World - The Daily Ittefaq

Iran received official US response to end war

UNB — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:12:29 +0600

Iranian officials indicated Wednesday that Tehran has received an official U.S. response to its latest proposal aimed at ending the seven-month war, despite U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejecting the offer just days earlier. The officials did not disclose the contents of the response or say whether Washington had rejected the proposal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented... Details

UN seeks greater support for Rohingya crisis solution

UNB — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:12:43 +0600

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Wednesday said greater regional and international support is needed to advance a political solution to the crisis and end the hostilities in Myanmar. The UNHCR called on the international community to maintain support for countries in the region hosting refugees from Myanmar. “Until conditions in Myanmar allow for safe, dignified and sustainable returns,... Details

Huel ad banned

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:27:17 +0600

An advert for Huel meal replacement shakes has been banned by the advertising watchdog for encouraging or condoning "irresponsible" dietary practices. The ad featured Huel brand ambassador Spencer Matthews sharing an anecdote of a person he met who "only eats Huel" and who won a 260km race "by miles", BBC reports. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said that viewers could assume from... Details

Trump expects new Iran talks despite rejecting deal offer

BSS — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:28:43 +0600

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite his rejection of a truce proposal put forward by Tehran. Iranian officials brought with them to the UN General Assembly in New York a plan for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Trump dismissed the plan and has mused on... Details

What we know about RAF Fairford counter-terror probe

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:22:56 +0600

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after a major incident was declared at an airbase in the west of England. Bomb disposal teams have been examining a number of vehicles near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and dozens of homes in the surrounding area have been evacuated, reports the BBC. Here is a summary of what we know so far. Where is RAF... Details

Trump asked Xi about US arms purchases, says envoy

UNB — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:10:57 +0600

President Donald Trump has justified the pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world — even asking Xi if he’d be in the market for U.S. arms, Trump’s ambassador to China said on Sunday. David Perdue said Trump raised the prospect of the arms sales from the U.S. to its ascendant... Details

New York and New Jersey declare emergency for Nor'easter

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:21:08 +0600

Tens of millions of people across the north-eastern US are in the path of a powerful storm bringing coastal flooding, power cuts, travel chaos and cancelled stadium events. The so-called nor'easter is bringing "dangerous coastal flooding and beach conditions, strong winds and heavy rainfall" to areas including New York City and Boston on Saturday, the US National Weather Service (NWS) said,... Details

Trump bins Iran deal to reopen Hormuz in 7 days

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:29:03 +0600

US President Donald Trump has rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within a week. He told reporters at the White House that Tehran "want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they're losing so badly". On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters at the UN in New York that agreement could be reached "if... Details

White House bars CNN from covering upcoming Trump trip

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 10:24:38 +0600

American news broadcaster CNN said its journalists were not allowed to board Air Force One for a planned trip with President Donald Trump on Saturday. CNN was scheduled to travel on Air Force One to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Trump was expected to watch a college football game, according to the Deutsche Welle. The news organization was to be the representative of the TV press pool for the... Details

Iran offers seven-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz

UNB — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:03:54 +0600

Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and restarting negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program, provided Washington agrees to several conditions. Tehran wants the U.S. to end its naval blockade of Iranian ports, remove restrictions on Iranian oil exports, and maintain a ceasefire that also covers Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi... Details

Xi got Trump's red carpet welcome - but not everything he wanted

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:05:11 +0600

President Xi Jinping's summits with Donald Trump have one clear aim. China believes the United States is trying to contain its rise as a superpower, and it wants Washington to stay out of its way - particularly when it comes to trade, technology and Taiwan, BBC reports. On this visit, however, despite Trump rolling out the red carpet for him, the Chinese leader didn't get everything he... Details

Death toll rises to 11 after typhoon-induced downpours in Japan

UNB — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:48:16 +0600

The death toll rose to 11, with three others still missing, after heavy rain brought by a large typhoon lashed the Kanto region in eastern Japan and triggered landslides and flooding earlier this week, local media reported Friday. Among the deaths, seven were confirmed in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, while four were confirmed in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of the capital. The most... Details

How the US oil capital welcomed a solar power boom

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:43:18 +0600

Steve Cargil's family has farmed the flat, dry land around Uvalde, a small city in southwest Texas, since 1953. Cargil, 67, had always assumed that one of his three children would eventually take it over, the way he had from his father. But that assumption took a hit one night in 2018 after a violent hailstorm, reports the BBC. Cargil and his son, Ryan, had spent months nursing crops of... Details

