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An Israeli footballer, Menashe Zalka, has been caught on camera opening fire in southern Lebanon while dressed in a military uniform, prompting widespread outrage and calls for FIFA to take action against him and the Israeli Football Association (IFA).The video, verified by Al Jazeera, shows Zalka, who plays for Hapoel Hadera in the Israeli Premier League, accompanied by another Israeli army soldier, firing from a damaged building in a residential area.This incident has renewed calls for FIFA to ban the IFA, which was recently fined $189,000 for multiple breaches of anti-discrimination obligations. The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and fans have accused FIFA and UEFA of double standards, citing the swift sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Zalka's involvement in Israel's military assault has been termed "unacceptable" by a Palestinian football official, with many fans and experts questioning FIFA's lack of action. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the role of sports in politics and the responsibility of international sports governing bodies to address human rights abuses.

Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, is set to warn G7 nations that they must move faster on clean energy to insulate economies against global price shocks from oil and gas. This comes as she and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband meet with G7 finance and energy ministers.Reeves will emphasize that long-term energy security from renewables and nuclear is the only way to prevent future crises, in a rebuke to the Conservatives and Reform who have urged her to end the ban on new oil and gas licenses.“As we move faster on renewables and nuclear, our partners in the G7 must do the same – because staying stuck on the rollercoaster of global oil and gas prices will help nobody,” Reeves stated.Reeves will argue that the G7 nations should not “shift pressure on to partners or weaken collective resilience” – a veiled warning about easing sanctions on Russian energy or on new trade barriers.The UK government plans to implement the Fingleton review this year to speed up the delivery of new nuclear power.Reeves rejected calls from the Conservatives to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, stating they would not insulate the UK from further energy shocks or bring down UK consumers’ bills.

Donald Trump has indicated a shift in his administration's stance on oil shipments to Cuba, stating that he has 'no problem' with countries sending oil to the island, whether it's Russia or not. This development comes as a Russian oil tanker, under US sanctions, was set to arrive in the Caribbean island. The Russian tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, could soon discharge at Cuba's Matanzas port. This shipment would provide significant relief to Cuba, which has not received any oil imports for three months, leading to strict rationing of gasoline and exacerbating an energy crisis that has resulted in multiple power outages across the island. Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January when US forces captured Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro. Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about 'taking' the island. The US oil blockade has forced Cuba to impose emergency measures to conserve fuel, including strict rationing of gasoline. Fuel prices have soared, public transport has dwindled, and some airlines have suspended flights to Cuba, hitting the country's fragile economy. Jorge Pinon, an expert on Cuba's energy sector at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that once the Russian tanker enters Cuban waters, it 'is almost impossible for the US government to stop it.' The Russian shipment could be converted into 250,000 barrels of diesel, enough to cover the country's demand for about 12.5 days, according to Pinon.

Analysts have expressed concerns that former US President Donald Trump misunderstands the evolving reality in Iran. According to experts, the situation in Iran has significantly changed, but it appears that Trump has not adjusted his perspective accordingly.The analysts' comments come amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. The relationship between the two nations has been strained for years, with issues such as nuclear diplomacy, economic sanctions, and regional influence contributing to the friction.While specific details about Trump's current views on Iran are not provided, the analysts' warnings suggest a disconnect between Trump's understanding and the current geopolitical landscape. This disconnect could have implications for future diplomatic efforts and international relations.

