ISIS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEADLY IRAN TWIN BLASTS

ISIS has taken responsibility for the tragic twin explosions in Iran, claiming the lives of over 100 individuals and causing injuries to several others during a ceremony. The incidents occurred at a cemetery in Kerman, where a gathering had assembled to observe the fourth death anniversary of General Qassem Soleimani, a senior military commander who was killed by a US drone in 2020. General Soleimani had been in charge of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, the militant Sunni Muslim group asserted that two of its members had detonated explosive belts in the midst of the crowd attending the ceremony at the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on Wednesday.

These attacks in Iran unfolded just a day after reports of a suspected Israeli drone strike in Lebanon, targeting Saleh al-Arouri, a prominent leader of Hamas. The circumstances surrounding al-Arouri's fate remain uncertain.

Expressing solidarity, India, through its Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, conveyed shock and sadness over the bombings in Kerman City. Jaiswal stated, “At this difficult time, we express our solidarity with the government and people of Iran.” The international community continues to closely monitor and respond to the aftermath of these distressing incidents in the region.

HOUTHI DEFIANCE ESCALATES: DRONE BOAT EXPLOSION IN RED SEA DESPITE INTERNATIONAL WARNING

The U.S. Navy reported that a Houthi drone boat, loaded with explosives, detonated in the Red Sea on Thursday. Fortunately, the attack caused no damage or casualties. This incident occurred just a day after a joint statement from 12 countries, including the U.S., Britain, and Japan, warned the Houthi group of unspecified "consequences" if they persist with their attacks. The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, controlling much of Yemen, have been launching exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since November 19, citing opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, leading U.S. Naval forces in the Middle East, informed reporters that the Houthi exploding boat traveled about 50 miles into the Red Sea before detonating in heavily trafficked shipping lanes. Despite coming close to merchant ships and U.S. Navy vessels, the attack's target remains unclear.

Operation Prosperity Guardian, initiated last month by the United States and other nations to safeguard civilian vessels, now involves contributions from 22 countries. Cooper revealed that, to date, U.S. warships and partners have successfully intercepted two cruise missiles, six anti-ship ballistic missiles, and 11 drones. Notably, on Sunday, U.S. warships thwarted three Houthi speed boats to prevent the hijacking of a commercial vessel.

US AIR STRIKE IN CENTRAL BAGHDAD KILLS AN IRAN-BACKED MILITIA COMMANDER

A US airstrike in central Baghdad targeted the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia, resulting in the death of a high-ranking militia commander, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, also known as "Abu Taqwa." The strike, conducted on the group Harakat al-Nujaba, affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), occurred amid heightened regional tensions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The PMF, a coalition of Iranian-backed Shia militias nominally under Iraqi military control, accused the US of "brutal aggression." The US had designated Harakat al-Nujaba as a terrorist organization in 2019. Iraqi military spokesman Yehia Rasool blamed the US-led International Coalition Forces for the "unprovoked attack" on an Iraqi security body operating within its granted powers. The incident coincides with Iraqi officials' calls for the departure of US-led coalition forces from the country.

SUNAK INDICATES UK POLLS LIKELY IN SECOND HALF OF ’24

London : Britain will likely go to the polls in the last six months of this year, PM Sunak indicated Thursday, as speculation mounts about Iranthe date of thevote.Sunak, whose Conservative party has been in power since 2010, has until the end of January 2025 to call a much-anticipated general election. He has already indicated he will not leave it until the last minute to go to the country and try to secure his own mandate after becoming Tory leader in an internal party vote in Oct 2022.“My working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year,” he said on a visit to Mansfield, central England.The Tories, who have had five leaders and prime ministers in 14 xyears, are expected to lose the election, handing power to Keir Starmer’s main opposition Labour party. Possible dates suggested for the vote include May 2, coinciding with local elections.Asked if he could rule out a May election, Sunakrepeated that he was lookingat a vote later in2024.

POLICE: MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT AT IN IOWA SCHOOL

Perry (US) : Multiple people were shot inside a small-town Iowa high school early Thursday as students prepared to start their first day of classes after their annual winter break, authorities said. The suspect in the shooting in Perry, Iowa, has died of what investigators believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official said. The official also said that at least one of the victims is a school administrator.

