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Trump to Depart G7 Summit Early as Middle East Tensions Escalate

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Trump to Depart G7 Summit Early as Middle East Tensions Escalate

KANANASKIS, Alberta — President Donald Trump will cut short his participation in the Group of Seven summit in Canada and return to Washington Monday night, citing rising tensions in the Middle East as the primary reason for his early departure, the White House confirmed.

The announcement came just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had extended an offer aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in what would be a significant diplomatic maneuver amid fears of regional escalation.

“Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X.

Trump’s early exit further complicated an already fractured summit, where G7 leaders have struggled to present a unified front on issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to mounting hostilities in the Middle East. Trump’s visible alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his push for renewed tariffs have further strained relations among the Western allies.

A U.S. official confirmed that Trump refused to endorse a draft G7 statement calling for the de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, deepening divisions on how to proceed diplomatically.

Despite this, Macron characterized Trump’s initiative positively, saying the offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict could open a path to wider talks.

“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron told reporters. “We have to see now whether the sides will follow.”

While in Canada, Trump doubled down on his past criticism of Russia’s expulsion from the G8 in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea, calling it a “big mistake.” Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had it remained part of the group.

“Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else… he’s not a happy person about it,” Trump said. “He basically doesn’t even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him.”

While he stopped short of advocating for Russia’s formal return, Trump’s remarks cast doubt on whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to meet G7 leaders Tuesday, will gain the full support of the group.

European leaders had hoped to pressure Trump into backing harsher sanctions on Moscow, but those efforts appear to have faltered.

A Ukrainian Embassy spokesperson confirmed that Zelenskiy still plans to attend the summit, despite Trump’s departure.

Fearing a repeat of the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec, where Trump abruptly pulled U.S. approval from the joint statement after leaving, Canada has opted not to pursue a comprehensive communiqué this year.

Leaked draft documents on migration, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals have been circulated among G7 members, but none have secured American approval. One European diplomat told Reuters that without Trump’s participation, any final declaration is “in doubt.”

Carney extended invitations to non-G7 countries including Mexico, India, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, and Ukraine to broaden the summit’s diplomatic scope.

Despite the diplomatic strain, Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the finalization of a bilateral trade agreement, making Britain the first nation to lock in lower U.S. tariffs under the current administration.

Carney also said he and Trump had agreed to work toward a new economic and security pact within the next 30 days.

Trump hinted at a possible trade deal with Canada but underscored that tariffs remain central to any negotiation — a point rejected by Canadian officials.

“Our position is that we should have no tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States,” said Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington.

As Trump departs for Washington and the Middle East crisis deepens, questions remain about whether the G7 can maintain diplomatic coherence in his absence — or whether the group’s unity will fracture further.

Iranian State Broadcaster Hit as Iran Urges Trump to Force Israel Ceasefire

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Iranian State Broadcaster Hit as Iran Urges Trump to Force Israel Ceasefire

An Israeli airstrike damaged Iran’s state broadcasting facility on Monday as Tehran appealed to President Donald Trump to pressure Israel into halting their escalating aerial conflict, which has entered its fifth day with mounting casualties on both sides.

Israel confirmed it targeted Iran’s broadcasting authority late Monday, with footage showing a newsreader quickly evacuating her position as an explosion struck the building. The Israeli military stated the facility also functioned as a communications center utilized by Iranian armed forces.

The conflict intensified on Tuesday as air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv shortly after midnight, signaling additional Iranian missile launches toward Israeli targets. Iran has reported more than 224 deaths, predominantly civilians, while Israel has confirmed 24 fatalities, all civilians.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi conveyed to four European counterparts that Iran remained committed to diplomatic solutions while currently focused on responding to what it characterizes as Israeli aggression, according to Iranian state media reports. Israel has declared its objective as eliminating Tehran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons.

Sources familiar with the diplomatic efforts told Reuters that Tehran has approached Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to persuade Trump to leverage his influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an immediate ceasefire. In exchange, Iran indicated willingness to demonstrate flexibility in nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional sources.

Araqchi emphasized the diplomatic stakes in a social media post, stating that if Trump genuinely supported diplomacy and sought to end the war, the next steps would be crucial. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue,” he wrote. “It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu.”

