Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, supreme leader’s protégé, dies at 63 in helicopter crash
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line protégé of the country’s supreme leader who helped oversee the mass executions of thousands in 1988 and later led the country as it enriched uranium near weapons-grade levels and launched a major drone-and-missile attack on Israel, has died. He was 63. Raisi’s sudden death, along with Iran’s foreign minister and other officials in the helicopter crash Sunday in northwestern Iran, came as Iran struggles with internal dissent and its relations with the wider world. A cleric first, Raisi once kissed the Quran, the Islamic holy book, before the United Nations and spoke more like a preacher than a statesman when addressing the world.
Iran’s president, foreign minister and others found dead at helicopter crash site
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister and several other officials have been found dead after their helicopter crashed in a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest. State media announced the deaths after the crash site was found on Monday, after hours of searching. The crash comes as the Middle East remains unsettled by the Israel-Hamas war, during which Raisi under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month. Under Raisi, Iran enriched uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Meanwhile, Iran has faced years of protests against its Shiite theocracy over its ailing economy and women’s rights – making the moment that much more sensitive for the country.
Who is Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, appointed acting president after crash?
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s first Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed president of the Islamic Republic after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwest. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement of Mokhber’s appointment on Monday in a condolence message he shared for Raisi’s death. The 68-year-old Mokhber has largely been in the shadows compared to other politicians in Iran’s Shiite theocracy. However, he’s held prominent positions with in the country’s power structure, particularly in its bonyads, or charitable foundations. Those groups were fueled by donations or assets seized after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, particularly those previously associated with Iran’s shah or those in his government.
Airstrike kills 27 in central Gaza and fighting rages as Israel’s leaders are increasingly divided
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has killed 27 people in central Gaza, mostly women and children, and fighting again rages across the north. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism from the two other members of his War Cabinet over the war that is now in its eighth month. Popular centrist War Cabinet member Benny Gantz has threatened to leave the government if a plan for Gaza, including a postwar vision, isn’t created by June 8. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has met with Netanyahu to discuss a plan for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel and help the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza.
Michael Cohen to face more grilling as Trump’s hush money trial enters its final stretch
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s hush money trial is heading into the final stretch, with prosecutors’ last and star witness expected back on the stand for more grilling before the former president’s lawyers get their chance to put on a case. The landmark trial will kick back off Monday in Manhattan with more defense cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen’s pivotal testimony directly tied Trump to the alleged hush money scheme. Defense lawyers are trying to paint Cohen as a serial fabulist who is on a revenge campaign against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
London court to decide whether WikiLeaks founder Assange is extradited to the US
LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces a court hearing in London that could end with him being sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges, or provide him another chance to appeal his extradition. The outcome Monday will depend on how much weight judges give to assurances U.S. officials have provided that Assange’s rights won’t be trampled if he goes on trial. In March, judges said he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the U.S. guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a U.S. citizen. The U.S. has now provided those assurances.
Taiwan’s new President Lai in his inauguration speech urges China to stop its military intimidation
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, has said in his inauguration speech that he seeks peace with China and urged it to stop its military threats against the self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. Lai pledged to “neither yield nor provoke” Beijing. But he emphasized that the island democracy is determined to defend itself. Lai’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party, doesn’t seek independence from China but maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation. Lai takes over from Tsai Ing-wen, who led Taiwan through eight years of economic and social development despite the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s escalating military threats.
Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics face a test as India holds fifth stage of national election
AYODHYA, India (AP) — Millions of Indians across 49 constituencies are casting ballots as the country’s six-week-long election enters its final stages. Voting is also happening in northern Ayodhya city, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a controversial Hindu temple on the site of a razed mosque. Modi’s party, which has hailed the opening of the temple as the ruling government’s crowning achievement, is hoping it will help catapult the prime minister to a record third successive term. The staggered election will run until June 1 before votes are counted on June 4. Almost 970 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this election, more than 10% of the world’s population.
Biden tells Morehouse graduates that scenes in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war break his heart, too
ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden has offered his most direct recognition of the anguish American college students are feeling over the Israel-Hamas war. Biden said during a commencement address Sunday at historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta that he has heard the students’ voices of protest and that scenes from the conflict in Gaza break his heart, too. The speech, and a separate one he gave later in Detroit, are part of a burst of outreach to Black constituents by the president. Black support for Biden has softened since he was elected in 2020. There were scattered demonstrations over the war but the Morehouse ceremony was not disrupted.
Ship that caused deadly Baltimore bridge collapse to be refloated and moved
BALTIMORE (AP) — The container ship that caused the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is scheduled to be refloated and moved to a nearby marine terminal. The Dali has remained at the collapse site since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns in March. The disaster killed six construction workers and snarled traffic into Baltimore Harbor. Authorities say high tide Monday morning is expected to yield the best conditions for crews to start refloating and transit work on the ship. Up to five tugboats will escort the Dali on its 2.5-mile path to the marine terminal.
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