Tunisian authorities have frozen the financial assets of the former speaker of the dissolved Parliament, Rached Ghannouchi, and nine other people.

In a statement, the Financial Analysis Committee of Tunisia's Central Bank said the move was taken upon a request from an anti-terrorism judge.
The list of people includes Ghannouchi’s son Moadh, former Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem.
No details were provided about the case and there was no comment from Ghannouchi or other people on the decision.
Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that aggravated the country's economic conditions since President Kais Saied ousted the government, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority in July 2021. He later dissolved the assembly after lawmakers held a session to revoke his measures.
While Saied insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

List includes 9 other people, including ex-prime minister Hamadi Jebali

Tunisian authorities freeze bank accounts of former parliament speaker

Canada has become the first country to ratify Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids, the country's prime minister announced, as member states signed accession protocols for the Nordic countries on Tuesday.

- Canada has full confidence in Finland and Sweden's ability to integrate quickly and effectively into NATO and contribute to the Alliance’s collective defence - Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
- Their membership will make NATO stronger and we call on all NATO members to move swiftly to complete their ratification processes to limit opportunities for interference by adversaries - he added.

Representatives from NATO's 30 member states signed accession protocols for Finland and Sweden, after formally inviting them to the military alliance at the historic summit in Madrid last week.

The accession protocols need to be ratified by the parliaments of all members. Canada’s House of Commons debated and voted on a motion signaling their support on June 1 and June 2, respectively, ahead of closing for the summer break.
In May, the parliament's Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security had adopted a motion expressing “strong support” for the Scandinavian countries’ NATO membership, and called on all members to approve their applications “as quickly as possible.”
- Canada enthusiastically supports Finland and Sweden joining NATO. This morning, we were the first to formally ratify their accession to the Alliance. We are stronger together - Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie tweeted on Tuesday.

Canada has full confidence in Finland and Sweden's ability to integrate quickly and effectively into NATO, PM Trudeau says

Canada has full confidence in Finland and Sweden's ability to integrate quickly and effectively into NATO

Canada 1st country to ratify Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids

Authorities in the city of San Antonio in the US state of Texas discovered a gruesome scene Monday after at least 46 people were found dead in a tractor-trailer near Lackland Air Force Base.

The bodies were found in an 18-wheeler next to a set of railroad tracks in a secluded area in the southwest part of the city near the intersection of Cassin Drive and Quintana Road.
Police say temperatures in South Central Texas reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) on Monday when the bodies were discovered.
- It’s probably close to 100 (degrees) in the truck - a law enforcement official said in an interview, adding that "about half" of the group were likely dead.&nbsp;At least 16 other people were taken to a hospital for treatment.Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are on the scene and believe the bodies were those of migrants.
The US-Mexico border is a gateway for cross-border smuggling and human trafficking, but the sweltering summer heat in Texas makes this illegal activity even more dangerous as temperatures consistently reach and surpass the 100-degree mark.

It’s probably close to 100 (degrees Fahrenheit) in the truck - says law enforcement official

At least 16 other people were taken to a hospital for treatment

At least 46 people dead after being found in 18-wheeler in US state of Texas

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to take part in the G20 summit in Indonesia in November, his aide announced Monday.

But the decision about the format, in-person attendance or videoconference, has not been made yet, Yury Ushakov said at a press briefing in Moscow.
- Yes, we have confirmed (his) participation. They have invited (him) to an offline meeting, but there is a lot of time. I hope that the pandemic will allow this important forum to be held in an offline format - he said.

He noted that Indonesia sent an official invitation despite strong pressure from Western countries.

The format of participation will be discussed at Putin's meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who will pay an official visit to Russia on June 30, Ushakov noted.
- We thanked (Indonesia) for the invitation and said we would be interested in participating. There's still a lot of time. We'll see. So far, that's it - he added.

It has not been decided yet whether he will take part via video conference or attend event in-person, says president’s aide

Putin accepts invitation to G20 summit in Indonesia

Oil prices surged on Tuesday amid likely sanctions on Russia by G7 countries, including a price cap on oil exports.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $112.62 per barrel at 0640 GMT for a 1.48% increase after closing the previous session at $110.98 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $111.15 per barrel at the same time for a 1.44% gain after the previous session closed at $109.57 a barrel.

