Welcome to World Brief. There we will see what happens next. Israel-Iran crisis, Singapore New PM announcement and stabbing attack Australia.
seek easing of tensions
Israel's war cabinet convened for a second day on Monday to discuss how to respond to Iran's weekend attack on Israel. “We reserve the right to do everything in our power, and we will do everything in our power to defend this country,” Israeli government spokesman David Mensah said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Benny Gantz, voting members of the cabinet, also discussed diplomatic options to further isolate Iran.
Late Saturday, Tehran launched 300 rounds toward Israel in retaliation for an April 1 Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a senior commander. More than 1,000 missiles and armed drones were launched. Iran's weekend operation marked the first time the Iranian government launched a direct military attack against Israel. The Israeli military says 99 percent of air threats have been thwarted.
Foreign leaders were quick to condemn Iran's attack while calling on Israel to exercise restraint. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that the United States had spent the past 36 hours “coordinating our diplomatic response to prevent escalation.” His comments are in addition to US President Joe Biden's statement to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that the US would not join or support Israel's counterattack against Iran.
On Monday, the United Nations Security Council convened a second day of emergency meetings to address rising tensions in the Middle East, with G7 and European Union leaders considering adding new sanctions against Iran. Belgium, France and Germany summoned their respective Iranian ambassadors and condemned the attack. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said now is the time to “step back from the brink.” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also said Britain would not support an Israeli retaliatory attack. The US and British air forces helped Israel shoot down the air threat.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was not seeking further escalation in the region, and Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials said Tehran had notified them of the attack plan days before it occurred, but U.S. officials said said the United States had received no such warning. Iranian Major General Hossein Salami said on Sunday that Iran would respond to any future Israeli offensive measures. “If from now on the Zionist regime attacks our interests, assets, numbers and people anywhere, we will attack each other from the birthplace of Iran,” he said on state television.
Israeli parliamentarians remain divided over how to respond to the crisis. While Gantz and other moderate lawmakers have called for restraint, some far-right leaders have called for a more drastic approach. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has long promoted far-right policies, called for an “overwhelming” counterattack and urged Israel to “go crazy” and ignore “restraint and proportionality.”
The attack from mainland Iran adds a fifth theater to Israel's ongoing war. Israel is already battling Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah attacks on its northern border, Houthi-led shipping attacks in the Red Sea and escalating violence in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas on Saturday rejected Israel's latest ceasefire proposal, instead calling for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza, the provision of more aid, and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. He called for the start of reconstruction efforts. Israel has said it will not stop fighting until all Gaza hostages are returned and Hamas is completely destroyed.
Most read articles today
this week's world
Tuesday, April 16th: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has begun a two-day visit to Colombia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing.
Wednesday, April 17th: Italy will host the three-day G7 Foreign Ministers' Summit.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Croatia.
A general election will be held in the Solomon Islands.
Friday, April 19th: The first phase of voting for India's general election begins.
Saturday, April 20th: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has concluded a multi-day visit to South Korea and Japan.
Sunday, April 21st: Parliamentary elections will be held in the Maldives.
Ecuador holds referendum on security measures.
Local elections will be held in Spain's Basque Country.
Monday, April 22nd: The Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army have concluded talks in Venezuela.
what we follow
new leadership. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his impending resignation on Monday, ending nearly two decades of rule. He will step down on May 15 and be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Finance Minister. Lee was originally scheduled to step down in 2022, but remained in power to shape the country's coronavirus response. His ruling People's Action Party said Mr Wong had unanimous support. The next general election must be held by November 2025 at the latest.
Mr Wong is credited with helping steer Singapore through the pandemic and serving as the country's central bank chairman. Politicians hope this expertise will not only help Singapore recover from major political and financial scandals, but also guide regional policy as the US and China vie for influence in the Indo-Pacific region. are doing. In a speech last year, Mr Wong said Singapore “needs to prepare for unpredictable or even dangerous outcomes” from competition between the US and China.
Mass stabbings in Australia. Six people were stabbed to death and 12 others injured at a Sydney shopping center on Saturday. The gunman, Joel Couch, 40, died at the scene. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Monday the attacker's motive was unknown, but police were investigating whether he specifically targeted women. Five of the six victims died, and most of the 12 injured were women.
And on Monday, at least four people, including a bishop, were stabbed during a livestreamed church sermon in Sydney. Police arrested the 15-year-old suspect at the scene, but hundreds of people gathered outside the Assyrian Church of the Good Shepherd of Christ, demanding the suspect be taken outside and clashing with police. The two stabbings do not appear to be related.
Chip manufacturing efforts. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday that it will award up to $6.4 billion in subsidies to South Korea's Samsung Electronics to expand its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Texas. The agreement is part of a broader investment plan expected to exceed $40 billion, leveraging private financing. The proposal puts the U.S. government “on track to achieve our goal of producing 20% of the world's most advanced semiconductors in the United States by the end of this decade,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
In more US news, former President Donald Trump on Monday became the first former US leader to be tried in criminal court. President Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up an alleged affair, including a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as “Stormy Daniels.” Jury selection began Monday in New York City, and Trump was even seen falling asleep during pretrial motions. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Probability and outcome
In response to unpopular demand, Glasgow's now infamous Willy Wonka Experience is venturing across the pond. The Los Angeles House of Illuminati announced last week that they would be releasing a “Willy's Chocolate” on April 28th, despite facing intense online ridicule for failing to fulfill their promise of an adventure in Scotland on February 24th.・Experience LA” was announced. ” said the LA Illuminati House. Attendees can pay $44 to see Kirsty Paterson as a sad Oompa Loompa, eat two free jelly beans, listen to live music, and experience other “enchanting attractions.” can. This time he'll see if Wonka's experience can help.