
Trump to leave G7 summit early due to Middle East situation
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Australia news live: Ley says Albanese ‘should have been more proactive’ as Trump meeting cancelled; Victoria criminalises ‘post and boast’ content
Federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, says the Albanese government should have done more to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump. In a statement, she said Trump’s decision to leave a day before his meeting with Anthony Albanese is understandable but regrettable. “This was an important opportunity for the prime minister to seek assurances on Aukus and protect Australia from tariffs,” she said. Police are investigating the links between three burnt-out cars and a shooting in Auburn yesterday. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated three people for gunshot wounds before all were taken to a hospital for further specialist treatment. Two men, with their faces covered, entered a kebab shop and fired eight shots. They left in a black Audi Q7 bearing cloned numberplates. A 26-year-old man suffered. wounds to his shoulder and arm, a 47-year. woman was shot twice in the torso, and a 25-year.-old man was shot in the face.
10m ago 03.27 BST Cait Kelly Police looking at link between burnt-out cars and Sydney shooting NSW detectives are investigating the links between three burnt-out cars and a shooting in Auburn yesterday. In a statement, NSW Police said about 1.15pm yesterday officers were called to South Parade after two men, with their faces covered, entered a kebab shop and fired eight shots. They left in a black Audi Q7 bearing cloned numberplates. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated three people for gunshot wounds before all were taken to a hospital for further specialist treatment. View image in fullscreen In a statement, NSW Police said about 1.15pm yesterday officers were called to South Parade after two men, with their faces covered, entered a kebab shop and fired eight shots. Photograph: Nswpf Mmu/NSW Police Media A 26-year-old man suffered wounds to his shoulder and arm, a 47-year-old woman was shot twice in the torso, and a 25-year-old man was shot in the face. The first two victims are said to be in a stable condition while the second man is said to be in a serious condition. A crime scene was established, and three cars were subsequently found burnt out on Wigram Street in Harris Park, Hilltop Road in Merrylands and Gerald Street in Greystanes. Crime scenes were established at all three locations with officers attached Taskforce Falcon deployed to assist with the investigation. Police are currently examining potential links between the three fires and the shooting at Auburn. Share
27m ago 03.10 BST Ley says Albanese should have been ‘more proactive’ in seeking Trump meeting Tom McIlroy The federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, says the Albanese government should have done more to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump before his early exit from the G7 in Canada today. In a statement, she said Trump’s decision to leave a day before his meeting with Anthony Albanese is understandable but regrettable. “Given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, this decision is understandable but to the detriment of Australia. “This was an important opportunity for the prime minister to seek assurances on Aukus and protect Australia from tariffs. “Given global volatility and the growing list of issues in our relationship with the United States, this underscores that the Albanese government should not have merely relied on meeting with the president on the sidelines of international summits. “The prime minister should have been more proactive in seeking to strengthen this relationship – Australia’s most important – and we encourage him to change his approach to advance our national interest.” Share Updated at 03.17 BST
53m ago 02.44 BST Josh Butler Chalmers refuses to comment on if Trump meeting cancellation was ‘rude’ In a quick doorstop after his Sky interview, Chalmers wouldn’t comment on whether Australia saw the Trump meeting cancellation as a snub. The treasurer said the Iran-Israel situation was a “a perilous moment for the Middle East – a perilous moment for the global economy as well.” “It’s understandable and not especially surprising that President Trump has headed back to the White House,” he said. Asked by a journalist if it was “rude” that Australia may have found out about Trump’s movements via social media posts from the president’s office, Chalmers said “I’m obviously not going to comment on that, I’ve made my view really clear.” “This is not especially surprising. It’s understandable, given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. We have a number of opportunities to engage with American counterparts,” he said. Share Updated at 02.59 BST
1h ago 02.40 BST Josh Butler Chalmers downplays ‘understandble’ move from Trump to leave G7 early in face of Middle East crisis It’s “understandable” and “not especially surprising” Donald Trump is leaving the G7 early in the face of a spiralling situation in the Middle East, says the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, downplaying the impact of Anthony Albanese’s meeting being cancelled. Trump, as our Tom McIlroy has been bringing you from Canada, will leave the G7 meeting not long after arriving, and the scheduled meeting with Albanese is now not expected by the Australian side – one of likely several meetings the US president will skip. Chalmers, in a Sky News interview just now, said Trump’s movements are “not especially surprising.” “It’s understandable that President Trump [will leave] the meeting early. This was always a chance of happening, given what’s happening around the world and particularly in the Middle East,” the treasurer said. “Prime Minister Albanese has had three conversations with President Trump in recent months, we’ll continue to engage in the usual way. But I don’t think it’s especially surprising. I do think it’s understandable, given events that are unfolding in a really dangerous part of the world.” Chalmers said Albanese had “other good reasons” to travel to Canada, besides the now-unlikely Trump meeting, noting the PM’s meetings with other world leaders. “It’s a really important opportunity to speak up for and stand up for Australia’s interests in the world. Obviously, we were looking forward to a meeting between the leaders of Australia and the United States. But again, I don’t think it’s especially surprising, given the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, that President Trump wants to get back to the White House,” Chalmers said. “This was always a prospect of this happening. It’s understandable. It’s not especially surprising, and there’ll be other opportunities to engage.” Share Updated at 02.43 BST