The US and EU on Monday agreed to step up energy security cooperation with the end goal of further reducing Russia's revenues from oil and gas.
The leaders of the G7 countries are discussing a price cap on Russian oil to tackle inflation and reduce dependence on Russian supplies. By setting a limit on the price Russia can charge for its oil, Western countries hope to curtail Moscow's revenues while at the same time allowing more oil supply to reach the global market.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting on Monday, France called on oil-producing countries to increase their production "exceptionally" and to carry forward negotiations to allow the return of oil from Iran and Venezuela back on the market to overcome the energy crisis.

Oil producers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, along with 10 other non-OPEC members, including Russia, known as OPEC+, are expected to remain loyal to the plan of increasing oil production for August at Thursday's OPEC+ meeting.
In its last meeting, the OPEC+ group decided to increase production by 648,000 barrels in July and August.

France wants increased global oil output and return of oil from Iran and Venezuela

Oil prices increase with new G7 sanctions on Russia

A German court on Tuesday sentenced a former Nazi concentration camp guard to five years in prison after convicting him of accessory to murder, according to local media.

The Neuruppin regional court in the northeastern state of Brandenburg sentenced Josef S. over his involvement in the murders of 3,518 people at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1942 and 1945.
Josef S. pleaded innocent throughout the trial which started last October. He claimed that he worked as an agricultural worker near the Pasewalk city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state during the said period.

However, the prosecution presented documents to prove that Josef S. worked in the concentration camp. While the prosecutors demanded that the defendant be sentenced to five years in prison, the former guard's lawyers wanted his acquittal.

The case, which was interrupted many times due to the 101-year-old defendant's health problems, was held at a gym in the city of Brandenburg, where Josef S. resides.
The 101-year-old man is reportedly the oldest person to have ever faced trial over Nazi crimes and to be found guilty.

Local court convicts Josef S. over his involvement in murders of over 3,500 people at Sachsenhausen camp between 1942-1945

Germany sentences 101-year-old ex-Nazi camp guard to 5 years in jail

Russia on Tuesday blacklisted 25 more US citizens, including Jill and Ashley Biden, the wife and daughter of US President Joe Biden.

The restrictive measures are imposed in response to constantly expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

<h2>1,048 US citizens are banned from entering Russia</h2>

The rest of the banned people take part in the work of the so-called Yermak-McFaul group – an international group headed by Andriy Yermak, chief of Ukraine's presidential office, and Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, which develops recommendations on anti-Russian restrictions.

Currently, the list of US citizens banned from entering Russia permanently includes 1,048 names.
In a separate statement, the ministry said it summoned Swedish Charge d'Affaires Johannes Danielsson and told him that the activities of the Swedish Institute and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in Russia are "undesirable" and must be immediately stopped.

<h2>Development of bilateral humanitarian and environmental cooperation</h2>

- Currently, the projects implemented on the territory of the Russian Federation by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Swedish Institute (...) do not meet the stated goals of promoting the development of bilateral humanitarian and environmental cooperation, but focus on the desire to destabilize Russian society.

The financing of such projects, despite repeated reminders from the Russian side about the need to make them transparent, was not transparent - the ministry said.
It pointed out that since the beginning of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, Sweden openly stated that the financing of the organizations will be directed toward the support of "Russian democratic, human rights, environmental NGOs, and independent media."

Moscow blacklists 25 more US citizens, bans 2 Swedish organizations

Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States

Russia bans US president’s wife, daughter from entry

<a href="https://avaz.ba/tag/108131/joe-biden-en">President Joe Biden on Friday slammed a decision</a> by Supreme Court on abortion, saying it took the US back 150 years.

"The court laid out state laws criminalizing abortion that go back to the 1800s … the court literally taking America back 150 years," Biden said at a news conference. "It's a sad day for the country, but it doesn't mean the fight is over."
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade case, ending the constitutional right to abortion. In a 6-3 vote, the court struck down the 1973 case that guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion for about 50 years.
The US president said women have the power to control their own destiny, adding: "With Roe gone, let's be very clear. The health and life of women in this nation are now at risk."
The ruling sparked backlash among many, including former President Barack Obama, non-governmental organizations, and Amnesty International. The court's headquarters was surrounded by people protesting the ruling.
Biden said the protests should be peaceful.
"Violence is never acceptable. Threats and intimidation are not speech. We must stand against violence in any form, regardless of your rationale," he added.
The president also called on Congress to restore the right to abortion as federal law.

