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Police use tear gas against anti-mobilization protesters in Kiev – reports (VIDEOS)

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 21:18

The enraged crowd reportedly attempted to stop a press gang from snatching a man off the street

Police used tear gas against dozens of protesters opposing forced mobilization in Kiev on Sunday night, according to local Telegram channels.

The standoff began when an angry crowd gathered to defend a man who was being grabbed off the street by conscription officers, the news outlet Strana reported.

Bystanders reportedly clashed with conscription officers, chanting “Shame!”

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Popular American singer among six killed in helicopter collision (VIDEO)

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 20:43

Musician Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspi were reportedly among the identified victims

American singer Oliver Tree was among the six people killed when two helicopters collided over southwest Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Globo1 and CNN Brasil have reported, citing local police.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a collision involving two aircraft at around 9 am. Acting Rio de Janeiro State Governor Claudio Castro confirmed that all six people aboard were killed.

Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspi were among the victims. They shared one of the helicopters with a music producer and a music video director, along with the pilot, Globo1 reported, citing the police.

The second helicopter reportedly carried only its pilot.

Security footage circulating on social media appears to catch a brief moment when one of the helicopters plummets out of the sky, spinning out of control.

Acidente com 2 helicópteros e 6 mortos na zona sudoeste do Rio. Abaixo, a imagem da queda de uma delas. Uma tristeza, que nos faz questionar a qtas anda a segurança no ar. Há menos de um mês, um outro helicóptero caiu em BH e ceifou 3 vidas. pic.twitter.com/kcKm8YweYF

— Afonso Guedes (@guedes_afonso) June 14, 2026

On videos purporting to show the incident’s aftermath, an enormous black plume of smoke can be seen rising from burning cars at the crash site.

🚨✈️ Movimentação intensa de equipes de resgate na Barra da Tijuca após a queda de dois helicópteros sobre uma garagem de veículos da BYD, na manhã deste domingo.

Imagens registradas mostram as equipes de emergência chegando ao local logo após o acidente. As circunstâncias da… pic.twitter.com/6oPGV5kq5p

— PEGAVISAORJNEWS (@pegavisaorjnews) June 14, 2026

Tree, a 32-year-old California-born singer-songwriter, was in Rio de Janeiro as part of his world tour after performing in Sao Paolo the previous week

Oliver Tree performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, April 12, 2026. © Getty Images / Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times

The artist, known for his quirky, eccentric look and genre-blending alternative sound, started out releasing independent singles while still a teenager. He went viral in 2017 with ‘When I’m Down.’ His 2020 major-label debut album, ‘Ugly Is Beautiful,’ reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and topped the rock and alternative charts.

Tree had more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

EU nation to demand compensation for weapons donated to Ukraine

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 19:30

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused the previous government of “lying” to Slovaks about the Ukraine aid deal

Slovakia will demand compensation from the EU for weapons it donated to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced. The previous government had “lied” about the aid deal, he said in a video address published on Facebook on Sunday.

Fico halted all state-sponsored military aid and weapons transfers to Kiev after coming to power in 2023. He has argued that the government of his predecessor, Eduard Heger, left Slovakia “completely naked” by donating fighter jets and air-defense systems to Ukraine.

In the year following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Heger’s cabinet approved deliveries of dozens of Soviet-era tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The donated equipment also included Soviet MiG-29 jets and S-300 missile systems. Bratislava handed over equipment worth around €700 million ($809.8 million) to Kiev between 2022 and 2023, according to the German Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

“In Brussels, I will raise the issue of compensation for military equipment donated to Ukraine,” Fico said on Sunday, referring to the upcoming EU summit next week.

Under the deal struck by Heger’s government, the donated equipment was to be replaced by Western-made hardware, delivered by Germany in particular. The Slovak Defense Ministry argued at the time that the agreement was insufficient as Berlin pledged to replace only around half of the equipment sent to Ukraine.

Fico has long opposed Brussels’ stance toward Moscow, including military aid provided to Kiev and sanctions on Russia. He was the only EU leader to attend this year’s Victory Day commemorations in Moscow, where he warned against a “new Iron Curtain” and called for renewed dialogue.

He has also repeatedly argued that the bloc’s policies and refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue with Moscow were hurting the EU itself, forcing member states to cope with high energy prices after Russian oil and gas imports were blocked under sanctions.

On Sunday, he described his recent talks with European Council President Antonio Costa as “frustrating,” adding that the EU is determined to “wage a war” against Russia “to the last Ukrainian soldier and to the last euro” despite the bloc’s “declining competitiveness” and “extremely high energy prices.”

Russia has repeatedly stated that it has “never refused dialogue.” It also accused Kiev’s Western backers of pursuing a “destructive policy” aimed at pushing Ukraine to keep fighting and undermining any peace efforts.