When asked about potential negotiations if Trump desired them, Netanyahu told reporters that Israel remained committed to eliminating threats from both nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. “If this can be achieved in another way, fine. But we gave it a 60-day chance,” Netanyahu said.

Trump had previously told Reuters on Friday, the first day of Israel’s assault, that he had provided Iran with 60 days to reach an agreement halting uranium enrichment, but that deadline had expired without a deal. Scheduled talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Oman for Sunday, were cancelled as Tehran declared it could not negotiate while under attack.

Iranian media reported that Iran was preparing for its “largest and most intense missile attack” yet against Israel, targeting military and intelligence installations.

The Israeli air campaign began with a surprise attack that eliminated nearly the entire senior leadership of Iran’s military command structure and its prominent nuclear scientists. Israel now claims control of Iranian airspace and has announced plans to escalate operations in coming days.

Israeli forces reported striking Iranian F-14 fighter aircraft at Tehran airport on Monday. The airstrikes have disabled at least two of Iran’s three operational uranium enrichment facilities, dealing significant damage to the country’s nuclear infrastructure.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the BBC on Monday that approximately 15,000 centrifuges operating at Iran’s largest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz were likely severely damaged or destroyed due to power disruptions caused by Israeli strikes. He noted that the separate Fordow facility had sustained very limited or no damage.

For the first time in decades of shadow warfare and proxy conflicts, Iran launched missiles directly from its territory that successfully penetrated Israeli defenses in significant numbers, killing Israelis in their homes. Television coverage showed Israeli rescue teams working through debris of destroyed residential buildings.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reported that nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes since Iranian strikes commenced, with 24 buildings scheduled for demolition due to damage sustained in the attacks.

Iranian state television broadcast images of collapsed government buildings, burned vehicles, and damaged streets throughout Tehran. Many residents attempted to flee the capital, describing long queues at gas stations and bank machines depleted of cash.

Gholamreza Mohammadi, a 48-year-old civil servant in Tehran, described the terror experienced by civilians. “I am desperate. My two children are scared and cannot sleep at night because of the sound of air defense and attacks, explosions. But we have nowhere to go. We hid under our dining table,” he told Reuters by telephone.

Trump has consistently maintained that the Israeli assault could conclude rapidly if Iran accepted U.S. demands for strict limitations on its nuclear program. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, Trump expressed confidence in reaching an agreement.

“As I’ve been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign,” Trump stated. “I think Iran is basically at the negotiating table,” he added without providing additional details.

Iranian lawmakers floated the possibility of withdrawing from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty on Monday, a move that would likely complicate any future negotiations. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, though the IAEA declared last week that Tehran was violating its treaty obligations.

Before dawn Monday, Iranian missiles struck Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least eight people and destroying residential properties. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed the latest attack employed new tactics that caused Israel’s multi-layered defense systems to target each other, allowing missiles to penetrate protective barriers.

The Bazan energy group, based in Haifa, reported significant damage to its power station in an attack that killed three employees and forced the shutdown of refinery operations. The facility’s closure highlighted the conflict’s impact on critical infrastructure.

Oil prices declined one dollar per barrel on Monday in volatile trading following reports of Iran’s diplomatic overtures, raising possibilities of a ceasefire and reducing concerns about disruptions to regional crude oil supplies.

The elimination of numerous Iranian military commanders and the apparent loss of airspace control represents potentially the most significant challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership system since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in Iran’s defense capabilities while demonstrating Israel’s air superiority in the region.

The diplomatic efforts through Gulf intermediaries reflect both sides’ recognition of the conflict’s escalating costs and the international community’s concern about regional stability. Trump’s role as a potential mediator has become central to ceasefire discussions, with Iran betting that American pressure could restrain Israeli military operations.

The nuclear dimension adds complexity to the crisis, as Israeli strikes on enrichment facilities have set back Iran’s uranium production capabilities while potentially strengthening arguments for international intervention. The conflict’s resolution may ultimately depend on balancing immediate ceasefire demands with longer-term nuclear containment objectives.

