Federal judge on bench for 40 years lambasts grant terminations as ‘racist’ and anti-LGBTQ.
A Massachusetts federal judge has declared that cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants made by the administration of US President Donald Trump are “illegal” and “void,” and ordered that many of the grants be restored.
In a ruling issued on Monday, Judge William Young vacated the terminations that began in late February and said the NIH violated federal law by arbitrarily cancelling more than $1bn in research grants because of their perceived connection to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Young told the court there could be little doubt the cuts represent “racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community”, according to quotes published on X by Politico reporter Kyle Cheney.
In April, a group of researchers sued the NIH, saying hundreds of critical research projects were halted due to an “ideological purge”. The plaintiffs argued that the reasons given for the terminations – connections with “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “gender identity” – were vague and lacking in concrete explanation.
Terminated grants included programmes focusing on women, racial minorities and the health of health of gay, lesbian and transgender people, but also included studies on cancer, youth suicide and bone health. The government has argued that the court lacks jurisdiction and that the NIH has discretion to set its own priorities.
Young said he was reinstating grants that had been awarded to organisations and Democratic-led states that sued over the terminations. And the judge strongly suggested that as the case proceeds, he could issue a more sweeping decision.
Young, who was appointed by US President Ronald Reagan, offered a harsh rebuke to the government, saying that in his 40 years on the bench, he had “never seen evidence of racial discrimination like this”.
‘Didn’t take job to terminate grants’
The ruling comes almost a week after Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), admitted that the Trump administration had gone too far in slashing biomedical research grants and said efforts were under way to restore some of the funding
Bhattacharya made the remarks Tuesday during a Senate committee hearing examining both recent cuts to his agency and deeper reductions proposed by the White House in next year’s budget.
“I didn’t take this job to terminate grants,” said the physician and health economist, who left a professorship at Stanford University to join the Trump administration.
“I took this job to make sure that we do the research that advances the health needs of the American people,” he said, adding that he had created an appeals process for scientists and laboratories whose research was impacted, and that the NIH had already “reversed many” of the cuts.
In late March, a devastating earthquake hit Myanmar’s Mandalay region, claiming thousands of lives and worsening an already severe humanitarian and political crisis. Since the February 2021 military coup, the country has faced escalating insecurity, economic paralysis, and failing healthcare systems. While military leader Min Aung Hlaing has pledged elections by the end of 2025, doubts persist over whether such a vote would be either credible or inclusive.
The catastrophe has drawn comparisons to Cyclone Nargis, which tore through the Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008 and left over 130,000 people dead or missing. Back then, the ruling junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), delayed aid, blocked international relief workers, and diverted supplies intended for victims.
The World Food Programme temporarily halted operations after its assistance was seized. Even as the humanitarian emergency deepened, the regime proceeded with a constitutional referendum, prompting widespread condemnation abroad.
Mounting global pressure led to limited concessions. Ban Ki-moon, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, traveled to Myanmar and secured a narrow opening for foreign relief workers. Still, international military or direct emergency teams were barred from operating on the ground. That episode remains a powerful example of how authoritarian systems can worsen natural disasters through political control.
In contrast, the current leadership responded to the 2025 earthquake with a rare public appeal for international help. Governments quickly signaled support, and messages of solidarity circulated on social platforms.
Yet many inside Myanmar, particularly resistance groups and civil society, remain suspicious of any cooperation with the military regime. Carefully coordinated humanitarian aid, if transparent and neutral, might serve as leverage to demand more accountable governance, including fair elections.
However, access to the most affected zones—especially those under opposition control—remains highly restricted. Allegations of aid obstruction continue to surface. Meanwhile, military strikes in quake-stricken regions have drawn sharp rebukes from rights monitors.
The military’s election pledge has raised concern, not least because it maintains limited territorial control. Opposition entities like the National Unity Government (NUG) have rejected any vote managed by the junta as illegitimate.
Within the country, tensions are intensifying. Public distrust of international engagement with the regime is widespread, even when it’s justified by humanitarian intent. For donors and NGOs, the challenge is to support the people without reinforcing military authority.
ASEAN, long hesitant to interfere in member states’ domestic affairs, now faces a pivotal moment. The scale of suffering and regional instability is testing that principle. Frustration with Myanmar’s defiance is growing, particularly in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Despite the tragedy, the earthquake may present a diplomatic opening—one where humanitarian priorities could help unlock political change. But that opportunity hinges on bold and coordinated pressure by regional and international stakeholders. Myanmar’s suffering demands more than sympathy—it demands strategy.
‘You hear the sound of the aggressor attacking the truth’ This is what Iran’s state TV presenter Sahar Emami said moments before an Israeli missile struck the studio, halting her broadcast. Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari breaks it down.
A group of doctors is pleading with EU leaders to pressure Israel to end its siege on Gaza. Members of Doctors Without Borders revealed the extreme conditions they’re working under and said that the world didn’t want to believe them.
Pakistan closes its border with Iran while Jordan suspends flights but keeps land crossings with Israel operational.
Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with Iran for an indefinite period as travel continues to be heavily disrupted by the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, and airspace in the region has also been impacted with missiles flying through neighbouring countries in both directions.
Crossing into Iran “has been suspended until further notice”, Atta ul Munim, an official at one of the crossings in Pakistan’s Chaghi district, said on Monday. Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, told the AFP news agency that border facilities along the more than 900km (560-mile) border have been shut.
Iranian airspace has been closed as it counters Israel’s attacks. The Civil Aviation Authority said Iran’s airspace would remain closed “until further notice” to “protect the safety of passengers”.
Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport remained closed “until further notice”. The Israeli flag carrier El Al Airlines said it has suspended all flights until at least Thursday with additional cancellations to many European cities extending to June 23.
