Middle East

Russia-China-Iran Axis: The $400 billion pact has generated both anxiety and interest in Iran, with critics of Hassan Rouhani’s government terming it a “secretive” agreement. However, Rouhani and his Cabinet colleagues have strongly come out in its defence.

The US said that it is expelling Turkey from its F-35 fighter jets programme after Ankara received the first parts of a Russian air defence system. The US says the "F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence-collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities".

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is easily the most expensive one with a whopping value of $1.6 trillion. The program intends to develop and acquire the F-35 Lightning II which will replace various other tactical aircraft including the US F-16, A-10, F/A-18A-D, AV-8B and British Harrier GR7, GR9s, and Tornado GR4.

"A fair, permanent solution on Cyprus is only possible with the acceptance of equal status for Turkish Cypriots," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a written statement.

Sultan Hashim's health deteriorates after suffering a heart attack, says official