China and US should be 'partners rather than rivals': Xi

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:25:05 +0600

Upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews, President Xi and his wife were greeted by a 21-gun salute and a military band, and received flowers from American children, according to Chinese state-run news outlet Xinhua. President Trump called Xi a "great leader" and the occasion a "great moment", reports the BBC quoting Xinhua. Xi, delivering a written statement, said both China and the US are "great... Details

US announces new visa restriction policy for birth tourism

UNB — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:11:44 +0600

The United States on Wednesday said it will not allow foreigners to exploit its immigration system and violate the sanctity of US citizenship, announcing a new visa restriction policy for those who engage in or facilitate birth tourism. Foreign commercial birth tourism networks have exploited the US immigration system to sell US citizenship for profit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in... Details

Trump says US, Iran held talks after ‘annihilate’ threat at UN

UNB — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:53:14 +0600

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American and Iranian officials held a three-hour meeting shortly after he warned at the UN General Assembly that he could “annihilate” Iran if no deal is reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war. Trump gave reporters few details about the talks but described them as “a very good meeting.” Earlier in his address to world... Details

PM Tarique joins high-level General Debate of 81st UNGA

UNB — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:28:19 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday morning joined the high-level General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters in New York. He joined the General Debate around 9:00am after attending a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of delegation and their spouses,... Details

PM attends UN chief's welcome breakfast in New York

BSS — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:35:11 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman today joined a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for world leaders and their spouses attending the 81st UN General Assembly. They attended the breakfast at the North Delegates Lounge of the UN Headquarters here at 7:30am (New Work time). The event marked the beginning of the Prime Minister's... Details

US news outlets sue Trump over White House ban

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:19:48 +0600

US news outlets CNN, MS NOW, and Politico plan to go to court against Donald Trump's administration, after he banned them from the White House, the three said in a statement on Monday. "This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or... Details

Google fined $463m over location data breaches

UNB — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:46:53 +0600

Google has been fined 403 million euros ($463 million) for violating the European Union's strict privacy regulations over its handling of users' location data, the bloc's data protection watchdog said Monday. Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said its investigation found that Google had not processed location data lawfully or fairly through its Web & App Activity setting, which... Details

Four dead, 45,000 houses without power in Japan

BSS — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:52:06 +0600

Typhoon Dujuan left at least four people dead and 22 injured in Japan, while thousands of houses near Tokyo were without power after the storm swept through the region, authorities said Tuesday. The typhoon moved away from Japan's coast and out into the Pacific by morning, allowing authorities to lift or downgrade most heavy rain and landslide warnings. Dujuan had already led to the early... Details

Flights at major US airports delayed after cable cut

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 07:12:15 +0600

Hundreds of flights have been delayed at major airports in the US after construction workers accidentally cut a cable needed for air traffic control. Ground stops and delays were issued on Monday afternoon for airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts, BBC reports. Hours later, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cable had been repaired and airports would... Details

Oil hits over 1-week low on hopes of boost to diplomacy in Iran war

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:38:34 +0600

Oil prices slid to their lowest in more than a week on Monday on hopes diplomacy in the Iran war will get a chance ‌this week amid a UN meet and as investors eyed a partial recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia despite ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis. Brent crude futures and US West Texas Intermediate crude touched their lowest since September 10 earlier on Monday, with Brent at... Details

Why a new Pakistan-China border pact has irked India

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:18:12 +0600

For decades, India has refused to recognise a Pakistan-China boundary in territory it claims as its own. Last week, Pakistan and China moved to institutionalise one, prompting a sharp response from Delhi. The two countries operationalised the Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, which Pakistan described as a "significant milestone" that would deepen cooperation on border management,... Details

Mass drone barrage on Moscow kills two

BSS — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:11:07 +0600

Hundreds of drones targeting Moscow and its surrounding region killed at least two people and damaged a major refinery on the final day of the country's parliamentary elections, the authorities said Sunday. The capital's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 1,600 drones had been intercepted and shot down, 450 of which were aimed at Moscow. He accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere... Details

Trump says US will form 'AI Force'

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:24:46 +0600

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will form an "AI Force" and appoint an artificial intelligence tsar amid warnings about the emergent technology. In a social media post on Saturday, he said his administration "will not in any way hinder or stifle the growth" of the industry, and pushed back against calls to slow down the development of AI until better safeguards are put in... Details

