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- France and Germany scrap joint fighter jet programme over disputes
- Trump warns Netanyahu of potential isolation if attacks on Iran persist
- Central Okanagan food bank seeks to prevent millions of pounds of food waste
- Nithya Raman defeats Spencer Pratt to advance in Los Angeles mayoral race; California governor’s race results still pending
- Iran and Israel launch mutual attacks amid rising tensions and ceasefire breach
- Three Air India Airbus A320s damaged by flying equipment during storm at Delhi airport
- Christian Eriksen recovering at home after mid-match collapse in Denmark
- Trump nominates Todd Blanche as attorney general amid controversy over DOJ fund
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France and Germany scrap joint fighter jet programme over disputes
5:00 am
France and Germany scrap joint fighter jet programme over disputes
Joint Programme Abandoned
France and Germany have agreed to abandon the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) joint fighter jet programme due to unresolved disagreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus.
France and Germany have agreed to abandon the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) joint fighter jet programme due to unresolved disagreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus.
Strategic Implications
The collapse of the FCAS programme represents a significant setback for European defence cohesion, undermining efforts to create a unified military capability amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
The collapse of the FCAS programme represents a significant setback for European defence cohesion, undermining efforts to create a unified military capability amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
Official Statement
“We are continuing to move forward. Europe has never needed unity, greater independence and greater sovereignty more than it does now,” stated President Macron.
“We are continuing to move forward. Europe has never needed unity, greater independence and greater sovereignty more than it does now,” stated President Macron.
France and Germany abandon joint fighter jet project as companies unable to reach agreement
France and Germany said on Monday they had agreed to abandon a joint fighter jet programme due to disagreements between the companies involved, in a blow to European efforts to boost defence cooperation.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France’s Rafale jets and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain.
It was to be complemented by drones, sensors and digital communications systems designed to operate together in a networked battlespace.
The project was seen as a key test of European efforts to work more closely on defence as they seek to present a united front in the face of a hostile Russia at a time of souring ties with the United States.
But the multi-billion-dollar programme was beset by disagreements between the firms involved: France’s Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain.
The project was long regarded as one of Europe’s most important industrial and security policy undertakings. But for years it was slowed by conflicts between the companies involved, and the dispute over leadership, workshare and intellectual property rights ultimately proved insoluble. While Dassault insisted on taking the lead on the fighter aircraft, Airbus refused to accept the role of junior partner.
Further complications arose from differing military requirements. France insisted on a carrier-capable, nuclear-armed aircraft for its armed forces, something Germany saw no need for. Proposals to develop two different aircraft variants within the programme failed to win joint approval.
The announcement comes despite calls for Europe to integrate its fragmented militaries more closely as geopolitical turmoil worsens.
Russia’s war against Ukraine is in its fifth year, while European countries are increasingly worried about US security commitments to the continent under President Donald Trump.
Work on the Combat Cloud is set to continue
Although the joint jet has been scrapped, the FCAS project is not being wound up entirely. According to government sources, development of the so-called Combat Cloud is to go ahead.
This is a digital network intended to link aircraft, drones and other weapons systems.
The French and German defence ministries are set to draw up a plan for defence cooperation “focused on a few realistic and relevant projects” at a forthcoming meeting, the official added.
For Airbus, the decision opens the door to the search for new partners. Industry insiders cite, among others, Swedish defence group Saab and the British-Japanese-Italian fighter jet programme as potential cooperation options.
Dassault, for its part, is likely to continue developing the next generation of the Rafale on its own.
With the failure of the joint combat aircraft, one of the most ambitious European armaments ventures of recent years comes to an end.
At the same time, the decision marks a change of course: instead of a single shared aircraft, Berlin and Paris now appear set to pursue separate national designs under a common technological umbrella.
Merz had said earlier this year that he would “do everything in my power, and fight until the very last moment, to get joint European projects off the ground here, and above all German-French projects”.
Speaking in April after talks with Merz, Macron had denied the project was dead.
“We are continuing to move forward. Europe has never needed unity, greater independence and greater sovereignty more than it does now,” he said.
Additional sources • AFP
Trump warns Netanyahu of potential isolation if attacks on Iran persist
4:00 am
Get you up to speed: Trump warns Netanyahu: ‘You’ll be on your own’ if attacks on Iran continue
United States President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he may face isolation if attacks on Iran continue. This warning comes as Israel and Iran paused their hostilities after a recent escalation involving attacks on civilian and military sites in Israel and Lebanon.
