In Iran, the government steps up repression as executions surge
These two executions brought the total number of people killed in the first half of the year to at least 612 men and women, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. That is twice as many as during the same period in 2024 (with 297 executions). At least 48 people are currently being held on death row in Iran, according to the UN.
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Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
France, Germany and allies warn of growing Iranian intelligence plots
France, Germany and other NATO allies, as well as Austria, are accusing Iran of a growing number of intelligence threats, including a surge in kidnapping and assassination plots, across Europe and North America. 'We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty,' the joint statement released on Thursday said. 'These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America," it noted. France, Germany, the US, the UK, and other NATO allies, including Albania, Belgium, Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden signed the statement. Non-NATO member Austria, home to the UN nuclear watchdog headquarters, also signed. While the statement did not point to a specific incident, the signatures called on Iran 'to immediately put an end to such illegal activities in (their) respective territories.' The US and the UK have previously warned of Tehran-backed plots on their soil. Just last month, the UK Intelligence Committee reported 15 murder and kidnap attempts against its citizens and residents between January 2022 and August 2023. Iran's embassy in London had denied the allegations, calling them "unfounded, politically motivated and hostile." "Such accusations are not only defamatory but also dangerous, fuelling unnecessary tensions and undermining diplomatic norms," the embassy said in a statement.
AFP
2 days ago
- AFP
Edited video features fabricated audio of Trump 'criticising corrupt Philippine officials'
The video was shared on Facebook on July 15, where it was viewed 219,000 times. It features Trump speaking into a microphone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio standing behind him. The US President appears to be saying: "Beautiful people of the Philippines, your country is being robbed by corrupt politicians. They steal your money, betray your trust and sell out your future." The audio continues over footage of an incorrect Philippines' flag -- its red and blue fields have been inverted -- and various nature scenes, with Trump apparently urging Filipinos to "demand justice and take back your nation". The caption reads: "Philippines robbed by corrupt politicians. - Trump." Image Screenshot of the false post taken on July 29, 2025, with the red X mark added by AFP The same video circulated elsewhere on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok Many users appeared to believe the circulating video of Trump was genuine. "Are we not ashamed by what he said?" said one user in Tagalog. "Our politicians are so embarrassing. They chose to be mum about what Trump just said about them," another user said. Though Transparency International, an organisation that monitors corruption worldwide, ranked the Philippines 114 out of 180 countries on its Corruption Perception Index, Trump did not give a speech accusing Filipino officials of being corrupt (archived link). Keyword searches on Google did not find any official reports of Trump making such comments (archived link). Reverse image searches on Google using keyframes from the video found it corresponds to Trump's speech on June 22 announcing US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, published by AFP on YouTube (archived link). The description states Trump announced the attacks after its ally Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran on June 13. The altered clip has been mirrored but Rubio's head movements and Trump's expressions match the AFP video's 44-second mark. Trump in fact says: "Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror." Image Screenshot comparison of the false video (left) and the AFP video of Trump's speech (right) The circulating clip also bears signs of manipulation, such as the audio not matching with Trump's mouth movements.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
Western allies warn of growing Iranian intelligence threats
The United States and many of its NATO allies, as well as Austria, are accusing Iran of a growing number of intelligence threats, including a surge in kidnapping and assasination plots, across Europe and North America. 'We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty,' the joint statement released on Thursday said. 'These services are increasingly collaborating with international criminal organizations to target journalists, dissidents, Jewish citizens, and current and former officials in Europe and North America," it noted. The statement was signed the United States, Britain, France and 11 other NATO allies, including Albania, Belgium, Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden. Non-NATO member Austria, home to the UN nuclear watchdog headquarters, also signed. While the statement did not point to a specific incident, the signatures called on Iran 'to immediately put an end to such illegal activities in [their] respective territories.' The United States and the United Kingdom have previously warned for Tehran-backed plots on their soil. Just last month, the UK Intelligence Committee reported 15 murder and kidnap attempts against its citizens and residents between January 2022 and August 2023. Iran's embassy in London had denied the allegations, calling them "unfounded, politically motivated and hostile." "Such accusations are not only defamatory but also dangerous, fuelling unnecessary tensions and undermining diplomatic norms," the embassy said in a statement.