US-Israeli ‘good cop, bad cop’ tactics outdated – Iran’s chief negotiator

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 17:54

Mohammad Ghalibaf has condemned West Jerusalem’s continued bombings of Lebanon amid Washington’s diplomatic push

The US and Israel’s “good cop, bad cop” strategy for diplomacy while allowing continued Israeli attacks is outdated, Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, shortly after a deadly strike on Lebanon.

At least three people were killed in the Israeli attack on southern Beirut earlier in the day, just ahead of an anticipated US-Iran agreement, which Tehran has long insisted should include an end to hostilities in Lebanon. The proposed agreement has reportedly been viewed by many Israeli officials as a capitulation to Iran.

“The Zionists’ invasion of Dahiyeh has once again shown that America either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so,” Ghalibaf said on X.

By giving the green light to the regime, you cannot gain concessions. The game of good cop and bad cop is outdated. If you do not have the will and ability to fulfill your obligations, it is not possible to talk about moving forward. 

According to Lebanese state news agency NNA, the Israeli strike killed at least three people and injured 15 others. The IDF claimed to have been targeting a Hezbollah command center.

The attack “should not have happened,” US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social, calling on Hezbollah and Israel to halt their tit-for-tat exchanges.

“We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down,” he wrote.

Hours later, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a violation of both Lebanese sovereignty and the April 8 “ceasefire understanding” between Tehran and Washington. It argued that the US bears “direct responsibility” for Israel’s actions and warned that the strike could have serious consequences for regional peace and security.

Just a day earlier, Trump announced that the US and Iran would ink a deal on Sunday that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and decide the fate of Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Saturday that the agreement “[will] not happen tomorrow.” He didn’t rule out that “it could take place in the coming days.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry also stressed that the country’s fissile material and nuclear program would not be discussed at this stage and that the negotiations would focus on ending hostilities and “the issues of Lebanon.”

Earlier in June, Iran and Israel exchanged tit-for-tat strikes for the first time since the ceasefire was reached. The escalation followed an Israeli strike on southern Beirut.

Ukrainian military hooked on drugs – Deutsche Welle

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 15:56

Physical pain and months on the front line without rest are reportedly fueling the use of psycho-stimulants and opioids among servicemen

Drug addiction is emerging as a growing problem among Ukrainian troops as the conflict with Russia enters the fifth year, according to doctors and specialized organizations cited by Deutsche Welle. The report also cites the experience of a former Ukrainian Marine Corps officer who said he became addicted to drugs.

Experts reportedly attribute the problem to combat injuries and psychological exhaustion, with many servicemen spending months on the front line without adequate rest or prospects for demobilization.

While narcotics are officially banned in the military, heavy losses, the lack of rotation, and acute manpower shortages forcing wounded troops back to the front before fully recovering are reportedly fueling the problem.

According to the report published last week, more than half of Ukrainian soldiers serving on the front line have experience with the use of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both.

“No army in modern history has fought for four years without rotation,” psychotherapist Igor Alferov told Deutsche Welle. He added that when commanders refuse to grant leave, and “there is no one else to do the fighting,” the troops increasingly feel a sense of injustice.

Alferov also cited family problems as a factor, noting that many soldiers have relatives living abroad, causing spouses to drift apart. “She plans to stay in Europe because she sees prospects there for the children, while he remains at war in Ukraine, where every day carries the risk of death,” he said.

A former Ukrainian serviceman and patient at a rehabilitation clinic told DW that drug addiction cost him his military career. “I had more than 200 men under my command and took part in a number of successful operations,” he said, adding that his condition deteriorated after being discharged from the hospital and that he eventually “lost control of everything.”

Earlier this year, a local resident rescued from Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, which was liberated by Russian forces in late 2025, told TASS that most Ukrainian troops stationed in the city used drugs delivered by drones in the form of candies wrapped in camouflage packaging. He claimed that intoxicated soldiers often clashed with civilians, with some incidents ending in gunfire.

The Guardian reported that many Ukrainian servicemen developed drug addiction, the scale of which is hard to assess due to limited official data, linking it in part to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety from prolonged combat exposure.

Putin holds phone call with Trump - Kremlin

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 15:56

Putin wished Trump a happy 80th birthday as the two leaders discussed Iran, Ukraine, and US-Russia relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished his US counterpart, Donald Trump, a happy 80th birthday during a phone call, presidential aide Yury Ushakov has told journalists. Trump was “touched” by the greeting, and the two leaders spoke for about an hour in a “friendly and open” manner, the official added.

Trump was particularly appreciative of the gesture, Ushakov said, noting that Putin was the first foreign leader to call and congratulate him on his birthday on Sunday.

Putin also thanked Trump for his Russia Day greeting earlier this week, adding that the American president’s message conveyed a “feeling of respect for the Russian people.”

