Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Media Wire

Saudi Arabia sentences academic to death for using Twitter and WhatsApp

Awad al-Qarni, a prominent pro-reform law professor in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to death for alleged crimes including having a Twitter account and using WhatsApp to share news considered “hostile” to the kingdom, according to court documents seen by The Guardian.

Iran oil exports end 2022 at a high despite sanctions

Iranian oil exports hit new highs in the last two months of 2022 and are making a strong start to 2023 despite US sanctions, according to companies that track the flows.

Israelis rally in Tel Aviv against ‘Netanyahu’s government of shame’

Tens of thousands of people protested in central Tel Aviv Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new far-right government.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 326

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Iran registers single coronavirus death

Iran’s Health Ministry on Saturday announced that one person had died due to COVID-19 pandemic over the past 24 hours.

UK sanctions Iran’s prosecutor general in response to MI6 spy execution

The United Kingdom has sanctioned Iran’s prosecutor general in response to Tehran’s execution of an Iranian-British national convicted of espionage for the British intelligence agency, Foreign Minister James Cleverly confirmed on Saturday.

London condemns Tehran’s execution of British-Iranian national convicted of spying

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says that Iran's execution of a British-Iranian national would not go unchallenged, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called the hanging of the spy a "cowardly act." Alireza Akbari, a former Iranian official, has been executed after he was guilty of spying for the British intelligence agency.

UNSC members call on Taliban to reverse restrictions on Afghan women

Several members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have urged the Taliban to end its repressive treatment of women in Afghanistan and respect their rights.

White House to ask Congress to approve F-16 sales to Turkey

The administration of President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress to approve a $20bn sale of new F-16 jets to Turkey, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

PM says Iraq does not need foreign combat troops

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has said his country is in no need of foreign combat forces on its soil.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 325

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Two Palestinian men shot dead by Israeli soldiers in West Bank

A young Palestinian man has died of wounds sustained when Israeli forces stormed the northern part of the West Bank. His death comes hours after another Palestinian youth was shot dead during a separate incursion into the occupied territory.

Turkish FM says Iranian foreign minister to visit Turkey next week

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, would travel to Turkey next week amid Moscow's efforts to convene a meeting between the top Turkish, Syrian and Russian diplomats.

Iran leader says enemies made miscalculations in recent unrest

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the enemies’ “miscalculations” during the recent unrest in the country. He has stated that they attempted in vain to rally the Iranians behind their plot to overthrow the government and disintegrate the Islamic Republic.

IAEA head says no progress in talks with Iran

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says no progress has been made in the negotiations between the UN nuclear body and Tehran.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 324

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Russia says Iranian foreign minister to visit Moscow soon

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian will hold talks in Moscow on January 17, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. She noted the two sides will exchange views on international and regional issues, including the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran envoy says Tehran-Moscow cooperation in military field continues constructively

Russian-Iranian cooperation in the military field is proceeding in a peaceful, steady and constructive manner within the framework of common interests, Tehran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, told the daily Izvestia in an interview.

Israeli forces kill 2 Palestinians in WB

Two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, Israeli paramedics and Palestinian authorities have confirmed.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 323

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Blast outside Afghan foreign ministry in Kabul causes casualties

An explosion outside Afghanistan's foreign ministry in the capital Kabul on Wednesday caused a number of casualties, a Taliban official has confirmed.

Iran Covid: 3 deaths; 106 new infections

The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 144,720 with three more killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday.

Iraqi PM says Baghdad-Tehran ties historical

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has described the relations between Iran and Iraq as historical and based on cultural, religious and social commonalities.

Azerbaijan urges Armenia to sign peace treaty

The President of Azerbaijan Republic ,Ilkham Aliye, has called on his arch foe Armenia to sign a peace treaty with Baku.

US extends protection for Pompeo and Hook, fearing “Iran threats”

The administration of US President Joe Biden has extended government protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Trump administration’s special envoy for Iran Brian Hook due to what it calls persistent threats from Tehran.

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