Death Toll in North-Central Nigeria Gunmen Attack Rises to 150, Survivors Say

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Death Toll in North-Central Nigeria Gunmen Attack Rises to 150, Survivors Say

YELEWATA, Nigeria — The death toll from a brutal weekend attack by gunmen on a village in north-central Nigeria has climbed to at least 150, according to survivors, as grieving families continue to recover charred remains and search for the missing amid burned-out homes and destroyed farmlands.

The assault unfolded late Friday in Yelewata, a farming community in Benue State, where assailants stormed the village under cover of darkness, opening fire on sleeping residents and setting shelters ablaze. Dozens of victims had been seeking refuge in a local market after escaping earlier violence elsewhere in the region.

“Everything is gone,” said Titus Tsegba, a resident who lost his wife and four children in the flames. “They were burned into ashes beyond recognition.”

Authorities initially reported 100 deaths, but survivors and local leaders say the toll has sharply risen as more bodies are pulled from the ruins. Many residents remain unaccounted for.

No group has claimed responsibility for the killings, though officials suspect the attackers were armed herdsmen, part of a growing trend of violence tied to long-running disputes between pastoralist groups and farmers over access to land and water.

Benue State has become one of the bloodiest flashpoints in Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, where confrontations between Fulani herders and indigenous farmers have increasingly turned into well-armed assaults on entire communities.

Deputy Governor Sam Ode said he believes herders were behind Friday’s attack and described the scale of destruction as unprecedented.

Survivors described how the attackers surrounded Yelewata, trapping residents inside before unleashing gunfire and setting buildings alight. The gunmen also targeted food warehouses, destroying rice and yam harvests critical to the local economy.

“They were coming from different sides,” said Jacob Psokaa, who lost his father in the raid. “It was sporadic shooting. Many didn’t have a chance to run.”

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, under fire over rising insecurity nationwide, condemned the Yelewata killings as a “senseless bloodletting” and vowed justice. His office confirmed he will visit the devastated community on Wednesday.

“I have directed security agencies to act decisively, arrest perpetrators of these evil acts, and prosecute them,” Tinubu said. “Enough is enough.”

But frustration is mounting in Benue and beyond, as residents accuse federal authorities of failing to halt an epidemic of rural violence. Armed clashes involving herdsmen, extremist groups, and criminal gangs have claimed thousands of lives in recent years, and Nigeria’s Middle Belt remains one of the most unstable regions in the country.

In Yelewata, the grief is overwhelming — and the needs are immediate. Dozens of families have been displaced, left without shelter, food, or security. Humanitarian groups are calling for urgent aid and longer-term conflict resolution efforts.

“This village is now a graveyard,” said one resident. “If nothing is done, this will keep happening.”

The massacre adds to a growing toll of violence in 2025 as Nigeria grapples with overlapping threats from ethnic conflict, insurgency, and criminal activity — with rural communities like Yelewata paying the highest price.

34 Killed in Deadliest Day of Shootings Near Gaza Food Distribution Centers

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34 Killed in Deadliest Day of Shootings Near Gaza Food Distribution Centers

Israeli forces killed 34 Palestinians on Monday as crowds attempted to reach food distribution centers in Gaza, marking the deadliest single day of such shootings since a new aid system launched last month, according to health officials and witnesses.

The shootings occurred at two locations operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private contractor managing the Israeli and U.S.-supported distribution network. Health Ministry officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that 33 Palestinians died while trying to reach the GHF center near Rafah in southern Gaza, with one additional fatality at a central Gaza distribution hub.

The Israeli military did not provide immediate comment on Monday’s shootings. Following previous incidents that have occurred almost daily since the aid centers opened three weeks ago, Israeli forces have stated they fired warning shots at suspected individuals approaching their positions, though they have not confirmed whether those shots caused casualties.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as thousands of Palestinians gathered around 4 a.m. at Flag Roundabout, located hundreds of meters from the Rafah food center, before its scheduled opening time. Heba Jouda and Mohamed Abed, two Palestinians present in the crowd, reported that Israeli troops began firing as people massed at the location.

