The article discusses protests and direct actions taken by groups opposing Britain's military support for Israel, particularly in relation to Palestine. The Home Secretary plans to label one such group, Palestine Action, as a terrorist organization after they targeted military equipment manufacturers. Despite legal challenges, these actions aim to draw attention to what the activists see as injustices, without causing physical harm to people.
Key Facts:
Many people in Britain protested the Iraq war and called for an arms embargo on Israel, but the government did not change its stance.
Direct actions by groups like Palestine Action target military equipment related to Israel.
The Home Secretary wants to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group after their activists damaged a Ministry of Defence aircraft.
Palestine Action started in 2020 and focuses on disrupting companies like Elbit Systems that provide military supplies.
Activists in this group have been arrested, and some see themselves as political prisoners.
These activists have not harmed people but aim to stop support for what they consider genocide in Gaza.
Palestine Action intends to challenge the government's terrorist label in court.
Germany is increasing its defense spending as part of a wider NATO effort to respond to security concerns about Russia. It aims to have the largest army in the European Union through significant financial investment.
Key Facts:
NATO is holding a meeting where most countries agreed to spend more on defense.
Germany is one of the countries planning to expand its military forces.
Germany's goal is to have the biggest army in the EU.
This expansion involves a large financial investment.
The decision comes in response to threats posed by Russia.
Iran's parliament passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in response to attacks by the United States and Israel. Iran insists on continuing its peaceful nuclear program and seeks guarantees for the protection of its nuclear facilities and scientists.
Key Facts:
Iran's parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA but not end it.
The decision follows attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by the US and Israel.
Iran aims to continue its peaceful nuclear activities under international agreements.
The bill sets conditions for Iran's future interaction with the IAEA, focusing on safety assurances.
US interventions have damaged some of Iran's nuclear facilities.
The IAEA Director-General expressed the need to resume inspections in Iran.
Iran moved some of its enriched uranium before the attacks.
The US and Israel have assessed the impact of their strikes differently, with the US President claiming significant damage.
Israel is reopening as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds. The truce was facilitated by President Trump, and for now, residents of Israel are resuming daily activities without concern about missile attacks.
Key Facts:
Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire.
President Trump helped broker this ceasefire.
The ceasefire has allowed Israel to reopen.
People in Israel are starting to return to normal life.
There is no immediate fear of missile attacks from Iran.
On June 13th, Israel carried out strikes on Iran. A former U.S. diplomat, Mike Fitzpatrick, is discussing the situation to help understand what might happen next.
Key Facts:
Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13th.
These events have raised many questions about future developments.
Sandra Gathmann from #AJStartHere is involved in explaining the situation.
Mike Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. diplomat and nuclear issues expert, is providing insights.
The discussion aims to clarify the current situation and possible outcomes.
At a NATO meeting, President Trump defended U.S. military actions against Iran, stating they were successful in disrupting Iran's nuclear program. He also expressed strong support for the NATO alliance.
Key Facts:
President Trump spoke at the end of a NATO summit.
He defended U.S. military strikes on Iran.
Trump claimed the strikes damaged Iran's nuclear capabilities.
He showed support for the NATO alliance.
The speech was part of discussions at the NATO meeting.
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran began, with both sides claiming victory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position strengthened after the conflict, as he argued he weakened Iran and addressed its nuclear threat. Both Iran and the U.S. commented on the outcome, with mixed reactions.
Key Facts:
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran started on a Tuesday.
President Trump claimed his efforts helped stop the fighting.
Netanyahu's leadership in Israel gained support as he claimed victories against Iran.
Netanyahu said Iran’s nuclear program was significantly damaged.
Netanyahu is considering calling early elections in Israel.
The threat of Iran has been a long-standing issue for Israel.
Israeli public support for Netanyahu increased due to his handling of the conflict.
Doubts remain about the long-term impact of Netanyahu's actions and the future of the Iranian regime.