Following a ceasefire announced on 8 April 2026, skirmishes resumed between Israel and Iran, with military exchanges escalating despite ongoing peace negotiations. Pakistan is facilitating discussions between Washington and Tehran, with hopes of a resolution emerging in the near future.
Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that continued attacks on Iran could leave Israel “on your own very soon.” In response, Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence and indicated that his government would act decisively should Iran resume hostilities.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan as an intermediary will influence the potential ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Trump warns Netanyahu of potential isolation if attacks on Iran persist
US-Israel war on Iran – Trump warns Netanyahu: ‘You’ll be on your own’ if attacks on Iran continue
Trump’s warning comes as Israel and Iran pause attacks and indirect talks to reach a peace deal continue.
United States President Donald Trump has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he might find himself fighting on his own if Israel returns to war with Iran.
The warning on Monday came as Israel and Iran said they would pause attacks following their most serious escalation since a ceasefire took effect in April.
Trump, who has reportedly grown increasingly exasperated with Netanyahu, demanded that both sides stop “shooting” in a post on his Truth Social platform and said that “final negotiations” towards peace would proceed “subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way”.
He also called Netanyahu and told him to stop the strikes, according to media reports.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said he had warned Netanyahu about the consequences of continuing the war.
“I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon’,” Trump said.
The flare-up began on Sunday, triggered by Israel’s deadly bombardment of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Iran – which has long said any peace deal with the US depends in part on an end to the fighting in Lebanon – responded with a wave of missiles at northern Israel.
Trump reportedly called Netanyahu on Sunday evening and asked him not to retaliate, but Israel launched attacks on Iran early on Monday.
Israeli forces struck Iranian air defence systems and a petrochemical plant, while Iran retaliated by hitting a similar facility in Haifa and targeting two Israeli airbases. Many of the missiles were intercepted over the occupied West Bank.
No deaths were reported on either side.
Israel plays down tensions
The exchanges complicated Trump’s push to end a war that the US and Israel launched on February 28. A ceasefire announced on April 8 paused all-out warfare. But flare-ups in the Gulf have continued.
For his part, Netanyahu said in a televised statement that he had told Trump that “Israel has a full right to self-defence, and we are exercising it as required”.
“Right now, the fire at the front is contained, because after we hit the terrorist regime in Tehran, it stopped attacking us,” he said.
Netanyahu also warned that should Iran “make the mistake of resuming attacks against us, we will respond with full force”.
Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, downplayed reports of tension between the US and Israeli leaders, telling Fox News that “sometimes, lovers have a spat”.
He said that while Netanyahu had “decided” to “lower the temperature” at Trump’s request, the US president understands “full well” that Israel cannot “absorb ballistic missiles into our country without responding.”
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, blamed Washington for the escalation.
“The US is directly responsible,” he said. “They are party to the ceasefire negotiations. Therefore, any act in violation of the ceasefire, be it through the interception of vessels [in the Strait of Hormuz], the targeting of southern Lebanon by Israel, or any other event, will cause the United States to be directly responsible for the escalation in the region.”
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the operation against Israel, dubbed “Nasr” or victory, showcased “a new level of deterrence from mighty Iran” and that Israel had been “forced to beg once again” for a ceasefire.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts continue.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that Tehran was still “at the negotiating table”, while Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said that Washington and Tehran, through Pakistan as an intermediary, are “presenting and exchanging views” towards an agreement.
Iravani told The Associated Press news agency he was hopeful that “very soon” the two sides would reach “a conclusion”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said efforts for a peaceful diplomatic solution was ongoing “earnestly and painstakingly” and called for restraint, “especially when the final objective is just about to be achieved”.
He also said Israel and Iran’s exchange of fire was a “reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it may lead to”.
Attacks on Lebanon continue
The escalation on Monday also drew in Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The group fired missiles at Israel early in the morning and declared a complete ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, warning that all Israeli movements would be considered “legitimate military targets”.
Later on Monday, air raid sirens sounded in the Israeli port city of Eilat, with the military saying a suspected aerial target was launched from Yemen.
Violence has also continued in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli strike killed five people in the city of Tyre, while another, in the Nabatieh district, left seven dead. A third strike in Marwanieh killed two people, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.
Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, said Trump was trying to give an impression that he was tougher on Israel than he actually is.
“The words could be significant if they were matched by actions,” she told WTX News.
