Trump tells #Iran to do deal now after #Israel blasts nuclear and military targets

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to "make a deal" after Israel launched a series of strikes across Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear facilities, missile factories, and senior military figures. The Israeli government said the offensive was aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

In an interview with ABC News, Trump said, “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it … They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come. A lot more.” He added on Truth Social, “Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’ … Today is day 61 … Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”

The Israeli military said the operation, named Iron Resolve, involved 200 fighter jets striking over 100 targets, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the attack also hit missile infrastructure and air defences, and that more targets remained. Iranian authorities confirmed the deaths of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, and head of the Guards’ aerospace force Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran said six nuclear scientists were also killed.

In a televised message, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the public to stand by the government and said a “powerful response will make Israel regret its foolish act.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of having “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand and vowed it would face “a bitter fate.” Iran’s armed forces spokesperson blamed the U.S. for supporting the attack, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. “had not been involved” and that Israel had acted unilaterally “in self-defence.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-strikes-iran-amid-nuclear-tensions-2025-06-13/

#Iran launches ballistic missiles at #Israel, as Supreme Leader vows to 'inflict heavy blows'

Iran launches ballistic missiles at Israel as its supreme leader vows to "inflict heavy blows" in retaliation for Israel's overnight strikes.

The BBC's Ione Wells reports hearing an explosion in Jerusalem as black smoke has been seen rising over Tel Aviv's skyline.

Earlier today, the IDF said Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami and other senior military figures were assassinated, while Iran says six scientists have also been killed. US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to make a deal on its nuclear programme, warning of "even more brutal" Israeli attacks – Iran accuses the US of supporting Israel's strikes, which the US denies.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c93ydeqyq71t

#UN commission warns #South_Sudan's peace deal at risk of collapse amid renewed violence

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned that the country’s 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement is at “serious risk” of collapse due to renewed violence, political repression, and violations of the deal’s terms, urging urgent regional intervention to avert a return to civil war.

“South Sudan’s peace agreement is in crisis,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. She cautioned that “the renewed violence is pushing the Revitalized Peace Agreement to the brink of irrelevance,” and warned it threatens “a total collapse,” which could further fragment the country.

The commission’s statement cited military operations by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), including recent airstrikes on civilian areas, leading to “widespread casualties and displacement.” It added that Ugandan forces were reportedly backing SSPDF campaigns and that “new military recruitment campaigns” are defying key security provisions of the peace deal. Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez remarked, “The world cannot remain as bystander while civilians are bombed, and opposition voices are silenced. The time for passive diplomacy is over – these senseless attacks must stop.”

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/un-commission-warns-south-sudans-peace-deal-at-risk-of-collapse-amid-renewed-violence/3596827

Caucus of #Ethiopian Opposition Parties says “no conducive conditions” for #NEBE to hold 7th national election

The Caucus of Ethiopian Opposition Parties, a coalition of six opposition parties, said there are “no conducive conditions” for the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to conduct the 7th national election, accusing the electoral body of “partisanship” and claiming it operates with “subservience to the ruling party.”

In a statement issued on 09 June, the Caucus said NEBE is reportedly preparing for the election while “on the verge of replacing three (60%) of its existing leadership.” It argued that such changes, when combined with “the current political instability, pervasive conflict and war, a complex and multifaceted reality, and new regional administrative structures,” render the conditions unsuitable for a fair election.

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1933786420226728129

#US Congressman Scott Perry introduces “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act”

Today, Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced the Republic of Somaliland Independence Act, legislation formally recognizing Somaliland as a separate, independent nation. The bill redirects U.S. foreign policy to align with a new, stable and self-governing partner in a region of increasing strategic importance to the United States.

“For more than three decades, Somaliland demonstrated the kind of governance, stability, and cooperation that America should support,” said Congressman Perry. “Foreign adversaries are on the march in Africa and around the globe, and it’s in our national interest to strengthen relationships with reliable partners who share our values and contribute to our security – whenever and wherever possible.”

