#Trump threatens to ‘hit Iran very hard again’ over support for Hezbollah.

OBBUERGEN, Switzerland — Negotiators expected to work through the night after high-level U.S.-Iran talks on their interim deal to end the war had a tense start Sunday in Switzerland, when Tehran took offense at President Donald Trump‘s threat to attack and his warning that Iran’s president should watch what he says.

The comments from afar — on social media and to news outlets — complicated efforts by Vice President JD Vance and mediators Pakistan and Qatar to keep Iran engaged in discussions meant to address thorny issues like Tehran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets.

Before anything, however, Iran wants to discuss Lebanon, where Israel’s military has been fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, since the deal halts conflict on all fronts.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump said on social media. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”

“They would do better to be careful about their statements,” Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on X after Trump’s comments. “Our armed forces are prepared to respond to them in a different manner. They may keep talking, it is we who act.”

Iranian state media said talks had entered a “difficult phase” and recessed after the “publication of an insulting message by the U.S. President.” The Iranian delegation then met with Qatari mediators and left the negotiating site, state media said.

Vance and U.S. negotiators including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, had met with Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for what Iranian state media said was about 80 minutes.

It was not clear when they might meet again. Negotiators were anticipating working through the night, according to a senior U.S. diplomat engaged in the talks.

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions, said talks included clarifying what Iran meant by recent statements about the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiators also discussed “mechanisms” to ensure the strait remains open and that a ceasefire in southern Lebanon is enforced, along with “robust” discussions on the nuclear issue.

Iran first wants to focus on Israeli strikes in Lebanon

Negotiators are in a 60-day sprint to reach an agreement on the technical details that hold massive implications for the world economy and global security.

“The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?” Vance said as the talks began, and asked whether they could “change relations in the Middle East permanently.”

The U.S. wants Iran locked into negotiations over its nuclear program amid concerns it may be used for military purposes, which Iran denies. Vance also wants Tehran to commit to keeping open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran on Saturday claimed to close. The U.S. has disputed that, saying shipping traffic continued Sunday.

But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told the state news agency that Tehran first wants talks to focus on the conflict in Lebanon.

A renewed ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered on Saturday, appeared to be holding, and Israel’s military said it would lift movement restrictions for residents near the border with Lebanon on Monday morning — another sign of calm.

But neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the U.S.-Iran deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep his forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to halt attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing.

#Israeli strikes in #Gaza kill 6, including 2 children and an Al Jazeera cameraman.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza — Israeli strikes in Gaza on Saturday killed at least six people, including two children and a cameraman with broadcaster Al Jazeera, according to Palestinian health officials.

Despite an October ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas, the enclave has seen near-daily Israeli attacks that have killed over 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The first strike on Saturday hit an apartment in Gaza City around 2 a.m., according to the ministry. At the site, an Associated Press reporter saw rubble and chunks of concrete stained with blood.

The bodies of two sisters, 4-year-old Zina and 14-year-old Lana, were sent to Shifa Hospital’s morgue, where they lay in white hospital bags, surrounded by family members.

“I was sitting at home. The rocket fell on us without a warning,” said their cousin, Mohammad Safadi, whose forehead was wounded. He said his wife was also hurt.

“This ceasefire the occupation and the negotiation team speak of … is this really a ceasefire? We are civilians. I never held a weapon,” Safadi said.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.

On Saturday evening, three Israeli strikes killed four people and wounded at least a dozen others.

The first hit a house in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp without warning, killing three people, including Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah, according to Al-Aqsa hospital. Al Jazeera confirmed Wishah’s death.

Wishah’s brother Mohamed, who was a correspondent for Al Jazeera, was killed in an Israeli strike in April.

Another strike on Saturday targeted a group of people in the sprawling tent camp of Muwasi in southern Gaza, killing one and wounding eight others, according to Nasser hospital, where the casualties were taken.

A third strike in Gaza City targeted a group of people and wounded at least four, according to Shifa hospital.

The Israeli military in a statement said it killed the Al Jazeera cameraman in a “precise strike.” It asserted that he had been part of Hamas’ military wing and had posed a threat to troops in the area.

Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 73,018 Palestinians, including those slain since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records that are generally considered reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.

Wafaa Shurafa, The Associated Press

#BREAKING: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and outline a timetable for his departure, according to #UK media reports.

Canada’s Koné has long road ahead after World Cup injury, doctors say. Canada celebrated its first-ever World Cup victory Thursday night, but Ismaël Koné spent the aftermath in a Vancouver operating room.

The 24-year-old Montrealer, who was a key player for Canada, underwent surgery after breaking his left leg in the 6-0 win over Qatar. Koné fractured both the tibia and fibula following a tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo and was carried off the field on a stretcher.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch said the injury happened in front of the bench, and that you could hear the “bone snap.”
By Friday, Marsch provided an optimistic update under the circumstances.

