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Trump’s Trade and Tax Policies Start to Stall U.S. Battery Boom

Battery companies are slowing construction or reconsidering big investments in the United States because of tariffs on China and the proposed rollback of tax credits.

© Margaret Albaugh for The New York Times

Group14 Technologies, a start-up, slowed the construction of a battery materials factory in Moses Lake, Wash., after its customers in China balked at paying higher tariffs.

California’s Wildfires Could Be Brutal This Summer

Experts say there could be more large wildfires than usual this year. Here’s why.

© Erin Schaff/The New York Times

The aftermath of the Eaton fire in Altadena, Calif., in January. The peak of California’s fire season, when fires are most abundant and the most acres burn, occurs from June through October.

No further damage seen at Iran nuclear sites, global watchdog says

Reuters International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Grossi at the nuclear watchdog's headquarters in Vienna, Austria (16 June 2025)Reuters
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi briefed member states at a meeting in Vienna

The head of the global nuclear watchdog says there has been no further damage to Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant since Israel struck the country's nuclear sites on Friday.

Rafael Grossi told the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors that an above-ground enrichment facility at Natanz was destroyed, but that there were no signs of a physical attack at the underground facility there.

Four buildings were also damaged at the Isfahan site, he said, including a uranium conversion plant, and no damage was visible at the underground Fordo enrichment plant.

Israel said it attacked the sites and killed nine nuclear scientists to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons.

It alleged that Iran had in recent months "taken steps to weaponize" its stockpile of enriched uranium, which can be used to make fuel for power plants but also nuclear bombs.

On Sunday, Iran reiterated that its nuclear programme was peaceful and urged IAEA's 35-nation board to strongly condemn the Israeli strikes.

Grossi briefed the board on Monday that the IAEA had been monitoring the situation in Iran very carefully, ascertaining the status of the country's nuclear facilities and assessing radiation levels through communication with local authorities.

He said Friday's attack on Natanz destroyed the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), where cascades of centrifuge were producing uranium enriched up to 60% purity - close to the 90% required for weapons-grade uranium

Electricity infrastructure at Natanz, which included an electrical sub-station, a power supply building, and emergency generators, were also destroyed.

"There has been no indication of a physical attack on the underground cascade hall containing part of the PFEP and the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there," Grossi added.

He also said there was radiological and chemical contamination at the site, but that the level of radioactivity outside had remained unchanged and at normal levels.

The Israeli military said on Friday that the underground centrifuge hall was also damaged as part of the attack on Natanz, but it provided no evidence.

Damage to Natanz nuclear site

The IAEA chief said four buildings were damaged in a separate attack on Friday on the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre - the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing plant, and a facility to convert uranium hexafluoride to uranium metal, which was under construction.

As at Natanz, off-site radiation levels remain unchanged, he added.

The Israeli military said on Friday that the Isfahan strike "dismantled a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for reconverting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure".

Damage to Natanz nuclear site

On Saturday, Iran's semi-official Isna news agency quoted spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) as saying there was "limited damage to some areas at the Fordo enrichment site" following an Israeli attack.

However, the Israeli military has not confirmed carrying out any strikes there.

Grossi said no damage had been seen at Fordo, or at the Khondab heavy water reactor, which is under construction.

He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, warning that military escalation threatened lives and increased the chance of a radiological release with serious consequences for people and the environment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran on Saturday that Israel's attacks on his country's nuclear facilities were a "blatant violation of international law", and that he hoped the IAEA's board would issue a strong condemnation.

He also said that Iran's missile strikes on Israel since Friday were a "response to aggression".

The Israeli military's spokesperson, Brig Gen Effie Defrin said on Monday that its large-scale air campaign would "continue to act in pursuit of the operation's objective, to neutralize the existential threat from Iran, from its nuclear project to the regime's missile array".

Iran's health ministry says Israeli strikes have killed more than 220 people since Friday. Twenty-four Israelis have been killed by Iranian missiles, according to Israeli authorities.

Last Thursday, the IAEA's board formally declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years. A resolution said Iran's "many failures" to provide the agency with full answers about its undeclared nuclear material and nuclear activities constituted non-compliance.

Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran was not permitted to enrich uranium above 3.67% purity - the level required for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants - and was not allowed to carry out any enrichment at Fordo for 15 years.

However, US President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement during his first term in 2018, saying it did too little to stop a pathway to a bomb, and reinstated US sanctions.

Iran retaliated by increasingly breaching the restrictions - particularly those relating to enrichment. It resumed enrichment at Fordo in 2021 and has amassed enough 60%-enriched uranium to potentially make nine nuclear bombs, according to the IAEA.

