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  • Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel

    Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel

    In a significant shift that underscores growing rifts in Italy’s longstanding alignment with Israel and changing political tides ahead of next year’s national election, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced her government will not renew the bilateral five-year defense cooperation agreement between Rome and Tel Aviv. The decision was framed as a response to “the current situation” in the region, though no further specific details were provided by the prime minister’s office.

    While Italy and Israel have maintained historically solid diplomatic and security ties, relations have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks amid a series of escalating diplomatic spats. Last week, Italian officials summoned Israel’s ambassador to Rome after Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy carrying Italian UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon. The incident left one Italian vehicle damaged, though no peacekeepers were injured. Just days later, Israel reciprocated by calling in Italy’s top diplomat to protest harsh comments from Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who publicly condemned what he called Israel’s “unacceptable attacks” on Lebanese civilians.

    According to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Italy ranks as the third-largest supplier of arms to Israel, though Italian exports accounted for just 1.3% of all Israeli arms imports between 2021 and 2025. The United States and Germany hold the top two positions as Israel’s leading arms providers. Meloni’s announcement puts Italy in line with a growing bloc of European nations that have already paused or restricted arms exports to Israel since the launch of Israel’s large-scale military offensive in Gaza, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed roughly 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages into Gaza. As of the latest update from Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health, more than 72,330 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations across the territory, including 757 fatalities recorded since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October 2025.

    Domestically, the decision to end the defense pact renewal comes after months of mounting public pressure on Meloni’s administration. Hundreds of thousands of Italian citizens have participated in mass street protests and general strikes across the country demanding an end to arms sales and security cooperation with Israel, a call that has gained growing traction among voters. Until recently, Meloni’s right-wing coalition government had stood as one of Israel’s firmest allies in Europe, refusing to join the expanding group of nations that have formally recognized Palestinian statehood.

    However, a key turning point came in late March, when Meloni’s coalition lost a high-profile national referendum on judicial constitutional reform. Political analysts widely framed the result as a de facto vote of no confidence in the government’s overall popularity, particularly its unpopular alignment with Israel and the current U.S. administration under President Donald Trump. With just 18 months remaining before Italy holds its next general election, Meloni has begun systematically adjusting her policy rhetoric to distance herself from these increasingly unpopular political associations.

    In recent weeks, the rift between the Italian prime minister and the U.S. president has widened publicly. After the referendum defeat, Meloni described ongoing military escalations between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran as part of a dangerous pattern of international intervention that operates “outside the scope of international law”. Earlier this week, she issued a rare public rebuke of Trump, calling his recent disparaging remarks about Pope Leo XIV “unacceptable” and confirming the pontiff had her full solidarity.

    The comment drew an immediate and harsh response from Trump, who told leading Italian daily *Corriere della Sera* that he was “shocked at her” conduct. “I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” Trump said, adding that Meloni “does not care whether Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow Italy up in two minutes if it had the chance.”

    For months, Trump’s public support for Meloni was seen as a key political asset for the prime minister, with her supporters framing it as a unique opportunity for Italy to gain privileged influence in Washington as a leading interlocutor for the European Union. But as Trump’s approval rating has plummeted among Italian voters — a January public opinion survey found 63% of Italian electorate holds a negative view of the U.S. under his leadership — that close association has become a significant political liability. Meloni’s decision to distance herself from both Trump and Israel is widely interpreted as a calculated move to rebuild support among centrist and left-leaning voters ahead of the 2027 election.

    In the days following the public exchange between Meloni and Trump, senior members of her government have rushed to defend the prime minister’s position while reaffirming the core of the Italy-U.S. alliance. “Italy’s alliance with the U.S. is built on mutual loyalty, respect, and honesty,” Foreign Minister Tajani wrote on social media platform X. “On Pope Leo XIV she said exactly what all of us Italians think. The prime minister and the government defend and will always defend only and solely the interests of Italy.” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto echoed that framing, noting: “Being allies does not mean accepting everything in silence, but having the courage to clearly state what one believes to be right.”

    Italian defense ministry officials told the BBC that they are still assessing what concrete legal and operational changes the decision to scrap the defense pact renewal will bring to existing security cooperation frameworks between Italy and Israel.