1h ago 02.25 BST Victoria announces new ‘post and boast’ laws to combat youth crime Crooks who post videos of their crimes online will cop extra jail time as part of a crackdown on youth crime, AAP reports. The “post and boast” laws, announced by the Victorian government on Tuesday, will affect anyone who brags about their crimes on social media and messaging apps. The crimes amendment (performance crime) bill will apply to anyone who publishes content about their involvement in serious and violent crimes such as affray, car thefts, home invasions, burglary and robbery and carjackings, the Victorian attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, said: It’s about sending the strongest and clearest message to these offenders now that … crime is not content, it is certainly not entertainment. Third parties such as witnesses, bystanders and journalist won’t be captured by the laws. View image in fullscreen Sonya Kilkenny (centre) said the changes were about ‘sending the strongest and clearest message to these offenders now that … crime is not content’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Share Updated at 02.28 BST
1h ago 02.09 BST Albanese to continue with plans at G7 despite Trump departure Tom McIlroy Anthony Albanese will continue with his program at the G7 summit here in Canada tomorrow, despite Donald Trump leaving early tonight local time. The pair had been due to meet for the first time on the sidelines of the event in Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains. After the news broke, a government spokesperson said: Given what is occurring in the Middle East this is understandable. As the prime minister said a short time ago, we are very concerned about the events in the Middle East and continue to urge all parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy. After a dinner for G7 partner countries hosted by Canada’s governor general tonight, Albanese is due to meet with the leaders of the UK, Germany, the European Union and France at the summit. View image in fullscreen Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Updated at 02.16 BST
2h ago 02.01 BST Death cap mushrooms found in NSW NSW Health said today death cap mushrooms have been found in parts of the state, including Sydney, the Southern Highlands and southern NSW. Officials issued warnings about the health risks of eating wild mushrooms, noting the consumption of death caps can be fatal. View image in fullscreen A scientist displays poisonous death cap mushrooms while speaking to media at the Royal Botanic Gardens in 2023. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, said it can be difficult to identify safe species: There is no easy or reliable way to identify if a wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people against foraging for, and eating, wild mushrooms. Cooking poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat. You should only eat mushrooms you buy from a reputable grocery store, supermarket or produce market. There were 23 hospitalisations for the toxic effect of ingested mushrooms in 2024, including two in children under the age of five. If you are worried that mushroom poisoning may have occurred, do not wait for symptoms to appear and call the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26. Share
2h ago 01.49 BST Tabcorp fined $4m for VIP customer spam Jack Snape Tabcorp has been fined $4m for sending more than 5,700 marketing messages to VIP customers last year in breach of Australia’s spam laws. The penalty is the outcome of the first investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority into a VIP gambling program. Between 1 February and 1 May 2024, 2,598 SMS and WhatsApp messages were sent by Tabcorp to customers without an unsubscribe option and 3,148 SMS and WhatsApp messages did not contain adequate sender information. Samantha Yorke, an ACMA member, said the breaches were “deeply concerning” given Tabcorp is an established provider that targets VIP customers. She said: These programs often involve personalised messages offering incentives such as bonus bets, deposit matching, rebates and offers of tickets to sporting and other events. “The gambling industry needs to understand that spam laws apply to all direct marketing – whether it’s generic campaigns or personalised messages,” Yorke said, noting VIPs were not necessarily “high-rollers” and could be under financial strain. “It is utterly unacceptable that TAB [Tabcorp] did not have adequate spam compliance systems in place.” TAB has entered into a three-year, court-enforceable undertaking, which includes an independent review of its direct marketing systems, quarterly audits of its VIP direct marketing and training staff. Senator David Pocock, an independent, said over the weekend the gambling sector had been “emboldened” by the Albanese government’s failure to act on the recommendations of a 2023 review into the industry by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. Share
