Iranian TV hit by Israeli strike during live broadcast
Iranian TV hit by Israeli strike during live broadcast
The news anchor attempted to continue the broadcast despite the sounds of explosions but finally left the studio. Photo: AFP
Footage from Iranian state TV showed the moment multiple strikes interrupted its live broadcast on Monday (June 16).
A news anchor attempted to continue the broadcast despite the sounds of explosions but finally left the studio as a direct hit caused debris to fly through the air and dust to rise.
The anchor, the graphics and background behind her match previous broadcasts from State TV. The date when the video was filmed could not be independently verified but Iran's State News Agency reported strike happened on Monday (June 16).
Netanyahu ordered a surprise attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday, vowing to end Tehran's nuclear ambitions, which he says represent an existential threat to his nation.
In response, Iran has fired nightly barrages of ballistic missiles. (Reuters)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asia Times
5 hours ago
- Asia Times
Trump makes mockery of G7 at critical diplomatic juncture
When the world teeters on the brink of another full-scale regional war, diplomacy—however imperfect—becomes the thin thread that prevents catastrophe. It is precisely during these moments that multilateral institutions like the Group of Seven (G7) must function with unity, sobriety and respect for each other's contributions. Unfortunately, the latest summit in Canada revealed more fissures than cohesion, and not due to structural disagreement on trade, finance or even Ukraine. Rather, it was the unnecessarily sharp personal rebuke issued by US President Donald Trump against French President Emmanuel Macron that punctured the diplomatic atmosphere. At issue was Macron's assertion to reporters that Trump was leaving the G7 early to potentially broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. 'There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange,' Macron said, adding that the United States had 'assured they will find a ceasefire and since they can pressure Israel, things may change.' Whether borne of informed speculation or confidential briefings, Macron's tone was hopeful, hinting that the United States—despite its own political tumult—might bring its considerable leverage to bear in ending a volatile conflict in the Middle East. Trump, however, was quick to scoff at Macron's remarks, dismissing them as 'wrong,' and asserting that his abrupt departure from the G7 had nothing to do with any potential ceasefire. In a statement posted to his own platform, Social Truth, Trump ominously advised, 'Everyone should evacuate from Tehran'—a message that may have caused more confusion than clarity, not least for the citizens of Tehran and the diplomats working to contain hostilities. But Trump's derision goes far beyond a semantic quarrel. It points to a deeper pattern of undermining traditional allies, resisting the norms of collective diplomacy and reducing serious multilateral efforts to public theater. The G7, for all its shortcomings, has historically operated on a delicate balance of peer respect and strategic coordination. To have one of its most powerful members lash out against another, particularly when the latter is attempting to steer attention toward peace efforts, corrodes that balance. This is not the first time Trump has treated France—and by extension, Europe—as an adversary rather than a partner. In previous summits, he dismissed the importance of NATO, mocked French concerns over climate change, and refused to support multilateral trade mechanisms that form the bedrock of European economic stability. Yet what happened in Canada is different: it occurred not merely against the backdrop of a policy disagreement but amid the specter of regional war. Israel and Iran are currently in a perilous dance of escalation. With Israeli strikes reportedly targeting Iranian military sites and Iran retaliating via drone and missile launches, the region is careening toward a wider confrontation. A war that could suck in neighboring states, global energy markets and even non-regional actors like Russia and China. It is precisely in such moments that the G7 must act as a stabilizing force—not an arena of personal vendettas. To suggest that Macron was out of line for voicing what many suspected—that Trump's early exit may have been motivated by a secret diplomatic mission—is disingenuous. Even if Macron's remarks were premature, they reflected a yearning for progress, not a challenge to Trump's authority. The French president, after all, is a seasoned leader who understands the need for discretion but also recognizes the value of positive signaling. His comment was an opening, an invitation for diplomacy to flourish. Trump chose instead to shut that window with a tweet and a rebuke. Moreover, Trump's declaration that 'everyone should evacuate from Tehran' only adds to the confusion. What does it signal? An imminent strike? A covert operation gone awry? Or merely another instance of bluster designed to unnerve adversaries and allies alike? In the absence of clarity, the message contributes to anxiety, not resolution. For diplomats in the region, such ambiguity can be paralyzing. For ordinary citizens in Tehran, it may very well provoke panic. One must also question the wisdom of using a social media post to relay potential security warnings, rather than relying on established diplomatic channels. The State Department or the National Security Council is equipped to issue warnings with nuance and legal authority. When