Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that the kingdom executed six Iranian men for drug smuggling, sparking strong objections from Iran at a time when the two countries are trying to mend relations.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said the six men had been caught smuggling hashish into the kingdom and were executed after an appeal was rejected by the country’s Supreme Court. It did not say when this happened.

The punishment was in line with Islamic law and aimed at protecting citizens and residents “from the scourge of drugs,” the ministry said.

In Tehran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador in protest, the official IRNA news agency said. Iran would send a delegation to Riyadh to discuss the case, the report added.

IRNA quoted ministry official Mojtaba Shasti Karimi as saying the executions contradicted the general trend of judicial cooperation. He said the Saudi action, without informing Iran ahead of time, was “not acceptable under any circumstance.”

The Middle East rivals reestablished diplomatic relations in early 2023, after seven years of tensions.

A tragic incident unfolded in the French Quarter of New Orleans, United States, on Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle ploughed into a crowded area, leaving 10 people dead and 30 others injured.

The attack occurred on Bourbon Street, a popular tourist destination when the vehicle sped through a dense crowd.

Witnesses told CBS News that the driver exited the vehicle and began shooting at pedestrians. Police returned fire, resulting in injuries to two officers during the exchange.

Anne Kirkpatrick, the New Orleans police superintendent, described the attack as “very intentional”.

“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” she said.

The incident began at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time.

Kirkpatrick noted that most of the victims appeared to be local residents, although their identities have not yet been confirmed.

The death toll and injury numbers may change as investigations continue.

The FBI has taken over the investigation. According to Althea Duncan, an FBI agent, the shooting is not classified as a terrorist attack, but improvised explosive devices were discovered at the scene.

Authorities are examining the devices to determine if they are viable. Duncan urged the public to avoid the area until further notice.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his shock over the incident, describing it as a “horrific act of violence.” He extended his condolences to the victims and praised the first responders at the scene.

The tragedy has left the city reeling as officials work to uncover the motive behind the attack and ensure public safety.

A Georgia state judge in the United States, Stephen Yekel, has reportedly taken his own life inside his courtroom.

The body of the judge was discovered in Effingham County State Court on Tuesday morning, where he is believed to have shot himself.

Yekel, 74, was found by a deputy at around 10 a.m. on what would have been his last day on the bench.

According to the Daily Mail UK, reports indicate that he may have shot himself late Monday night or early Tuesday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the incident.

Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie stated that Yekel had recently lost a bid for re-election and had attempted to resign from his position, a request that was denied by Governor Brian Kemp.

McDuffie mentioned that Yekel had sent a note to the Governor’s office regarding his resignation but did not disclose its contents.

The courtroom remains closed and is scheduled to resume normal operations on January 2. Yekel, a father of four, had a distinguished career as a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County and a practicing lawyer with over 45 years of experience.

He also served as a special agent with the state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit and worked as an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

In his resignation letter to Governor Kemp, Yekel expressed his disappointment with the low voter turnout for the election he lost, stating that the position is “too important to be decided by only 6% of eligible voters.”

However, Kemp rejected his resignation request, emphasizing the importance of respecting the will of the people of Effingham County.