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UN chief condemns Houthi detention of 10 more UN staff in Yemen

By
IFP Media Wire
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Yemen Houthi

Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for Guterres, confirmed on Friday that the previous day’s arrests had brought the total of detained local staffers to 69, calling for their immediate release.

“These detentions render the delivery of UN humanitarian assistance in Houthi-controlled areas untenable. This directly affects millions of people in need and limits their access to life-saving assistance,” Dujarric said.

The Houthis, who control most of northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have stepped up their arrests of UN staff since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, accusing them of spying for the United States and Israel.

The UN has repeatedly rejected Houthi accusations that its staff or operations in Yemen are involved in spying, a charge that carries the death penalty in the country.

On Thursday, the organisation confirmed that the detainees were all Yemeni nationals.

The latest arrests came days after Guterres discussed detained UN, diplomatic and NGO staff with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman, which has served as a mediator in the conflict in Yemen.

Guterres also commented this week on the Houthis’ recent referral of three detained UN staffers to a criminal court, saying they had been charged in relation to “their performance of United Nations official duties” and calling for charges to be dropped.

A decade of war has plunged Yemen into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to the UN.

Guterres stated this week that 19.5 million people in the country – nearly two-thirds of the population – need humanitarian assistance.

China threatens ‘forceful measures’ over US weapons sales package to Taiwan

By
IFP Media Wire
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The package, the largest ever by the United States to the island Beijing views as its own territory, comes as China has been stepping up its military and political pressure on Taiwan.

The ministry said it had lodged “stern representations” with the United States, and urged the country to immediately cease arms sales to Taiwan and abide by its commitment not to support “Taiwan independence forces”.

“The ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, at the cost of the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, use the hard-earned money of ordinary people to fatten US arms dealers in an attempt to ‘seek independence by relying on military force’,” the ministry statement read.

The United States, by repeatedly going back on its word, indulging and supporting Taiwan independence, is “bound to get burned itself”, the ministry added.

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will continue to strengthen training and combat readiness, take strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely frustrate attempts at ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and external interference.”

It did not give details on what exact steps it might take.

Washington has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island’s most important arms supplier. The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such arms sales are a persistent source of friction with China.

The latest weapons package includes HIMARS rocket systems, made by Lockheed Martin and which have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed into law a nearly $1 trillion annual defence policy bill, which fully funds the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative at $1 billion and authorises funding for US forces to continue training for Taiwan.

Taiwan’s defence ministry on Friday thanked the United States for those provisions, saying it would strengthen the island’s armed forces’ combat capabilities and ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and broader region.

Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

China has rebuffed repeated offers of talks with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a “separatist”. It has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the island.

Iran executes man convicted of espionage for Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran Prison

The execution of Aqil Keshavarz was carried out after his conviction for espionage in favor of the Zionist regime, as well as for intelligence links and cooperation with the regime and filming military and security sites.

The sentence was implemented following confirmation by Iran’s Supreme Court and the completion of all legal procedures.

Keshavarz was arrested in April 2025 while filming the headquarters building of the Urmia Infantry Division in the capital of Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, by a patrol of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army’s protection unit.

During an inspection of his mobile phone, a message from an Israeli-numbered contact and an individual using the username “Osher” was discovered.

A search of the hotel where Keshavarz was staying also led to the discovery of a coded notebook containing the names and addresses of several security institutions.

Further investigations revealed that in 2022 Keshavarz had also established contact and cooperation on Telegram with one of the groups affiliated with the anti-Iran terror group MKO, sending images and carrying out slogan-writing activities as directed by the group’s administrators.

After each mission, a Mossad officer transferred payments to the accused in the form of cryptocurrency and sent him the transaction receipts.

UN warns Gaza hunger gains are ‘fragile’ as 1.6M still face extreme food insecurity

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

“Famine has been pushed back. Far more people are able to access the food they need to survive,” Guterres told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York.

“Gains are fragile, perilously so.”

He said 1.6 million people in Gaza, more than 75% of the population, are projected to face “extreme levels of acute food insecurity and critical malnutrition risks.”

“And in more than half of Gaza, where Israeli troops remain deployed, farmland and entire neighborhoods are out of reach. Strikes and hostilities continue, pushing the civilian toll of this war even higher and exposing our teams to grave danger,” he added.

