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Middle East Crisis  Situation in Iran
Three sons mourn openly but new leader not seen

Three of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's sons, Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud, have been seen mourning at their father's coffin during the massive funeral ceremony in Tehran, writes Reuters. But the successor son – Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei – has not yet been seen.

On Sunday, Khamenei's coffin will be moved from the religious center where people have been able to say goodbye. On Monday, it will be carried in a procession through the capital.

According to experts, it is unlikely that Mojtaba Khamenei will appear publicly during the several-day state funeral. He has not made any public appearance since the war in Iran began in February, and there are reports that he is injured and disfigured. However, the information has not been confirmed.

Security in Europe
France loses billions following its own EU line

France pushed to exclude the UK from the EU's defence fund. But now the strategy has backfired, reports the Financial Times.

From the 150 billion euro fund – equivalent to around 1,600 billion kronor – France applied for 16.2 billion euros. According to the newspaper's information, however, the country will only receive 15.1 billion euros.

A contributing factor is that several French defence projects with links to the UK do not meet the strict rules that France itself has been involved in pushing through.

Among other things, the robot manufacturer MBDA is said to have been disqualified because the company, together with the UK, manufactures Storm Shadow robots, which are used by Ukraine, among other things.

Several other European defence companies are also dependent on British technology and expertise and are therefore not eligible for support from the fund. 

Political situation in the UK
Farage received gifts from convicted crypto profile

The British far-right leader Nigel Farage has received gifts from a convicted crypto investor for several years without reporting them. This is revealed by The Sunday Times in a major investigation.

The British financial profile George Cottrell is convicted of fraud in the US. But for several years he financed large parts of the Reform UK party leader's private life and activities. Cottrell paid for Farage's social media and security. In addition, the party leader was allowed to live in a townhouse near Buckingham Palace, which was paid for by the financial profile.

The party spokesperson confirms the information but claims that the gifts that were not reported were received before Farage became an MP in 2024. In addition, Reform believes that it has since reported the gifts from George Cottrell.

This is not the first time that the party leader's finances have come under scrutiny. He has previously been questioned for failing to report a donation of 65 million kronor from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The matter is under investigation.

Extreme weather in Europe
Fire rages in Greece – several suburbs evacuated

A grass fire rages on the outskirts of Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, reports the AP.

Around midnight local time, a 76-year-old man was arrested, suspected of having started the fire. According to the fire service, "he appeared to be sober".

So far, no homes have been damaged, but several business premises have started to burn, according to the fire service.

Residents in three of Thessaloniki's suburbs have been evacuated. About 115 firefighters, 38 fire engines, and a number of volunteer workers are trying to put out the fire.