The Latest: Iran's supreme leader rejects call to surrender as Israel strikes Tehran
Explosions were heard in Tehran early Wednesday as Israeli warplanes pounded Iran's capital overnight and into Wednesday.
Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday rejected U.S. calls for surrender and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause 'irreparable damage' to them. The country launched a small barrage of missiles at Israel with no reports of casualties.
The latest Israeli strikes hit a facility used to make uranium centrifuges and another that made missile components, the Israeli military said.
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Here's the latest:
Iran's supreme leader warns US that joining Israeli strikes will 'result in irreparable damage for them'
Iran's supreme leader has warned the United States that joining the Israeli strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will 'result in irreparable damage for them.'
The comments by 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came in a statement read out by a state television anchor against a still image of the leader.
'Any military involvement by the U.S. in this field will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage for them,' the statement said.
In the message, Khamenei also urged officials to 'continue their work with strength and trust in God.'
'God will certainly and surely make the Iranian nation ... victorious,' he said.
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State television said that a video of Khamenei giving the same address would be aired later.
141 Greeks and other nationals evacuated from Israel via Egypt
Greece's Foreign Ministry says the evacuees included citizens of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
They were flown to Athens early Wednesday from Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh on board two military transport planes, the ministry said.
Israel says its aircraft destr
oyed five Iranian attack helicopters
Israel's military said it has destroyed five Iranian AH-1 attack helicopters at a base in western Iran in the Kermanshah area.
The Israelis published black-and-white video of the bombing destroying the helicopters.
Iran did not immediately comment.
Iran under the shah purchased some 200 of the Bell AH-1 SuperCobras, which remain in service as Iran is sanctioned internationally and broadly unable to purchase new weaponry.
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Tehran's streets are mostly empty
Streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, again were deserted Wednesday amid the Israeli attacks.
Occasional cars and men on scooters sped past the closed shops and stores.
Hundreds of Pakistanis in Iran flee conflict
Hundreds of Pakistanis living in Iran have arrived at the Taftan border crossing on Wednesday as they make their way back home to Pakistan amid the conflict.
Telecom worker Ghulam Mustafa Ijaz said he was advised to leave Tehran with his family because the situation was becoming dangerous.
'We left everything behind and carried just one bag containing some necessities and food items,' Ijaz said. 'We are five family members, but we carried just one bag. We just left, and left everything else there.'
Iran and Pakistan share a 900-kilometre (560-mile), largely lawless border where smugglers and militants roam freely.
Although Pakistan has shut some of the formal crossings, the ones at Taftan and Gabd-Rimdan in southwest Balochistan province remain open for nationals seeking to return home.
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Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel's attacks. It has denied that it will provide military assistance to Iran, including nuclear weapons.
Iranian ambassador derides Trump's comments calling for Iran to surrender
Iran's ambassador in Geneva is deriding as 'hostile' and 'unwarranted' U.S. President Donald Trump's comments calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender.'
Ambassador Ali Bahreini told reporters the Israeli campaign 'has not been able to bring big damage to our nuclear facilities' because it had taken precautions to protect them.
Bahreini insisted that Iran has no intention to produce nuclear weapons, a top concern for Israeli authorities. He said 'we will continue to produce the enriched uranium as far as we need for peaceful purposes.'
The ambassador rejected any talk of a 'setback' on Iran's nuclear research and technological activities caused by Israel's military action, saying 'our scientists will continue their work.'
Iranian officials acknowledge loss of a major radar system
Both the semiofficial Fars and ISNA news agencies reported Wednesday that a replacement system had been installed to replace its Soubashi radar site in western Iran.
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The original Soubashi radar, located in the heights of Kaboudarahang County in Iran's Hamedan province, played a crucial role in Iran's air defense network, providing extensive coverage for western, northwestern, and southwestern Iran.
Hamedan has been repeatedly targeted in Israeli strikes since Israel's campaign began Friday.
IAEA confirms Israel struck sites associated with Iran's nuclear program around Tehran
'The IAEA has information that two centrifuge production facilities in Iran, the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center, were hit,' the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on the social platform X.
Karaj is a city just outside of Tehran.
'At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested,' it added. 'At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured.'
Iranian ambassador says country to 'respond strongly'
A top Iranian diplomat says his country will 'respond strongly' to Israel's 'aggression' and will do so likewise against the United States if U.S. forces join the conflict between the rival Middle East powers as it moved into a sixth day on Wednesday.
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Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador in Geneva, sought to project a defiant message from Tehran and defended its nuclear program as purely peaceful and designed for civilian use at a long-planned news conference with the United Nations press corps in the Swiss city.
