Member of Iranian football delegation granted Australian asylum changes her mind

One of the seven women who received visas has reversed her decision after speaking to teammates, minister says

Not "unlikely" some Iranian football players pressured to return from Australia

Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women's soccer delegation slip their minders to claim asylum, but one has changed her mind and decided to go back to Iran, according to authorities. Concerns about the players' safety upon their return home ‌grew after Iranian state television labelled the team "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing the national anthem during a women's Asian ⁠Cup match in Australia. FRANCE 24's Grégory Plesse breaks down what happened from Sydney.

By FRANCE24

Two more Iranian women footballers granted asylum in Australia before dramatic last-minute reversal

One player has changed her mind at the last minute and decided to return home

By Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Iranian women's soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer, to return home

Australia to send missiles to UAE, deploy military surveillance aircraft

PM Albanese ‌said Australia would deploy one of its Boeing-manufactured E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control system aircraft ⁠for an initial four weeks to protect the airspace above the Gulf countries

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news LIVE: UAE says responding to missile and drone threats from Iran

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Wednesday that its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks. Meanwhile, the UAE’s largest oil refinery has reportedly shut down after a drone strike.

Ukraine sends drone experts to three countries in Middle East

Ukraine has sent air defence teams to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to help them in their fight against Iran’s aerial attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday. Gulf states have expended large quantities of precious air-defence missiles to counter Iran’s attack drones and have sought Ukraine’s expertise in downing them. Kyiv […]

Iranian women’s soccer team safe with Australian police after signals for help - report

The players, who were playing in the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, stood silent last week during the Iranian national anthem, which was interpreted by hardliners in Iran as a sign of treason.

Iranian women’s soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer, to return home

Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation slip their minders to claim asylum, but one has changed her mind and decided to go back to Iran, the country’s interior minister said on Wednesday. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced in parliament the squad member’s decision to return home, after five […]

By Newsroom

‘World War III is already underway’: Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak on what the new Middle East war means for Ukraine

When the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the new conflict could make it harder for Kyiv to obtain the missiles and other weapons it needs to defend its skies. At the same time, Ukraine itself is playing a role in the region: Kyiv has sent drone-defense experts to the Middle East to help U.S. allies in the Gulf protect themselves from Iranian strikes. To discuss how the two wars are connected, Meduza spoke with se...

Exclusive: Saudi Arabia prepping 'huge deal' for Ukrainian weapons amid Iranian drone threat - The Kyiv Independent

Exclusive: Saudi Arabia prepping 'huge deal' for Ukrainian weapons amid Iranian drone threat  The Kyiv Independent