Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Middle East

US-Bangla Group aims to build a complete aviation ecosystem

US-Bangla Airlines has announced a major investment in Bangladesh’s private aviation sector, unveiling plans to add 21 new Boeing aircraft to its fleet at a cost of nearly $1.5 billion by 2027. The airline also outlined a broader plan to transform US-Bangla into a full global aviation group by expan

Trump Says ‘Good Talks’ Underway With Iran, Oil Prices Slide

US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were progressing well and that there was a strong chance of reaching a deal to ease the conflict between the two countries, while warning that US attacks would resume if the negotiations produced no result, according to Reuters.

Ukraine Attacks Caspian Sea ‘at Israel's Incitement’, Iran Threatens Retaliation

Iran has threatened to respond after a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea killed one sailor and injured several others, according to Al Jazeera. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack could not be left unanswered and described it as a clear violation o

Houthis claim attack on 2 Saudi oil tankers

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have claimed an attack on two Saudi oil tankers transiting through the Red Sea. “We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednes

US military launching new strikes against Iran

The United States announced Saturday it was launching new airstrikes to punish Iran for attacks against US forces in Jordan after its first military deaths since renewing its hostilities with Tehran.

Trump backs down on levy on Hormuz ships

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was scrapping a planned levy on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz a day after he announced it, and replacing the fee with trade deals with Gulf allies. Trump said his sudden decision to withdraw the toll -- which he imposed amid fresh clashes with Iran

Trump Says US Will Take Control of Hormuz, Seeks 20% Security Fee on Cargo

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge commercial vessels a 20% security fee based on total cargo, saying the money would cover the cost of maintaining security in the strategic waterway. In a post on Truth Social on Mond

Qatar's former leader Hamad bin Khalifa dies

The Qatari government on Sunday announced the death of former leader Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, who led the country from 1995 to 2013. "With hearts steadfast in faith in God's decree and destiny, the Bureau of the Emir mourns the great loss to the nation of the late -- may God have mercy on

President Trump says US will 'completely decimate' Iran if assassinated

US President Donald Trump said Friday the United States would "completely decimate" Iran if it attempted or succeeded in assassinating the sitting president. "1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Irani

Trump says agreed to talks with Tehran, but ceasefire ‘over’

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that although the previous ceasefire agreement with Iran has formally ended, Washington is prepared in principle to continue diplomatic talks at Tehran’s request. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Iran has requested that ongoing diplomatic discussions

Ali Khamenei Buried at Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad After Six Days of State Mourning

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme religious leader, was buried on Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace and one of Shia Islam’s holiest cities, after six days of state mourning. According to a Reuters report, Mashhad’s main roads and alleyways began filling with members of

US Strikes 170 Targets in Iran Over Two Days; 14 Killed

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply following a series of military exchanges over the past 48 hours. Tehran officials stated that U.S. airstrikes targeting five Iranian provinces have killed at least 14 people and injured 78 others. Concurrently, Iran claimed to have l

Trump says Iran ceasefire 'is over'

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the ceasefire with Iran was "over" after the two sides traded fire, but added that negotiators could keep talking to Tehran. Trump blasted Iran as "scum" and "cuckoo" after Washington launched strikes on the Islamic Republic overnight and Iran's Guards said

Two blasts near Damascus hotel

Two explosions took place in central Damascus on Tuesday near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron spent the night, a Syrian security source told AFP. One of the bombs was placed in a dumpster and the other in a vehicle near the Four Seasons Hotel, the source said. The French president

Cathay Pacific to resume Middle East flights

Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific announced Thursday that it will resume flights to the Middle East, as the United States and Iran signal that efforts to end the war remain viable. Following the two sides' indirect discussions in Doha on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump, as well as me

Hezbollah rejects deal with Israel, which expects 'extended stay' in Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Saturday accused the Lebanese government of surrendering sovereignty in its agreement with Israel and declared the deal null and void, as Israel told its troops to prepare for an "extended stay" in Lebanon. The agreement, which includes a process aimed at disarming He