World Echo

Israel’s Knesset approved a controversial law on Monday allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, with 62 lawmakers voting in favour, 47 against and one abstaining, according to an official Knesset voting record. A contentious bill introduced by the far-right Jewish Power party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was approved in its second and third readings in the Knesset. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favour of the bill, according to Israeli media. The bill passed its first reading in November. Critics say the bill’s scope would, in practice, apply almost exclusively to Palestinian prisoners, raising concerns over discriminatory enforcement. The vote exposed sharp divisions between the ruling coalition and opposition, including Arab parties. SOURCE: ANADOLU AGENCY The bill was heavily favoured by right-wing and religious coalition parties such as Likud (led by Netanyahu), Shas, Religious Zionism, and Jewish Power (colored in red). Centrist and l...

Heavy rain that triggered severe flooding and caused buildings to collapse has killed 22 people and injured 32 in Afghanistan over the last two days, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Monday, as it warned of continued risk due to bad weather. Most of the deaths were reported from the central and eastern provinces of the war-shattered South Asian nation, including Parwan, Maidan Wardak, Daykundi and Logar, where torrential rain triggered flash floods and caused houses to collapse in rural and mountainous regions, the authority said. Conditions remained "unstable" in parts of the country on Monday, with continued risk of further rain and flooding in some areas, it said. Also Read: Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghan Taliban resumes after Eidul Fitr pause "Twenty-two people were killed, 32 injured and 241 houses damaged in flooding and other weather-related incidents across 13 provinces over the past two days," an NDMA official...

US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Iran is sending the United States 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning. "And now, today, they gave us, as a tribute — I don't know, I can't define it exactly, but they gave us, I think out of a sign of respect, 20 boats of oil — big, big boats of oil — going through the Hormuz Strait, and that's taking place starting tomorrow morning," he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, DC. "I would only say that we're doing extremely well in that negotiation," Trump said. He added that he is "pretty sure” the US will make a deal with Iran, “but it's possible we won't.” "I do see a deal in Iran," he said, adding it "could be soon." Trump also said the US is negotiating with Iran both "directly and indirectly." Read: Trump calls Iran's current leaders 'very reasonable' as Pakistan prepares to host talks When...

Syria's assistant defence minister said Sunday that his country's forces had repelled a drone attack from neighbouring Iraq targeting one of Syria's last US military bases. "Earlier today, the US base in Qasrak, located on our territory, was attacked by four drones launched from Iraqi territory," Sipan Hamo said on X, adding that "the drones were shot down without casualties". "We hold Iraq responsible and call upon it to prevent the recurrence of attacks that threaten our stability." The attack came a day after Syria's army said it repelled another drone attack from Iraq aimed at al-Tanf, a base in the southeast which used to house US forces. Read: Iran says US planning ground attack despite diplomacy claims Earlier this week, the Syrian military said another base in the northeast was also targeted by a missile attack from Iraq, with an Iraqi official saying a local armed group was behind it. Iraq has arrested four people in connection wit...

A man has been arrested after seven people were injured when a car hit pedestrians in the central English city of Derby on Saturday night, the police said on Sunday, adding the force was "keeping an open mind" about the motive. The incident occurred at 2130 GMT. All seven people suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene before being taken to the hospital. Police said officers stopped the vehicle believed to be involved shortly after the incident and arrested the driver, a man in his 30s, who remains in custody. The man, originally from India, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. Police said their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident was ongoing. "Although we know this will be alarming, we would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public," th...

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has threatened retaliation against US university campuses in the Middle East, saying US and Israeli strikes have destroyed two Iranian universities. In a statement carried by the Fars news agency, closely linked to the IRGC, it warned that US universities in the region could be targeted unless Washington issues an official condemnation of the bombings by noon on Monday, March 30. "We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas to stay a kilometre away from campuses." 🚨 FROM NOW ON ALL UNIVERSITIES OF AMERICA IN THE REGION ARE LEGITIMATE TARGETS. "Warning to the criminal rulers of America! The zionist American invading forces have bombed Tehran University of Science and Technology, targeting Iranian universities with their bombings for the… pic.twitter.com/ECqaxb5pOm — True Promise - الوعد الصادق ✪🇮🇷 (@IRTruePromise) March 28, 2026 The statement is in respo...