Israel targets Iran's government and a key Tehran prison as Iran launches more attacks on Israel
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel hit Iranian government targets in Tehran on Monday in a series of strikes that followed a salvo of missiles and drones fired by Iran at Israel in the wake of the Trump administration's massive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites the day before.
The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran's Fordo enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site. The underground site was one of those hit in Sunday's attack by the United States on three nuclear facilities. The Israeli military did not elaborate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
20 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
NATO to take 'quantum leap' with 5% military spending target
NATO allies are poised to take a 'quantum leap' by hiking defence spending to counter the threat of Russia, Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday, on the eve of a two-day summit. The 32 members of the alliance will pledge to boost defence expenditure to five percent of gross domestic product, a key demand of President Donald Trump, who has long grumbled that the U.S. pays too much for NATO. NATO's members have thrashed out a compromise deal to dedicate at least 3.5 percent of GDP to core military needs by 2035, and 1.5 percent to broader security-related items like cybersecurity and infrastructure. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The defence investment plan that allies will agree in The Hague introduces a new baseline, five percent of GDP to be invested in defence,' Rutte told reporters at a pre-summit news conference. 'This is a quantum leap that is ambitious, historic and fundamental to securing our future.' The focus at the summit in the Hague will be on keeping Trump happy after his return to power sparked fears he could blow a hole in the seven-decade-old alliance. In the run-up to the meeting, Spain had sparked fears of undermining a carefully choreographed unity by refusing to commit to the headline figure of five percent. But Rutte stressed that Spain had not been granted an 'opt-out' from the pledge. 'NATO does not have as an alliance opt-outs, side deals, etcetera, because we all have to chip in,' Rutte said. The NATO chief said that the increase in spending would see the alliance boost its air defences five-fold and add thousands more tanks and armoured vehicles to its arsenals. 'Our focus is ensuring that we have all we need to deter and defend against any threat,' he said. 'Of course, the most significant and direct threat facing this alliance remains the Russian Federation.' Rutte insisted that the summit would also send a strong signal of support to Ukraine — despite Trump upending the West's stance towards Russia's war on Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a state dinner with the Dutch king but he has largely been sidelined from the summit's main event. Rutte said that Europe was stepping up already to fill the gap left by Washington pulling back from supporting Ukraine. He said that Europe and Canada had already pledged 35 billion euros ($40 billion) to help arm Kyiv so far this year. Dismissing the idea that the fresh conflict between Israel and Iran could deflect attention from the summit, Rutte stressed that Tehran should not be permitted to possess a nuclear weapon. He said his 'greatest fear' was that Iran would secure access to a nuclear bomb, giving it a 'stranglehold' over Israel, the region, and the wider world. Over the weekend, Trump said that U.S. warplanes had used 'bunker buster' bombs that had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear capabilities. Other officials said it was too soon to assess the true impact on Iran's nuclear programme, which Israel and some Western states consider an existential threat. Pressed over the legality of Washington's strikes against Iran, the NATO chief replied: 'I would not agree that this is against international law, what the U.S. did.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
CTV News
21 minutes ago
- CTV News
Support for solar energy and offshore wind falls among Democrats and independents, AP-NORC poll says
Wind turbines stretch across the horizon at dusk at the Spearville Wind Farm, Sept. 29, 2024, near Spearville, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) Americans' support for green energy tax credits and renewable energies like wind and solar power has decreased in recent years, according to a new poll, driven by a softening in support from Democrats and independents. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that U.S. adults' support for tax credits for electric vehicles and solar panels has weakened, as well as their enthusiasm for offshore wind farm expansion. While Democrats remain the strongest supporters of these initiatives, the poll reveals signs of growing cynicism within their ranks. The poll results coincide with sweeping changes President Donald Trump's Republican administration is making to regulations related to energy and climate change, including slashing the federal workforce in these departments. And although Democrats and independents have weakened their support for some green energy initiatives, there has not been an increase in support for Trump's energy policies. The poll found only about four in 10 U.S. adults, including only one in 10 Democrats, about two in 10 independents and three-quarters of Republicans, approve of the way Trump is handling climate change, which largely tracks with his overall approval rating. Democrats and independents drive decline in support for renewable energy credits About six in 10 Democrats, 58 per cent, favour tax credits for purchasing an electric vehicle, down from about seven in 10 in 2022. Among independents, support declined from 49 per cent in 2022 to 28 per cent. Only one-quarter of Republicans supported this policy in 2022, and that hasn't changed measurably. 'As far as the pollution goes ... the vehicles nowadays put out very little emissions to the air,' said JD Johnson, a 62-year-old Democrat from Meadowview, Virginia, who somewhat opposes tax credits to purchase an electric vehicle. That's partly because he sees the electric vehicle manufacturing process as energy intensive and believes gasoline-powered vehicles have made improvements with the pollutants they emit. The decline in favoring solar panel tax credits was across the board rather than being concentrated among Democrats. 'For solar panels, in all honesty, I don't think they're that efficient yet,' said Glenn Savage, 78, a left-leaning independent from Rock Hill, South Carolina. 'I'd rather see them pour money into research and try to get the solar panels more efficient before they start giving tax breaks to the public. I may be wrong on that, but that's just my thought.' Scientists say transitioning to renewable energies and ditching fossil fuels that release planet-warming emissions are essential to protect the planet. Billions of dollars in project grants for clean technologies awarded during President Joe Biden's Democratic administration have been canceled by the Trump administration, and the offshore wind sector has been stunted by Trump's executive order that paused approvals, permits and loans for wind energy projects. Fewer than half of U.S. adults, 44 per cent, now say that offshore wind farms should be expanded in the U.S., down from 59 per cent in 2022. About half favor expanding solar panel farms, while about two-thirds were in support in 2022. When people are concerned about the economy and their personal finances, environmental issues are sometimes prioritized less, said Talbot Andrews, an assistant professor in the department of government at Cornell University who was not involved in the poll. 