After days of public mourning ceremonies in the Iranian capital, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coffin arrived in Tehran’s Azadi Square. This is what I saw covering the miles-long procession on Monday.
Peace Now report: 2025 witnessed largest West Bank settlement expansion Titled Annus Mirabilis: Actions by the Israeli Government to Annex the West Bank, 2023–2025 , the report by Peace Now and Kerem Navot concludes that the Israeli government has advanced de facto annexation of the West Bank at an unprecedented pace, WAFA reported. The report suggests that the measures advanced by the Israeli government form a single, systematic policy geared towards deepening Israeli control over the West Bank. Instead of focusing on isolated developments such as settlement construction, outpost authorisation, or state land declarations, the report, for the first time, consolidates all government actions and demonstrates that they constitute a single policy, WAFA reported.
Trump joins NATO summit amid Ukraine, spending tensions The US president is due to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at his sprawling presidential palace before joining an official leaders' dinner ahead of the main session of the summit on Wednesday. Trump made his first foreign flight aboard his new Qatari-gifted Air Force One plane. He was greeted on the tarmac by Erdogan and a presidential guard, some dressed in blue, others in red.
'This is our sport, not theirs': Klopp attacks Fifa chief over Balogun red card reversal Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 11:49 Former Liverpool manager criticises Infantino as Belgium beat US after Trump intervened to overturn key striker's suspension Romelu Lukaku scores for Belgium against the USA on 6 July 2026 in Seattle, Washington (AFP via Getty Images/David Ramos) Off Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has led a chorus of condemnations against Fifa President Gianni Infantino, after US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension was controversially delayed following intervention from Donald Trump. Trump confirmed on Monday that he had called Infantino directly to ask him to “review” a red card handed to US star player Balogun, during a match against Bosnia last week. On Sunday, Fifa stunned the sports world by reversing that red card and giving Balogun a one-year probationary period instead, using its rarely invoked Article 27 from the Fifa disciplinary code.
Tehran [Iran], July 7 (ANI): Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, citing unnamed sources, on Tuesday reported that the Qatarti oil tanker 'Al-Raqayat' was targeted after allegedly attempting to transit through the Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz with US Navy support while ignoring repeated Iranian warnings.
Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza, wound seven including two children An Israeli airstrike had killed a man and wounded two children in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Later on Tuesday, another Israeli airstrike hit near a tent encampment housing displaced families, killing one person and wounding five others, medics said. Israel has repeatedly carried out strikes in Gaza since a US-mediated ceasefire with Hamas was reached last October.
UN report: Gaza recorded 9,300 chickenpox cases in just two weeks The Humanitarian Situation Report released last week by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the cases were reported across more than 130 health facilities. Over half of these cases were in Khan Younis. The surge has occurred in an environment already marked by severe overcrowding, deteriorating hygiene conditions, and widespread environmental health hazards.
NATO leaders are meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the alliances annual summit on July 7-8 in the shadow of the Iran war and American complaints that not all European allies are pulling their weight when it comes to defense spending.
NATO leaders are meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the alliances annual summit on July 7-8 in the shadow of the Iran war and American complaints that not all European allies are pulling their weight when it comes to defense spending.
NATO leaders are meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, for the alliances annual summit on July 7-8 in the shadow of the Iran war and American complaints that not all European allies are pulling their weight when it comes to defense spending.
Will the Iran-US MoU reshape economic relations in the Gulf? Submitted by Zahra Ladha on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 09:52 The memorandum envisages sanctions relief and a reconstruction fund, but investors remain wary of security risks A ship is seen through a fishing net in the port of Fujairah, UAE, near the Strait of Hormuz, 2 July 2019 (Karim Sahib/AFP) Off The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the United States and Iran on 17 June could reshape the economic landscape of the Gulf by opening the door to renewed trade and investment with Iran. Central to the agreement is a commitment to ease longstanding sanctions and integrate Tehran more deeply into regional economic networks.
Ali Khamenei’s funeral has been marred by confusion from Tehran to Najaf, after organizers abruptly shortened the procession route in the Iranian capital and conflicting accounts emerged over who would lead prayers when ceremonies move to Iraq.
Qatari LNG tanker and Saudi crude oil ship damaged in Hormuz The Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker Al Rekayyat reported that it had been struck overnight and its engine room set on fire. Maritime security sources said a Saudi crude oil tanker had also been damaged. "Mayday mayday mayday.
Rima Hassan denounces 'political and judicial harassment' over Israel criticism Submitted by Pauline Ertel on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:36 Ahead of her trial for 'terrorism apology', Rima Hassan tells MEE of the sweeping surveillance measures and pressure she says are used to silence her solidarity with Palestine MEP Rima Hassan during a press conference with her lawyer following a hearing at the regional headquarters of the judiciary police in Paris, France, on 3 April 2026 (Blanca Cruz/AFP) Off Since her election in 2024, Rima Hassan has become the "enemy within" in the eyes of the French political establishment, facing a barrage of judicial, media and political pressure as an outspoken advocate of the Palestinian cause. The French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament will be tried on Tuesday for "apology for terrorism", a French legal infraction which criminalises forms of expression said to support acts of terrorism or paint them in a positive light. Speaking to Middle East Eye on the eve of her trial, the MEP says this is all part of a concerted campaign against her for speaking up for Palestine.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The upcoming funeral of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in Iraq will demonstrate the deep spiritual ties between the Iranian and Iraqi nations and further strengthen their unity, the IRGC Quds Force commander said.
Fewer than half of Americans believe the bloc would come to the defense of the US if attacked, according to an internal poll seen by the outlet Support for NATO in the US has slipped following President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of the military bloc, according to an internal survey seen by Politico.
Defiance of ‘maximum pressure’ from the US legitimises government and adds to sense of freer negotiating hand As the multi-purpose, multinational funeral of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei moved to the Jamkaran mosque in the holy city of Qom, and then to Najaf in Iraq, Iran’s leadership was weighing the mandate it had been given by the millions who have taken to the streets of Tehran over the past three days. Some hailed the moment as a referendum from the streets showing support for the clerical establishment, and called for the strategy of confrontation with the west to be intensified. Others said it was more about a wider national pride that was conditional on demands for change and an end to the war being met.
Belgium considers becoming latest EU country to recognise Palestinian statehood Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 10:24 Agreement by Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza could meet Belgium's key condition for recognising a Palestinian state Swedish activist Greta Thunberg holds a placard reading 'Don't forget Palestine' during a demonstration demanding EU leaders ban goods from illegal Israeli settlements, in Brussels on 17 June (AFP/Nicolas Tucat) Off The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Monday that he has instructed his cabinet to prepare for the recognition of the state of Palestine . Speaking to VRT , he said “I don’t know if we will be ready by Friday”, referring to the scheduled ministerial council meeting, “but it will be on the table soon. ” The move comes after Hamas announced that it would dissolve its administration of Gaza after nearly two decades of running the Strip, which was one of Prevot’s prerequisites for recognising Palestine.
Poll: 30 percent of American Jews believe Israel committed genocide in Gaza About one-third of Americans, including a similar share of American Jews, believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, according to an AP-NORC poll reported by the Times of Israel. The survey found that about one-third of US adults, including roughly half of Democrats, believe Israel committed genocide during its war on Gaza. About 20 percent of Americans said Israel had not committed genocide, while roughly half said they did not know enough to answer, the TOI reported.
As reports of the blasts came in, state television said the Syrian president had welcomed Macron at the presidential palace.
