First Thing: Iran’s president and foreign minister dead in helicopter crash

Good morning.

Iran has declared five days of mourning after its president, Ebrahim Raisi, and foreign minister, Hossein Amir-abdollahian, died in a helicopter crash near the border with Azerbaijan.

The governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards, were also killed in the crash in fog-covered mountains, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. The incident happened near Jolfa, a city about 375 miles north-west of Tehran.

• What is Iran’s leader saying? The country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who holds ultimate power – told Iranians that “no disruption will occur in Iran’s state affairs”.

• What does it mean for the country? Raisi had been considered a possible successor to Khamenei – now, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could potentially take his place.

• What will happen now? Iran’s first vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber, will take over presidential duties, according to its constitution, and presidential elections should be organized within 50 days.

Trump lawyers to launch final blows at Michael Cohen in hush-money trial

Donald Trump’s lawyers are expected on Monday to resume attacking the credibility of Michael Cohen, the ex-lawyer and longtime Trump ally who facilitated the $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The defense team last week attempted to undermine his testimony – which is key to the case – and had him affirm that the payment was part of a legitimate settlement agreement. It also accused him of having a track record of lying to suit his interests.

Trump’s lead defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, suggested that Cohen may lie in his trial testimony in order to see Trump jailed, in revenge for the ex-president ditching him after he was charged with felony tax evasion and false statements six years ago.

It is expected to be Cohen’s final day of testimony, after which the prosecution is likely to rest its case.

• Will Trump testify in his defense? It’s uncertain, though he has suggested he wants to.

• When will the jury begin deliberations? If Trump does not testify, Tuesday could see closing arguments and the jury could begin deliberating on Thursday, as the court is not in session on Wednesdays.

Biden asks what Trump would have done if the Capitol riots had been led by Black Americans

Joe Biden has hit out at Donald Trump’s record of racism, asking whether the former US president would have reacted differently to the Capitol riots if they had been led by Black Americans.

Biden made the remarks at a dinner hosted by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in Detroit – a city in a crucial swing state. “Let me ask you. What do you think he would have done on January 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol?” Biden said. The question was met with gasps and murmurs.

It suggests an escalating fight between Biden and Trump for African American voters ahead of November’s election. On the same day, Biden made his pitch to Black voters at Sunday’s 140th commencement at Morehouse College, a historically black men’s college in Atlanta – another swing state city – where he vowed to continue fighting “the poison of white supremacy”.

In other news …

• France’s defence and security council will meet on Monday to discuss the deadly riots in the Pacific territory of New Caledonia, which was declared to be in a state of emergency last week.

• Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has called on China to “cease their political and military intimidation” against the country during her inauguration speech.

• Environmentalists are fighting to save a lonely beluga whale from a Seoul mall where she has been trapped for a decade, now alone in a tiny tank after other whales in the aquarium died.

• Sean “Diddy” Combs has admitted to punching and kicking his ex-girlfriend in 2016 after CNN published footage of the attack. The rap mogul said he was “truly sorry” and labelled his actions “inexcusable”.

The G7 will discuss this week in Italy whether Ukraine can be lawfully loaned an extra €30bn using the €270bn in seized Russian state assets. The plan is backed by the US and the funds would go to aid Ukraine’s reconstruction or pay for vital arms.

Don’t miss this: Harmony Korine on tap dancing, mowing lawns, and whether life is a simulation

Even at 51, it’s fair to call him an enfant terrible. Harmony Korine, who made his name with the controversial movies Kids and Gummo, speaks to the Guardian’s Tim Jonze about his vision of the world, not being interested in delivering messages with his work, and how after burning out he spent a period mowing lawns and delivering flowers.

Climate check: why are experts concerned about Jeff Bezos’s $10bn Earth fund?

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Earth Fund aims to donate $10bn of his $200bn personal fortune to organizations tackling the climate emergency and biodiversity loss by 2030. It has already given away $2bn – but experts are wary, with concerns over greenwashing and the influence it can buy.

Last Thing: Can Uggie boogie? The Artist hits the stage

The Artist – a black-and-white French movie set in the silent era, with only a few words of dialogue – was a surprise hit in 2012. Now it’s hitting the stage – but can a silent movie work as a play? It adapts the script and adds new characters, but the 2012 movie’s director, Michel Hazanavicius, warned when the idea was first pitched: “All anyone will care about is the dog.”

Sign up

First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com