The two presidents discussed a wide range of pressing international issues, including the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, as well as the Ukraine conflict, Ushakov said.

Trump said that he expected the results of the talks with Tehran to be made public later on Sunday and thanked Moscow for its engagement in the negotiating process and assistance in finding “constructive solutions” to the conflict between the US and Iran, Ushakov pointed out.

Putin said that he was glad the sides were able to contain the conflict which risked “igniting the entire region and beyond,” according to Ushakov. The Russian president also expressed his readiness to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East.

Trump called for a speedy cessation of hostilities in the Ukraine conflict and said that he was ready to “influence” Kiev and its European backers, including during the upcoming G7 summit later this month, the Kremlin aide said.

Putin responded by saying that continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure impede efforts to reach a settlement. He maintained that attacks targeting civilians would not change the Ukrainian military’s dire situation on the front line. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and his European backers only suggest options that would “prolong the conflict and extend the hostilities,” he explained.

Commenting on Vladimir Zelensky’s recent call for a personal meeting, Putin reiterated that the Ukrainian leader can come to Moscow if he wants to talk.

Putin and Trump also agreed that the US president’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently involved in talks with Iran, would visit Moscow “in the near future,” according to Ushakov.

The last phone call between the two presidents took place in late April, when they also discussed the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East. In May, Ushakov told journalists that Putin and Trump could meet in person on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China this November.

Trump also hinted at a possible trip to Russia earlier this year, telling journalists he would “do whatever is necessary” to help settle the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin said at the time that Putin was ready to host the American president.

US doubles down on Hormuz blockade despite Indian protest over sailors’ deaths

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 15:14

Washington reaffirmed its enforcement policy while offering no apology for killing three nationals of the “partner” country

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated to his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar that Washington will enforce its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, despite New Delhi’s protest over a deadly US strike on a commercial vessel earlier this week.

According to a US State Department readout of the phone conversation between the two officials on Saturday, Rubio “stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces” in the Strait of Hormuz, and that violations of the US blockade “will not be tolerated.”

US forces struck three commercial vessels with Indian crew members in the Strait of Hormuz area this week, according to Indian media reports. One strike, on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, left three Indian seafarers dead. Washington claimed that the vessel had violated its blockade of Iranian ports and failed to comply with instructions from US forces.

India summoned the US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks twice last week to lodge strong protests against the attacks and denounced “the tragic and avoidable loss” of civilian lives.

“Use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping… [is] unacceptable,” the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. Such actions undermine the safety and security of international maritime commerce, it added.

The dispute comes despite both governments having repeatedly described their relationship as one of trust and partnership. During a visit to India last month, Rubio called it “one of our most important strategic partners in the world.”

Even so, Saturday’s readout made no mention of the deaths.

“Deeply shocking to read this official US statement, which contains absolutely no expression of regret or condolence for the loss of innocent Indian lives. How can a ‘friend’ and strategic partner be so deeply insensitive?” Shashi Tharoor, an opposition lawmaker from the Indian National Congress, wrote on X on Saturday.

“No regret, No remorse, no empathy, no sympathy. Abrupt, abrasive confrontational. Hardly the language you use with a country you call a ‘friend’,” another senior Congress leader, Manish Tewari, wrote on X.

Domestic pressure has mounted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to take a firmer line toward Washington. Modi is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France next week.

‘Trump screwed us:’ Israeli officials fume over emerging Iran peace deal – media

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 13:35

The agreement will be interpreted as the US bowing to pressure from Tehran, according to Ynet sources

Israeli officials feel sidelined by the emerging US-Iran peace deal and are furious with what they believe amounts to a “catastrophe” that fails the objectives set prior to the war, according to a report by the Israeli outlet Ynet.

According to the reported terms, the agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without a toll regime, lift the American naval blockade on Iranian ports, ease sanctions on Tehran, and defer nuclear talks to later. While US President Donald Trump said the agreement would be signed on Sunday, Iranian officials said it would happen later.

Tehran has also insisted that the deal end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have occupied a significant chunk of territory. At the same time, whereas US officials seek an agreement that underlines “broad regional peace” – including in Lebanon – they insist that Israel reserves its right to self-defense.

However, Ynet, citing multiple senior Israeli officials, reported on Saturday that West Jerusalem believes that the agreement taking shape falls short on every major Israeli redline: nuclear dismantlement, missile limits, and the rollback of Iran’s regional allies. Tehran has repeatedly said it does not seek nuclear weapons and uses its atomic capabilities for peaceful purposes only.

“Trump screwed us,” one Israeli official told Ynet. A second official called the deal “very bad.” “From our perspective, it is a catastrophe, because it does not meet any of the principles we spoke about when the war began,” he said.

