News in brief

By The Associated Press

Iran marks the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution

TEHRAN, Iran | Iran has marked the 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution amid tensions gripping the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Iranians marched Sunday through major streets and squares decorated with flags, balloons and banners with revolutionary and religious slogans.

In Tehran, crowds waved Iranian flags, chanted slogans, and carried placards with the traditional “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” written on them. Some burned U.S. and Israeli flags, a common practice in pro-government rallies. The anniversary came a month after a deadly attack by the extremist Islamic State group in the central city of Kerman left at least 95 people dead.

Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized

WASHINGTON | Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue.” In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. Sunday.

While Austin initially was set to retain the “functions and duties of his office,” at about 5 p.m. Sunday he transferred those authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. As of Sunday evening, he remained hospitalized, said Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. According to the Pentagon, Austin traveled to the hospital with the unclassified and classified communications systems needed to perform his job.

—From AP reports