2h ago 01.36 BST Adam Morton New court bid filed to stop extension of North West Shelf gas project in WA A new court bid has been launched to stop Woodside Energy’s plan to extend the life of the North West Shelf gas export facility in northern Western Australia until 2070. The proposal, which last month won conditional approval from the federal government, has been challenged in the WA supreme court by Friends of Australian Rock Art. In papers lodged with the court last week, the organisation argued the WA government did not properly follow state environment laws when it approved the development last year. Specifically, it alleged the state assessment failed to consider the climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions linked to the project. View image in fullscreen Woodside Energy’s headquarters in Perth. Photograph: Christine Chen/Reuters Judith Hugo, a co-convener of Friends of Australian Rock Art, said: It is clear that the state government is providing enthusiastic support for Woodside’s ongoing gas exports, but that does not detract from the obligation to follow the requirements of our legislation, and that means ensuring the impacts are properly assessed and managed to acceptable levels before any approvals are granted. A Woodside spokesperson said the company was aware of the court action and had “confidence in the robustness of the state government’s comprehensive approval process”. Share
2h ago 01.22 BST Tasmania premier calls Smith a ‘proud and brave Tasmanian’ The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, is speaking about Const Keith Anthony Smith’s long career of service. Rockliff said: Yesterday a proud and brave Tasmanian man, Constable Keith Smith, started his day by putting on his Tasmania Police uniform. A day that began like many others. A day where he started, like all others, to protect and serve us all. Tragically, Constable Smith did not return home to put on the civvies. To be with the people that he loved. View image in fullscreen ‘Tragically, Constable Smith did not return home to … the people that he loved’ says Tasmania’s premier, Jeremy Rockliff. Photograph: Tasmania Police Share Updated at 01.25 BST
2h ago 01.16 BST Tasmania Police name officer killed in shooting yesterday Tasmanian police have identified Const Keith Anthony Smith, 57, as the victim of a shooting yesterday. Smith, a 25-year-veteran of the police service, was walking up to a home in the state’s north-west yesterday afternoon to serve a warrant when a person inside the house allegedly opened fire, killing him. View image in fullscreen Constable Keith Anthony Smith, a 25-year veteran of the police service, was shot and killed while on duty in Tasmania. Photograph: DPFEM Media/Tasmania Police Tasmania’s police commissioner, Donna Adams, called Smith a dedicated officer and said his death will be mourned by the entire force: Keith was a respected and committed officer, and his loss will be deeply felt across our policing family and the wider community. My heart goes out to Keith’s wife and family. We will be supporting them in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time. The blue family will come together today, and over the next days and weeks, and will support the family and each other. A 46-year-old man remains in hospital under police guard. No charges have been filed so far. Share Updated at 01.18 BST
3h ago 01.04 BST Cait Kelly A two-bedroom Bondi Junction unit for $1,100 a week. Is ‘affordable housing’ in Australia really affordable? A two-bedroom apartment in Bondi Junction that is part of an “affordable” housing scheme run by the NSW government has been listed at $1,100 a week to rent, prompting advocates to warn that programs designed to help low-income earners are increasingly out of reach. View image in fullscreen An apartment block in Sydney’s Bondi Junction where a two-bedroom apartment has been listed as affordable housing at $1,100 a week. Photograph: The Guardian Across the country, affordable housing programs are meant to offer rent below market rate for low-to-moderate income households that make too much for social housing but not enough for the private market. The two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment in Bondi Junction is listed under the Affordable Housing Scheme by HomeGround Real Estate Sydney, with the guidelines set by the NSW government. Read more: A two-bedroom Bondi Junction unit for $1,100 a week. Is ‘affordable housing’ really affordable? Read more Share
3h ago 00.40 BST Tom McIlroy Trump’s departure a blow to PM Donald Trump’s press secretary has confirmed he will leave the G7 summit in Canada a day early, snubbing leaders including Anthony Albanese before planned talks tomorrow. It is a blow for Albanese, who had expected to hold his first face-to-face talks with the president, including covering trade issues and the US review of Aukus. The PM will still meet with leaders including the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron at the Kananaskis summit site. Share Updated at 00.52 BST
3h ago 00.38 BST Trump leaving G7 tonight, before Albanese meeting US president Donald Trump is leaving the G7 meeting early, and will depart Canada tonight. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, just wrote on X: President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State. President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State. — Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 16, 2025 Share Updated at 00.44 BST
Stocks slip, oil jumps as Trump calls for Tehran evacuation
U.S. stock futures slipped and oil prices rose on Tuesday, as investors were rattled by U.S.-Iran tensions. S&P 500 futures fell 0.46%, European futures slumped 0.69%, while crude prices briefly jumped more than 2%. The heightened uncertainty and fluid Middle East situation bolstered investor moves towards traditional safe-haven assets such as gold which rose 0.5%. The yield on the benchmark 10-year note was down about 2 basis points at 4.43%. The dollar firmed against the euro , yen and sterling as it reprised its role as a safe asset even as it held to broadly tighter ranges. Outside of geopolitics, interest rate decisions by a host of central banks will be the prime focus for investors this week with the Bank of Japan’s verdict expected later in the day. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady on Wednesday but the focus yet again will be on the path Fed Chair Jerome Powell charts out for future rate cuts. In a week filled with central bank meetings across the globe, investors will be looking to comments from officials as they navigate Trump’s erratic tariff policies.