A third official warned the deal would be widely interpreted as a setback for America. “The regional working assumption is that it was signed under Iranian pressure and an American climbdown, not the other way around,” the official said, adding that the agreement “will be considered a failure,” at least in the short term.

Publicly, however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “expressed his appreciation” for President Trump’s commitment that the deal would “include the removal of enriched material” from Iran while stressing that his country is not a party to the agreement.

Behind the scenes, however, a different picture emerges, with Trump yelling at Netanyahu in early June and calling him “f**king crazy” over Israelʼs strikes in Lebanon, according to Axios. The outlet also claimed that Trump threatened to withdraw support for Israel if it restarts the war with Iran. Publicly, Trump also stressed that Netanyahu has no other choice but to accept a US-Iran deal.

The reported tensions between the two leaders come as Trump has received flak for what his critics describe as a successful Israeli ploy to draw the US into war with Iran. The military campaign drew the ire of some of Trump’s staunchest supporters, including conservative journalist Tucker Carlson, who called it the “single biggest mistake” of Trump’s presidency.

Zelensky not on Trump’s G7 meeting list – Bloomberg

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 12:31

The Ukrainian leader can reportedly only hope for a behind-the-scenes audience with the US president 

US President Donald Trump has not scheduled an official bilateral meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the upcoming G7 summit in France, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, citing senior US administration officials.

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has held several formal and informal meetings with Zelensky in an effort to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Zelensky has reportedly sought to use the encounters to finalize pre-negotiated agreements on Ukraine’s post-conflict economic recovery and “security guarantees.” However, repeated contacts between the two leaders have so far failed to produce an agreement.

Trump will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of France, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, and India during the summit, which will be held from Monday through Wednesday in the town of Evian-les-Bains, officials familiar with the plans told the news agency.

One official said the Ukrainian leader would take part in a working session with G7 leaders. Earlier this week, Western media, citing US administration sources, reported that Trump and Zelensky “may meet on the sidelines” of the summit.

As part of his stated effort to end the Ukraine conflict, the US president met with the Ukrainian leader in the Oval Office in February 2025. The televised talks descended into a heated clash after Zelensky criticized Trump’s neutral approach to settling the conflict. He was accused of showing insufficient respect and gratitude to Washington as Kiev’s top benefactor, as well as resisting peace and “gambling with World War III.”

Since then, relations between Zelensky and Trump seem to have improved and the two have met on various occasions. 

Zelensky has repeatedly called for a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, he has ruled out traveling to Moscow and rejected the idea of withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the Donbass region, which Putin has said would be sufficient for Russia to declare a ceasefire.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum earlier this month, Putin said Russia remains committed to a peaceful settlement based on compromises reached with Trump in Alaska last year. He said the main obstacle is persuading Kiev to accept the terms, particularly withdrawing from Donbass, not joining NATO, and carrying out demilitarization and denazification.

Starmer choosing tankers over UK crime crisis – Putin envoy

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 12:16

Kirill Dmitriev was commenting on the seizure of a supposed Russian-linked tanker in the English Channel

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of using the seizure of a supposed Russian-linked vessel to distract from domestic problems.

In a post on X on Sunday, Starmer announced that UK forces intercepted a tanker involved in ‘shadow fleet’ operations, which allegedly help Russia bypass Western sanctions on oil exports.

The Smyrtos was reportedly transiting the English Channel before it was boarded by UK marines. The UK Defense Ministry said it will be held and monitored off the south coast while its operations are investigated.

Starmer boasted that he personally directed the interception, calling it a “successful operation” that delivered “yet another blow to Russia.” He later posted footage purportedly showing armed marines boarding the vessel.

Despite Putin’s best efforts to evade sanctions, we will not let him get away with it. pic.twitter.com/IIW3Cv2ENQ

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 14, 2026

Dmitriev suggested that the operation was not about security or enforcing sanctions, but to manufacture a confrontation and distract the public from immigration problems and crime.

“Desperate Starmer, instead of intercepting HIS immigrants who rape, mutilate and behead British people, attempts to DISTRACT the UK with an escalation,” he wrote on X.

Desperate Starmer, instead of intercepting HIS immigrants who rape, mutilate and behead British people, attempts to DISTRACT the UK with an escalation. https://t.co/3xjHIrXA39

— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) June 14, 2026

The UK faces tensions over immigration following a number of attacks and high-profile murder and rape cases involving migrants in recent years. This week, a 17-year-old girl was stabbed in the neck in northwest England by a 30-year-old man of Pakistani heritage. The most persistent issue remains migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from France, with successive governments repeatedly promising and failing to reduce the arrivals.

Ukraine’s Western backers have long accused Russia of using a ‘shadow fleet’ to maintain oil exports, which they seek to restrict in order to weaken Russia amid the conflict with Ukraine. Russia has denied that it operates a shadow fleet and has condemned the seizure of vessels on the high seas.

