World - The Daily Ittefaq

Trump says Iran meeting to take place in Qatar

UNB — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:13:47 +0600

US President Donald Trump said Iran has requested a meeting that will be held Tuesday in Qatar, despite Tehran denying any direct negotiations were planned with Washington on the deal aimed at ending the Middle East war. The announcement came after Iran held its first talks with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran deal was signed, and as Washington and Tehran agreed to halt... Details

Iran and US agree to halt attacks, renew talks

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:32:28 +0600

Iran and the United States agreed to halt recent hostilities in the Gulf and renew talks regarding their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said on Sunday, raising ‌hopes of saving an interim peace deal that was under pressure from days of tit-for-tat strikes. “Technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the MOU. Both sides will stand down for now and... Details

Europe's heatwave linked to 1,300 deaths: WHO

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:33:24 +0600

Europe's unprecedented early summer heatwave may be responsible for hundreds of excess deaths, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO). Temperature records were broken across the continent again on Sunday – including in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic – as the extreme heat continued to move east, reports the BBC. In a post on X, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom... Details

Venezuela earthquake death toll crosses 1,400

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:16:53 +0600

The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes rose above 1,400 on Saturday as foreign rescue teams poured into the country and authorities pressed on with the search for survivors in the hardest-hit coastal areas. The updated toll came as ‌rescuers fanned out across La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and bodies... Details

US strikes 10 Iranian military targets

UNB — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:34:47 +0600

The United States carried out strikes on 10 Iranian military targets on Saturday after accusing Tehran of violating a fragile ceasefire by attacking an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone and missile storage facilities, coastal radar installations and minelayer... Details

UK to expand refugee sponsorship schemes

BSS — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:33:19 +0600

The UK interior ministry has announced it will create new legal routes for asylum seekers, including allowing community organisations to sponsor refugees based on a similar system in Canada. The system will come into place later this year, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said late Friday, with organisations and some "trusted" universities able to sponsor refugees and first arrivals expected in... Details

US strikes on Iran after attack on cargo ship

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:47:37 +0600

The US military has conducted strikes on Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of its truce following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it had struck missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions on Friday, BBC reports. It said the strikes were in response for a drone attack on a cargo... Details

Venezuela earthquakes kill 920, tens of thousands missing

BSS — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:13:05 +0600

The death toll from twin earthquakes rose Friday to 920 in Venezuela, where tens of thousands were reported missing as a desperate and slow-moving search for survivors was boosted by international rescue teams. Caracas residents jeered interim leader Delcy Rodriguez during her visit to a devastated neighborhood, as fury over the perceived lack of an official response mounted. United Nations... Details

PM expresses shock at loss of lives in Venezuela earthquakes

UNB — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:19:45 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday expressed deep sorrow and shock at the loss of lives caused by powerful earthquakes in Venezuela. In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister said, “We are gravely saddened by the earthquakes that have struck Venezuela, causing tragic loss of so many lives and so much destruction.” On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, he extended deepest condolences to the... Details

235 dead, 4,300 injured says Minister

UNB — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:15:24 +0600

Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed around 235 people and left at least 4,300 people injured. “Unfortunately we have received around 235 patients who arrive without vital signs or die when they arrive at our health facilities,” Health... Details

Europe bakes as temperatures hit records

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:14:50 +0600

A heatwave gripping western Europe has led to a series of unprecedented temperature highs, with France experiencing its hottest day ever, the UK seeing record heat for June and Spain reaching its highest daily average since 1950. Tens of millions of people are grappling with punishing temperatures, which hit almost 41C in Paris and have led to red heat alerts across swathes of the continent,... Details

Venezuela hit by back-to-back quakes, many casualties feared

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:46:12 +0600

Venezuela has been struck by powerful back-to-back earthquakes, levelling buildings in the capital, Caracas, and prompting fears of mass casualties. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near San Felipe, about 284km (176 miles) west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT on Wednesday, followed almost immediately by a magnitude 7.5 quake near Yumare, about 293km (182 miles) west of the capital, according to the... Details

ICC judges sue Trump administration over sanctions

UNB — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:18:23 +0600

Three judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Manhattan, challenging sanctions imposed on them by the Trump administration last year. The judges, Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, argue in the lawsuit that the sanctions amount to “extra-judicial pressure” by... Details

