Latest News
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Minnesota Governor mobilizes National Guard for Wildfire Fighting in Northern Part of State
By Erwin Seba Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mobilized the state National Guard troops on Sunday to fight wildfires along Minnesota's northern border with Canada. According to the Minnesota State website, these fires have burned more than 800 acres over five days. They are still not contained. The fires are among a series of fires that have been raging across the United States due to the hot and dry conditions caused by El Nino. Walz, a Democrat, said: "I have declared a 'peacetime emergency' and mobilized the National Guard in order to help with wildfire suppression efforts in northern Minnesota." "Minnesotans express our deepest thanks to all first responders who work around the clock to ensure the safety of their neighbors," said Walz, a Democrat. The Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota is currently ablaze with?16 fires. This forest normally receives around 150,000 visitors during the summer. According to the website of the Minnesota Natural Resources Department, park rangers escorted visitors out of the parks over the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, the high temperatures over the weekend increased fire risks.
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Nine people are killed and 10 injured in a traffic accident in Mexico, including four Americans
Civil Protection reported that a multi-vehicle crash?in Mexico, caused by a tractor-trailer, left nine 'people dead 'and ten injured, including four U.S. residents, on a highway within the state of Jalisco. The report from the agency indicated that two of the victims were minors. Two members of the National Guard are also in serious condition. They have been 'transferred' to the Magdalena Hospital, Guadalajara. Local media posted videos on social media showing several vehicles burning?on the highway that connects Guadalajara with?Tepic. Four patients with minor conditions, all?U.S. "Four patients in minor condition,?all?U.S. citizens, were transported to the Arboledas Hospital?in Guadalajara?by a private ambulance?from the highway," Jalisco Civil Protection said. (Reporting and writing by Daniel 'Becerril, in Mexico City; Sarah Kinosian, in Caracas; editing by Stephen Coates.)
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Oil prices jump 3% following US and Iran's increased strikes in the Middle East
The oil prices soared?on?Monday as Iran increased its strikes against?Gulf States following US attacks, threatening energy?shipments through the Strait?of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose $2.34 or 3.08% to $78.35 at 2311 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $2.21 or 3.09% to $73.62 a barrel. The U.S. and Iran launched new strikes against each other over the weekend. This is the latest in a series of counter-attacks and attacks on shipping through the Strait. U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz was open for commercial?traffic. Iran had earlier declared that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz after a vessel traveling on an unapproved route was struck. Shiptracking data from Kpler revealed that six vessels crossed the strait Sunday, the lowest number for five weeks. The increasing attacks have cast doubt on the future a U.S.-Iranian interim agreement signed last week that was intended to reopen strait after 60 more days of negotiation and end war. In its report published on Friday, the International Energy Agency said that following the agreement, oil supplies worldwide?rose by 4,1 million barrels per days in June but were still 9,4 million bpd lower than pre-war levels. ANZ analysts wrote in a note that the chances of a relatively 'quick resolution' to the skirmishes over the weekend may have been lowered. IG analyst Tony Sycamore stated that the'relatively tame' rise in oil prices indicated the market believed the current flare-up was an escalation of a fragile truce, and fell far short of a total collapse of the ceasefire. In a letter, he wrote: "How accurate this view is yet to be determined."