The UK has been among the loudest advocates of tougher action against ships carrying Russian oil, while previously avoiding direct involvement. In March, however, London claimed that a legal review cleared UK troops to board the vessels. The Russian Embassy in London called it a “deeply hostile step,” accusing the UK of preparing “acts of piracy.”

Russia has long considered Britain a key force behind the Ukraine conflict, accusing it of directly assisting Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian territory with UK-supplied weapons. Moscow has also accused Western governments of demonizing Russia to justify increased defense spending and to distract the public’s attention from domestic problems.

Anti-migration rallies sweep Rome (VIDEO)

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 11:06

The protests come as a petition for stricter controls cleared the threshold for submission to parliament and the EU Migration Pact took effect

Thousands of anti-migration protesters marched in Rome on Saturday in support of a citizens’ initiative calling for stricter migration controls.

The demonstration was organized by the Remigration and Reconquest Committee, which promotes a popular bill offering financial incentives for foreigners to leave Italy and encouraging descendants of Italians living abroad to return to the country.

A petition by the committee has collected more than 130,000 signatures, well above the 50,000 required for a citizens’ initiative to be formally submitted to parliament.

Roma today: "Let's take back our neighborhoods! Everyone out!" The EU that has flooded our cities with parasites and criminals will soon implode. https://t.co/h9wucL43sT pic.twitter.com/5NmJ9JByP6

— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) June 13, 2026

Italian patriots gathered en masse in Rome to demand mass deportations. Many pro Mussolini chants. pic.twitter.com/nVUsDOXIHv

— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) June 13, 2026

Italy has been one of the main destinations for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa, with hundreds of thousands arriving by sea since the 2015 migration crisis. Italy received more than 150,000 sea arrivals in 2023 and about 66,000 in both 2024 and 2025, according to Interior Ministry figures.

A rival pro-migrant demonstration was also held in Rome, drawing left-wing groups, trade unions, and activists who accused the anti-migration campaign of targeting foreigners and undermining rights protections. Police were deployed to keep the opposing rallies apart.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces competing pressures on migration policy. Her government has moved to curb irregular arrivals while simultaneously expanding legal migration.

Last year the government approved a plan to admit nearly 500,000 non-EU workers between 2026 and 2028 to fill labor gaps in sectors such as agriculture, construction, tourism, and care services.

Italy has the oldest population in the EU and one of the bloc’s lowest birth and fertility rates, making foreign labor increasingly important to the economy.

The Rome rallies came after the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force on Friday. The bloc’s biggest migration overhaul in years introduces mandatory border screening, accelerated asylum procedures for some applicants, expanded biometric registration, and measures intended to speed up the return of rejected asylum seekers.

The pact has drawn criticism across Italy’s political spectrum. Supporters of tougher migration controls argue that it remains insufficient to curb irregular arrivals and increase deportations, while migrant-rights groups warn that the reforms weaken asylum protections and expand detention powers. Critics also question whether the pact’s solidarity mechanism will substantially reduce pressure on Mediterranean entry states, despite provisions allowing other EU countries to relocate asylum seekers or provide financial contributions.

Haitian Defense Ministry chief abducted amid gang violence – media

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 09:24

James Boyard is the highest-ranking official kidnapped in the country in years

James Boyard, the chief of staff of the Haitian Defense Ministry, has been kidnapped along with his family amid escalating gang violence, media reports claimed on Saturday.

Boyard, a respected security expert and author, serves as chief of staff to Haiti’s newly appointed defense minister, Mario Andresol, and as inspector general of the national police.

Local media reported that unidentified armed men snatched Boyard on Thursday in Bourdon, one of the few areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince, still considered relatively safe, though most of the city is controlled by gangs. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the kidnapping to AP.

Police sources told the New York Times that Boyard was abducted along with his wife and six-year-old daughter, a US citizen, and that a ransom was demanded. While it remains unclear who carried out the kidnapping, investigators reportedly suspect Christ-Roi Chery, known as Chrisla, the leader of the Ti Bwa gang, a major armed group. A spokesman for the Haitian police declined to comment on the case.

The Caribbean nation of nearly 12 million people has been trapped in a cycle of violence since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which created a power vacuum that allowed armed gangs to expand their influence largely unchecked.

Groups controlling major highways, ports, and entire communities have prevented the authorities from holding elections while carrying out kidnappings, killings, and attacks on state institutions. Officials say elections scheduled for later this summer are unlikely to take place due to the continuing violence.

A Kenyan-led, UN-backed mission known as the Multinational Security Support (MSS), deployed to Haiti in 2024 to help curb the violence, was able to secure the presidential palace and reopen several key roads, but struggled to make further gains.

