Iran's IRGC says 2 "violating" tankers hit mines in Hormuz Strait, U.S. forces disable vessel in Gulf of Oman
The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Sunday two "violating" oil tankers attempting to pass through an "unauthorized" route in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after hitting naval mines.
In a statement on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said that one tanker hit mines east of the strait and the other while crossing the waterway.
Both vessels had turned off navigation and GPS systems and were burning following the explosions, it added.
The IRGC warned that any vessel cooperating with the "aggressive" U.S. Army and entering the "unauthorized" region in the strait in defiance of Iranian regulations would "definitely" hit naval mines.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media platform X that its forces had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after its civilian crew "ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times."
"A U.S. military aircraft fired precision munitions at the stern of St. Kitts-flagged M/V Huda, disabling the ship after CENTCOM forces directed the crew to abandon targeted spaces. The cargo vessel tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port," it added.
Paraguay prosecutors charge ousted president over bank collapse
Paraguayan prosecutors on Saturday formally charged ousted President Santiago Pena with breach of trust and administration for personal gain over alleged irregularities linked to the collapse of Ueno Bank.
Prosecutors also requested pretrial detention for Pena and restrictions on his assets, according to local newspaper Ultima Hora.
Former central bank chief Carlos Carvallo was charged with breach of trust, administration for personal gain and the production of false public documents. Prosecutors likewise requested his pretrial detention.
According to the indictment, Pena allegedly used his position to influence the placement and retention of substantial public and pension funds at Ueno Bank, despite his previous financial ties to the lender.
Paraguay's central bank announced Tuesday that it had initiated resolution proceedings for Ueno Bank after finding that its solvency ratio had fallen to less than half the required minimum.
China marks 55th anniversary of restoration of UN lawful seat at Vienna event
The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna on Friday hosted an event to mark the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN), reflecting on China's contribution and reaffirming its commitment to the UN.
The event was attended by heads of international organizations, including the UN Office at Vienna Director-General Monica Juma, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Director General Gerd Mueller.
Nearly 200 participants, including permanent representatives and diplomats from various countries, as well as scholars from think tanks, attended the event.
Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, chaired the event. Li said that the 55 years since the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN have witnessed China's peaceful development and its contributions to the well-being of humanity, the remarkable achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and China's unwavering commitment to upholding the role of the UN and making increasingly significant contributions to the UN's cause of peace and development.
Trump offers UFC chief Dana White job of White House press secretary
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he had offered Dana White, president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the position of White House press secretary.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had asked White to bring assistants with him and named several UFC fighters.
"I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," Trump wrote. "I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country."
"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!" Trump added.
70,000 tents flooded in Gaza as civil defense declares state of maximum emergency
Gaza's civil defense authorities declared a state of maximum emergency on Saturday as a rainstorm flooded around 70,000 tents housing displaced Palestinians and overwhelmed rescue services.
The authorities said in a statement that water levels in some residential areas have reached 1.5 meters. Civil defense operations rooms had received 2,166 distress calls since the storm began, while rescue teams could only respond to 218 calls due to the overwhelming number of requests and limited resources.
The authorities called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow the entry of specialized rescue equipment and vehicles, as well as tents, plastic sheeting and mobile homes to provide emergency shelter for displaced families.
In a separate statement, the Hamas-run media office said dozens of walls had collapsed across the enclave, causing injuries of varying severity, some of them serious.■
