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London Ambulances Targeted in Suspected Antisemitic Arson Attack
British police said they were investigating a suspected arson attack as an antisemitic hate crime, after volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation were set on fire in London on Monday.
The London Metropolitan Police confirmed that four Hatzalah ambulances, operated by the Jewish Community Ambulance Service, were deliberately set ablaze in the early hours of the morning. Multiple gas cylinders on the vehicles exploded, shattering windows in a nearby apartment block. Authorities evacuated residents from adjacent homes as a precaution, and no injuries were reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack.” He expressed his support for the Jewish community, writing on X, “My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.”
Superintendent Sarah Jackson said police are reviewing CCTV footage and are aware of videos circulating online. “We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage,” she said. No arrests have been made. Officers remained on the scene to conduct urgent investigations and gather evidence.
The incident drew swift condemnation from local and national organisations. Shomrim, a nonprofit that operates a neighbourhood watch in the area, called the attack “not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community.”
Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, said it is assisting police with the investigation. The group highlighted the seriousness of the attack, noting that targeting emergency services could endanger both the Jewish community and wider residents who rely on volunteer medical support.
Hatzola, the Jewish volunteer ambulance service, was established in 1979 and provides free medical transportation and emergency response across north London. Operated entirely by volunteers, the organisation plays a critical role in responding to urgent medical emergencies in densely populated neighbourhoods.
Authorities stressed that the investigation is ongoing and appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police urged anyone with information or footage from the area to assist in identifying the suspects. Superintendent Jackson added, “We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.”
The arson attack has sparked concern across London, highlighting rising tensions and the vulnerability of community services. Officials emphasised that hate crimes against ethnic and religious communities are taken seriously, and authorities are committed to ensuring public safety while bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The attack comes amid growing scrutiny of antisemitic incidents in the UK, with advocacy groups calling for increased protection for both communities and the volunteer services that support them.
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Iran Claims Strikes on US Bases as Hormuz Tensions Escalate
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said early Wednesday it had launched attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, marking another escalation in the conflict as the United States continued military operations against Iran and renewed restrictions on Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC said it targeted the US Fifth Fleet’s command-and-control facilities, logistical centres, petroleum installations and military equipment in Bahrain, along with a US base in Kuwait. Iranian state media described the strikes as retaliation for recent American military operations and efforts to control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by local media, the IRGC warned that if Washington continued trying to restrict regional oil and gas exports by controlling key shipping routes, Iran would seek to disrupt other energy corridors serving US and allied interests. The statement declared that regional energy exports would be “for everyone or for no one,” although it did not specify which routes could be targeted.
Missile warning systems were activated in Bahrain and Kuwait as Iranian projectiles approached. Jordanian authorities said their air defence systems intercepted three incoming Iranian missiles, while Kuwait’s military reported repelling Iranian drone attacks. Iran also claimed it had targeted US military facilities at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base for a second time.
US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, confirmed that Iran had launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighbouring Gulf countries.
The latest exchange came after the US military carried out a fourth consecutive night of operations against Iranian targets. According to US Central Command, fighter aircraft, drones and naval vessels conducted a seven-hour mission targeting Iranian missile and drone sites, naval assets and coastal defence systems.
CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
President Donald Trump also renewed warnings that the United States could expand its campaign if diplomatic efforts fail. In a televised interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, Trump said Washington would eventually target Iran’s energy infrastructure unless Tehran agreed to return to negotiations.
“We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re gonna knock out their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate,” Trump said, adding that energy facilities remained potential targets.
The latest hostilities have cast further doubt over a temporary agreement reached in June after the United States lifted an earlier blockade of Iranian shipping to allow negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Talks have since stalled as military confrontations around the Strait of Hormuz intensified, raising concerns about regional security and the stability of global energy supplies.
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Cuba Suffers Third Nationwide Blackout in Two Weeks as Fuel Shortages Deepen Energy Crisis
Cuba was plunged into another nationwide power outage on Tuesday after a failure at a generating unit triggered the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN), marking the third island-wide blackout in less than two weeks as the country struggles with worsening fuel shortages and an ongoing economic crisis.
State-owned Electric Union said the outage began around midday after a malfunction at a power plant in the eastern province of Holguín caused a sudden change in grid frequency, forcing the national electricity network offline.
Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines said emergency restoration procedures were activated immediately. The process involves creating isolated “micro-islands” of electricity before reconnecting them to rebuild the national grid. Priority has been given to hospitals, food processing facilities and other essential services.
By Tuesday afternoon, electricity had been restored to parts of Havana, with authorities reporting that about 4 percent of the capital had regained power. Provincial officials in Guantánamo, Cienfuegos and Matanzas also confirmed that electricity had returned to hospitals and selected urban areas, including Matanzas’ historic city centre.
The latest outage follows nationwide blackouts last Monday and Friday that left more than 9 million people without electricity. Cuba also experienced two major nationwide outages in March, along with several regional disruptions during the year.
The repeated failures have disrupted daily life across the island. Public transportation has been severely affected, work schedules have been shortened, flights have faced cancellations and hospitals have struggled to maintain normal operations. Residents have also experienced interruptions to cooking, water supplies, internet access and telephone services.
Fuel shortages have intensified since January, when US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries supplying or selling oil to Cuba. The measures have added pressure to an economy already facing years of financial hardship.
Cuba currently produces only about 40 percent of the fuel it requires, leaving it heavily dependent on imports. Officials have acknowledged that no immediate solution has emerged to secure additional fuel supplies, leaving the country’s ageing electricity infrastructure under continued strain.
Washington’s energy restrictions followed the capture of Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro and expanded existing sanctions already affecting Cuba’s economy. Authorities say the latest measures have compounded challenges created by previous sanctions and domestic economic reforms, including monetary unification.
The situation has also drawn political attention in the United States. Four Democratic members of Congress who visited Cuba over the weekend described the energy embargo imposed by the Trump administration as turning the island into a “silent Gaza,” highlighting the humanitarian impact of prolonged power shortages.
With fuel supplies remaining scarce and no immediate relief in sight, Cuba’s electricity system continues to face significant pressure, raising concerns that further nationwide outages could occur in the weeks ahead.
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