Kushner meets Hamas leaders to push Gaza demilitarization

CAIRO, Aug 16: President Trump's envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday to press them to carry out their commitment to disarm, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

This was Kushner's first meeting with Hamas leaders since the signing of the agreement to end the war in Gaza last October.

The unusual meeting came as the White House and Trump's Board of Peace push both Hamas and Israel to move to the next phase of the U.S. 20-point peace plan.

Kushner is expected to visit Israel on Monday and meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "corresponding steps" Israel must take, the source said.

Board of Peace high representative Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who is also a member of the board joined Kushner in the meeting.

Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya attended alongside Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi and a senior Turkish official.

A source with knowledge of the meeting said the objective was "translating" Hamas' obligations to demilitarize Gaza "into concrete, verifiable steps."

The source said these steps to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza include transferring governing authority to the Palestinian technocratic government and ensuring Hamas has no role in Gaza's future governance.

The Board of Peace wants Hamas to begin decommissioning weapons and military infrastructure, allow the International Stabilization Force to deploy and facilitate Gaza's recovery and reconstruction without theft or intimidation of Palestinians involved in the efforts, the source said.

The board also wants Israel to conduct "corresponding withdrawals" in Gaza if Hamas starts disarming and to accelerate humanitarian relief to the enclave.

Hamas must relinquish governing authority and all weapons and military infrastructure. And Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel," the source said.

Bangladesh Lists 2 Riders For PM Rahman's India Visit. One Is Hasina Return

DHAKA, Aug 16: Bangladesh said on Sunday that its Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's proposed visit to India is unlikely to go ahead unless New Delhi moves ahead with the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives wanted by Dhaka.

According to a statement from the Bangladeshi foreign ministry, officials from both countries have been in contact for several weeks about the possibility of a bilateral visit by Rahman to New Delhi,

Bangladesh foreign ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim said that the discussions had been affected by a public interaction involving Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

"We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for the visit," Karim said.

"To this end, we have requested the Indian authorities to expeditiously act on our request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals, and to hand over to Bangladesh the accused killers of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi in compliance with our bilateral extradition treaty. We are awaiting their response."

Two people, accused of killing political activist Osman Hadi, were arrested by the special task force (STF) of the West Bengal police from the border town of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district in March.

"We reiterate that we will continue to pursue our 'Bangladesh First' policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including our neighbours, on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual benefit," the statement continued.

Bangladesh said the process surrounding Rahman's possible visit had been "vitiated" by Hasina's open press interaction in New Delhi, despite her conviction by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity. The Centre made it clear that the press conference involving Hasina and Bangladeshi officials had nothing to do with the Indian government.

India has previously said that its extradition request from Bangladesh concerning Hasina remains "under examination".

Hasina was removed from power in August 2024 after a student-led uprising that grew into an anti-government movement. After her government fell, she fled to India, where she has remained.

6.9-Magnitude Quake Strikes Indonesia, Hours After Deadly Tremor Killed 47

JAKARTA, Aug 15: A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's western Sumatra island late Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, the second tremor to hit the vast Southeast Asian nation in a day. It came hours after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed 47 in the country.

The epicentre was located at Pematangsiantar, about 126 kilometres (78 miles) southeast of the island's capital Medan. The quake stuck at a depth of 183 kilometres, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 47 people, collapsing buildings and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes. Authorities said dozens more residents were injured and warned that the death toll would almost certainly rise.

Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but later lifted the warning when Indonesia’s meteorological agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that posed a threat to coastal communities. Some smaller tsunamis were reported.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit eastern Indonesia’s Flores region at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles) at 5:58 am local time. Its epicentre was 68 km (42 miles) north-northwest of the city of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube river flow drops

BUCHAREST, Aug 13: Romania shut down its only nuclear plant on Thursday, in a rare move due to drought that has caused the Danube river, whose waters cool the plant, to fall to record lows.

Much of Europe is facing a new summer heatwave amid a drought that has driven rivers to historic lows.

The Cernavoda plant, which usually generates a fifth of Romania's electricity, has been shut down just once before, in 2003, also due to drought.