leaders bypass these institutions to score points or spread fear, the result is a governance vacuum. Beyond the immediate implications, this latest episode raises a larger concern about the erosion of diplomatic norms in the post-2020 world order. The G7 was once a forum for proactive global leadership: addressing financial crises, coordinating humanitarian relief, and charting climate policy. Today, it often appears more performative than practical, with headline-grabbing gestures replacing substantive commitments. Trump's consistent sidelining of allies, whether France, Germany, Canada, or Japan, has contributed to this decline. His transactional worldview—where friends are judged not by shared values but by personal loyalty—makes stable cooperation difficult. By treating Macron's olive branch as an insult, Trump not only insults France but signals to the rest of the G7 that independent thought will be met with disdain. This is a dangerous precedent. For when diplomacy becomes personalized and weaponized, its primary function—to reduce conflict through dialogue—evaporates. If leaders at the G7 cannot even agree on the tone of their own statements, let alone on a strategy for peace in the Middle East, then the institution is at risk of irrelevance. To be clear, Macron is not beyond critique. His own record on foreign policy has been mixed. But in this instance, his attempt to steer global attention toward a ceasefire should be viewed not as meddling, but as leadership. That Trump cannot—or will not—see this speaks volumes about his priorities. If President Trump is indeed in a position to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, then let him proceed. But undermining an ally who voices hope for that possibility serves no one—not the G7, not the Middle East and certainly not the credibility of the United States on the global stage. In diplomacy, perception matters as much as action. And at this critical moment, the perception is clear: Trump prefers deflection over dialogue, and derision over diplomacy. Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is professor of ASEAN Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia, and Cambridge Commonwealth Scholar Ruhanas Harun is professor at the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, National Defense University Malaysia.
HKFP
7 hours ago
- HKFP
China's President Xi in Kazakhstan to cement Central Asia ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Central Asian leaders at a summit in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, his second trip to the region in under a year as Beijing competes with Russia for influence there. The summit in the Kazakh capital brings together Xi — who arrived in Astana on Monday — and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Under Russia's orbit until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the five countries of Central Asia have courted interest from major powers including China and the United States since becoming independent. The region is rich in natural resources and strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. In a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Tuesday, Xi called for the two countries to 'scale up trade and investment and expand cooperation in emerging sectors', Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. The two sides should 'advance high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and foster new drivers of growth in clean energy, green minerals and artificial intelligence', Xi reportedly said. In talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Xi said Beijing 'firmly supports Tajikistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security', according to Xinhua. The Chinese leader also held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov, according to Beijing's state media. While Central Asian leaders continue to view Russia as a strategic partner, ties with Moscow have loosened since the war in Ukraine. The five nations are taking advantage of the growing interest in their region and coordinating their foreign policies. They regularly hold summits with China and Russia to present the region as a unified bloc and attract investment. The '5+1' format high-level talks have also been organised with the European Union, the United States, Turkey and other Western countries. 'The countries of the region are balancing between different centres of power, wanting to protect themselves from excessive dependence on one partner,' Kyrgyz political scientist Nargiza Muratalieva told AFP. Biggest trade partner Russia says China's growing influence in the region does not pose a threat. 'There is no reason for such fears. China is our privileged strategic partner, and the countries of Central Asia, naturally, are our natural historical partners,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. But China has now established itself as Central Asia's leading trading partner. Trade volume with the region was estimated at $95 billion in 2024, according to Chinese customs. That figure is far ahead of the European Union (around $64 billion according to the EU Council in 2023) and Russia, with $44 billion. Central Asia is also an important target for China in its Belt and Road initiative — which uses huge infrastructure investments as a political and diplomatic lever. Xi's visit to Kazakhstan will '(open) up more room for the joint construction of the Belt and Road', Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday. Construction of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway and the China-Tajikistan highway, which runs through the Pamir Mountains to Afghanistan, are among the planned investments. New border crossings and 'dry ports' have already been built to process trade, such as Khorgos in Kazakhstan, one of the largest logistics hubs in the world. 