Somaliland straddles key global shipping routes located along the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Currently, the government and political system of Somaliland already operates independently of Mogadishu, the unstable, conflict-ridden and fractured capitol city of Somalia. Somalia’s meritless claims over Somaliland hinder the United States’ ability to forge deeper diplomatic ties with Somaliland, a responsible partner nation that maintains internal order, conducts democratic elections, and actively counters piracy and extremism.

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/06/congressman-scott-perry-introduces-republic-of-somaliland-independence-act/

Senior #Kenyan policeman arrested over blogger's killing

The head of the main police station in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has been detained over the killing of a young blogger in police custody, independent investigators say.

As well as Officer Commanding Station Samson Talam, another policeman, PC James Mukhwan, plus a technician accused of disabling the station's CCTV, have also been arrested.

Albert Ojwang's death sparked protests after doctors refuted a police claim he had died from self-inflicted injuries caused by hitting his head on a cell wall. Instead they concluded that it was likely the result of an assault.

At least 23 people have been questioned and five others removed from active duty while an independent investigation takes place.

Mr Ojwang, 31, died in police custody last weekend after he was arrested over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat.

In an initial statement, police said Mr Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and rushed him to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the wall.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq54vl9wl77o

Editorial - The case for immediate peace: Why Ethiopia needs a united call for peace now more than ever

Despite repeated assurances from Ethiopia’s political and military elite, the country stands at a critical inflection point. Sporadic conflicts in Oromia and the Amhara region, and the continued use of military force continue to persist, and the potential unraveling of the Pretoria peace agreement is real. All of them have pushed the country to the edge.

As this publication warned in its December 2023 editorial, ending these wars is not a matter of political preference, it is a matter of national survival. Nearly two years later, the question now is not whether peace is necessary, but whether there is enough collective will to demand and build it.


https://addisstandard.com/editorial-the-case-for-immediate-peace-why-ethiopia-needs-a-united-call-for-peace-now-more-than-ever/

#Ethiopia among 36 countries facing possible #US travel ban; memo cites visa overstays, document reliability

Ethiopia is among 36 countries under consideration for new U.S. travel restrictions, according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post. The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines a 60-day deadline for the listed countries to meet a set of benchmarks or face full or partial entry bans. The document is part of what would be a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, building on a travel ban issued earlier this month.

The proposed list includes 25 African nations—among them Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Djibouti, and Ghana—as well as countries in the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific. According to the memo, some of the countries have “no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents,” while others are cited for “widespread government fraud” or for having high numbers of citizens who “overstayed their visas” in the U.S.

Other justifications for inclusion include the sale of citizenship without residency requirements and allegations of individuals from certain countries engaging in “antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States.” The memo also noted that countries willing to accept third-country nationals deported from the U.S. or to enter “safe third country” agreements may be able to address the concerns raised.

If implemented, the expanded list would add to a June 4 proclamation that fully restricted entry from Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, and partially restricted entry from Burundi and Togo. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, have condemned the move as discriminatory, citing the high number of African and Caribbean countries affected. The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the memo.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/14/trump-travel-ban-expansion/

Trump vetoed #Israeli plan to kill #Iran's supreme leader, #US officials say

U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent days, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday. One of the officials, a senior U.S. administration source, was quoted as saying, “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership.”

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said top U.S. and Israeli officials have remained in “constant communications” since Israel launched what was described as a “massive attack” on Iran aimed at disrupting its nuclear program. According to the officials, Israeli authorities informed their U.S. counterparts that they had “an opportunity to kill the top Iranian leader,” but Trump rejected the proposal.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-vetoed-an-israeli-plan-kill-irans-supreme-leader-us-officials-say-2025-06-15/?sfnsn=wa

#Ethiopia: Thousands of displaced children in Western #Tigray out of school for six years

Thousands of children in Tigray remain out of school as education services in Mai-Tsebri, Tselemti and Dima districts have been suspended for nearly six years, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The districts, located in the western part of Tigray, host large numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) who fled areas including Welkait, Humera and Sheraro. Schools that once served the communities have been looted, damaged or turned into shelters, leaving children with no access to learning.