Houthis say they targeted Saudi capital with ballistic missiles

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:12:06 +0600

Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen say they carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks on the Saudi capital Riyadh, as well as energy sites on the country's Red Sea coast. Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday, without confirming any further strikes or causalities, BBC reports. Earlier, a column of black smoke was seen... Details

Saudi Arabia issues aerial threat alerts

UNB — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:37:25 +0600

Saudi Arabia warned of a "hostile aerial threat" and issued a series of emergency alerts across the country late Friday and early Saturday, with at least one explosion heard in the capital, Riyadh. No casualties or damage were reported after the alerts were lifted. Saudi authorities did not say what triggered the warnings or explain the reported explosions. However, they have previously said... Details

Trump says he is banning CNN and Politico from White House

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:42:15 +0600

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is "immediately" banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, the latest twist in his fraught relationship with media outlets. In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said that the outlets "constantly write or report fiction or lies" about his administration, although he provided no examples, BBC reports. Trump later called it a... Details

US to expand military presence in Greenland

UNB — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:27:32 +0600

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States and Denmark had reached an agreement to strengthen the American military presence in Greenland, following months of Trump publicly raising the possibility of taking control of the Arctic island. The proposed deal, however, leaves Greenland under Danish sovereignty. In a social media post announcing the agreement, Trump said the... Details

Iran claims it hit an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

UNB — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:21:35 +0600

Iran says it attacked an oil tanker attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tehran in the largest pro-government demonstration since the United States and Israel began their attacks in February. At the same time, South Korea said it was considering broadening the activities of a naval unit operating in the Gulf of Aden to safeguard... Details

UN holds third informal poll for new chief

BSS — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:43:41 +0600

The UN's most powerful body, the Security Council, met Friday to again gauge the popularity of contenders to lead the organization as world leaders prepare to gather for its annual signature event. No results have yet emerged from the secret indicative vote which took more than one hour, with France's envoy to the UN and the Council's rotating President Jerome... Details

Three dead, eight injured in Philippines school shooting

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:33:46 +0600

Three people have been killed and eight injured in a shooting at a high school in Banga in the province of Mindanao, southern Philippines. Two of the victims were 14-year-old students, Banga mayor Albert Palencia said. The gunman, 16, is among the dead, he said, while four of those injured are in a critical condition, BBC reports . The incident happened on Friday afternoon at Banga National... Details

Iran war sows bitter divisions for diaspora in US

BSS — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:04:28 +0600

When the war on Iran began seven months ago, Washington area Iranian-American Soroush quickly found himself losing friends. He hates the Islamic government in Tehran but believes "nothing is going to be better" by going to war. Fellow exiles in the United States began accusing him of supporting their oppressors. Another Iranian-American, Bahar, also found herself being cut off within the... Details

US interest rates raised for first time in three years

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:32:59 +0600

US interest rates have been raised for the first time in more than three years and could be increased further in a bid to slow rising prices. Rates were hiked to 3.75%-4% from 3.5%-3.75% by the Federal Reserve in a unanimous decision, despite fierce opposition from President Donald Trump, who had called for rates to be cut, BBC reports. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the move was because... Details

300,000 displaced people in Gaza seek safe shelter: UNDP

UNB — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:24:43 +0600

About 2,000 buildings in Gaza face a severe risk of collapsing, leaving roughly 300,000 displaced residents searching for proper shelter, according to Jaco Cilliers, special representative for the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People at the UNDP. Speaking in response to reports that approximately 100 people are missing beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Gaza City,... Details

House votes for third time to end Iran war as conflict continues

UNB — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:12:01 +0600

The US House of Representatives has voted for a third time to end the war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution that would prevent President Donald Trump from continuing military operations without congressional approval. The 220-204 vote late Tuesday was similar to previous efforts this summer, although several more Republicans joined Democrats in backing the measure. None of the... Details

US shifts $52m military aid from Europe, Mideast to Americas

UNB — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:20:50 +0600

The Trump administration is redirecting $52 million in US military assistance from four European and Middle Eastern countries to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, as it steps up its focus on the Western Hemisphere. The State Department notified Congress on Tuesday that the foreign military financing originally allocated to Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq would be reprogrammed to... Details

