized the urgency of renewed dialogue.

“It’s very important that we re-engage,” Grossi stated during his board address.

In his written remarks to board members, he elaborated: “I call on Iran to engage the Agency constructively in order to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards in Iran.”

While the IAEA has managed to conduct some inspections at facilities that escaped bombing, these activities stopped in February due to safety concerns from additional military action. Since then, inspectors have only been permitted to monitor Iran’s operational nuclear power facility at Bushehr.

During a news conference following his board presentation, Grossi described the communication breakdown with Iranian officials.

“I have sporadic contacts with the foreign minister and others, but basically the channel of communication is broken,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the United States spearheaded an effort, with formal support from Britain, France and Germany, to have the board approve a resolution this week demanding Iran provide “precise information” about the bombed locations and enriched uranium “without delay.”

Diplomatic sources indicated the resolution would likely gain approval by a substantial margin, similar to a comparable measure passed in November. However, they warned it could complicate ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran focused on extending their current ceasefire and establishing groundwork for broader negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s diplomatic mission to the IAEA responded sharply on social media, criticizing the proposed resolution and defending their position.

“Responsibility for an internationally wrongful act rests with the perpetrator and cannot be transferred to the victim. The Board must not be instrumentalized to relieve those who carried out these attacks of their responsibility,” the mission posted, referencing the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear installations.

Iranian officials have historically reacted to critical board resolutions by expanding nuclear activities or reducing cooperation with the IAEA.

“The Board should be cautious on the path forward. Coercion and confrontation do not lead to cooperation. It undermines prospects of a diplomatic solution,” the mission added.

The diplomatic tensions occurred as Israel and Iran conducted military strikes over the weekend and Monday, prompting President Donald Trump to demand they “immediately stop ‘shooting.’”

In comments to the Financial Times following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel Sunday, Trump indicated the military escalation would not affect potential negotiations.

“It’s not going to have any impact on the deal (with Iran),” Trump said.

The United Nations mission operating in Afghanistan has voiced objections to reported detentions of women in the country’s western region for allegedly failing to follow dress code regulations.

In a statement posted on X Sunday evening, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the reported arrests and detentions in Herat city create “serious human rights concerns.”

The statement lacked specific details. Officials from Afghanistan’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice rejected the detention reports, labeling them as “rumors.”

“We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law,” the U.N. mission stated on X. The organization had voiced similar objections regarding comparable detentions in the Afghan capital, Kabul, during the previous year.

An anonymous human rights monitor, speaking without authorization to share information with media outlets, confirmed Monday that observers had documented no fewer than 16 arrests and detentions in Herat starting Friday, including one pregnant woman, for alleged failure to meet dress code standards.

During Friday prayers, religious leaders at Herat mosques made announcements on behalf of the vice and virtue ministry declaring that women could not leave their residences without wearing hijab. The human rights monitor reported that the arrests and detentions commenced soon afterward.

“The issues being spread about women being arrested in Herat are all rumors,” stated the vice and virtue ministry’s information office. The statement continued that “hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement.” The required covering includes headscarves and loose garments that cover the complete body.

Since the Taliban regained control of the nation in 2021 following the disorganized departure of U.S.-led military forces, Afghan leadership has established severe limitations on women and girls. These measures encompass prohibitions on schooling past elementary level and employment restrictions to only a handful of occupations, along with stringent rules governing women’s public attire.

Current government rules require women to appear in public only while wearing complete hijab plus facial coverings that expose solely the eyes. Numerous Afghan women utilize face masks similar to those used during the COVID pandemic to meet these requirements.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Deadly violence between security forces and members of a prohibited political organization in Pakistan-administered Kashmir resulted in seven fatalities, including four security personnel, according to officials who spoke Monday. The bloodshed happened just one day ahead of a scheduled demonstration concerning political representation and legislative rights.

The fighting that broke out Sunday left dozens of additional people injured, including both law enforcement officers and civilians. The violence followed a ruling by the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir declaring that 12 legislative positions designated for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan have constitutional protection and cannot be eliminated without amending the constitution.

