Iran’s Khamenei calls on Muslim countries to stop fuel, food exports to Israel
Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has urged Muslim nations to halt oil and food exports to Israel in an attempt to halt the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, according to reports from Iranian state media.
Khamenei also placed blame on the West for the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, asserting that they have tarnished their reputation in global public opinion.
Speaking about the situation in Gaza, Khamenei praised the resilience of the people, stating, "People of Gaza have mobilised the public’s conscience by their patience. Look at what’s happening in the world.” He highlighted the protests against Israel and the United States in various countries, including the UK, France, Italy, and the US, as evidence of the international outcry against the attacks.
Khamenei emphasized that the responsibility for the plight of Gaza extends beyond the Zionist regime, pointing fingers at the United States, France, and the UK. He criticized these nations, saying, "They have lost their credibility and really there is no remedy for them as they cannot justify Israel’s attack."
As of the latest update, the conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, has led to the tragic loss of at least 8,525 Palestinian lives due to Israeli attacks.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
