The first passenger plane from an airline based in the European Union landed at Damascus International Airport after a long suspension of air traffic between Syria and the EU, the Syrian news agency SANA reported.

The plane, operated by the small Romanian company Dan Air, arrived from Bucharest carrying 138 passengers, including foreigners and Syrians, among them officials from the Syrian government, the agency wrote.

This is the first time in 13 years that a passenger plane on a regular route from an EU member state has landed in Syria.

The Romanian agency had previously announced plans to reestablish the connection with Damascus. The small low-cost airline operates only three planes, and the service to Damascus is expected to run four times a week.

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On board the plane was Syrian Minister of Economy Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, who was welcomed in Damascus by a delegation from the Romanian embassy. A representative of Dan Air told SANA that on the return flight to Bucharest there would be 125 passengers.

Dan Air also announced that starting in July, it will be possible to travel to Damascus from Berlin via a layover. SANA reported that connections to Frankfurt and Stockholm will also be available soon.

The EU and Western countries only recently lifted sanctions that had been imposed on Syria during the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Dan Air CEO Matt Ian David stated that the company is “reopening doors for trade relations with Syria.”

Dan Air’s move followed a bilateral agreement between Romania and Syria, as well as a license granted by Romanian authorities, which was also approved by the Syrian government at the end of April.

The Israeli military has announced that an Iranian missile attack on the Jewish state is underway and that "all of Israel is under fire," reports CNN. According to this outlet, powerful explosions can be heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while the Israeli military reports that defense systems have been activated to intercept and shoot down the missiles.

The military has called on the population to take shelter.

Seven people have been "lightly or moderately injured," said the head of the Israeli emergency services Magen David Adom, according to CNN. Iran will pay a very high price for attacks on civilian centers, said Defense Minister Israel Katz, adding that Tehran has "crossed red lines."

“Setki rakiet balistycznych” lecą na Izrael – announced the Iranian state agency IRNA. This is said to be a response to Israel's attacks on targets in Iran.

Israeli media report several missiles hitting Tel Aviv.pic.twitter.com/TKplzBJj23

— tvp.info 🇵🇱 (@tvp_info) June 13, 2025

News of the imminent attack came during a press conference by the Israeli military, which was interrupted as a result.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that the Iranian army would "strongly retaliate" for previous Israeli attacks and "bring destruction to the vile Zionist regime."

According to the Iranian agency IRNA, hundreds of ballistic missiles were fired at Israel "in response to the savage attack of the Zionist regime."

Israel’s national emergency service reported that five people were injured in the Tel Aviv area and were taken to the hospital.

American intelligence agencies had been warning since February that Israel would likely attempt attacks on facilities crucial to Iran's nuclear program this year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly advocated for a military option to stop Iran’s nuclear program, CNN reports, according to N1.

Recent reports from U.S. intelligence services state that Israel is trying to take advantage of the chaos following its October bombing of Iranian missile production facilities and air defense systems.

Overall, Israel still aims for a broader goal – regime change in Iran, according to one such intelligence report.

• Erdogan insists on recognizing the seceded Turkish state as a solution for divided Cyprus
• In Los Angeles, 30 injured after a vehicle plowed into a crowd

Israel sees Iran as an existential threat: for years, Israel has claimed it stands to lose the most if Iran, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, develops a nuclear bomb.

Israel and Iran have been waging a “shadow war” for decades, using proxies and secret operations. Tehran supports regional armed groups that have clashed directly with Israel, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.

Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza, attacks by Iran-backed groups have escalated in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu is facing serious domestic issues: opposition to a new military draft law has caused a political deadlock, and the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, held a session to discuss its possible dissolution, which could lead to early elections that Netanyahu, according to polls, would not win.

On Wednesday, parliament rejected the vote to dissolve, giving Netanyahu additional time to resolve the crisis.

Tehran responded by announcing it would boost its nuclear activities, warning that it “has no choice but to respond.”

Uranium is nuclear fuel which, when highly enriched, can be used to make a bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

At least 317 people were killed in the crash of an Air India plane, which went down just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, local police reported, according to "The New Indian Express."

The plane was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Only one passenger survived, while 75 people died in the buildings struck by the Boeing 787-8.

Of the 230 passengers, there were 169 citizens of India, 53 from the United Kingdom, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian. Fourteen children were killed, including two infants.

