Oil prices up over 5 pct after new U.S.-Iran tensions
Crude oil futures prices surged over 5 percent in the morning session on Monday as concerns over U.S.-Iran tensions spiked.
West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery gained as much as 6.94 U.S. dollars or 7.94 percent to 94.30 dollars per barrel at one point. Brent crude for August delivery jumped by 6.33 dollars, or 6.94 percent, to 97.45 dollars a barrel at the low point.
Iran has halted message exchanges with the United States via mediation in protest against Israel's actions in Lebanon, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Monday.
Israel orders military to strike Beirut's southern suburbs
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday said in a joint statement that they had ordered the military to strike Beirut's southern suburbs.
According to the statement, the order was given following repeated Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, including rocket and drone attacks targeting northern Israeli cities.
Israel's Channel 12 News reported that the move came after the United States approved Israel's requests to expand military activity in Lebanon, shifting from an initial focus on the country's south to include airstrikes in the capital city.
Ethiopians head to polls in 7th general election
Polling stations opened across Ethiopia on Monday morning as millions of voters are set to cast their ballots in the country's seventh general election.
According to the National Election Board of Ethiopia, more than 54 million Ethiopians have registered to vote. Voters will elect representatives to the House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, as well as members of regional councils.
Election authorities said that more than 10,000 candidates from 42 political parties, along with several independent candidates, are contesting seats in both the House and regional legislatures.
U.S., Iran exchange strikes amid ongoing peace efforts
U.S. Central Command said on Sunday that the U.S. military conducted "self-defense strikes" on Iranian radar and command as well as control sites for drones in parts of Iran over the weekend.
The strikes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in response to "aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters," the command said on X.
"U.S. fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters," it added.■