The Nuclearelectrica company had already shut one of the plant's two 700 megawatt reactors last month, and announced Thursday that it needed to shut the second "due to the significant and ongoing drop in the water level of the River Danube".

"We do not foresee a restart within the next 10 days," plant director, Romeo Urjan, told AFP.

To avert a complete shutdown of the reactors, the nuclear company had budgeted more than two million euros to divert the Danube's flow to maintain the cooling of the reactors, including blowing up a rock and sinking four barges filled with rocks into the river.

Alternative power sources, including from wind power as well as electricity imports, are expected to ensure adequate supplies, the energy ministry said Wednesday.

But it also reiterated an appeal for "responsible consumption".

It has warned that as a last resort, large industrial users would have to face restrictions in the evening hours to save electricity.

In early August, the government said carmakers Dacia and Ford would pause production in the country until August 19 to help with the power deficit.

Nearly two-thirds of the Danube has seen flow rates that are the lowest on record for a month of July in 34 years, according to an analysis published Monday by the European climate change observatory Copernicus.

The drought has hit nuclear power providers across Europe.

France, which uses nuclear power to generate around 70 percent of its electricity, recorded a more than 20 percent shortfall in atomic production capacity this week, a record deficit caused by outages linked to drought, extreme heat and a jellyfish invasion.

In total, 13 of the 57 reactors in EDF's nuclear fleet were affected.

The drought in Europe has been exacerbated by human-induced climate change, according to the World Weather Attribution group of scientists, who warn that the problem will worsen.

Hungary, neighbouring Romania, has avoided a complete shutdown of its only nuclear plant, Paks, whose four reactors are also cooled by the Danube.

But with the river expected to drop further, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Wednesday that the government had ordered the construction of a submerged wall, or weir, to try to control flows nears the plant.

Two 80-metre barges are also being stationed at Paks that could be sunk to raise the water level.

Paks, which usually provides around a third of Hungary's electricity, has been partially shut down since late last month.

The low levels of the Danube, Europe's second-longest river, have also severely impacted shipping along its 2,850-kilometre route stretching from western Germany to its mouth on the Black Sea.

Ukraine Destroys Air Defences Protecting Putin's Rs 13,000-Crore 'Palace'

KYIV, Aug 12: Ukrainian drones have struck a Russian S-400 air-defence missile system positioned to protect one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's most lavish residences on the Black Sea coast.

The S-400 "Triumph" launcher was located roughly 12 miles from Putin's sprawling residence near Gelendzhik in southern Russia. The system is designed to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.

According to Major Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces, the launcher was left "ablaze and sputtering for three hours" after the drone attack, the Telegraph reported.

The S-400 was reportedly part of a wider security network protecting the presidential compound. Electronic warfare systems and mobile fire teams are also deployed around the residence, which is surrounded by a 27-square-mile "buffer zone". A permanent no-fly zone is also maintained over the area.

But Brovdi claimed the launcher had been repurposed to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities, including six missiles launched on August 8.

The report stated that Russia has increasingly relied on systems such as the S-400 for strikes on Ukraine as it faces a shortage of Patriot interceptors, which are considered crucial for defending against ballistic missile attacks.

The target was located close to the residence commonly dubbed "Putin's Palace", a vast Italianate complex whose alleged cost has been estimated at as much as Rs 13,000 crore.

An investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, led by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, detailed the property in 2021. Navalny died in a Siberian prison in 2024.

Reports about the estate have painted an extraordinary picture of luxury. The complex has allegedly included a casino, vineyard, spa, ice rink, theatre, pole-dancing room, hookah lounge, an "aquatic disco" and even a room for miniature railway trains. A chapel was reportedly added in 2023.

Putin is believed to visit the Black Sea residence only occasionally, with concerns over Ukrainian long-range drone strikes making the location increasingly risky.

Instead, he is thought to favour his heavily protected dacha on Lake Valdai, about 185 miles east of Moscow.

The latest strike came after another Ukrainian drone attack in the same region last week. Drone fragments reportedly fell onto a beach, killing seven people.

Ukraine's military intelligence also said on Monday that its drones had destroyed two Russian S-400 launchers and struck an antenna used to control Orion medium-altitude drones in occupied Crimea.