“He had a tib-fib fracture, but they did the surgery last night,” said Marsch. “The doctor said it went perfectly. And ... Ismael’s already been up this morning.”

“Just up in his bed, and then he sent a video message to the guys, so, he was in good spirits.”

Dr. Jihad Abouali, an orthopaedic sports surgeon and former team surgeon for Toronto FC, watched the match live on TV and knew immediately it was serious for Koné.

“I knew something bad happened right away, just from his reaction and the opposing player’s reaction,” Abouali said.

“There was an audible snapping sound, so definitely sounded like a bone being fractured.” The tibia is the leg’s main weight-bearing bone, while the fibula provides stability.

Asked how painful it would be, Abouali noted Koné was likely in shock.

“So he seemed to be taking it well,” he said. “He’s obviously a tough player.”

Marsch revealed that three top surgeons from Vancouver General Hospital operated on Koné’s leg — and that all three had been watching the game on TV before rushing to the hospital, TSN’s James Duthie reported.

“It does require an operation, likely to put a rod down the middle of his bone, down the tibia,” Abouali said. “Once that rod is in, it’s stabilized by a couple of screws, which is a very strong implant, so you can walk on it right away.” Abouali estimated Koné could be back training on the pitch in roughly five or six months, and said it make take a few months after that to get into full game shape, given how explosive a player he is.

Crucially, Abouali does not believe the injury is career threatening.

“I would not think so. Severe fractures are common injuries. Patients and athletes like do very well after this operation, and we’ve come a long way in doing these techniques, minimally invasive.” he said. “We’re gonna miss him on the field, but I do believe he’ll make a strong recovery.”

Dr. Aaron Nauth is an orthopaedic trauma and sports medicine surgeon at St. Michael’s hospital in Toronto. He also believes Koné will make a full recovery.

“It’s obviously a pretty devastating injury for a high-level athlete that spends a lot of time running and jumping and kicking,” said Nauth. “But it’s certainly something that you can recover from after an appropriate period of time.”

As for whether he will have any lingering effects after the recovery, Nauth doesn’t think so.

“I think he should be essentially as good as new after an injury like that.” Koné is the third member of this Canadian program to break a leg in recent years — and Marsch pointedly compared the surgery to those of the other players.

Winger Tajon Buchanan broke his tibia in training during the 2024 Copa América, had surgery in early July, and did not rejoin the national team until that November. Defender Moise Bombito also fractured his leg in club play last October and went through a lengthy rehabilitation.

Bombito, who knows the road ahead better than most, visited Koné in hospital and posted a photo of the two of them together on Instagram. One teammate who has come out the other side standing beside one just starting the journey.

Koné, for his part, struck a grateful tone in his own Instagram post, thanking the fans and players who had reached out.

“Your love and support has been felt, honestly thank you so much,” he wrote. “You can’t even imagine, how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers. I thank god for that because not everyone is this fortunate.”

#Russia is working to repatriate 11 Russian citizens from Azerbaijan, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"It was stressed that the soonest release of our nationals will be an important step toward normalizing and promoting further development of bilateral relations," she said in an interview with Vesti.

Director of the ministry’s fourth CIS countries department, Mikhail Kalugin, told us earlier that the release of 11 Russian nationals who were arrested in Azerbaijan last summer would be a major step toward strengthening relations between the two countries.

The Russians were detained in Azerbaijan in late June 2025, and on July 1 an Azerbaijani court placed them in custody for four months. On October 28, 2025, a court extended their arrest for three more months. The Russian nationals are accused of drug trafficking and cyber fraud.

#France's foreign ministry denies asking for ban of Iranian opposition rally

At least 30 deaths at #Congo camp show Ebola could be spreading fast

Exclusive: U.S. intelligence agencies have warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take steps that will undermine President Trump’s effort to reach a lasting peace deal with Iran.

The US Armed Forces have lifted the naval blockade on Iran and are no longer restricting the movement of vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

"Today, US forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President's direction. American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. All US military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect," the statement said.

#CENTCOM added that #US naval vessels will remain in the region to monitor compliance with the agreements reached. According to the command, their task will be to ensure adherence to all provisions of the agreement and oversee its implementation.

TYRE, Lebanon — Adnan Kaour returned on Thursday to check on his home in southern Lebanon ‘s coastal city of Tyre — once known as an idyllic summer getaway spot — just a week after Israel issued warnings for all of its residents to evacuate.

The warnings were followed by sweeping airstrikes, which Israel said targeted the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group.

What Kaour found back in Tyre shattered his hopes. His dream family apartment overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean Sea was a heap of rubble and shattered glass.

