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14 killed in Saudi Aramco helicopter crash in Ras Tanura

Ahsan Ansari
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14 killed in Saudi Aramco helicopter crash in Ras Tanura

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Fourteen Saudi nationals were killed on Sunday after a helicopter operated by state-owned energy giant Saudi Aramco crashed near Ras Tanura on the Kingdom’s eastern coast, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Citing a Saudi Ministry of Energy official, SPA reported that the helicopter went down at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) in Ras Tanura, home to the world’s largest offshore oil-loading terminal and one of Saudi Arabia’s most strategically important oil refining hubs. All 14 people on board were killed in the crash.

READ MORE : Skydiving plane crash in France leaves 11 dead

The Ministry of Energy confirmed that an investigation has been launched in coordination with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident. Officials have not disclosed the purpose of the flight.

Saudi Aramco had not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of publication.

The crash comes months after the Ras Tanura energy complex was temporarily affected by Iranian drone and missile attacks, which disrupted operations at the strategic facility. According to media reports, Aramco resumed crude oil shipments from the terminal only two days ago following a disruption that lasted nearly four months.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Skydiving plane crash in France leaves 11 dead

Diplomat Times
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Skydiving plane crash in France leaves 11 dead

Paris, France — Eleven people were killed on Sunday after a small aircraft carrying a group of skydivers crashed shortly after takeoff near the eastern French city of Nancy, in what authorities have described as the country’s deadliest general aviation accident in recent years.

The aircraft crashed at around 11:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) near a supermarket in Tomblaine, just 300 metres from the runway after departing from Nancy-Essey Aerodrome, according to local authorities.

Yves Seguy, Prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle, confirmed that all 11 people on board were killed and that there were no casualties or damage on the ground. According to regional newspaper L’Est Républicain, the victims included the pilot, five skydiving instructors and five student skydivers.

The aircraft has been identified as a German-registered Pilatus, a model commonly used for parachuting operations. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said several victims’ family members were at the airport when the tragedy occurred, with some witnessing the aircraft crash shortly after takeoff.

The investigation has been taken over by the Collective Accidents Unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, with the Air Transport Gendarmerie leading the inquiry. A team of 15 specialist investigators, including forensic experts and aviation accident investigators, has been deployed to the crash site.

Investigators will examine air traffic control communications, radar data, witness statements, the aircraft’s maintenance records and its technical condition. However, the investigation is expected to be particularly challenging because the aircraft was not equipped with flight data or cockpit voice recorders.

According to aviation consultant and Aviation Sans Frontières President Gérard Feldzer, there were reportedly no radio communications between the pilot and the control tower before the crash. Witnesses near the scene said the aircraft’s engine appeared to fail moments after takeoff, leaving the pilot with insufficient altitude to recover or attempt an emergency landing.

Authorities are relying on photographs, surveillance footage and videos captured by witnesses to help reconstruct the aircraft’s final moments.

France’s Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA), the country’s civil aviation safety investigation authority, described the tragedy as the deadliest general aviation accident in France in terms of loss of life, referring to civil aviation operations outside commercial airline transport.

The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.

SOURCE : EFE./AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Russia says it destroyed two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets at Voznesensk airfield

Diplomat Times
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Russia says it destroyed two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets at Voznesensk airfield

Moscow, Russia Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its armed forces destroyed two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets during a strike on the Voznesensk airfield in the Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) region using Geran-4 Seeker unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

According to the ministry, Russian reconnaissance detected preparations for the takeoff of two Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft. One fighter jet, reportedly loaded with air-launched munitions, was positioned outside a reinforced concrete shelter, while the second aircraft inside the shelter was being refueled by a fuel tanker.

READ MORE : Zelenskyy says Russia is shifting air defenses to Moscow and other key sites after drone strikes

The ministry said the subsequent UAV strike destroyed both MiG-29 fighter jets, the fuel tanker, an APA-5D mobile airfield power unit, and other ground support equipment. It also claimed that flight and engineering personnel preparing the aircraft for takeoff were killed in the attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry released video footage that it said showed the strike and the destruction of the aircraft and supporting equipment at the airfield.

The claims have not been independently verified, and Ukrainian authorities had not publicly commented on the reported strike at the time of publication.

SOURCE : TASS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Over 10 injured as M7.2 quake hits northeastern Japan, traffic disrupted

Diplomat Times
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Over 10 injured as M7.2 quake hits northeastern Japan, traffic disrupted

Tokyo, Japan  An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 struck northeastern Japan on Thursday, injuring more than 10 people, disrupting bullet train services and forcing schools to temporarily close.

There was no danger of a tsunami from the 7:30 a.m. quake that occurred off the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 44 kilometers, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It measured upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hashikami and lower 6 in Hachinohe, both in Aomori Prefecture.