'Neither Russia nor Western institutions are capable of allocating financial resources for infrastructure so quickly and on such a large scale, sometimes bypassing transparent procedures,' said Muratalieva. Developing transport corridors in Central Asia allows China to reduce delivery times by sending goods to Europe via the Caspian Sea, bypassing Russia. Chinese companies are also increasingly present in Central Asia's energy sector, seeking contracts for gas in Turkmenistan, uranium in Kazakhstan and rare earths in Tajikistan, among others. Kazakhstan said last week that Russia would lead the construction of its first nuclear power plant but that it wanted China to build the second. 'Central Asia is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, uranium, gold and other minerals that the rapidly developing Chinese economy needs,' Muratalieva said. 'Ensuring uninterrupted supplies of these resources, bypassing unstable sea routes, is an important goal of Beijing,' the analyst added. Human rights China also positions itself as a supporter of the predominantly authoritarian Central Asian leaderships. At the last Central Asia-China summit, Xi called for 'resisting external interference' that might provoke 'colour revolutions' that could overthrow the current leaders in the region. 'Central Asia directly borders Xinjiang… Beijing sees the stability of the Central Asian states as a guarantee of the security of its western borders,' Muratalieva added. Beijing is accused of having detained more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims as part of a campaign which the UN has said could constitute 'crimes against humanity'. Central Asia remains sparsely populated and has just 80 million inhabitants despite being as geographically large as the European Union. This is far less than the 1.4 billion Chinese population, now exempt from visa requirements in some countries of the region. Some in Central Asia are concerned by this arrangement and fear a loss of sovereignty.
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Israel and Iran hostilities enter fifth day
Israel and Iran hostilities enter fifth day Smoke rises following a missile attack from Iran on the affluent city of Herzliya. Photo: Reuters Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump abruptly left the G7 summit and warned Tehran residents to "immediately evacuate" amid rising fears of a wider conflict. The Israeli military said it targeted multiple missile and UAV sites in western Iran, including surface-to-surface missile infrastructure, surface-to-air launchers and drone storage facilities, in a statement accompanied by black-and-white footage showing missile launchers exploding. Shortly after, air raid sirens sounded in parts of Israel. Loud booms were heard over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the Israeli army warned of incoming missiles launched from Iran. Around 20 minutes later, the army said people could leave protected spaces. Police said shrapnel fell in Tel Aviv, causing damage but no casualties. The fire service said its teams were on the way to battle a blaze in the commercial hub. Despite mounting calls to de-escalate, neither side has backed off from the missile blitz that began on Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented aerial campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. A new wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran – including a dramatic hit on state television's headquarters that the broadcaster said killed three people – prompted both sides to activate missile defence systems overnight. Israel's army briefly urged citizens to seek shelter, amid growing fears of a regional war. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US was deploying "additional capabilities" to the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left Southeast Asia on Monday, scrapping a planned Vietnam stop, amid reports it was heading to the region. After calling for talks, Trump issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform: "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" He left the G7 in Canada early to return to Washington. Later, he dismissed reports that he left to broker a ceasefire, lashing out at French President Emmanuel Macron. "Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron... mistakenly said I left the G7... to work on a 'cease fire,'" Trump posted on Truth Social. "Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire." The escalation has derailed nuclear talks and stoked fears of broader conflict. Trump urged Iran to return to the negotiating table. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said a missile strike lightly damaged a building used by the American embassy in Tel Aviv. The State Department warned Americans not to travel to Israel. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to the prime minister's office. Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was eliminating Iran's security leadership "one after the other". "We are changing the face of the Middle East, and that can lead to radical changes inside Iran itself," he said. A senior US official said Trump had intervened to prevent Israel from carrying out an assassination of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But Netanyahu did not rule out the possibility when asked about the reports during an interview with ABC News. "It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict," he said. (AFP)
