News

Tehran Friday prayer leader calls for Trump and Netanyahu's execution

bnm Gulf bureau July 4, 2025

Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader has said that the religious punishment for US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be execution.

Russia becomes first country to officially recognise Taliban in Afghanistan

bnm Gulf bureau July 4, 2025

Russia has become the first country to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, with the Islamic Emirate calling it a "brave decision."

The first foreign airline flight landed at Tehran airport since war

bnm Tehran bureau July 4, 2025

The first international flight has landed at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), with air authorities reopening both Mehrabad (THR) and Imam Khomeini (IKA) airports for domestic and international flights.

Brazil president visits former Argentine president under house arrest

Mathew Cohen July 4, 2025

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at her Buenos Aires apartment on June 3.

Tanzania signs up to $200mn natural gas deal to expand national distribution

bna Africa bureau July 4, 2025

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Energetech-Tantel Holdings to launch nationwide natural gas distribution via road and rail.

Ex-wife of Hungary's Peter Magyar testifies in court in high-profile corruption case

bne IntelliNews July 4, 2025

Former justice minister Judit Varga appeared in court on July 3 as a witness in a high-profile corruption case, which centres around Gyorgy Schadl, former head of the bailiff chamber (MBVK), and ex-state secretary of the Justice Minister Pal Volner.

“No progress” on Ukraine in Trump’s call with Putin

bne IntelliNews July 4, 2025

US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 3, where the two leaders made “no progress” on bringing the conflict to an end.

Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev, Azerbaijan’s Aliyev chart new course for $1bn in trade and regional connectivity

Mokhi Sultanova in Tashkent July 3, 2025

The president of Uzbekistan is currently in Azerbaijan for a state visit that signals a deepening strategic alliance between the two countries, as Tashkent and Baku move to elevate annual trade to $1bn and expand cooperation across the board.

Putin congratulates Belarusian President Lukashenko on Independence Day

bne IntelliNews July 3, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Belarus’s Independence Day on July 3, highlighting their long-standing cultural ties and emphasising their common fight against the Nazis in WWII.

UPDATE: Kurdish PKK announces plans to surrender fighters' weapons in northern Iraq

bnm Baghdad bureau July 3, 2025

The Kurdistan Workers' Party announced on July 3 that its fighters in northern Iraq will begin surrendering weapons in the first concrete step toward disarmament as part of peace efforts

Trump pressure pushes BYD out of Mexico

Alek Buttermann July 3, 2025

China’s electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has shelved plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Mexico, citing geopolitical volatility and the current trade stance of the United States under President Donald Trump.

Serbia enters fifth day of protests, 79 arrested overnight

bne IntelliNews July 3, 2025

Serbian police detained 79 people overnight as student-led protests and acts of civil disobedience entered their fifth consecutive day.

Poland to invest $665mn to boost its domestic ammunition output to 1mn rounds a year

bne IntelliNews July 3, 2025

Poland will invest PLN2.6bn ($665mn) to increase its domestic ammunition output, the government announced on July 2, as it seeks to strengthen national defence capabilities and support Ukraine's military needs.

Iran rebuts German criticism over IAEA cooperation suspension

bnm Tehran bureau July 3, 2025

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed German criticism of Tehran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Saudi Arabia activates first Thaad missile defence system

bnm Gulf bureau July 3, 2025

Saudi Arabia has activated its inaugural Terminal High Altitude Area Defence missile battery, marking a significant enhancement to the kingdom's air protection capabilities.

Ukraine, allies put on a brave face as US weapons supplies stop

Ben Aris in Berlin July 3, 2025

Washington halted the delivery of missiles used in air defence and ammunition to Kyiv on July 1, claiming its own stocks were dwindling causing consternation in Kyiv which is battling to hold off massive Russian drone and missile barrages.

EU taxpayers funnelled up to €5.5bn into Orban's kleptocracy, anti-graft watchdog claims

bne IntelliNews July 3, 2025

Between 2011 and 2023, EU taxpayers may have unwittingly contributed €3.2–5.5bn to the consolidation of Viktor Orban’s kleptocratic regime, according to a new study by the Corruption Research Centre Budapest.

Fuel tanker explosion in Jebrin, Syria, kills seven, injures many

bna Cairo bureau July 2, 2025

A devastating explosion rocked the town of Jebrin in the Hama countryside, central Syria, on July 2 after a fuel tanker caught fire.

3,000 new fighters join Syrian Army’s 76th division following Aleppo academy graduation

bna Cairo bureau July 2, 2025

The event highlighted the military leadership’s commitment to ongoing development and strengthening the defence institution’s role in securing stability and security.

Serbian police crack down on student protests

bne IntelliNews July 2, 2025

Serbian police intensified their crackdown on student-led protests late Tuesday and into the early hours of Wednesday, detaining several demonstrators and dismantling road blockades as a wave of civil disobedience entered its fourth day.

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