International

Israel claims to be prepared for the possibility of an imminent attack by Iran and Hizbulah

“Israel is prepared for a multi-fronted threat,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Monday when intelligence information collected by both the country and the United States points to an imminent attack by Iran and Hezbollah, probably in the next 24 hours.

Israel has been on “maximum alert” since last week after both Iran and Hezbollah swore revenge for the murders of the leader of Hamas, Isamil Haniyeh, in Tehran; and the top military leader of the Lebanese Shiites, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut.

Since then, several intelligence sources pointed out that this coordinated attack – which could be joined by other Iranian satellites such as the Houthis of Yemen, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq or the pro-Iranian militias of Syria – could occur on the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av, which began today at sunset and commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem.

“About the tense days we are living, after Iran and all our enemies of the axis of evil have declared their intention to attack us soon with great force; I emphasize: the State of Israel is prepared to face this multi-frontal threat,” the president said today in a message to the citizenry on the occasion of Tisha B’av.

“We have first-class military capabilities; an air force and advanced multidimensional defense systems that are on high alert and ready; in addition to exhaustive intelligence,” he stressed.

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Herzog called on the Israelis to “act responsibly, follow instructions, remain calm,” in the face of the imminence of such an attack, on which the command of the domestic front of the Army, has not yet changed the precautionary instructions to the population.”

The president also referred to the “diplomatic and security alliances and associations” that seek to thwart any “enemy action,” alluding to the United States, which in the last week has deployed defensive systems, including aircraft carriers, warships and ballistic missiles, to the Middle East to help Israel repel such an attack.

“The most important thing is that the strongest power in the world, the United States, is committed to our security,” Herzog stressed.

Precisely the White House spokesman, John Kirby, said today that Washington shares Israel’s assessment that Iran and its allies could launch the large-scale attacks this week and suggested that one of the purposes may be to hinder the negotiations for a ceasefire that was scheduled to resume this Thursday, August 15, although Hamas announced last night that it would not send a delegation.

In his message, Herzog also showed his “firm support” for an agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which will allow the return of the 111 kidnapped on October 7 who are still being held.

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“The duty of a State to its citizens is, above all, to bring them back home, away from the enemy. With creativity, determination, courage, initiative and with all the commitment,” he said in his message, which was broadcast by video at a demonstration organized by the families of the hostages in Tel Aviv, on the occasion of Tisha B’av.

International

IEA warns Middle East conflict could spark worst energy crisis in decades

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could trigger the worst energy crisis in decades, warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who described the situation as “very serious.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Birol compared the current scenario to the oil crises of the 1970s, noting that during those events the world lost around five million barrels of oil per day in each crisis.

“Today, we have lost 11 million barrels per day—more than the two major oil shocks combined,” he said.

The Turkish economist referred to the conflict that began on February 28, following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have significantly disrupted global energy markets and driven oil prices higher.

Birol warned that the global economy is facing a “very, very serious threat” and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved soon.

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“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues in this direction. Global efforts are urgently needed,” he emphasized.

International

Colombian Air Force Hercules plane crashes during takeoff with troops onboard

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force was involved in a “tragic accident” while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo department of southern Colombia, as it was transporting troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday.

The minister stated on social media that the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined. He also extended his condolences to the families affected and urged the public to avoid speculation until official information is confirmed.

“This is a deeply painful event for the country. Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” Sánchez said, adding that emergency protocols have been activated and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that there would be no fatalities in what he described as a “horrific accident that should not have happened.”

Petro also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s air fleet and reiterated the need to acquire new helicopters and transport aircraft to strengthen military mobility, particularly in remote regions.

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According to local media reports, approximately 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft. So far, at least 20 injured military personnel have been rescued.

International

Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.

According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.

The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.

French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.

Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.

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When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.

Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.