Summary Geopolitical tensions keep markets on edge as Trump urges Tehran evacuation
Gold prices edge higher, crude prices climb as much as 1%
Markets await BOJ decision, keen on bond-tapering plans
June 17 (Reuters) – U.S. stock futures slipped and oil prices rose on Tuesday, as investors were rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for everyone to evacuate Tehran with the fifth-day of Israel-Iran fighting sowing fears of a broader regional conflict.
Markets were on edge after a separate report said that Trump had asked for the national security council to be prepared in the situation room as he cut short his visit to the Group of Seven summit in Canada.
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Trump had earlier urged everyone to immediately evacuate Tehran, and reiterated that Iran should have signed a nuclear deal with the United States.
The latest developments sparked a wave of risk-off moves in early Asian trading. S&P 500 futures fell 0.46%, European futures slumped 0.69%, while crude prices , briefly jumped more than 2%.
“Suspicion is that we’re about to see the U.S. begin some sort of military action in Iran and we’re now seeing some risk aversion because it brings another element of uncertainty into the market,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG.
Wall Street had closed higher on Monday after sources told Reuters that Iran was seeking a Trump-mediated immediate ceasefire with Israel, which also cooled a rally in crude prices.
The Iran-Israel air war – the biggest battle ever between the two longtime enemies – escalated on Monday with Israel targeting Iran’s state broadcaster and uranium enrichment facilities.
The heightened uncertainty and fluid Middle East situation bolstered investor moves towards traditional safe-haven assets such as gold which rose 0.5%, while a rise in U.S. Treasuries pushed yields lower across the curve. The yield on the benchmark 10-year note was down about 2 basis points at 4.43%.
The dollar firmed against the euro , yen and sterling as it reprised its role as a safe asset even as it held to broadly tighter ranges.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) , opens new tab was a tad higher, while futures tracking Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index were also marginally higher.
Outside of geopolitics, interest rate decisions by a host of central banks will be the prime focus for investors this week with the Bank of Japan’s verdict expected later in the day.
At the end of its two-day policy meeting, the BOJ is widely expected to maintain short-term interest rates at 0.5%, but markets will be keen on the institution’s outlook on quantitative tightening.
Japan’s Nikkei (.N225) , opens new tab edged up 0.5%, while the yen was slightly weaker at 144.96 per dollar.
Investors are expecting the BOJ to consider slowing reductions in its bond purchases next year, as the central bank focuses on avoiding big market disruptions and tries to wean the economy off a decade-long, massive stimulus.
It would be the first decision since the recent bond auctions had shown eroding appetite for freshly issued longer-dated debt and drove the country’s bond yields to record highs. On Tuesday, yields on 30-year and 40-year bonds were broadly steady.
In a week filled with central bank meetings across the globe, investors will be looking to comments from officials as they navigate Trump’s erratic tariff policies and their impact on the global economy.
The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady on Wednesday but the focus yet again will be on the path Fed Chair Jerome Powell charts out for future rate cuts. Traders are pricing in two cuts by the end of the year.
