Muse singer Matt Bellamy takes legal step to end m…

Iran is alleged to have flown senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment to Yemen earlier this month in a move that could significantly strengthen the military capabilities of the Houthi movement, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The reported transfer is believed to have taken place on July 13 aboard a Mahan Air flight that departed from Tehran. Sources said the aircraft was originally scheduled to land in the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, but was forced to divert to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after military activity disrupted operations at Sanaa International Airport. According to the sources, between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on board the aircraft. They claimed the mission included military advisers tasked with providing operational support and training on advanced missile systems. The flight was also reportedly carrying missile components, drone-related equipment and gold, which the sources alleged was intended to finance Houthi military operations. The reported shipment has raised fresh concerns that Tehran may be expanding its military support for the group amid growing regional tensions. Officials from Yemen’s internationally recognised government said intelligence indicated that Iranian military experts had arrived to strengthen Houthi capabilities. They claimed the advisers were expected to improve the group’s ability to launch attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. Regional security analysts also supported the claims, saying the shipment allegedly included components for short- and medium-range missiles as well as drone systems similar to those previously used in attacks across the Gulf region. The reported deployment came only days before the Houthis announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. The group later claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil tankers operating in the Red Sea, further escalating tensions and increasing fears over global energy supplies and maritime security. Despite the allegations, both Iran and the Houthi movement strongly denied the reports. A Houthi media official who said he was among the passengers on the flight insisted that everyone on board was a civilian and rejected claims that military personnel or weapons had been transported. Iran has also repeatedly denied supplying advanced weapons to the Houthis or directing their military operations. Iranian officials maintain that the Yemeni group independently develops its own military capabilities and makes its own operational decisions. According to Iranian officials, the July 13 flight was organised to return a Houthi delegation and Yemeni civilians who had travelled to Tehran earlier in the month. They said the passengers included people who had attended a funeral ceremony as well as Yemenis who had received medical treatment in Iran. The allegations have emerged at a time of heightened confrontation across the Middle East, where attacks involving the United States, Iran, Israel and Iran-backed groups have intensified. Growing instability has already disrupted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, contributing to rising oil prices and increasing uncertainty in global financial markets.

A court in Damascus has sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes, crimes against humanity, intentional murder, torture, and arbitrary arrest during the country’s civil war. The ruling marks the first Syrian conviction against Assad following his removal from power by opposition forces in December 2024, ending his family’s 54-year rule. The court handed down identical death sentences in absentia to Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, who commanded the Fourth Armoured Division. Former security official Atef Najib, a cousin of the Assads, was tried in person following his capture in early 2025 and also received a death sentence. Crowds gathered in Damascus and Deraa to celebrate the verdict, carrying photos of relatives killed or detained during the conflict. Assad and his brother currently reside in Russia under political asylum. Legal experts note that the capital sentence makes future extradition from foreign jurisdictions highly unlikely.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised strict action against those involved in examination paper leak scandals, making his first public comments since nationwide student protests erupted over alleged irregularities in the country’s examination system. In a statement shared on social media, Modi said the future and welfare of India’s youth were of the highest importance. He assured students that the government would take firm action against those responsible for examination fraud and announced plans to establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases. The prime minister said no one would be allowed to jeopardise the future of young people for personal gain. He pledged that all those found guilty of manipulating examinations or leaking question papers would face strict legal consequences. His statement came after thousands of students and young people gathered in New Delhi to protest against repeated examination paper leaks and demand greater transparency in the education system. Demonstrators have also been calling for the resignation of the country’s education minister, accusing the government of failing to prevent repeated examination scandals. The protests have been organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a movement that emerged through social media and has rapidly gained support among students and young voters across India. Initially launched as a satirical online campaign, the movement has expanded into a nationwide platform highlighting concerns over examination fraud, unemployment, and opportunities for young people. Tensions escalated earlier this week when large crowds attempted to march towards Parliament during the opening of the monsoon session. Police stopped the protesters by using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds. Clashes later broke out after some demonstrators threw stones at security personnel, resulting in injuries on both sides. According to official figures, at least 178 people, including police officers and security personnel, were injured during the violence. Several protesters also sustained injuries as confrontations continued in different parts of the capital. The latest demonstrations are among the largest youth-led protests seen in New Delhi in recent years. The movement has drawn widespread public attention and increased pressure on the government to restore confidence in India’s examination system. Public anger has grown following a series of examination controversies across the country. One of the biggest scandals involved the leak of a national medical entrance examination paper, forcing more than two million candidates to retake the test. Another controversy related to the online evaluation of high school examinations involving nearly two million students has further raised concerns about fairness and transparency. Students argue that repeated paper leaks are destroying merit and reducing confidence in the education system. Many believe honest candidates are being unfairly affected by corruption and poor oversight in the examination process.