Kyiv estimated that the damage from the operation could run into tens of millions of dollars.

The attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian military and energy infrastructure. Large-scale drone raids have become almost routine, with Russia increasingly struggling to protect its territory from long-range strikes.

More than 450 Ukrainian drones reportedly entered Russian airspace overnight on Monday, striking an oil refinery in Tatarstan. At least 13 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest single attacks on Russian territory since the war began. Drone debris was also reported in Tyumen, in Siberia.

Ukraine hopes its expanding drone campaign will raise the cost of the war and push the Kremlin towards negotiations.

Moscow, however, has shown little willingness to accept Kyiv's current terms.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin rejected Ukraine's demand for a frontline freeze and ceasefire on Monday and said, "No 'freeze' is possible without addressing the root causes of this crisis".

Assessing ramifications of new defence pact between Pak, Türkiye and Saudi: MEA

NEW DELHI, Aug 11: India said on Tuesday that it is assessing the ramifications of a joint defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye for the country’s national security and regional stability, and will take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its national interests.

The three Sunni Muslim countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7, following a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The pact builds on a bilateral mutual defence agreement concluded by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.

When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about the trilateral pact at a regular media briefing, he said India is closely following all “developments in the West Asia conflict” and will act to protect the country’s national interests.

“As far as this particular agreement is concerned, we are examining its implications, both from the perspective of our national security, as well as considerations of regional peace and stability,” Jaiswal said.

“India remains fully committed to safeguarding its national interests and will take all necessary measures in this regard,” he said, without going into details.

When Pakistan and Saudi Arabia concluded their mutual defence pact in September 2025, the Indian government said it would take all steps to protect the country’s national interests and ensure comprehensive national security in all domains, reflecting New Delhi’s concerns over the development. Saudi Arabia’s growing military proximity to Pakistan against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict has not gone down well in New Delhi, people familiar with the matter said.

A joint statement issued by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on Friday said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement builds on shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation. The pact also reflects the shared commitment of the three countries to strengthen their collective security and promote peace, security and stability in the region.

“The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states,” the joint statement said.

Jaiswal responded to separate questions on events organised in different part of the world to mark the “independence” of Pakistan’s Balochistan province and the violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by urging the world community to hold Pakistan accountable for human rights violations and atrocities.

“We continue to follow developments across the world. At the same time, I would like to highlight that we have seen the kind of human rights violations that were committed in PoK and other parts of that country. We call on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds, abuses and flagrant violation of human rights, including of all its people,” he said.

Over the past few months, large-scale protests in PoK related to elections to the local assembly had led to a situation where “public discontent was answered with bullets, blackouts, repression and oppression”, Jaiswal said. More than 90 people were killed and many more injured in the violence, and the international community needs to hold Pakistan to account for the mass violation of human rights, he said.

Jaiswal said that there has been no change in India’s policy towards Pakistan. “We are where we were earlier. I need not emphasise which country is responsible for cross-border terrorism and which is the epicentre of terrorism, and where the action lies for stopping cross-border terrorism,” he said.

Death Count In 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake In Colombia Rises To 240

BOGOTA, Aug 11: The death count from a powerful earthquake that struck Colombia rose to 240 on Tuesday, according to figures provided by local authorities.

The 7.4-magnitude quake shattered parts of western Colombia, including the coastal Choco region, the country's third-largest city Cali and swaths of the Colombian coffee-growing region.

At least 69 killed as earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shakes Colombia; tremors felt in Ecuador too

BOGOTA, Aug 10: A morning earthquake shook large parts of Colombia, including capital Bogota, on Monday, prompting people to evacuate homes and buildings, and causing at least 69 deaths.

Eighteen of the deaths occurred in Pereira, and two in Manizales. Numbers are coming from all over the country.

Tremors were felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, besides the border region near Venezuela that saw deadly temblors two months ago.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colombian agency recorded a 7.4 magnitude, while relatively deep.

The Colombian geological service reported that the quake's epicentre was in Choco province, on the Pacific coast, initially reporting a magnitude of 6.6.

Both agencies pinpointed the epicentre to San Jose del Palmar, about 400 kilometres west of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, and said the quake occurred at 7:34 am local time on Monday.