Last autumn, the UN Security Council approved a restructuring of the effort, authorizing a new 5,550-strong Gang Suppression Force of soldiers and police officers with powers beyond those of the MSS, including authority to conduct operations aimed at “neutralizing” gangs.

According to UN figures released earlier this month, nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by violence in Haiti since 2022, and more than 16,000 have been killed. Local rights groups put the death toll closer to 20,000.

Kidnappings remain widespread in Haiti. At least 647 people, including women and children, were abducted last year, according to the UN, with ransom demands often higher for foreigners and dual nationals. While recent high-profile cases have targeted journalists and foreign missionaries, Boyard is the highest-ranking official kidnapped in the country in years.

Trump’s Iran deal is ‘lose, lose, lose’ – US congressman

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 08:33

The emerging agreement restores the regional balance to a pre-war state after $100 billion in spending and numerous casualties, Seth Moulton says

US President Donald Trump’s looming Iran peace deal looks like a “surrender document” and fails to deliver anything America did not have before the war, Democratic congressman Seth Moulton has said.

The comments come after Trump announced on Saturday that a peace framework would be signed the next day and would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In an apparent reference to Iran’s enriched uranium, he said, “at the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust” and destroy it.

Media reports also claimed that the deal includes sanctions relief and the dismantling of the US blockade of Iran, while the strait will be operated without a toll regime. Iranian officials said, however, that the signing “will not be tomorrow,” and that talks on the nuclear program are expected to start later.

Speaking on MS Now on Saturday, Moulton, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, called the framework a net loss for the US. “This is a terrible deal. It’s basically a surrender document from Donald Trump to the supreme leader of Iran.”

“I mean, $100 billion of taxpayer money already put into this war, 14 Americans dead, and we get a deal that just reopens the strait that was already open before he started the war? How is that a win?” Moulton said.

While he acknowledged that ending the war is the best option for the US, in terms of accomplishing goals, it has been “just lose, lose, lose across the board for Trump and the United States of America.”

Media reports suggest that despite the devastating US-Israeli strikes, Iran’s military remains a potent fighting force, and Tehran could obtain a nuclear weapon within months, though it denies that it seeks to do so.

California Senator Adam Schiff, a critic of the war, also expressed reservations about the deal, saying the talks could end with a “face-saving announcement to agree at a later date by the president. That would be a terrible strategic loss for the country.”

US launches global crackdown on ‘birth tourism’

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 08:10

The State Department says operators use visa fraud to secure US citizenship for foreign-born children

The US State Department has announced a global crackdown on what it describes as illegal “birth tourism” schemes.

The effort involves revoking hundreds of visas and dismantling networks in Africa and Europe that allegedly helped foreign nationals travel to the US to give birth and obtain citizenship for their children.

“No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring US citizenship for a child by giving birth in the US,” the State Department wrote on X on Wednesday, announcing the crackdown.

While it is not illegal for foreigners to give birth in the US, the authorities say the crackdown targets visa fraud, including applicants who misrepresent their travel purpose or use organized networks to enter under false pretenses.

“Illicit ‘birth tourism’ networks charge tens of thousands of dollars and coach individuals to commit visa fraud by lying to our consular officers,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott wrote on X on Saturday.

Birthright citizenship is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868 to secure citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people and their descendants after the Civil War. Under the amendment, nearly anyone born on US soil automatically becomes a citizen, regardless of their parents’ nationality.

During President Donald Trump’s first term, the State Department introduced rules aimed at curbing birth tourism. The measures allow consular officers to deny visitor visas if they determine an applicant’s primary purpose is to obtain US citizenship for a child through birth in the country, while requiring those seeking medical treatment to document their treatment plans and ability to pay. The rules remain in force today.

Investigations have identified Chinese and Russian nationals as a major source of birth-tourism clients.

Critics say birth tourism accounts for a small share of US births and argue that birthright citizenship is a longstanding constitutional principle. Estimates suggest that they represent less than 1% of the 3.6 million births recorded nationwide each year.

The renewed enforcement effort comes as the Trump administration pursues stricter visa screening and broader measures to combat immigration-related fraud and strengthen border security.

Hungary sets condition for Ukraine’s EU accession bid

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 07:14

Budapest says Kiev must respect the rights of the country’s Hungarian minority

Ukraine must respect the rights of its ethnic Hungarian minority if it wants to join the EU, Hungary’s new prime minister, Peter Magyar, has said.

An estimated 80,000 Hungarians live in Ukraine, mostly in the western Zakarpattia Region. Their status has long been a point of contention between the neighboring countries, especially during the premiership of Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, who repeatedly blocked Kiev’s efforts to move closer to the EU.

On Friday, the two countries signed what Magyar described as a historic agreement on the education, linguistic, cultural, and political rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. He said Kiev committed to incorporating the deal into its EU Minority Action Plan. In return, Budapest lifted its veto on Ukraine’s EU accession process.