US moving military aircraft to European bases
Overnight, the United States moved air force refueling tankers and C17s to European bases in Prestwick, Scotland, and Aviano in Italy, according to Aurora Intel, a group that reviews open source information in real time in the Middle East.
This comes as the U.S. is shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel from Iranian attacks as President Donald Trump warns Tehran to step back from the conflict.
On Tuesday, the U.S. relocated a dozen F-16s from the Italian base to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, said the group.
Iranian FM spokesman issues warning
A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry issued a warning Wednesday that an American intervention in the ongoing Israeli strikes targeting his country would spark 'an all-out war.'
Esmail Baghaei made the comments in an interview live on Al Jazeera English. It was his first in the ongoing conflict.
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'I think any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region with very, very bad consequences for the whole international community,' Baghaei said.
Baghaei's comments suggested that Iran believes that Gulf Arab countries wouldn't allow the U.S. to launch attacks from any bases in their countries.
However, the U.S. has aircraft carriers and long-range bombers it could employ for any attack.
Asked if he thought the U.S. could control Israel, Baghaei grimaced and said 'Not really.'
China's Xi calls for de-escalation 'as soon as possible'
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East 'as soon as possible' and said China is 'deeply worried as Israel's military operation against Iran has caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East.'
Xi, on a visit to the Kazakh capital Astana late Tuesday, added that China 'opposes any actions that infringe upon sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries.'
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He added that 'China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.'
China has already called on all its nationals to leave Iran, with whom it has long maintained close trade and political ties.
First repatriation flights carrying stranded Israelis arrive in Tel Aviv
Two flights from Larnaca, Cyprus, landed at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport Wednesday morning, airport spokesperson Lisa Dvir said, marking the first flights to bring Israelis abroad back home since the Israel-Iran conflict began.
Footage showed the first plane gliding down the tarmac after landing in Tel Aviv.
Israel's minister of transportation, Miri Regev, greeted the captain in the airport's control tower.
'We are waiting for you here with great anticipation,' she told her in Hebrew. 'Very excited, first rescue flight.'
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Israel closed its airspace to commercial flights because of the multiple volleys of ballistic missiles launched toward the country each day by Iran.
Tens of thousands of Israelis are stranded abroad, according to Israeli media reports.
China tells its nationals to leave Iran
Chinese authorities are advising all their citizens still in Iran to leave as quickly as possible, citing the 'increasing scale and intensity of the Iran-Israel conflict' and the possibility that land borders may soon be closed.
No figures on the number of Chinese nationals in the country were given in the notice issued online Tuesday by the Chinese embassy.
The two countries have long maintained strong trade ties, with China a major buyer of Iranian crude oil and Iran an importer of Chinese consumer goods.
Addresses were given in the notice for the Razi crossing with Turkey, the Nordooz crossing with Armenia, the Astara crossing with Azerbaijan and the Bajgiran crossing with Turkmenistan.
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Egypt's FM holds calls with Iranian counterpart and U.S. envoy
Egypt's top diplomat has held calls with both Iran's foreign minister and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, Cairo and Tehran say.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held the calls Tuesday with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff.
Abdelatty reportedly stressed 'the necessity of working toward de-escalation in the region and resorting to diplomatic and political solutions that contribute to containing the escalating situation and averting the risk of a widespread conflagration in the Middle East.'
Abdelatty 'underscored the imperative of achieving an immediate ceasefire and returning to the path of negotiations as the only means to reach a sustainable agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program,' his office said in a statement.
He 'further emphasized the absence of military solutions to the crises currently facing the region.'
A social media account associated with Araghchi confirmed the calls took place.
U.S. officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Human rights group says 585 people killed in Iran
Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 585 people and wounded 1,326 others, a human rights group said Wednesday.
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The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists offered the figures, which covers the entirety of Iran. It said of those dead, it identified 239 civilians and 126 security force personnel being killed.
Human Rights Activists, which also provided detailed casualty figures during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, crosschecks local reports in the Islamic Republic against a network of sources it has developed in the country.
Iran has not been offering regular death tolls during the conflict and has minimized casualties in the past. Its last update, issued Monday, put the death toll at 224 people being killed and 1,277 others being wounded.
Israeli strikes hit Tehran
Intense Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran's capital early Wednesday after it issued a warning about a new area it could target.
One major explosion could be heard around 5 a.m. local time Wednesday morning, with other explosions booming earlier in the predawn darkness.
Authorities in Iran offered no acknowledgement of the attacks, which has become increasingly common as the Israeli airstrike campaign has intensified since they began on Friday.
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The Israelis had warned they could strike a neighborhood south of Mehrabad International Airport.