The depth was recorded at 79 km or deeper, said the UNGRD, the South American country's federal agency. The USGS specified the epicentre was 5 km east of San Jose del Palmar.

Visuals on social media showed buildings cracking and people tripping on the streets, as far as El Cable in Manizales, 120 km from San Jose del Palmar. Footage published by local media showed damage to residential and office buildings in other nearby cities. Blu Radio reported cracks in buildings in Cali, Armenia and Pereira, as well as Medellin.

The mayor of Cali, Colombia's third largest city, reported “major damage”. News outlets aired footage of some buildings with their facades ripped off by the quake.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in a post on X that he will personally supervise recovery efforts and install an emergency center in San Jose del Palmar.

The temblor follows two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.

‘No withdrawal until Hamas disarms’: Netanyahu rejects Trump-backed Gaza plan

TEL AVIV, Aug 9: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a Gaza plan backed by US President Donald Trump, saying Israel would not withdraw its forces until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.

"Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, referring to the plan endorsed by Hamas in late July.

The Israeli prime minister said the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens".

The plan is the latest phase of a US-led ceasefire announced in October, which has reduced but not completely halted Israeli military operations in Gaza. Under the proposal, Hamas would surrender its weapons to a proposed Palestinian governing body.

Netanyahu also vowed that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, regardless of whether Tehran reaches an agreement with the United States or diplomacy produces a broader deal.

"I want to emphasise once again: with an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting.

Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has denied.

Mojtaba Khamenei ‘meets’ Iran President after ‘critical’ health reports

TEHRAN, Aug 9: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to discuss the country’s military and economic situation, days after Israeli media reports claimed that Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition”.

The meeting comes amid heightened tensions over the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, with discussions focusing on military developments, economic pressures and measures to address the needs of the Iranian people, state broadcaster Press TV reported on Sunday.

The talks, according to Press TV, focused on the needs of the Iranian people, the current situation and future prospects of the US-Israeli war against Iran, as well as military developments.

The two leaders also discussed ways to secure resources and manage spending on the rial, foreign currency and energy, along with strengthening economic engagement with foreign partners, the report added.

The meeting was also reported by the Farsi X account attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei.

"In this meeting, detailed discussions were held on the country's issues and problems, particularly the provision of the people's livelihood needs, the current conditions of the third imposed war and the future ahead, developments in the military domain, solutions regarding the provision of resources and management of expenditures--"rial, foreign currency, and energy"--as well as economic interactions with foreign parties," part of the post on X read.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of reports about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency released an undated video showing Mojtaba Khamenei appearing to be in good health. The footage emerged after Israeli media reports claimed that the Supreme Leader was in critical condition and had been taken to a hospital.

On Friday, Israeli media reported that Khamenei was in an “extremely critical condition”. Channel 14, citing sources inside Iran, and The Jerusalem Post, citing IranWire and sources close to Pezeshkian’s administration, reported that concerns about Khamenei’s health were circulating among Iran’s leadership.

The meeting took place as Pezeshkian began his third year in office. He was elected president on July 6, 2024, after winning the July 5 election, and was formally appointed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 28 before being sworn in on July 30.

Pezeshkian's election came months after then-President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash.

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28. Since taking over the position, Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearances and has communicated through written statements.

India issues names for 27 Arunachal locations in response to China’s renaming moves

NEW DELHI, Aug 7: India on Friday issued standard names for 27 places and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh located along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a move officials described as a riposte to China’s efforts to rename dozens of locations in the state in recent years.

Among the places included in the list is the border village of Longju, which has been controlled by China since 1959 but falls within the Indian claim line, officials said on condition of anonymity. The move is aimed at reinforcing India’s absolute sovereign and legal jurisdiction over these territories.

An official statement from the Union home ministry said the Indian government, in consultation with the government of Arunachal Pradesh, “identified a total of 27 places or features in Arunachal Pradesh, by standard place and feature names on the official maps of Survey of India (SoI)”.

“Identifying them formally on the Survey of India map of Arunachal Pradesh is aimed at facilitating their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large,” the statement said.