However, three land border crossings between Israel and Jordan – the Jordan River, the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge and the Yitzhak Rabin crossings – remained functional.
The Israeli National Security Council advised its citizens to avoid travelling through Jordan and Egypt because of security risks. The Israel Airports Authority also said there was “no recommendation” for Israelis to travel to Greece or Cyprus because “passengers can expect to wait for days until a return flight is actually possible.”
Jordan on Sunday announced the closure of its airspace for a second time since Israel launched its surprise assault on Iran on Friday. Amman said the Jordanian military had intercepted some ballistic missiles that had entered Jordanian airspace.
Several countries were preparing to evacuate their nationals from the conflict zone. Poland’s deputy foreign minister said it planned to route about 200 of its citizens visiting Israel through Jordan’s capital.
India said its diplomats were helping some Indian students relocate out of harm’s way in Iran. “The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety,” a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
“In some cases, students are being relocated with [the] Embassy’s facilitation to safer places within Iran,” it added.
Several airlines have announced flight suspensions. Russia’s Aeroflot cancelled flights between Moscow and Tehran and made changes to other routes in the Middle East. Qatar Airways said it had temporarily cancelled flights to and from Iran, Iraq and Syria.
Greece’s Aegean Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv up to July 12 as well as all flights to and from Beirut, Amman and Erbil through June 28.
Watch: Minnesota governor Tim Walz confirms Vance Luther Boelter’s arrest
A man has been arrested on suspicion of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband, after a two-day manhunt in the US state of Minnesota.
The chase came to an end in a wooded rural area west of Minneapolis, where he surrendered peacefully and ended up crawling towards officers, police said.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is charged with killing Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband Mark. State Governor Tim Walz called it a “politically motivated assassination”.
He is also alleged to have shot and wounded Democratic State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, who are both now awake in hospital.
Mrs Hoffman said on Sunday that both felt “incredibly lucky to be alive”, as they had been hit by 17 bullets between them.
She and her husband had been “gutted and devastated” by the Hortmans’ deaths, Mrs Hoffman added in her statement. “We have no words,” she wrote. “There is never a place for this kind of political hate.”
Mr Boelter faces two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. He is due to appear in court in Minneapolis at 13:30 local time (14:30 EDT; 18:30 GMT) on Monday.
The suspect is a former political appointee and was once a member of the same state workforce development board as John Hoffman. However it is unclear if they actually knew each other.
Police have not suggested what the alleged killer’s motive might have been, but state senator Amy Klobuchar has joined Governor Walz in suggesting the attacks were politically motivated.
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office/Reuters
Police said suspect Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest
Officials said on Sunday that Vance Luther Boelter was detained after investigators found a car he had used in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene in Brooklyn Park.
Air and SWAT teams were deployed to arrest the suspect, following a huge manhunt that was described as the largest in Minnesota’s history.
No police officers were injured during his apprehension, and officials said they were not looking for any other suspects. Mr Boelter’s wife was earlier detained in a traffic stop, but was released because she co-operated with investigators.
Speaking at a press conference with other local officials on Sunday night, Governor Walz said the attack was an “unspeakable act” that had “altered the state of Minnesota”.
“This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,” Walz said.
Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey praised the “skill and bravery” of law enforcement agencies following the suspect’s arrest. “Political violence is abhorrent,” he added.
Vance Luther Boelter is accused of impersonating a police officer to carry out the attacks on Saturday, before exchanging fire with police officers and fleeing from the suburban area.
Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019 to 2025.
As well as having some political involvement, Mr Boelter is a security contractor and religious missionary who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, his online CV says. According to Facebook photos, he once preached as a church pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Investigators reportedly found a list of “targets” in the vehicle that he is thought to have driven for the alleged shootings.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters that he would not describe the notebook found in the car as a “manifesto” as it was not “a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings”.
Local media have reported that the names included Governor Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
During Sunday’s press conference, Mr Evans did not specify who was featured on the list, but said that state officials had contacted authorities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa so that they could “notify individuals that were on that list”.
Getty Images
Melissa Hortman
Mrs Hoffman’s statement on Sunday also offered an update on her husband’s condition. “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” she wrote.
The attacker is thought to have first targeted the Hoffmans – at their home in Champlin, at around 02:00 local time on Saturday.
A Facebook post from someone identifying as Mrs Hoffman’s nephew said that she had thrown herself on her daughter during the assassination attempt, “using her body as a shield to save her life”.
Soon after the attack on the Hoffmans eight miles away, the Hortmans were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park.
Locals told the BBC of their shock. Taha Abuisnaineh, who lives across the street, said he and his wife had known the Hortman family for more than 20 years.
“They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood,” he said. “You don’t see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked.”
Another resident said she and her husband had received an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans.
“What a big loss for Minnesota,” she said.
Yvette and John Hoffman/Facebook
Yvette and John Hoffman were shot 17 times between them, but survived
Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali face immediate risk as extreme hunger rises in 13 locations.
Extreme hunger will intensify in 13 global hotspots over the coming months, with five states facing the immediate risk of starvation, according to a United Nations report.
The report, Hunger Hotspots, released on Monday by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP), blamed conflict, economic shocks, and climate-related hazards for the threat of starvation in Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali.
The report, which predicts food crises in the next five months, calls for investment and help to ensure aid delivery, which it said was being undermined by insecurity and funding gaps.
The people living in the five worst-hit countries face “extreme hunger and risk of starvation and death in the coming months unless there is urgent humanitarian action”, warned the UN agencies.
“This report makes it very clear: hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. “We must act now, and act together, to save lives and safeguard livelihoods.”
“This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Without funding and access, we cannot save lives.”
For famine to be declared, at least 20 percent of the population in an area must be suffering extreme food shortages, with 30 percent of children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.