  • Powerball is going international in an effort to build larger jackpots that draw more players

    Powerball is going international in an effort to build larger jackpots that draw more players

    One of the United States’ most famous lottery brands is making its historic leap across the Atlantic. Powerball, the game that has created thousands of millionaires across American states and territories, will officially welcome players from England, Scotland and the entire United Kingdom to its player pool starting this summer, under a newly announced partnership agreement.

    The landmark deal was revealed Tuesday by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), the U.S.-based organization that manages Powerball, and Allwyn UK, the current operator of the U.K. National Lottery. Regulators still need to greenlight the expansion: the agreement requires final approval from the U.K. Gambling Commission before the first U.K. Powerball tickets can go on sale.

    If approved, the expansion will mark a first for the 30-plus year old Powerball game: for the first time since its launch, players outside the United States will be able to participate and contribute to the game’s rolling jackpot pool.

    Matt Strawn, CEO of the Iowa Lottery and leader of the Powerball product team, framed the cross-border expansion as a natural evolution for the game. “We’re constantly looking for ways to make sure that we’re keeping Powerball culturally and commercially relevant,” Strawn said in comments after the announcement. “And this really is the next natural progression in doing just that.”

    For existing Powerball players in the United States, the expansion will bring no changes to how the game works. The $2 price per ticket will remain unchanged, and the long odds of claiming the top jackpot – 1 in 292.2 million – will also stay the same. The biggest benefit for U.S. players will be faster jackpot growth: adding millions of potential U.K. participants to the player pool means more ticket sales, which pushes the top prize up more quickly between rollovers.

    “Players consistently tell us in survey after survey that faster growing Powerball jackpots is what they’d like to see,” Strawn explained. “Not surprisingly, the higher the jackpots grow the more people play the game in a particular drawing. The more people play, the higher sales grow. The higher sales grow, the higher the jackpots get, the more people play.” It’s a self-reinforcing cycle that Powerball leaders expect will boost engagement on both sides of the ocean.

    For U.K. players, the launch of Powerball will unlock access to far larger top prizes than any existing domestic or European lottery currently offers. In 2022, a single winning Powerball ticket sold in California claimed a record jackpot of just over $2 billion, an amount that dwarfs the largest European lottery win on record. That same year, the biggest U.K. EuroMillions prize – a pan-European lottery also operated by Allwyn UK – hit £195 million (equal to roughly $265 million at the time), less than 15% of the record Powerball payout.

    Allwyn UK leaders say adding Powerball to the U.K. National Lottery roster aligns with their goal of bringing fresh excitement to British players. “Our ambition is to bring more games, more innovation and more excitement to The UK National Lottery — and it doesn’t get more exciting than Powerball, with its transformative jackpots and life-changing contribution to good causes,” Allwyn UK Chief Executive Andria Vidler said in a statement announcing the deal.

    While all players will compete for the same base jackpot amount, there are key differences between the U.S. and U.K. versions of the game to align with local regulatory and market norms. Estimated jackpot values will be listed differently in each country, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and differing advertising conventions: the U.S. advertises jackpots as the pre-tax value of the full annuity payout, while the U.K. advertises post-tax prizes. Additionally, U.K. jackpot winners will only be able to claim their prize through a 30-year annuity, unlike U.S. winners who can choose between the annuity or a one-time lump-sum cash payment – a option that nearly all U.S. jackpot winners choose. Secondary smaller prizes for non-jackpot winners will also have different values and structures in the two countries.

    Powerball is currently available to players in 45 U.S. states, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The core game rules will remain unchanged after expansion: players still select five numbers from a pool of 1 to 69 for the white balls, and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball, and drawings will continue to be held three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. More than 31 million people participate in at least one U.K. National Lottery game each year, representing a massive potential new player base for Powerball. The expansion will have no impact on the operation of Mega Millions, Powerball’s main rival large U.S. lottery game, which will remain exclusive to U.S. players.

  • ‘I can feel the difference’ – Americans react to soaring gas prices

    ‘I can feel the difference’ – Americans react to soaring gas prices

    Across the United States, ordinary drivers are already grappling with the tangible impact of skyrocketing gasoline prices, with many reporting they can already sense the heavy financial strain hitting their monthly budgets. As fuel costs continue to climb at pumps nationwide, the issue has moved rapidly to the forefront of national economic and political conversation.

    Over the recent weekend, former President Donald Trump offered a sobering forecast for the months ahead. Speaking on the trajectory of oil and gasoline prices, Trump stated that current costs are likely to remain at their elevated levels, or could even climb higher in the coming months.

