Iran is preparing an unprecedented security operation for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seeking to prevent a repeat of the deadly crowd crushes that marred the burials of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 and General Ghasem Soleimani in 2020.
CPJ board member removed as it undertakes review of journalists killed in Gaza Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 19:42 Nika Soon-Shiong asked why some Palestinian journalists are excluded from the Committee to Protect Journalists' death toll The sister of Al Jazeera video journalist Ahmed Wishah, who was killed by an Israeli strike, mourns over his shrouded body at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on 21 June 2026 (Eyad Baba/AFP) Off The publisher of Drop Site News is no longer on the board of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), implying that she was removed after she questioned the organisation's exclusion of certain Palestinian journalists from its Gaza death toll, Nika Soon-Shiong revealed on Monday. "I have been informed that I'm no longer a member of the Committee to Protect Journalists board," she wrote on X , attaching the original email of concern she shared with fellow board members. When asked about whether Soon-Shiong's removal from the board was related to the review being undertaken at the organisation, CPJ told Middle East Eye in an emailed statement that her "five year board term ended in June 2026".
In photos: Palestinians mourn their dead following Israeli attacks Mourners attend the funeral of 13-year-old Palestinian girl Alin Al-Farra, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on 29 June 2026 (AFP) A man comforts a child du
Israeli strikes kill at least five people in Gaza on Monday Gaza health officials said Israeli strikes killed five people, including a child, in the Palestinian territory on Monday. "Three people were killed and several injured when an Israeli drone struck a group of civilians," Al-Aqsa Hospital said in a statement, adding that one of the victims was a child aged eight years old. Gaza's civil defence agency said the strike hit an area in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
Iran leaves World Cup with dignity despite unprecedented political pressure and logistical hurdles Iran’s World Cup 2026 campaign is over, but the team’s farewell has sparked an outpouring of support that stretches far beyond the results on the pitch. Team Melli exited the tournament unbeaten after three draws, including a 1-1 result against Egypt in Seattle. But Iran’s goodbye came with a final moment of heartbreak: defender Shoja Khalilzadeh appeared to have scored a stoppage-time winner that could have transformed their qualification hopes, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Washington DC [US], June 30 (ANI): United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday (local time) that high-stakes diplomatic talks with Iran will take place in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
Khadijah Farrakhan, 'First Lady' of Nation of Islam, dies aged 90 Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 20:08 Known as 'Mother Khadijah', she devoted more than seven decades to shaping one of the most prominent religious and political movements in US Louis Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam, with his wife, Khadijah, in Baltimore, Maryland, on 23 November 1996 (John Mathew Smith/Wikimedia Commons) Off The Nation of Islam has bid farewell to Khadijah Farrakhan, the beloved wife of its longtime head, Louis Farrakhan, who passed away on 27 June, aged 90. Endearingly known as “Mother Khadijah” by Nation of Islam followers, she devoted more than seven decades to shaping one of the most prominent religious and political movements in the US, built on Black self-reliance. “The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah informs you that his beloved wife of 72 years, the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah has returned to Allah (may Allah be pleased),” a statement published by the Shura Executive Council said.
Lebanon state media says Israeli strike hits south Lebanese state media on Monday said an Israeli strike hit the country's south, despite a framework accord signed by the two countries last week aimed at securing a peace deal. "Israeli warplanes carried out a strike targeting the area between the southern Lebanese towns of Qantara and Deir Seryan," the National News Agency said.
Iran leaves World Cup with dignity despite unprecedented political pressure and logistical hurdles Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 19:12 The Islamic Republic's journey in the global tournament ended over the weekend after a cruel group-stage exit, but fans have rallied around the team Footballer Mehdi Taremi applauds after the 1-1 draw during the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group G match between Egypt and IR Iran at Seattle Stadium on 26 June 2026, in Seattle, Washington (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/AFP) Off Iran’s World Cup 2026 campaign is over, but the team’s farewell has sparked an outpouring of support that stretches far beyond the results on the pitch. Team Melli exited the tournament unbeaten after three draws, including a 1-1 result against Egypt in Seattle. But Iran’s goodbye came with a final moment of heartbreak: defender Shoja Khalilzadeh appeared to have scored a stoppage-time winner that could have transformed their qualification hopes, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Tehran [Iran], June 30 (ANI): Iran has said that there are no negotiation meetings scheduled with the United States 'in the coming days', dismissing speculation that its delegation's visit to Qatar is linked to any discussions with US officials.