Power outages hit France as record heatwave set to peak

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:18:19 +0600

Tens of thousands of homes in western France are without power, with temperatures set to peak across the country on Wednesday during a record-breaking heatwave. About 68,000 homes in Brittany have been affected, with electricity unlikely to be fully restored until Wednesday night at the earliest, authorities said, BBC reports. More than half of the country remains under a red heat alert, with... Details

US, Iran differ over nuclear inspections as talks continue to end war

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:31:32 +0600

The United States and Iran appeared divided on Tuesday over whether Tehran had agreed to allow U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities, as both sides continued negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent agreement to end the war in Iran. At the same time, efforts were underway to ease a shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. The disagreement surfaced as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian... Details

Ten years on, Brexit's economic impact is becoming clearer

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:05:59 +0600

Not long after the UK left the EU in 2020, a Bristol-based firm called Eskimo started selling a new kind of high-fashion and energy-efficient electric radiator, based on new technology developed by academics in the city. They planned to send them around Europe using the Channel Tunnel. It was a timely product given Europe's green ambitions, and with orders flowing, its Birmingham factory was... Details

Israel, Lebanon to hold new round of US-hosted talks

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:21:02 +0600

Israel and Lebanon are due to start ⁠their fifth round of talks in Washington DC on Tuesday, as the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon seems to be holding for now. Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East conflict in early March, when the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group attacked Israel, in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, reports the Deutsche Welle. Israel responded with... Details

At least 18 dead in France as Europe bakes

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:23:52 +0600

At least 18 people died in France, including two children left in a hot car, as a heatwave hung over Europe, smashing temperature records in several cities on Monday. As schools in France closed or modified timetables, forecasters in Britain predicted temperatures could ‌break records for June this week, according to a Reuters report. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting... Details

Pentagon seeks $80bn from Congress for Iran war

UNB — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:24:42 +0600

The Pentagon has informed U.S. senators that it needs about $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the war with Iran, adding to the already massive increase in military spending sought by President Donald Trump. Although the White House Office of Management and Budget has not yet submitted a formal request to Congress, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been lobbying lawmakers on Capitol... Details

Keir Starmer steps down as British premier

UNB — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:36:40 +0600

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he is stepping down as leader of the Labour Party, setting the stage for the United Kingdom to appoint its seventh prime minister in just over ten years. Starmer, whose Labour Party secured a decisive victory in the 2024 general election, has faced mounting criticism in recent months as a series of political setbacks eroded both his... Details

China retaliates against US sanctions

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:55:39 +0600

China on Monday announced sanctions on 10 American military-related companies in response to a recent U.S. move that bars some leading Chinese tech companies from defense contracts. The Commerce Ministry said that Chinese companies would be blocked from exporting “dual-use” items to the 10 companies, which include military drone makers and some involved in rare earth mining. Dual use refers to... Details

Malaysia rolls out red carpet to welcome PM Tarique

UNB — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:48:37 +0600

A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night on his maiden overseas visit after assuming office, at the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. A special Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and the accompanying delegation landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at... Details

5 Bangladeshis killed in Qatar road accident

BSS — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:08:03 +0600

Five Bangladeshi nationals were killed in a road accident in Qatar's Al Shahaniya area this morning, (local time) according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Doha. The Bangladesh mission said that the victims were employed at a local goat farm in Qatar. The deceased Bangladeshis were identified as Jasim Uddin, Jibal Uddin, Mostak Ahmed, Zubayer Ahmed and Kader Ahmed, all hail from Gachhbari... Details

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill six, including Al Jazeera cameraman

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 14:01:29 +0600

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least six people on Saturday, including two children and an Al Jazeera cameraman, Palestinian health officials said. The latest attacks came despite a ceasefire reached in October between Israel and the militant group Hamas. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in near-daily Israeli strikes since the... Details

US and Iran set for new talks after delay and deadly strikes

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:56:01 +0600

A new round of negotiations over the Middle East war was set to kick off Sunday as Iranian negotiators and US Vice President JD Vance arrived in the Swiss host city, even as Tehran said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again over Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Before boarding his flight to Europe, Vance told reporters he hoped to "make progress on the nuclear issue, make progress on the... Details