“Fire was coming from everywhere,” said Jouda, who has made repeated trips to obtain food for her family over the past week. People dropped to the ground seeking cover as gunfire erupted around them. “It’s getting worse day by day,” she added.

The Red Cross field hospital near the scene received approximately 200 injured individuals on Monday, representing the highest single mass casualty event the facility has experienced, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The previous day, around 170 people were brought to the same facility, with most suffering gunshot wounds sustained while attempting to reach the GHF center.

Flag Roundabout has become a focal point for repeated shootings, despite being located on the route designated by the Israeli military for civilians to access the distribution center. Palestinians have reported that Israeli troops open fire to prevent people from advancing beyond a certain point on the road before scheduled opening times or when individuals deviate from the designated route.

The Health Ministry’s casualty count made Monday the deadliest day around the food distribution sites since June 2, when 31 people were killed in similar circumstances. Ministry officials report that several hundred people have been killed and hundreds more wounded in such shootings since the centers began operations.

A GHF spokesperson told The Associated Press on Sunday that “none of the incidents to date have occurred at our sites or during operating hours.” The organization stated that the incidents have involved aid-seekers moving “during prohibited times or trying to take a short cut.” The foundation indicated it was working to improve safety measures, including recently shifting opening times from nighttime to daylight hours.

Palestinians face an impossible choice between starvation and risking death as they navigate past Israeli forces to reach distribution points. The desperate situation has developed after most food supplies were exhausted during the two and a half months this year when Israel blocked all supplies from entering the territory. Israel has since eased the blockade to allow a limited amount of aid to enter.

The GHF system represents a significant shift in Gaza’s humanitarian landscape. Israel and the United States have positioned it as a replacement for the United Nations-led humanitarian operation that has delivered aid across Gaza throughout the 20-month Israel-Hamas war. Israeli officials contend that the new mechanism is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid supplies.

However, United Nations agencies and major aid organizations have rejected the new system, denying claims of widespread theft by Hamas. These groups argue that the GHF system cannot adequately meet the population’s needs and effectively weaponizes food distribution to advance Israeli military objectives, including relocating Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians into a “sterile” southern enclave.

Anna Halford, a field coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, testified before Britain’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday, characterizing Israel’s claims of extensive aid diversion by Hamas as “specious and cynical.” She argued these allegations were designed “to undermine a humanitarian system which was actually functioning.”

“This is neither a humanitarian enterprise nor a system. This is basically lethal chaos,” Halford told lawmakers when asked about the GHF centers.

International experts have warned that Israel’s ongoing military campaign and restrictions on aid entry have placed Gaza at severe risk of famine. The current food distribution system has become a deadly bottleneck, forcing civilians to risk their lives for basic sustenance.

Israel’s military campaign, launched in October 2023 with the stated goal of destroying Hamas, has resulted in over 55,300 Palestinian deaths, with more than half being women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s casualty figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The Israeli operation began in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, during which militants killed approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and took 251 individuals hostage. Currently, 53 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with fewer than half believed to be alive, following the release of others through ceasefire agreements and prisoner exchanges.

The ongoing violence around food distribution centers highlights the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where basic survival has become a life-threatening endeavor for the civilian population. The international community continues to grapple with finding effective solutions to deliver aid safely while addressing the underlying conflict dynamics that have made humanitarian assistance increasingly dangerous.

Trump Warns Tehran Citizens to Evacuate ‘Immediately’ Amid Escalating Nuclear Tensions

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Trump Warns Tehran Citizens to Evacuate ‘Immediately’ Amid Escalating Nuclear Tensions

QUEBEC CITY, Canada — President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning on social media urging the immediate evacuation of Iran’s capital, Tehran, as he attended the G7 summit in Canada, further inflaming international concerns over an escalating crisis in the Middle East.

In the post, Trump reiterated his long-standing opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran, writing in all caps: “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.” He followed the message with a blunt admonition referencing last week’s Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets: “They should have signed the deal I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life.”

The post concluded with a dramatic call to action: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”

Trump’s statement, broadcast to millions of followers via his proprietary social platform, appeared to warn of either imminent military escalation or severe consequences for Iran’s continued nuclear development — though no direct threat or specific intelligence was disclosed.

