International News Briefs for Thursday, June 12, 2025
HAVANA TIMES – Here are some of the top international news stories compiled by Democracy Now on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
No Survivors Expected After Air India Aircraft Carrying at Least 242 People Crashes
Jun 12, 2025
An Air India commercial flight has crashed into a residential area of the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad minutes after taking off. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 plane had at least 242 people on board. AP is reporting there appear to be no survivors from the crash. Boeing has been plagued by major aviation disasters in recent years, but it’s the first such incident on the 787 aircraft.
U.S. Pulls Iraq Embassy Personnel Amid Mounting Fears of Israeli Attack on Iran
Jun 12, 2025
Fear is growing in the Middle East that Israel will soon launch an attack on Iran. The U.S. has already begun pulling some nonessential personnel out of the region, including at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Iran’s defense minister has threatened to target U.S. bases “if a conflict is imposed on us.” Israel appears to be preparing to attack Iran even though the U.S. and Iran are continuing to hold talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Another round of negotiations are set for Sunday. Earlier today, the International Atomic Energy Agency declared Iran in breach of its nonproliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.
This all comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a growing political crisis at home. Earlier today, Netanyahu’s government narrowly survived a vote to dissolve the Knesset.
In related news, former CIA analyst Asif Rahman has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaking classified details last year about Israeli plans to strike Iran.
More Gazans Seeking Aid Amid the 120 Palestinians Killed by Israel Over Past Day
Jun 12, 2025
In Gaza, Israeli forces have killed over 120 Palestinians over the past day, including many at aid sites, bringing the official death toll to over 55,000, though that figure is believed to be a vast undercount. Gaza’s Government Media Office has accused the Israeli military of “perpetuating a policy of starvation and deliberately targeting and killing starving people seeking food.” Criticism is growing of the shadowy U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which took over aid operations in Gaza. The Center for Constitutional Rights has notified the group of its potential legal liability for complicity in Israel’s war crimes and genocide against Palestinians. Earlier today, the GHF accused Hamas of attacking a bus, killing five of its aid workers near Khan Younis.
11-Year-Old Adam al-Najjar Evacuated to Italy for Treatment After Israel Killed Father and 9 Siblings
Jun 12, 2025
In other news from Gaza, the Palestinian doctor Alaa al-Najjar has arrived in Italy with her 11-year-old son Adam al-Najjar, who will receive medical treatment. A recent Israeli strike killed the doctor’s husband and her nine other children. Before leaving Gaza, Adam described the attack.
Adam al-Najjar: “We were at home. Everything was normal. Then they launched a missile at our building. Smoke came out. Then another missile hit us and leveled the entire building to the ground. There was a group of energy panels on the roof. They all collapsed to the ground, only one or two left. All my brothers were killed, my father, too. May God have mercy on him.”
Israeli Forces Continue Raids on Occupied West Bank, Killing 3 Palestinians Over Past 2 Days
Jun 12, 2025
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian brothers Tuesday during a massive military raid on the city of Nablus. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said it treated more than 80 people in Nablus with injuries. On Wednesday, Israeli special forces also killed a man near the town of Tammun.
California Seeks to Limit Marine and Nat’l Guard Authority in L.A. Amid Ongoing ICE Protests and Raids
Jun 12, 2025
A federal judge will hear California’s request today to limit the presence of National Guard and Marines deployed by Trump to Los Angeles to just guarding federal buildings. National Guard troops have been involved in detaining civilians and have been accompanying immigration agents on their L.A. raids, provoking fear and chaos across the city. Community-led protests continued for a sixth day Wednesday. Downtown L.A. was under curfew for a second night.
Anguished Families Have Not Heard from Loved Ones Since Abductions by ICE
Jun 12, 2025
Families arrested in L.A. ICE raids have reportedly been held in basements with limited access to food or water, and some detainees have been transferred out of state to Texas, as local facilities were not prepared for the surge in new detainees. Relatives of abducted Angelenos say they have no idea where their loved ones have been taken or what their condition is. This is Kimberly Hernández, whose father is now missing after a raid on the car wash where he worked.