Australia confirms first case of H5N1 bird flu

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 18:34:37 +0600

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has for the first time been found in Australia, the country's agriculture ministry confirmed. It means the highly contagious variant has now reached every continent. The disease was found in a migratory seabird, a brown skua, in remote Western Australia, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Saturday, BBC reports. The bird was found on a beach at the Cape Le... Details

Israel continues Lebanon strikes despite truce deal

UNB — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:15:31 +0600

Israel continued military operations in southern Lebanon on Friday despite a reported ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, raising concerns that the fragile truce could collapse and undermine broader regional peace efforts. US and Gulf officials said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to halt hostilities under a ceasefire brokered by Qatar, the United States and Iran. The truce was scheduled to... Details

US to end funding of South Africa's HIV programmes

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:38:57 +0600

The US government says it will stop funding programmes in South Africa intended to tackle the spread of HIV and Aids, linking the decision to the government's alleged failure to protect the white-minority Afrikaner community. South Africa's health ministry responded by saying that though it had not been informed of this decision, it had "long been working on a self-reliance plan". More than... Details

Israel launches fresh strikes on Lebanon

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:29:46 +0600

Israeli forces have carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon, state media say, despite renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump of Israel's actions in the country. On Wednesday, Israeli jets struck the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the outskirts of neighbouring Kfar Tebnit, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. The Israeli military has not yet commented, but has previously... Details

G7 leaders back US-Iran deal, say it’s a ‘historic opportunity’

UNB — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:45:57 +0600

The G7 leaders have welcomed the announcement of a deal between the US and Iran as a “breakthrough” and an “opportunity” to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The leaders said they support the deal and “are ready to contribute to its implementation”. They called for passage through the Strait of Hormuz without “restrictions or tolls”... Details

G7 powers push Russia to end Ukraine war

BSS — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:17:47 +0600

G7 leaders agreed on Tuesday to intensify pressure on Russia to end more than four years of war against Ukraine, with US President Donald Trump saying Moscow should "make a deal". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the summit at the French resort of Evian-les-Bains, with Ukraine seen as holding up well on the battlefield but its cities still the target of deadly Russian attacks in a... Details

Japan raises interest rate to highest since 1995

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:54:19 +0600

Japan's central bank has increased its main interest rate to a new 31-year high after a surge in global energy prices. On Tuesday, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its so-called policy rate to 1% from 0.75% - to a level not seen since 1995, BBC reports. The decision comes as some other central banks have raised interest rates this year as the Iran war pushed up the cost of living. Japan's... Details

Protesters clash with cops in Geneva ahead of G7 summit

UNB — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:22:15 +0600

Riot police fired tear gas and water cannons in clashes with stone-throwing youths during a protest on Sunday in Geneva against the G7 group of wealthy nations, a day before its leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump hold a summit in nearby France. A violent standoff extended into the evening after a series of incidents — including a car set ablaze and a bank’s windows... Details

Trump announces Iran deal, ends Hormuz blockade

UNB — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:39:12 +0600

The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement early Monday to open the Strait of Hormuz and further extend a shaky ceasefire in the Iran war, potentially allowing desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market. Details of the deal were not immediately released and Iran signaled implementation would not start until the signing, which key mediator Pakistan said would... Details

Teen shot and buses torched in Manhattan

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 23:34:49 +0600

A teenager was shot and buses destroyed during chaotic scenes in New York City that marred jubilant celebrations for the Knicks' historic NBA championship win. The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94–90 in game five on Saturday to clinch the title for the first time in more than half a century, BBC reports. The game was in Texas, but New Yorkers took to their hometown streets... Details

Trump says US-Iran peace deal to be signed Sunday

UNB — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:45:01 +0600

US President Donald Trump said a deal aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, although Iran has cast doubt on the proposed timeline. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement would pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. “The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow,... Details

Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 23:40:24 +0600

Elon Musk on Friday became the world's first trillionaire after shares in his SpaceX rocket company soared during the biggest-ever stock market debut. The Tesla and SpaceX founder comfortably cemented his status as the world's richest man, with his total net worth standing at $1.11tn (£828bn) according to the Bloomberg rich list, BBC reports. It came as the rocket, telecommunications... Details

Possible Iran war deal: What we know so far

UNB — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:13:24 +0600

The United States and Iran appear close to a deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that a deal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East is closer than “ever before” and expected to be finalized within 24 hours. Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, followed immediately by... Details

Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft crashes during landing in Assam

UNB — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:47:49 +0600

An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed and caught fire while landing at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday morning. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft went down within the premises of the airbase during landing, triggering a fire after the crash. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain the blaze and assess the situation.... Details

Tehran says 'nothing' finalised after Trump claims deal to end Iran war near

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:18 +0600

Iran has insisted that a final decision on an agreement to end the current conflict with the US has not yet been reached, despite President Trump again claiming a deal was likely to be signed imminently. Trump had declared the US would strike Iran "very hard" again on Thursday, but later said he was cancelling the strikes because negotiators had "just made a great settlement" with Iran,... Details

US launches fresh strikes on Iran

UNB — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:02:27 +0600

The United States carried out a new wave of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, intensifying hostilities after President Donald Trump warned Tehran of consequences over stalled negotiations. The latest attacks targeted multiple locations across Iran as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remained deadlocked. Iran continued to maintain pressure on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key... Details

Trump and Iran trade new threats after strikes exchanged

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:26:56 +0600

US President Donald Trump and Iran's senior officials have traded new threats of further action, after the two sides exchanged strikes. Trump said Tehran had taken "too long to negotiate a deal" and would now "have to pay the price", without giving specific details. He said Iran had been "completely defeated" and was "all talk and no action", BBC reports. It came after Iran's Foreign Minister... Details

Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan killed 13, Kabul says

UNB — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:30:18 +0600

Afghanistan on Wednesday accused Pakistan of carrying out fresh airstrikes inside its territory, saying the attacks killed at least 13 people, including children, and injured 14 others. Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes targeted the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika. According to Mujahid, those killed included 11 children, one woman and one elderly... Details

Xi, Kim pledge closer China-North Korea ties

UNB — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:36:16 +0600

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen their long-standing alliance during Xi’s rare visit to Pyongyang, according to state media reports from both countries. The summit marked Xi’s first trip to North Korea in seven years and underscored Beijing’s effort to reinforce its influence over its... Details

Powerful quake kills 19 in Philippines; triggers tsunami

UNB — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:09:08 +0600

An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked the southern Philippines Monday, killing at least 19 people, injuring more than 200 others mostly in damaged buildings and sending a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami into nearby coasts. A few buildings collapsed and key infrastructure sustained quake damage in the city of General Santos, and tsunami damage was reported in at least one coastal village.... Details

China’s Everyday Safety Draws Foreign Praise

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:47:01 +0600

Foreign bloggers and international visitors are increasingly sharing their experiences of feeling safe while living in or traveling across China, describing a level of security that allows them to move around freely day and night. Among them is Tatiana Kucherova, a 31-year-old Russian who has been living in Guiyang, the capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, since 2016. Joking about... Details

Israel retaliates against Iran amid fresh missile fire

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:44:24 +0600

Israel said Monday that Iran had launched missiles targeting it, hours after Israel launched airstrikes targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire from Tehran. The exchange of strikes threatened to drag the wider Middle East back into a regional war. Sirens sounded in central Israel, and the government urged the public to seek shelter. Explosions could be heard in central... Details

Why is Xi Jinping going to North Korea?

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:52:04 +0600

For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, North Korea is the neighbour China can neither control nor afford to lose. The two sides often describe their relationship as one "forged in blood", a reference to the Korean War, BBC reports. Yet in recent years, mistrust has strained ties. And now Beijing is trying to reassert sway over a strategically vital yet deeply unpredictable partner. China wants... Details

"Trump rejects claims that Iran policy contradicts his ‘no new wars’ pledge"

UNB — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:47:40 +0600

President Donald Trump is dismissing the idea that launching the war with Iran this year betrayed his refrain of “No new wars” that he made repeatedly as he campaigned again for the White House. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said he “didn’t guarantee” there would be no wars if he were back in office.... Details

Israel strikes Beirut suburb days after US-brokered truce

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:14:04 +0600

Israel has hit southern Beirut in the first attack on the Lebanese capital since a truce brokered by the US last week. Two air strikes on two apartment buildings in a stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah killed two people and injured at least 17 others, Lebanon's state news agency said, reports the BBC. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had struck "terrorist headquarters in the... Details