Iran says 'expert delegation' heading to Qatar this week Iran on Monday said a delegation of experts would travel to Doha this week to discuss the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States earlier this month. "An expert delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran will travel to Doha later this week" to discuss the implementation of clauses of the memorandum, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said. "We have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement," he said, noting that "over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level.
No Iran-US talks in coming days, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson says No talks between Iran and the United States are scheduled in the coming days, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on Monday, adding that an Iranian technical delegation will visit Qatar this week, but has no relation to US officials visiting the country. Tehran has not started negotiations for a final deal as these require the implementation of certain points of the MoU, which is Iran's priority currently, Baghaei added.
Following the forced closure of at least six media outlets in Uganda on 28 June 2026 and the arbitrary arrest and detention of scores of human rights activists on the orders of Uganda’s military chief and President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said: “The […] The post Uganda: Authorities must immediately end the harassment of activists, allow media to operate freely appeared first on Amnesty International .
UAE allows nationals to travel to Lebanon starting on Monday The United Arab Emirates will allow its nationals to travel to Lebanon starting on Monday, the state news agency WAM reported. UAE citizens planning to visit Lebanon must register through an official service, an emergency and support platform by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before their departure, the agency added. On 30 April, the UAE banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and urged Emiratis in those countries to leave immediately and return home, citing regional developments.
By Ayushi Agarwal New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): South Korea is looking to deepen its economic and strategic engagement with India, with a fresh push for investments in shipbuilding, defence manufacturing and industrial collaboration, Ambassador Lee Seong-ho said on Monday, underlining New Delhi's growing importance in Seoul's diversification strategy amid shifting global dynamics.
Demining of Strait of Hormuz to be carried out only by Iran, deputy foreign minister says The removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz is to be carried out solely by Iran, according to the Islamabad MoU between Tehran and Washington, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on X on Monday, in response to French President Macron's comments on the subject. Macron said on Monday that France and Oman are working together to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and will cooperate with their partners on clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz. "We fundamentally do not permit any such thing," Gharibabadi said.
Opinion: The morning after the Lebanon 'agreement' There was a 19th-century Orientalist traveller and diplomat by the name of David Urquhart, who said about (Mount) Lebanon that there “never was a country for which God has done so much, nor a people who could do less for themselves”. Such a description was unfair and stereotypical. But Urquhart was writing just as Lebanon was becoming a central node in both European imperialism and the Ottoman attempt to stymie that imperialism.
Tehran believes it should control the shipping route but its neighbour has its own plans for reopening it The strait of Hormuz is Iran’s chief bargaining tool in the negotiations with America and so it was always likely to be the greatest point of contention. Every metre of the 39-kilometre-wide waterway is being contested in a test of wills and patience. For Iran, the continuation of the dispute is not a problem so long as it does not lose control.
Ben Shapiro-backed 'propaganda' film portrays pro-Palestine 'terrorists' on campus Submitted by Hannah. Smith on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 14:54 Starring Jonathan Majors, the film has been dubbed 'AI slop' and slammed as Islamophobic Poster for Run, Fight, Hide: Infidels (2026), a film from the Daily Wire, a media company co-founded by right-wing media host Ben Shapiro (X/@benshapiro) Off Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels , a new film produced by the Daily Wire, the media company co-founded by American right-wing comentator Ben Shapiro, has drawn backlash online after the trailer was released alongside details of its plot singling out Muslims and pro- Palestine university students. In the official trailer shared in a post on X on Thursday, an opening montage includes clips that appears to be from Fox News presenters warning of “terror plots”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking about "radical Islam" in the US , Islamic State (IS) group executions, pro-Palestine encampments, the 9/11 attacks, and the IS flag, before zooming out onto a university campus based in Virginia, where the militant group's flag flies over the building.
Ben Shapiro-backed 'propaganda' film portrays pro-Palestine 'terrorists' on campus Submitted by Hannah. Smith on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 14:54 Starring Jonathan Majors, the film has been dubbed 'AI slop' and slammed as Islamophobic Poster for Run, Fight, Hide: Infidels (2026), a film from the Daily Wire, a media company co-founded by right-wing media host Ben Shapiro (X/@benshapiro) Off Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels , a new film produced by the Daily Wire, the media company co-founded by American right-wing comentator Ben Shapiro, has drawn backlash online after the trailer was released alongside details of its plot singling out Muslims and pro- Palestine university students. In the official trailer shared in a post on X on Thursday, an opening montage includes clips that appear to be from Fox News presenters warning of “terror plots”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking about "radical Islam", Islamic State (IS) group executions, pro-Palestine encampments, the 9/11 attacks, and the IS flag, before zooming out onto a university campus based in Virginia, where the militant group's flag flies over the building.