    The prediction has amplified concerns among American households, which already face broader inflationary pressures across food, housing, and other essential goods. For millions of commuters who rely on personal vehicles to get to work, school, and daily errands, rising gas prices directly cut into disposable income, forcing many to adjust spending habits by cutting back on leisure activities, delaying major purchases, or carpooling to cut down on fuel use.

    As the issue continues to develop, energy market analysts are closely watching global oil supply dynamics and domestic policy decisions that could shape future price movements, while American consumers wait to see whether Trump’s forecast will prove accurate.

  • Former defense firm executive sentenced to 13 years for bribery

    Former defense firm executive sentenced to 13 years for bribery

    In a recent ruling issued on Tuesday, the Nanyang Intermediate People’s Court in Henan Province has sentenced Liu Weidong, former deputy general manager of state-owned defense contractor China South Industries Group Corp, to 13 years in federal prison and ordered a 4 million yuan ($586,800) fine over convictions of bribery. Alongside the custodial sentence and monetary penalty, the court also ruled that all of Liu’s illegal gains and related illicit assets must be fully confiscated and transferred to the national state treasury.

    Court investigators established that over a 26-year period spanning from 1999 to 2025, Liu exploited his senior executive positions at two major state-owned enterprises — including his roles as deputy general manager of Dongfeng Motor Corp and deputy general manager of China South Industries Group Corp — to secure improper advantages for connected business entities and individual applicants on matters ranging from corporate business operations to internal personnel promotions. In exchange for these favors, Liu accepted direct bribes totaling more than 41.39 million yuan, according to official court documents.

    The court confirmed that Liu’s actions clearly meet the statutory criteria for the crime of bribery, noting that the scale of illicit funds involved qualified as “extremely large”, which would typically warrant severe punitive measures. However, justices opted to apply a lenient sentencing adjustment after accounting for multiple mitigating circumstances: Liu fully confessed to all known charges, voluntarily disclosed additional bribery details that had not been uncovered by investigating authorities prior to his statement, and cooperated fully with the prosecution by turning over all illegal proceeds proactively.

    A review of public career records shows the 59-year-old, a native of Hubei Province, launched his professional career in the automotive sector after graduating from the Wuhan University of Technology in his home region. He spent decades rising through the ranks at Dongfeng Motor Corp, Hubei’s state-owned automotive manufacturing giant, and earned a promotion to deputy general manager of the firm in 2001.

    In May 2018, Liu transferred to China South Industries Group Corp, one of China’s leading national defense contracting conglomerates and a major player in the domestic automotive industry, to serve as its deputy general manager. The first crack in his decades-long career came in February 2025, when he was formally placed under investigation for suspected severe violations of Communist Party of China discipline and national law. By July 2025, he had been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from all public office positions. Prosecutors formally filed bribery charges against him that November, and the Nanyang Intermediate People’s Court held a public open hearing on the case at the start of 2026, leading to this week’s final sentencing ruling.

  • ‘Bit of pain’ worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC

    ‘Bit of pain’ worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC

    The ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran has sparked fierce debate over the trade-off between short-term global economic stability and long-term international security, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has laid out stark worst-case projections that could tip the world into recession for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In an exclusive interview with the BBC, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that a modest period of near-term economic hardship is a necessary sacrifice to eliminate what he frames as a growing Iranian threat to Western capitals. “I wonder what the hit to global GDP would be if a nuclear weapon hit London,” Bessent said. “I am saying that I am less concerned about short-term forecasts, than I am about long-term security. The biggest risk you can take is one you don’t know you were taking.” He claimed that recent US and Israeli strikes have eliminated the so-called “tail risk” of Iranian nuclear strikes against Western nations, noting that Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity—close to the level required for a functional nuclear weapon—at the start of the conflict. He also pointed to Iran’s strike on Diego Garcia as evidence the country already possesses mid-range intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United Kingdom.

    However, multiple official sources have pushed back on Bessent’s framing. The BBC has previously confirmed that the threat of an Iranian ballistic missile strike on London remains extremely remote, and Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon. A spokesperson for the UK government added: “There is no assessment Iran is trying to target Europe with missiles. But we have the military capability we need to keep Britain safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad. We are ready to defend the country, whatever the threat.”