The message comes amid the worst flare-up between Israel and Iran in years. Israel last week launched precision strikes that killed multiple senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard intelligence division. The Iranian government has since vowed retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional war.

Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million residents, has remained on high alert as tensions with Israel and the West intensify. There was no immediate response from Iranian authorities to Trump’s evacuation directive, but the post quickly went viral across Middle Eastern and global news networks.

In recent days, Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the United States will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. While he has not specified what actions the U.S. would take, Monday’s post marks the most explicit public warning directed at Iranian civilians since the conflict began to escalate.

However, his statement was made independently of any official U.S. government communication, raising questions about coordination with diplomatic and defense officials.

Trump’s latest post adds a new layer of unpredictability to an already volatile situation. Analysts say the warning may be intended to increase psychological pressure on Iran’s leadership or galvanize international opinion, though it also risks being interpreted as a provocation or precursor to military action.

“This kind of language carries tremendous weight,” said Robert Malley, a former U.S. envoy on Iran policy. “Whether it’s a bluff, a warning, or a signal of something more serious, it adds urgency to an already explosive conflict.”

As global leaders meet in Quebec for the G7, the focus has increasingly shifted from economic policy to global security, with Iran’s nuclear threat and the specter of full-scale war in the Middle East dominating the conversation.

Trump First Sitting President in 116 Years Not Invited to NAACP Convention

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Trump First Sitting President in 116 Years Not Invited to NAACP Convention

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NAACP has made a historic break from tradition, announcing Monday that President Donald Trump will not be invited to speak at its upcoming national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina — marking the first time in the organization’s 116-year history that it has refused to invite a sitting U.S. president.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson delivered the announcement during a press conference, citing Trump’s opposition to core civil rights protections as the reason for the unprecedented decision.

“This has nothing to do with political affiliation,” Johnson said. “Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The move underscores growing tensions between the Trump administration and the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, which has repeatedly challenged the president’s policies in court. In April, the NAACP filed suit to block the Department of Education from withholding federal funding from schools that continued to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs — arguing that the department’s actions violated the rights of Black students to equal educational opportunity.

The NAACP has a long-standing history of engaging presidents across the political spectrum — even those whose policies it sharply criticized. Democrat Harry S. Truman became the first sitting president to attend the convention in 1947, setting a precedent followed by both Democratic and Republican leaders.

In 2006, Republican President George W. Bush addressed the NAACP after enduring intense criticism over his administration’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina, which disproportionately impacted Black communities in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. Likewise, President Ronald Reagan, who drew widespread condemnation during his 1980 campaign for invoking the racially charged phrase “welfare queen,” accepted the NAACP’s invitation during his first year in office.

Speaking at the group’s 1981 convention in Denver, Reagan denounced white supremacist hate groups and pledged that his administration would uphold the constitutional rights of all Americans by prosecuting those who used violence or intimidation to suppress them.

By contrast, Johnson and other NAACP leaders argue that Trump has not only failed to engage with civil rights issues but has actively undermined decades of progress.

“There is a difference between policy disagreement and a fundamental disregard for civil rights,” Johnson said. “This president has chosen the latter.”

The decision is likely to further fuel political debate ahead of the 2024 election, where civil rights, racial justice, and education policy remain flashpoints. The NAACP’s move sends a powerful signal about what the organization views as a categorical threat to its mission — and underscores how sharply divided the political landscape has become, even in institutions once known for bipartisan engagement.

AP

Israeli Airstrike Kills Iran’s Intelligence Chief and Senior Officials, Marking Major Blow to Tehran’s Military Command

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Israeli Airstrike Kills Iran’s Intelligence Chief and Senior Officials, Marking Major Blow to Tehran’s Military Command

JERUSALEM — Iran’s intelligence chief and several senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in a precision Israeli airstrike in Tehran on Sunday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), dealing a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership structure.

Major General Mohammed Kazemi, head of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization, was killed alongside his deputy Hassan Mohaqiq during a high-level meeting targeted by Israeli fighter jets. The IDF confirmed that the airstrike was based on “precise intelligence” and aimed at a facility where top Iranian intelligence officials were gathered.

