Paris [France], July 16 (ANI): Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi on Thursday declared that ending Hezbollah's military presence is a 'sovereign Lebanese decision,' marking a decisive shift in the country's efforts to consolidate state authority.
Colombia president-elect to open Israel embassy in Jerusalem Colombia's hard-right president-elect plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem as he seeks to restore and strengthen ties with Israel, his office said on Thursday. Abelardo de la Espriella won last month's presidential runoff by less than a percentage point and has promised to clamp down on Colombia's myriad armed groups – partly by forging a military alliance with the United States and Israel. In 2024, leftist President Gustavo Petro severed ties with Israel, one of Colombia's key security partners, over its war on Gaza.
Inside Khamenei's funeral: Revealing moments from a week of mourning Iran 's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , was laid to rest on 9 July after a week-long funeral procession following his assassination in a US - Israeli strike in February. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was succeeded by his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The funeral ceremonies, held across several cities in Iran and Iraq, drew millions of mourners, according to state figures.
Our correspondent talked about the challenges of covering major news while under surveillance and filing his work without reliable internet access.
Araghchi says US attacks on Iran violate international law Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US attacks on “vital infrastructure” and threats to attack bridges and power plants show “the criminal intent of the US ruling body to commit heinous crimes". US attacks are “undoubtedly a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law," Araghchi said in a statement on Telegram. The minister said they amount to “serious international crimes” under the fundamental principles of international criminal law, including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, and called on all governments "to prosecute and punish those who commit such crimes”.
None of the US objectives in the Middle East conflict have been achieved, Rajiv Sikri tells RT India The Middle East conflict has helped Iran to realize it has a potent weapon in its arsenal in the contentious Strait of Hormuz, a former Indian diplomat said.
None of the US objectives in the Middle East conflict have been achieved, Rajiv Sikri tells RT India The Middle East conflict has helped Iran to realize it has a potent weapon in its arsenal in the contentious Strait of Hormuz, a former Indian diplomat said.
TEHRAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran has requested Yemen's Houthis to remain ready for the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in case the United States attacks Iranian power plants, Reuters reported on Thursday. Reuters cited three sources, two senior Iranians and a regional source familiar with the matter, as saying that the idea had been discussed within Iran's leadership, and conveyed to the Houthi group.
SANAA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said on Thursday that Saudi oil facilities and other critical infrastructure would become targets for the group's missiles and drones if Riyadh engaged in what he called a "comprehensive aggression" against Yemen.
The advisory cautions against deployment on vessels involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns New Delhi has asked shipping companies and vessel operators to refrain from deploying Indian sailors in vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, where several ships have come under attack earlier this week.
Projectile hits near Qeshm Island, report says A US projectile has hit near Iran’s Qeshm Island, Mehr news agency reported. US forces have attacked Qeshm, Kish and Abu Musa islands, as well as port cities along Iran’s southern coast, including Bandar Abbas, in recent days.
Houthi leader: 'A full-scale escalation will be met with full-scale escalation' In a televised statement, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi addressed the Yemeni people, claiming readiness for full-scale escalation "if the Saudi enemy chooses full-scale escalation. " With regards to the ongoing escalations in the region, al-Houthi reiterated his group's support for Iran. "Some regimes are angered when Iran responds to the American bases in their territory, although they are the very bases from which attacks were launched.
Iraqi government orders probe over weapons smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 14:42 Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi sets up committee after 'weapons and missiles' sent through Syria to Iran-backed group An Iraqi special forces member stands guard in a street in Basra on 8 September, 2018 (AFP/Haidar Mohammed) Off Iraq's prime minister has announced a probe into cross-border smuggling to Lebanon's Hezbollah. Ali al-Zaidi said he was setting up a "high-level committee" in coordination with the Syrian government to investigate the transport of “advanced weapons” from Iraq through Syria to the Iran-backed group. Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC), which answers directly to the prime minister, said that it would "hold those responsible for any shortcomings accountable, in a manner that ensures the security and stability of the shared border and prevents any attempts to undermine national security.
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): India's midcap private-sector banks clocked double-digit gains in the June quarter. All seven private-sector banks in the top 20 with market capitalisations below Rs 1 trillion posted double-digit gains in the three months ended June 30, as per S&P Global Market Intelligence data report.
Saudi Arabia condemns Iran's attacks in Gulf states The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Iranian attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. "The Kingdom condemns Iran's threats the region's security and stability," the statement added, calling for "resolving disagreements through diplomatic channels.
Saronic Technologies will make naval and commercial vessels at the facility. The company’s naval drone helped rescue the crew of a downed Apache helicopter last month.
CAIRO, 16th July, 2026 (WAM) -- Egypt strongly condemned renewed Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan on Thursday, describing them as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks constituted "a violation of states' sovereignty" that endangered "the security and safety of their residents.
WASHINGTON, D. C. /BEIRUT: U.
Inside Khamenei's funeral: Revealing moments from a week of mourning Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 09:26 Political signals and power dynamics emerge from Iran’s elaborate farewell ceremonies Mourners react next to the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on 28 February in Israeli and US air strikes, and coffins of his family members, on the day of his burial, in Mashhad, Iran, 9 July 2026 (Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters) Off Iran 's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , was laid to rest on 9 July after a week-long funeral procession following his assassination in a US - Israeli strike in February. The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was succeeded by his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The funeral ceremonies, held across several cities in Iran and Iraq, drew millions of mourners, according to state figures.
Dua Lipa backs Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ against Kushner-backed resort Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/16/2026 - 13:45 The singer condemned law changes that opened protected land to a luxury development backed by Trump's son-in-law British singer-songwriter Dua Lipa at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, on 27 January 2026 (Sebastien Dupuy/AFP) Off Dua Lipa has thrown her support behind Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution”, praising protesters fighting a vast, Trump family-linked development on some of the country’s most environmentally sensitive land. The British pop star, who has Kosovo Albanian heritage, described the movement as “inspiring” during a conversation with Albanian academic and author Lea Ypi for her Service95 book club podcast . “I find it so inspiring to see how much people really care,” Lipa said as the demonstrations entered their sixth week.