Minnesota shooting suspect found in field and crawled to police, ending manhunt

Ramsey County Sheriff's Office/Facebook/Reuters Police handout image showing the arrest of Vance Luther BoelterRamsey County Sheriff's Office/Facebook/Reuters
Police said Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest

A 57-year-old man has been arrested in the US state of Minnesota on suspicion of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband.

The arrest on Sunday night was the culmination of a huge two-day manhunt following the deaths of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband Mark. State Governor Tim Walz called it a "politically motivated assassination".

Police said Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest in a rural area west of Minneapolis, but gave himself up peacefully when challenged.

The suspect is also alleged to have shot and wounded Democratic State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, who are both now awake in hospital.

Mrs Hoffman said on Sunday that both felt "incredibly lucky to be alive".

Boelter was detained after investigators found a car he allegedly used in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Air and SWAT teams were deployed to arrest the suspect in what was described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history.

No police officers were injured during his apprehension, and officials said they were not looking for any other suspects.

Speaking at a press conference with other local officials on Sunday night, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the attack was an "unspeakable act" that had "altered the state of Minnesota".

"This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences," Walz said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the "skill and bravery" of law enforcement agencies following Boelter's arrest.

"Political violence is abhorrent, it cuts against the most basic moral fabric of our democracy. It's critical that those who commit these acts be held accountable under the law," he added.

Boelter is accused of impersonating a police officer to carry out the attacks on Saturday, before exchanging fire with police officers and fleeing from the area of suburban Minneapolis.

Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019 to 2025.

Boelter, a former political appointee, was once a member of the same state workforce development board as Hoffman.

He is a security contractor and religious missionary who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, according to his online CV.

Boelter once preached as a pastor at a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Facebook photos.

Investigators reportedly found a list of "targets" in the vehicle that the suspect is thought to have driven for the alleged shootings.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters that he would not describe the notebook found in the car as a "manifesto" as it was not "a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings".

Local media have reported that the names included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

At the press conference following Boelter's arrest, Evans did not specify who was featured on the list, but said that state officials had contacted authorities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa so that they could "notify individuals that were on that list".

Iran Has Sustained Blow After Blow Since October 2023

Iran is often portrayed as one of the world’s most dangerous actors. But with attacks on its defenses, nuclear sites and proxy militias, Israel has exposed a compromised and weakened adversary.

© Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times

People gathered on top of a hill watching the smoke in Tehran on Friday. Israel has been attacking the city for days.

特朗普家族推“爱国手机”进军电信市场

德才
2025-06-16T15:10:35.706Z
特朗普集团宣布,推出“Trump Mobile”,手机预计于今年9月发售。

(德国之声中文网)特朗普集团周一在纽约曼哈顿的特朗普大厦宣布,正式推出名为“Trump Mobile”的手机与无线通讯服务,产品包括一款售价499美元的智能手机和月费为47.45美元的套餐,意图吸引保守派消费者,打造“美国制造”的替代性电信品牌。

特朗普长子小唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump Jr.)在发布会上表示:“我们将推出一整套服务,用户每月缴纳统一费用,不仅可以用手机看远程医疗,还能享受道路救援、无限短信发送至全球100个国家。”

特朗普家族一向以房地产、豪华酒店和高尔夫球场闻名,近年来已逐步拓展至数字媒体与加密货币领域,此次进入移动通讯市场也被视为右翼阵营“平行经济”扩张的一环,类似的趋势还出现在新闻平台与社交媒体中。