That area includes residential neighborhoods, military installations, pharmaceutical companies and industrial firms.
Satellite photos show U.S. Navy ships out of Bahrain dock
Satellite images analyzed Wednesday by The Associated Press appear to show that there are no longer any vessels anchored off the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain as the strikes between Israel and Iran continue.
The images, taken Tuesday, show the main dock there without any ships against it.
Dispersing ships is a common safety technique employed by navies around the world in times of trouble.
Meanwhile Tuesday, local media reported that Bahrain conducted a test of its air raid sirens.
Iran has threatened to target U.S. military installations in the region, though there's not been any attack so far since the Israeli campaign against Iran began on Friday.
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Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
KINSELLA: CUPE Ontario embraces madness with sponsorship of pro-Iranian protest
Union leader Fred Hahn and CUPE have advertised they will hold a rally dubbed 'HANDS OFF IRAN' outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, speaks to a crowd in support of children's aid workers across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville at a rally held in Brockville on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photo by Sabrina Bedford / Brockville Recorder and Times Full disclosure: I've been a member of a union. I've advised unions, for many years. I believe unions play a critical role in protecting workers and their families. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But what happens when a union loses its mind? Because, make no mistake, the Ontario branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has. It has embraced madness. Some background: Iran is considered to have the worst human rights record in the world, or close to it. Iran's Islamist rulers murder, torture, imprison, dismember, rape and brutalize their own people, all the time. Human Rights Watch – like all the other watchdogs – say that Iran is guilty of 'excessive and lethal force, torture, sexual assault, and other serious abuses.' In Iran, a person can be eliminated for expressing opposition to the Iranian dictatorship. A woman can be killed for refusing to wear a hijab, a man for being a gay. Read More Which brings us back to CUPE, and their leader, Fred Hahn. This fact is relevant: Hahn is a gay man. He proudly describes himself as the 'first openly gay president in CUPE.' That's good. That's positive. That's an achievement. So why would an openly gay man want to celebrate Iran? Because, on Sunday, that's what Fred and CUPE intend to do. On Sunday, Hahn and CUPE have advertised they are holding a rally in support of Iran outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto. 'HANDS OFF IRAN,' the poster reads, with CUPE's official logo affixed to the bottom. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since Oct. 7, 2023 – when Hamas killed, wounded, raped or kidnapped thousands of Israelis and non-Israelis – Canada and the West have descended, ever-deeper, into a madhouse without walls. CUPE, public sector unions, academics, NGOs, charities and plenty of Gen Z and Millennials have moved from being anti-Israeli-government (which is fine) to antisemitic (which isn't). They have claimed to be concerned about the plight of Palestinians. That, perhaps, can be spun. But supporting the Iranian regime? That can't be spun. That can't be rationalized. That is indefensible. What happens to gays and lesbians and trans people in Iran? Well, article 233 of the Islamic Penal Code in Iran defines sodomy. Article 234 dictates it is punishable by death. So, in 2022, two gay men, Mehrdad Karimpour and Farid Mohammadi, were convicted of 'sexual intercourse between two men' and hanged in prison at the Northwestern Iranian city of Maragheh. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If Fred Hahn were to visit in Iran, and if he were to simply be himself – something that is valued, and normal, and protected by the constitutions of both Israel and Canada – he would almost certainly be arrested, imprisoned and (likely, because he is non-Muslim) hanged. Which bring us back to the pro-Iran rally on Sunday. Why is CUPE Ontario supporting the number one violator of human rights in the world? Why? Under the provisions of CUPE's own constitution, it makes no sense. Section 8(c) is lengthy but worth quoting in full: 'CUPE Ontario stands unequivocally for equality and will oppose discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, class (economic status), colour, creed, disability, family status, genetic characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, language, marital status (including single status), national or ethnic origin, place of origin, political affiliation, race, record of offences, religion, sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) or sexual orientation.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That certainly seems to fully cover LGBTQ people, doesn't it? But, in Iran – which CUPE Ontario now supports – that provision is a death sentence. In Iran, opposing discrimination in the way that CUPE Ontario has? It will get you killed. It's important to note, here, that CUPE Ontario has done something that is the polar opposite of what other CUPE branches have done. In 2022, CUPE Nova Scotia said it stands in solidarity with the uprising against 'the autocratic and repressive Islamic Republic of Iran.' In 2020, CUPE Vancouver called for an investigation into Iran when it shot down Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752, killing 176 people. CUPE's national branch, meanwhile, has long called for 'the Government of Iran to immediately and unconditionally free all jailed labour activists and political prisoners in the country, and put an end to the arrests and repression of labour activists.' By endorsing Iran, CUPE Ontario, and Fred Hahn, have taken leave of their senses. They have abandoned decency and common sense. They have violated their own constitution, and they have shamed their union brothers and sisters, across Canada. They need to be decertified. CUPE Ontario needs to start over, because – this time – they have gone too f—ing far.