It's a sad day for the country, but it doesn't mean the fight is over, says US president

Biden: Supreme Court ruling on abortion "taking America back 150 years"

Billionaire Elon Musk said he wants Twitter to reach 1 billion users but hinted at layoffs in his first meeting with company employees ahead of his $44 billion purchase deal. 

Musk said Twitter should ensure users are "entertained and informed" while using the platform when he was asked about how the company can grow during a 45-minute meeting Thursday.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he wants Twitter to become more like WeChat -- the Chinese super app that includes instant messaging, social media, mobile payment, games and ride-hailing with more than 1 billion users.

He complimented Chinese short-video hosting service TikTok’s algorithm, calling it "not boring" and said Twitter could be interesting in the same way.
On the financial side, Musk reiterated his demand for paid subscriptions, arguing that users should be charged to keep informed and be verified.
Noting that he is very involved in every process of Tesla as a CEO, Musk said he would undertake a similar role with Twitter.

The billionaire also stressed the importance of cracking down on bots and spam on the platform - an issue he raised in May that almost derailed the deal when he said he estimates at least 20% of all Twitter accounts could be fake or spam accounts, which is four times what Twitter claims of being less than 5%.

If the deal is approved, Musk said there could be major changes to the company, from financial discipline to cost-cutting, and he hinted job cuts are on the table.
Current CEO Parag Agrawal told staff earlier that layoffs were not planned for the company that has more than 7,000 employees, of which around a quarter work remotely.
Musk said the staff it is better if they are physically in the office but noted that employees with special exceptions may work from home.

Musk want platform to be more like Chinese super app WeChat; wants users "entertained and informed"

Musk said Twitter should ensure users are "entertained and informed"

Elon Musk wants 1 billion Twitter users, hints at layoffs in first meeting with company

Pre-monsoon rains killed at least seven people, flooding large parts of Pakistan in the past 24 hours, officials and local media said on Sunday.&nbsp;Flashfloods washed away several bridges and roads, submerged farmlands, and knocked out power in many parts of the southwestern Balochistan province, which is worst-hit by the pre-monsoon season.
Torrential downpours also hit the northeastern Punjab and northern Gilgit-Baltistan regions, as well as Pakistan-administered Kashmir, triggering landslides and disconnecting several areas from the rest of the country.
At least five people were killed and three others injured when a vehicle was swept away by flashfloods in the Sibbi district of Balochistan, local broadcaster Hum News reported.&nbsp;Another two people were killed and several injured after the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rains in Punjab's Dera Ghazi Khan district, police said.Rescuers were battling to rescue at least six people trapped under the rubble after the roof of a house collapsed in the Pind Dadan Khan town of Punjab, Hum News reported.
Pakistan's Meteorological Department issued warnings of more rains and hailstorms flanked by heavy winds across the country for another two days.
Pre-monsoon rains have long been a regular menace to the South Asian country, but the climate change has increased their frequency and unpredictability over the past few years.

Pre-monsoon rains inundate large stretches, flashfloods cause outage

Flashfloods washed away several bridges and roads

Torrential rains kill 7 in Pakistan, trigger flashfloods

A shooting in the US capital of Washington, D.C. on Sunday left a 15-year-old boy dead and three others injured, including a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer.

According to Police Chief Robert Contee, the victims were shot at the intersection of 14th and U streets in northwest Washington around 6 PM Eastern Time (2200GMT).
The shooting took place during a Juneteenth celebration event which Contee said was unpermitted.&nbsp;The police officer and two injured adults are recovering at area hospitals, Contee told reporters at a press conference.&nbsp;He also said a handgun had been used at the shooting and police did not fire on the suspect.Asked whether the boy who was killed was targeted or not, Contee said he just does not know and the authorities are at the preliminary stages of an investigation.
- This is unacceptable...We need to make sure that individuals are held accountable for their actions - he added.
The shooting came a day after an incident at a Virginia mall.
On Saturday, a person fired a gun after a fight broke out between a small group of people and a Black man at Tysons Corner Center shopping mall, causing hundreds of people to flee and seek shelter. No casualties occurred.