US and Iran exchange strikes in Gulf in latest test of truce

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 23:34:39 +0600

The shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran has been tested further, with American forces targeting Iranian drones and radar sites, and Iran firing missiles at US bases in the Gulf. The US military said the attacks were in response to four Iranian "one-way attack drones" launched towards the Strait of Hormuz, which it said "posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic". The drones... Details

Drone clash in Strait of Hormuz deepens regional tensions

UNB — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:21:15 +0600

The U.S. military announced that it intercepted four Iranian drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and subsequently carried out strikes against several Iranian coastal radar installations. The actions have heightened concerns about the stability of an already fragile ceasefire as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Tehran. According to U.S. Central Command... Details

Xi Jinping to visit North Korea for first time since 2019

UNB — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:00:16 +0600

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to North Korea from Monday to Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country since June 2019, Chinese and North Korean state media announced on Friday. The visit comes as China seeks to strengthen ties with its nuclear-armed neighbor amid Pyongyang’s growing cooperation with Russia, including military support for Moscow’s war in... Details

Zelensky proposes face-to-face talks in open letter to Putin

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:49:32 +0600

Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a face-to-face meeting between himself and Vladimir Putin in a renewed bid to end the war. In an open letter to the Russian president, the Ukrainian leader said it would be "wrong to simply wait" until the war in Europe becomes the focus of the US's attention once more, adding peace could only come "through direct engagement between" Ukraine and Russia,... Details

UN nuclear watchdog unable to inspect Iranian facilities

UNB — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:05:04 +0600

The U.N. nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog circulated to member states and seen Thursday by The Associated Press. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the... Details

North Korea unveils new nuclear fuel facility

UNB — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:30:26 +0600

North Korea has revealed a new facility believed to be used for producing nuclear bomb fuel, with leader Kim Jong Un announcing plans to expand the country’s nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.” The development signals Pyongyang’s continued push to strengthen its nuclear programme, despite ongoing international sanctions and calls for denuclearisation.... Details

US-backed Israel-Lebanon agreement reinforces existing ceasefire

UNB — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:47:27 +0600

A statement issued by the US State Department said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire following US-led negotiations. According to the statement, the ceasefire depends on the complete halt of Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah fighters from areas south of the Litani River. However, the agreement does not establish a new ceasefire. Rather, it reaffirms... Details

21 dead In massive fire at Delhi hotel

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:39:23 +0600

At least 21 people were killed and dozens others rescued after a fire broke out at a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar this morning. The fire broke out around 8.50 am in the restaurant of the Micasa Inn hotel, which was located in the basement of the five-storey building, reports NDTV. An official said that two water engines, two water bowsers, a quick-response vehicle and other firefighting... Details

US military has 'defeated' Iran missile, drone attacks in Gulf

BSS — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:45:33 +0600

The US military said Tuesday that it had "successfully defeated" a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks in the Gulf and conducted self-defense strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island. US Central Command also denied claims by Iran's Revolutionary Guards that they had struck the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a separate air base in the region. "Iran launched... Details

Trump says Israel, Hezbollah agree to halt fighting

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:47:01 +0600

US President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire with Iran could be reached “over the next week.” He also said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull troops back from Beirut and spoke with Hezbollah representatives, who agreed to halt attacks on Israeli forces, according to the Gulf News. However, Netanyahu said... Details

Iran and US report new wave of air strikes in Gulf

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:04:45 +0600

Air strikes resumed between the US and Iran over the weekend as each side claimed to have hit military targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (Centcom) said it conducted "self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island this weekend", BBC reports. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it... Details

US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 30 May 2026 21:15:19 +0600

The US, UK and Australia say they will develop underwater drone technology to protect undersea cables and boost defence, under their military alliance known as Aukus. The uncrewed undersea vehicle (UUV) technology is expected to be ready by next year. While the project's total cost was not stated, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said his nation would contribute £150m ($201m), BBC... Details

Ghana parliament passes anti-LGBTQ+ bill

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:40:37 +0600

The parliament in Ghana has approved a new bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities. Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender or queer can be punished by up to three years' imprisonment. The bill also introduces a "duty to report" prohibited acts to police, reports the BBC. Religious leaders have pressured President John Dramani Mahama, who still needs... Details