“These officials played a central role in shaping Iran’s strategic intelligence framework and in planning terrorist operations against Israel, Western nations, and regional partners,” the IDF said in a statement.

Kazemi, who assumed leadership of the IRGC’s intelligence operations in 2022, was central to Tehran’s counterintelligence efforts and internal security apparatus, particularly in identifying regime dissidents. Mohaqiq previously led the Strategic Intelligence Division within the Guard.

The death of Kazemi was publicly confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Sunday interview with Fox News.

“Moments ago, we got the chief intelligence officer and his deputy in Tehran,” Netanyahu said from an undisclosed location in Israel. “Our brave pilots are over the skies of Tehran, and we’re targeting military and nuclear sites.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later confirmed Kazemi’s death, marking one of the most high-profile Iranian military casualties in recent history.

Also killed in the strike were Mohsen Bakri, head of intelligence for the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, and his deputy, Abu al-Fadl Nikouei. The Quds Force is the foreign operations wing of the IRGC, responsible for supporting proxy forces like Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Syria and Iraq.

Sunday’s strike follows a major Israeli offensive launched last week that resulted in the death of Mohammad Bagheri, head of intelligence for the Iranian armed forces general staff and the nation’s highest-ranking military officer. That attack marked the beginning of a broader Israeli campaign to dismantle Iran’s intelligence and nuclear infrastructure after the collapse of diplomatic efforts to contain Tehran’s atomic program.

According to the IDF, dozens of Iranian military commanders, intelligence operatives, and scientists have been killed since Israel began its bombing campaign on Thursday, with a particular focus on neutralizing the regime’s ability to plan and coordinate attacks beyond its borders.

“This marks a significant blow to the Iranian regime’s intelligence apparatus and its ability to carry out terrorist attacks against the State of Israel,” the IDF said, calling the operation one of the most successful targeted strikes in recent memory.

The deaths of such high-ranking officials are expected to deepen regional tensions and raise fears of further escalation between Iran and Israel. Iranian leaders have vowed to retaliate for what they describe as an unprovoked campaign of aggression, while Israel has signaled it will continue its operations until the threat posed by Iran’s expanding influence and nuclear ambitions is neutralized.

With its top military leadership increasingly under direct threat, Tehran now faces mounting pressure both domestically and internationally to respond, even as its intelligence and command capabilities have been severely weakened by Israel’s ongoing offensive.

nypost.com

Harvard Seeks Court Block on Trump’s Order Barring Entry of International Students

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Harvard Seeks Court Block on Trump’s Order Barring Entry of International Students

BOSTON — Harvard University will urge a federal judge on Monday to extend a court order halting President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to block foreign nationals from studying at the university, as legal tensions between the administration and the Ivy League institution continue to escalate.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs is scheduled to hear arguments in Boston on whether to impose an injunction preventing the Trump administration from enforcing a presidential proclamation that bars international students from entering the United States to attend Harvard. The administration claims the measure is necessary for national security, while Harvard contends it is an act of political retribution that violates constitutional protections.

Nearly 6,800 international students were enrolled at Harvard during the most recent academic year—approximately 27% of the university’s total student body. Students from China and India comprise a significant portion of that group, and the new restrictions would effectively shut them out of the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The court hearing follows Burroughs’ June 6 issuance of a temporary restraining order that froze the administration’s implementation of the proclamation, signed by Trump a day earlier. The order was the latest front in a growing legal battle between the Trump administration and the nation’s oldest and richest university, which is also challenging federal efforts to freeze billions in research grants and strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status.

In two lawsuits pending before Judge Burroughs, Harvard argues that the administration’s actions violate First Amendment protections by punishing the university for refusing to comply with political demands related to its governance, curriculum, and ideological independence.

“The administration has unconstitutionally sought to sever Harvard from its international students,” the university said in court filings, calling the move an intentional effort to destabilize the academic community and “throw into disarray every aspect of campus life.”

The proclamation, which suspends the entry of foreign nationals for an initial six-month period, authorizes Secretary of State Marco Rubio to also consider revoking the visas of students already enrolled at Harvard. Though the White House cited national security risks in the order, university officials view it as the culmination of a campaign to undermine academic freedom at institutions perceived as ideologically opposed to Trump.

