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Australia: 13 Citizens Linked to Alleged ISIS Members Returning from Syria

FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
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Australia: 13 Citizens Linked to Alleged ISIS Members Returning from Syria

FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo

A group of 13 Australians related to alleged ISIS militants is returning home from Syria, Australian authorities said Wednesday, warning some will face arrest.

The four women and nine children, who had been living in Roj camp in Syria, are expected to land in Sydney and Melbourne airports on Thursday, according to local media.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he received an alert Wednesday morning when the group's travel booking was made, AFP reported.

"The government is not assisting and will not assist these individuals," he told a news conference.

"They made an appalling, disgraceful decision, if any of these individuals find their way back to Australia, if they have committed crimes, they can expect to face the full force of the law, without exception."

Police said they collected evidence in Syria as they investigated whether Australians had committed crimes under Australian law, including travelling to a prohibited area and engaging in slave trade.

"Some individuals will be arrested and charged," Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.

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Iran Says No Damage after Drone Interception near Qeshm

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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Iran Says No Damage after Drone Interception near Qeshm

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

A loud noise heard on Qeshm island in southern Iran was caused by ‌air ‌defenses intercepting small ‌drones ⁠and reconnaissance drones, the ⁠Hormozgan provincial authorities said according to the Students ⁠News Network, ‌adding that ‌no impact, ‌damage ‌or explosion had occurred.

Drone interceptions by Iranian ‌air defenses have taken place several ⁠times ⁠in recent weeks, notably over Tehran, despite a ceasefire with the US, reported Reuters.

World

Iran's Top Diplomat Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart in Beijing

(FILES) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on January 18, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
(FILES) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on January 18, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
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Iran's Top Diplomat Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart in Beijing

(FILES) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on January 18, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
(FILES) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Tehran on January 18, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi for talks in Beijing on Wednesday, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

China is a key customer for Iranian oil, defying sanctions imposed by the United States as Washington seeks to choke off revenue to Tehran, AFP reported.

Xinhua did not immediately provide more details about the talks.

Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday morning, Iranian local media reported.

"During this visit, our country's Foreign Minister will discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments with his Chinese counterpart," Fars news agency said.

Araghchi's trip comes before US President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to China on May 14-15 to see President Xi Jinping -- a trip he delayed after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday called on China to put pressure on Araghchi to loosen Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil once transited.

"I hope the Chinese tell (Araghchi) what he needs to be told, and that is that what you were doing in the straits is causing you to be globally isolated," Rubio told reporters.

World

Cuba Says Rubio Lying about Oil Blockade

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks up to the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 05 May 2026. EPA/Samuel Corum / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks up to the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 05 May 2026. EPA/Samuel Corum / POOL
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Cuba Says Rubio Lying about Oil Blockade

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks up to the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 05 May 2026. EPA/Samuel Corum / POOL
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks up to the podium in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 05 May 2026. EPA/Samuel Corum / POOL

Cuba on Tuesday accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of lying when he denied that the United States was carrying out an oil blockade on Cuba.

Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis since January, when US forces seized Venezuela president and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro and Washington threatened tariffs on countries that send crude to the communist-led island, reported AFP.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on X that Rubio "has simply chosen to lie," and that he "contradicts the President and the White House Spokesperson."

Rodriguez was responding to comments made by Rubio at the White House hours before.

"There's no oil blockade on Cuba, per se," Rubio said while guest-hosting the daily White House press briefing.

"Here's what's happening with Cuba, okay? Cuba used to get free oil from Venezuela, used to give them a bunch of free oil," Rubio said. "They would take, like, 60 percent of that oil and resell it for cash. It wouldn't even go to benefit the people."

Rubio added: "So the only blockade that's happened is the Cubans have decided, I mean, the Venezuelans have decided we're not giving you free oil anymore."

Rodriguez also denounced additional sanctions against Cuba's energy sector announced by Donald Trump on May 1.

"The Secretary knows full well the harm and suffering he is causing the Cuban people today," he added.

So far, Washington has only allowed the arrival, at the end of March, of a Russian oil tanker. According to Trump, it was a one-off shipment.