A protest in Los Angeles, known as "Tehrangeles," saw Iranian Americans calling for political change in Iran while showing support for President Trump's decision to conduct air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The demonstrations showcase divided opinions within the community, with some backing US involvement and others fearing it may strengthen Iran's current government.
Key Facts:
A protest took place in Los Angeles with participants supporting regime change in Iran.
Many demonstrators wore "Make America Great Again" hats, supporting President Trump.
The protest followed US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which Trump ordered.
Some Iranian Americans worry US actions could strengthen Iran's leaders.
"Tehrangeles" in LA has the largest population of Iranians outside Iran.
Participants expressed concern for friends and family affected by communication shutdowns in Iran.
The community has mixed views, with some supporting US interventions and others against it.
A ceasefire is in place between Israel and Iran after 12 days of fighting triggered by Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites. Israel has conducted nearly 35,000 attacks across five countries, primarily in Palestinian territories. In Gaza, heavy attacks over many months have led to significant casualties and destruction.
Key Facts:
A ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump between Israel and Iran following 12 days of conflict.
The fighting started after Israel struck Iran's nuclear and military sites.
From October 7, 2023, to June 13, 2025, Israel made nearly 35,000 documented attacks in five countries.
Most of these attacks happened in the occupied Palestinian territory, with over 18,235 incidents.
Other countries affected include Lebanon (15,520 attacks), Syria (616), Iran (58), and Yemen (39).
Israel uses advanced aircraft, including US-supplied fighter jets and drones, to conduct long-range strikes.
Casualties in Gaza include at least 56,077 confirmed deaths and 131,848 injuries.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli operations have displaced about 40,000 Palestinians and resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths over 20 months.
Israel attacked Iran’s military and nuclear sites on June 13. This came shortly after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution stating that Iran was not following nuclear safeguard commitments. Iran has denied producing nuclear weapons and criticized the resolution.
Key Facts:
Israel carried out strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear sites on June 13.
The attacks followed an IAEA resolution saying Iran was not meeting nuclear safeguards.
Israel welcomed the IAEA's resolution but did not use it as a justification for the attack.
Iran criticized the resolution, calling it politically driven.
Iran claims its nuclear program is for civilian use and monitored by the UN.
The IAEA reported challenges verifying Iran's nuclear activities due to restricted inspections since 2021.
The IAEA found highly enriched uranium particles in Iran, raising concerns.
The IAEA has not found evidence of Iran making nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump during a NATO summit in The Hague to discuss sanctions on Russia and military support for Ukraine. They talked about how to reach peace in Ukraine, as the conflict with Russia continues. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend an upcoming BRICS summit due to an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court.
Key Facts:
Zelenskyy and Trump discussed Russia sanctions and arms aid at the NATO summit.
The meeting took 50 minutes and was a rescheduled attempt after an earlier one was missed.
Trump plans to talk to Putin about ending the war and suggested Putin may want more territory beyond Ukraine.
NATO aims to spend more on defense due to perceived threats from Russia.
Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in Brazil because of an ICC arrest warrant.
Putin is accused of war crimes for allegedly deporting children from Ukraine.
Recent Russian attacks in Ukraine resulted in 17 deaths and over 200 injuries in Dnipro.
President Trump attended a NATO summit in the Netherlands where most NATO countries agreed to increase their defense spending, a key goal for Trump since 2017. Trump confirmed his support for NATO's mutual defense pact and stated that the increase in defense budgets will contribute over $1 trillion annually to collective defense efforts.
Key Facts:
President Trump participated in a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
NATO countries, except Spain, agreed to increase defense spending significantly.
The new policy requires countries to spend 5% of their GDP on defense by 2035.
Trump reaffirmed his commitment to NATO's mutual defense agreement.
Spain cannot meet the spending target and may face higher U.S. trade tariffs.
Trump has urged for higher defense spending since 2017.
The increase in spending is intended to address the security threat from Russia.
Trump emphasized the increase as a significant achievement for the U.S. and allied nations.