In Sudan, where famine was confirmed in 2024, the crisis is likely to persist due to conflict and displacement, with almost 25 million people at risk.
South Sudan, hit by flooding and political instability, could see up to 7.7 million people in crisis, with 63,000 in famine-like conditions, the report said.
In Palestine, Israel’s continued military operations and blockade of Gaza have left the entire population of 2.1 million people facing acute food shortages, with nearly half a million at risk of famine by the end of September, the report said.
In Haiti, escalating gang violence has displaced thousands, with 8,400 already facing catastrophic hunger. In Mali, conflict and high grain prices put 2,600 people at risk of starvation by the end of August.
Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also flagged as hotspots of very high concern. Other hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.
“Preemptive interventions save lives, reduce food gaps, and protect assets and livelihoods,” the report stresses.
In contrast to worsening conditions in the 13 states identified, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been removed from the list.
As Israel and Iran exchange deadly salvoes for a fourth day, there are growing concerns that the conflict will spread across one of the world’s key oil- and gas-producing regions. Equity markets initially were roiled after Israel’s surprise attack on Friday but have since stabilised.
A day after Israel killed several of Iran’s top military commanders and nuclear scientists and damaged some of its nuclear sites, Israel then hit Iran’s fossil fuel sector on Saturday with Iranian state media reporting a blaze at the South Pars gasfield. More than 220 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, including at least 70 women and children, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran responded with a barrage of ballistic missile and drone strikes, a small percentage of which succeeded in penetrating Israeli defences, killing at least 24 people.
On his Truth Social platform, United States President Donald Trump warned Tehran that the next “already planned attacks” would be “even more brutal”, adding: “Iran must make a deal [on its nuclear programme] before nothing is left.”
As the conflict between the Middle East’s two most powerful militaries spirals towards a full-fledged war, financial markets and the aviation sector are taking a hit. Analysts are watching oil prices, and investors are turning to safe havens like gold.
And a full-blown war could make things even worse – much worse, experts warned.
What has happened to the price of oil?
Brent crude, the global benchmark, rallied to $74.60 per barrel early on Monday.
That marked an almost 7 percent increase from Thursday, the day before Israel launched its surprise attack.
Much of the world’s oil and other key commodities such as natural gas pass through busy sea lanes in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait, a narrow waterway separating Iran from the Gulf states, links the Arabian Sea to the Indian Ocean.
It is a conduit for one-third of the world’s seaborne oil supplies, channelling roughly 21 million barrels every day.
At its narrowest point, it is 33km (21 miles) wide. Shipping lanes in the waterway are even narrower, making them vulnerable to attack.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has revived a decades-old question of whether Tehran will close the maritime chokepoint, triggering an oil price rally.
Quoting key conservative lawmaker Esmail Kosari, the Iranian news agency IRINN reported that Tehran is considering closing the strait as the conflict with Israel intensifies.
According to Goldman Sachs, a worst-case scenario involving blockades in the Strait of Hormuz could push oil prices above $100 per barrel.
Still, during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, in which both countries targeted commercial vessels in the Gulf, Hormuz was never completely closed.
What’s more, attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz would likely disrupt Tehran’s own exports, especially to China, cutting off valuable revenue.
According to Hamzeh Al Gaaod, an economic analyst at TS Lombard, a strategy and political research firm, “the repercussions to closing off the strait would be severe for Tehran itself.”
Have global inflation rates been affected?
When oil prices rise, the cost of production also goes up. This is eventually passed on to consumers, especially for energy-intensive goods like food, clothing and chemicals.
Oil-importing countries around the world could experience higher inflation and slower economic growth if the conflict persists.
Looking ahead, analysts warned that central banks would face reduced policy flexibility in trying to control rising prices.
“Central bankers from the G7 are currently on an [interest rate] cutting cycle, and so will be worried about a potential energy price shock,” Al Gaaod told Al Jazeera.
The Bank of England has recently slashed the United Kingdom’s base interest rate to 4.25 percent although the US Federal Reserve has held off on cutting rates in the wake of Trump’s tariffs, imposed on almost all countries since he returned to power in January.
How have markets responded?
Wall Street has taken a hit. On Friday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices shed 1.1 and 1.3 percent, respectively. In the Middle East, Egypt’s benchmark EGX 30 index fell 7.7 percent on Sunday while the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange 35 Index dropped 1.5 percent.
European equities also drifted down on the news of Israel’s attacks. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 fell a little more than 1.1 percent at the end of last week while the UK’s FTSE 100 ended 0.5 percent lower on Friday.
Still, some UK companies rallied. BAE Systems, a defence contractor, was up almost 3 percent on Friday, reflecting concerns that tensions could escalate.
In the US, share prices of military suppliers, including Lockheed, Northrop Grumman and RTX, also rose.
Elsewhere, oil companies BP and Shell gained in value with the former closing nearly 2 percent higher and the latter closing at just more than 1 percent higher.
The price of gold was also trading about 1 percent higher on Friday at $3,426 an ounce, close to the record high of $3,500 it hit in April.
On Monday, investors tempered some of their risk-off positioning with oil and gold prices falling and stock prices rising.
“It seems that markets are anticipating the conflict will remain relatively contained. Crucially, Iran has not attacked any US military assets in the region,” Al Gaaod said.
What has the impact been on the aviation sector with airspace closures?
Several airlines have suspended or cancelled flights in the Middle East, and some countries have shut their airspace.
Here is a list of some suspended and rerouted flights:
Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, said it has suspended flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran until June 30 with flights to Lebanon halted until Sunday.
Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until Sunday. The airline is also rerouting several other services and has advised customers to await updates regarding their flight status.
Qatar Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria due to ongoing tensions with passengers advised to check the status of their flights before travel.
Elsewhere, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that aviation authorities have shut down the country’s airspace until further notice.
