US House Speaker Mike Johnson:

A religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously if you wade into political waters, you should expect some political response and I think the Pope has received some of that.

Israel Escalates Deadly Strike on Lebanon to Demolish 20 Villages

Israel has launched operation “Silver Plow” targeting over 20 villages in southern Lebanon for demolitions amid ongoing strikes that killed at least 13, as conflict escalates despite US-Iran diplomatic talks.

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Prof. Nader Hashemi | Middle East Expert | Georgetown University:
 

America's long track record of double standards has created healthy skepticism. After Ukraine, the Global South had had enough.
 
What America championed in Ukraine, it did the exact opposite in Gaza. People can't be fooled anymore.
 
Trump talks about bombing countries to the Stone Age & erasing civilizations - rhetoric straight out of notorious mad men in human history.
 
America has completely lost any claim to moral leadership & has come unraveled through what happened in Gaza, Lebanon & Iran.

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Israel continues to carry out destruction in Lebanon.

The US and Iran are considering extending their ceasefire by two weeks to allow more time for peace talks.

Source: Bloomberg

The Israeli army has been ordered to kill any Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon.

Source: AFP

In Netivot, Israel, tens of thousands of bees swarmed a shopping center, causing disruption and prompting an emergency response.

WSJ:

After the killing of Ali Khamenei, power in Iran has moved not toward moderation but toward more extreme hard-liners.

His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, now leads a system increasingly dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Instead of opening space for compromise, the war strengthened radical factions.

These leaders are more repressive at home—cracking down on dissent—and more aggressive abroad, showing little interest in diplomacy.

Key figures in the new leadership, including Ahmad Vahidi and Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, have histories of violence and strong anti-West views.

Pope Leo XIV:

Although we have different beliefs and different ways of worshipping, we can live together in peace.

The Pentagon is quietly stepping up contingency planning for a possible military operation in Cuba, but nothing has been ordered yet.

Source: USA Today

White House:

We have not formally requested an extension of the ceasefire.

White House:

This is important to Trump: the Pakistanis have been incredible mediators, and we appreciate their friendship and their efforts.

They are the only mediator in this negotiation.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

We have told countries that if they are buying Iranian oil, or if Iranian money is sitting in their banks, we are now willing to apply secondary sanctions.

White House:

President Xi assured Trump that they are not supplying Iran with weapons throughout this conflict.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

We believe that with this blockade, there will be a pause in Chinese buying of Iranian oil.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

Two Chinese banks received letters from the U.S. Treasury.

We told them that if we can prove that there is Iranian money flowing through your accounts, then we are willing to put on secondary sanctions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

We will not be renewing the general license on Russian and Iranian oil.