Guterres also renewed calls for “a durable ceasefire,” stating: “We need more crossings, the lifting of restrictions on critical items, the removal of red tape, safe routes inside Gaza, sustained funding, and unimpeded access, including for NGOs.”

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released its news findings on Friday, noting that famine conditions in the enclave have been temporarily offset following a reduction in hostilities and improved access for humanitarian and commercial food deliveries. The latest report, however, warned that the overall situation in Gaza remains critical.

The UN chief also touched on Israel’s refusal to move onto the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan until the return of the remains of a final deceased hostage.

“It is essential to move to phase two, and I don’t think that we should have any pretext to avoid it,” said Guterres.

“It’s very important to move with the peace process as a whole. And it’s not only phase two. It’s to make sure that phase one, and namely the ceasefire, are fully implemented,” he added.

Iran condemns Canada’s sanctions as ‘baseless’ and ‘meddlesome’

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iranian Foreign Ministry

In a statement on Friday, Forouzandeh Vadiati, Director General of Human Rights at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said the sanctions reflect the “arrogant mindset” of Canadian decision-makers.

She added Ottawa’s action was taken “under the pretext of unfounded claims” and described it as a clear case of interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

Ottawa has “no legal or moral basis” to raise human rights accusations against Iran, she said, adding that Canada is a country with a record of “systematic suppression of the human rights of indigenous peoples.”

She added that Canada also has a “long history of complicity with the genocidal Israeli regime in the massacre of the Palestinian people and aggression against other countries in the region.”

“Such a government has no legitimacy to make deceitful human rights claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” she said.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday that Ottawa had imposed sanctions on four senior Iranian officials, accusing them of involvement in “gross and systematic human rights violations.”

The sanctioned individuals were named as Mohsen Karimi, Ahmad Kadem Seyedoshohada, Mustafa Mohebbi, and Hassan Akharian.

Vadiati also criticized Canada’s broader policies toward Iran, including the unilateral severance of diplomatic relations and the denial of consular services to Iranian nationals living in Canada.

She described these measures as “a blatant violation of human rights.”

“Canada’s unilateral sanctions against Iran target the economic, social, and cultural rights of the Iranian people.”

She stated that the Canadian government “must be held accountable for the negative consequences of its actions, which in some cases amount to crimes against humanity.”

The Iranian diplomat urged Canadian authorities to abandon politicization and evasion, and instead focus on addressing human rights abuses inside their country, including the “torture and mass killings of indigenous children,” and to halt actions that violate the rights of other nations.

Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing Tehran’s nuclear file, Iran’s support for former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime.

 

Red Crescent: 24 Iranian provinces affected by weather-related disasters

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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During this period, two children lost their lives, and a Red Crescent rescuer from was also killed while providing assistance to flood victims and saving the lives of fellow citizens in Jahrom, southern Iran.

A total of 151 Red Crescent branches were active across 225 operational sites.
In addition to relief efforts, 139 people affected by floods, snow, and blizzards were transferred to safe areas.

Eleven injured individuals were transferred to medical centers, while two others in East Azerbaijan and Fars provinces received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, 4,713 affected individuals received food supplies, and 13,224 people were provided with essential relief items.

Large parts of Iran have been hit by heavy rain and snow as well as a cold snap in recent days.

Former Iranian nuclear chief proposes reframing Iran-US talks to break deadlock

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In an interview with the Iranian news outlet Entekhab, Salehi suggested that instead of focusing on contentious issues such as Iran’s right to uranium enrichment, negotiations should be titled around a mutually acceptable principle: “Iran should not possess nuclear weapons.”

He argued that such a reframing would allow both sides to return to talks without political loss of face, as the principle is publicly endorsed by both Tehran and Washington.

Salehi said he believes technically feasible solutions exist that could satisfy both parties once negotiations resume.
He added that resolving the Iranian nuclear file would be the least costly and most manageable challenge for the US amid multiple global crises.

Commenting on broader geopolitics, Salehi said the US appears increasingly serious about ending the war in Ukraine, possibly to weaken ties between Russia and China.