“As long as they’re sending billions of dollars directly to the Israeli military, and as long as they’re protecting Israel from being held accountable in the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court, as long as those actions don’t change, the words just don’t mean very much,” she added.
Central Okanagan food bank seeks to prevent millions of pounds of food waste
2:00 am
Get you up to speed: Central Okanagan food bank aims to save millions of pounds of food going to waste
The Food Rescue Transformation Centre will enhance cold storage capacity and improve its capacity for handling larger volumes of donated food. This initiative aims to support food distribution efforts in the community.
The Food Rescue Transformation Centre’s enhancements are set to expand its cold storage capacity significantly. Investigation into the logistics of food donation handling is ongoing, as the centre prepares to manage increased volumes.
The Food Rescue Transformation Centre announced plans to enhance its cold storage capacity to better manage higher volumes of donated food. This initiative is expected to improve food distribution efficiency and reach more individuals in need across the community.
What remains unclear — The timeline for the completion of the Food Rescue Transformation Centre has not been disclosed.
Central Okanagan food bank seeks to prevent millions of pounds of food waste
The Food Rescue Transformation Centre will increase cold storage capacity and improve its ability to handle larger volumes of donated food.
Nithya Raman defeats Spencer Pratt to advance in Los Angeles mayoral race; California governor’s race results still pending
1:00 am
Get you up to speed: Raman tops Pratt in battle to face Bass for LA mayor; outcome of California governor’s race remains elusive
Nithya Raman has overtaken Spencer Pratt by a narrow margin to advance to the runoff in the Los Angeles mayoral race, according to updated results on Sunday and a projection made on Monday. Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is set to advance to the general election following her lead with over 34% of the votes counted.
Officials have indicated that counties have 30 days to count ballots on a provisional basis, with the next updates expected throughout the week. As of the latest report, over 83% of the votes had been counted, but hundreds of thousands of votes remain outstanding.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has advanced to the runoff in the mayoral race, expressing gratitude to supporters in a statement. Meanwhile, Republican candidate Steve Hilton has criticized the vote counting process in California, highlighting concerns over government efficiency as ballot counting continues, with official results expected within the next three weeks.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain when updated results from California’s primary election will be released beyond the expected timeline of 30 days for counting ballots.
Nithya Raman defeats Spencer Pratt to advance in Los Angeles mayoral race; California governor’s race results still pending
California voters are still waiting for results in the race for governor after the candidates set to face off in the general election for Los Angeles mayor were decided on Monday.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman previously faced a six-percentage-point deficit to political newcomer Spencer Pratt, but she jumped ahead of Pratt by a razor-thin margin of less than one percentage point as of Sunday’s results update. On Monday, Raman was projected to advance to the runoff by WTX US News after gaining more than 33,000 votes in the daily Los Angeles County polling update.
Last week, WTX US News projected that incumbent LA Mayor Karen Bass will advance to the runoff.
Candidates are also still on standby in the state’s chaotic primary to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is no longer eligible to hold the position after serving two terms. WTX US News projected on Friday that Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, had advanced to the general election.
Under California’s primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of political affiliation.
If elected, Becerra would be California’s first Latino governor since Republican Romualdo Pacheco in 1875.
Hilton remains in second place in battle for spot on November ballot
The wait to see who will face Becerra in the general election will continue through at least Tuesday, with little movement seen over the weekend as some counties did not update results.
Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton remained in second place through the weekend after Becerra gained enough votes on Friday to overtake him.
Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, a Democrat, gained additional ground in returns on Monday after doing so over the weekend, earning 22.4% of the vote to Hilton’s 25.1%.
As the waiting game continued, Hilton used the time to criticize California’s government.
“The snail-like pace of the vote counting process in California is just another example of the incompetence and uselessness of the state government,” Hilton said on X.
Steyer’s campaign said it’s waiting for every ballot to be counted.
“This race is still too close to call,” his campaign website said. “We’re going to wait until every ballot is counted. We’re going to give democracy time to work.”
Raman defeats Pratt in race for second candidate in LA mayoral race
Bass is no longer waiting to see who she’ll face in the November election after reality TV star Spencer Pratt’s lead over LA City Councilwoman Nithya Raman disappeared over the weekend before Raman was projected to advance on Monday.
Pratt’s election night advantage diminished with each day of polling updates from the LA County Registrar-Recorder until Sunday, when Raman overtook him by less than a percent with 83% of votes counted. His grasp on second further slipped on Monday, when the LA County Registrar-Recorder updated polling totals and showed that Raman had surged ahead once again.