A United States judge has ruled that he will not dismiss the drug-trafficking and weapons possession charges brought against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.In a Thursday court hearing, Judge Alvin Hellerstein questioned whether the US government has the right to bar Venezuela from funding Maduro's legal expenses. The hearing was the first for Maduro and his wife since a brief January arraignment, where they pleaded not guilty.Maduro and Flores have sought to have the charges against them thrown out. Hellerstein declined to do so, but he pressed the prosecution on some of the issues Maduro's legal team raised in its petition to dismiss the case. Among them was a decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to prevent the Venezuelan government from financing Maduro's defence.Federal prosecutors argued that national security reasons prevented the US from allowing such payments. They also pointed to ongoing sanctions against the Venezuelan government. But Hellerstein pushed back against that argument, noting that Trump had eased sanctions against Venezuela since Maduro's abduction on January 3. He also questioned how Maduro might pose a security threat while imprisoned in New York.“The defendant is here. Flores is here. They present no further national security threat,” said Hellerstein. “I see no abiding interest of national security on the right to defend themselves.”Hellerstein emphasised that, in the US, all criminal defendants have the right to a vigorous defence, as part of the US Constitution's Sixth Amendment. Maduro, who led Venezuela from 2013 to 2026, has been charged with four criminal counts, including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, the possession of machine guns and the conspiracy to possess machine guns and other destructive devices.He and his wife were taken into US custody on January 3, after Trump launched an attack on Venezuela. The Trump administration has framed the military operation as a “law enforcement function”, but experts say it was widely considered illegal under international law, which protects local sovereignty.Trump himself weighed in on the proceedings during a Thursday US Cabinet meeting, hinting that further charges could be brought against Maduro. “He emptied his prisons in Venezuela, emptied his prisons into our country,” Trump said of Maduro, reiterating an unsubstantiated claim. “And I hope that charge will be brought at some point. Because that was a big charge that hasn’t been brought yet. It should be brought.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have signed a friendship treaty aimed at deepening ties between their countries. Both leaders are close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin.The treaty was signed on Thursday during Lukashenko's two-day trip to Pyongyang. He told Kim that relations between their countries were entering a 'fundamentally new stage', according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta.Lukashenko emphasized the need for independent countries to cooperate closely in today's global transformation, where global powers often ignore and violate international law. Kim expressed opposition to undue pressure on Belarus from the West.The North Korean leader gave Lukashenko a lavish welcome, including a white-horsed cavalry, flag-waving children, and a 21-cannon salute. Both nations have backed Russia's war in Ukraine.Kim has reportedly provided Moscow with ammunition and sent soldiers to help Russia expel Ukrainian forces from its western region of Kursk in 2024. Lukashenko allowed Belarus to be used as a launchpad for Russia's invasion in February 2022 and has agreed to allow Russian tactical nuclear missiles on its territory.The Belarusian leader, in power since 1994, is politically and economically dependent on Putin. North Korea and Belarus conduct a small volume of trade but share long experience of surviving under international sanctions. North Korea has been sanctioned due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and Belarus over its human rights record and backing for Putin in Ukraine.

Former US President Donald Trump has stated that Iranian leaders are eager for a deal, but are hesitant due to fear of US retaliation. Trump's comments come amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. The Iranian government has been seeking a new agreement, but fears of potential US sanctions and military action have complicated negotiations.The situation remains complex, with Iranian leaders walking a tightrope between economic needs and geopolitical risks. Trump's remarks highlight the deep-seated concerns and mistrust that continue to characterize US-Iran relations.

As Israeli settlers intensify violent attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, often while Israeli forces stand by, a notable shift is occurring in US political circles. Even staunch supporters of Israel within the Democratic party are now publicly denouncing the escalating violence.In recent days, dozens of settlers have engaged in apparently coordinated attacks, torching homes and vehicles while targeting Palestinian civilians. Since the beginning of the month, Israeli settlers and police have killed at least 10 Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, including two young brothers and their parents who were returning from a Ramadan shopping trip.Among the voices breaking ranks is Ritchie Torres, a New York Democratic representative and one of Israel's most ardent supporters in Congress. In a statement this week, he declared that "the crisis of extremist settler violence in the West Bank must be confronted, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He called for "zero tolerance for violent extremism, no matter what form it takes."Another pro-Israel Democrat, Daniel Goldman of New York, condemned the violence as an "outrage" and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring to vote proposed legislation seeking to impose sanctions against those "undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts." He also criticized the Trump administration for rescinding sanctions against violent settlers that had been issued under the Biden administration.Several other Aipac-backed politicians have joined the condemnation, including Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, who called on the Israeli government to "stop being complicit," and Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, who labeled the attacks "acts of terrorism." Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown accused Trump of "green-lighting settler violence," while Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen stated that "violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank is a national security threat to Israel and must be treated as such."The political shift comes as US public support for Israel has plummeted. An NBC News poll found that two-thirds of Democrats now say their sympathies lie with Palestinians over Israelis—a dramatic reversal with significant implications for upcoming elections. Meanwhile, 68% of Republicans continue to express stronger support for Israel.A Guardian analysis revealed that Israel has not prosecuted any of its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of the decade. The UN has warned that the Israeli government has accelerated illegal settlement expansion, forcibly displacing approximately 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past year.Political analysts suggest these pro-Israel Democrats are "trapped between the money they've relied on to make their campaigns work and the voters they actually need to win," with condemnation of settler violence offering a way to express discontent without challenging the Israeli state itself.

The United States has recently presented a 15-point plan as part of its ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran. This proposal is seen as a significant move in the complex and often tense relationship between the two nations. While specific details of the plan have not been disclosed, it is understood to cover a range of critical issues that have been points of contention between the US and Iran. These may include nuclear negotiations, economic sanctions, and regional security concerns. The proposal comes at a time when diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran have been intensifying, with both sides seeking to find common ground to address their differences. The Iran nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew in 2018, remains a central point of discussion, with the US pushing for stricter controls on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The international community has been closely watching these developments, given the potential impact on global security and energy markets. A successful negotiation could lead to a more stable Middle East and lower oil prices, while a failure could exacerbate tensions and lead to further instability.