Twelve years after the Islamic State's "genocide" of Yazidis in Iraq, Nadia Murad, a former sex slave of the jihadist group, said Thursday that progress towards justice remains far too slow.

IS jihadists seized large swathes of northern Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a so-called caliphate.

In August that year, the fate of the Yazidis changed dramatically when IS seized a third of Iraq, including the Kurdish-speaking minority's ancestral homeland in the Sinjar Mountains.

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions on Thursday targeting global networks supporting Mahan Air, the Iranian carrier Washington says transports Iran's Revolutionary Guards personnel, as well as weapons and drones.

The U.S. Treasury designated six entities and individuals in China, India, Russia and Iran, including several companies that act as sales agents for the U.S.- and E.U.-sanctioned airline, the department said in a statement.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Saturday he has scrapped a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup following fierce backlash from football officials worldwide.

"Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," Infantino said in a statement.

"As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

Britain's Supreme Court said on Thursday it has agreed to hear the high-profile case brought by the co-founder of activist group Palestine Action appealing against a contentious government ban which has led to thousands of arrests.

Huda Ammori has been fighting the group's prohibition by the interior ministry since it was imposed in July 2025 under the UK's Terrorism Act.

That move made membership of, or support for, the pro-Palestinian group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - The United Kingdom's Supreme Court has said it will hear an appeal against a lower court ruling that Britain's decision to ban campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was lawful.

London's Court of Appeal ruled in June that proscribing Palestine Action under terrorism laws was lawful because of its support for violence, after the High Court ruled in February that the ban unlawfully interfered with freedom of expression.

By Timour Azhari and Mohammed Ghobari

RIYADH, July 30 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia this week from Iraqi territory in coordination with Iraqi armed groups, according to assessments by Saudi Arabia and regional partners, reflecting growing coordination among Iran-aligned militias, two officials in the region said.

Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a deal announced by US President Donald Trump to end its war with Israel, which includes it handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Israel has yet to officially comment on the announcement, but a political source told AFP "that there will be no withdrawal whatsoever" from Israeli forces' current lines "unless Hamas undergoes a genuine disarmament".

By Mohamed Ezz, Marwa Rashad and Jonathan Saul

CAIRO/LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - A drone caused the fire that engulfed two gas vessels at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, the Egyptian cabinet said on Thursday, confirming that the blaze which erupted a day earlier was the result of an attack rather than an accident.

No party has claimed responsibility for the incident which happened not far from the Suez Canal that has become the last safe evacuation route for Saudi oil to global markets.

By Samia Nakhoul and Timour Azhari

BEIRUT/RIYADH, July 30 (Reuters) - As the Iran war escalates again, Gulf Arab states are looking to China - not Washington - to use its economic leverage over Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, testing how far Beijing is able and willing to pressurise Tehran.

By John Irish and Jonathan Saul

July 29 (Reuters) - Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile launchers, three sources familiar with the deal told Reuters, as it rebuilds its defences amid war with the United States.

The purchase, valued at $60-70 million, is one of Tehran's largest-known efforts to strengthen its short-range air defences since the outbreak of its war with the U.S. and Israel, which exposed gaps in Iran's ability to protect military sites and strategic infrastructure.