Lebanon Heritage Under Fire: Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam and Culture Minister Ghassan Salame condemned Israeli strikes near UNESCO-protected Tyre and Beaufort, calling it “collective punishment” and urging an immediate ceasefire and full withdrawal. US-Iran Truce Talks: US VP JD Vance said a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension and new nuclear talks are “very much holding,” but Trump approval is still unclear; the draft would bar Iran from imposing Strait of Hormuz tolls and require mine removal within 30 days. Hormuz Tensions, Again: Iran reported warning shots at vessels near Hormuz and said air defences intercepted a US drone near Bushehr, as both sides traded accusations of ceasefire violations. Sanctions Hit Iran’s Oil Pipeline: The US imposed fresh sanctions on firms, vessels, and individuals tied to Iran’s oil and petrochemical “shadow” exports, aiming to cut revenue feeding the IRGC and military. Israel-Gaza Pressure: Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to seize 70% of Gaza, while Gaza health authorities reported hundreds of deaths since the ceasefire began. Culture & Sport Politics: Irish ex-president Michael D. Higgins rejected calls to boycott Israel’s match, arguing sport shouldn’t shield apartheid-like behavior—amid renewed debate over Palestine and Lebanon. Film & Memory: Türkiye’s earthquake-focused drama “Aşk ve Enkaz” heads to cinemas, centering grief and rebuilding rather than spectacle.