INTERNATIONAL

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has ratified a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Iran, signaling a major expansion in political, economic, and defense cooperation between the two countries. The treaty, initially signed in January by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow, was presented to the Duma for approval in March. Putin had described the deal as a “breakthrough document,” while Pezeshkian said it would usher in a “new chapter” in bilateral relations. The agreement outlines a comprehensive roadmap for collaboration across various sectors, including defense, energy, finance, transport, industry, agriculture, culture, science, and technology. It also emphasizes intelligence sharing and mutual support aga...

Iran has raised its military readiness to high alert following orders from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid rising fears of a joint attack by Israel and the United States. The move is being interpreted as a clear message that Iran is fully prepared to respond to any threat. According to Reuters, an Iranian official revealed that Tehran has issued stern warnings to neighboring countries—Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain—not to support or allow the use of their airspace for any U.S.-led military action. “Any cooperation with an attack on Iran will be considered an act of hostility and responded to accordingly,” the official said. This development has escalated tensions across West Asia. Khamenei's directive comes amid mounting speculati...

Several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, have refused to allow the US to use their airspace or bases for any potential military action against Iran. The decision follows former President Donald Trump’s recent threats to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a nuclear deal. A senior US official as per a report by Middle East Eye said rhat these countries “do not want to be drawn in,” highlighting a growing reluctance to support direct confrontation. This refusal has pushed the US to reposition its strategic assets, moving B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia, a remote Indian Ocean base historically used for operations when access to Gulf territories is limited. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of multiple B-2 aircraft on the island. With a 5,300-kilometre...

Astronomical observatories across Saudi Arabia who were closely monitoring the Shawwal crescent to determine the start of Eid Al Fitr have said that Eid ul Fitr will be observed on Sunday. Ten observatories who were engaged in the sighting, with experts estimated that the crescent will be visible for just 7–8 minutes, making swift confirmation essential. "BREAKING NEWS: Eid Al Fitr 1446/2025 is tomorrow: Sunday, 30 March 2025. The Crescent for the month of Shawwal 1446 was SEEN in Saudi Arabia today; subsequently, tomorrow is the beginning of the month of Shawwal 1446," Inside the Haramain announced. https://twitter.com/insharifain/status/1906001740102517192?s=19 Iran has also officially announced that Eid Al Fitr will be observed on Monday. ountries that typically follow Saudi Ar...

The age-old quest for a pure red heifer has once again captured global attention, as religious scholars, political analysts, and prophecy watchers debate its significance. At the heart of this intrigue is Rabbi Ariel of the Temple Institute, who recently confirmed that no red heifer meeting the exacting biblical standards is currently available for the purification rites described in the Book of Numbers. In a statement, Rabbi Ariel declared, “At this moment, we do not have a red heifer suited for the ceremony,” highlighting the ongoing challenges in meeting the stringent biblical requirements for this rare animal. The ritual of the red heifer—one of the most enigmatic laws in Jewish tradition—requires the slaughter of a flawless, unblemished red cow, whose ashes are then used in purific...

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. At least 26 more people, including women, children, and a senior Hamas leader, were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes. Hospitals reported receiving 24 additional bodies, including several women and children. Israeli forces have entered parts of Rafah, forcing thousands to flee. Many described fleeing under fire, with shells and bullets landing around them. The Palestinian Red Crescent lost contact with medics responding to the strikes, with reports of casualties among them. The ceasefire that briefly paused the war collapsed earlier this month. Talks for a lasting truce stalled after Israel intensified attacks and cut off aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, Isr...

An Egyptian lynx launched a rare and aggressive attack on Israeli soldiers near the Israel-Egypt border in the Mount Harif area, leaving several injured, according to Israeli media reports. The circumstances of how the wild predator crossed the border and attacked remain unclear. Following the incident, a Nature and Reserves Authority inspector arrived at the scene and captured the lynx before it could cause further harm. The animal was later transferred to a wildlife hospital for examination. The Egyptian lynx, native to arid desert regions, is a powerful predator measuring between 60 to 130 cm in length and capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. While it primarily hunts small animals like rodents, this encounter marks an unusual and dangerous interaction with humans.

Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on former Syrian military installations near Damascus and in the southern province of Dara’a, resulting in the deaths of at least three civilians and injuring more than a dozen others. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the airstrikes late Monday targeted the 132nd Brigade in the Daraa al-Mahatta neighborhood. As per reports, he attacks caused significant damage, with fires erupting at the site as emergency responders rushed to provide aid. In addition, Israeli fighter jets struck the 175th Regiment in Izraa town, north of Dara’a city. Reports from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) indicate that Israeli warplanes remained in the air over southern Syria after the initial strikes. Further a...

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed nearly 350 Palestinians, marking a severe breach of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that had been in effect for nearly two months. According to Palestinian health officials, at least 342 people were killed in the large-scale assault, with many of the victims reported to be civilians, including children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the military operation was in response to Hamas’ alleged refusal to accept Israeli ceasefire proposals. The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas-linked sites, though reports indicate significant civilian casualties. The ceasefire, implemented on January 19, was structured in three phases, but Israel insisted on extending the first phase—a move Hamas rejected. Prior t...

The Yemeni Government has strongly condemned the US-British airstrikes on residential areas in the capital Sana’a and Sa’ada provinces, calling them an act of aggression that will not deter Yemen from supporting Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement, the government rejected US claims that the strikes targeted military sites, asserting that the attacks hit a densely populated area in Sana’a’s Shu’ub district. The statement also dismissed US President Donald Trump’s justification that Houthi actions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait threaten international navigation, labeling it a "false pretext" to support Israel’s blockade of Gaza. At least 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the airstrikes on Sana’a, with additional casualties reported in Sa’ada, according to Yeme...