On Friday, Iraq also closed its airspace and suspended all traffic at its airports, Iraqi state media reported. Eastern Iraq is home to one of the world’s busiest air corridors. Dozens of flights cross there at any one moment, flying between Europe and the Gulf – many on routes from Asia to Europe.
Jordan’s civil aviation authority said it had “temporarily” closed Jordanian airspace “in anticipation of any dangers resulting from the escalation happening in the region”.
For Al Gaaod, “there may be short-term disruption for Middle East tourism but only for a month or so. I suspect tourism will bounce back.”
He made a similar prediction about global financial markets: “So long as strikes remain contained, I think equity prices will continue to recover from last week.”
Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, died while skydiving in Devon, police say
Two people who died while skydiving in Devon have been named by police.
Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, and Adam Harrison, 30, from Bournemouth, died in the accident at Dunkeswell Aerodrome at about 13:00 BST on Friday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The force said the skydivers died at the scene and their families had been informed.
It said inquiries were ongoing by police, British Skydiving and East Devon District Council Environmental Health and Safety Office.
British Skydiving said on Saturday it had been “notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives”.
“Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community,” it said.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it was aware of the incident but could not comment any further due to it being an active investigation.
The Dunkeswell Aerodrome is a former RAF site located in the Blackdown Hills area of Devon, close to the county’s border with Somerset.
According to the aerodrome’s website, the site was originally built to be an American naval base during World War Two.
It is also claimed to be the highest licensed airfield in the UK at 839ft (256m) above sea level.
Along with skydiving, other activities on offer include Spitfire flight tours, wing-walking and flight training for aircraft.
‘Brutal funding cuts leave brutal choices,’ says aid chief, as humanitarian appeal slashes and priorities refocused.
The United Nations has announced sweeping cuts to its global humanitarian operations, blaming what it described as the “deepest funding cuts ever” for a drastic scaling back of its aid ambitions.
In a statement released on Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was now appealing for $29bn in aid – down sharply from the $44bn it had requested in December – and would refocus on the most critical emergencies under a “hyper-prioritised” plan.
The move follows a steep decline in funding from key donors, with the United States – historically the largest contributor – having slashed foreign aid under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Other donors have since followed suit, citing global economic uncertainty. So far this year, the UN has received only $5.6bn, a mere 13 percent of what it initially sought.
“Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,” said undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher.
“All we ask is 1 percent of what you spent last year on war. But this isn’t just an appeal for money – it’s a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end the suffering,” he added.
OCHA said remaining aid efforts would be redirected towards the most urgent crises and aligned with planning already under way for 2025 to ensure maximum impact with limited funds.
“We have been forced into a triage of human survival,” Fletcher said. “The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given.”
Iran’s air defence batteries have been firing overnight in the capital Tehran to counter a fourth night of Israeli strikes. Iranian officials say Israeli attacks have killed more than 224 people, including 70 women and children.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday that it launched a strike targeting the Kremenchuk oil refinery, a key fuel source for Ukrainian troops in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the attack as a “vile strike” on energy infrastructure, accusing Moscow of ignoring international appeals to de-escalate. Zelenskyy said the United States has asked Kyiv to refrain from targeting Russian energy sites.
Russia claimed to have seized control of the village of Malynivka in Donetsk, referring to it by its Soviet-era name, Ulyanovka.
Moscow reported making significant gains in Ukraine’s Sumy region, stating that its forces had pushed through enemy defences and caused major losses.
In a rare long-range operation, Ukraine said it struck a drone production site in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, about 1,000km (621 miles) inside Russia. The military said the facility had been used to launch attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.
Tatarstan’s regional leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that a drone strike had hit a car factory near Yelabuga, killing one person and wounding 13. Ukraine claims the site is used to manufacture drones for Russian military use.
UK intelligence believes that more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured while fighting alongside Moscow’s forces in Russia’s Kursk region. The United Kingdom said the figure represents more than half of the 11,000 North Korean troops originally deployed, highlighting Pyongyang’s growing role in supporting Moscow’s war effort.
Diplomacy
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for increased pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire, urging the Group of Seven (G7) nations to strengthen sanctions against Moscow when they meet in Canada on Monday. Zelenskyy will attend the meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he plans to ask United States President Donald Trump if Washington is prepared to back stronger sanctions if Russia continues to refuse to agree to a ceasefire.
The White House confirmed that Trump would meet Zelenskyy for bilateral talks.
Russia said it had not received a single Russian corpse in return, accusing Ukraine of not upholding the agreement reached in Istanbul, which would see both sides hand over as many as 6,000 bodies and to exchange sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war as well as those aged under 25.
Five people have been killed and dozens injured as Iran launched fresh strikes across central Israel overnight, according to Israel’s national emergency service. Footage shows explosions and damage in Tel Aviv and Haifia. Officials say at least 19 people have been killed in Israel and 224 people in Iran since Friday, when the two countries began launching attacks.
Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at potential rebels in the Labour Party over his plans to cut the benefits bill, insisting “we have got to get the reforms through.”
MPs will vote in the coming weeks on a package of measures aiming to cut the benefits bill by £5bn by 2030.
The Welfare Reform Bill will include proposals to make it harder for disabled people with less severe conditions to claim Personal Independence Payment, or PIP, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said: “We have got to get the reforms through, and I have been clear about that from start to finish.
“The system is not working. It’s not working for those that need support, it’s not working for taxpayers.
“Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.”
Dozens of Labour MPs have expressed concerns about the plans to cut Pip payments and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit.
Many have said they are prepared to vote against the primary legislation the government needs to pass to make the changes to welfare payments.
The welfare package as a whole could push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty, according to the government’s impact assessment.