China tightens travel restrictions for citizens

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:14:19 +0600

New rules governing travel to and from China have come into effect, a move that observers say will further tighten the government's control over its citizens. Citizens deemed to have "harmed" China's national security or interests while overseas can also be barred from leaving China for up to three years after they return, while those who violate technological import and export regulations may... Details

EU leaders urge unity after Russian strike on train

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:22:52 +0600

Several top EU politicians have called a Russian drone strike on a passenger train on Ukraine's border with Poland a bid by Moscow to intimidate Kyiv's allies that should be met with even more resolution. In the incident, a drone hit the train's locomotive at a railway station in the Volyn region, some 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) from the border, shortly after a diplomatic... Details

US scraps limits on emissions from coal and gas power plants

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:11:58 +0600

Rules aimed at limiting pollution from coal and gas power plants are being scrapped, the head of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced. The agency also said it would take steps to prevent future administrations from regulating power plant emissions, BBC reports. The EPA said that getting rid of the majority of the climate rules from President Joe Biden's era would save... Details

Iran war reshapes Brics ties but also exposes divisions

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:12:56 +0600

This weekend, some of the most powerful people in the world gathered in Delhi around a vast circular table. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that together, the leaders next to him should increasingly become "rule-shapers", not "rule-takers". Among those listening were members of the Brics group, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's... Details

Who are Yemen's Houthis?

BSS — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:15:09 +0600

Within a matter of days, Yemen's Houthis have swept south and seized the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, cementing their rise as a force to be reckoned with in the constellation of Iran-backed armed groups across the Middle East. Once considered a relatively isolated religious and military movement, the Houthis now hold all of Yemen's Red Sea coast, as well as significant territory in the... Details

Saudi Arabia, Houthis trade strikes over Bab al-Mandeb

UNB — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:47:08 +0600

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces have traded strikes as fighting intensifies around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The escalation comes as Houthi forces have seized Mayun Island, also known as Perim, giving the group a strategic position in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and strengthening its control over Yemen’s Red Sea... Details

Death toll from Philippines ferry fire rises to 76

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 07:13:42 +0600

The Philippine Coast Guard says it has recovered 41 bodies from the wreckage of a ferry that caught fire this week, bringing the total death toll to 76. More than 130 people were on board the MV June Aster when the blaze erupted on Wednesday as it neared its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron, after departing from Manila, BBC reports. The coast guard said on Saturday the number of... Details

BRICS declaration urges 'maximum restraint' in Mideast

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 19:40:03 +0600

Speaking at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region. "China is willing to work with fellow BRICS members to play due role in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region," President Xi Jinping told the official Xinhua news agency in New Delhi, according to... Details

Saudi Arabia shuts key oil pipeline after drone attack launched from Iraq

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:04:47 +0600

Saudi Arabia has closed a critical oil pipeline after it was attacked by drones launched from Iraq, as conflict in the Middle East widens. Iraq said it had fired a military commander and launched an investigation after admitting the drone attack on its neighbour's East-West pipeline had originated in one of its provinces bordering Iran, reports the BBC. The 1,200km (745 mile) pipeline has... Details

US marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

BSS — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:52:11 +0600

The United States on Friday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the devastating September 11, 2001 attacks with a poignant ceremony in New York marked by President Donald Trump's absence and searing criticism from victims' relatives. In an unusual move, Trump paid his respects at the Pentagon, not the event in New York, where hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center and most of the... Details

Pre-9/11 security rules returning to US airports

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:42:55 +0600

American airports dramatically changed in the wake of 9/11, but new policy changes are restoring some previously banned travel practices after 25 years. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will soon allow individuals without tickets to pass through security and go to airport gates with loved ones, BBC reports. TSA is also considering allowing some US passengers... Details

Over 500,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine, UK says

UNB — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:43:01 +0600

More than 500,000 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022, British Chief of the Defense Staff Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said Friday. He said Russian casualties had reached 1.5 million, including those killed. The British figures broadly match Ukrainian military estimates. Russia has not commented. Knighton said Russia’s army... Details

Is Trump's $5,000 pledge a sign of panic?