据悉,此次推出的“T1 Mobile”品牌使用了“Trump”名称商标授权,与其他特朗普品牌项目相似,特朗普集团本身并未参与手机设计、生产或提供通信服务。

特朗普集团表示,其呼叫中心将设在美国,手机也将在美国制造。然而,目前美国本土并无显著的智能手机生产基础设施,大多数设备仍依赖中国、韩国、印度和越南的生产线。

相关图集:特朗普关税战2.0时间线梳理

2025年2月1日 |对墨、加、中加征关税:特朗普上任后首次大规模加征关税:自2月1日开始对美国三大贸易伙伴加拿大、墨西哥和中国加征关税。特朗普宣布对邻国加拿大和墨西哥进口商品加征25%的关税,指责两国未能阻止非法移民进入美国;对来自中国商品加征10%的关税,指责中国在芬太尼生产中扮演重要角色。
2025年2月10日 |加征钢铝关税 无例外豁免:特朗普2月10日签署行政令,对所有进口至美国的钢铁和铝制品加征25%关税,并取消加拿大、墨西哥和巴西等钢铝主要供应国的免税额度。
2025年3月26日|宣布对进口汽车全面征税:特朗普于3月26日宣布,自4月3日起,对所有进口汽车与轻型卡车征收25%的关税。全球汽车供应链受冲击,日韩汽车产业首当其冲。受此消息影响,丰田、本田、现代和起亚等汽车制造商股价大幅下跌,总市值蒸发约165亿美元。
2025年4月2日|宣布“对等关税”:特朗普4月2日在白宫玫瑰花园举行“让美国再次富有”(Make America Wealthy Again)记者会,宣布“对等关税”措施。美国对大多数国家征收10%的基准关税,但针对特定国家征收更高税额。中国、欧盟和越南分别面临34%、20%和46%的关税; 日本、韩国、印度、柬埔寨和台湾,分别受到24%、25%、26%、49%和32%进口关税的打击。
2025年4月9日|暂缓关税90日 中国除外:特朗普4月9日在大规模“对等关税”上路不到24小时后出现政策大转弯,宣布暂缓征收“对等关税”90天,在此期间,税率将统一降至10%的基准关税。但中国被排除在暂缓名单之外,不仅如此,还将对中国的关税加码至145%,其中包含了美国此前指控中国打击芬太尼不力而征收的20%关税。
2025年5月4日 | 对美国境外制作的电影征收100%关税:特朗普5月4日以“国安威胁”为由,宣布将对非美国制作的电影征收100%关税,理由是要“拯救美国电影业”。
2025年5月12日|中美关税战90天“停火协议”:美中高层在瑞士进行谈判后于5月12日发布联合声明,就90天的“暂停期”达成协议:美国对大多数中国输美商品加征145%的关税将在5月14日前下调至30%,30%关税里包括针对芬太尼问题额外施加的20%惩罚性关税;中国对美产品加征的125%关税则将降至10%。美中双边早前不断叠加的报复性关税,在这波协商中几乎都被取消。(图为美财政部长贝森特与贸易谈判代表格里尔出席美中贸易会谈)
2025年5月13日|美大幅下调中国“小包裹”关税:白宫5月13发布行政命令,将从5月14日起将对中国低价值货物(不超过800美元)征收的“最低限度”关税从120%下调至54%,原计划的200美元固定费用征税方案被搁置,现行的100美元固定费用将继续执行。
5月23日 对阵欧盟:特朗普威胁自6月1日起对欧盟商品加征50%的统一关税。他同时警告苹果公司,若其在美国销售的手机是在海外生产的,将面临25%的关税。两天后,特朗普收回了对欧盟加征50%关税的威胁,他表示,与欧委会主席冯德莱恩通电话后,同意将美国和欧盟的谈判期限延长至7月9日。
5月28日 美国法院裁定特朗普对等关税“越权”:美国联邦国际贸易法庭裁定,特朗普今年4月2日对多国征收的对等关税,以及早前向中国、加拿大和墨西哥加征的报复性关税都属于“非法”。判决认定,特朗普征收全球关税的行为超出了《国际经济紧急权力法》(IEEPA)赋予总统的权限。美政府表示将对该裁决提出上诉。
5月29日 美国上诉法院暂准特朗普关税恢复执行:美国联邦上诉法院一天后推翻该判决,让特朗普的关税政策得以持续实施。上诉法院指出,为了审理特朗普政府的上诉,将先暂缓此前法院的裁决,并命令原告及特朗普政府分别在6月5日和6月9日前提交回应文件。
5月30日 特朗普全面上调钢铝关税:美国总统特朗普宣布将对全球钢铁和铝产品的进口关税提高至50%。中国是美国的第三大铝供应国。他指责中国未按约降低关税,取消针对稀土等产品的贸易限制。他说:“中国完全违反了与我们达成的协议。不能再做好好先生了!”
6月10日 美中谈判双方宣布原则上达成贸易框架协议:中国和美国官员在英国伦敦举行贸易谈判,经过两天的会议,6月10日,双方宣布原则上已达成贸易框架协议,以落实5月在瑞士日内瓦的共识、还有两国领袖上周的通话内容。特朗普在社交媒体Truth Social上表示,按照美中达成的新的贸易协议,美国将从中国获得稀土磁体。他还表示,将允许中国学生在协议达成后继续留在美国大学学习。

据分析机构PP Foresight的电信媒体技术分析师保罗·佩斯科雷(Paolo Pescatore)表示:“目前对特朗普此举的商业模式仍存在诸多疑问,关键在于其与电信运营商之间的具体合作关系尚不明确。”

代表特朗普商标业务的DTTM Operations公司也已向美国专利商标局递交了申请,涵盖“T1”与“Trump”在电信相关产品与服务上的使用权,包括手机、配件、无线服务,甚至零售门店。

“Trump Mobile”官网已上线,手机预计于今年9月发售。月费47.45美元也被解读为向特朗普本人政治身份的致敬——他曾任美国第45任总统,如今正担任第47任总统。

不过,美国的手机市场已高度饱和,由苹果与三星主导;而移动通信网络则由Verizon、AT&T与T-Mobile三大运营商垄断,三者合计掌握超过95%的市场份额。

 

(路透社)

 

DW中文有Instagram!欢迎搜寻dw.chinese,看更多深入浅出的图文与影音报道。

© 2025年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。



Woman who died in skydive was 'caring and giving'

Scott Armstrong Belinda Taylor is stood wearing a black sleeveless vest with long brown hair. She is stood by a wooden gate with a white horse on the other side. Scott Armstrong
Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, died while skydiving in Devon, police say

Two people who died while skydiving in Devon have been named by police.

Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, and Adam Harrison, 30, from Bournemouth, died in the accident at Dunkeswell Aerodrome at about 13:00 BST on Friday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The force said the skydivers died at the scene and their families had been informed.

It said inquiries were ongoing by police, British Skydiving and East Devon District Council Environmental Health and Safety Office.

British Skydiving said on Saturday it had been "notified of a tragic accident in which two jumpers lost their lives".

"Our deepest condolences go to their families, friends and the entire skydiving community," it said.

The Civil Aviation Authority said it was aware of the incident but could not comment any further due to it being an active investigation.

The Dunkeswell Aerodrome is a former RAF site located in the Blackdown Hills area of Devon, close to the county's border with Somerset.

According to the aerodrome's website, the site was originally built to be an American naval base during World War Two.

It is also claimed to be the highest licensed airfield in the UK at 839ft (256m) above sea level.

Along with skydiving, other activities on offer include Spitfire flight tours, wing-walking and flight training for aircraft.

Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at London's Groucho Club

PA Media Patrick Spencer wears a navy suit and stands in front of a plain background.PA Media
Patrick Spencer appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court

An MP has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault that allegedly took place at London's Groucho Club.

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer is accused of two assaults on two women on the same day in August 2023 - before he was elected.

The 37-year-old, who became a Conservative MP at the 2024 general election, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He is due to appear next at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Mr Spencer stood in the dock to confirm his name as Michael Patrick Spencer and his date of birth.

District Judge Paul Goldspring told the MP he was on unconditional bail.

The charges were first brought against Mr Spencer in May.

Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), previously said: "Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP.

"The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023."

Minnesota shooting suspect found in field and crawled to police, ending manhunt

Ramsey County Sheriff's Office/Facebook/Reuters Police handout image showing the arrest of Vance Luther BoelterRamsey County Sheriff's Office/Facebook/Reuters
Police said Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest

A 57-year-old man has been arrested in the US state of Minnesota on suspicion of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband.

The arrest on Sunday night was the culmination of a huge two-day manhunt following the deaths of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband Mark. State Governor Tim Walz called it a "politically motivated assassination".

Police said Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest in a rural area west of Minneapolis, but gave himself up peacefully when challenged.

The suspect is also alleged to have shot and wounded Democratic State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, who are both now awake in hospital.

Mrs Hoffman said on Sunday that both felt "incredibly lucky to be alive".

Boelter was detained after investigators found a car he allegedly used in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Air and SWAT teams were deployed to arrest the suspect in what was described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history.

No police officers were injured during his apprehension, and officials said they were not looking for any other suspects.

Speaking at a press conference with other local officials on Sunday night, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the attack was an "unspeakable act" that had "altered the state of Minnesota".

"This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences," Walz said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the "skill and bravery" of law enforcement agencies following Boelter's arrest.

"Political violence is abhorrent, it cuts against the most basic moral fabric of our democracy. It's critical that those who commit these acts be held accountable under the law," he added.

Boelter is accused of impersonating a police officer to carry out the attacks on Saturday, before exchanging fire with police officers and fleeing from the area of suburban Minneapolis.

Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019 to 2025.

Boelter, a former political appointee, was once a member of the same state workforce development board as Hoffman.

He is a security contractor and religious missionary who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, according to his online CV.

Boelter once preached as a pastor at a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Facebook photos.

Investigators reportedly found a list of "targets" in the vehicle that the suspect is thought to have driven for the alleged shootings.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters that he would not describe the notebook found in the car as a "manifesto" as it was not "a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings".

Local media have reported that the names included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

At the press conference following Boelter's arrest, Evans did not specify who was featured on the list, but said that state officials had contacted authorities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa so that they could "notify individuals that were on that list".

More than 20 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near Gaza aid sites, Hamas-run ministry says

Reuters A mourner reacts during the funeral of Palestinians killed in what the Gaza health ministry says was Israeli fire near a distribution center in Rafah, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem KhaledReuters
A mourner during the funeral of one of those killed while attempting to get food aid in Rafah

At least 22 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire near aid distribution sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC that it was examining the reports.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to get food from the GHF sites, opened by Israel after it partially lifted a three-month blockade which the UN said had pushed the Gazan population to the brink of starvation.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said: "Israel's means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza."

