Middle East
What we know about Iranian president's helicopter 'accident'
Uncertainty hung over the fate of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi after state media said his helicopter had an accident on Sunday in poor weather in a western province..Iran launched a large-scale search and rescue operation in the fog-shrouded mountain area of East Azerbaijan province..
What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?
Rescuers in Iran were racing on Sunday to find the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi to find out the fate of all those on board. Below is brief outline of what Iran's constitution says happens if a president is incapacitated or dies in office
GAZA AID SHORTAGES / UN aid chief warns of ‘apocalyptic’ consequences
The stranglehold on aid reaching Gaza threatens an “apocalyptic” outcome, the UN’s humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said yesterday as he warned of famine in the besieged territory.
Iran hands down jail terms to pop singer Tataloo
An Iranian court has sentenced popular singer and rap artist Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, known as Tataloo, to prison for disseminating “obscene content”, state media reported yesterday.
Al-Aqsa hospital overwhelmed as Gaza camp bombed
An Israeli strike killed 31 Palestinians and wounded 20 more in a family house in the central Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza’s civil defence agency said yesterday, as White House national security adviser travelled to the region amid US calls for a more focused military campaign.
Helicopter carrying Iran president crashes
Iran launched a large-scale search and rescue effort to scour a fog-shrouded mountain area after President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter went down yesterday in what state media described as an “accident”.
Israeli leaders split over post-war Gaza governance
New divisions have emerged among Israel’s leaders over post-war Gaza’s governance, with an unexpected Hamas fightback in parts of the Palestinian territory piling pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Fighting flares in Gaza
Israeli forces battled Hamas fighters in the narrow alleyways of Jabalia in northern Gaza in some of the fiercest engagements since they returned to the area a week ago, while in the south militants attacked tanks massing around Rafah.
Costly, ineffective distraction
A $320m floating pier built for delivering aid has been attached to Gaza’s shore and began being used to deliver aid on Friday, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says. Washington has provided billions of dollars in aid as well as weapons that Israel has used in Gaza since October 7.
Oil tanker hit by missile off Yemen
A crude oil tanker was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen’s southwestern city of Mokha overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, maritime security firm Ambrey said yesterday.
International students at US campuses risk deportation
Just last week, US Representative Ogles introduced a bill called the Study Abroad Act that would take away student visas “for rioting or unlawful protests, and for other purposes”.
Comply with international law in Gaza
Israel must comply with international law in Gaza and address the devastating humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, a group of Western nations wrote in a letter to the Israeli government seen by Reuters yesterday.
Hezbollah fires rocket barrage at Israeli positions
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it yesterday launched “more than 60” rockets at Israeli military positions in retaliation for overnight air strikes on the country’s east.
Democratic divide hurting Biden: poll
Democrats are deeply divided over President Joe Biden’s handling of both the offensive in Gaza and the US campus protests against it, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, fraying the coalition that he relied on four years ago to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
Israel-Hamas gun battle intensifies
Israeli troops fought Hamas members across Gaza yesterday, including in the southern city of Rafah that had been a refuge for civilians, in an upsurge of the more than seven-month offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Iran port deal: India downplays US sanctions threat
India's foreign minister has said his company will work to communicate the benefits of a strategic port project in Iran after the United States said Indian firms working on the project risked sanctions
450,000 displaced from Rafah since May 6
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said yesterday that nearly 450,000 people have been displaced from Rafah since Israel began issuing evacuation orders for the south Gaza city eight days ago.