The latest proclamation followed a prior move by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who on May 22 announced the immediate revocation of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). That status allows universities to legally host international students. Judge Burroughs quickly blocked that action with a temporary order.

While the Department of Homeland Security has since begun pursuing a more formal administrative review of Harvard’s SEVP certification, Judge Burroughs signaled in a May 29 hearing that she intended to issue a broader injunction to preserve the status quo during litigation.

But Trump’s June 5 proclamation has opened a new legal front. The U.S. Justice Department argued in court filings that the proclamation should not be grouped with Homeland Security’s actions, claiming it is legally distinct and does not apply retroactively to current students. Still, Harvard insists the effect is the same: to deny the university access to the international academic community.

The confrontation reflects mounting pressure on U.S. higher education institutions amid intensifying political rhetoric over immigration, national security, and ideological control of academia. For Harvard, the stakes are not just institutional but existential, with the future of international collaboration and academic exchange hanging in the balance.

The court’s decision could have sweeping consequences for other universities with large international student populations, particularly as the administration signals that similar actions may extend beyond Harvard.

A ruling from Judge Burroughs on whether to issue the injunction is expected soon following Monday’s hearing.

Iran Refuses Ceasefire Talks Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes, Says Source

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Iran Refuses Ceasefire Talks Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes, Says Source

DUBAI — Iran has firmly rejected entering ceasefire negotiations while Israeli attacks continue, according to a senior regional official briefed on communications between Tehran and its Gulf intermediaries. The disclosure comes as tensions between the two arch-rivals surge following Israel’s devastating air campaign on Iranian territory, raising fears of an all-out regional conflict.

“Iran informed Qatari and Omani mediators that it will only pursue serious negotiations once it has completed its military response to the Israeli pre-emptive strikes,” the official told Reuters on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the exchanges.

The message was unequivocal: Iran “will not negotiate while under attack,” the official said, pushing back against media claims that Tehran had requested U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks via Doha and Muscat. The source clarified that such reports misrepresented the Iranian position.

On Friday, Israel launched a surprise offensive that reportedly wiped out much of Iran’s top military command and inflicted damage on its nuclear infrastructure. Israeli officials have indicated that the campaign, which they describe as a response to Iranian threats, will intensify in the coming days.

In retaliation, Tehran vowed to “open the gates of hell,” setting the stage for what many analysts say is the gravest escalation between Iran and Israel in decades. The direct confrontation threatens to engulf other regional actors and potentially derail already-fragile diplomatic initiatives.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the reports. Similarly, officials in Qatar and Oman did not respond to Reuters requests for confirmation or elaboration.

Both Qatar and Oman have served as key backchannel interlocutors in recent years, navigating the fraught relationship between Tehran and Washington, and occasionally facilitating quiet contact with Israel. Oman has hosted rounds of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, though the most recent talks were abruptly canceled following Israel’s latest air offensive.

Qatar has also played a central diplomatic role, having brokered prisoner swaps and backdoor communications in the past, including a high-profile agreement between Iran and the U.S. in 2023.

While neither Gulf state has confirmed their current role, their efforts appear constrained by the intensifying pace of hostilities and the Iranian leadership’s insistence on completing its military response before considering de-escalation.

The current conflict marks an inflection point in a years-long shadow war that has played out through proxy skirmishes, cyberattacks, and sabotage missions. But the scale and intensity of Israel’s latest strikes—and Iran’s promise of full retaliation—signal a move from covert operations to overt warfare.

Analysts warn that without immediate diplomatic intervention, the cycle of reprisal could spiral into a broader regional war, drawing in actors such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and potentially triggering confrontations across the Gulf.

The United States, while a long-standing Israeli ally, has expressed concern over the escalation. Though Washington has not publicly commented on the reported rejection of ceasefire talks, it is believed to be monitoring backchannel diplomacy closely.

With Iran holding its position and Israel signaling continued military pressure, prospects for an immediate truce appear grim. The region braces for further confrontation as mediators face an impasse and diplomatic avenues narrow.

