MOSCOW, July 1 – A Russian Su-34 fighter jet crashed Tuesday in the Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow during a training flight, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Both crew members ejected from the plane which crashed in a deserted area with no destruction on the ground, the ministry said in a statement.
The incident took place at around 1:00 p.m. Moscow Time (1000 GMT) due to the exhaust system failure of one of the plane’s landing gear struts, it added.
XINHUA
OVIEDO, Spain – Spanish steelmaker Sidenor announced Tuesday that it will halt all trade with Israel, according to local media reports.
Last month, Irish publication The Ditch reported that the company had shipped 1,207 tons of steel bars to Israeli weapons manufacturer IMI Systems over a 10-month period starting last August.
The Basque-based company, one of Europe’s largest specialized steelmakers, will now end all sales to Israel, according to Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser.
Sidenor said the economic impact of the decision is minor, with Israel accounting for less than 0.5% of its total sales.
It added that the move aligns with the Spanish government’s call to cease trade with Israel.
“Sidenor gave in to social pressure,” Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs Pablo Bustinduy said on the social media platform Bluesky.
He added that he was still waiting for the head of Spain’s business confederation to respond to the government’s request to “sever all ties between Spanish companies and the occupation, apartheid and genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Spain’s government has said it suspended all arms trade with Israel since its onslaught in Gaza began, although reports have revealed that some contracts remain active.
Spain has been one of the most outspoken critics in Europe of the Israeli offensive, which has killed more than 56,600 people and left hundreds of thousands on the brink of starvation.
Last year, Spain moved to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized the EU for failing to suspend its trade agreement with Israel, despite “flagrant violations” of its article on human rights.
ANADOLU, 1.7.2025
ISTANBUL – France formally returned a military base in Senegal’s western city of Rufisque on Tuesday after withdrawing troops, according to a statement from the French Embassy in Senegal.
The handover is part of the ongoing withdrawal process of the French forces in Senegal, following the return of the Marechal and Saint-Exupery military sites on March 7 and the Contre-Amiral Protet base at the port of Dakar on May 15.
The embassy said the remaining military facilities will be returned by the end of July 2025 as scheduled by both parties.
It said the handover was under the May 16 decision of a joint commission and the 2012 military cooperation treaty between Paris and Dakar.
As announced in a joint communique on February 12, the Franco-Senegalese commission met on May 16 to review the schedule for returning the last French military facilities to the West African nation.
France’s military presence in Africa has been steadily declining in recent years as several nations push out its forces, and the country has announced plans to sharply reduce its footprint, leaving Djibouti as its only expected permanent base on the continent.
French troops have withdrawn from Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast.
Paris said it may provide defense training or targeted military support based on requests by individual nations.
ANADOLU, 1.7.2025
The Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced on Tuesday evening a series of military operations against Israeli targets in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that the YAF’s Rocket Force launched a top-tier operation targeting al-Lydd Airport, also known as Ben Gurion Airport, in occupied Yafa using a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile.
The operation successfully hit its target, resulting in the fleeing of millions of Israeli settlers to shelters and the complete halt of airport operations, Saree confirmed.
Drone strikes against sensitive Israeli targets
Simultaneously, Saree mentioned that the YAF’s UAV unit executed three military operations targeting sensitive Israeli sites in Yafa, Askalan, and Umm al-Rashrash, using three drones.
The spokesperson reiterated that the latest operations come in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and their Resistance fighters and in retaliation for the ongoing genocidal crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Gaza Strip.
He added that these strikes come as part of Yemen’s sustained support for Gaza and its categorical rejection of the genocidal war being waged against its people.
The Yemeni Armed Forces reaffirm that this Ummah will not abandon its responsibilities toward the oppressed Palestinian people, Saree affirmed, underscoring that the YAF will continue their operations until the Israeli war on Gaza ceases and the siege imposed on the enclave is lifted.
‘Israel’ confirms missile launch from Yemen
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reported that a ballistic missile was launched from Yemen toward occupied Palestine, prompting the activation of air raid sirens in the occupied al-Quds and the Shephelah areas.
The Israeli occupation military confirmed in a statement that its air defense systems were activated to intercept the missile launched from Yemen.
53 Yemeni missiles launced since resumption of war on Gaza
According to a correspondent from the Israeli Army Radio, Yemen has launched approximately 53 ballistic missiles toward “Israel” since the resumption of the war on Gaza nearly three and a half months ago.
AL MAYADEEN, 1.7.2025
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the arrest of 50 Mossad agents over the past two weeks in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.
On Tuesday, the IRGC confirmed confiscating weapons and military ammunition, including American-made equipment that was in the possession of the detainees.
The IRGC revealed that these agents were planning to carry out acts of sabotage targeting the country’s infrastructure and economic centers.
Since the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13, Iranian authorities have continued to crack down on agents and spies across various provinces.
Iranian police foil ammunition smuggling attempt in Pol-e Dokhtar, arrest three
In a related context, police in Lorestan Province, Western Iran, have dismantled a smuggling ring involved in transporting a large cache of military ammunition, confiscating over 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov bullets and arresting three suspects in the city of Pol-e Dokhtar.
Brigadier General Yahya Elahi, police chief of Lorestan, announced on Tuesday that the operation was launched after police intelligence units flagged suspicious activity involving two vehicles on one of the region’s highways.