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
LGBTQ refugee group says number of requests for help has increased
OTTAWA - An organization that helps LGBTQ+ people file refugee claims says it has seen a spike in pleas for assistance from around the world since 2020. Devon Matthews, program head with Rainbow Railroad, said the explosion in the number of requests for help reflects a trend of nations backsliding on LGBTQ rights — or even embracing a policy of persecution. 'This isn't just the United States that we're seeing this in,' she said. 'More broadly worldwide, we are seeing some particularly terrifying xenophobia, anti-refugee sentiment and queer phobia in many countries around the world, including in Europe and across different regions in which we work on the ground.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Republican state and federal officials in the U.S. have been working for years to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans and have imposed rules on which sports transgender students can play and which bathrooms they can use, among other policies. The Rainbow Railroad says it's now working with Ottawa to divert from the U.S. to Canada a handful of refugee claims filed by LGBTQ+ claimants. Matthews said her organization was fielding 27 applications representing 36 people who were bound for the U.S. at the start of the year. Some of the applicants filed as couples. She said 28 of those applicants changed their minds about moving to the United States after President Donald Trump returned to the White House. 'So we've had to pivot our plans for those 28 individuals to come to Canada to the best of our abilities,' she said. 'Obviously, it's a very complex process to switch all of the different logistics and paperwork, and people are in extremely dire situations, but we've been doing what we can.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Matthews said that this kind of switch isn't allowed normally but Ottawa is making an exception. Matthews said these refugee claimants would not be covered by the Safe Third Country Agreement — which says an asylum seeker must stay in the first safe country they reach — because they have not entered the U.S. The claimants are currently living in Brazil, Columbia, Uganda and nine other African countries. A spokeswoman from Immigration Minister Lena Diab's office said in an emailed reply that the office can't comment on specific cases due to privacy legislation. She added that Canada has a 'proud history' of resettling vulnerable people, including LGBTQ+ refugees, and the government works with groups like Rainbow Railroad to identify LGBTQ+ refugees and their families for resettlement. Rahma Esslouani made it to Canada with Rainbow Railroad's help. Esslouani is originally from Morocco, where same-sex relationships are illegal. 'I faced violence, physically and psychologically, from my family, from society, discrimination, persecution. So I don't have rights to wear what I'm going to wear. I don't have rights to be myself, to be who I am. I have to follow the culture,' Esslouani said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'My family wanted to force me to get married, so this makes me feel like I can't accept a marriage to a man. So that is the main and biggest reason to escape through Turkey.' Esslouani said they faced continued persecution in Turkey, where non-binary status is not recognized under the law. While it's not illegal to be in a same-sex relationship or to be gender non-conforming in Turkey, so-called 'offences against public morals' have been used to target LGBTQ+ people. Esslouani said they were arrested in Turkey. 'I realized that it is dangerous to exist and to be myself as queer, non-binary person,' they said. After that arrest, Esslouani contacted Rainbow Railroad. 'I remember the first the email that I received said, 'We are with you. You are not alone,'' Esslouani said. 'I read it again and again and again because of like, happiness with this world that finally someone heard my story and gives me hope, that I have to resist and not give up.' Esslouani finally came to Canada in July 2024, just missing Pride Month in Toronto. They said it's 'a dream come true' to live here after a lifetime of hiding. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'So finally, I'm going to be myself. I'm going to be out in public and can be myself and introduce my sexuality in public, and live, walk and talk freely and not be scared of the police or that people will judge me or to feel shame or afraid,' Esslouani said. 'There is love between people here. Everyone supports each other. There is no judgment, no fear. So I feel that I am no longer just surviving, but I am alive.' Rainbow Railroad receives a yearly allotment of 250 spots in Government Assisted Refugee program to help people like Esslouani come to Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
National Observer
2 hours ago
- National Observer
Canada, India strike a diplomatic truce as Carney, Modi meet at G7
Prime Minister Mark Carney said his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta on Tuesday was a "necessary" step toward rebuilding the relationship between the two countries. However, Carney refused to say whether he had directly raised the accusations that Indian state agents were behind the murder of a Canadian citizen in British Columbia two years ago. The G7 leaders' summit ended Tuesday after two days of discussions about global economics and security, with the leaders issuing several joint statements on areas of co-operation such as critical minerals, artificial intelligence and migrant smuggling. On Monday the leaders issued a joint statement on the crisis in the Middle East. There was notably no joint statement on the war in Ukraine, even though the Liberals had made support for the country one of the most important topics of Canada's G7 presidency, and invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the summit in person. Carney said it was right the Middle East