Magnitude 6.2 earthquake strikes Indian Ocean
The quake occurred at 23:20 GMT, with its epicentre located at a depth of 10 kilometres.
There have been no immediate reports of material damage or casualties resulting from the earthquake.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria president vows those involved in church attack will face justice - Region
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a "heinous" suicide attack on a Damascus church would face justice, as he called for unity in the diverse, multi-faith country. The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said. The authorities who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December said the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group, which has not yet claimed the attack. "We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice," interim President Sharaa said in a statement. The attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new authorities. The attack "reminds us of the importance of solidarity, and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability", Sharaa said. Interior Minister Anas Khattab and intelligence services chief Hussein al-Salameh held an emergency meeting to discuss the investigations, the ministry said in a statement. The attack was the first suicide bombing in a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. It was also the first attack of its kind in the Syrian capital since Assad's ouster. A prayer service at the church is scheduled for 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). Foreign condemnation Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after the recent violence. Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Sunday that "the security of places of worship is a red line, and all efforts will be made to ensure people's freedom to perform their religious rites". IS "aims to sow sectarian division and incite all components of Syrian society to take up arms, seeking to show that the Syrian state is unable to protect its communities and citizens", he told a press conference. The top cleric of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, Grand Mufti Osama al-Rifai, condemned acts of violence and terrorism in a statement Monday. "We express our complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorising believers," he said. Foreign condemnation of the attack continued to roll in on Monday. Egypt has condemned the terrorist attack and in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended Egypt's sincere condolences to the Syrian people and the victims' families, wishing a swift recovery to the injured. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, vowing that Turkey would "continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism". Turkey, which is close to the new authorities, has repeatedly offered its operational and military support to fight IS and other militant threats. French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the "horrible" attack, while the EU said it "stands in solidarity" with Syria in combating ethnic and religious violence. "It is a grave reminder of the need to intensify efforts against the terrorist threat and to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and other terrorist organisations," spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said, using another name for IS. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed anger after the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church, calling on the new authorities "to take concrete measures to protect all ethnic and religious minorities". Syria's Christian community has shrunk from around one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and emigration. IS seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014. They were territorially defeated in Syria 2019 but have maintained a presence, particularly in the country's vast desert. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft for another month
Pakistan has extended its airspace restriction on Indian aircraft for another month, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority. The restriction applies to all aircraft registered in India, as well as those operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines and operators, including military flights. The ban will remain in place until July 23 at 2359 GMT (0459 PKT next morning), the NOTAM said. Pakistan extends airspace closure for Indian flights by one month It covers both the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions (FIRs), effectively blocking Indian flights from transiting through Pakistani airspace at all altitude levels. The airspace closure was first enforced on April 24, 2025, and has since been extended through successive advisories. The restriction impacts both commercial and non-commercial aviation activities and may be subject to further review depending on regional developments.
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
Oil prices choppy as investors weigh supply risks after US strikes on Iran
Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 16 cents, or 0.2%, at $77.17 a barrel by 1307 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $73.98. LONDON, United Kingdom - Oil prices oscillated on Monday, touching a five-month high before erasing most gains as oil and gas transit continued on tankers from the Middle East after US airstrikes against Iran at the weekend. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 16 cents, or 0.2%, at $77.17 a barrel by 1307 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $73.98. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes over the weekend, joining an Israeli assault in an escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself. Israel carried out fresh strikes against Iran on Monday including on capital Tehran and the Iranian nuclear facility at Fordow, which was also a target of the U.S. attack. Iran, which is OPEC's third-largest crude producer, said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called Trump a "gambler" for joining Israel's military campaign against the Islamic Republic. The Brent and WTI crude benchmarks touched five-month highs of $81.40 and $78.40 respectively on Monday before see-sawing in positive and negative territory throughout the European trading session. Prices have risen since the start of the conflict on June 13 on mounting fears around Middle East crude supply, in particular the risk that Iran could retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil supply flows. "All eyes remain on the Strait of Hormuz ... and whether Iran will seek to disrupt tanker traffic," said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen. Prices could spike in the short term - even without full-scale disruption - if the threat of interference alone is enough to delay shipments through the Strait, Hansen added. At least two supertankers made U-turns near the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. strikes against Iran, ship-tracking data shows, as more than a week of violence in the region prompts vessels to speed, pause or alter their journeys. Investors are still weighing up the extent of the geopolitical risk premium, given the Middle East crisis has yet to crimp supply. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said the risk premium is fading but it is unclear how the conflict might evolve, and prices are likely to remain volatile in the near term. HSBC expects Brent prices to spike above $80 a barrel to factor in a higher probability of a Strait of Hormuz closure, but to recede again if the threat of disruption does not materialise, the bank said on Monday. Iraq's state-run Basra Oil Company said international oil majors including BP BP.L, TotalEnergies and Eni evacuated some staff members working in oilfields. — Reuters