As of Monday night, Bass maintained just over 34% of votes, while Raman had 28.5% to Pratt’s 25.8%.
In a statement to WTX LA on Monday evening, Raman expressed gratitude to her supporters after she was projected to advance.
I’m incredibly honored that voters have given us the opportunity to advance to the general election for Mayor of Los Angeles,” the statement said. “To the thousands of supporters who knocked doors, made calls, sent texts, donated, and opened their homes for events across the city, and to everyone who made this moment possible: thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
As the updated numbers rolled in, Pratt took to social media to question the late surge in votes that were in favor of Raman. On Monday morning, he told supporters to stay optimistic.
“Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference, there’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next 3 weeks to count,” he said. “Let’s git-r-dun!”
He has not yet commented on his defeat.
Bass, on the other hand, issued a statement through her campaign targeting Raman.
“We look forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA,” the statement said.
When will more California primary election results be released?
According to the California Secretary of State, counties have 30 days to count ballots on a provisional basis. Mail-in votes must be postmarked no later than Election Day, and they must be counted as long as they are received within seven days.
Here are when some major population centers expect their next ballot drops:
Iran and Israel launch mutual attacks amid rising tensions and ceasefire breach
11:23 pm
Get you up to speed: Israel, Iran trade fire in first clash since truce
Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, which was followed by Israeli airstrikes on military sites in Iran. This marked the first direct conflict between the two countries since a ceasefire had paused five weeks of war.
Iran launched a missile strike against Israeli territory overnight, marking the first significant military engagement since the recent ceasefire. In response, Israel targeted multiple military installations within Iran, indicating a potential escalation in hostilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored calls for restraint from President Donald Trump following the overnight missile attacks on Israel by Iran. Concerns are rising that this escalation could lead to a new full-scale conflict, prompting discussions within the Israeli government on potential further military actions.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain what specific military responses both countries might pursue following this escalation.
Iran and Israel launch mutual attacks amid rising tensions and ceasefire breach
Three Air India Airbus A320s damaged by flying equipment during storm at Delhi airport
11:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Three planes damaged after storm sends unsecured gear crashing into aircraft | News World
Three Air India Airbus A320s were damaged at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, when strong winds sent unsecured ground support equipment crashing into them. The incident occurred during a sudden storm on Saturday, with no injuries reported, and all three aircraft have been withdrawn from service.
Three Air India Airbus A320s were withdrawn from service after being damaged by equipment blown into them by severe winds at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Two aircraft are expected to return to operation this week, while repairs to the third may take several days longer due to extensive damage.
Indira Gandhi International Airport officials confirmed that three Air India Airbus A320s were damaged by unsecured ground equipment during a sudden storm, stating that “a step ladder and a trestle were blown into the planes by the strong winds.” Although no injuries were reported, the failure of Air Traffic Control to issue a weather warning has raised concerns, prompting the airport authority to review operational protocols before the expected return of two aircraft to service this week.
What remains unclear — It is not known why Air Traffic Control did not issue a warning about the deteriorating weather conditions.
Three Air India Airbus A320s damaged by flying equipment during storm at Delhi airport
Three planes were damaged when violent winds sent airport equipment hurtling across the tarmac and crashing into them.
Footage filmed through a terminal window shows heavy rain and powerful gusts battering the airport yesterday afternoon.
At one point, a set of boarding stairs was blown across the tarmac, prompting several ground staff in hi-vis jackets to sprint after it.
A driverless ground support vehicle could also be seen being pushed across the tarmac, passing just feet from stationary aircraft.
Three Air India Airbus A320S at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, were damaged during the sudden storm.
All three aircraft were empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.
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Airport officials said a step ladder and a trestle were blown into the planes by the strong winds.
An airport worker was seen sprinting towards the gear as it drifted into the planes (Picture: NDTV)
A source from IndiGo told local media the trestle had been secured but came loose during the severe weather.
Air Traffic Control failed to warn the airport operator or airlines about the deteriorating conditions.
All three aircraft were withdrawn from service following the incident.
Two are expected to return to operation this week, while repairs to the third are likely to take several days longer.
The step ladder and trestle were reportedly badly damaged, but no injuries were reported.
It isn’t the first weather-related mishap involving an Air India aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
In January, a new Airbus A350 was damaged after ingesting an unsecured baggage container while taxiing following a flight from New York in dense fog.
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