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Five people were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including a young girl, according to medics
Palestinian officials said that Israeli attacks on Sunday killed at least five people, including a nine-year-old child. Medical personnel said Israeli gunfire was directed at an encampment of a 'tent' on the eastern edge of the Al-Bureij Refugee Camp in central Gaza, killing Tala Abumatar. The Israeli military didn't immediately comment on Tala Abu Matar's death. Four people were killed in an airstrike on a metal foundry located in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. Three Israeli missiles were reported by witnesses to have struck the site. Israel's military claimed to have struck "terrorist infrastructure" without providing any further details. Despite the fact that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025, it failed to stop Israeli attacks which have killed over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza since its implementation. In the same time period, militants have killed four Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Hamas leaders are in Cairo to continue discussions about implementing the second phase U.S. president Donald Trump's Gaza Peace Plan. According to sources familiar with the talks, there are discussions about Hamas disarmament, and Israeli army withdraws. However, they add that a breakthrough has not yet occurred. Hamas controls a small strip of land on the coast where nearly all of Gaza's two million residents, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times, live. According to Israeli statistics, Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people during their cross border attack into Israel on October 7, 2023. Gaza's health ministry reported that more than 73,000 Palestinians had been killed on the territory since. Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Editing by Helen Popper
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Three people were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including a young girl, according to medics
Palestinian officials reported that Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip killed three people, including a nine-year-old child. Medical personnel said that 'Israeli gunfire was directed at a tent camp on the eastern side of Al-Bureij Refugee Camp in central Gaza, killing 9-year-old Tala Abmatar. The Israeli military didn't immediately comment on Tala Abu Matar's death. Two people were killed in an airstrike on a metal foundry located in Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood. Three?Israeli rockets were reported by witnesses to have hit the site. Israel's military claimed to have struck "terrorist infrastructure" without providing further details. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October 2025 halted major combat in the enclave. However, it failed to stop Israeli attacks which have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since its implementation. In the same time period, militants have killed four Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Hamas leaders are in Cairo to continue discussions on the implementation of phase two of President Donald Trump's Gaza Peace Plan. According to sources familiar with the talks, there are discussions about Hamas disarmament, and Israeli army withdraws. However, they add that a breakthrough has not yet occurred. Hamas controls a small strip of land on the coast where nearly all of Gaza's two million residents, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times, live. According to Israeli statistics, Hamas-led forces killed 1,200 people during their cross-border attack on israel on October 7, 2023. Gaza's health ministry reported that more than 73,000 Palestinians had been killed on the territory since. Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Editing by Helen Popper
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Iraqi Prime Minister to Visit Washington on Monday, Oil and Gas Deals Expected
Iraq's Prime Minister will visit Washington, D.C. on Monday to strengthen strategic ties. Oil and gas deals are expected to be signed as part of an broader push towards economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Iraq is trying to maintain a balance between its relations with Iran, its neighbour, and the U.S. Haider al Aboudi, a government spokesperson, said that the agreements will include memorandums?of understanding in the oil and natural gas sector. Iraq is preparing to bring in various U.S. firms to provide a boost to oil production. Al-Aboudi of Iraq's State News Agency said that the planned oil and gas deals would also create alternative export outlets in order to reduce Iraq’s exposure to disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq has also suffered a decline in oil revenues, as have other Gulf oil producers due to the closure of the crucial shipping route during the U.S. - Iran war. Al-Aboudi stated that strengthening Iraq's military forces will also be discussed in Washington. The relationship between Iraq and the U.S. has been strained at times over the presence of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, Baghdad’s ties with Iran, and U.S. pressuring Iraq to curb the influence Iran-backed armed group. Ali al-Zaidi, however, received 'congratulations' from U.S. president Donald Trump after he was nominated to the premiership in April. Trump said that he hoped Baghdad would work more closely with Washington. Reporting by Muayad?Hameed. Eman Abouhassira wrote the article. David Goodman, Mark Potter and Mark Potter (Editing)
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OBITUARY - Former Qatar ruler Sheikh Hamad has died. A moderniser, who took power, Hamad was a former leader of Qatar.