The home ministry said the locations identified on the Survey of India map include 21 land areas, four passes, a lake, and a monument. The land locations are Longju, Maja, Bisa, Bara Kundun, Chhota Kundun, Dhan Bari, Pritnagar, Buddhamandir, Jairampur, Teritnagar, Ramnagar, Jaswant Garh, Sagar, Padma, Jyotinagar, Baisakhi, Chhota Ropuk, Bara Ropuk, Shivaji Nagar, Sunpura, and Kamlang Nagar.

The passes are Dzo La, Riza La, Pukur La, and Thag La, and the list included Sambho Sarovar lake and Sher-e-Thapa Memorial.

An official familiar with the development said: “There has been a lot of ambiguity regarding the maps. China uses this to give fictitious names to Arunachal Pradesh’s territories, which are part of sovereign India.

“Putting these 27 locations on the Survey of India map provides clarity, makes our claim status strong and strengthens the official documentation of geographical features.”

Over the past few years, China has repeatedly announced its own “standardised names” for dozens of places in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its claims on Indian territory. China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as “south Tibet”, and there have been instances of Chinese authorities issuing stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh.

In November 2025, India registered a strong protest after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh was detained by Chinese authorities at Shanghai airport on the grounds that her Indian passport was invalid.

The officials said identifying a place on the Survey of India map gives administrative and governance value to it, as mapped places are easier to reference in land, revenue, and census records, infrastructure planning, and border road construction.

They also said the move is aimed at discrediting China’s efforts to assign “fictitious names” to places in Arunachal Pradesh.

In April this year, after China assigned names to 23 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, the external affairs ministry said such attempts to manufacture “baseless narratives” would not alter the reality and could even hit efforts to normalise bilateral relations.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the time that India categorically rejected “any mischievous attempts by the Chinese side to assign fictitious names to places which form part of the territory of India”. He added, “China should refrain from actions which inject negativity into relations and undermine efforts to create better understanding.”

Jaiswal said such moves by China, aimed at introducing false claims, cannot alter the “undeniable reality that these places and territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, were, are, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”.

China’s ministry of civil affairs — which is responsible for standardising the names of geographical features in “south Tibet” — had issued a notification renaming the 23 locations, including rivers, mountains, and towns.

In the past too, India has rejected China’s moves to rename dozens of locations in Arunachal Pradesh, including towns, rivers, and geographic features, arguing that such actions will not change the reality. China has resorted to such renaming exercises in 2017, 2021, 2023, and 2024, usually during periods of strained relations.

India and China are currently normalising their relations, which plummeted to an all-time low due to a military standoff on the LAC that began in 2020 and lasted more than four years. As part of this process of normalisation, the two countries have held talks aimed at resolving their long-standing border dispute.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign defence pact

MECCA, Aug 7: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on Friday signed a trilateral defence agreement aimed at strengthening military cooperation and collective security among the three countries.

Signed in the Saudi holy city of Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the pact says that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all.

According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, the agreement is designed to strengthen "collective deterrence" against any act of aggression. It says that if one of the three countries is attacked, the other two will regard it as an attack against themselves.

The pact also commits the three countries to expand defence cooperation in all areas.

Together, Saudi Arabia’s financial power, Turkey’s defence capabilities and Pakistan’s nuclear strength make the grouping a significant regional force.

While the agreement does not publicly spell out detailed commitments, Turkish media reported that it is expected to include:

-Joint military exercises and training.

-Technology transfers.

-Intelligence sharing.

-Greater defence cooperation between the three countries.

The deal also brings together Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army and a rapidly expanding defence industry.

The agreement comes amid maximum security concerns in West Asia, including the US and Israeli war on Iran, Israel's UN-designated genocide on Gaza and other regional instability.

Saudi Arabia has also been seeking to diversify its defence partnerships after its oil facilities and critical infrastructure came under attack during regional conflicts.

Pakistan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Saudi Arabia was aimed not only at discussing the Gulf crisis but also at strengthening ties and improving coordination on regional and international issues.

Experts say the agreement should not be viewed as a formal military alliance similar to NATO.

Burcu Ozcelik, senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the pact was better seen as an effort to increase regional security cooperation among countries that remain part of a broader US-led security architecture.