“To be a central banker right now is one challenging job and on top of the tariff situation, the trade policy and the inking of deals before deadlines you have this uncertainty from the Middle East,” said IG’s Sycamore.
“Macro backdrops don’t get any more tricky than what we’re seeing at this point in time.”
In commodities, the risks of prolonged unrest in the Middle East and disruption to oil supply sent prices higher. Brent crude futures contract was last up 0.34% at $73.47 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude was last up 0.43% at $72.09.
Gold prices were fetching $3,393.05 per ounce, up 0.3% on the day.
Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Ankur Banerjee Editing by Shri Navaratnam
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Donald Trump Wouldn’t Sign G7 Draft On De-Escalation Of Iran-Israel Conflict: US Official
Donald Trump Wouldn’t Sign G7 Draft On De-Escalation Of Iran-Israel Conflict: US Official. Trump said he was leaving the Group of Seven summit a day early due to the situation in the Middle East. G7 has struggled to find unity over conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Iran. Trump overtly expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has imposed tariffs on many of the allies present. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s departure was positive, given the objective of getting a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions, but added that it was too soon to tell if the sides would follow through on their offer. The G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Germany, along with the European Union, had convened in the resort area of Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies until Tuesday. The summit is expected to last until Thursday. The U.S. and Canada are the only two G7 members not to have a president.
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News18.com
Last Updated: June 17, 2025, 07:50 IST
Donald Trump refused to endorse a G7 call for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and left the summit early, citing urgent Middle East developments.
President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump would not sign a draft statement calling for de-escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, a US official said. Moreover, Trump said he was leaving the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early due to the situation in the Middle East, according to a White House statement.
At a group photo with fellow G7 leaders in the scenic mountain resort of Kananaskis, Trump said, “I have to be back as soon as I can. I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand, this is big stuff.”
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Before his decision was publicly announced, Trump told reporters, “As soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something.”
The President, who has praised Israel’s strikes despite his stated preference for diplomacy, said Iran would be “foolish” not to agree to a negotiated settlement.
“It’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late,” Trump told reporters as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote in an X post later.
Trump had earlier urged everyone to immediately evacuate Tehran, and reiterated that Iran should have signed a nuclear deal with the United States.
The G7 has struggled to find unity over conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Iran as Trump overtly expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has imposed tariffs on many of the allies present.
Commenting on the developments, French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. However, Macron added that Trump’s departure was positive, given the objective of getting a ceasefire.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron told reporters.
“We have to see now whether the sides will follow,” he said.
G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, along with the European Union, had convened in the resort area of Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies until Tuesday.
WHAT TRUMP SAID ON RUSSIA INVADING UKRAINE
Speaking alongside Mark Carney earlier, Trump said the former Group of Eight had been wrong to kick out Russia in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.
“This was a big mistake,” Trump said, adding he believed Russia would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Putin not been ejected.
“Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else, he’s not a happy person about it. I can tell you that he basically doesn’t even speak to the people that threw him out, and I agree with him,” Trump said.
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Though Trump stopped short of saying Russia should be reinstated in the group, his comments had raised doubts about how much Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can achieve when he is scheduled to meet the leaders on Tuesday.
“It was a rough start,” said Josh Lipsky, a former senior IMF official who now chairs the international economics department at the Atlantic Council.
About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published: June 17, 2025, 07:50 IST
Trump cutting G7 summit short due to Middle East crisis, says White House
“I think a lot of things are going to happen in the next few days,” says CNN’s John Sutter. “I think it’s going to be a very, very good year for the U.S. economy,” says President Barack Obama. “It’s a good time to be optimistic about the future,” says Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. “What do you have to do to make a good year?” asks Sen. John McCain of Arizona. “How do you make a great year?” says President Donald Trump of the United States. ‘I think I’ll make a really good year,’ says Sutter of the University of California, San Francisco, about the upcoming elections. ‘What are you going to do this year?’ asks S.E. Cupp of S.C. “Let’s see what’s going on in the world,” says S.A. S. “Everyone should be happy” says President Obama. ‘Everyone should evacuate. Everyone should evacuate!” says President-elect Donald Trump.
Kananaskis: President Donald Trump is expected to depart the G7 Summit early and return to Washington tonight, CNN reported.
White House cites “important matters” as reason for departure
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media about the president’s plan to cut short his attendance at the summit in Kananaskis, Canada.
“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” Leavitt wrote on X.