In a video message posted on social media, Magyar said Ukraine’s integration into the bloc will be “a long and complex process,” comparing it to Montenegro’s accession path, which began in 2012.

Magyar said the European Commission and the European Council will monitor Ukraine’s compliance with the agreement.

“Until Ukraine fulfills its obligations regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, it will not be able to move forward with the accession process.”

Under Orban, Hungary refused to send weapons to Kiev and protested the forced mobilization of ethnic Hungarians, some of whom hold Hungarian passports, into the Ukrainian military to fight Russia.

“Our people cannot be used as cannon fodder,” Orban said in February.

Ukrainian conscription officers have been accused of ambushing military-age men on the streets, at workplaces, and outside their homes, and of using force against those who resist or attempt to flee. Families of conscripts have also accused draft officials of ignoring chronic health conditions and other grounds for exemption.

Several ethnic Hungarian recruits died before reaching the front line, prompting outrage in Budapest. In January, Zsolt Reban, 46, died at a training center. According to Hungarian officials, he was drafted despite previously being declared unfit for military service due to a lifelong heart condition.

Last year, Jozsef Sebestyen, 45, died after allegedly being beaten at a military training center, according to his family. The Ukrainian authorities denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he died of a pulmonary embolism.

Trump’s Iran deal achieves none of Israel’s war goals – opposition leader

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 03:32

Yair Lapid said the government in Tehran has retained power and can rebuild its nuclear program

The peace agreement being finalized between the US and Iran is bad for Israel, Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition and former prime minister, said on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump announced that a deal will be signed on Sunday, while Iran said a memorandum of understanding will be signed in the coming days.

“The emerging agreement achieves none of Israel’s war objectives. The regime survives, its missile program remains intact, and Iran can rebuild its nuclear program,” Lapid wrote on X. He argued that the deal represents “a complete failure” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes across the Middle East and leading Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz to nearly all shipping, triggering a surge in global energy prices. The exchange of strikes largely ceased after a truce was reached in April.

Although the exact details of the agreement have not been made public, Trump said Iran will pledge to not seek nuclear weapons, and the US will dilute and destroy the Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

Iran has long insisted that uranium enrichment is its sovereign right. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the memorandum of understanding will focus on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while providing a 60-day window for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has denied that it seeks to develop nuclear weapons.

The US and Israel previously demanded that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program and surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium. Netanyahu also repeatedly called on Iranians to topple their government.

“As long as I am prime minister of Israel, Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. There is complete agreement between President Trump and me on this issue,” Netanyahu said on Friday.

According to Axios and CNN, however, the news that a deal is close to being reached caught Netanyahu by surprise. Trump said Israel will have no choice but to accept the agreement and acknowledged that he pressured Netanyahu to halt Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon during several heated phone calls.

Both Democrats and dissident Republicans have accused Trump of going to war with Iran on Israel’s behalf. Trump has rejected the claim, insisting that he was acting in the interests of the US.

Use of AI for Iran school bombing doesn’t violate Anthropic’s ‘red lines’ – CEO

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 01:54

The Tomahawk strike on Minab elementary killed nearly 160 people, mostly children, on the first day of the war on Iran

The use of AI in the US strike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran that killed nearly 160 people, mostly children, did not violate Anthropic’s ‘red lines,’ CEO Dario Amodei has said.

US forces struck the school in Minab with a Tomahawk missile on the first day of the war on Iran in February. The institution was reportedly targeted based on outdated data used by Palantir’s analysis and surveillance software, which incorporates Anthropic’s Claude AI.

In an interview with Bloomberg published on Wednesday, Amodei was asked whether his firm’s AI had played a role in the deadly attack.

“We don’t know exactly how these models were used… and what you’re talking about is a use case that doesn’t even violate our red lines,” he said.

While AI assists the military, “a human made that final call,” he added, stressing that Anthropic opposes entirely autonomous weapons and decision-making systems.

The US military has admitted to actively using Palantir – named after the elven scrying orbs corrupted by Sauron in Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ – to pick targets in the war on Iran.

Last month, the Pentagon announced that it had inked deals with top US AI companies, including Google, Amazon Web Services, SpaceX, OpenAI, NVIDIA and Microsoft. Just weeks earlier, Palantir CEO Alex Karp proclaimed a “new era” of AI-enabled US military supremacy.

According to Google whistleblower and Palantir insider Zach Vorhies, AI giants’ defense of surveillance and the use of AI in warfare is a “catch-22.”

“It’s like, ‘hey, look, if we… get very accurate data of your country, then we won’t bomb a school for girls,’” he told RT on Thursday, while discussing reports that data secretly harvested from Pokemon Go players over many years was likely used to enhance US military mapping capabilities.