    In its latest World Economic Outlook report, the IMF detailed the severe economic risks the conflict poses six weeks after it began in late February 2026. The closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipping, and the collapse of US-Iran peace talks have sent energy prices soaring, with crude prices peaking near $120 a barrel before moderating to $95 per barrel as of Tuesday.

    The IMF laid out two core scenarios for global growth. In the most severe outcome, if energy and food prices spike and remain elevated through 2027, global growth will drop below 2% in 2026—an outcome the IMF calls a near-certain global recession, a situation that has only occurred four times since 1980. Under this scenario, oil prices would average $110 per barrel in 2026 and rise to $125 in 2027, pushing global inflation as high as 6% next year and forcing central banks to implement aggressive interest rate hikes to cool price growth. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas warned that a prolonged conflict would trigger spiraling inflation, rising unemployment, and widespread food insecurity in vulnerable nations, noting that even an immediate end to the conflict would leave an economic impact comparable to the 1970s oil crisis. Still, he added that the global economy is far less dependent on fossil fuels today than it was 50 years ago, softening the blow for consumers.

    In the more optimistic baseline scenario, where the conflict is resolved within the next few weeks and energy exports and production return to normal by mid-2026, global growth will slow to 3.1% this year—down just 0.2 percentage points from the IMF’s January forecast—before rebounding to 3.2% growth in 2027, a projection that remained unchanged from earlier estimates.

    The report also breaks down the uneven economic impact of the conflict across major economies and regions. Among advanced economies, the UK is projected to bear the brunt of the energy shock, with its 2026 growth forecast cut from 1.3% to 0.8% before a 1.3% recovery in 2027. Most Gulf energy exporting nations face steep slowdowns or outright contraction this year: the IMF projects Iran’s economy will shrink by 6.1% in 2026, before a 3.2% rebound in 2027 if the conflict ends soon—a projection that remains highly uncertain following US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a full blockade on Iranian port exports to halt all Iranian oil shipments. Qatar, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas refinery at Ras Laffan, faces an 8.6% contraction this year after the facility was struck by Iranian drones and missiles, leaving it non-operational for the foreseeable future. Iraq, Iran’s neighboring state, will see growth slow by 6.8% in 2026 before bouncing back to 11.3% growth in 2027.

    The IMF notes that national economic resilience depends on key factors including infrastructure damage, reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, and access to alternative export routes. For example, Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil per day from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, allows the kingdom to avoid the worst disruptions. The IMF still projects 3.1% growth for Saudi Arabia in 2026, followed by 4.5% expansion in 2027, in line with broader forecasts for a regional upturn next year if energy markets normalize. The IMF cautioned, however, that this optimistic outlook could be revised downward if the conflict drags on and infrastructure damage worsens.

    Globally, the IMF cut its 2026 growth forecast for China to 4.4%, down 0.1 percentage points from January, while leaving its 2027 projection of 4% growth unchanged. One major beneficiary of the surge in global energy prices, the IMF found, is Russia, which has been under sweeping Western sanctions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. The IMF now projects 1.1% growth for Russia in both 2026 and 2027, up from earlier forecasts of 0.8% and 1% respectively, after Trump lifted all restrictions on Russian oil exports and temporarily unfroze 140 million barrels of Iranian oil for 30 days to curb global price spikes.

    European officials have pushed back against the easing of sanctions, warning that Russia is positioned to emerge as a winner from the conflict. “Energy prices are up, and that gives additional revenues for Russia’s war machine,” European Commissioner for finance Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters on the sidelines of the IMF summit in Washington. “Now is not the time to ease the pressure on Russia.”

  • Hugo Ekitike injury looks ‘really bad’ in potential blow for Liverpool and France

    Hugo Ekitike injury looks ‘really bad’ in potential blow for Liverpool and France