“Everyone should evacuate Tehran”: Trump warns civilians
Trump had been scheduled to depart Canada on Tuesday after a news conference. Soon before the White House announced his early departure, Trump posted on Truth Social that “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates.
Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) urged civilians to “immediately evacuate Tehran,” shortly after which the White House announced he would be departing the G7 summit early to “attend to many important matters.”
In a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump strongly reiterated his long-held stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, warning of serious consequences.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!” Trump wrote, urging immediate action as tensions rise. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he added.
In a follow-up post, Trump tied his firm stance on Iran’s nuclear program to his broader political message, stating, “AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Israel has been conducting strikes in Tehran since Thursday night, but the US has so far declined to join the operation. Shortly after Trump’s post, Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defense fire in Tehran. It’s unclear if there was any relation between Trump’s post and that attack.
Israel expands strikes in Tehran beyond military targets
Tehran is home to around 10 million people, with around 17 million in the metropolitan area. Trump’s evacuation warning came around 2 am local time. The Israeli military has said it has complete control of the skies over Tehran.
It signaled Monday that it’s expanding its targets beyond strictly military or nuclear sites, including by bombing Iranian state TV.
Israel issued several evacuation orders for civilians in Tehran, in areas where hundreds of thousands of people live. One of those evacuation orders focused on the neighborhood where Iran’s state TV is located.
It’s not clear how many civilians have managed to evacuate, or whether such a mass exodus is even possible on such a short timetable.
Less than two hours before his Truth Social post, Trump said at the G7 summit in Canada that the U.S. was talking to the Iranians by phone and even suggested it will be “better to talk in person.”
Trump expressed hope that Iran would make a deal. “I think a deal will be signed. I think Iran is foolish not to sign one,” he said.
Iran has called on the United States to intervene and help bring an end to the aerial attacks, which have escalated over the past few days. Earlier in the day, Trump said a diplomatic deal with Iran to end the conflict could happen soon after he leaves the G7 summit.
“I think Iran is basically at the negotiating table and wants to make a deal. As soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something,” he said at the summit.
The summit had already generated a degree of division in the few hours Trump attended. He signaled his intention to not sign a joint statement drafted by G7 leaders calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, according to a person familiar with the matter, though officials preparing the document held out hope that he could eventually be convinced to add his name, reported CNN.
The G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies has been marked by a significant divide between US President Donald Trump and his counterparts over a joint statement on the Middle East. Trump has declined to sign the statement, which affirms Israel’s right to defend itself and opposes Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
European leaders seek unity, but Trump withholds support
Trump believes Iran wants to de-escalate the conflict and is open to talks. He issued a two-month ultimatum to Iran this spring, and on the 61st day, Israel launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and military leaders, reported CNN.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had been working to finalize a consensus on the Middle East situation. However, Trump’s veto would prevent a show of unity among the G7 leaders.
Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates: Trump to leave G7 early, says ‘everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran’ after refusing to back de-escalation statement
Flight CLX7441 is currently the most-viewed flight in the world. It is said to be travelling from Shanghai, China, to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. But CargoLux says it’s absolutely not operating in Iranian airspace. It could be based on regular journeys made by the carrier (when that airspace isn’t closed) or relate to issues with GPS jamming.
With Iran’s airspace shut down, there are virtually no planes travelling across Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Gaza or Lebanon.
But if you look closely you’ll see it looks like a plane is currently flying just above Iran’s capital city, Tehran. Flight CLX7441 is currently the most-viewed flight in the world. But what’s really happening? That requires more digging.
The Flightradar24 radar over the Middle East just before 12pm. Credit: Flightradar24
Flight data shows the plane – which is said to be travelling from Shanghai, China, to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan – as being owned by the Luxembourg cargo carrier CargoLux. And CargoLux says it’s absolutely not operating in Iranian airspace.
“Cargolux would like to categorically state that none of its flights utilise Iranian airspace,” the airline says in a statement on its website.
“Other airlines may similarly be impacted by the incorrect data being shown on such publicly available application. … Our flight tracking systems provide real-time data, which confirms that no flight entered Iranian airspace. Any claims to the contrary are completely unfounded.”
The airline first issued the statement more than a day ago, indicating there was something wrong with the data being used by public flight tracking apps.
It’s not clear why data shows the flight as tracking through the area, but it could be based on regular journeys made by the carrier (when that airspace isn’t closed) or relate to issues with GPS jamming, which Flightradar24 says is occurring throughout the Middle East.