took priority when the leaders did issue a statement on foreign policy. "There were tragic and intense events in the Middle East, and at that time it was in a sense more important to have a G7 statement concerning the Iranian situation," he told reporters in French. Before the closing press conference, a senior Canadian government official — who briefed reporters at the G7 on background and asked not to be named — said the US was offside with the other countries on Ukraine and sought weaker language than what the other members proposed. The senior official said that is why Canada outlined a stance on Ukraine in its own statement as chair instead of having a joint G7 declaration on Ukraine. The briefing was widely reported by Canadian media. Later, a PMO media spokesperson apologized for a "miscommunication." She said a standalone statement on Ukraine was never in the works, but rather that Canada consulted G7 members including the US on what Ottawa would publish as chair. "No proposed joint statement regarding Ukraine was distributed. Canada's intention was always for the important language to be a part of the G7 chair's summary statement, and it was," wrote spokeswoman Emily Williams. The chair's statement backed President Donald Trump's efforts to reach peace in Ukraine, and called on Russia to join Ukraine in committing to an "unconditional ceasefire." When pressed, Carney did eventually acknowledge that this language was not as strong as some wanted. "There would be things that some of us, Canada included, would say above and beyond what was said in the chair summary," Carney said. The bilateral discussion between Carney and Modi was among the last things on the agenda at the event on Tuesday, and came as the relationship between India and Canada has been extremely strained over Canada's allegations that Indian diplomats were linked to violent criminal activity and harassment in Canada. Several Sikh leaders in Canada criticized Carney for inviting Modi to attend the G7, after Canada accused India of refusing to co-operate in the investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist activist murdered in June 2023 in Surrey, BC. Carney said he would describe the meeting with Modi "as foundational, as a necessary first step … to begin to rebuild a relationship based on mutual respect, sovereignty, trust." Last fall, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, saying they refused to co-operate with a police investigation into allegations Indian agents had engaged in violent criminal activity and harassment in Canada. India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats. The two leaders agreed Tuesday to designate new high commissioners, with Carney suggesting this would restore diplomatic services to their citizens in both countries. Carney said he discussed transnational repression with Modi — a form of foreign interference involving states using proxies to intimidate and harass individuals in other countries — but he would not say if he raised Nijjar's murder specifically. He said they discussed the importance of law enforcement in both countries co-operating, but added that "there is a judicial process that's underway and I need to be careful about further commentary." The World Sikh Organization of Canada said in a news release Tuesday that any resumption of full diplomatic relations with India "must be contingent on concrete steps by India to end foreign-interference operations in Canada and to co-operate fully with ongoing criminal investigations." The organization also said it welcomes British Columbia Premier David Eby's announcement that he will ask the Canadian government to add the Lawrence Bishnoi network, which it said is linked to the Government of India, to Canada's list of terrorist entities. World Sikh Organization of Canada president Danish Singh said the group is calling on the federal government to impose "targeted sanctions" on Indian officials involved in directing or funding the Bishnoi network. As for Ukraine, Carney met early Tuesday with Zelenskyy on the sidelines, and Canada announced $4.3 billion in new support for Ukraine's defence and another set of sanctions on Russia. That sum includes $2 billion for the purchase and donation of weapons and material, along with a $2.3-billion loan to help the embattled country rebuild its infrastructure, to be repaid by interest on frozen Russian assets. French President Emmanuel Macron said Carney fulfilled his mission as G7 host by preserving the unity of the multilateral organization. "We shouldn't ask the Canadian presidency to resolve every issue on earth today. That would be unfair. But he held the group together," said Macron, who will host the G7 next year. The G7 leaders also signed on to a statement pledging to tackle migrant smuggling, including by exploring the potential use of sanctions to target criminals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations. Another statement pledged to explore ways to benefit public services using artificial intelligence, including a Canadian initiative to 'increase government efficiency' at a time when Ottawa and most G7 peers seek to cut back spending on their civil service. A wider group of signatories, which includes Australia, India and South Korea, committed to work together to invest in responsible critical minerals projects. Australia, India, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa also signed on with the G7 to a wildfire charter that calls for co-operation to prevent, fight and recover from devastating fires. On Monday evening, G7 leaders released a statement calling for a de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East in response to continued fighting between Israel and Iran. That came shortly before US President Donald Trump announced he planned to leave the summit a day early to deal with the ongoing crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remained in Kananaskis on Tuesday as the American delegation's lead. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