Asked if there could be further concessions, Sir Keir said he was determined to press ahead with the changes:
“The principles remain the same, those who can work should work.
“Those who need support in to work should have that support in to work which I don’t think they are getting at the moment.
“Those who are never going to be able to work should be properly supported and protected. And that includes not being reassessed and reassessed.
“So they are the principles, we need to do reform and we will be getting on with that reform when the Bill comes.”
Chris and Diana struggled to sell their shared ownership property, and lost £10,000 in the process
Touted as a stepping stone to getting on the property ladder, shared ownership was designed to be one answer to a tough housing market.
But behind the hope lies a growing wave of discontent, as complaints to the housing watchdog – over repairs, costs and selling – have soared.
“We had none of the rights of homeowners, and all the obligations of renters,” said Diana, who together with her husband Chris, bought a shared ownership property in east London in February 2020.
But the couple decided to sell in 2021 after finding it “traumatic”.
They said they had to try to sell through what is known as a nomination period during which the housing association or landlord has the exclusive right to find a buyer for the shared ownership home.
Two years later and £10,000 worse off, after the property was re-evaluated at less than what they paid, they eventually sold.
“It’s a big con and we felt trapped,” said Diana.
“Not being able to sell was a trauma.”
They have gone back to private renting because, according to Chris, it is “much simpler and easier”.
Now out of it, Diana says she would not recommend the scheme because “they sell it to you as a dream but then it became a nightmare”.
There are currently about 250,000 shared ownership households in England, according to figures.
In 2019-20 there were about 202,000, according to the English Housing Survey.
Although more shared ownership properties were being delivered year on year, the complaint figures, obtained via a BBC Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act request, show shared ownership complaints have risen by almost 400% in the past five years, and are continuing to rise.
The FOI also found:
There has been a rapid increase in the number of complaints the ombudsman has received relating to shared ownership tenures; in 2024 it received 1,564 – almost five times the 324 received in 2020
Shared ownership complaints have risen faster than wider social housing ones
Of the complaints made over the last five years, 44% were based in London, and the South East having the second highest number
The most common complaints relate to repairs, costs, managing relations, and moving and selling properties.
Kathy bought a 40% share with a friend in a two-bedroom flat in north London in 2017. She pays a subsidised rent on the remaining 60%.
“I don’t have the bank of mum and dad. It was either that or put most of my salary into rent and have this feeling that I’d never be on the property ladder or have my own space,” said the 44-year-old.
“I love my flat and the community. In terms of where the building is located and how close it is to London, these are all amazing things.
“But it has mega downsides, particularly regarding finances and transparency and the level of service that we receive from the housing provider.”
Kathy says she has had to get a lodger to keep her “head above water” to cover increasing costs but her long-term plan is to sell
In the past eight years, she said her costs had increased so much, including more than £200 a month rise in service charges, that she has had to get a lodger and cannot afford to increase her share.
Repairs take years to complete, she said, adding a buzzer was broken for a year and a sewage system has been faulty since 2012.
“The sewage was overflowing and flowing directly into the river, and going into the children’s playground. It stank in summertime,” she said.
“They sent out all these consultants and they charged everything to us. The sewage system was not fit for purpose so why are we paying?”
Kathy’s housing association is not being named because her neighbours are scared it will devalue the property.
“It’s not affordable anymore. I have to have a lodger live in my house just to help me pay and keep my head above water,” Kathy added.
“My long-term plan is to sell – I can’t continue like this.”
Single parent Fatima said she had “no choice” but to choose shared ownership
Fatima bought a shared ownership property in 2019 after being evicted from two rental properties when her two children were younger.
As a single parent, she said there was “no way” she would have been able to get a mortgage so shared ownership was “the only option”.
Now “in a bind” due to an 80% increase in service charges within the last year, Fatima, along with others in the block, complained and said they would not pay the increase until it had been investigated.
Repairs have been an issue for a long time, she said. When the BBC filmed at her flat, the communal corridors were heated to 31C (88F) and the lift was broken.
“The biggest issue is all the heating costs that go into our service charges are heating the communal hallways. The building is cooking from the inside.”
Fatima’s corridor was 31C (88F) due to issues with overheating
She said the shared ownership model was an “in-between option which could work if there weren’t so many companies involved”.
There was a freeholder who had appointed a managing agent, as well as a housing association, she said.
“We don’t know who to go to, everything takes so long.”
Fatima added: “I have an asset but if it’s unsellable and unaffordable it’s not an asset.
“It’s always on my mind. It causes a lot of anxiety.”
‘Relationship breakdown’
Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway said the “inherent complexities” of shared ownership presented challenges to landlords and residents.
“Shared ownership has been around for decades, and there are still some inequities with the way in which it works that is driving complaints to us,” he said.
He described a “mismatch” between the expectation and understanding of the shared owner and the landlord.
“Whilst it can start off as smiles, very quickly we can see that relationship break down.”
Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway says the government should address “fundamental inequities” in the shared ownership system
He added the number of parties involved could be “depressing for a shared owner; that feeling of being passed from pillar to post and being fobbed off at different parts of the process”.
“I can also see from a landlord’s perspective they don’t necessarily always have all of the levers in their hands to resolve the issue,” he said.
“Put all of that together and you’ve got a perfect storm – and that’s what lands on our desks.”
He added that landlords must improve communication and transparency, and the government should address “fundamental inequities in the way in which shared ownership is designed”.
The Shared Ownership Council, a cross-sector initiative, said while it believed shared ownership had a “key role to play” in addressing housing needs, it recognised it “has not always worked as well as it should for everyone” and “key challenges” need to be addressed.
“We take the concerns raised by the Housing Ombudsman and shared owners very seriously,” it added.
It has recently developed a code to “standardise best practices and consumer protection” ensuring, it says, “transparency, fairness, and improved support for shared owners in marketing, purchasing and management of homes”.