    In a tense UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second-leg fixture at Anfield on Tuesday, a 2-0 defeat for Liverpool that secured a 4-0 aggregate win for Paris Saint-Germain was overshadowed by a worrying first-half injury to French striker Hugo Ekitike. The incident occurred in the 27th minute, when Ekitike slipped awkwardly on the Anfield pitch, appearing to sustain damage to his right leg that required immediate medical attention on the field. After quick evaluation by club medical staff, it was determined the forward could not continue the match, and he was stretchered off the pitch to be replaced by veteran Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah. Speaking post-match following Liverpool’s elimination from the competition, Reds head coach Arne Slot offered a grim early assessment of Ekitike’s condition. “It doesn’t look good,” Slot told reporters. “It looks really bad, but it’s difficult for me to say how bad. Tomorrow we will investigate further.” The injury carries major ramifications beyond Liverpool’s domestic and European campaign. Ekitike has emerged as one of the Merseyside club’s most impactful performers this season, netting 19 goals across all club and international competitions. Most recently, he scored the decisive goal for France in a high-profile 2-1 friendly win over Brazil just one month ago. With the men’s FIFA World Cup set to kick off later this year, Ekitike was widely expected to be a key starting attacker for the defending champions, making his fitness a major point of concern for French national team staff. For Liverpool, the potential long-term absence of Ekitike also complicates the club’s ongoing push to secure a top-four finish in the English Premier League, which would grant them qualification to next season’s Champions League. The fixture was not without other injury concerns for both sides. PSG left-back Nuno Mendes was forced to withdraw shortly before halftime with an unspecified health issue, though he was able to walk off the pitch unassisted. Young PSG attacker Desire Doue became the third player to exit early, leaving the match with a leg injury early in the second half.

  • Italy suspends defence cooperation deal with Israel

    Italy suspends defence cooperation deal with Israel

    On a Tuesday appearance at a Verona wine industry fair, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed a sweeping policy shift: Rome has moved to suspend the automatic five-year renewal of its bilateral defence cooperation framework with Israel, a decision that marks a notable break from the Italian right-wing government’s previously close alignment with Tel Aviv.

    The agreement in question, which first entered into force in April 2016, is structured to auto-renew every five years unless one party intervenes to halt the process. It covers a broad range of military collaboration, including cross-border exchanges of military equipment, joint training programs, and cooperative research and development initiatives for defence technology. According to leading Italian national news agency Ansa, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has already formalized the suspension in an official letter sent to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz.

    A source familiar with the internal deliberations confirmed to Reuters that the decision was finalized during a high-level meeting on Monday, which included Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defence Minister Crosetto, and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. The policy change comes amid a rapidly escalating series of diplomatic spats between the two nations, triggered by recent Israeli military actions targeting positions in Lebanon that have directly impacted Italian interests.

    Just one week prior, the Italian government officially condemned an incident where Israeli forces opened fire on a convoy transporting Italian UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon. While no peacekeepers were injured in the strike, one Italian military vehicle was significantly damaged, prompting Rome to summon Israel’s top diplomat in Rome to register a formal protest.

    The escalation continued this week, with Foreign Minister Tajani undertaking an official visit to Beirut on Monday, where he publicly delivered a sharp rebuke of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. “Lebanon is a brother country that we hold in our hearts. That is why today I came to Beirut to convey to President Aoun Italy’s solidarity following the unacceptable attacks by Israel against the civilian population,” Tajani stated during his trip. “The Government will do everything possible to achieve peace and put an end to the suffering of the Lebanese people. We must avoid at all costs another escalation like the one in Gaza.”

    In response to Tajani’s public comments, Israeli officials summoned Italy’s ambassador to Tel Aviv in a reciprocal act of diplomatic protest, further deepening the rift between the two longtime partners. Until recent weeks, Meloni’s right-wing administration had positioned itself as one of Israel’s staunchest allies within the European Union, making this suspension of core defence cooperation one of the most significant public breaks from that alignment to date.

  • In Algeria, Pope calls on authorities ‘not to dominate, but serve the people’

    In Algeria, Pope calls on authorities ‘not to dominate, but serve the people’

    On a historic Monday that marked the first papal visit to Algeria in modern history, Pope Leo XIV wove together spiritual reflection and bold political messaging, blending calls for domestic reform with a global rebuke of exploitative power dynamics. The American-born pontiff, who traces his religious roots to the Augustinian Order founded on the teachings of the North African-born Christian thinker Saint Augustine, made history as the first leader of the Catholic Church to set foot on Algerian soil, the birthplace of his order’s namesake.

    The landmark day was not without shadow: two major events dominated headlines alongside the visit: a high-profile public clash with U.S. President Donald Trump over the pontiff’s opposition to the war on Iran, and a failed double suicide bombing just 50 kilometers outside the capital Algiers that marked the first major extremist attack in the country since 2012.