His return came after the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East. The deal also calls for an end to the war in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Hezbollah, but it’s unclear what that means in practice.

Israel and Hezbollah are not parties to the agreement. Iran insists Israel must withdraw from the large swath of southern Lebanon it is occupying, but the wording of the interim deal doesn’t explicitly require that and only ensures Lebanon’s “territorial integrity.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel’s military will stay in a “security zone” of southern Lebanon as long as “Israel’s security needs require it.”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri -- a Hezbollah ally -- said Thursday that the group was committed to the ceasefire, “provided that Israel adheres to it fully and comprehensively.

For its part, Hezbollah has said that it’s committed to resisting any occupation by Israel. Fighting between the two sides, which was still underway on Thursday in some parts of southern Lebanon, could derail the deal.
Many hope the U.S.-Iran deal signals better times

For residents in the south of crisis-battered Lebanon, hopes of better times are mixed with skepticism after many ceasefire announcements that had failed to halt the fighting.

Kaour lives in Germany, but spends most of the summer in Tyre. Last month, when an Israeli strike hit their street without warning, he was abroad with his family.

When he returned, he saw his building, with a popular sweets shop and an electronics store on the ground floor, was still standing, unlike surrounding structures that were levelled to the ground.

But walls and windows had been blasted out. He was relieved his family had not been there, he said.

“I’m hopeful for peace, and God willing this is the end of the war, and everyone can go back to their homes,” he said. “We are living abroad, but our minds are here in our country.”

Outside, the street filled with people trying to clear the rubble.

Kaour’s neighbour one floor above, Samih Haidar, had also just returned and found his door bolted by wooden boards.

He tried to kick them down, but failed, then anxiously waited as two men who had been clearing rubble on another floor came and unscrewed the bolts.

Through a gap, Haidar climbed in. He didn’t know what to expect. He had rented the apartment out to a family displaced from another area in the south, people who came to him through a friend.

His anxiety turned into shock: broken furniture, shattered glass, rubble and a burned out kitchen that had caught fire after the strike. He slowly walked through each room, quietly filming with his phone. He doesn’t know what became of the tenants — displaced from Tyre like scores of others, he presumed.

“We want things to work out and live in safety, so there can be stability for us and everyone else,” Haidar said.
An isolated enclave hopes for reprieve

Farther south, the Christian village of Ain Ebel is one of a few enclaves in Lebanon’s border area where residents have remained during the war. Christian villages, where Hezbollah has little presence, have been largely spared the destruction of neighboring Shiite villages. But they have their own problems.

The village is cut off from the rest of Lebanon by fighting and Israeli checkpoints, relying on aid convoys that require extensive coordination to get through. One such convoy, organized by the Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order, arrived Thursday bearing emergency livestock feed and supplies for farmers.

Cattle farmer Boutros Maroun said people in Ain Ebel are exhausted.

“We don’t care about America and Iran, we want the Lebanese people to live comfortably and happily,” he said. ”Every two years there’s a new war, and we can no longer take it.”

The convoy was delayed in returning to Beirut because of explosives found on the road, which had to be cleared by U.N. peacekeepers.
Fighting pierces a tenuous ceasefire

The fighting subsided but did not stop Thursday. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported several Israeli drone strikes, including one on a car in the town of Kfar Tebnit that killed one person and critically wounded another. Hezbollah later said in a statement that its fighters clashed with Israeli troops trying to advance on the town. Israel did not comment.

To the north, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) away, displaced families huddled along the waterfront in Beirut. Most of them have been sleeping in tents for months, living in limbo. For others, it’s a bench or a mattress on the ground.

Many said they’re not convinced that the U.S.-Iran deal will hold or that they will be able to return to their homes — if they still exist. In the border area close to Israel, many Lebanese villages have been almost completely demolished.

“I haven’t felt relieved at all,” said Mohammed Ashmar, displaced from the border village of Deir Seryan, holding a cup of coffee and sitting near his tent on the waterfront. “Until I get back to my home ... I won’t be convinced of anything.”

The Israel-Hezbollah war has displaced more than 1 million people in Lebanon, and killed more than 3,900, according to Lebanese officials. About 30 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Speaking during a visit by foreign dignitaries on Thursday, Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed said the country faces urgent humanitarian needs but also the daunting task of planning for the return of displaced families and reconstruction of the destroyed areas.

“The Lebanese people deserve peace,” she said. “They deserve to return safely to their homes, rebuild their communities, and look to the future with confidence and hope.”

___

Associated Press journalists Fadi Tawil in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. Hussein reported from Ain Ebel, Lebanon.

Kareem Chehayeb Malak Harb And Bilal Hussein, The Associated Press