International
The United States pledges to continue supporting Ukraine “to stop Putin’s campaign of conquest
The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, warned today that Ukraine’s survival is at stake and it cannot lose a day in its fight against Russian aggression, so both Washington and the rest of Western capitals will continue to supply Kiev with the weapons it needs to resist the “campaign of conquest” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Don’t fool ourselves, Putin will not stop in Ukraine. But as (U.S. President Joe) Biden said, Ukraine can stop Putin, if we are with Ukraine and provide him with the weapons he needs to defend himself,” said the Pentagon chief when opening a new meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine at the US air base in Ramstein, in southwest Germany.
Austin assured, sitting next to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, that “Ukraine’s survival is at stake and all our security as well.”
“So we will remain united to resist Putin’s campaign of conquest and we will continue to maintain faith in the Ukrainian people,” stressed the US Secretary of Defense, at a time when Ukrainian soldiers are accused of a serious shortage of ammunition and Russia has the initiative on the entire front.
“Now the Ukrainian troops are facing harsh conditions and hard fighting. Ukrainian civilians endure the constant bombardment of Russian missiles and Iranian drones, but Ukraine will not back down and neither will the United States,” Austin stressed, while an aid package of more than 60 billion dollars is still blocked in the House of Representatives.
“Our message today is clear: we will not let Ukraine fail, this coalition will not let Ukraine fail and the free world will not let Ukraine fail,” he insisted.
“We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to resist the aggressions of the Kremlin. And the countries that are gathered here today do the same,” more than fifty, Austin said.
In this sense, he mentioned that Czech Republic recently announced the supply of 800,000 rounds of ammunition and Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden also provided important aid packages.
“These are investments in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s aggression, but also in our common security, the security of Europe and in world security. We will all be less sure if Putin gets away with it. The Ukrainian people don’t have a day to lose and neither do we,” he emphasized.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
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Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
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