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:36:55 +0600

We all know that Donald Trump does not feel the need to adhere to the normal rules of political campaigning. Even by his own unconventional standards, his extravagant promise to pay every American citizen $5,000 (£3,700) if the Republicans win the midterm elections was bizarre. This enormous cash pledge was not the headline of his keynote address at the first night of his midterms... Details

BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi

UNB — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:19:48 +0600

Leaders of the BRICS nations will meet in New Delhi this weekend as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and U.S.-China tensions test the group’s ability to act together. Host India will seek to balance its ties with China and Russia against its growing partnerships with the United States and other Western powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian... Details

Iran war to end after US midterm polls: Trump

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:51:51 +0600

President Donald Trump said he expected the war with Iran to end after the November U.S. midterm elections and threatened again to attack a site associated with the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme after ‌the two sides launched their biggest wave of attacks on shipping since the start of the six-month-old war. Tensions in the region were high, with Saudi civil defence authorities on... Details

August was joint hottest month on record in Europe

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:25:15 +0600

August was the joint-hottest month ever recorded, tying with July 2023, according to the EU's climate service. The record was driven by a combination of climate change and the rising influence of El Niño, pushing heat into the atmosphere across the Pacific, reports the BBC. Temperatures for the month were 1.65C above pre-industrial levels - surpassing the critical 1.5C threshold agreed... Details

Nepal seeks survivors two weeks after deadly floods

BSS — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:44:11 +0600

Nepali rescuers clung to hopes of finding survivors trapped in hydropower tunnels on Wednesday, two weeks after deadly flooding triggered by a glacial mountain collapse. The August 26 tsunami-like surge of water, mud and debris, which began on the China-Nepal border, has killed more than 1,401 people and left 5,845 missing. "The rescue and search work in the tunnels at Trishuli 3A, 3B and... Details

Trump widens trade war with Canada beyond tariffs

UNB — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:41:13 +0600

The United States has widened its trade confrontation with Canada, banning imports of some Canadian dairy products, motorcycles and most alcoholic beverages after Ottawa imposed retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of US goods. US President Donald Trump also moved to exclude Canadian products from major, long-term US government contracts, taking the dispute beyond tariffs as... Details

US hits 5 Iranian tankers as Tehran targets American base in Jordan

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:25:20 +0600

US forces struck five Iranian tankers in response to Tehran twice targeting an American warship over the past two days, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Four Iranian oil tankers linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Gulf of Oman were targeted, as well as another tanker near Kharg Island, a major oil off Iran's Gulf Coast, Centcom added, reports the BBC. Tehran retaliated... Details

Russia opens first road bridge with North Korea

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:04:28 +0600

Russia and North Korea on Monday cut the ribbon on the first road bridge linking the two countries as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their strategic partnership. The crossing spans the Tumen River and marks another expansion of transport links between the two countries, according to the Deutsche Welle. Where is the new bridge? The road crossing is near the existing Friendship Bridge, a railway... Details

Eiffel Tower shut by staff protest after women moved for religious visit

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:20:54 +0600

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over female workers being removed for the visit of a Hindu religious group, workers and management said. A delegation of around 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group visited the landmark in the French capital on Saturday, BBC reports. Staff union representative Diane Davoine... Details

US denies Iran struck uncrewed US vessel in Strait of Hormuz

UNB — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:19:42 +0600

The US military has denied an Iranian state media report that Iran struck an uncrewed American military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claim a “total lie.” The denial came as a senior Iranian official on Sunday said Tehran plans to establish an “exclusion zone” outside the strategic waterway for vessels it believes are trying to pass through the Strait of... Details

Five dead after Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 07:23:41 +0600

An Amazon Air cargo plane overshot the runway while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, killing five people and seriously injuring five more. The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft crashed just before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground, BBC... Details

Mudslide at China-Nepal border port leaves 43 dead, 519 missing

UNB — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:57:17 +0600

Authorities said 43 people had been confirmed dead and another 519 remained missing as of 6 p.m. Saturday after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port along the China-Nepal border in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug. 26. Officials said at a press conference that 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were among those reported missing. The briefing followed a visit by... Details

Volcano eruption leaves 150,000 passengers stranded in Indonesia

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 20:54:53 +0600

More than 150,000 passengers have been left stranded after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports. Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was the first to be closed on Sunday morning after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near the airport, BBC reports. Transport minister Dudy Purwagandhi said so far 712... Details

Sudan's power crisis drives solar push, but high costs keep many out

UNB — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:08:51 +0600

Sudan's prolonged war and worsening electricity crisis are driving more residents to turn to solar power, but the high cost of installing solar systems is putting the alternative energy source beyond the reach of many households. For 31-year-old housewife Randa al-Mansour, solar panels installed on the roof of her building have provided a lifeline through repeated power outages in Omdurman,... Details

