Author: News Desk

Iran: Iran has executed two men convicted of blasphemy after they were found guilty of “burning the Quran” and “insulting the Prophet of Islam”, according to the country’s judiciary. Mr. Yousef Mehrad and Mr. Sadrollah Fazeli-Zare were accused of running dozens of social media accounts that were “dedicated to atheism and desecration of the sanctities”, the statement cited. Mr. Mehrad’s lawyer argued that his client was innocent and that his sentence was unjust. The executions were condemned by rights groups, with Iran Human Rights describing them as “a cruel act by a medieval regime”. The men were arrested in 2020…

Chile: Chilean right-wing parties have won a majority of votes to elect advisers to draft a new constitution, marking a sharp shift from a progressive majority that drafted a failed first constitutional rewrite. Chile’s Republican Party secured nearly 35 percent of the vote, while a separate coalition of traditional right-wing parties gained over 20 percent. President Gabriel Boric’s left-wing coalition received around 29 percent of the vote, with centrist parties taking the rest. “Today is the first day of a better future, a new start for Chile. Chile has defeated a failed government,” Mr. Jose Antonio Kast, who lost to…

Pakistan: Officials have reported that Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have reached an agreement to increase trade and reduce tensions along their border. This comes as Pakistan faces a wave of attacks on its security forces. The move is aimed at easing tensions between the two neighbouring countries and promoting economic cooperation. As per Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Afghanistan’s foreign minister appointed by the Taliban, Mr. Amir Khan Muttaqi, signed an agreement in Islamabad. The deal is aimed at boosting economic ties and reducing border tensions between the two countries. The…

Saudi Arabia: The White House has stated that the United States’ national security adviser, Mr. Jake Sullivan, has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and reviewed “significant progress” in Yemen peace efforts. According to the statement, on a trip aimed at strengthening once complicated ties with Riyadh, Sullivan also held joint talks with the crown prince, UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and India’s national security adviser Mr. Ajit Doval “to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world.” Mr. Sullivan’s meeting came after a…

Ukraine: Amid rising concerns about safety at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Russia has fired numerous missiles and drones towards Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. The attack has resulted in injuries to at least five people. According to Ukraine’s top military officials, they have successfully destroyed all 35 Shahed drones that were launched during the night. These drones were reportedly made in Iran. Additionally, Ukraine’s military command has stated that Russia has fired multiple missiles as well. In its daily update, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has reported that there are civilian…

Syria: The foreign ministers of Arab League member states have voted to reinstate Syria’s membership, more than a decade after it was suspended due to a crackdown on protesters that led to a devastating civil war that has killed nearly half a million people and displaced another 23 million. The decision was made ahead of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and comes amid a recent trend of regional nations normalising ties with Damascus. The move was made following a meeting of top diplomats from Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria in Jordan, where they dubbed…

Ukraine: An Ukrainian official has stated that Russia has caused “mad panic” by evacuating a town close to the contested Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia has instructed individuals to vacate 18 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, including Enerhodar, which is near the power plant, ahead of an expected Ukrainian assault. The Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Mr. Ivan Fedorov, reported that thousands of cars were stuck in five-hour waits as people fled. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has warned of a “severe nuclear accident.” Mr. Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned that the situation at the…

Japan: Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Fumio Kishida visited the South Korean capital, Seoul, to meet President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol, with both leaders seeking to improve relations in the face of nuclear threats from North Korea. It marks the first bilateral visit by a Japanese leader to Seoul in 12 years, following President Yoon’s trip to Tokyo in March 2023, where they aimed to settle historical disputes that have been a major point of contention between the two countries. “I hope to have an open-hearted exchange of views with President Yoon based on our relationship of trust. Since March, there have been…

Sudan: Sudan’s rival factions have arrived in Saudi Arabia for direct talks after three weeks of clashes in the capital, Khartoum, and the south-western region of Darfur that have killed and wounded hundreds of civilians. Representatives of the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were in Jeddah on May 6 for “pre-negotiation talks” aimed at establishing a durable ceasefire that would allow aid to reach millions of desperate civilians trapped by the fighting. The RSF is commanded by Mr. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is now in conflict with the de facto leader of Sudan, Mr. Abdel Fattah…

London, UK: In a grand and highly religious ceremony held at Westminster Abbey in London, King Charles III has been crowned, marking a significant moment in British history. Marking a symbolic union of monarchy, church, and state, the coronation ceremony has attracted dignitaries from various parts of the globe and thousands of onlookers have flocked to London to witness the grandeur of the occasion. The event is the first coronation to take place in Britain in 70 years, thus making it a momentous historical milestone. Following a two-hour service attended by world leaders and celebrities, members of the royal family…