READ MORE : At Least 164 Dead, 971 injured as powerful earthquakes devastate Venezuela

An intensity of upper 6 means it is impossible to remain standing or move without crawling, and most unfixed furniture will move and objects will topple over, according to the agency.

Nine people appear to have sustained minor injuries in five municipalities in Aomori, while two people in Iwate were hurt including a woman in her 60s who was seriously injured after hitting her head while working in her garden.

At a press conference, the weather agency urged the public to remain alert for earthquakes measuring upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale over the next week.

The agency said it would not issue an Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory because the temblor did not meet the criteria for activation.

The advisory is issued when there is a relatively high risk of strong earthquakes occurring along the Japan and Chishima trenches, which run off the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan and Hokkaido.

The earthquake was initially reported as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and a depth of 50 km, but those figures were later revised.

The quake logged upper 5 in Sannohe in Aomori Prefecture and in Morioka and other parts of Iwate Prefecture. The temblor also affected Hokkaido and Akita, Fukushima, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures as well as Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures.

No abnormalities were reported at the Higashidori or Onagawa nuclear power plants, located respectively in Aomori and Miyagi prefectures, or at the Fukushima Daiichi or Daini nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, according to their operators.

There were also no reports of abnormalities at the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant and the interim spent fuel storage facility in Aomori Prefecture.

According to Hashikami’s school board, all five schools in the town, including elementary, middle and high schools, were temporarily closed. The Hachinohe school board also closed all 65 of its schools.

Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train services were halted between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations after the quake, but all services had resumed as of 2 p.m., JR East said.

Speaking to reporters at her office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government is gathering information to assess the impact of the temblor.

SOURCE : KYODO NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

One Palestinian injured, two arrested as Israeli military raids sweep occupied West Bank

Diplomat Times
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One Palestinian injured, two arrested as Israeli military raids sweep occupied West Bank

West Bank, Israel  — A Palestinian was injured and two others were arrested on Saturday as Israeli forces conducted raids across multiple areas of the occupied West Bank, amid reports of road closures, military checkpoints, and attacks by Israeli settlers.

According to local authorities and Palestinian media, a young Palestinian sustained facial injuries after Israeli forces stormed a wedding celebration in the town of Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem, where tear gas was fired into the gathering. Several attendees, including children and elderly people, were also affected by tear gas inhalation.

READ MORE : Egypt, Bahrain, UAE call for safeguarding Hormuz navigation after renewed strikes

In the Hebron governorate, Israeli troops arrested two Palestinians during separate operations in the Masafer Yatta area, while local sources reported that Israeli settlers attacked a home and attempted to drive livestock onto private property before residents intervened.

Israeli forces also established multiple military checkpoints across Hebron, blocking major and secondary roads with iron gates, concrete barriers and earth mounds, significantly restricting movement.

Further north, troops raided the village of Tayasir in Tubas governorate, searching homes and reportedly damaging property. In Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, local sources said Israeli settlers entered privately owned farmland after cutting through a fence, causing damage to crops and trees.

The incidents come a day after Israeli forces reportedly arrested 10 Palestinians in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, while fires destroyed approximately 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of olive groves.

According to Palestinian officials, violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated sharply since October 2023, with military operations and settler attacks resulting in significant casualties, arrests, displacement and widespread damage to farmland and civilian property.

SOURCE : Anadolu Agency |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Egypt, Bahrain, UAE call for safeguarding Hormuz navigation after renewed strikes

Diplomat Times
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Egypt, Bahrain, UAE call for safeguarding Hormuz navigation after renewed strikes

Cairo, Egypt — The foreign ministers of Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stressed the need to safeguard navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

The United States launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites on Friday after accusing Iran of attacking a commercial vessel transiting the strait on Thursday.

READ MORE : US strikes Iran following Tehran’s attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz

During a phone discussion on the latest regional developments, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum of the peace negotiations following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, the statement said.

The two ministers called for the continuation of Iran-U.S. negotiations to ease tensions and promote regional security and stability.

They also urged all parties to abide by international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to ensure regional security and stability and safeguard the interests of all countries.

In another phone call, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdelatty discussed the Gulf states’ security concerns.

SOURCE : XINHUA |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Poland faces historic heatwave with record-breaking 42°C temperatures

Diplomat Times
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Poland faces historic heatwave with record-breaking 42°C temperatures

Warsaw, Poland — Poland is bracing for a historic and potentially record-breaking heatwave after the country’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) issued its highest Level 3 heat warnings, effective from Saturday morning through Monday evening.

According to the national weather service, the most extreme conditions are expected on Sunday, when temperatures in some parts of the country could soar to 42°C, threatening to shatter long-standing national temperature records.

Meteorologists described the heatwave as unprecedented in more than a century, warning that several regions may register their highest temperatures since weather records began.