‘Drive up transparency’
But Timea Szabo from the campaign group Shared Owners network says it is “too little, too late”.
“This is a sector that has consistently failed to comply with their statutory obligations – some of the housing providers who back the code have multiple maladministration findings to their name,” she said.
“We do not think that a voluntary code of practice will have much of an impact on their day-to-day experience.”
Figures shared exclusively with the BBC show 83 of 140 (59%) of Shared Owners members surveyed in February 2025 have struggled to sell their share, for reasons including unresolved building safety issues, high service charges, and a short lease that the shared owner cannot legally extend.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it was “aware of the challenges faced by some who have entered the scheme”.
The spokesperson added the government was “considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, alongside consulting this year on implementing measures to drive up transparency of service charges, ensuring leaseholders and tenants can better hold their landlords to account”.
In the 1950s, fear gripped the Philippines as rumors of a blood-drinking vampire spread across the countryside.
One chilling death sparked widespread panic, leaving villagers to wonder if a supernatural predator was lurking in the shadows.
At the same time, the CIA was locked in a brutal struggle against communist Huk rebels, deploying a mysterious operative named Edward Lansdale to lead covert operations. But how far did Lansdale go to crush the rebellion?
In this episode: -Michael Pante, historian -Allan Derain, folklorist
Israel has placed the occupied West Bank under lockdown, sealing the entrances of cities and villages with iron gates and concrete barriers, as its forces bomb Iran.
The Israeli siege continued for a third day on Sunday, as the military intensifies its operations in the Palestinian territory, where it has killed at least 943 Palestinians, more than 200 of them minors, according to the United Nations, since the war on Gaza started on October 7, 2023.
Palestinians in the West Bank say the Israeli actions are aimed at annexing their lands and expanding illegal settlements. An estimated three million Palestinians live under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank.
Missiles launched from Iran towards Israel are seen from Tubas, occupied West Bank [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters]
Since January this year, there have been ongoing Israeli operations in three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarem areas of the West Bank. At least 137 Palestinians, including 27 children, have been killed this year in the West Bank, according to the UN.
But in recent days, as Israel strikes Iran and the latter retaliates, the West Bank is under a lockdown.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is Israel doing?
The Israeli military is applying a lockdown.
In addition to closing up cities and villages, it is severely restricting the movement of Palestinians by setting up checkpoints, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim, limiting entry and exit to areas.
The military has increased its presence in the West Bank cities like el-Bireh and Ramallah, according to Wafa, the Palestinian news agency. Strict checkpoints are also impeding movement in Nablus, Hebron, Qalqilya, and the Jordan Valley, where the checkpoints have disrupted the work of farmers and the transport of their produce.
“The ongoing closures have paralysed daily life across the West Bank, severely limiting mobility, restricting access to essential services, and impacting economic activity,” Wafa reported.
Palestinians say attempts to approach the checkpoints have been met with live fire from Israeli soldiers in some places, while in others, stun grenades and tear gas were deployed.
There are numerous reports of injuries. In the Tulkarem refugee camp, for example, a 16-year-old was reportedly shot in the leg by Israeli forces. They have also conducted night raids in the West Bank, arresting at least 15 people, according to Wafa.
Ambulances are struggling to reach the wounded as their movement is also being impeded.
“Even when we are granted Israeli military permission to move, we are detained at checkpoints for three to four hours before being allowed through,” said Fayez Abdel Jabbar, an ambulance driver. “This [Saturday] morning, one woman stayed three hours at one checkpoint. The only way we can function now is by transferring patients from one ambulance to another at these checkpoints.”
Even before the recent Israeli action, pregnant Palestinian women reported that checkpoints could be a matter of “life and death”.
Meanwhile, in several areas across the West Bank, Israeli soldiers have also expelled dozens of families from their homes and turned them into military positions.
The gates of an Israeli checkpoint are closed to vehicles in Deir Sharaf, west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on June 13, 2025 [Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP]
Why is the West Bank under siege?
Palestinians say it is being done to control them.
The Israeli government ramped up settlements and annexation of the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem in 2024, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Office in March this year.
An Israeli poster describes the lockdown as preemptive, saying movement will be restricted until further notice. It reads: “Terror only brings death and destruction.”
“Palestinians say they are the ones under attack,” Ibrahim reported.
Qassim Awwad of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) settlement unit said, since October 7, 2023, Israel has increased the checkpoints and barriers in the West Bank from 600 to 900. “Now they are using this time [war with Iran] to increase the lockdown on Palestinians, turning them into isolated cantons separated from one another,” he said.
Meanwhile, Israel on Sunday killed at least 23 people in Gaza, including 11 waiting to get aid. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 55,297 Palestinians and wounded 128,426 others, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
An Israeli soldier takes part in a raid in Nablus, West Bank, June 10, 2025 [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters]
What about settler violence?
It goes on.
“Settlers continue attacking Palestinian homes and properties,” Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim reported. “Others exploit the siege to establish and expand new illegal settlement outposts.”
In the city of Sderot last Thursday, Israeli cabinet ministers and the government’s coalition partners held a conference where they pledged to annex the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi spoke in favour of annexation, while Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu reportedly called out for the same in Syria and Lebanon as well.
“Do we want Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]? Do we want Syria? Do we want Lebanon? Do we want Gaza?” Eliyahu reportedly shouted to a crowd that responded in the affirmative.
Are Iran’s retaliatory attacks affecting Palestinians?
The night skies of Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan have been illuminated by the exchange of missiles between Iran and Israel since Friday.
As Israel tries to shoot down the Iranian missiles, some of their remnants have landed in the West Bank, where, unlike Israel, the residents have no access to bomb shelters or protection. Dozens of Palestinians in the territory have been wounded by intercepted missiles.
