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India assures Belgium of humane jail conditions for Mehul Choksi’s extradition

India has assured Belgium that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi will be provided adequate food, 24×7 medical care and hygienic conditions at Arthur Road jail in Mumbai as part of its extradition request.

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India has given formal assurances to Belgium on the detention and medical care arrangements for fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, as part of its ongoing efforts to secure his extradition in connection with the Rs12,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Assurances on food, health and sanitation

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a detailed letter to Belgian authorities, outlined the facilities that will be made available to the 66-year-old Choksi upon his return. He will be lodged in barrack number 12 of the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, where provisions include a thick cotton mattress, pillow, bed sheet, blanket and adequate storage for personal items. A metal or wooden bed may also be provided on medical grounds.

The government further assured that Choksi will have access to round-the-clock medical facilities, clean drinking water, hygienic sanitation, and adequate food. The letter stated that cells at the jail are swept and mopped daily, with strict measures to maintain hygiene standards.

Exercise and climate considerations

Choksi, who has cited health complications including cancer, will be allowed daily time outside his cell for exercise and recreation, for over an hour. The MHA also explained to Belgium that Mumbai’s tropical climate generally does not require heating or air conditioning.

Arrest in Belgium

Choksi was arrested in Antwerp in April this year. His legal team has argued against detention citing serious health issues. India’s extradition request, coupled with these assurances, seeks to counter such claims and facilitate his return to face trial in the high-profile PNB fraud case.

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Dubai hit again within 24 hours as debris strikes building, drone targets US embassy in Baghdad

A building in Dubai’s financial hub was struck by debris from an intercepted attack while a drone targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, officials said.

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A building in the financial district of Dubai was struck by debris from an intercepted aerial attack on Friday, marking the second such incident reported in less than 24 hours as tensions continue during the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Authorities confirmed that debris from a successful interception hit the façade of a building in central Dubai. According to an official statement shared by the Dubai Media Office on social media platform X, the situation was quickly brought under control. Officials also said there was no fire and no injuries reported in the incident.

Witnesses described hearing a powerful blast in the area around the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the emirate’s busiest financial hubs. A resident living nearby told media that the sound was the loudest they had ever heard and initially feared something catastrophic had happened.

Another correspondent reported hearing a massive double explosion that shook surrounding buildings and left a cloud of black smoke hanging over the district for some time before the situation stabilised.

Drone hits US embassy complex in Baghdad

In a separate development, a drone struck the United States Embassy Baghdad in Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials. Media present near the area reported seeing smoke rising from inside the diplomatic compound after the strike.

Security sources confirmed that the drone attack directly targeted the embassy complex. Details about damage or casualties were not immediately available.

The attack occurred shortly after two strikes targeted positions linked to the Iran-backed group Kataeb Hezbollah. Security officials said the strikes killed two members of the group, including what was described as a key figure.

According to one security source, a missile hit a house used by the group at around 2:15 am local time. The source added that the strike resulted in the death of a senior member, while two others were wounded.

The incidents in Dubai and Baghdad come as the wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate into its 15th day, raising concerns about the spread of hostilities across the Middle East.

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US KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashes in Iraq amid ongoing Iran war

A US KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during the ongoing Iran war, marking the fourth American aircraft lost in the conflict, according to the US military.

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us millitary aircraft crash

The United States military has confirmed that one of its aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, marking the fourth American aircraft lost since the start of the current conflict involving Iran.

According to a statement issued by United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident involved a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. The military said one aircraft went down in western Iraq, while another aircraft linked to the situation was able to land safely.

CENTCOM clarified that the crash was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire, though details about the cause of the incident have not yet been disclosed.

Fourth US aircraft lost in the conflict

The crash makes the KC-135 the fourth American military aircraft lost since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, which started on February 28.

Earlier in the conflict, three McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by forces from Kuwait in what the US military described as friendly fire. Despite the loss of the aircraft, all six crew members from those jets managed to eject safely.

CENTCOM had earlier said the incident happened during intense combat operations that included attacks from Iranian aircraft as well as ballistic missiles and drones.

KC-135 aircraft and crew details

The KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft has been in service for more than six decades and plays a key role in extending the range and endurance of US military aircraft during operations.

Typically, the aircraft operates with a three-member crew, consisting of a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for refuelling other aircraft mid-air. However, certain missions may require a navigator, and the aircraft can carry up to 37 passengers, according to information provided by the US Air Force.

Authorities have not yet released information about the crew involved in the latest crash or whether there were casualties.

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Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new supreme leader after death of Ali Khamenei

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei amid escalating regional conflict.

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Mojtaba

Mojtaba Khamenei has been appointed the new Supreme Leader of Iran, replacing his father Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports.

The decision was taken by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member council responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader. The body said it had chosen Mojtaba Khamenei through a decisive vote, naming him the third leader of the Islamic Republic.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric with strong connections within Iran’s security establishment, had long been seen as a potential successor to his father. His influence within the powerful Revolutionary Guards and networks associated with his father’s office had made him a prominent figure in Iran’s political structure.

His appointment comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions in the region. Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes carried out during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The situation has led to rising hostilities and military exchanges in recent days.

The role of supreme leader in Iran carries ultimate authority over key state institutions, including the military, judiciary and major political decisions.

The development may further strain relations between Tehran and Washington. Donald Trump recently said the United States should have a say in who leads Iran, a remark likely to draw criticism from Iranian authorities.

Meanwhile, fighting linked to the conflict has continued across the region. Strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran have caused fires at fuel facilities, sending thick smoke into the sky and raising environmental concerns.

Iranian officials have condemned the attacks as dangerous escalation, while Israeli authorities have defended the strikes, saying the targeted facilities were connected to Iran’s military operations.

As the conflict continues, Iran’s new leadership now faces the challenge of navigating both internal political pressures and rising regional tensions.

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