Authorities have urged residents to take precautions, remain hydrated, avoid prolonged outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours, and closely follow official weather advisories as the dangerous heat persists.

While temperatures are forecast to gradually ease in some areas from Monday onward, much of the country will continue to endure oppressive conditions, with central Poland still expected to see highs of around 39°C.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

US strikes Iran following Tehran’s attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz

Diplomat Times
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US strikes Iran following Tehran’s attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz

Washington, DC, US — The United States military launched strikes against Iran on Friday in retaliation for an attack by the Islamic Republic on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz from the day before. The strike occurred despite an agreement between Tehran and Washington to reopen the waterway, according to US Central Command (Centcom).

US aircraft targeted Iranian drone and missile storage facilities, as well as coastal radar bases, the Florida-based Centcom said in a statement, accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire.

READ MORE : Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire with drone attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

The military command justified the strikes as a “powerful response” to Iran’s Thursday attack on the Singapore-flagged vessel M/V Ever Lovely as it was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the coast of Oman.

Central Command denounced the “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces” as a clear violation of the ceasefire.

“Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor,” it stated.

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of a “foolish” violation of the ceasefire for launching “at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz.”

The incident occurred 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Duqm, Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which advised vessels in the waterway, a route for 20% of global crude oil, to exercise caution.

This is the first recorded attack in the area since the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, which aimed to end hostilities, reopen traffic in the Strait, and negotiate a final agreement addressing the Iranian nuclear program.

The military command justified the strikes as a “powerful response” to Iran’s Thursday attack on the Singapore-flagged vessel M/V Ever Lovely as it was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the coast of Oman.

Central Command denounced the “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces” as a clear violation of the ceasefire.

“Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor,” it stated.

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of a “foolish” violation of the ceasefire for launching “at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz.”

The incident occurred 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Duqm, Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which advised vessels in the waterway, a route for 20% of global crude oil, to exercise caution.

This is the first recorded attack in the area since the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17, which aimed to end hostilities, reopen traffic in the Strait, and negotiate a final agreement addressing the Iranian nuclear program.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Cyprus concludes EU Council Presidency with high-level conference on islands and coastal communities

Shasi Kumar
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Cyprus concludes EU Council Presidency with high-level conference on islands and coastal communities

Pafos, Cyprus — Cyprus concluded its Presidency of the Council of the European Union by hosting the High-Level Conference on Strengthening EU Islands and Coastal Communities in Pafos, the flagship closing event of the CY2026EU Presidency.

The conference brought together policymakers, government officials, and stakeholders to discuss the future of Europe’s island and coastal regions, with a focus on sustainable development, maritime connectivity, climate resilience, regional cohesion, and economic growth.

READ MORE : Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire with drone attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Reflecting on the conclusion of the six-month presidency, Cyprus emphasized the unique role of island nations in shaping Europe’s future.

“As an island nation at the crossroads of three continents, Cyprus understands both the challenges and, above all, the opportunities that come with our connection to the sea,” the presidency said in a closing statement.

Cyprus described the conference as a landmark achievement of its presidency, highlighting its contribution to building a stronger European vision for island communities and coastal territories.

Officials said the outcomes of the CY2026EU Presidency demonstrated that islands are not on the margins of Europe but play a central role in the European project.

“The results of the Cyprus Presidency have proven that islands are not at the periphery—they are at the heart of the European project,” the statement said.

Throughout its presidency, Cyprus promoted policies aimed at enhancing the resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of island and coastal regions while strengthening cooperation among European Union member states.

The presidency also praised the dedication of the national team, attributing its success to the determination and resilience that define island communities.

“This is Team Cyprus, and it can work miracles,” the statement noted. “Throughout this Presidency journey, we harnessed the unrivalled characteristics of islanders—stubbornness, perseverance and resilience through adversity. We overcame the waves, knowing that the sea that holds us is bigger than us.”

Concluding the presidency, Cyprus described the experience as “the greatest honour,” reaffirming its commitment to advancing a stronger, more united, and more resilient European Union while ensuring that the voices of island and coastal communities remain central to the bloc’s future policies.

Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna took to X to share highlights from today’s High-Level Conference on Strengthening EU Islands and Coastal Communities in Pafos, marking the final flagship event of the CY2026EU Presidency.

SOURCE : CY20 CYPRUS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire with drone attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Diplomat Times
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Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire with drone attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Washington, DC, US — President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of violating a ceasefire agreement with the United States by launching attack drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, including a cargo vessel that was struck off the coast of Oman on Thursday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social Post.

“One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,” the president wrote.

“Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”

Trump’s statement came on the heels of the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency, pausing efforts to evacuate ships and seafarers stranded in the strait.

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the ​International Maritime Organization, said the evacuation plan would be temporarily paused “in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and ​all those in the region.”

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

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