'I think it makes people anxious to think about increased taxes or increased spending on environmental issues when the cost of eggs are going through the roof,' Andrews said. Low support for Trump's efforts to expand offshore drilling and coal mining Trump has championed the expansion of offshore oil drilling, as well as domestic coal production. Despite a decline in support for expanded renewable energies, the new poll shows that only about one-third of U.S. adults think offshore drilling for oil and natural gas should be expanded in the U.S., and only about one-quarter say this about coal mining. In both cases, Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to support expanding these energy sources. Trump has sought to open up national monuments for oil drilling, but more U.S. adults oppose than support auctioning off more public space for oil drilling. Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults favor this, while 4 in 10 are opposed. Republicans are much more likely than independents or Democrats to be in support. Bipartisan support for consumer rebates and home appliance ratings The Energy Star program that certifies appliances, such as dishwashers and refrigerators, as energy efficient recently appeared in headlines when the EPA made plans to scrap the program. The blue and white logo is well recognized, and experts say the program has long had bipartisan support until recently. The poll found three-quarters of Democrats support providing consumer rebates for efficient home appliances, compared with six in 10 Republicans. Patrick Buck, 54, from Chicago, describes himself as a liberal Republican and is a fan of the consumer rebates for energy-efficient appliances. 'It seems to work in terms of transforming what people have in their houses, because a lot of people have a lot of old appliances and just can't afford new ones,' he said. Safe air, water, meat and produce The poll found only about two in 10 U.S. adults are 'extremely' or 'very' confident in the federal government's ability to ensure the safety of their drinking water, the air they breathe and the meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables they buy in grocery stores. About four in 10 U.S. adults are 'somewhat' confident in the federal government's ability to ensure the safety of each of these, and about 4 in 10 are 'not very' or 'not at all' confident. The Trump administration has announced plans to roll back rules and policies related to limiting pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, such as rules that limit pollution from power plants and blocking California's efforts to phase out cars that run on gas. The federal government has also cut staff at the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency tasked with protecting public health and ensuring food supply safety. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,158 adults was conducted June 5-9, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Isabella O'malley And Amelia Thomson-deveaux, The Associated Press
Global News
21 minutes ago
- Global News
Canada deploys ‘crisis emergency response' as Iran-Israel strikes continue
The Canadian government is deploying a 'crisis emergency response' in the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran worsens days after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The response will include 24-7 assistance and consular access for Canadians in the region, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement late Sunday night. This comes as the United States has also issued a 'worldwide caution' alert for its citizens abroad. Canada is also providing departure options for Canadians wishing to leave Israel or the West Bank as the crisis intensifies and will also support those who wish to leave Iran. Sunday's planned departures from Israel had to be postponed to Monday, Global Affairs Canada said. It added that the Canadian government was in 'regular communication with Canadians who have requested assistance in Iran, Israel and the West Bank.' Story continues below advertisement 'We continue to work in close collaboration with our international partners and exploring all available avenues to assist Canadians,' Global Affairs Canada said in its statement. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) also issued a temporary halt on removals to Israel. 'This measure is being taken given the volatile and unpredictable situation in Israel due to ongoing hostilities with Iran,' the agency said in a statement Monday. The order does not apply to individuals who are inadmissible to Canada on grounds of criminality, serious criminality, international or human rights violations, organized crime or security. The United States on Sunday attacked three Iranian nuclear sites, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict. Global Affairs Canada said in light of the U.S. strikes, Canada was 'reviewing our mission security posture across the region in close collaboration with our international partners.' Global Affairs Canada headquarters in Ottawa has increased surge capacity at its 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre to meet the requests from Canadians in the Middle East for emergency consular support. Twenty members of GAC's Standing Rapid Deployment Team have been deployed in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Greece, Cyprus and Armenia. They will join hundreds of Canadian government personnel to offer ground assistance to Canadians in the region. Story continues below advertisement 8:04 Carney heads to Europe to talk defence amid rising geopolitical tensions How to contact GAC Canadian citizens and permanent residents requiring assistance can contact GAC's 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre through various means: Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Telephone: +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls accepted where available) Email: SMS: +1 613 686 3658 WhatsApp: +1 613 909 8881 They can also follow GAC's social media accounts on X and Facebook. Story continues below advertisement 2:25 U.S. strikes on Iran leave Middle East on edge Canadians in Iran should 'leave now' Canadians in the region are being encouraged to register at the Registration of Canadians Abroad. This will give them regular updates about developments in the region, including travel options to leave the area. Global Affairs Canada is asking Canadians in Iran to 'leave now,' since Canada is unable to provide assistance within Iran. Story continues below advertisement 'Canada closed its embassy in Tehran in 2012, and there is no Canadian government office in the country. As a result, our ability to provide consular services in Iran remains extremely limited,' the department says. However, Canadian consular staff have been deployed in neighbouring countries in the region, including in Turkiye, Armenia and Azerbaijan, for Canadians who are able to leave Iran via border crossings. Details of where they should exit Iran and where they can find consular assistance will be sent to Canadians who are registered with Global Affairs Canada. 0:50 Iran's UN envoy accuses Netanyahu of 'hijacking' U.S. foreign policy Canada continues to provide consular support in Israel and the West Bank to help Canadians with land transportation options to a safe third country where commercial air transportation is available, Global Affairs Canada said. Global Affairs Canada's web page on travel advice for Canadians in Israel can point Canadians to maritime travel options to Cyprus and land travel to both Jordan and Egypt. Story continues below advertisement However, Ottawa is cautioning Canadians to check the status of roads and border crossings before travelling.