Kimberly Hernández: “We are extremely sad to not know where he is. We have not been able to find him, and this is unfair. We would like justice for him. And we would stop — we would like to live without the fear of being detained at all times.”
Prosecutor Charges 2 L.A. Protesters, Warns Gov’t Will Pursue Others as Protests Spread Across U.S.
Jun 12, 2025
The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles announced criminal federal charges against two demonstrators Wednesday and threatened to come after more people who were exercising their right to protest.
Bill Essayli: “This is just the two cases we have been able to charge now. We are looking at hundreds of people. We have video. We have FBI collecting video. We are collecting bodycam. We’re collecting social media. We’re collecting everything.”
Protests against attacks on immigrants are gaining steam across the U.S., hitting at least 35 cities. In Washington state, the mayor of Spokane imposed a citywide curfew on Wednesday amid protests there. The raids are continuing, too. In Nebraska, dozens of people were detained at a meat production plant in Omaha.
“We Will Not Be Intimidated”: CHIRLA Responds After Hawley Accuses It of “Bankrolling” L.A. Unrest
Jun 12, 2025
In Washington, D.C., Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said he’s launching an investigation into the groups Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles, CHIRLA, Unión del Barrio, and others, accusing them of “bankrolling the unrest.” In response, CHIRLA said, “We will not be intimidated for standing with immigrant communities and documenting the inhumane manner that our community is being targeted.”
DNC Forces Out 25-Year-Old Activist David Hogg over His Campaign to Back Progressive Insurgents
Jun 12, 2025
The Democratic National Committee has forced out David Hogg as vice chair after the 25-year-old gun control activist threatened to support primary challengers to Democratic incumbents he viewed to be “asleep at the wheel.” The DNC plans to hold a revote for vice chair, but Hogg does not plan to run.
GOP Lawmakers to Probe 200 Immigration Nonprofits over Manufactured Border “Crisis”
Jun 12, 2025
Republican House lawmakers have launched a separate probe into CHIRLA and 200 other nonprofits serving immigrants, accusing the groups of abetting the “Biden-Harris administration’s historic border crisis.” Some of the other targeted groups include Make the Road New York, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Catholic Charities, and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Meanwhile, U.S. troops stationed at the southern border have begun detaining immigrants in another escalation of military authority. Troops are generally barred from civilian law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act. Authorities in Republican-led states are attempting to charge people with military trespassing for entering so-called defense zones, even if they do so unknowingly.
China and U.S. Reportedly Reach Trade Deal
Jun 12, 2025
President Trump is claiming a trade agreement has been reached between the U.S. and China, but details remain sketchy. The deal, which is still under review, reportedly would reduce tariffs and give the U.S. access to Chinese rare earth elements and magnets used in cars, semiconductors and smartphones. The U.S. will ease restrictions on some exports and will no longer seek to bar Chinese international students.
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro Says He Discussed “Alternatives” for Staying in Power After Election Loss
Jun 12, 2025
In shocking court testimony Tuesday, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro denied involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but admitted to engaging in conversations about “alternative” strategies to staying in power after he lost his bid for reelection, including declaring a state of siege. Bolsonaro is accused of discussing a plot to kill Lula, as well as Justice Alexandre de Moraes, now the judge in this case.
Khartoum Could Soon Face Famine as Devastating Sudanese War Grinds On
Jun 12, 2025
The World Food Programme is warning several areas near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum are at risk of famine due to years of fighting. This is the World Food Programme’s Laurent Bukera, speaking from the Port of Sudan.
Laurent Bukera: “Several areas in the south are at risk of famine. Sudanese communities have been on the frontlines, hosting the displaced, but they are now at a breaking point. With returns expected to heavily damaged areas like Khartoum, pressure on overstretched resources will intensify. We are deeply concerned, and meeting the basic needs, especially food, will be critical and is urgent.”