    Beginning his itinerary in the capital Algiers, where he was welcomed with full official honors, Pope Leo XIV first offered prayers at the iconic Martyrs’ Monument, a memorial honoring the thousands who died during Algeria’s 1954–1962 war of independence from French colonial rule. Standing at the site that carries deep national and diplomatic resonance, amid ongoing tensions that continue to strain Franco-Algerian diplomatic relations, he framed lasting peace as a project rooted in reconciliation. “Peace is only possible through forgiveness,” he told assembled guests. “The true struggle for liberation will only be definitively won when peace of hearts has been achieved.”

    Moving from the memorial to a formal address before Algeria’s top political leadership, including President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and the international diplomatic corps, the pontiff turned his attention to domestic political reform. Three leading global non-governmental organizations, including Human Rights Watch, had publicly called on Pope Leo XIV in the days leading up to the visit to raise human rights concerns with Algerian officials, who have faced sustained accusations from rights defenders of cracking down on opposition since the 2019 Hirak pro-democracy movement that forced longtime authoritarian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power. Rights groups document widespread arrests, detentions and convictions of activists, journalists and government critics in the years since the movement.

    In his address, Pope Leo XIV urged Algerian authorities to embrace greater political openness and empower a free civil society, particularly for the country’s large youth population. “The true strength of a country lies in the cooperation of everyone in achieving the common good. The authorities are called upon not to dominate, but to serve the people and their development,” he said. “I therefore urge those of you who hold authority in this country not to fear this prospect and to promote a vibrant, dynamic and free civil society, in which young people, in particular, are recognised as having the capacity to contribute to broadening the horizon of hope for all.”

    The pontiff also used the platform to deliver a veiled rebuke of global power politics, condemning “ongoing violations of international law and neo-colonial tendencies” in an implicit critique of Western foreign policy in the Middle East. The comment came amid an intensifying public feud with Trump, who has launched repeated attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his increasingly vocal opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. On the Sunday before the visit, Trump publicly stated he was “not a fan of Pope Leo” and falsely claimed the pontiff supported nuclear proliferation. On Monday, the U.S. president doubled down, refusing to walk back his comments and labeling the pontiff “weak.”

    Speaking to reporters on his flight from Rome to Algiers, Pope Leo XIV pushed back on the conflict without escalating it, saying he had “no intention of entering into a debate” with Trump and was not “afraid” of his administration. “The Church has a moral duty to speak out very clearly against war,” he said. “I don’t think the message of the Gospel should be distorted as some are doing.”

    As the pontiff delivered his address in Algiers, news broke of a coordinated attack in Blida, a city located roughly 50 kilometers south of the capital. Two suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices, killing themselves: one outside the city’s central police station, and another roughly 500 meters from the first site. Four additional unexploded bombs targeting police and public spaces were successfully defused by security forces, and an unconfirmed number of civilians were injured in the incident. Algerian authorities had not issued an official statement on the attack as of Monday evening. Security analysts noted that the heavy security deployment around the pope’s visit in Algiers likely pushed attackers to shift their target to the neighboring city.

    Despite the unrest, the visit proceeded as scheduled, with Pope Leo XIV traveling to Annaba, the site of ancient Hippo where Saint Augustine served as bishop, for scheduled events on Tuesday. In his welcoming remarks on Monday, Tebboune expressed Algeria’s “immense pride” in hosting the pontiff on the land of Saint Augustine, whom he called “your spiritual father and one of the most luminous minds in the history of human thought.” Catholics make up less than 0.01% of Algeria’s population, where Sunni Islam is the official state religion, with most Catholic residents being European expatriates or sub-Saharan African students. Tebboune also praised the pope’s “courageous stance” against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the humanitarian suffering unfolding across the Gulf region.

    The Algeria stop is the first leg of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural multi-nation trip to Africa, which will continue with visits to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea before the pontiff returns to Rome on April 23.

  • New Mossad chief backs Gaza occupation and once ‘used’ a teenager in operation

    New Mossad chief backs Gaza occupation and once ‘used’ a teenager in operation

    Israel’s advisory committee for senior public appointments has given the green light to Roman Gofman, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to take the helm of the country’s iconic intelligence agency Mossad, capping a rapid military rise that has been overshadowed by bitter controversy over his past conduct, hardline political views, and allegations of power abuse. Gofman, 49, will assume a five-year term starting in June, succeeding outgoing director David Barnea, who has publicly opposed his appointment.