US strikes three Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on Navy ships

UNB — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:53:30 +0600

US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iranian forces allegedly targeted American Navy vessels with ballistic missiles, marking a fresh escalation in the months-long conflict, the US military said Saturday. The US military said an aircraft carrier and a destroyer came under multiple “unprovoked Iranian attacks” while operating in the region, but no American personnel were... Details

US envoys meet Putin in Moscow for Ukraine talks

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 07:21:37 +0600

US President Donald Trump's top negotiators have met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. Footage released by the Kremlin showed Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner being greeted by Putin, who said the current situation "is not so easy". He added Russia would explain "how we see the situation", reports the BBC. Witkoff thanked Putin for... Details

UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:10:49 +0600

The UN General Assembly has voted to replace the traditional world map with one that more accurately reflects the size of Africa. The "Correct the Map" resolution, sponsored by Togo and backed by African Union (AU) members, passed with the support of 164 nations, including France and the UK. The United States was the only nation to vote against it - and there were six abstentions, BBC reports.... Details

Iran war is 'small potatoes' for US: Trump

BSS — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:04:20 +0600

President Donald Trump said Friday that the Iran war was "small potatoes" for the United States, in his administration's latest bid to play down the conflict ahead of crucial midterm elections. Trump's comments came a day after Vice President JD Vance said that "I wouldn't call it a war" despite an upsurge in clashes between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz. "A... Details

Trump's peace envoys to visit Moscow and Kyiv over weekend

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:15:04 +0600

US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia and Ukraine this weekend, as efforts to end the war appear to be gathering pace. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he will meet the envoys on Sunday, after they visit Moscow on Saturday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, BBC reports. Witkoff and Kushner have led US President Donald Trump's efforts to... Details

US average diesel price hits new record

UNB — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:51:40 +0600

U.S. national average price of retail diesel hit a new record on Thursday as crude oil rebounded and the U.S. refining sector faces capacity restraints. The U.S. national average price of diesel increased to 5.820 U.S. dollars per gallon on Thursday afternoon, surpassing the previous record high of 5.819 dollars per gallon recorded in June 2022, according to data issued by fuel savings... Details

Trump’s bid to curb birthright citizenship blocked

UNB — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 18:42:03 +0600

A US federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, issuing a preliminary injunction against an executive order targeting what the administration calls “birth tourism.” US District Judge Deborah L. Boardman of Maryland issued the order Wednesday while a class-action lawsuit filed by immigrant families and advocacy groups... Details

Iran, US trade threats after fresh strikes

BSS — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:43:27 +0600

Iran and the United States traded threats on Wednesday after some of the heaviest fighting in weeks engulfed the Middle East, deepening the foes' stalemate six months into the war. President Donald Trump said US forces staged a "very heavy attack" on Iranian targets overnight and are "prepared to do another one any time we want". Tehran's security chief warned that Iran had adopted a "new... Details

US sailors arrive Thailand after record 250 days at sea

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:13:49 +0600

After a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Thailand, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a much-needed break. The ship is docking close to the beach resort of Pattaya, known for its raucous nightlife and for sex tourism. For the US it also carries strong historical echoes, reports the BBC. When the weary sailors... Details

Nepal seeks compensation from US, China, India over deadly flash floods

UNB — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:08:07 +0600

Nepal has launched a diplomatic campaign seeking climate compensation from major greenhouse gas emitters for the devastation caused by recent deadly flash floods, saying assistance to climate-vulnerable countries should be seen as a matter of responsibility rather than charity. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Nepal contributes virtually negligible greenhouse gas emissions but is facing... Details

The missing in Nepal-Tibet flash floods

BSS — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:16:07 +0600

At least 4,471 people were listed as missing on Monday, with a further 955 confirmed dead, after the flash floods and landslides that hit the Nepal-Tibet border. The figures are likely to change, which is not uncommon in the chaos after a major disaster. Here are the latest numbers: In total: 4,471 missing - Nepal's disaster agency reduced the total number of people missing on... Details

US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:27:52 +0600

Iran and the US have traded strikes after American forces attacked two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The first known US strikes on Iran since late July killed two people and injured two others, according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which vowed "response and punishment". The IRGC also said it had shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz,... Details