Two gunshot victims were taken by ambulance to a medical center in Des Moines, a health system spokesperson said. Some other patients were transported to a second hospital in Des Moi nes, another spokesperson said, declining to comment on the number of patients or their statuses. High school senior Ava Augustus said she was in a counselor’s office when she heard three shots. She and other people barricaded the door, preparing to throw things if necessary. “And then we hear ‘He’s down. You can go out,’” Augustus said through tears. “And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor...”

An active shooter was reported at 7.37am and officers arrived seven minutes later, Dallas County Adam Infante said. He added that officers located multiple people with injuries.

GUNMAN HELD IN UK AFTER OPENING FIRE INSIDE PIO-RUN SHOP, THEN CINEMA

London : Armed police arrested a man brandishing a shotgun nine hours after he opened fire inside a Punjabi-run newsagent’s shop in Liverpool Wednesday, threatened the store assistant and then went on to open fire inside a cinema where families were watching “Wonka”. Police were called at 8.30pm to News and Booze (known locally as “Sangha’s”) after a gunman had entered the shop at 8pm and demanded cash before firing his gun within the shop and leaving emptyhanded. The shop assistant was uninjured but extremely distressed, Merseyside police said.

A CCTV video shows the gunman, in flip-flops, black trousers and a zipped hooded jacket, opening fire inside the shop. The shop remained cordoned off on Thursday. According to Companies House, Sangha’s has been owned by Harjoodh Kular, (37) an Indian citizen, and Sharanjit Kaur Kullar, a British citizen (39), since 2015. The shop was one of three locations, including Showcase Cinema, in Liverpool where the gunman opened fire. He entered the cinema complex and threatened two members of staff in the foyer with his gun, before leaving. A 49-year-old man was arrested at 4.46am on Thursday on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery.

‘TRUMP BIZ GOT $7.8M FROM 20 FOREIGN GOVTS WHEN HE WAS PREZ’

Washington : Documents released by House Democrats reveal that Donald Trump's businesses received a minimum of $7.8 million from 20 foreign governments during his presidency. The House Oversight Committee report details transactions, with China being the largest contributor at $5.5 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with over $615,000. The payments went to Trump properties such as the Washington and Las Vegas International Hotels and Trump Towers in New York. House Democrats emphasize these transactions as evidence that Trump engaged in conduct similar to what Republicans attempted to link to President Joe Biden, who has not been shown to be enriched by international business deals involving his son Hunter Biden. The report accuses Trump of prioritizing personal financial interests over the American public interest, violating constitutional commands and established presidential precedent. The Constitution prohibits presidents from accepting any form of payment or gifts from foreign governments.

VATICAN: SAME-SEX COUPLE 'BLESSINGS' AREN'T 'HERETICAL'

The Vatican's doctrinal office issued a statement to address criticism from Catholic bishops about the approval of blessings for same-sex couples. The statement clarified that the measure is not "heretical" or "blasphemous" and emphasized two key points: it does not impact the Church's definition of marriage, and the blessings should not have a liturgical format. The Vatican sought to alleviate concerns, recommending a calm reading of the declaration, and quoted its original statement, asserting that the change does not affect the Church's teachings on marriage but provides pastoral blessings for couples in "irregular situations" without approving or justifying those situations. The document emphasized that clergy issuing such blessings are not validating same-sex unions or altering the Church's perennial teaching on marriage, preventing any characterization of the suggestions as heretical, blasphemous, or contrary to tradition.

MICROSOFT ADDS AN AI KEY BUTTON TO SUMMON CHATBOTS

Redmond : Pressing a button will be one way to summon an artificial intelligence agent as Microsoft wields its computer industry influence to reshape the next generation of keyboards. Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot. Getting third-party manufacturers to add an AI button to laptops is the latest move by Microsoft to capitalise on its partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. The redesign will be Microsoft’s biggest change to PC keyboards since it introduced a special Windows key in the 1990s. The newest AI button will be marked by the ribbonlike Copilot logo and be located near the space bar. On some computers it will replace the right “CTRL” key, while on others it will replace a menu key.

10,000 PRISONERS PARDONED ON MYANMAR’S INDEPENDENCE DAY

Myanmar’s military government on Thursday pardoned nearly 10,000 prisoners to mark the 76th anniversary of gaining independence from Britain. The head of Myanmar’s military council, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, pardoned 9,652 prisoners to mark the holiday, state-run MRTV television reported.