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Australian Activists Return After Gaza Flotilla Incident, Allege Israeli Abuse

Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, that were detained by Israeli security forces last week, speak during a press conference after arriving at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, that were detained by Israeli security forces last week, speak during a press conference after arriving at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
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Australian Activists Return After Gaza Flotilla Incident, Allege Israeli Abuse

Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, that were detained by Israeli security forces last week, speak during a press conference after arriving at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
Members of a Gaza-bound flotilla, that were detained by Israeli security forces last week, speak during a press conference after arriving at Sydney International Airport on May 25, 2026. (AFP)

Australian activists detained by Israel while on a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have returned home, with organizers alleging abuse, sexual assault, and beatings, that left some detainees in hospital.

Israel's prison service has denied the allegations, which Reuters could not independently verify.

Eleven Australians were among the 430 volunteers on 50 boats intercepted in international waters last week by Israeli forces aiming to stop the flotilla delivering aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. The flotilla ‌included people ‌from 40 countries.

One activist reached Melbourne on ‌Sunday ⁠evening, while others arrived ⁠in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Monday.

Juliet Lamont, an Australian activist and documentary filmmaker, told Reuters on Monday she was dragged, sexually assaulted and beaten when she was detained.

"That was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell. I've looked into the eyes of the most ⁠soulless people in the universe, and nothing came ‌back. These people need ‌to be stopped," Lamont said.

Another Australian activist, Sam Woripa Watson, said he sustained ‌a fractured rib along with bruises and cuts ‌across his body. Watson also said he had witnessed activists being tasered and shot with rubber bullets, with stun grenades thrown at them.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, the organizers of the aid shipment, ‌said it had documented at least 15 cases of sexual abuse, with the worst occurring on ⁠one Israeli ⁠landing craft which had been converted into a makeshift prison with barbed wire and shipping containers.

The statement was released after the Israeli prison service's blanket denial of mistreatment, rape and sexual assault allegations.

The allegations of mistreatment have increased international pressure on Israel, following a video posted by far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in which he taunted activists restrained on the ground, sparking widespread condemnation.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the footage as "shocking and unacceptable."

Australia imposed a travel ban and financial sanctions on Ben-Gvir last year for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

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World

US Authorizes Iranian Oil Sales Amid Talks on Final Peace Deal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Authorizes Iranian Oil Sales Amid Talks on Final Peace Deal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)

The United States authorized Iranian oil sales on Monday, easing decades-old sanctions as it pushes toward a final peace deal with Tehran in return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The general license, announced by the Treasury Department, allows the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21.

The license says Iranian oil can be imported into the US when necessary to complete ‌its sale, delivery ‌or offloading. The US has not meaningfully imported Iranian ‌oil ⁠since Washington imposed measures ⁠after the 1979 revolution.

"In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.

"As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil."

Under a memorandum of ⁠understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran, the US ‌agreed to issue waivers for the export ‌of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances ‌and transportation.

Payment of funds to Iran may be made in US dollar-denominated ‌funds, according to the license.

Cuba, North Korea and Crimea are among those excluded from the license.

Washington first sanctioned Iran in 1979 when revolutionary students seized the US embassy in Tehran, holding diplomats hostage. Numerous additional sanctions have been imposed since then over the ‌nuclear program and Iran's support for groups the US deems terrorist organizations.

Independent Chinese refiners have been the main buyers ⁠of sanctioned Iranian ⁠oil, taking advantage of deep discounts as others avoided such purchases. India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Türkiye were also major buyers of Iranian crude before US sanctions were reimposed in 2018.

Mediators said on Monday that Washington and Tehran made "encouraging progress" at the first round of talks aimed at reaching a final peace deal. The talks began under the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days.

Oil prices had risen sharply when Tehran started blockading the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a US blockade of Iranian ports, but after the interim deal, fell to their lowest since before the war began on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

World

Taiwan Begins 5-Day Military Drill with Tanks Patrolling Streets

This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
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Taiwan Begins 5-Day Military Drill with Tanks Patrolling Streets

This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)

Taiwan kicked off a five-day set of military drills on Monday aimed at boosting the island's combat readiness in case of a Chinese military attack.

In the city of Taoyuan, home to the island's largest international airport, tanks drove down city streets and highways, videos and photos of the exercise showed, as armored vehicles from the Army’s 269th Infantry Brigade conducted combat readiness patrols morning.

The Immediate Combat Readiness Exercises are meant to test how rapidly military units can deploy, especially in the face of a possible sudden escalation of Chinese grey-zone warfare. Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.

The exercises, announced Sunday afternoon, are meant to be realistic, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, with an emphasis on “real-time, live-fire and on-site."

These exercises are designed to simulate what would happen before enemy forces launched their ships, according to Taiwan's semi-official Central News Agency. The series of exercises could also include impromptu ones in the future, including real-time responses to Chinese military drills.

China's People's Liberation Army sent 23 aircraft towards Taiwan from Sunday into Monday morning, according to Taiwan's defense ministry. That was accompanied by seven navy ships and five other Chinese government ships. China sends war planes, drones and navy ships towards the island on a daily basis.

Taiwan regularly conducts combat readiness drills as it seeks to bolster its defense capabilities amid ongoing military pressure from China, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Earlier in June, Taiwan fired rockets in China's direction for the first time as part of a military exercise.

World

EU Chief Hails 'Statesman' Starmer after Resignation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
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EU Chief Hails 'Statesman' Starmer after Resignation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bolstering "European" security after he announced his resignation.

"It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir," the European Commission president posted online.