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, he accused Israel of weaponising food and repeated his call for a full investigation into the attacks near the sites. UN agencies have refused to work with the GHF.

On several previous occasions the IDF has acknowledged that its troops opened fire near aid sites.

The health ministry said 20 were killed on Monday at the GHF centre at al-Alam in the southern city of Rafah, while rescuers reported two killed at a GHF site in the central Netzarim corridor.

Many of those killed and injured at al-Alam were taken to Nasser hospital in nearby Khan Younis, where relatives gathered. Many were buried in the hours after their arrival, in line with Islamic tradition.

Ahmed Alfara, a doctor at the hospital, told the Reuters news agency that the distribution system had failed "100%".

"No one can get that distribution, that aid, no one can get it," he said.

"We have to recognise that [UN humanitarian agency] Unrwa and NGOs must again get that distribution and try to redistribute it for the Palestinian people."

He reported that many of the casualties on Monday had suffered gunshot wounds, including to the head.

Ahmed Fayad, who attempted to get food from the GHF site on Monday, described the GHF operation as a "trap".

"We went there thinking we would get aid to feed our children, but it turned out to be a trap, a killing. I advise everyone: don't go there," he told Reuters.

Al-Alam has been the scene of several similar deadly incidents since the new Israeli-backed food distribution system began operating.

Before Monday's incident, the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said that at least 300 people had been killed and more than 2,600 wounded near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza on 26 May.

The IDF has contested the death toll and said Hamas had caused much of the violence.

Israel does not allow international news organisations including the BBC into Gaza, making verifying what is happening in the territory difficult.

It has been 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 55,297 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

WhatsApp to start showing more adverts in messaging app

Getty Images A person's hands using a phoneGetty Images

WhatsApp is launching three new ad features in a global roll-out across the messaging app.

The Meta-owned platform says the new ads will not be shown in the same place as people's private chats, nor will the contents of their messages - which are encrypted - be used to decide which ads to display.

WhatsApp will instead use the country, city and language of the user, as well as how they interact with other ads and which channels they follow, to drive suggested content.

But people who have chosen to link their WhatsApp account to Facebook or Instagram will see more personalised ads.

The new ad features will appear in a section called Updates, which is a separate tab at the bottom of the app.

WhatsApp claims to have 1.5 billion users globally.

Businesses with channels will be able to choose to promote ads in the Updates section to attract new followers, and also charge a subscription to access extra content.

WhatsApp will eventually take a 10% commission of that fee, and there may also be extra costs on top of that taken at the app store level depending on the size of the business.

Firms will also be able to advertise in the form of a status update, which looks similar to an Instagram story and will link through to start a chat if clicked on.

Social media expert Matt Navarra told the BBC that Meta is "laying the foundation for WhatsApp to finally become a monetisable platform at scale".

But "monetising the periphery" of WhatsApp, while keeping personal chats private, would not be without risk for the company, he added.

This could particularly be the case in markets like the UK and Europe, he said, where the app is viewed primarily as a messaging tool with less appetite for content feeds or adverts.

"Any perception that the app is becoming noisy or Facebook-ified will spark backlash," he said.

'Natural extension'

It's no coincidence that the new features bring WhatsApp more in line with Meta's other platforms Facebook and Instagram.

"Obviously there's overlap," said WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart.

"We have stories on Instagram and stories on WhatsApp, and we now have a way for businesses to promote themselves in both, and we think that's a good thing."

He said he believed the move was a "natural extension of messaging services" and not dissimilar to features of rival apps such as Snapchat and Telegram.

For Mr Navarra, it also reflects a wider shift in the social media landscape.

"The feed is dying, public sharing is down, people are retreating into DMs and Stories in small groups," he said.

"Meta's trying to turn WhatsApp into a platform without users realising it and if they move too fast or it starts to feel like another ad network, people might disengage or maybe worse, distrust the app."

WhatsApp angered users recently with the introduction of a permanent button for Meta's AI tool, which cannot be deactivated or deleted, and Mr Cathcart said users who did not want to see ads or follow channels would not be forced to.

"I want to stress this won't affect your inbox," he said.

"If you're only using WhatsApp for messaging, you're not going to see this."

He said the Update section of the app was "not particularly popular" in the UK but was used more in other parts of the world, and the firm would "look at the feedback" about the unremovable AI tool - but there were many other features of the app which were also permanent.

"You can't delete the channels button, you can't delete the Updates button, you can't delete the calls button," he said.

"I mean, we also don't want to have a service that has lots of settings… that's complexity too."

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Satellite images show damage to Iran missile sites

BBC A composite of satellite images from damage inflicted on Iranian military sites: Left: the roof of a building struck in Bid Kaneh military facility; Right: a destroyed structure at Kermanshah military base. Surrounded by BBC Verify brandingBBC

Israeli strikes have damaged structures at two missile sites as well as an airport runway, satellite images have revealed.

