Thursday briefing: What difference will the ceasefire in the Middle East make, and will it hold?
In today’s newsletter: The truce offers a reprieve after weeks of turmoil, but unresolved disputes and competing interpretations of what was agreed, threaten to pull the region back toward crisis at a moment’s notice
Good morning. On Tuesday, just an hour before the deadline imposed by Donald Trump for Iran to reopen navigation in the strait of Hormuz or face a wave of “civilisation-ending” strikes, a two-week pause in hostilities was announced. After weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Tehran, and Iranian retaliation across the region, the news prompted relief among world leaders.
But unanswered questions are piling up. Israel’s assault on Lebanon continues, with Trump describing that conflict as a separate skirmish not included in the deal, despite Iran seeming to think otherwise. Overnight the US president has used social media to warn that “the ‘shootin’ starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before” unless Tehran complies with “the real agreement”.
Middle East | The fate of the two-week ceasefire in the Iran conflict looked in peril as both sides gave divergent versions of what had been agreed. Iran halted the passage of oil tankers because of an alleged Israeli ceasefire breach.
Middle East | Israel carried out its largest attack on Lebanon since its war with Hezbollah began, killing at least 254 people and wounding 837.
Middle East | The UK has a “job” to help reopen the strait of Hormuz, Keir Starmer said on arriving in the Middle East, as Iranian reports said the key shipping route was closed again just hours after the supposed US-Iran ceasefire.
Ukraine | The US has ignored compelling evidence that Russia has been helping Iran to target US bases in the Middle East because it misguidedly “trusts” Vladimir Putin, according to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Education | Many English universities are taking excessive financial risks with borrowing and expansion of student numbers, threatening not only their own survival but that of others in the sector, the thinktank Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) has warned.
Continue reading...Airstrikes, turmoil in Strait of Hormuz imperil ceasefire with Iran – The Washington Post
- Airstrikes, turmoil in Strait of Hormuz imperil ceasefire with Iran The Washington Post
- Iran warns it will respond if Israeli attacks on Lebanon don't stop immediately BBC
- Iran war: Oil tankers passage halted in Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Fars reports 6abc Philadelphia
- Disagreement Over Lebanon’s Inclusion in Cease-Fire Threatens to Unravel It The New York Times
- The Latest: Ceasefire at risk over Israel's attacks in Lebanon, possible mines in Strait of Hormuz ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4
Man rescued after two weeks trapped in collapsed Mexico mine
A man trapped for nearly two weeks in a flooded gold mine in Sinaloa, Mexico, has been rescued by military divers.
Trump slams NATO over Iran after meeting Rutte, renews Greenland threat
US president meets NATO chief, expresses disappointment over member states failing to back war on Iran.
Hundreds search for wolf that escaped from zoo in South Korea
Local school closes in Daejeon city as hundreds of emergency service and military personnel scour area around O-World theme park where the wolf escaped from
Authorities are hunting for a wolf after it escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, a South Korean city with a population of 1.5million.
More than 300 people – including firefighters, police and military personnel – are taking part in the search operation, an official from the Daejeon fire headquarters said.
Continue reading...President Trump’s ceasefire with Iran draws praise from world leaders – Fox News
- President Trump’s ceasefire with Iran draws praise from world leaders Fox News
- Iran reveals 10-point plan for peace with the US – here's what's in it Fox News
- For Gulf states, Hormuz uncertainty casts shadow over fragile US-Iran truce Al Jazeera
- After Cease-Fire, Iranians Are Left to Pick Up the Pieces The New York Times
- How Trump went from threatening Iran's annihilation to agreeing to a 2-week ceasefire with Tehran AP News
George Clooney calls Donald Trump’s ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ threat to Iran a war crime
White House says only person committing war crimes is actor ‘for his awful movies and terrible acting ability’
The long-running war of words between George Clooney and the White House has ignited again after the Oscar-winning actor criticised Donald Trump’s threat to Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight”.
On Wednesday, in a speech to 3,000 high school students in Cuneo, Italy, Clooney said the US president had committed a war crime with his threat.
Continue reading...Watch: BBC asks Artemis II crew a question in space
The BBC’s Science Editor Rebecca Morelle has spoken to the Artemis II crew ahead of their likely splashdown on Saturday.
13-year-old girl captures terrifying moment Israel bombed Beirut
A 13-year-old girl on Snapchat captured the moment Israel began its assault on Beirut.
Watch: Pope Leo XIV spins basketball on his finger, with help from Harlem Globetrotters
US exhibition squad, the Harlem Globetrotters, met the pontiff in the Vatican, helping him to spin a basketball on the tip of his finger.
Hit New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords reunion gigs sell out in minutes
Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement announce four shows at Wellington venue Meow Nui from next week – their first gigs since 2018
New Zealand’s self-described “fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo-a cappella-rap-funk-comedy-folk duo” Flight of the Conchords sold out their first shows in eight years in minutes this week, sparking a frenzy among fans.
Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement formed the musical comedy act in 1998, soaring to worldwide fame off the back of their HBO comedy series of the same name with tunes including Business Time and Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros.
Continue reading...Turkish convoy condemns ‘lawless aggression’ of the US and Israel
Hundreds of vehicles have driven through Istanbul to condemn the ‘lawless aggression’ of the US and Israel.
Hawaii doctor accused of trying to kill his wife found guilty of attempted manslaughter
Prosecutors alleged Gerhardt Konig, 47, had planned to kill Arielle Konig during a birthday trip to Honolulu
A Hawaii anesthesiologist who was accused of trying to murder his wife on a cliffside hike last year has been convicted of attempted manslaughter, a lesser charge.
A Honolulu jury returned the verdict against Gerhardt Konig, 47, on Wednesday after a day of deliberations.
Continue reading...Trump criticises Nato as alliance chief describes meeting as ‘very frank’
The US president says Nato "wasn't there when we needed them" during the Iran war.
Trump criticises Nato as alliance chief describes meeting as ‘very frank’
The US president says Nato "wasn't there when we needed them" during the Iran war.
North Korea says its latest weapons tests included missiles with cluster-bomb warheads – AP News
Protesters outside Israeli embassy in London condemn assault on Lebanon
Protesters have blocked roads outside the Israeli embassy in London, condemning Israel’s violent strikes on Lebanon.
Pioneering wildlife cameraman Doug Allan dies after falling ill in Nepal
The cameraman and photographer won eight Emmy Awards for his work on acclaimed series like Blue Planet alongside Sir David Attenborough.
US VP JD Vance says Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran ceasefire
US Vice President JD Vance says Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran ceasefire.