"Police found one surviving passenger in seat 11A. The survivor is in the hospital and undergoing treatment. We can't confirm the number of deaths yet. The toll may rise because the plane crashed in a residential area," said Police Chief Sing Malik, according to ANI, reported by Index.

Earlier, he stated that "there appear to be no survivors in the crash."

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He added that since the plane crashed in a residential zone, "some locals were also killed."

#BREAKING Air India Plane crashes in Ahemdabad Plane has crashed in Gujarat's Meghani Nagar. The site where the plane crashed is believed to be a residential area. All roads to the area have been closed. Likely to be a passenger plane Details awaited pic.twitter.com/2Jqr257aLL — Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) June 12, 2025

"The exact death toll is still being determined," he said.

More than 100 bodies, most severely charred, were taken to the local state hospital for autopsy, police reported.

Parts of the aircraft were scattered across the building it crashed into, according to photos and videos from the scene. The tail of the plane was lodged on the roof of the building.

Malik stated that 41 people were injured and all are receiving medical attention.

"Flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, was involved in the incident on June 12, 2025," Air India stated.

In a statement issued shortly after, London Gatwick Airport confirmed that Flight AI171 crashed on takeoff from Ahmedabad. It was scheduled to land at Gatwick at 6:25 PM local time (1:25 PM Eastern Time).

All flights from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad have been suspended until further notice following the incident, according to an airport spokesperson.

BREAKING: Passenger plane with over 100 on board crashes near Ahmedabad, India. pic.twitter.com/uLkISPpQTX — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 12, 2025

"Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport. Please cooperate and be patient while authorities manage this evolving situation," the spokesperson said.

India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said he was "shocked and devastated" upon learning about the crash.

According to India Today, the Air India plane bound for London crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad airport.

The Guardian reports that India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Murlidhar Mohol, stated there were reports of 105 fatalities after the plane took off from Ahmedabad en route to Gatwick.

Rescue workers reported that more people are trapped inside.

"Many people" died in the plane crash in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, said the country’s Health Minister.

The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2025

In an earlier statement, Air India said that the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

Emergency services responded immediately to the crash site, including seven fire trucks.

Numerous videos accessed by India Today showed the scale of the horrific disaster, with one particular video capturing the moment the plane crashed and turned into a fireball.

Based on footage, the plane hit a building. Reuters reported that the building was a medical hostel. "The building it crashed into is a doctors’ hostel... we have cleared about 70 to 80 percent of the area and will soon clear the rest," a senior police official told reporters.

"There were 242 people on the plane, including 2 pilots and 10 cabin crew members. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumit Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundra. Captain Sumit Sabharwal was a lieutenant colonel with 8,200 flight hours. The co-pilot had 1,100 hours of flying experience. According to air traffic control, the plane took off from runway 23 at 13:39 from Ahmedabad. It issued a distress call to air traffic control but did not respond afterward. The plane crashed immediately after takeoff outside the airport perimeter. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the crash site," stated the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

BREAKING: Footage shows plane with at least 242 people crashing near Ahmedabad, India. pic.twitter.com/3yfV2khfxU — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 12, 2025

The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed a Chinese bishop for the first time, thereby confirming the continuation of the 2018 agreement between the Vatican and the People's Republic of China—one of the most controversial foreign policy moves of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV appointed a Chinese bishop for the first time in accordance with the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with Beijing, signaling the continuation of one of Pope Francis’s most controversial foreign policy decisions, reports AP.

According to the Vatican, on June 5 the Chinese authorities officially recognized the appointment of Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Fuzhou, which was described as "a fruit of dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities, and a significant step on the shared path of this diocese."

• Erdogan insists on recognizing the seceded Turkish state as a solution for divided Cyprus
• In Los Angeles, 30 injured after a vehicle plowed into a crowd

The 2018 agreement, the details of which have never been published, allows the state-run Catholic Church in China a certain degree of influence over the appointment of church leaders, while the pope retained the right to veto the final selection. At the time, Pope Francis faced sharp criticism from conservative circles within the Catholic Church, particularly for making concessions to Beijing and concerns over the loyalty of the so-called underground church, which remained faithful to the Vatican for years despite persecution.

Estimates suggest that around 12 million Catholics live in China today, divided between the official state church—which does not recognize the pope's authority—and the underground church, whose members have often faced pressure and arrests. The aim of the agreement was to overcome this division, normalize the status of seven bishops not previously recognized by Rome, and begin a process of rebuilding relations between Beijing and the Vatican, which were severed in 1951.