Possible Iran-US deal: What we know

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:29:07 +0600

The United States and Iran appear to have the draft text of an agreement to extend their ceasefire for 60 days and provide a framework to negotiate longer-term peace. According to US Vice President JD Vance, the document is now awaiting Donald Trump's signature, reports the Gulf News. But there have been conflicting reports from sources in Washington and Tehran about what might be covered in... Details

Trump holding meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran deal

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:20:53 +0600

US President Donald Trump has said he is holding a meeting to make a "final determination" about an agreement to extend a ceasefire with Iran. He said Iran "must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb", that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened for "unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions" and that any mines in the waterway "must be destroyed". "I will be meeting... Details

US and Iran 'very close' to deal but 'not there yet': Vance

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:21:09 +0600

The US and Iran still need to work out several sticking points before an agreement on the war can be reached, Vice-President JD Vance has said. Asked if President Donald Trump was close to signing a deal, Vance said it was too early to say "when or if" the two sides would finalise an agreement, reports the BBC. The deal would reportedly extend the ceasefire for 60 days and launch talks on the... Details

Man arrested after 3 hurt in stabbing at Swiss train station

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:27:00 +0600

A man has been arrested after three people were injured in a stabbing attack at a train station in Switzerland, police said. They said the three victims - Swiss nationals aged 28, 43 and 52 - were hospitalised after the attack at Winterthur train station, BBC reports. The suspect, a 31-year-old Swiss man, used a bladed weapon and that the motive was under investigation, police added. An... Details

US carries out new strikes on southern Iran

BSS — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:21:24 +0600

The United States carried out new strikes on southern Iran on Thursday, after President Donald Trump threatened to "finish the job" if Tehran did not agree to a peace deal. Iranian media reported three loud explosions rang out in the port city of Bandar Abbas in the early hours of Thursday morning, following US strikes earlier in the week that underscored the fragile state of a diplomatic push... Details

N Korea fires projectile as nuclear tensions persist

Wed, 27 May 2026 22:50:25 +0600

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the sea from its west coast on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military authorities. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately provide additional information about the launch. The launch came after another weapons test on April 19, when North Korea launched several short-range missiles. State media described that test as an... Details

Dozens killed in Lebanon as Israel intensifies strikes

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:51:30 +0600

Dozens of people have been killed in an intensive wave of Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to step up military action against Hezbollah. At least 31 people were killed in the latest attacks, including several children, Lebanon's health ministry said, reoprts the BBC. The Israeli military said it hit more than 100... Details

Israel will intensify strikes against Hezbollah: Netanyahu

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 26 May 2026 13:16:30 +0600

The Israeli military says it has begun a wave of strikes across Lebanon following an announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his country will intensify its attacks on Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had launched strikes against Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley in the east of Lebanon and other parts of the country, BBC reports. Hezbollah said it had retaliated by... Details

US hits Iran with new strikes, despite ceasefire

BSS — Tue, 26 May 2026 11:32:11 +0600

US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, imperiling a fragile ceasefire and casting new doubt on a deal to end the Middle East war. The strikes came as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for the latest round of talks to end the months-long conflict, and as the Israeli military stepped up hostilities with... Details

US-Iran deal may end war, reopen Strait of Hormuz

UNB — Mon, 25 May 2026 23:17:58 +0600

The United States and Iran appear to be moving toward a possible agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with US President Donald Trump saying over the weekend that negotiations had been “largely completed.” However, uncertainty remains over when the agreement could be finalized and how its provisions would be implemented. Trump’s... Details

Deal with US not imminent, Iran says

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:39:58 +0600

Iran says some progress has been reached in talks with the US, but a deal "is not imminent". Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai's remarks came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an agreement could possibly be reached on Monday, BBC reports. "It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion," Baqai said in Tehran on Monday.... Details

US will not 'rush into a deal' with Iran: Trump

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 24 May 2026 23:32:21 +0600

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had told US negotiators "not to rush into a deal" with Iran, amid anticipation that an agreement to end the war in the Middle East was close. The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account,... Details

Suspect killed after opening fire on Secret Service near White House

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 24 May 2026 09:56:47 +0600

The suspect in a shooting near the White House was killed in an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents on Saturday evening, officials have confirmed. The suspect was named as Nasire Best, a 21-year-old man who was known to the Secret Service and had a documented history of mental health problems, reports the BBC. The US Secret Service has said that one bystander was also wounded in the... Details