According to mid-2024 estimates from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), between 40,000 and 85,000 people who have been internally displaced are living in these areas. According to NRC, before the war, children in the three districts attended 61 primary and six secondary schools. It said the COVID-19 pandemic triggered school closures in 2019, but “conflict soon erased all chances of reopening.” NRC said “many of these schools are damaged, looted or used as shelters,” leaving more than 41,000 children out of school, “with nearly half of them being girls.”

Thirteen-year-old Mihret Tsegu, who lives at the Daero displacement site, told an NRC staff member, “I was in second grade when we stopped going to school. First because of coronavirus. Then the war started, and we had to run.” She added, “I still want to be a teacher… but I don’t know when school will start again.” Heluf Gebere, 12, displaced from Humera, said, “My brothers and sisters are ahead of me in school. I’ve been stuck in second grade for six years.”

In early 2024, NRC said it launched the Better Learning Programme (BLP) and Child Education Pathways (CEP) across Daero, Adi-Harush and Awura Godana displacement sites. “For the first time in years, children gathered again in learning spaces,” said Haile Tadesse, NRC’s education specialist in Ethiopia. According to NRC, the two programmes currently support more than 1,700 children. The organisation said restoring education remains difficult due to “the absence of civil administration and competing interests between actors,” but noted that progress is being made through coordination with the national Education Cluster, the Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund, local structures and the command post.

https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2025/six-years-without-school-in-ethiopia

#Ethiopia: Mpox cases confirmed in #Addis_Abeba, six regions: IMC reports

Confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported in Addis Abeba and six other regions of Ethiopia, according to a June 13 situation update by the International Medical Corps (IMC). As of June 10, 18 cases had been verified across the country, with one reported fatality—bringing the case fatality rate to 5.6%, the update said. The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), has activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Center “to coordinate the national response,” IMC noted, adding that an “incident action plan has been finalized” and technical officers have been deployed to support local task forces.

IMC stated it is “actively supporting the national response” alongside EPHI and national and regional health clusters. A comprehensive preparedness and response plan has been developed and rolled out, with Mpox-related materials distributed to 13 health facilities and two IDP sites. In northwest and west Tigray, 47 health professionals have been trained on Mpox protocols. The Ministry of Health, in its June 15 update, confirmed the total number of cases had reached 19, with no additional deaths and six active cases. It added that 175 laboratory tests had been conducted and no severe cases had been recorded.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50902

#Opinion: Silent Ghosts, Loud Paranoia: What haunts #Somali region leadership?

The ruling Prosperity Party (PP) stands today not as a random coalition but as a deliberate alliance built on compromise and shared vision, writes Mohamud A. Ahmed, author of this opinion piece. Within its ranks, he notes, two figures stand out: Adem Farah, Vice President of the PP, and Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance, both hail from the Somali region. He says they share a quiet belief: "A party is not a platform to shout from but a vessel to row together." In contrast, the author argues that Somali Region President Mustafe Muhumed Omar “appears entangled in a political paradox—a ghost-chasing spiral of self-manufactured crises,” adding that “where others see space for growth, he sees shadows of sabotage.”

Mohamud points out that Mustafe’s leadership has been consistently shadowed by “allegations of repression, silencing of freedom of speech, and corruption.” He questions why figures like Adem and Ahmed remain silent, stating that “There is a growing perception that both men, despite their regional roots and senior federal ranks, have chosen institutional camouflage over corrective intervention.”

“At the heart of the broader puzzle sits Prime Minister Abiy, a leader known for his panoramic grasp of Ethiopian politics,” he writes. “For a man who has often intervened to deescalate far more complex crises in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, his detachment from the Somali region’s political mismanagement is either a calculated tolerance or a dangerous blind spot.”

The author emphasizes, "Politics is not a place for perfection. But it is no longer a playground for paranoia either." He warns that "the Prosperity Party, for all its structural imperfections, cannot carry leaders who plant fires only to later play firefighter."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50909