Immigrants in Northern Ireland Targeted in Spate of Race Riots
Jun 12, 2025
Multiple nights of anti-immigrant race riots have rattled the Northern Ireland town of Ballymena in the wake of a sexual assault accusations against two teenagers who are believed to be from Romania. Violence and arson in the nightly riots have gotten so bad that some residents have taken to writing their ethnicity on signs outside their homes or displaying a British flag to avoid being targeted. Some residents of immigrant backgrounds have fled for their safety.
Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil Can’t Be Detained for Political Expression, Paving Way for Possible Release
Jun 12, 2025
Back in the U.S., a federal judge ruled Wednesday the Trump administration cannot keep Columbia University graduate, Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil locked up over his political advocacy and that his continued detention is causing Khalil “irreparable harm.” Judge Michael Farbiarz gave the Trump administration 40 hours to appeal his latest order, meaning Khalil — a green card holder — could be released as early as Friday. However, in another challenge to Khalil’s freedom, the judge maintained the Columbia grad could still be subject to detainment over Trump administration claims he failed to disclose membership in various organizations in his permanent residency application. Mahmoud Khalil has been locked up in a Louisiana immigration prison for three months, missing the birth and first weeks of his newborn son’s life.
CUNY Students End Hunger Strike for Gaza, Call for Supporters to Fight for Summer of Liberation
Jun 12, 2025
Hunger strikers at the City University of New York ended their fast Wednesday after 16 days of public protest and teach-ins and after raising $30,000 for families in Gaza. This is one of the CUNY activists, Conor “Coco” Tomás Reed.
Conor “Coco” Tomás Reed: “We’re now calling upon people to shift their energies from this hunger strike to engage in the myriad forms of struggle that are happening in New York City. So, this is court watch for our immigrant family and friends. This is blocking and resisting attempts at ICE raids and deportations. This is challenging the housing laws that are evicting more and more people in New York. This is making sure that abortion rights and gender-affirming care are — remain legal and accessible here in New York City. So, we’re calling for the CUNY hunger strike for Gaza to convert into a liberation summer, and we invite people to become a part of it.”
200+ New Yorkers Occupy Maersk Building, Demanding End to Its Participation in Gaza Genocide
Jun 12, 2025
Image Credit: Palestinian Youth Movement / Jewish Voice for Peace
In New York, police arrested dozens of activists as over 200 Palestinian and Jewish New Yorkers led the occupation of the Maersk office building in Manhattan, demanding the shipping company halt the transportation of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel. This is Naye from the Palestinian Youth Movement.
Naye: “These fighter jets are responsible for dropping bombs on the people of Gaza, for destroying schools, hospitals, universities and the entire infrastructure of Gaza.”
EPA Moves to Repeal Limits on Power Plant Emissions, Mercury
Jun 12, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed repealing Biden-era federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and weakening a separate Biden regulation on pollutants, including mercury. Scientists warn the moves will trigger the greatest increase in pollution in decades. It’s the latest deregulatory action taken by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who claims he’s fighting against the “climate change cult.”
House Voting on Defunding of Public Media
Jun 12, 2025
Image Credit: Sesame Street
In news from Capitol Hill, the House is expected to vote today to allow the White House to claw back $9.4 billion already appropriated by Congress. This includes $1.1 billion in cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding to NPR and PBS.
NYC Jury Convicts Harvey Weinstein on Sex Crime Charge, Again, as Further Deliberations Continue
Jun 12, 2025
A Manhattan jury on Wednesday convicted disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, after Weinstein was retried following the overturning of his 2020 conviction. The jury, however, acquitted Weinstein on another charge and failed to reach a decision on a third charge of third-degree rape, which jurors are continuing to deliberate on today. One of the three plaintiffs in the retrial, Miriam Haley, spoke after the jury concluded — again — Weinstein had forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006.
Miriam Haley: “To survivors of sexual assault: You matter. Your story matters. Your voice matters. And you are not alone. Thank you.”
Harvey Weinstein has also been convicted of sex crimes in California and sentenced to 16 years in prison.