According to the message, Mohammed Mehdi died unexpectedly. While details regarding the precise cause and time of death remain limited at present, the family emphasises respect for privacy in this difficult moment and asks for compassion from the public and media.

The statement continues by highlighting Mohammed Mehdi’s role within his community and notes that his passing is a heavy loss for both his immediate family and the networks of acquaintances and institutions with which he was involved. Condolences have already begun arriving from religious, social and political figures across Iran.

During the mourning period, the official channel indicates that no further information will be released until authorised by the family. The message requests that any gatherings of support or commemoration be conducted with sensitivity to the family’s state of grief.

This development has prompted reflections on mortality and the suddenness with which life can change, especially within circles of public religious leadership. Observers say the announcement underlines the human side of figures whose public roles often overshadow their private lives.

The inaugural flight in this renewed service touched down at Velana International Airport at approximately 1930hrs on Friday, with 209 passengers on board.

The airline has scheduled three weekly direct flights to Male’, operating on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

To mark the occasion, Velana International Airport organized a special ceremony to welcome both the airline and its passengers. This event saw the attendance of high-ranking representatives from the Tourism Ministry and the China Embassy in the Maldives.

With the return of Hong Kong Airlines, there are now four airlines facilitating flights between China and the Maldives: China Eastern Airlines, Beijing Capital, Sichuan Airlines, and Hong Kong Airlines.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his cabinet have expressed their commitment to boosting the number of tourists from China. Before the pandemic, China was the leading country in terms of tourist arrivals to the Maldives.

The President is determined to restore China’s position as the top source of tourists for the Maldives.

Delivering a speech at the ongoing 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Uganda, VP Latheef vehemently denounced Israel’s aggressive actions against Palestinians, actions that have resulted in the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives.

VP Latheef applauded South Africa’s initiative in bringing the issue before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), advocating for a prompt judgment to classify Israel’s actions as genocide and to facilitate an immediate halt to hostilities.

He proposed seeking a lasting resolution that would establish a sovereign, independent Palestinian State within the pre-1967 boundaries, designating East Jerusalem as its capital.

Additionally, the Vice President stressed the importance of reforming the United Nations, particularly its Security Council, and highlighted the potential influence of NAM in fostering global peace and prosperity.

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan, during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, announced that these families were brought back to Male’ on a specially arranged chartered flight in the early hours of the morning.

It is estimated that over 100 Maldivians had initially fled to Syria, with around 70 believed to have perished in the ongoing conflict.

Ihusan mentioned that more than 90 Maldivian nationals, comprising widows of fighters and their children, have sought government help to return to the Maldives. These individuals were residing in camps near the Turkey-Syria border, facing inadequate access to essentials like food, clean water, healthcare, and education.

The flight transporting the 21 members of these five families arrived at the Velana International Airport (VIA) at 05:02 am on Tuesday. This group included six adults (four women and an 18-year-old man) and 15 children, with the youngest being only three years old.

Authorities conducted DNA tests to verify their nationalities and coordinated with Turkish officials for the repatriation process.

A team of 15 police officers was dispatched to Turkey on Sunday to escort the families back to the Maldives.

Upon arrival, the families were taken to the National Re-integration Center (NRC) in K. Himmafushi. Here, they will undergo a series of assessments, including rehabilitation and deradicalization programs. According to the law, they are required to remain at the NRC for a minimum of one year before they can be reintegrated into society.

Nave Shabtay Levin, a 20-year-old activist who served 115 days in jail for draft refusal until last March, commends the woman, Sofia Orr, for her courage. “It’s even braver during wartime,” he said in the outdoor setting of the cafe.

Tal Mitnick, an Israeli teenager, was recently jailed as a “conscientious objector” for refusing military service, marking the first such imprisonment since the onset of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, as reported by Mesarvot, a volunteer group.

Mesarvot members, part of the “we refuse” movement in Hebrew, have publicly vowed to emulate Mitnick’s actions, expressing dissent against the war and the occupation of Palestinian territories.

In Israel, where nationalism often peaks during wartime and military service is deeply embedded in national identity, refusing to enlist is a solitary political stance. Those who resist conscription, known as refuseniks, face being labeled traitors and receiving death threats, particularly under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.

Levin, speaking in hushed tones and constantly looking around, acknowledges the risks of openly opposing the war.

Both men and women in Israel are obligated to join the army at 18. Orr, undaunted and openly declaring her intention to refuse enlistment in February, told AFP, “My conscience won’t allow it. Fighting fire with fire is not the solution to eradicating Hamas’ ideology.”

Orr braces for a similar fate as Mitnick, who received a longer-than-usual initial 30-day jail term for his refusal to partake in what he termed a “war of revenge.”

Typically, Israeli conscientious objectors are imprisoned for up to 10 days at first, with potential for extended jail terms upon continued refusal, Mesarvot members explained to AFP. While exemptions from conscription exist for religious, medical, or ethical reasons, political grounds are not accepted.

The exact number of refuseniks is uncertain, many choosing not to go public. The army has not provided statistics on this matter.

Iddo Elam, 17, another Mesarvot volunteer planning refusal, told Sky News, “One massacre doesn’t justify another.” He refers to the heavy casualties in Gaza compared to the Israeli death toll.

Refuseniks, part of the Jewish peace advocacy, have been organizing protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, often facing confrontations with ultranationalists and police.