As Iran and Israel continue to launch strikes on each other's territory, satellite imagery can give us an insight into what's happening on the ground.

It's a particularly valuable resource when looking at Iran - where it's very difficult for BBC journalists to operate.

Composite satelllite images of Kermanshah missile base with damage highlighted.

The latest satellite imagery released by Maxar shows damage to a missile base operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) near the western province of Kermanshah.

High-resolution images taken on 15 June show multiple buildings targeted at the facility. A number of structures appear to be completely destroyed, with debris spread out around the site.

There is also damage to what appear to be two tunnel entrances up against the mountainside, likely used to store sensitive equipment away from attacks.

Iran's ballistic missiles are known to be buried deep in underground silos spread out across the country.

Jeremy Binnie, Middle East specialist at Janes defence intelligence, says in addition to the targeting of missile storage bunkers and launchers, "the buildings targeted could include barracks", which would suggest "an attempt to reduce the number of personnel able to man missile launchers for retaliatory attacks".

"Kermanshah is one of Iran's oldest ballistic missile bases," says Fabian Hinz, a military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), "having originally been established during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. More recently, it has played a key role in various Iranian missile strikes including against various armed groups and Israel."

Satellite image of Tabriz airport with squares highlighting damage to runway and taxiways

Satellite images from Planet Labs show several areas of significant damage at the international airport in Tabriz, capital of Iran's East Azerbaijan province.

Images taken on 14 June show a large blackened area clearly visible in the centre of the main runway. There are also signs of damage to two taxiways at two points where they meet the main runway and on another section of one of the taxiways.

It's not clear if the airport is currently operational, but the Flightradar24 tracking website shows no commercial flights arriving or departing since early on Friday, when Israel first launched attacks on Iran.

Flight tracking sites would not normally register the movement of military aircraft.

Satellite image of Bid Kaneh military facility in Iran showing damage to the roof of a large building.

This site, about 30km (19 miles) west of Tehran, has apparently sustained damage to multiple buildings. In a Maxar image from 15 June, you can see a roof of a large structure has been penetrated and there appears to be further damage to another building alongside.

This isn't the first time this facility at Bid Kaneh has suffered serious damage. In 2011 a large explosion is reported to have killed a number of personnel believed to have been working on Iran's missile programme.

At the time, the Iranian authorities blamed it on an accident, although there was also speculation it was an act of sabotage.

Satellite image of Shahr Rey Oil Refinery with large cloud of black smoke rising. Iran map locator top right.

Images from the EU's Sentinel-2 satellites from 15 June show large plumes of smoke coming from two energy facilities in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Shahr Rey is reported to be one of the largest refineries in the country, capable of refining 225,000 barrels per day.

Satellite image of Shahran fuel depot with black smoke rising. Iran map locator in top right

The second site, Shahran oil and gas depot, is a key hub for distributing fuel in the north of the capital. There are signs of damage to several structures on the site.

Iranian officials have acknowledged the strikes, but played down their significance.

Shana, the oil ministry's news agency, reported that the situation was "under control", that the containers at Shahran were not full when struck, and that the refinery was still operational.

We will update this piece as more satellite imagery and analysis becomes available.

Additional reporting by Kayleen Devlin & Ned Davies

BBC Verify logo

赖清德:望台美安全合作从军事采购迈向共同研发

在美国特朗普政府多次批评台湾国防支出不足后,台湾总统赖清德说,政府将优先编列特别预算,在今年将把国防预算提高至当地生产总值(GDP)的3%以上,并称希望台美安全合作,能够从军事采购迈向共同生产、共同研发,深化国防产业交流合作。

根据台湾总统府新闻稿,赖清德星期一(6月16日)在总统府接见美国联邦众议院“国会台湾连线”共同主席贝拉(Ami Bera)所率领的访问团。

赖清德致词时说,美国国会跨党派长年以来的强力支持,是台湾跟美国关系稳健前进的关键力量,他感谢众议员们在国会积极为台湾发声,提出多项友台倡议,强化台美关系,拓展台湾的国际空间,也持续关注台海和平稳定。

他指出,台湾有坚定不移的决心,守护印太区域的和平与稳定,过去一年来,政府和民间合作,积极提升全社会防卫韧性,并加速推动国防改革。台湾政府也将优先编列特别预算,在今年让国防预算能够达到GDP的3%以上。

赖清德还提到,他希望台美安全合作,能够从“军事采购”迈向“共同生产、共同研发”的伙伴关系,继续深化国防产业的交流合作。

他说,台湾外交部长林佳龙和经济部长郭智辉上月先后访问德州,见证台美在人工智能(AI)和半导体产业的合作;台湾也派出行政院秘书长龚明鑫率领规模最大的代表团前往华府出席“选择美国投资高峰会”,在在展现台湾有决心与美国携手合作、共创繁荣。