Incident occurs during Juneteenth celebration event, which police say was unpermitted

The shooting came a day after an incident at a Virginia mall

Shooting in US capital leaves teenager dead, 3 others wounded

More than 20 people, including displaced people, were killed on Sunday near Menaka in northeastern Mali, a pro-government armed group said Wednesday.

- Armed men broke into a camp not far from the locality of Izingaz, commune of Ihinita, circle of Tidermene, Menaka region, on June 12, 2022, and proceeded to the summary execution of 22 people, including displaced persons who had come to seek refuge in this area - the Platform of the June 14 Movements of Algiers group said in a statement.
Serious violations of human rights and life were perpetrated by terrorists affiliated with the Daesh/ISIS terror group operating on motorcycles, it said.
The group demanded an investigation by the competent authorities, human rights organizations and the UN mission in Mali.&nbsp;It pledged to "do everything possible to ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished."Mali is one of the Sahel countries under the yoke of terrorism. Armed attacks are recurrent and operated by terror groups affiliated with Daesh/ISIS.
The French military announced Wednesday that it succeeded in capturing Ould Albakaye, the terror group leader in Gourma in Mali and Oudalan in northern Burkina Faso, during an operation by the anti-terrorist force Barkhane on the night of June 11-12.​​​​​​​

Displaced refugees among victims, security source says

Armed men broke into a camp not far from the locality of Izingaz

Daesh/ISIS terrorists kill at least 22 people in northeastern Mali

The World Bank announced Thursday that it will give Somalia $100 million in the next 12 months to address the government's priorities.

The announcement comes after the bank’s country director Kristina Svensson met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the nation’s capital of Mogadishu.
They discussed strengthening the cooperation between Somalia and the bank, according to Somali National Television.
The support comes as the Horn of Africa country is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in 40 years that has displaced hundreds of thousands.&nbsp;More than 7.1 million Somalis, close to 50% of the population, are facing extreme hunger due to famine-like conditions, according to United Nations.Nearly 800,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since 2021 in search of food, water and pasture for their animals.
Mohamud, who was elected last month, has made the drought his first priority and called for immediate international support to avert famine.
The World Bank Board of Directors approved a $55 million International Development Assistance (IDA) grant in 2020 to support Somalia’s economic recovery through continued fiscal and other economic policy reforms to strengthen fiscal management and promote inclusive private sector-led growth.

Announcement comes as country experiencing one of worst droughts in 4 decades

The support comes as the Horn of Africa country is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in 40 years

Somalia to receive $100 million from World Bank

Italy wants Ukraine in the European Union, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in Kyiv after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday.

- The most important message of our visit is that Italy wants Ukraine in the EU, it wants it to have the status of candidate and it will keep this position in the upcoming European Council - Draghi said, adding that the process to include Ukraine in the EU was “a road to be travelled on, not only a step."

The four European leaders traveled to Kyiv to show their support to Ukraine and its leader for the first time since Russia’s war that began late February.

At a joint press conference, the Italian premier said the EU wanted peace, but "Kyiv must be able to defend itself from Moscow's aggression."Before heading to the Ukrainian capital, the leaders visited the heavily-hit city of Irpin, where “I felt horror and hope, hope for reconstruction and the future," Draghi said.

The Italian premier added that it would take two weeks to demine Ukrainian ports and allow the exports of grain, as well as humanitarian corridors, making the harvest available at the end of September and imposing stringent deadlines.

- We must create safe corridors with the utmost urgency for grain to avert a catastrophe - Draghi said, noting that the only way was a UN resolution regulating navigation in the Black Sea, "which Russia has so far refused."
Draghi said Italy would back an investigation over suspected Russian war crimes, which he firmly condemned.

In 1st trip to Ukraine since Russia’s war, leaders of Italy, France, Germany and Romania reiterate their strong backing to Ukrainian people

Italy wants Ukraine in EU, PM Draghi says during Kyiv visit

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday received a written message from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on bilateral relations between the two Gulf neighbors.