He also warned that Venezuela, given its vast oil reserves, could become a strategic vulnerability for Washington if tensions escalate.

Salehi emphasized that amid crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, and Iran, a pragmatic approach to diplomacy is essential to prevent further instability.

Iranian Red Crescent rescuer dies while saving flood victims in Jahrom

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mohammad Ghorban-Iranian Red Crescent rescuer dies while saving flood victims in Jahrom

The Public Relations Office of the Red Crescent Society of Fars province announced that Mohammad Ghorban, a relief worker with the provincial branch, died early Friday while helping people trapped by flash floods caused by heavy rainfall.

The statement said Ghorban was carrying out emergency relief and rescue missions for residents affected by the recent floods when he made the ultimate sacrifice.

It described his actions as “an example of exceptional bravery, selflessness and dedication to humanitarian service.”

“Without doubt, the memory and name of this devoted servant of humanity will remain alive in people’s hearts, and his sacrifice will stand as a lasting model for all relief workers and rescuers,” the statement said.

The Red Crescent Society of Fars province extended condolences to Ghorban’s family, his colleagues within the Red Crescent, and the people of the province.

Heavy rainfall in recent days has caused flooding in parts of southern Iran, prompting emergency response teams to carry out rescue and evacuation operations in several affected areas.

Iran sets new rules for Afghan workers, allows 9-month employment period

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Nader Yarahmadi, head of the Interior Ministry’s Center for Foreign Nationals and Migrants Affairs, said around 20,000 Iranian employers have applied this year to hire foreign workers. Of these, about 6,000 requests have been approved and processed in coordination with the ministries of labor and foreign affairs.

Under the new framework, work visas are issued only to Afghan household heads and do not permit them to bring their families to Iran. Once a visa is issued, workers may remain in Iran for up to nine months, after which they must return to Afghanistan for three months before becoming eligible to re-enter and resume work, provided legal requirements are met.

Yarahmadi said the policy aims to balance labor market needs with social and economic considerations, adding that priority for job vacancies is first given to Iranian workers through an online system. Foreign workers are considered only if no Iranian applicants come forward within 15 days.

He emphasized that Afghan workers must be legally insured, taxed and registered, warning that those who enter Iran illegally for work will be detained and deported.

EU agrees on $105bn loan to support Ukraine against Russia

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The leaders decided early on Friday ‍to borrow cash on capital markets to fund Ukraine’s defence against Russia rather than use frozen Russian assets, diplomats noted.

“We have a deal. Decision to provide 90 billion euros [$105.5bn] of support to Ukraine for 2026-27 approved. We committed, we delivered,” Costa said in a post on social media early on Friday.

Costa did not specify the source of the funding, which came after EU leaders worked deep into Thursday night to reach an agreement.

But a draft text of the summit’s conclusions, seen by the Reuters news agency, said it would come from capital markets, secured against the ⁠EU budget, rather than the bloc proceeding with its contentious plan to use frozen Russian assets for a loan supporting Ukraine’s war effort.

At the same ​time, EU governments and the European Parliament will continue discussing setting up a loan for Ukraine that would be based on Russian central ‍bank assets.

Friday’s deal will not affect the financial obligations of Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which did not want to contribute to the financing of Ukraine, the text said.

Kyiv will only repay the EU loan based on joint borrowing once it receives war reparations from Moscow. Until then, the Russian assets will remain immobilised, while the EU has also reserved the right to use them to repay the loan, according to the text.

“It’s good in the sense that Ukraine will secure funding for two years,” one unnamed EU diplomat told Reuters.

The move followed hours of discussions among leaders on the technical ‍and legal details of a loan based ⁠on frozen Russian assets – which turned out to be too complex or politically demanding to sort out at this stage, diplomats announced.

“We have gone from saving Ukraine to saving face, at least that of those who have been pushing for the use of the frozen assets,” a second EU diplomat added.

The main difficulty in the use of the Russian money was providing Belgium – where about 185 billion ($217bn) of the total 210 billion euros ($246bn) of frozen assets are held – with sufficient guarantees against financial and legal retaliation from Moscow.

The Kremlin has announced it will launch legal action and seize foreign assets in Russia should the plan to use its assets go ahead.

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