赖清德指出,未来将持续强化台美双向的投资,以及产业合作,并期待解决台美双重课税的法案可以在今年顺利完成立法。他还说,希望台美之间透过打造更完善的经贸交流环境,共同提升经济发展韧性。

美国总统特朗普曾在大选竞选期间称,台湾应向美国支付防卫费用,并指台湾的情况“很棘手”,国防支出应提高到GDP的10%。美国国防部副部长科尔比也曾批评,台湾在国防领域的投入远远不足,应将军费开支增至经济总量的10%。

王沪宁吁优化涉台营商环境 吸引更多台企赴陆发展

中国大陆全国政协主席王沪宁说,要优化涉台营商环境,吸引更多台企前往大陆发展,同时推动两岸人员往来正常化,促进经济文化交流合作。

据新华社报道,王沪宁星期天(6月15日)在两岸融合发展示范区建设专题推进会上说,要贯彻落实新时代党解决台湾问题的总体方略,高质量建设两岸融合发展示范区。

他指出,要围绕建设两岸融合发展示范区目标任务,强化责任担当,加强谋划推进,推出更多创新性举措和融合发展成果;要发挥福建对台独特优势和先行示范作用,加强政策和制度创新,致力于促进两岸经济文化交流合作。

王沪宁提到,要把握两岸融合发展的着力重点,增强两岸融合发展政策举措的协同性。要聚力两岸融合发展加强创新突破,优化涉台营商环境,加强对台胞台企的关心帮助,吸引更多台胞台企赴大陆发展、参与中国式现代化进程。

他还说,要尊重、关爱、造福台湾民众,推动两岸人员往来正常化、交流合作常态化,提升台湾民众融入感和归属感,促进两岸民众心灵契合。要畅通台湾青年赴大陆发展渠道,扩大两岸青年共同朋友圈和事业圈。

王沪宁也于同日在海峡论坛召开前与台湾前总统马英九会面。马英九说,当前两岸情势确实存在不确定性与挑战,但越是这样的时刻,越须要保持理性与冷静的态度,越须要以交流促进了解。王沪宁则说:“在当前复杂严峻的形势下,马英九先生又同各位台湾同胞出席海峡论坛,充分反映马英九先生和广大台湾同胞希望密切两岸交流合作,共谋中华民族复兴的意愿和担当。”

涉伪造罢免连署文书 国民党台北党部主委等五人被起诉

台北地方检察署星期一(6月16日)侦结对罢免民进党立委吴思瑶和吴沛忆伪造连署文书案的调查,以违反《个资法》、《刑法》伪造文书等罪起诉涉案的国民党台北市党部主委黄吕锦茹等五人。

综合台湾《联合报》和公视新闻网等报道,在侦结上述案件后,台北检方对黄吕锦茹、国民党台北市党部书记长初文卿、总干事姚富文、国民党台北市第四区党部执行长陈奎勋、吴思瑶罢免案召集人赖苡任等五人提出起诉。

至于吴沛忆罢免案领衔人李孝亮、吴思瑶罢免案领衔人张克晋等九人,则因查无积极证据可证明知悉或参与此次伪造罢免案提议人名册,获台北检方裁定不起诉。另有18人暂缓起诉。

台北检方指出,被告以抄写方式伪造一阶罢免名册,其中吴沛忆罢免案提议书伪造比率达96.2%,吴思瑶罢免案提议书伪造比率则达94.18%。

国民党青年军“罢吴四骑士”发起的吴思瑶、吴沛忆罢免案,日前被告发各有86份、108份的第一阶段连署书是由往生者签名,涉及伪造文书、非法利用个资等案。

台北检方今年4月在约谈黄吕锦茹等人后,向法院声请羁押黄吕锦茹。台北地方法院认为检方罪证不足,裁定她无保请回。检方随后提出抗告,台湾高等法院发回台北地院更裁,后者最终裁定黄吕锦茹羁押两个月。

国民党台北市议员李明贤透露,据他所知,黄吕锦茹在被羁押期间,关在六人房内,安排在靠马桶的位置。

在台北检方确定起诉后,国民党台北市议员柳采葳表示,支持黄吕锦茹透过法律程序讨回清白,并呼吁台北地院尽快放人,“不要续押,让黄吕主委赶快回家调理身体”。

习近平赴哈萨克会中亚五国领导人 分析:借机扩大中亚“朋友圈”

中国国家主席习近平星期一(6月16日)抵达哈萨克斯坦出席与中亚领导人的峰会。彭博社同日分析,中国领导人通过访问作为大国利益角逐之地的中亚,与同期召开的七国集团(G7)峰会互别苗头。

