Iran-Russia military ties
Tehran and Moscow will continue their strategic cooperation to help establish sustainable security in the region. That's according to Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri. The top general has met with senior Russian military officials during an ongoing visit to Russia. He says the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in fighting international terrorism, which has been a top concern in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and the Caucasus region. Baqeri also talked about the future arms contracts between Tehran and Moscow. The Iranian general said all these issues would be discussed in detail in a joint military commission, scheduled in three months in Tehran.
Israel expansionism
Resistance movement Hamas says the Israeli settlement projects are targeting the existence and the identity of the Palestinian population. Hamas says Palestinians will continue their resistance until the occupying forces are expelled from every inch of their territory. It added that Israel’s expansionist projects will all end in failure. Israel says construction is already underway to double the settler population in the east of the occupied West Bank. All these settlements are illegal under international law.
Massive flooding in India, Nepal
Massive flooding and landslides have left a trail of devastation in India and Nepal. Over 150 people are dead and dozens missing in both countries. The floods, triggered by incessant rains, have inundated acres of farmlands and residential areas in two Indian states, Uttara-khand in the north and Kerala in the south. Rainfall has exceeded 400 millimetres, with Indian army personnel conducting search and rescue operations in some regions. Officials in Uttara-khand have said locals are faced with a series of problems as crops have been destroyed and roads are waterlogged. In neighboring Nepal, 77 fatalities have been recorded. Dozens more remain unaccounted for. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for the coming days.