Officers attempted to intercept the vehicles, but the drivers tried to flee. Police forces responded by disabling the vehicles through gunfire, successfully apprehending all three occupants.
Over 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov ammo seized
A thorough search of the vehicles revealed more than 22,000 rounds of Kalashnikov ammunition. Authorities suspect the shipment was part of a broader arms trafficking network operating within Iran.
According to Brigadier General Elahi, the suspects had loaded the ammunition in Iran’s western provinces and intended to smuggle it to the southern regions of the country.
The case is currently under further investigation to determine the full scope of the operation and identify additional collaborators.
Iran thwarted Israeli attempts to undermine domestic security, judiciary spokesperson says
On Monday, Iranian Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated that the Israeli occupation had attempted to undermine domestic security through a network of hostile operatives and spies, aiming to sow chaos and carry out acts of sabotage alongside military strikes.
Jahangir stressed that these plots were thwarted thanks to the decisive measures taken by judicial and security agencies.
He added that urgent orders were issued to establish special judicial branches across provinces to prosecute traitorous elements and to begin tracking virtual accounts linked to the Israeli occupation, in coordination with the relevant security bodies.
AL MAYADEEN, 1.7.2025
ISTANBUL – At least 56,647 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday.
A statement said that 116 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, with 463 people injured, taking the number of injuries to 134,105 in the Israeli onslaught.
“Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.
Israel resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 6,315 victims and injured 22,064, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.
ANADOLU, 1.7.2025
ISTANBUL – The US said on Monday that it may remove the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group from its terror list, following the lifting of sanctions on post-Assad Syria.
According to a statement, the US State Department announced it will review the terror designation of HTS and consider fully suspending the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, in line with a directive by US President Donald Trump.
It will also review the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designations of HTS and Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as Syria’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, while exploring further sanctions relief through the UN.
“Today’s actions mark the beginning of a new chapter for the people of Syria as they work to shape a future that is safe, stable, and successful,” the statement said.
The White House said on Monday that Trump signed an executive order to terminate the US sanctions program on Syria.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the move aims to support Syria’s “path to stability and peace.”
In May, Trump announced at an investment forum in Riyadh that he would lift the “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria. A day later, he held a landmark meeting with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia – the first meeting between the US and Syrian leaders in 25 years.
Bashar Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups captured Damascus on Dec. 8 in a swift offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
ANADOLU, 1.7.2025
NEW DELHI – At least 41 people have died in two separate explosions in southern India, at a pharmaceutical plant and firework factory, officials said Tuesday.
The death toll from a fire which broke out due to a suspected explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in the Telangana state rose to 36, according to a senior fire official.
The incident took place at a unit of Sigachi Industries in the Sangareddy district of Telangana.
“36 bodies have been recovered from the debris,” Nageswara Rao, a fire department official said.
The fire caused part of a building to collapse, trapping workers under the debris.
The state government has put together a high-powered committee to “review and investigate the mishap and its underlying causes.”
“A panel has been tasked with submitting recommendations on preventing such accidents in the future,” said a Monday night statement by the chief minister’s office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was “anguished” by the loss of lives. He also announced compensation for the relatives of the deceased and the injured.
In a separate incident, at least five people died in an explosion in a firework factory in the southern Tamil Nadu state.
A fire official in the state’s Virudhunagar district told Anadolu that five workers were killed in the blast at a firecracker factory in the Sivakasi area.
ANADOLU, 1.7.2025
JERUSALEM, July 1 – More than one-third of businesses in Israel reported a sharp drop in revenue due to the recent 12-day conflict with Iran, according to a new survey issued by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
The survey, titled “Struggles of Business During the Israel-Iran War,” found that approximately 35 percent of businesses experienced a revenue decline of more than 50 percent in June.
Only 17 percent of businesses said they did not expect any impact on their revenue for the month.
The food and beverage industry was hit hardest, with about bout 65 percent of businesses expecting severe revenue losses, compared to just 11 percent in the hi-tech and financial sectors.
The conflict also led to a significant drop in employment across many businesses. Between June 23 and 25, when the survey was conducted, 35 percent reported reducing their workforce by more than 80 percent, with some reporting a complete suspension of operations.
The food and beverage industry was still the most affected, with around 70 percent of businesses operating with less than 20 percent of their usual workforce, while only 12 percent of high-tech and financial companies reported such a drop in staffing levels.
According to the survey, the main causes of disruption included security-related closures, employee absences, decreased demand, transportation and supply issues, and school closures.
The survey was based on responses from 1,840 companies, representing 66,936 businesses that cover 2.14 million jobs in the Israeli private sector.
Israel launched a series of major airstrikes on June 13 targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, and injuring many others.
Iran retaliated with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage.
A ceasefire between the two countries was reached on June 24, ending 12 days of fighting.
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ZHENGZHOU, July 1 – Two people have died and six others are still missing following torrential rains in Xixia County in the city of Nanyang, central China’s Henan Province, the local emergency response headquarters said Tuesday.
Torrential downpours with total precipitation of 225.3 mm in two townships triggered a sudden surge in the water level in the downstream of a local river on Monday, damaging infrastructure and leaving some residents trapped.
Following the flooding, rescue efforts were immediately implemented, with two people successfully rescued.
Further search and rescue efforts are underway in the quest to locate the missing individuals.
XINHUA