Despite being a minority in an increasingly right-leaning Israel, these peace advocates persist, but their impact on the large Israeli military remains minimal. Columnist Gideon Levy in Haaretz critiques the Israeli forces’ participation in the conflict as “moral blindness.”

For Orr, her resistance is a battle to maintain her humanity. The initial attack on October 7 left her angry and concerned about the repercussions on Gaza. “Extreme violence

Last week, US and British military forces, including warplanes, ships, and submarines, conducted numerous airstrikes across Yemen. This action was in retaliation for Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed rebels justify as a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, in a statement to Reuters on Monday, emphasized the group’s ongoing strategy: “We will persist in our efforts to halt Israeli ships or those bound for Israeli ports.”

Abdulsalam reiterated the group’s demands for an end to Israel’s operations in Gaza and called for humanitarian aid to reach both northern and southern regions of the besieged Palestinian territory.

He claimed that it’s not the Houthis but the United States and Britain that are increasing military presence in the Red Sea through their warships. “We continue to communicate our stance, assuring that all commercial ships in the Red and Arabian Seas are safe, except for those Israeli vessels or those heading towards Israel,” he stated.

Israel has consistently denied any connection to vessels attacked in the Red Sea, leading several international shipping companies to halt deliveries or resort to longer, more expensive routes.

Abdulsalam grounded the Houthis’ position in religious, moral, and humanitarian principles, and as a response to the Palestinian people’s plea for support in Gaza.

The US military reported that a US fighter jet downed an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis at the USS Laboon in the southern Red Sea, with no reported injuries or damage.

The Houthi rebels, engaged in nearly a decade-long war against a coalition backed by the US and Saudi Arabia, control significant parts of Yemen.

The UN Security Council, in a recent meeting, urged the Houthis to cease attacks on Red Sea shipping immediately. It implicitly supported a US-led task force protecting vessels, while cautioning against escalating regional tensions.

In his speech on Sunday, a week after Hezbollah senior commander Wissam al Tawil was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, Nasrallah asserted, “It is Israel, its army, and settlers who are afraid of war, not Lebanon.”

Nasrallah emphasized Hezbollah’s preparedness, stating, “For the past 99 days, we have been ready for conflict. If war is forced upon us, we will engage in it without any limitations or restrictions.”

He accused the Israeli army of concealing its actual casualties, predicting that Israel would face severe consequences due to the actions of the resistance in Gaza and other fronts, once hostilities cease.

The situation along the Lebanon-Israel border has become increasingly tense since the Israeli army initiated a significant military operation in Gaza in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7. This has led to the most serious clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since their full-scale war in 2006.

Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, emphasized the need for a strong global coalition to support Palestinian resistance during his video address at the Freedom for Palestine conference in Istanbul, Türkiye. He stressed that traditional methods are no longer effective in the current phase of their struggle.

Haniyeh proposed the establishment of the Freedom and Justice Alliance for Palestine, dedicated to revealing the crimes of the Israeli occupation and assisting the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom. He underscored that this alliance would also focus on ending the 17-year-long siege on Gaza.

Additionally, Haniyeh called for creating a humanitarian alliance to provide aid to Palestinians in the region.

Addressing the issue of Zionism, he clarified, “Our opposition is not against Jews, but against the Zionist movement that has occupied our land and displaced our people. We seek freedom, not war… Hamas remains dedicated to the unity of the land, the people, and our cause.”

Haniyeh described Zionism as one of the most perilous movements, marked by its unique combination of racism, animosity towards Arabs and Muslims, and its colonial nature that targets Palestinian land, people, and holy sites.

Following a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Israel claims resulted in 1,200 casualties in Israel, Israel initiated extensive air and ground assaults on Gaza.

The conflict has led to the deaths of at least 23,968 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and left 60,582 injured, according to Palestinian health officials.

The UN reports that 85 percent of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, facing severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies, while 60 percent of the area’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Prime Minister James Marape has committed to reinstating order following the violent protests in Port Moresby on Wednesday night, which saw the looting of stores, destruction of property, and arson incidents.

In response to the chaos, Marape declared a 14-day state of emergency in the capital on Thursday, vowing that those responsible for the “lawlessness” would face consequences.

To enhance security, 1,000 troops were readied, leading to the reopening of various businesses such as banks, fuel stations, and supermarkets starting Friday.

Port Moresby’s inhabitants noticed a marked improvement in the situation. “Businesses have resumed, gas stations are operational, and public transport is functional. There’s a renewed sense of tranquility,” shared Maho Laveil, a local resident and economics professor.

Laveil observed a noticeable increase in police and military personnel in the city, especially during the night.

The initial spark for the violence in Port Moresby was a strike by a coalition of soldiers, police officers, and prison guards, prompted by unexplained deductions in their salaries. The turmoil quickly escalated as dissatisfied civilians joined in and spread to Lae, situated about 300 kilometers north.

By Friday, police and health authorities reported that the death toll in both cities had reached at least 16.

Acknowledging the legitimate grievances of the security forces, Marape assured that the government would rectify what it termed a payroll “error.” However, he firmly stated that any form of “lawlessness and recklessness” would not be excused.

Referring to a similar incident in 2018 involving a pay dispute that led to security personnel vandalizing the nation’s parliament, Marape emphasized, “Enough is enough. This behavior must stop.”