“The way that they’re framing this in that if they don’t have good information, they’re just going to have collateral damage,” Vorhies said, warning that US AI giants are pushing to be increasingly deregulated in pursuit of a military advantage.

Palestinian football chief says US barred him from attending World Cup

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 00:53

Jibril Rajoub claims his visa application was denied because of his criticism of Israel

Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub has said the US and Canada denied him visas to attend the FIFA World Cup, as unexpected entry restrictions have affected accredited delegates from across Africa and the Middle East.

The tournament, which began on Thursday, is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US. Although the Palestinian team did not qualify for the competition, FIFA typically invites the heads of football associations from member nations to the event, which it presents as a celebration of global unity.

Rajoub, who attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, told AFP on Saturday that he would return to the Palestinian territories after Tunisia’s match against Sweden on June 14.

“They did not grant me a visa for the United States after I applied in [the Jordanian capital] Amman. Their behavior is ridiculous,” he said, adding that Canada also denied him a visa.

The Palestinian football chief claimed the decision stemmed from his criticism of Israel, saying, “the Israelis had exerted pressure” on officials. “Certain circles do not want us to criticize Israel.”

Rajoub has been among the leading advocates of FIFA sanctions against Israel, accusing it of violating football statutes through settlement clubs in the West Bank and by restricting the movement of Palestinian players.

Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that while the federation was trying to resolve visa issues, it could not “rule over governments and police forces.”

The news comes days after Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to referee a FIFA World Cup match, was denied entry to the US despite reportedly having the necessary paperwork.

An Iraqi photographer traveling with his national team was also refused entry, while 15 Iranian officials and support staff were reportedly denied visas, forcing the delegation to remain in Mexico. Supporters from Senegal and Ivory Coast have also reported difficulties entering the host countries.

Last year, the US imposed travel restrictions on citizens of several countries, including Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iran. The measures also affected some Palestinian passport holders, including individuals who worked for the Palestinian Authority.

Rival protesters clash in Glasgow amid migration tensions (VIDEOS)

By: RT
14 June 2026 at 00:24

The demonstrations in Scotland come after a stabbing attack allegedly involving a Sudanese asylum seeker

Anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters scuffled with police during rival demonstrations in Glasgow, Scotland, amid tensions fueled by a stabbing attack allegedly involving a Sudanese asylum seeker.

On Saturday, the NGO Stand Up to Racism held a rally in downtown Glasgow, with organizers calling on supporters to “reclaim the streets from the far right.” Participants carried Scottish and Palestinian flags and chanted, “Refugees are welcome here,” according to The Herald.

Around 70 counterprotesters arrived at the event, many dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.

THE STREET ARE OURS: THOUSANDS OF ANTIRACISTS RECLAIM THE STREETS IN GLASGOW AND HUMILIATE FAR RIGHT THUGS

Glasgow reclaimed the streets from the far right today! pic.twitter.com/X942Y0ex8s

— Stand Up to Racism - Scotland (@SUTRScotland) June 13, 2026

As police sought to keep the rival groups apart, some anti-immigration demonstrators pushed against barriers and shoved officers. Some of their opponents also pushed police while attempting to break through the separation line.

NEW🚨: Chaos on the streets of Glasgow, Scotland!

Police clash with young patriots protesting against mass migration.

Meanwhile, pro-migrant and woke groups are also holding demonstrations in Glasgow today. pic.twitter.com/W7smAavlu1

— The Reformed Media (@ReformedMedia_) June 13, 2026

#Scotland — Neo-nazis carrying Israeli flags are trying to attack anti-racist demonstrators in Glasgow.

Yes, you heard that right: neo-nazis are now carrying Israeli flags. pic.twitter.com/wSd3e44PeU

— Antifa_Ultras (@ultras_antifaa) June 13, 2026

Police Scotland said one man was arrested for threatening an officer, while another officer was struck by an egg thrown during the unrest.

“A number of reported hate crimes will now be investigated,” a police spokesperson said.

An anti-racism demonstration also took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland to denounce the riots that followed a stabbing on Monday. A Sudanese asylum seeker has been charged with attacking a man in the street and allegedly blinding him in one eye.

Another high-profile incident occurred on Friday in Brierfield, England, where a man stabbed a 17-year-old girl in the middle of a street, causing non-life-threatening injuries. Police described the suspect as a British man of Pakistani descent.

The recent attacks have reignited debates about migration and what right-wing politicians and activists describe as two-tier policing. They argue that the incidents highlight the government’s inability to adequately address crimes committed by foreigners and other offenders.

Prominent anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson said he was detained for several hours at Heathrow Airport on Saturday under anti-terrorism legislation and had his phone seized by police.

According to Sky News, Robinson is scheduled to take part in a debate at the Oxford Union next week on whether the West is “right to be suspicious of Islam.”

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