“Palestinians say they are caught between the Iranian projectiles and Israeli missiles intercepting them,” Ibrahim said.
What is the PLO doing?
“The Palestinian government says it is working to ensure the entry of food and fuel,” Ibrahim added. “With Israel controlling almost every aspect of their lives, Palestinians fear their governments’ ability to assist them is severely limited.”
A Palestinian man raises his hands as Israeli soldiers aim their weapons during a raid in Nablus, West Bank, June 10, 2025 [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters]
Most of the global attention in the last few days has been on the exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran.
But UNRWA, the UN agency focused on Palestinian refugees, said in a statement on Friday that the West Bank is “not a warzone”.
“It is governed by international standards and codes of conduct for law enforcement, which Israeli forces have an obligation to uphold. Law enforcement exists for the purpose of safeguarding human rights, not violating them. It should seek to protect the most vulnerable, not further victimise them. Above all, it should preserve human dignity and life,” Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, posted on X.
For the past months, the northern #WestBank has witnessed an uninterrupted stream of mass demolitions by Israeli Security Forces, and orders trying to justify them. On 9 June, yet another demolition order was issued: this time for Jenin Camp, where a similar order was announced…
Leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries have descended on a luxury mountain lodge nestled in Canada’s Rockies for this year’s G7 summit.
The elite gathering comes as Western allies face numerous crises, from conflicts on three continents to global economic instability.
Canada chairs the G7 this year and will host leaders of Italy, US, France, Germany, UK and Japan in Kananaskis, Alberta. It has promised a set of streamlined priorities focused around the global economy and security.
But Mark Carney’s carefully planned agenda has now been upended by the Israel-Iran conflict.
It is his first major international gathering as Canadian prime minister.
Here are five challenges ahead.
Big moment for Carney as Iran derails plans
This summit was set to be a test of his ability to meet three lofty goals he advanced for Canada – taking a leadership role on the global stage, becoming the strongest G7 economy and weaning off US dependency.
Now the Iran issue has suddenly shot to the top of the G7 agenda, a subject on which finding agreement will be tricky.
But one thing is clear. Carney will be closely watched for how he handles US President Donald Trump, who has frequently undermined Canada’s sovereignty.
John Kirton, director of G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto, says that scrutiny will start from the arrival ceremony, where he will need to show that he is treating Trump as an equal. And keep him in check when the meetings are under way.
The summit offers the potential to secure some Canadian wins, perhaps new trade and security deals with the US, hatched last month in Washington.
At that meeting, Carney gave the president some golf gear from the Kananaskis Country Club, a scenic course within the tightly controlled perimeter of the summit.
The Trump factor
The summit is taking place amid a global trade war started by Trump, who is using tariffs as a way to rebalance trading relationships. He has said the US has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike”.
It also comes as World Bank predicts the global economy will see the slowest decade for growth since the 1960s as the effect the US tariffs are felt, making it likely there will be some awkward – or “frank”, in diplomatic lingo – conversations at this family gathering.
A discussion on the global economy will kick off the summit on Monday morning.
But Trump’s November election win has shifted the global agenda beyond trade. The gathering offers the president a chance to secure wins on some of his other priorities, such as migration, critical minerals, security and drug trafficking – all of which are on the agenda later in the day.
The president has met each of his G7 counterparts since taking office but he will line up one-on-one meetings on the sidelines – he has already got Carney on Monday morning.
Avoiding a walkout like in 2018
This will be Trump’s second time in Canada as US president, the first being a discordant summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018 shortly after he slapped steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Europe.
Charlevoix was memorable for ending in acrimony and disarray – captured in a now-famous photo of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronting a defiant Trump as other world leaders and US aides looked on.
Bundesregierung/EPA
The leaders struggled to agree on language over global trade for the final communique – a moment captured in that Merkel image – before Trump left the summit early.
He headed to Singapore to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while posting missives from Air Force One aimed at then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Many of the tensions from seven years ago remain relevant today.
Carney hopes to avoid a similar derailment, and told Sky News last month that the lesson he took from that blow-up “is to be consistent – say the same thing in private as you do in public, say the same things after the summit as you do during the summit”.
The G7 is a “consensus body. We work together”, a senior Canadian government official said in a briefing last week.
With that in mind, Canada has chosen to eschew a final communique completely in favour of six of short joint statements on wildfires, critical minerals and other key agenda items.
Forest fires, AI, critical minerals and Ukraine
Canada’s priorities for the confab are sharply focused on building stronger economies and strengthening peace and security, including harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and fortifying critical mineral supply chains.
While there are no broad commitments expected on climate change, it is integrated into the agenda, a senior government official told a briefing this week, pointing to an effort to improve the international joint response to the growing global forest fire threat.
Canada’s worst wildfire season on record was in 2023 and this year could be on track to be the second worst. Smoke from the blazes has blanketed parts of North America and Europe and could be visible reminder to delegates in Kananaskis of the threat.
Ukraine is another pressing topic on the agenda, with President Volodomyr Zelensky there hoping to discuss continued support for his country, sanctions against Russia and future financing for reconstruction efforts.
Tuesday morning will focus on that conflict, with Ukraine expected to push for more sanctions on Russia.
Carney has also placed countering foreign interference – notably interference in global diaspora communities – high on the summit’s agenda, setting up potential for tense discussions with some of the attending leaders who are not part of the G7.
Geopolitical minefields
As host, Canada also invites leaders not permanently attached to the seven-member group, and Carney has given a number the nod to attend, some more controversial than others.
As mentioned, Zelensky will be there.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be a guest, with Carney saying there are important discussions that India, as a major economic force, should be a part of.