Iran claims retaliatory attack on U.S. bases in Jordan

UNB — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:20:36 +0600

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its aerospace forces carried out retaliatory drone and ballistic missile strikes against U.S. targets at two air bases in Jordan earlier in the day. The strikes were in response to the "U.S. and Israeli air aggression" against Iran's southern Larak Island in Hormozgan province on Sunday night, the IRGC said in a statement... Details

Nepal buries dead as rescuers seek thousands missing

BSS — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:19:23 +0600

Nepal was burying on Monday some of the hundreds of bodies retrieved after a deadly, tsunami-like flood crashed through the Himalayan region, sweeping away villages and leaving thousands still missing. Distraught families have packed rescue stations and hospitals in search of their missing relatives, while others have faced the grim task of identifying bodies at overflowing morgues. The huge... Details

Nepal flood death toll rises to 734: disaster authority

BSS — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:30:58 +0600

Devastating floods near the border with China killed at least 734 people in Nepal and 2,498 remain missing, its disaster authority said Sunday, as rescue efforts entered a fifth day. Chinese state media had earlier confirmed 16 dead in Tibet and 546 people missing following Wednesday's disaster. That takes the overall toll to 750 dead and 3,044 missing. The number of missing in Nepal rose... Details

37 killed as Russian air raids hit Kyiv for 3rd day

UNB — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:56:22 +0600

Russian air raids disrupted Kyiv for a third day, with a strike in Bucha district raising the region's death toll to 37, officials said Saturday. Regional military administrator Tymur Tkachenko said fires damaged a restaurant and 50 residential buildings, including an elderly and disabled care home, forcing over 370 evacuations. In Myla, an unspecified warehouse detonated. President Volodymyr... Details

Number of missing in Nepal, China floods soars past 2,400

BSS — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:17:25 +0600

Rescuers in Nepal and China were still battling Saturday to locate thousands of people missing days after a deadly, tsunami-like wall of water and debris swept through the Himalayan region, engulfing villages. The number of missing soared past 2,400 on Friday as emergency teams said they had recovered 586 bodies -- with some of the dead swept downstream as far away as India. In an area home... Details

Two Bangladeshi workers killed in Russian factory fire

UNB — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 10:14:44 +0600

A fire caused by a sudden accident at a Sinopec Group factory in Russia’s Amur region has been brought under control, and working staff are safe, the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow said Friday. While most employees survived unharmed, two Bangladeshi workers were killed in the incident, and those injured have been brought to Moscow for advanced medical treatment. The deceased were... Details

Delhi spells out Mecca Pact has security implications for India

UNB — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:11:57 +0600

India on Friday said the "Mecca Pact" has security implications for India, noting that it is closely following developments that have implications for its national security. "We continue to follow all developments that have a bearing on India's security and take all necessary steps to safeguard it," Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New... Details

'High risk' of lake bursting and causing second flood, warns China

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:50:12 +0600

China has warned there is a "high risk" that a lake which formed after the recent landslide near the Nepal-Tibet border may burst, causing a second flood downstream. The warning comes after Wednesday's deadly flash flood in the same area which scientists say was triggered by the collapse of a mountain glacier into a river, BBC reports. As of Friday morning, an estimated 2.5 million cubic... Details

Death toll hits 469, hundreds missing

UNB — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:21:23 +0600

The death toll from massive flash floods has risen to 469 in Nepal, police said Friday, as rescuers work to find hundreds of people still missing in the area on the Nepal-China border. The previous death toll was 390 in Nepal and three in Tibet. Authorities had also reported more than 1,400 missing people in both areas from the disaster Wednesday. Hundreds have already been rescued, Nepalese... Details

Could new US sanctions tear China and Iran apart?

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:47:41 +0600

China has pushed back on what it called "illegal unilateral sanctions" after the US announced new measures earlier this week to cut off all potential sources of revenue to Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday described the sanctions package as an "economic D-Day" against Tehran, and warned any economic engagement with the regime would "expose those responsible to the full reach"... Details

12 killed in Algeria wildfires

UNB — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:33:19 +0600

At least 12 people were killed as wildfires swept through three provinces in northeastern Algeria, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said Wednesday evening. The deaths included five in Jijel province, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Sayoud said during a visit to Bejaia, about 270 km east of the capital Algiers. Following instructions from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Sayoud visited... Details