Protests that began in Los Angeles over immigration raids and prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to mobilize the National Guard and Marines have started spreading across the United States, with more planned for the weekend.

From Seattle to Austin and the capital Washington, demonstrators chanted slogans and carried signs against the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, blocking traffic on central streets and in front of federal offices.

Although many protests were peaceful, some saw clashes with police, who arrested demonstrators and used tear gas in certain areas to disperse the crowd.

• Erdogan insists on recognizing the seceded Turkish state as a solution for divided Cyprus
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Activists are planning more demonstrations and larger protests in the coming days, with events titled “No Kings” scheduled nationwide on Saturday to coincide with Trump’s planned military parade in Washington.

The Trump administration has stated it will continue the program of raids and deportations despite the protests. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said today on social media that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will continue to enforce the law.

In areas where unrest has broken out, officials said that while peaceful protests are acceptable, violent behavior will not be tolerated.

Austrian Artur A. (21) entered two classrooms in a school in Graz today with two weapons – a Glock pistol and a shotgun – and opened fire, shooting 40 rounds. A total of 11 people were killed in the shooting, including two teachers and the attacker himself, who committed suicide in the restroom after the crime.

While one teacher died at the scene, doctors at the hospital in Graz unsuccessfully tried to save the life of a female teacher. According to reports from the newspaper Heute, the woman was reportedly nearing retirement. Eleven other people were seriously injured.

The Attacker Was Not Known to the Police

The perpetrator, Artur A., had left the school two years ago. According to police, he had no criminal record and was considered inconspicuous. There was almost no trace of the young man on social media; in the police database, he appeared only once as a victim of pickpocketing. It is now known that he was allegedly subjected to severe bullying in the past – whether this triggered the crime is still unclear and under investigation. However, according to media reports, he reportedly saw himself as a victim of bullying.

• Erdogan insists on recognizing the seceded Turkish state as a solution for divided Cyprus
• In Los Angeles, 30 injured after a vehicle plowed into a crowd

Allegedly, the 21-year-old had possessed the Glock pistol for some time and had only recently acquired the second weapon – the shotgun. Immediately after the rampage, police began investigating the perpetrator. Rumors of a possible second perpetrator proved unfounded. On Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed that the suspect acted alone – reports Nova.

Pipe Bomb and Farewell Video Discovered

During the search of his home – the Austrian lived in the suburbs of Graz – a farewell note was found. There, he also recorded a video message for his mother. In it, he announced the crime and stated that he acted "of his own free will."

According to “Heute”, the attacker’s mother watched the video 24 minutes after he had left it, but by then it was already too late.

A major police operation involving 300 officers was already underway on Dreierschützengasse Street in Graz. Investigators told “Heute” that a bomb was also found in his home, but it was non-functional.

Citizens Pay Tribute to the Victims

Thousands of people gathered this evening in the main square in Graz to honor the victims.

Photos show people paying silent tribute as the city tries to come to terms with the tragic attack.

Statement from the School Where the Massacre Occurred

BORG Dreierschützengasse, the high school in the northwest of Graz where the shooting took place, posted a message on Instagram following the tragedy.

“This was a terrible day that deeply affected and shocked us all. Let’s continue to stand together as a school community and support each other. Your teachers and your principal,” the message said.

Dockworkers in southern France are blocking a shipment of 14 tons of military equipment to Israel, their union announced today.

The workers refuse to participate in the "ongoing genocide carried out by the Israeli government," stated the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union.

The cargo, destined for the Israeli port of Haifa, allegedly consists of machine gun parts produced by a company in the southern city of Marseille, which CGT claims the Israeli military uses against the Palestinian population. The union said the container is currently located in the port of Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille.

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The French Ministry of Defense stated that Israel is contractually obligated to re-export the military equipment and is not permitted to use the components itself, according to France Info.

Left-wing politicians in France have supported the workers’ action.

"Glory to the dockworkers in the port of Marseille-Fos who refuse to load spare parts for ships intended for the Israeli army," posted Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of the left-wing party France Unbowed, on X.

The leader of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, also supported the move. "Humanism is not for sale," Faure wrote on X.

At least 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to health authorities controlled by Hamas in the territory. The war was triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken hostage.