90 dead in Chinese coal mine explosion

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:44:20 +0600

At least 90 people have been killed in a coal mine blast in northern China, according to the country's state media. The gas explosion happened at the Liushenyu Coal Mine, run by the Tongzhou Group, in Shanxi Province, BBC reports. Hundreds of rescuers have been sent to the site. Footage from state media showed paramedics carrying stretchers at the site, with ambulances in the background. More... Details

Visa holders must leave US to seek PR: USCIS

UNB — Sat, 23 May 2026 12:09:05 +0600

Most immigrants applying for US green cards will now need to leave the country and complete the process at a US embassy or consulate abroad under a newly announced policy. On Friday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said individuals seeking to adjust their immigration status must use consular processing outside the US "except in extraordinary circumstances". The change, part of... Details

Cockroach Janta Party movement crosses borders

UNB — Sat, 23 May 2026 11:13:59 +0600

The satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” movement, which first gained traction in India, has now crossed into Pakistan’s online political space. Inspired by India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), several Pakistani social media accounts have emerged using similar themes and branding after the Indian movement exploded online following its launch on May 16. The Indian... Details

Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US director of national intelligence

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 22 May 2026 23:51:37 +0600

Tulsi Gabbard has said she is resigning from her position as the US director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, citing her husband's recent bone cancer diagnosis. "His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge," she wrote in her resignation letter obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US partner. "I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while... Details

Angry crowd sets Ebola hospital tents on fire in DR Congo

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:59:03 +0600

An angry crowd set alight a section of a hospital at the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after family and friends of a young man thought to have died from the virus were prevented from taking his body away for burial. "They started throwing projectiles at the hospital. They even set fire to tents that were being used as isolation wards," local... Details

25 killed in Honduras gun attacks

UNB — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:19:29 +0600

Gunmen opened fire in two separate attacks Thursday on the Honduran coast, killing at least 25 people, including six police officers, authorities said. The first incident took place at a plantation in the municipality of Trujillo in northern Honduras, where at least 19 workers were shot and killed, according to Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Yuri Mora. The resource-rich region... Details

Trump says Iran talks 'on borderline'

BSS — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:50:03 +0600

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that talks with Tehran were "on the borderline" between a deal to end the Middle East war and a resumption of strikes on Iran. Trump has given conflicting signals since announcing on Monday that he had called off renewed attacks to give time for negotiations, veering between optimism about an agreement and threats of more action. "It's right on the... Details

Lebanon says 19 killed in Israeli air strikes

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 20 May 2026 09:06:46 +0600

Israeli air strikes have killed at least 19 people in southern Lebanon, the country's health ministry has said. Ten of them, including three children and three women, were killed in a single attack that hit a house in the town of Deir Qanoun, the ministry said, reports the BBC. Lebanon was drawn into the war on 2 March, when the Iran-backed armed Shia Islamist group Hezbollah fired rockets at... Details

Putin, Xi set for talks in Beijing

UNB — Wed, 20 May 2026 09:01:41 +0600

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold talks in Beijing, just days after US President Donald Trump visited China amid the ongoing Iran war. The meeting comes only a week after Trump’s state visit, making it the first time China has hosted the leaders of both Russia and the United States in the same month outside a multilateral forum. Putin... Details

G7 calls for reopening of Strait of Hormuz

UNB — Tue, 19 May 2026 22:30:00 +0600

Finance ministers of the Group of Seven have stressed the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is essential while also underscoring the importance of addressing global current account imbalances. In a joint statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation to tackle risks facing the global economy. Since 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been... Details

Thailand cuts visa-free stays, citing crime by foreigners

BSS — Tue, 19 May 2026 17:08:41 +0600

Thailand is drastically cutting the length of visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries in an effort to curb crime involving foreign nationals, officials said on Tuesday. Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian nation's economy, but foreign arrivals are yet to return to their pre-Covid highs. A recent series of high-profile arrests of foreigners has included cases linked to... Details

AMTC of BIMSTEC enters into force

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:03:50 +0600

BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Secretariat is pleased to announce entry into force of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), marking a significant milestone in advancing regional maritime connectivity and maritime cooperation among the BIMSTEC Member States. It may be recalled that the BIMSTEC Member States... Details

