Lebanon sentences six in killing of UN peacekeeper, main defendant gets death penalty
Lebanon’s military court convicted six people accused of killing a U.N. peacekeeper, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said Tuesday. Lebanese officials said the chief defendant was sentenced to death, Associated Press reported.
“UNIFIL welcomes the conclusion of the trial process and the Government of Lebanon’s commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice,” it said in a statement.
UNIFIL did not give further details, but three Lebanese judicial officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case, said the court had issued a death sentence in absentia Monday against Mohammad Ayyad, the main defendant in the case, according to Associated Press.
Trump denies seeking Xi summit, open to visit China
US President Trump has dismissed reports claiming he is seeking a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating he’s “not seeking anything”, Al Jazeera reported.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he may visit China only at Xi’s invitation, which he noted has already been extended.
His remarks come amid ongoing US-China trade talks in Sweden, ahead of an August 12 tariff truce deadline, according to Al Jazeera.
UN welcomes Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, calling it a step toward easing tensions and ending violence. He urged both sides to fully uphold the agreement and work towards lasting peace, according to Xinhua.
Guterres also praised Malaysia, the US, and China for helping mediate the deal. The UN said it stands ready to support efforts for regional stability.
Iran rules out resuming nuclear talks, citing US actions
Iran has no current plans to resume nuclear talks with the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
He criticized the US for backing recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, calling such actions incompatible with diplomacy. Baghaei stressed that any future negotiations would require a fundamental change in Washington’s approach, warning that talks should not be used as a tool for pressure or intimidation, according to Xinhua.
The comments follow a brief but intense flare-up between Iran and Israel in June, which ended with a ceasefire on the 24th after 12 days of conflict.
