ANKARA: Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Monday, including the Iranian government convening an emergency meeting following the death of its president in a helicopter crash and William Lai Ching-te taking office as Taiwan’s 8th president.
TOP STORIES
Iran government holds emergency meeting after president’s death in helicopter crash
The Iranian government early Monday morning held an emergency meeting following the announcement of the death of the country’s head of the state in a helicopter crash, the state-run news agency reported.
‘The Iranian government has held an emergency meeting following the news that the wreckage of a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi was found in a remote region in Iran’s northwest,’ the IRNA news agency said.
William Lai Ching-te begins term as Taiwan’s 8th President
William Lai Ching-te began his term as Taiwan’s eighth president after taking the oath of office early Monday, succeeding the island nation’s only woman chief executive, Tsai
Ing-wen.
Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s former representative to the US, was also sworn in as vice president.
China despises Tsai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which lost its majority in the regional legislative assembly to the opposition Kuomintang. Beijing has also called Lai a “dangerous separatist.”
Saudi King Salman being treated for lung infection: State news agency
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been diagnosed with a lung infection and is undergoing treatment involving antibiotics, the Saudi Royal Court announced late Sunday.
‘After undergoing a medical examination at the Royal Clinics at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has been diagnosed with lung inflammation,’ the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a Royal Court statement.
NEWS IN BRIEF
At least 35,456 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip since last Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said on Sunday.
France launched a large-scal
e operation on Sunday with more than 600 gendarmes in New Caledonia, a colony 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) from its territory, to suppress the incidents initiated by the local people in response to the granting of voting rights to French citizens.
The government media office in Gaza said on Sunday that Israel’s closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings for the 13th consecutive day is preventing 3,000 aid trucks from entering the strip and 690 patients from seeking treatment abroad.
The Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, has run out of service amid ongoing Israeli attacks, the Palestinian Civil Defense Service said on Sunday.
SPORTS
Manchester City win English Premier League title
Manchester City beat West Ham United 3-1 on Sunday to win the English Premier League for the fourth time in a row.
In the second minute, Manchester City broke the deadlock with a long-range finish from Phil Foden, assisted by Bernardo Silva at Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City doubled the lead aft
er English winger Foden scored a left-foot goal in the penalty area in the 18th minute, Jeremy Doku assisted him.
ECONOMY
China leaves benchmark lending rates unchanged as forecast
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) kept benchmark lending rates constant at record lows on Monday, meeting the market forecast.
The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) – the medium-term lending facility used for most corporate and household loans – was held at 3.45% while the five-year LPR, the peg for mortgages, was left at 3.95%
Azerbaijan, Iran inaugurate Giz Galasi hydroelectric complex on Aras River
Azerbaijan and Iran on Sunday inaugurated the Giz Galasi hydroelectric complex located on the Aras River that runs between the two countries.
The ceremony, which also commissioned the Khudafarin hydroelectric complex, was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on the border between the two countries.
Source: Anadolu Agency