Modi’s attendance comes amid deeply strained relations between the two countries over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
Canada has accused India of carrying out that targeted killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago and the G7 invitation has received backlash among some Sikh Canadians.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has confirmed she will be in Kananaskis and expects to sit down with Trump for the first time.
Her presence sets the stage for talks on North American trade, which has been upended by Trump’s tariffs.
Carney has also invited European and Nato leaders and his counterparts from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Israel and Iran are locked in an escalating exchange of missiles, targeting each other’s security and economic infrastructure while also striking population centres.
The current escalation began after Israel launched strikes on Friday morning involving 200 fighter jets that hit dozens of nuclear, military and infrastructure targets across Iran, including the country’s main nuclear facility in Natanz.
The strikes came amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, Israel’s key ally, over Tehran’s nuclear programme, which Iran says is solely for civilian purposes.
Israel’s first wave of attacks killed at least four senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as well as several nuclear scientists. Israel claims these attacks are aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to build a nuclear bomb — and to militarily respond through the sword arm of its security forces, the IRGC.
But who exactly has Israel targeted, and what is the IRGC?
Who has been killed?
The attacks on Friday killed several senior military leaders, including:
Hossein Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Gholamali Rashid, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces
(Al Jazeera)
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Abdolrahim Mousavi to replace Bagheri as chief of staff of the armed forces, Ahmad Vahidi to take Salami’s position as boss of the IRGC, and Majid Mousavi to replace Hajizadeh as head of the IRGC air force.
Separately, state-run news outlet Nour News said Khamenei’s senior adviser Ali Shamkhani was “critically injured”. Shamkhani was leading Iran’s diplomatic efforts with the US.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of Iran’s military, established after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Operating alongside the regular army, it answers directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and plays a central role in Iran’s defence, foreign operations, and regional influence.
With around 190,000 active personnel (and over 600,000 including reserves), the IRGC oversees Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes and supports proxy groups across the Middle East.
It was designated a foreign “terrorist” organisation by the US in 2019 – marking the first time the US had used the designation against a part of another government.
Beyond its military role, the IRGC is deeply embedded in Iran’s political and economic structures.
The now-deceased head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ aerospace division, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh (left), stands next to the late head of the IRGC, Hossein Salami, attending the unveiling of Iranian-made ‘Fattah’ hypersonic missile in Tehran, Iran, on June 6, 2023 [Handout photo from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official website, Sepha News]
What locations did Israel attack?
Israeli strikes on Friday targeted the following confirmed locations:
The capital, Tehran, and military sites in the surrounding area.
The city of Natanz, where explosions were reported at the main uranium enrichment facility.
The city of Tabriz, where explosions have been reported near a nuclear research centre and two military bases.
The city of Isfahan, south of Tehran.
The city of Arak, southwest of Tehran.
The city of Kermanshah, west of Tehran, where an underground facility storing ballistic missiles was hit near the Iraqi border.
Iran says Israel’s initial strikes killed at least 80 people, and wounded more than 320 others. Since Saturday, at least 480 more have been injured. Those killed include 20 children.
A firefighter calls out to his colleagues at the scene of an explosion in a residential compound in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 13, 2025 [Vahid Salemi/AP]
Natanz nuclear facility damaged
One of Israel’s main targets was the Natanz nuclear facility – the largest uranium enrichment site in Iran, located in Isfahan province.
The above-ground section of a pilot fuel enrichment plant, where uranium was enriched up to 60 percent, was destroyed, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Key electricity infrastructure, such as the substation, main power building, emergency supply, and backup generators, was also destroyed. There was no direct hit on the underground cascade hall, but the power loss may have damaged centrifuges used for uranium enrichment.
Radiation levels outside the facility remain normal, though there is radiological and chemical contamination inside, which are manageable with proper protection.
“At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan,” the IAEA’s chief, Rafael Grossi, told the United Nations Security Council on Friday.
Israeli attacks on Iran’s oil and gas
On Saturday, Iran partially suspended gas production at its largest field, South Pars, following an Israeli strike that triggered a fire.
The fire, now extinguished, broke out in one of four units in phase 14 of the gasfield, halting 12 million cubic metres of gas production. Located in Bushehr province, South Pars is key to Iran’s output and is shared with Qatar, which calls it the North Field.
Iran has also confirmed an Israeli attack on the Fajr Jam gas plant about 65 km (40 miles) northwest of South Pars.
(Al Jazeera)
Iran fires missiles at Israel
In response to Israel’s strikes, Iran has launched drones and ballistic missiles at Israel, with some hitting targets on the ground.
The death toll from Iran’s attacks on Israel has risen to 10, with more than 200 wounded, according to Israeli authorities. Several people remain missing as a barrage of dozens of Iranian missiles lit up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv overnight.
Iran has developed a range of ballistic and cruise missiles over the past three decades. The graphic below shows some of Iran’s most prominent missiles and their ranges.
Israel has intercepted many of the Iranian missiles fired towards its territory, but not all of them, with some causing major damage and casualties across the country.
The Israeli air defence relies largely on what is known as the Iron Dome system, which is equipped with a radar that detects an incoming projectile, as well as its speed and direction.
Other systems intercept medium and long-range missiles. The David’s Sling intercepts missiles ranging between 40km (25 miles) and 300km (186 miles). The Arrow System intercepts missiles with a range of up to 2,400km (1,491 miles).
(Al Jazeera)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei said Israel “must expect severe punishment” for killing several top-level military commanders and scientists.
In a message on state TV, he said Israel “should not think that it is over because they attacked and it is finished”.
“No. They started this and initiated the war. We won’t allow them to escape unscathed from this great crime they have committed,” Khamenei said.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2025 [Reuters]
Following decades of enmity and conflict by proxy, it is the first time that Israel and Iran have traded fire with such intensity, with fears of a prolonged conflict engulfing the region.
