UAE Declares 40-Day Mourning As President Dies - Newstrends
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UAE Declares 40-Day Mourning As President Dies

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President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates (UAE) is dead.

The state news agency WAM reported this on Friday morning.

“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE and the Islamic world… on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Friday, May 13,” WAM said.

Commenting on the tragic news, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said UAE lost a righteous son and leader.

The ministry announced 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from Friday, with work suspended in the public and private sector for the first three days.

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Sheikh Khalifa took over as the UAE’s second president in November 2004.

He succeeded his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Under the constitution, vice-president and premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, would act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president.

Khalifa, born in 1948, had rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2014 and his half-brother Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, known as MbZ, has been the de facto ruler of the U.S.-allied UAE, an OPEC oil producer.

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Entertainment

Shimmer and Style: Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Colman Domingo Light Up the Emmys Red Carpet

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Shimmer and Style: Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Colman Domingo Light Up the Emmys Red Carpet

From custom metallics to soft pastels and playful statuette cosplay, television’s top stars bring high fashion to Los Angeles

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China Denies Supplying Iran Intelligence Linked to Attack That Killed US Troops

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China Denies Supplying Iran Intelligence Linked to Attack That Killed US Troops

China Denies Supplying Iran Intelligence Linked to Attack That Killed US Troops

China has rejected as “groundless” reports that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile attack that killed three American troops in July.

The denial followed a report by The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed US officials as saying that Iran obtained high-resolution satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed, from Chinese entities.

The July 17 Iranian missile attack on the base killed three US Army soldiers and injured four others, according to US officials cited in the report.

The US officials reportedly linked the satellite imagery to the Iranian attack but did not identify the Chinese entities involved. Importantly, the report did not accuse the Chinese government of directly ordering, coordinating or facilitating the strike.

Chinese officials have rejected the allegation and demanded evidence, maintaining that Beijing complies with international law and opposes what it described as unfounded accusations.

The development has nevertheless raised fresh questions in Washington over the growing strategic relationship between China and Iran, particularly amid the wider US-Iran conflict and continuing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The report said the satellite images were obtained before and after the attack, potentially giving Iran detailed information about the military facility and helping it assess the impact of its strikes.

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US officials have previously expressed concern about China’s technological and satellite-related links with Iran. Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies in May over allegations that they supported Iran’s military operations.

The latest report has intensified scrutiny of the role of commercial and private Chinese entities in providing technology or imagery that could potentially enhance Iran’s military capabilities.

However, US President Donald Trump has sought to play down the significance of the latest allegations.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump was asked whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their expected meeting in the United States.

Rather than directly addressing whether Beijing should be held responsible, Trump compared Chinese intelligence-gathering activities with those of the United States.

Trump also maintained that he has a good relationship with Xi, saying the Chinese leader had behaved reasonably well and that Washington and Beijing had likewise conducted themselves reasonably.

The comments come as the United States and China attempt to manage several areas of tension, including trade, technology, national security and China’s relationship with Iran.

The allegations are particularly sensitive because the reported transfer of imagery occurred before an attack that resulted in the deaths of American service members.

The Iran missile strike in Jordan was part of the broader conflict involving Iran and the United States, which has increasingly drawn in regional actors and raised concerns about the security of American military personnel and facilities across the Middle East.

The Wall Street Journal report, according to Reuters, could not immediately be independently verified. It also did not establish that Chinese authorities themselves provided the imagery or that Beijing had prior knowledge of the Iranian attack.

The distinction is significant because evidence that individual Chinese companies or entities supplied commercial satellite imagery would not, by itself, establish direct involvement by the Chinese government.

The controversy comes ahead of a potential meeting between Trump and Xi, with the two leaders expected to meet in the United States on September 24, although Beijing had not officially confirmed the meeting as of Monday.

China’s denial and Trump’s decision to downplay the allegation could help prevent the issue from becoming a major diplomatic confrontation ahead of the anticipated meeting.

For now, the central question remains whether Chinese commercial entities provided the imagery to Iran and, if so, what information was transferred and whether it materially contributed to the Iranian operation that killed the three US troops.

The allegations are likely to remain under scrutiny as Washington assesses the extent of Chinese support for Iran and its possible implications for US military operations in the Middle East.

China Denies Supplying Iran Intelligence Linked to Attack That Killed US Troops

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International

‘Completely False’ — Moreno Denies Using AI to Prepare Games

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Robert Moreno has begun his interim tenure as South Korea’s coach with a denial of one of the more unusual controversies attached to his coaching career, claims that he used ChatGPT to help prepare his teams for matches.

The Spanish coach, who arrived in South Korea this weekend, was asked about the allegation as he began work with the national side.

Moreno was accused by Russian media earlier this year of heavily relying on artificial intelligence during his spell at Sochi, where he left in September 2025 following a poor run of results.

He has consistently rejected the claim.

Moreno said the reports were “completely false” and argued that his use of technology had been misrepresented.

His explanation comes as he takes over a South Korean side attempting to recover from a turbulent World Cup campaign. The team crashed out in the group stage, leading Hong Myung-bo to resign and leaving the Korea Football Association under pressure over both the team’s performance and its previous recruitment process.

The KFA appointed Moreno as a temporary replacement rather than immediately committing to a permanent coach. He is expected to lead the team through six international matches, beginning with September and October friendlies against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela and Uzbekistan.

His first squad includes veteran captain Son Heung-min, who now plays for Los Angeles FC, as well as Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae.

Moreno said he wants his tenure to be about more than results, with the immediate goal of rebuilding the relationship between the national team and its supporters.

I want to make Korean football fans happy,” he said.

For now, however, the AI controversy remains part of the baggage surrounding his appointment, something Moreno appears keen to put behind him as he begins the task of rebuilding South Korea’s national team.

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