This significant court decision preceded a demonstration scheduled for Tuesday by the prohibited Joint Awami Action Committee, known as JAAC. The organization has consistently called for expanded political representation for regional residents and elimination of the refugee positions, arguing that refugees wield excessive political power. The group has staged major demonstrations in recent years, with some becoming violent.

Law enforcement reported that the casualties included four security personnel and three JAAC supporters.

Regional police stated that armed members of the organization fired upon security forces in Rawalakot, a municipality in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and subsequently encircled the Combined Military Hospital, interfering with medical operations. Officials said security forces ultimately scattered the crowd and reestablished control.

Authorities accused demonstrators of starting fires and destroying both government and private facilities.

Officials reported that standard hospital functions had returned and that primary roadways, shopping areas and business districts were operating normally by Monday. Authorities indicated that legal proceedings were in progress against those participating in the disturbances.

Regional tensions have been mounting for weeks but intensified following the court’s decision issued in response to a presidential inquiry requesting constitutional guidance regarding the refugee positions and forthcoming elections for the 45-member Legislative Assembly.

In Sunday’s decision, the court determined that the 12 refugee positions could not be eliminated through administrative action and that modifications would require a constitutional amendment by the Legislative Assembly. The court additionally stated that public safety could not be compromised under the pretense of political demonstration and that elections must occur within constitutionally mandated timeframes.

The present assembly has finished its term, with elections set for next month.

Regional authorities recently prohibited the JAAC, referencing public safety concerns, and law enforcement detained numerous supporters last week. The disputed refugee positions are designated for individuals who relocated to Pakistan from Indian-controlled Kashmir decades earlier and are designed to represent communities displaced by the ongoing conflict over the Himalayan territory.

Regional officials say they approved 36 of JAAC’s 38 requests during discussions last year involving the organization, regional leadership and Pakistan’s federal government. Two outstanding requests involved constitutional issues that could only be resolved by the Legislative Assembly.

Kashmir remains split between Pakistan and India, with both nations claiming complete control over the territory and having engaged in two conflicts over the region since gaining independence from British control in 1947. Last year, confrontations between demonstrators and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir resulted in multiple deaths, including police officers.

Poland’s prime minister urged for unity and direct discussions between Warsaw and Kyiv on Monday following a diplomatic crisis sparked by Ukraine’s decision to name a military unit after World War Two nationalist fighters responsible for killing Polish civilians.

The controversy began last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy renamed an army unit to honor the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which was active during the 1939-45 conflict.

This disagreement has pushed relations between Ukraine and one of its most reliable allies since Russia’s 2022 invasion to a troubling point, coming as Kyiv works to strengthen backing for its European Union membership aspirations.

On Monday, a Polish advisory committee convened to consider a recommendation from Polish President Karol Nawrocki to revoke Zelenskiy’s Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s most prestigious honor.

Tusk advocated for face-to-face discussions between Nawrocki and Zelenskiy.

“Since diplomacy has yielded no results, I publicly appeal to Presidents @NawrockiKn and @ZelenskyyUa for a direct and honest conversation,” Tusk, a political opponent of Nawrocki, wrote on X.

“Before emotions destroy our solidarity, which was born in the face of the Russian threat. Cooperation is in the interest of both our states and nations, and conflict is in the interest of Moscow.”

Should Nawrocki choose to remove Zelenskiy’s honor, Tusk’s approval would probably be required for the action to take place, though legal scholars disagree on this point.

Polish public opinion regarding Ukraine has grown increasingly critical due to exhaustion from hosting large numbers of war refugees, disagreements over grain trade, and the historical memory of World War Two killings of Poles by Ukrainian nationalists.

Former President Andrzej Duda presented Zelenskiy with the Order of the White Eagle in 2023, but Nawrocki announced in May that an advisory panel should consider removing the honor because of the unit renaming decision.

Certain Ukrainians view the UPA as freedom fighters for their opposition to both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

However, the UPA participated in the Volhynia massacres, a sequence of attacks between 1943 and 1945 during which Poland reports approximately 100,000 Poles were murdered by Ukrainian nationalists. Thousands of Ukrainians also perished in revenge attacks.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stated the designation was selected by soldiers wanting to honor the UPA’s resistance against Moscow and who had no desire to insult Poland.