President Donald Trump met with Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a NATO summit and discussed increasing defense spending to possibly prevent future Russian aggression. NATO members agreed to increase their defense budget targets to 5% of their GDP by 2035. Trump also talked about potentially sending more U.S. Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
Key Facts:
Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at a NATO summit.
NATO members agreed to increase their defense spending target to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Trump suggested increased spending could help stop Russian aggression.
Trump discussed the potential for sending more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine.
This meeting was Trump's first face-to-face with Zelenskyy since April.
The U.S. and allies have provided air defense systems to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukraine is not a NATO member due to a block by the Trump administration.
Recently, Russia has launched major drone attacks in Ukraine, causing significant damage and casualties.
A professor at Lancaster University, Simon Mabon, mentioned that former President Trump's decision to strike Iran complicates trust between the United States and other countries, especially when nuclear discussions are still unresolved.
Key Facts:
Simon Mabon is a professor at Lancaster University.
He discussed former President Trump's actions involving Iran.
Trump's decision involved attacking Iran.
The attack happened while nuclear talks with Iran were still ongoing.
Mabon believes this decision affects trust in the United States.
Trust issues make it harder for other countries to engage with the US.
NATO member countries have agreed to increase their defense spending to five percent of their GDP. This decision means countries will spend more money on military and weapons. The change follows rising security concerns in Europe.
Key Facts:
NATO countries plan to increase defense spending to five percent of their GDP.
The GDP is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country.
This decision could lead to billions of additional dollars being spent on military forces and weapons.
Some European politicians previously said this target was not possible due to budget constraints.
Concerns from Russia and an increase in Chinese goods in markets are influencing these spending priorities.
Economic experts are urging for debt relief in developing countries.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who stars in the TV series "The Bear," says that although the show depicts a chaotic restaurant kitchen, the actual filming set is calm and supportive. Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmy Awards for his role and describes the strong teamwork and rehearsal that goes into making the show feel real.
Key Facts:
Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Richie in "The Bear," a show about restaurant life.
The set of "The Bear" is described as loving and well-organized, unlike the chaos shown on screen.
Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his role.
Richie's character deals with personal struggles, such as his marriage ending and worries about his daughter.
Moss-Bachrach relates to his character's experiences of change in his neighborhood.
The actor grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts, which he describes as a pleasant place with outdoor activities.
Filming the episode "Fishes" involved notable guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis.
The episode "Forks" features Richie's character apprenticing at a top restaurant, and Moss-Bachrach found the filming experience uniquely cold and lonely.
At least 51 people in the Gaza Strip have died due to Israeli attacks, including individuals near aid centers. The attacks are happening amid efforts by the United States to mediate an end to the conflict. Criticism is growing against the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which manages aid distribution in areas close to ongoing military operations.
Key Facts:
Israeli attacks have killed at least 51 people in Gaza.
Among the dead are 14 people waiting for aid near distribution centers.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is criticized for its handling of aid distribution.
The GHF's aid centers are situated near Israeli military forces.
People must collect aid within a 20-minute window, after which violence often erupts.
Five family members were killed in a bombing in Deir el-Balah, Gaza.
The conflict has resulted in over 56,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
Seven Israeli soldiers from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion died in recent combat operations.
The United Kingdom has announced it will ban the campaign group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. This move means it will be illegal to be a part of Palestine Action, similar to laws against joining groups like al-Qaeda or ISIS in the UK. The decision has led to protests and the arrest of several protesters.
Key Facts:
The UK announced the ban on Palestine Action on June 23.
Palestine Action will be banned using the Terrorism Act 2000.
Being part of Palestine Action will become a criminal offense in the UK.
The decision has led to protests, resulting in the arrest of 13 people and charges against 7 for offenses including attacking emergency workers.
Palestine Action is a group that uses direct action to disrupt companies involved in weapons supply to Israel.
The group has previously caused damage at facilities, including a Thales factory and RAF Brize Norton.
The UK government cited recent acts of damage at RAF Brize Norton as part of the decision to ban the group.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the damage at RAF Brize Norton as disgraceful.
