International
South African Anti-Apartheid Veteran Mosiuoa Lekota Dies at 77
South African anti-apartheid activist and veteran politician Mosiuoa Lekota has died at the age of 77.
His political party confirmed that Lekota passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Further details surrounding his death were not immediately disclosed.
Lekota was a prominent figure in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and played a significant role in shaping the country’s post-apartheid political landscape. A long-time member of the African National Congress (ANC), he later broke away from the ruling party following internal disputes and co-founded the Congress of the People (COPE) in 2008.
Throughout his decades-long political career, Lekota served in several key positions, including as South Africa’s Minister of Defence and as chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. He was widely regarded as a principled leader who remained vocal about governance, accountability, and constitutional democracy even after leaving the ANC.
Born in 1948, Lekota was imprisoned during the apartheid era for his activism and later became one of the influential voices in the country’s democratic transition.
Tributes are expected from across South Africa’s political spectrum as the nation reflects on the life and legacy of a man who dedicated much of his life to the fight for freedom and democratic reform.
Iran is set to hold a multi-day farewell ceremony for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, beginning Wednesday night in the capital, Tehran, according to state media.
Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of the Islamic Propagation Council, announced that the public memorial will last three days, while details of the funeral procession will be disclosed at a later time.
Citizens will be allowed to pay their respects at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall, also known as the Mosalla, starting from 10 p.m. (1830 GMT). Officials encouraged large public participation, describing the ceremony as an opportunity for Iranians to once again demonstrate unity and national presence.
Khamenei, who led Iran for decades and anchored his leadership on strong opposition to the United States and Israel, was reportedly killed on Saturday at the age of 86 in airstrikes carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces, according to Iranian state media.
His death marks a significant turning point in Iran’s political and religious leadership, with authorities yet to formally announce further details regarding succession and burial arrangements.
The United States military on Tuesday released the identities of four of the first American service members killed in the escalating war with Iran, as officials warned that further casualties are likely amid intensifying hostilities.
The four soldiers were members of the U.S. Army Reserve and served with the 103rd Sustainment Command, based in Des Moines. They were among six U.S. military personnel confirmed dead so far in the conflict.
According to the Pentagon, the soldiers were killed on Sunday when a drone struck a U.S. military installation in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. The victims ranged in age from 20 to 42 and were part of the Army’s global logistics and supply operations.
The military identified the fallen soldiers as:
Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven
Sergeant 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue
Sergeant 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake
Sergeant Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines
Coady, who enlisted in 2023, was posthumously promoted from specialist.
In a statement, Major General Todd Erskine, commander of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, expressed his condolences, extending “my deepest sympathy and my respect” to the families and fellow service members of the deceased.
Most of the soldiers had prior overseas deployments. Khork had served in Saudi Arabia in 2018, at Guantanamo Bay in 2021, and in Poland in 2024. Amor previously deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2019. Tietjens had earlier deployments to Kuwait in 2009 and 2019.
President Donald Trump and other senior officials have cautioned that additional American military deaths could occur as Iran continues retaliatory strikes following joint U.S.-Israeli operations.
The U.S. Central Command reported Tuesday that Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones across the Middle East in response to the strikes, significantly widening the scope of the conflict.
General News
Mojtaba Khamenei Emerges as Leading Successor After Assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is alive and increasingly viewed as the frontrunner to succeed his father, according to two Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in Tehran, where fresh explosions were reported even as large crowds of mourners were expected to gather later in the day to grieve the 86-year-old leader. Khamenei was killed in what officials describe as the first assassination of a sitting national leader carried out through an airstrike. The attack, reportedly conducted by Israeli forces, also claimed the lives of his wife, another son, and several senior military and political figures when his compound was destroyed.
The United States and Israel continued sustained military operations against Iran on Wednesday. A senior U.S. commander described the campaign as being “ahead of the game plan,” signalling ongoing strategic momentum.
However, the escalating conflict has sent shockwaves through global financial markets. After initial declines, markets in Asia plunged sharply, with Seoul experiencing a record-breaking crash. Investors appeared unconvinced by assurances from the U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington would swiftly reopen key global shipping routes and facilitate the release of blockaded Middle Eastern oil and gas supplies.
According to the Iranian sources, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was not in Tehran at the time of the strike. His absence has fueled speculation about succession dynamics within Iran’s leadership structure.
Iranian authorities stated that the Assembly of Experts; the clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader will soon announce its decision on the country’s next leader. This marks only the second time since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979 that the body will select a new Supreme Leader.
Further developments are expected as Iran navigates one of the most consequential leadership transitions in its modern history.