She noted that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already have a mutual defence agreement, while discussions on a trilateral framework with Turkey have been underway for months.

According to Ozcelik, the agreement could lead to closer cooperation on border security, counterterrorism, military interoperability, defence production and technology partnerships, while also adding a new dimension to regional diplomacy, including Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel.

Iranian supreme leader Khamenei critical: Israeli media

TEL AVIV, Aug 7: Reports have surfaced in Israeli media claiming that Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and has been rushed to a hospital.

According to Channel 14 (C14), citing sources inside Iran, and a prior report by the Jerusalem Post, which quoted the IranWire outlet and sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, rumours that Khamenei is in an "extremely critical condition" are circulating widely at the highest levels of the regime.

One source cited by the Jerusalem Post stated, "We would not be surprised if we heard news of his martyrdom soon."

Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader shortly after his father was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28, 2026. Since taking office, he has not made any public appearances and has communicated exclusively through written statements.

Reports indicate he was injured and potentially disfigured in the initial strikes that targeted his father's compound, forcing him into hiding and compelling him to communicate with senior regime figures through a slow network of intermediaries to avoid targeting.

Iran and Oman agree to reopen Strait of Hormuz for 60 days

TEHRAN, Aug 6: Iran and Oman have reached an understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days. According to the local media reports, the agreement, which still needs approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and could be announced within days, aims to resume navigation in the waterway.

Vessels entering the strait will use a route close to Iran, while those leaving will take one close to Oman. According to sources, no transit fees or service charges will be imposed, and regional parties may participate in demining and technical procedures.

Following the agreement’s approval, the United States and Iran will return to their peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) and working in proposal on reopening and safe navigation of commercial shipping through the strait. Iran tightened its grip on the strait on Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.

In June, Iran and the United States signed the MoU on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. The two sides were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period to reach a final agreement, but recent escalation in the region has left the talks’ fate uncertain.

Sheikh Hasina's Son Says Bangladesh Becoming 'Another Pakistan'

NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and a senior Awami League leader, has warned that Bangladesh has descended into what he called a "failed state" and could become a breeding ground for regional terrorism unless the international community intervenes.

Speaking virtually from Maryland in the United States during an address at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi on Wednesday, Joy claimed that foreign intelligence agencies, particularly Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), now operate with what he called "an open hand" in the country.

He alleged that hundreds of convicted terrorists - men previously arrested and jailed under the Awami League government - have since been released from prison. He further claimed that banned groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir now march openly and that individuals linked to al-Qaeda have addressed public rallies.

"What should concern India most is that Bangladesh has become another Pakistan on India's eastern side. You have another Pakistan today on your eastern front... al-Qaeda operatives are speaking at public rallies. This is what is happening in Bangladesh, and this does not portend well for India or the world at large," he told the gathering, framing this as a direct security concern for New Delhi.

"In the future, the next generation of global terrorists is going to come from Bangladesh unless this is stopped," he added, and appealed directly to the Indian media to give the issue sustained coverage rather than treating it as an occasional headline.

Joy's remarks come roughly six months after Bangladesh's parliamentary elections, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, won a decisive majority and formed a government following the end of Muhammad Yunus's interim administration.

The Awami League, which Yunus's caretaker government had banned from political activity and barred from contesting the election, remains excluded from the political process - a point Joy raised repeatedly to argue that the vote could not be considered fully representative.

Beyond the security warning, Joy raised several other grievances. He disputed the death count from the July-August 2024 protests that led to Hasina's ouster, noting a gap of roughly 600 between United Nations estimates (around 1,400) and the government's figure (around 800), and said the UN had not responded to repeated requests from Awami League lawyers for the names behind the higher count.

He also criticised what he called an "Indemnity Bill," passed under the Yunus administration and since ratified by the BNP government, which he said grants blanket immunity to protesters - including for killings of police officers, civilians and Awami League members - while leaving no path to prosecute those deaths.

Joy also alleged that thousands of Awami League members and sympathisers, including elderly former officials, have been held in custody for extended periods without trial or bail, some dying in custody under circumstances he described as extrajudicial killings.