Spaniards Squirt Tourists with Water Guns in Growing Revolt Against Mass Tourism in Barcelona and Mallorca

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Spaniards Squirt Tourists with Water Guns in Growing Revolt Against Mass Tourism in Barcelona and Mallorca

BARCELONA, Spain — Tourists lounging in cafes and strolling through historic streets in Barcelona and Mallorca were met with an unusual reception on Sunday: blasts from brightly colored water guns fired by angry locals demanding an end to what they say is the unchecked ravaging of their communities by mass tourism.

The squirt-gun salvos were the most attention-grabbing part of coordinated anti-tourism demonstrations staged across Spain — including Granada, San Sebastián, and Ibiza — as well as in Venice and Lisbon. Protesters say soaring short-term rentals, overtourism, and the prioritization of visitor comfort over local needs are pushing residents out of their neighborhoods and turning their cities into theme parks.

“This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents,” said Andreu Martínez, 42, an administrative worker who joined hundreds in Barcelona’s protest, squirting café-goers along the way. “Barcelona has been handed to the tourists.”

Barcelona, a city of 1.7 million, drew a staggering 15.5 million visitors last year. Locals like Martínez say they’ve felt the squeeze: rents in some neighborhoods have risen more than 30%, traditional businesses are being replaced by souvenir shops and bubble tea cafes, and a growing number of homes are being converted to tourist accommodations, leaving residents priced out and alienated.

“Our lives as lifelong residents of Barcelona are coming to an end,” Martínez said. “We are being pushed out systematically.”

In Palma, the capital of Mallorca, about 5,000 people marched through the streets with placards reading “Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists.” Many also carried water guns. The coastal city, popular with British and German vacationers, has seen housing prices soar as locals compete with global visitors for limited rental supply.

While many tourists laughed off the squirt attacks — with some even welcoming the cooling relief in the summer heat — others were startled by the intensity of sentiment behind the protests.

American tourists Wanda and Bill Dorozenski were walking along Barcelona’s luxury shopping boulevard when they were sprayed. “That’s lovely, thank you sweetheart,” Wanda quipped. “These people are feeling something very personal, and it’s perhaps destroying some areas of the city.”

Protesters made their message clear through banners and signs reading “One more tourist, one less resident,” and slapped stickers reading “Tourist Go Home” and “Citizen Self-Defense” on hotel doors. In front of one large hostel, tensions spiked as demonstrators emptied their water guns at employees and lit firecrackers. One hostel worker retaliated by spitting at the crowd before slamming the doors shut.

Spain’s anti-tourism protests are part of a larger reckoning across Europe as cities grapple with the dual challenge of sustaining tourism — which accounts for roughly 12% of Spain’s GDP — while preserving livability for residents. Spain recorded a record-breaking 94 million international visitors in 2024, inflaming tensions in cities already stretched thin.

Barcelona has become the epicenter of resistance. Last year, city authorities made headlines by announcing that all 10,000 short-term rental licenses would be phased out by 2028, a move seen as one of Europe’s boldest stands against Airbnb and similar platforms. Signs reading “Your Airbnb was my home” were widely displayed during Sunday’s protest.

Spain’s national government has also taken action. In May, it ordered Airbnb to delist nearly 66,000 illegal holiday rentals that violated local zoning or housing regulations. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said tourism “cannot jeopardize the constitutional rights of the Spanish people,” including access to housing.

Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo echoed the sentiment, stating that the government was focused on addressing “the unwanted side effects of mass tourism.”

The short-term rental industry has pushed back, accusing officials of scapegoating platforms like Airbnb for deeper housing policy failures. Jaime Rodríguez de Santiago, Airbnb’s general director for Spain and Portugal, recently told The Associated Press that political leaders were dodging responsibility for years of inaction.

But that argument holds little sway for Barcelona residents like Txema Escorsa, a schoolteacher who said he’s sworn off Airbnb altogether — even when traveling abroad.

“In the end, you realize that this is taking away housing from people,” Escorsa said.

As climate change, digital nomadism, and the global mobility of wealth continue to reshape the world’s tourism economies, Spain’s squirt-gun protests signal that the limits of local patience have been reached — and that the backlash may only grow louder.

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