这是习近平今年第三次出访,他将在周一会见哈萨克斯坦总统托卡耶夫,并于隔天出席与哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦领导人的第二届峰会。两年前,习近平在中国西安主持了首届中国-中亚峰会。

在哈萨克斯坦首都阿斯塔纳举行的本届中国—中亚峰会,与在加拿大举行的G-7峰会同一时间召开。几天前,美国国务卿鲁比奥才在华盛顿会见了哈萨克斯坦外长。

英国政治风险管理机构Prism创始人马琳森(Kate Mallinson)分析,习近平十多年前在哈萨克斯坦发起了共建“一带一路”倡议,此访的一个主要目标是确保中国经济面向未来,有能力应对可能与美国出现的严重裂痕。

她说:“过去三年,中国在中亚地区的影响力显著增强。中国观察到2022年以来西方一直试图利用其经济影响力孤立俄罗斯,因此一直在努力保护自身经济和供应链,以应对未来可能与美国发生的对抗。”

中国培育中亚同盟之际,特朗普关税战很可能成为此次峰会的重要议题。大国之间在中亚争夺资源和政治影响力的竞争正愈演愈烈。意大利总理梅洛尼上月访问中亚,欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩也于4月访问了当地。

中亚地区拥有丰富的铀、石油和稀土金属储量,提供了中国向欧洲出口的陆路通道,对中国的重要性与日俱增。

与此同时,俄罗斯对这些前苏联加盟共和国的历史影响力,也随着俄乌冲突而受到削弱,使得中国得以加大对这个地区生产总值(GDP)约5000亿美元(6402亿新元)区域的出口。

本周也是2020年以来、习近平第三次访问哈萨克斯坦,在冠病疫情导致他全球出访减少后,这个拥有2000万人口的国家已成为这几年他最喜爱的外访地之一。

自2019年起担任哈萨克斯坦总统的托卡耶夫精通普通话,曾在中国担任外交官。他的政府制定了到2029年底前吸引1500亿美元投资的目标。

鉴于俄罗斯在该地区的角色日益弱化,上述目标的实现可能需要中国更多参与。据哈萨克斯坦官方估计,中国已承诺260亿美元的投资额,成为仅次于美国和瑞士等国的前五大投资者。

中共中央对外联络部部长刘建超今年3月表示:“中国的发展需要一个蒸蒸日上的中亚。中国也欢迎中亚国家搭乘中国高质量发展、高水平开放快车。”

中国一直在寻求抗衡美国主导的全球秩序,这也是中国与俄罗斯的共同目标;北京并通过拉拢南方国家实现这一目标。最近几个月,习近平出席了与地区集团的峰会,借与拉美和非洲国家会晤的契机,推动建立更紧密的关系。

饿了么再投逾10亿元人民币支持优质商家

夏季外卖生意高峰即将到来,中国外卖巨头饿了么将再投入超过10亿元人民币(下同,1.78亿新元),加码抢滩品质外卖商家。

饿了么星期一(6月16日)在微信公众号发布消息,称打算全面升级“优店腾跃计划”,吸引线下优质锁品牌以及中小餐饮商家入驻。

贴文指出,公司将加码投入超过10亿元,在下来的三个月里出台一系列升级举措,包括提供新店最高三个月免佣,以及联合阿里生态流量资源提高曝光等福利。

中国外卖市场近期出现内卷式竞争,各平台不仅大幅降价让消费者得到实惠,也提供补贴增加商家们的盈利。此前,饿了么就于4月宣布补贴,推出“饿补超百亿”,美团、淘宝等竞争对手也都出台了闪购促销。

针对这个问题,中共中央机关报《人民日报》曾于5月26日发表评论称,合理竞争能让消费者得实惠,也保证企业获得足够利润继续创新;但低水平的“内卷式”竞争,则会导致多输结局。

台亲绿民调:近六成民众反对大罢免 增加约70万人

亲绿营的台湾最新民意调查结果显示,近六成民众反对大罢免,增加约70万人。

台湾民意基金会星期一(6月16日)在官网发布的最新民调显示,57.7%受访台民众不赞成大罢免,35.9%赞成大罢免。这个数据与5月相比出现一些变化,具体地说,赞成者下滑0.8个百分点,不赞成者上扬3.5个百分点。

一个百分点在台湾约等于19.5万人,3.5个百分点意味着增加近70万人反对大罢免。这个转变暗示,罢免与反罢免双方新一轮的较劲,转趋有利反罢免阵营。

至于三阶罢免的选民投票倾向,民调显示,62.8%表示会去投票,34.2%表示不会去投票。此数据显示,未来实际参与大罢免投票的人数将不低于五成。

上述民调在6月9月至11日进行,全台20岁以上成年人为受访对象;有效样本1085人。

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