He said party members continue to be targeted and killed outside prison "every few weeks" without police action. He additionally claimed that journalists, editors and media owners perceived as sympathetic to the Awami League have remained jailed for over two years, and alleged that intelligence officials visited Indian media houses ahead of Wednesday's event to discourage coverage.

Joy warned that Bangladesh's economy, already strained, is at risk of "total collapse" under what he called continued mismanagement and predicted the country's political trajectory, including future elections, would remain skewed in the ruling party's favour.

Joy's remarks reflect the Awami League's perspective on events since Hasina's August 2024 ouster and have not been independently verified.

The BNP-led government, Yunus's former interim administration and Bangladeshi authorities have not yet responded to the specific claims made at Wednesday's event, and dispute the Awami League's broader characterisation of the political situation.

Israel resumes Lebanon strikes as talks underway in Rome

TEL AVIV, Aug 5: Israel’s military resumed strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday despite ongoing talks, blaming a ceasefire violation by militant group Hezbollah as state media reported at least one person killed.

The fresh strikes, accompanied by the first evacuation warning in weeks, came as the United States led diplomacy between Israel and Lebanon in Rome aimed at putting an end to hostilities, with Beirut seeking Israel’s phased withdrawal from the south.

“In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, the IDF has begun conducting precise strikes in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement, shortly after telling residents to evacuate the town of Mansouri in the south.

Lebanese state media said one person died and 11 were wounded in a separate strike.

'Forced away from Bangladesh but never separated from people': Sheikh Hasina breaks down

NEW DELHI, Aug 5: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday that although she was forced away from her country, she was “never separated” from her people.

Speaking at the first press conference in Delhi since her ouster in August 2024 at a Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia event, which she joined remotely, Hasina's voice choked repeatedly while remembering her father, family and countrymen who were killed in Bangladesh's war of Liberation and since then.

“For the last two years, I watched my beloved Bangladesh suffer...This is not the Bangladesh we built; this is not the Bangladesh for which 3 million people sacrificed their lives in 1971,” she told the gathering.

She alleged that “organised groups" turned genuine student demands into a “violent political instrument", claiming the movement evolved into a one-point demand seeking her resignation.

"Let me begin with the truth about July and August 2024. It was not a peaceful student movement. From the beginning, my government tried to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue, legal process, and patience. But behind the language of reform, organised groups were working to turn students' demands into a violent political instrument," she added.

Asked the exact date of her return to Bangladesh, Hasina said that she would reveal the details “when the time comes”.

Ahead of the address, the Indian government sought to distance itself from the press event, clarifying that New Delhi does not endorse any statements made during the session.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "The government has no involvement whatsoever in it. Neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum."

The ministry recently informed a Parliamentary committee that while granting asylum to Hasina, India has strictly maintained its policy, ensuring no political activity targeting another sovereign nation is conducted from Indian territory.

However, Dhaka remains unconvinced after raising the matter with the Indian High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi, on Monday. A news agency reported, quoting diplomatic sources, that allowing Sheikh Hasina to deliver a political speech could further strain fragile bilateral ties.

Hasina, 78, has lived in exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, after a student-led uprising ended her 15-year rule. A special tribunal last year sentenced the former prime minister to death in absentia after convicting her of crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdown on the protests.

The United Nations estimates that the violence killed about 1,400 people. Authorities have also banned Hasina’s Awami League party, and she faces multiple additional criminal cases.

“A death sentence, false cases and staged trials cannot frighten me,” Hasina said. She also called the death penalty “part of an illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated process.”

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, took office earlier this year after winning an election from which Hasina’s party was barred. The new government has taken a legalistic stance on her planned return, insisting she will face justice.

Bangladesh’s Law Minister M. Asaduzzaman said in late July that Hasina would likely be arrested immediately if she returned from India, before she had the opportunity to surrender before a court.

In her written response, Hasina said she did not leave Bangladesh by choice, saying she had “only 30 to 40 minutes” to evacuate her official residence as protesters approached and that she “did not even know I was leaving the country.” She said she had instead prepared to travel to Tungipara, her ancestral hometown.

Indian Vessel Sinks After Projectile Attack Near Yemen; All 14 Crew Members Rescued

NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Indian cargo ship MSV Faize Noore Oliya capsized and sinked after a projectile hit the vessel near Yemeni waters, Union Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.