    Born in the Soviet Union’s Belarus, Gofman immigrated to Israel with his family in 1990 at age 14. Five years after arriving, he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces’ armored corps, climbing steadily through the ranks to earn a promotion to major general in early 2024. His career has spanned combat deployments across southern Lebanon, the occupied West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and he has long been associated with far-right ideological circles: as a young pre-military trainee, he studied at the Bnei David yeshiva in Eli, an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, an institution notorious for promoting extremist Jewish supremacist views. Gofman himself has publicly credited the yeshiva with shaping his core ideological beliefs about Israel.

    Gofman’s most high-profile military experience came during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, when he was wounded in a firefight with Palestinian fighters near his home in Ashdod. Surveillance footage captured him exchanging fire before sustaining a leg injury and pulling back, but he returned to duty shortly after recovering. Reflecting on the surprise attack, he argued that even the most formidable military forces face unexpected breaches, and that proactive initiative is the only way to prevent future surprises.

    As the Israeli military campaign in Gaza unfolded after October 7, Gofman emerged as one of the most outspoken hardliners in Israeli security circles. He drafted an official plan calling for the full reoccupation of the entire Gaza Strip, and has argued that Israel should maintain permanent control over the enclave at the end of the current conflict. He has previously criticized the Israeli military for what he frames as excessive caution in deploying ground forces across multiple fronts, from Gaza to Lebanon to Syria, and has publicly praised Orde Wingate, a British Mandate-era officer famous for developing brutal counterinsurgency tactics against Palestinian groups alongside early Zionist militias, framing decisive, reality-altering military action as the core of Israeli strategy. In a 2019 academic proposal, he even controversially suggested that Israel should sell nuclear warheads to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to counter Iran’s nuclear program, a view far outside mainstream Israeli security policy.

    Netanyahu tapped Gofman to serve as his personal military secretary in April 2024, marking his entry into the prime minister’s inner circle. But his nomination to lead Mossad has sparked fierce opposition from across Israel’s political and security establishment, centered on two core sets of concerns: his lack of prior intelligence experience, and multiple allegations of professional and ethical misconduct during his military career.

    The most explosive controversy surrounds a 2022 intelligence operation, when Gofman commanded the 210th Bashan Regional Division on the Golan Heights. According to investigative reports, Gofman instructed military intelligence personnel to provide 17-year-old Israeli civilian Ori Elmakayes with classified information to publish on social media as part of a covert influence campaign targeting Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. After Elmakayes published the material, Israeli police arrested him on charges of leaking state secrets, and he spent 18 months in pre-trial detention.

    Gofman initially denied to military investigators that he knew of Elmakayes’ involvement, but the case against the teenager collapsed when evidence confirmed he had been acting on direct military orders approved by Gofman. Gofman has since denied authorizing the release of truly sensitive material and claims he did not know Elmakayes was a minor. Elmakayes, however, has slammed Gofman for throwing him aside to protect his own career.

    “Roman Gofman used me illegally and immediately afterwards disowned me, abandoned me and did not put an end to the ongoing nightmare I went through,” Elmakayes wrote on the social platform X following Sunday’s approval vote. “Someone who abandoned a 17-year-old boy will also abandon Mossad agents.”

    Committee chair Asher Grunis, a former president of Israel’s Supreme Court, was the most prominent official to oppose Gofman’s approval, issuing a scathing rebuke of his conduct in the Elmakayes case. “The use of a minor Israeli civilian constitutes an extremely serious flaw and raises a moral-ethical concern. It amounts to a breach of integrity,” Grunis argued, though he was outvoted by the committee’s three other pro-appointment members. Outgoing Mossad chief Barnea has also joined the opposition, labeling Gofman’s actions in the case as an abuse of power.

    Additional allegations of misconduct date back to Gofman’s tenure as a West Bank regional commander between 2015 and 2017, when he reportedly ordered the recruitment of Palestinian informants near Beit Ummar without following mandatory legal authorization processes; his directive was later overturned by military leadership.

    Beyond the personal misconduct claims, many current and former Israeli security and political figures argue Gofman’s appointment is part of a deliberate effort by Netanyahu to politicize Israel’s independent intelligence and security establishment by installing loyalists to top posts. Gofman has become a trusted confidant of Netanyahu over the past two years of repeated Israeli military campaigns across the region, and Israeli media reports confirm the prime minister has full confidence in him, even assigning him sensitive behind-the-scenes diplomatic missions, including unannounced visits to Russia to maintain ties with President Vladimir Putin. He also played a central role in secret Israeli-Syrian talks in January 2025.