The message was delivered by Saudi Ambassador Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, who discussed with the Qatari ruler ways of boosting relations between Doha and Riyadh, the state news agency QNA reported.
The message came as US President Joe Biden plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month where he will hold a summit with the leaders of the Gulf countries as well as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.
On Saturday, Biden announced that any trip to Saudi Arabia would be for a "larger meeting" on regional security.
In January 2021, relations between Doha and Riyadh witnessed positive steps after signing a reconciliation agreement in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, which brought down the curtain on the Gulf crisis that broke out in the summer of 2017.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have made efforts to develop their bilateral relations, after four years of a rupture.

US President Joe Biden plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month

The message came as US President Joe Biden plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi king on bilateral ties

NATO "will chart the way ahead for the next decade" at its June summit in the Spanish capital Madrid, the alliance’s chief said on Monday.

- We will reset our deterrence and defense for a more dangerous world - Jens Stoltenberg said at a ceremony in Spain marking the 40th anniversary of the country’s accession to NATO.
He recalled that a 1997 summit in Madrid opened talks on the eventual NATO membership of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.
- That summit marked a new age of hope and aspiration. NATO’s open door and the European Union's enlargement helped spread freedom, democracy and prosperity across Europe. It was, and remains, a historic success - said Stoltenberg.

He said next month’s meeting in Madrid will be "another historic summit."
“Russia is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine. Authoritarian regimes seek to undermine the rules-based international order. China’s coercive policies challenge our interests, security and values," he said, adding China has joined Russia in openly contesting the right of each and every country to choose its own path.
According to Stoltenberg, NATO is aiming to “deepen our cooperation with like-minded countries and organizations, including the European Union and countries in the Indo Pacific.”
- The Madrid summit is an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to NATO’s values and the vital importance of Europe and North America working together in NATO - he said.
Stoltenberg, who was joined at the event by Spain’s King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, confirmed that Finland and Sweden – the latest European countries seeking NATO membership – will also attend the summit scheduled for June 29-30.

<h2>Protecting democracy and freedom</h2>

For his part, Sanchez reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to increase its defense spending in the coming years.

- The war in Ukraine has opened the eyes of our societies. Many people have understood our safety and security are not guaranteed indefinitely - he said.
Protecting democracy and freedom "requires modern, capable and available military capabilities that can only be acquired by increasing our investment in defense," he added.
Earlier this March, Sanchez announced Spain will gradually hike its defense budget, which currently accounts for 1.3% of its economic output, to 2% in a multiyear period.

Tunisian authorities freeze bank accounts of former parliament speaker

Canada 1st country to ratify Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids

At least 46 people dead after being found in 18-wheeler in US state of Texas

Putin accepts invitation to G20 summit in Indonesia

Oil prices increase with new G7 sanctions on Russia

Germany sentences 101-year-old ex-Nazi camp guard to 5 years in jail

Russia bans US president’s wife, daughter from entry

Biden: Supreme Court ruling on abortion "taking America back 150 years"

Elon Musk wants 1 billion Twitter users, hints at layoffs in first meeting with company

Torrential rains kill 7 in Pakistan, trigger flashfloods

Shooting in US capital leaves teenager dead, 3 others wounded

Daesh/ISIS terrorists kill at least 22 people in northeastern Mali

Somalia to receive $100 million from World Bank

Italy wants Ukraine in EU, PM Draghi says during Kyiv visit

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi king on bilateral ties

Stoltenberg: NATO to chart "way ahead for next decade"

World

Tunisian authorities freeze bank accounts of former parliament speaker

Canada 1st country to ratify Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids

At least 46 people dead after being found in 18-wheeler in US state of Texas

Putin accepts invitation to G20 summit in Indonesia

Oil prices increase with new G7 sanctions on Russia

Germany sentences 101-year-old ex-Nazi camp guard to 5 years in jail

Russia bans US president’s wife, daughter from entry

Biden: Supreme Court ruling on abortion "taking America back 150 years"

Elon Musk wants 1 billion Twitter users, hints at layoffs in first meeting with company

Torrential rains kill 7 in Pakistan, trigger flashfloods

Shooting in US capital leaves teenager dead, 3 others wounded

Daesh/ISIS terrorists kill at least 22 people in northeastern Mali

Somalia to receive $100 million from World Bank

Italy wants Ukraine in EU, PM Draghi says during Kyiv visit

Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi king on bilateral ties

Stoltenberg: NATO to chart "way ahead for next decade"