Criticising the attack, the minister informed, all seafarers, including 13 Indians were rescued by Yemeni Coast Guard.

In a post on X, Sonowal wrote, "India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanised sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our supreme priority & I am relieved to inform that ALL 14 seafarers (including 13 Indians) have been safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and brought to the Port of Mokha.'

He added, "I have instructed the Director General Maritime Administration (DGMA) to take immediate steps in coordination with all agencies to ensure the absolute security of Indian seafarers in the region and provide all necessary assistance to the rescued crew."

Indian MSV Faize Noore Oliya has been hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing the vessel to capsize and sink.

The incident comes days after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement claimed that it fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea, accusing the vessel of violating what it called a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and ignoring repeated warnings.

According to Times of Israel, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the tanker was forced to turn back after the attack. The latest claim comes as the Houthis widen their campaign against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a critical global trade corridor that handles a significant share of energy exports.

The Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, opening what they described as a new front in the regional conflict involving the US and its allies. Since then, the group has threatened ships linked to Saudi Arabia and expanded attacks on vessels transporting oil and other commodities beyond the Middle East.

Iran military accuses U.S. of 'escalating tensions' in region

TEHRAN, Aug 1: Iran’s military accused the United States of “escalating tensions” in West Asia on Saturday and warned countries in the region against cooperating with Washington during the ongoing conflict.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran “very hard”. The White House signalled that U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing carrying out new strikes on Iran as the U.S. presses for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abide by terms set out in a truce agreement the two sides forged last month, only to quickly collapse.

There were no U.S. strikes on Iran overnight, but Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said on Friday it had struck another two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Kuwait said it intercepted drones.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the U.S. administration’s frustration anew, charging that Tehran last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on a truce but then quickly “broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers”.

Spain builds 1,600-foot sea barrier after Ceuta migrant crisis leaves 67 dead

CEUTA, Aug 1: Spain has announced it was installing a 500-meter-long (1,600-foot) containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco after between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants breached the frontier earlier this week.

A floating pneumatic barrier was installed off the coast of Ceuta near the Tarajal breakwater, according to a report by the New York Times.

The inflatable pneumatic barrier spans 500 metres in length, sitting 30 to 70 centimetres above the water and dropping 1 metre below the surface. It is reinforced by an outer line of anchored buoys provided by the Spanish Navy. A designated channel between the structural lines allows Guardia Civil vessels to continuously monitor and patrol the maritime border.

According to the data given by the Spanish government, the death toll in the Ceuta crisis climbed to 67, including some who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede to cross the breakwater barrier.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez slammed the reaction of some other European Union leaders to the events in Ceuta, saying calls for Spain to be suspended from the EU's borderless Schengen zone were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has threatened to suspend Italy's participation in the Schengen Agreement with Spain, and Italy has reimposed border controls on people arriving from Spain by air and sea.

Spain's interior ministry has said the majority of those who entered the territory have already returned to Morocco.

“We are relentless against those who break the law,” Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told journalists in Ceuta on Saturday.

Questioned how this massive border breach could have happened, given the heavy security on both sides of the border, and whether Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta, Marlaska defended the government in Rabat.

“The events require an evaluation by Spain and Morocco,” he said. But it was the cooperation with its neighbours that allowed Spain “to reverse the situation in 24 hours.”

“Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner,” Marlaska emphasised.

The leaders of 22 EU countries called for a coordinated response to the situation in Ceuta.

In a letter to top EU officials, released Saturday by the Danish prime minister’s office, the countries asked the EU's current Irish presidency to urgently convene an extraordinary videoconference of the bloc's interior ministers.

“We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible. That a migrant’s illegal entry can turn into legal stay,” the letter said. “Such a perception would encourage further attempts, undermine confidence in our common migration policy and have repercussions for all Member States.”

The letter was signed by the leaders of Italy, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden.

Pedro Sánchez also asked for a videoconference of EU interior ministers to “enable us to establish a common response to situations of this kind and reaffirm that the security of our external borders is a shared responsibility of all Member States, and not only of those on the Union’s front line.”