    “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to appoint his military secretary, Major General Roman Gofman, as head of the Mossad is a continuation of his politicization and takeover of the intelligence community and the security establishment,” veteran military commentator Yossi Melman warned in December, noting that the appointment would mark another key institution brought under Netanyahu’s direct political control. Former Israeli army chief and opposition MP Gadi Eisenkot has echoed these criticisms, arguing top security posts are now being handed out as rewards for loyalty to the prime minister’s political agenda, rather than on the basis of professional merit. Former senior Mossad official Rami Eigra called the nomination politically motivated, warning it will likely erode the agency’s operational effectiveness and increase the risk of major failures.

    The battle over Gofman’s appointment is far from over. Elmakayes and multiple Israeli human rights and pro-democracy NGOs are preparing to petition the Supreme Court to block the nomination, according to reports from Haaretz. Some Israeli defense establishment insiders told Ma’ariv they believe the court could strike down the appointment, which would force Netanyahu to ask Barnea to extend his term for several weeks or months while a new candidate is selected.

  • Slovaks rally against populist Prime Minister Fico’s plan to scrap mail voting from abroad

    Slovaks rally against populist Prime Minister Fico’s plan to scrap mail voting from abroad

    Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered across Slovakia — and in major European cities outside the country — on Tuesday to push back against a contentious electoral proposal from populist Prime Minister Robert Fico that would eliminate postal voting for Slovak citizens residing abroad. The largest demonstration, held directly outside Slovakia’s parliament building in the capital Bratislava, opened with a warm round of applause for the shocking outcome of neighboring Hungary’s weekend general election, where long-time authoritarian populist Viktor Orbán was ousted from power by a pro-European opposition candidate.

    Fico, who returned to the office of prime minister in 2023 following parliamentary elections, has emerged as a deeply polarizing figure both within Slovakia and across the European Union. His consistently pro-Russia policy stances and perceived authoritarian power grabs have already sparked waves of mass public demonstrations since his administration took office. Critics have repeatedly drawn parallels between Fico’s governing style and Orbán’s 12-year illiberal rule in Hungary, noting that Fico has openly drawn inspiration from Orbán’s approach to politics. Tuesday’s protests mark just the latest in a months-long string of public outcry against the Fico administration’s policy agenda.

    The protest initiative was organized by a coalition of four opposition political groups: the Progressive Slovakia party, Freedom and Solidarity, the Christian Democrats, and the Democrats. Speaking to the assembled crowd in Bratislava, Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Šimečka framed the fight over overseas voting as an existential battle for Slovak democracy, echoing the stakes Hungarians faced just days earlier.

    Šimečka argued that Fico’s proposed legislation would effectively disenfranchise tens of thousands of Slovak citizens who have settled outside the country’s borders. Under the new plan, the only option for overseas voters would be to cast ballots in person at Slovak embassies and consulates — a requirement that creates major logistical barriers for many citizens living far from diplomatic outposts. As he spoke, the crowd chanted repeatedly: “Shame, shame.”

    “It is obvious the government is pushing this change because they are afraid,” Šimečka told demonstrators. “They are afraid of the people, they are afraid of free elections, they are afraid of losing power.” The draft legislation is scheduled to go under formal debate during the current sitting of the Slovak parliament, leaving the window open for urgent political pushback from opposition lawmakers.

    Data from the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election underscores why Fico’s party has targeted overseas postal voting. In that election, nearly 59,000 Slovaks living abroad cast mail-in ballots. Fico’s Smer (Direction) party captured just 6.1 percent of that overseas vote, while the unified opposition won more than 80 percent of support from citizens voting from outside the country. Fico has defended the policy change by claiming it is necessary to “prevent electoral fraud and manipulations,” a framing opposition leaders dismiss as a baseless pretext to suppress anti-government votes.

    Beyond the capital Bratislava, demonstrations were also held in major Slovak cities including Košice and Banská Bystrica. Solidarity rallies were also organized by Slovak expats outside the country, including in the EU capital Brussels and Prague, the capital of neighboring Czech Republic. Slovakia, a Central European nation with a total population of 5.4 million, is not scheduled to hold its next general election until 2027 — but the fight over electoral rules has already reignited a tense political standoff between Fico’s populist government and pro-Western, pro-European opposition forces.