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani died aged 74. He was a moderniser and a powerful leader who took power in 1995, but broke tradition by handing it over to his son, 18 years later. The Amiri Diwan in Qatar, Qatar's top government body, announced on Sunday that Sheikh Hamad died. The cause of death was not mentioned. It did not mention?the cause of his death. Sheikh Hamad presided in one of the most significant periods of history of the country, driving a fast transformation of the small desert state, which reshaped the economy, global status and political ambition. He was a strong, independent personality who explained in his 2013 speech marking his abdication that he wished for a new generation to take charge "with their innovative thoughts and active energies". Sheikh Hamad was responsible for Qatar's efforts to develop its LNG infrastructure, which allowed the country to export its vast reserves of gas to the global market. This made Qatar one of the largest exporters in the world and laid the foundations of its immense wealth. He founded the?media network Al Jazeera which gave Qatar a voice that was unmatched in Arab politics, and extended its influence beyond the Gulf. He also led the successful bid for the 2022 "soccer World Cup", a move which firmly placed Qatar on the international stage, and accelerated the decade-long infrastructure construction that transformed the capital Doha. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK OF QATAR'S PART AS A PEACE BROKER In his foreign policy, he carved out a role as a peace broker for Qatar. He mediated talks in conflicts ranging from Lebanon to Yemen to Darfur and maintained ties with both the United States - which hosts U.S. Central Command - and?Iran as well as groups that aligned themselves with it. This balancing act laid a foundation for Qatar's role today in the negotiations between the United States, Iran and its allies. Qatar, under Sheikh Hamad, played a prominent role in the Arab Spring of 2011, using its resources and influence to support revolutionary movements and Islamists groups throughout the region. Doha's policy was portrayed as a support for the popular demand for political change. However, critics accused Doha -- and Sheikh Hamad - of backing only factions that aligned to its interests, notably groups connected?to?the Muslim Brotherhood. Sheikh Hamad was at odds with other Gulf monarchs, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They viewed these movements negatively and as a threat against regional stability and monarchical authority. Qatar's activism raised its regional profile, but it also?deepened the tensions with neighbours. It left a legacy which continues to influence Gulf politics. COUP AND ATTEMPTED COUNTER COUP Sheikh Hamad abdicated to "ensure a smooth transition" and minimise any discord in a family that has a history of palace intrigue. In 1995, he took power in a bloodless revolution from his father. He survived a counter-coup attempt that analysts attributed to his dad, who had seized power in a similar manner in 1972, by ousting his own cousin. Sheikha Hamad bint Nasser was one of Sheikh Hamad’s most influential partners in Qatar’s modernisation effort. She developed a profile public that was unusual for the wife of a Gulf leader. Sheikha Moza’s influence was boosted by his efforts to reposition Qatar at home and abroad. Sheikh Hamad's political and economic reforms, which reshaped the trajectory of the country, were accompanied by parallel initiatives in education, social development, and research. The emir was 44 when he took over as the leader of the region. He was seen as being less distant than other Gulf Arabs leaders and would often be found in his favourite café at Doha's souq talking to the customers. (Writing by Michael Georgy, Andrew Mills and Emelia Sithole Matarise; Editing by Emelia S. Sithole Matarise)
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Former emir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani, has died at the age of 74
The nation's Amiri Diwan (its top government body) announced on Sunday that Qatar's former emir had died at the age of 74. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's former ruler from 1995 until 2013, abdicated to his son Sheikh Tamim. Sheikh Tamim is now the current leader of this gas-rich Gulf nation. The Amiri Diwan has announced the death of HH Father Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The Diwan stated that Allah would have mercy on him and give him the best reward possible for his achievements for 'his homeland and nation. Sheikh Hamad has raised Qatar's profile globally through the Al Jazeera TV network and its successful bid for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. This?U.S. allied state, which has more than 2.5million people, is a small country, but it is the largest?exporter in the world of liquefied gas. It is also a major player in Middle East diplomacy, international media, and global investment. In June '2013, Sheikh Hamad abdicated power to his son, the crown prince at that time, in an unusual move by a hereditary Gulf Arab leader to "ensure a smooth succession". He had himself overthrown his own father in 1995 in a bloodless revolution.
Top US spy agencies fight over turf and mission
People familiar with the situation say that the CIA has stopped contributing to certain intelligence assessments produced by the office nation's top spy, such as those regarding the Iran War. This is because disputes have erupted over intelligence sharing and areas of responsibility.
A?U.S. official and three people with direct knowledge of the matter said that the infighting between the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been raging for over a year. This has disrupted collaboration on national intelligence analyses?onwhich presidents have long relied to navigate through complex foreign challenges. Officials and people who have direct knowledge of the issue.
Sources spoke under condition of anonymity in order to discuss?sensitive internal?matters.
Sources said that the core of the disagreements was a dispute over the task force created by Tulsi Gabrield, director of national intelligence in April 2025.
Two people said that the CIA, under Director John Ratcliffe's leadership, believes that Gabbard’s Director’s Initiatives Group acted recklessly in circumventing declassification and intelligence sharing protocols. ODNI officials claim that the CIA has consistently denied the group access to intelligence.
The collapse in intelligence agency collaboration comes at a dangerous time for the Trump Administration, as the U.S. is embroiled in a conflict with Iran and faces national security challenges from China's military expansion to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
This also indicates that the reforms implemented after September 11, 2001, which created the director of national Intelligence to coordinate the 18 U.S. spy agencies, did not end the dysfunction.