Trump pauses planned Iran strike amid ongoing negotiations

UNB — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:25:51 +0600

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has decided to hold off on a planned military strike against Iran, citing ongoing negotiations that could potentially end the conflict. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said a “very major attack” scheduled for Tuesday had been postponed to allow time for diplomatic efforts. “There seems to be a very good chance that they can... Details

Oil prices rise after Trump warns 'clock is ticking'

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:16:17 +0600

Oil prices rose on Monday morning in Asia after US President Donald Trump warned Iran the "clock is ticking" as talks to bring the war to an end have stalled. The global benchmark Brent crude was 1.85% higher at $111.28 (£83.61), while US-traded oil was up by 2.32% at $107.87, BBC reports. Energy markets have been on a wild ride after Iran effectively closed the key Strait of Hormuz... Details

Trump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran as peace progress stalls

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:14:47 +0600

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran the "clock is ticking" as talks to bring the war to an end have stalled. "They better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" The message came as the president was due to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, BBC reports. Iranian media... Details

Xi, Putin exchange messages makring 10th China-Russia Expo

UNB — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:05:34 +0600

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday sent congratulatory messages to mark the opening of the 10th China-Russia Expo in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China. In his message, Xi said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and... Details

Iran ready for conflict if US negotiations collapse

UNB — Sun, 17 May 2026 09:43:42 +0600

Iran has warned it is prepared to return to direct military confrontation with the United States if ongoing negotiations fail to yield outcomes it deems acceptable, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. In a series of state-backed messages aimed at audiences at home and abroad, Araghchi also highlighted the economic repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, saying the fallout is... Details

Iraq exported 10m barrels of oil via Hormuz in April

UNB — Sat, 16 May 2026 18:28:46 +0600

Iraq exported 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in April, the country’s newly appointed oil minister Basim Mohammed said at a news conference. Mohammed said Iraq plans to engage with OPEC to boost its oil production and export capacity. He added that Baghdad is targeting a production capacity of five million barrels per day. Details

Israel, Lebanon agree to extend truce by 45 days: US

UNB — Sat, 16 May 2026 10:43:22 +0600

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by 45 days following two days of negotiations in Washington, the US State Department said. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the discussions are expected to help advance a lasting peace between the two countries, including mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring security along their... Details

'Cuba has run out of diesel and oil'

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 14 May 2026 16:45:46 +0600

Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, the country's Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy has said. In an interview with state-run media, de la O Levy said there were limited amounts of gas available, but that Cuba's energy system was in a "critical" state as a US-led blockade of oil to the country squeezed supply, BBC reports. Scattered protests against power cuts broke out in... Details

Xi calls on Trump to 'build a brighter future' together

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:48:56 +0600

In his opening remarks, Xi noted that "the whole world is watching our meeting. Currently transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe and the international situation is fluid and turbulent", reports the BBC. "The world has come to a new crossroads. Can China and the US overcome the Thucydides trap and create a new paradigm of relations? Can we meet global challenges... Details

Russia launches 800 drones across Ukraine

UNB — Thu, 14 May 2026 09:43:24 +0600

Russia launched at least 800 drones at nearly 20 regions across Ukraine on Wednesday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens, including children, in one of the longest and most extensive attacks of the four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The barrage began in midmorning and continued for hours, targeting Kyiv, the western city of Lviv near Poland and the Black... Details

Trump lands in China for high-stakes meeting with Xi

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 13 May 2026 18:25:36 +0600

US President Donald Trump has just landed in Beijing, China, where he will holding talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over the next two days. He arrived to a brass band playing and flag wavers performing a routine while chanting as he got into his presidential vehicle BBC reports. Trump's party includes tech CEOS, including Telsa boss Elon Musk, who was seen on the tarmac.... Details

Nepali climbers begin Everest season with first summit

BSS — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:12:23 +0600

A team of Nepali climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest on Wednesday, opening the route for hundreds of mountaineers expected to attempt the world's highest peak in the coming weeks. At least 12 members of a rope-fixing team made the ascent, marking the traditional start of the spring climbing window, expedition organisers said. "The rope-fixing team reached the summit this morning,"... Details