Search for missing after Nepal-Tibet floods kills at least 160

BSS — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:14:11 +0600

Rescue teams rushed Thursday to find hundreds of people missing on the Nepal-Tibet border in flash floods and landslides that killed at least 160 and swept away entire villages. A terrifying clip of surveillance video from the Chinese side of the frontier shows a massive wall of mud and debris crashing over a building several stories high on Wednesday morning, engulfing it as dozens of people... Details

Hundreds missing after deadly flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:46:54 +0600

Hundreds of travellers are missing, including at least 291 foreign tourists, after a flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border. At least 31 people have been killed in Nepal - among the preliminary list of the missing are more than 100 people from India and 12 from the UK, according to its tourist board, reports the BBC. Chinese state media is also reporting "major casualties" in Tibet, which is... Details

US pauses immigrant visa appointments for global applicants

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:14:42 +0600

President Donald Trump's ‌administration has issued a pause on immigrant visa appointments for applicants around the world during an ongoing immigration crackdown by the U.S. government in the Republican leader's second term in the White House. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that it launched a global training initiative at all U.S. embassies and consulates... Details

Iran and Oman discuss temporary Hormuz corridor

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:06:27 +0600

Iran said it had restarted talks with neighbor Oman to manage the Strait of Hormuz as it faces heightened economic pressure from U.S. ‌President Donald Trump in the wider conflict. Iran and Oman have been in on-and-off talks for weeks about controlling traffic through the strategic waterway, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war began in... Details

Fire at hospital nursery in Pakistan's capital kills 14 newborns

UNB — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:36:11 +0600

A fire broke out early Wednesday at a newborn nursery in a major government hospital in Pakistan's capital, killing 14 infants, hospital officials and the government said. At least 15 newborns were being treated in the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences when the fire broke out, according to hospital authorities. One baby was rescued from the facility. Rescue officials said... Details

Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:05:33 +0600

US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz - the vital waterway which Iran has largely closed since the beginning of the war in the Middle East. "Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. There is no... Details

Oil tanker struck by projectile off Oman: UKMTO

BSS — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:30:34 +0600

An oil tanker was struck and disabled by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing damage but no casualties, a British maritime agency said early Tuesday. "The Master of an oil tanker reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile causing damage to the engine room and disabling the vessel," with the crew reported as safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade... Details

Venezuela quake death toll surpasses 6,500

BSS — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:28:52 +0600

Venezuela's interim government on Monday reported 6,509 deaths from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck the South American nation exactly two months ago. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 tremors on June 24 devastated the coastal state of La Guaira, where at least 190 buildings fell apart. The previous death toll had stood at 6,438. Efforts to recover the dead under the rubble are ongoing in... Details

Mediator Pakistan to hold talks in Iran on US 'economic D-Day'

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:56:07 +0600

Pakistan's army chief was visiting Tehran on a mediating mission on Monday as the United ‌States prepared to roll out "the greatest financial offensive ever" targeting Iran's trade partners. Iran dismissed the U.S. threat, vowing to shut down all oil exports from the Gulf "if the economic war continues". It issued a new warning to shipping not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without... Details

New Tata boss to face formidable challenges

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:37:38 +0600

The shock resignation of Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier this month has left corporate India's top job vacant. But finding his successor will be no easy task for the country's most revered conglomerate, whose sprawling $300bn empire spans Jaguar Land Rover and Air India as well as manufacturing iPhones for Apple, reports the BBC. Chandrasekaran resigned amid a deadlock over his... Details

30 killed in landslide at Guinea landfill

UNB — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:19:27 +0600

A mountainous heap of refuse collapsed at the largest landfill in Guinea 's capital of Conakry early on Sunday, killing 30 people, according to the central government. Authorities said that heavy rains, which started at around 2 a.m., washed over the refuse at Dar Es Salam — the largest landfill in Conakry — and triggered a landslide that buried nearby shacks. A search and rescue... Details

Trump hits back at Canada after retaliatory tariffs announcement

BSS — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:23:54 +0600

US President Donald Trump hit back at Canada on Sunday after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on the United States following a breakdown in trade negotiations. "Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!" he... Details

Moderate earthquake hits Japan

UNB — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:27:08 +0600

A moderate earthquake struck eastern Japan, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, early Sunday, injuring at least 23 people, mostly with minor injuries, officials said. There was no tsunami threat. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, with its epicenter in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of about 70 kilometers (42 miles). The U.S.... Details