"ODNI should be the oil that keeps the arteries in the intelligence community flowing, and that removes any blockages," said Beth Sanner. She was a former assistant director of national Intelligence during the first term of President Donald Trump.
If you don't do that, you risk intelligence failures because agencies will retreat into their stovepipes.
The CIA can also reach the President and other policymakers through other channels, besides the?assessments prepared by ODNI. The intelligence is a major part of the Presidential Daily Brief - a highly classified compendium of daily intelligence reports for the President.
Gabbard announced last week she would step down from her position as Trump's chief?spy by June 30. She cited the illness of her husband. Trump announced on Tuesday that he had appointed Bill Pulte, the chief of the Federal Housing Finance Agency as acting director for national intelligence.
Olivia Coleman, a spokeswoman for the ODNI, stated that "the president and policymakers are receiving the best intelligence and analyses" from the intelligence services. She added that ODNI, and the agencies under its supervision, "communicate daily and collaborate with CIA counterparts on the full spectrum of intelligence operations and products."
Coleman stated that the Director's Initiatives Group operated within ODNI oversight authorities, and supported President's Executive Orders.
In February, it was reported that Gabbard has wound down her group and reassigned their personnel to other departments within her agency. This is due to congressional scrutiny of the group's activities.
Liz Lyons, CIA's Director of Public Relations, said that under Director Ratcliffe the CIA moved quickly to meet President Trump's priorities. The agency became more aggressive and took smart risks in order to outmaneuver its adversaries. This gave the United States a decisive edge.
Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, said that Trump's "peace-through-strength foreign policy" is a tried and true approach to keeping America safe and deterring global threats. Media efforts to sow division within the country would also fail.
Ingle stated that "President Trump is confident in the entire team of exceptional national security experts."
LESS COOPERATION IN INTELLIGENCE EVALUATIONS
The mutual distrust between the agencies is evident in the CIA's decision to drastically reduce its contribution to Gabbard’s office's assessments.
The National Intelligence Council, the leading U.S. intelligence analysis body, has relied heavily on the CIA to produce its reports. These reports are important, especially in times of war.
Two sources who have direct knowledge of the issue said that the agency is no longer involved in regular assessments of Iran, where the U.S. Military has been fighting against since February.
Sources said that the CIA and ODNI operate largely in two separate analytic operations.
Sources said that at one point in the past year, due to friction between two agencies, the CIA stopped publishing NIC reports through the distribution service for the internal intelligence communities it controls. This temporarily limited the availability of analytical products.
An official in the United States said that reports were withheld only for "a few" hours due to a "processing problem."
Four sources claim that the interagency friction began soon after Gabbard took up her post in February 2025.
Sources said that one of her first actions was to tighten up the production of the Presidential Daily Brief. Sources said that the CIA had long played a leading role in compiling this brief.
Sources say that the relationship soured even more with the creation of a Director's Initiatives Group to "root out", alleged politicization in the intelligence community.
The group also investigated the origins and security of COVID-19, as well the security of voting machines.
Some critics, including former intelligence officials claim that the group was created to exact revenge against Trump's perceived political enemies.
Two people familiar with the situation say that task force members pressed the CIA at various points to share the intelligence and materials required to complete ODNI assigned probes. However, they felt not enough was shared.
CIA OFFICERS OUTTERED
Gabbard removed two of the top CIA officials who headed the NIC in May 2025.
A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the ODNI had removed the two because "they created a toxic workplace, as documented by a survey of the workforce, and they had a long history of politicizing the intelligence."
The official failed to provide any evidence that would support these claims.
Gabbard then stripped security clearances from 37 current and ex-officials in 'August', revealing in the meanwhile the identity of a CIA agent working undercover overseas.
Gabbard claimed that the 37 had politicized intelligence and leaked it, but did not provide proof.
Former officials and other people charged that this move was partly in response to a 2017 intelligence assessment which found that Russia used an extensive influence campaign to sway 2016 presidential votes to Trump.
Last month, tensions between the CIA and ODNI became public when a CIA agent assigned to the Director’s Initiatives Group told a Senate panel the agency had denied the group access to intelligence about the origins COVID-19.
Two people familiar with the investigation said that the dispute triggered an inquiry by the Inspector General's Office, an independent watchdog located at ODNI.
Could not determine the scope. (Reporting and editing by Don Durfee, Daniel Wallay and Errin Banco)
(source: Reuters)