Skip to main content

Iran says coastal attack will lead to full Gulf closure and mine-laying

An attack on Iran's southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday, according to state media. The US is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios. "Any attempt to attack Iran's coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast," the statement read. "In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time (...) One should not forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines." The Defence Council recalled that non-belligerent states can only pass through the Strait of Hormuz by coordinating passage with Iran...
Post a Comment

Bangladesh brings back 'except Israel' phrase on passports after Gaza protests

Bangladesh has reinstated the "except Israel" inscription on its passports. This policy reversal, announced on Sunday, comes amid rising public anger over Israel's military actions in Gaza. The inscription had been removed in 2021 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who stated that it was to bring the country's passports in line with international standards. According to Nilima Afroze, Deputy Secretary at the Home Ministry's Security Services Division, a directive was issued on April 7 instructing the Department of Immigration and Passports to restore the phrase. The new directive mandates that the statement “THIS PASSPORT IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD EXCEPT ISRAEL” be reinstated on official travel permits. The decision to reintroduce the inscription follows mass protests that took place in Dhaka on April 12, 2025, where thousands rallied to condemn Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. The protest, which gathered an estimated 100,000 people, took place at Suhrawardy Udyan near Dhaka University.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Al Jazeera English (@aljazeeraenglish) Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, shouted slogans such as "Free, Free Palestine," and displayed images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of supporting Israeli policies in Gaza. The phrase “valid for all countries of the world except Israel” — in place since before Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan — was first removed from the e-passport design in 2021. However, despite the language change, the government maintained its official travel ban to Israel for Bangladeshi passport holders. Bangladesh has never had diplomatic relations with Israel and has historically supported the Palestinian cause.  The Gaza onslaught, which escalated after October 2023, has further ignited anti-Israel sentiments within the country. Since the ceasefire broke down last month, the Gaza health ministry has reported more than 50,000 casualties, including civilians, exacerbating the already tense situation. The clause was dropped during Hasina's government under the justification that it would improve the country's diplomatic relations and align with international travel norms. Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country, has consistently supported Palestinian statehood and opposed Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The Gaza conflict, which escalated after Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, has further ignited anti-Israel sentiments within the country. Since the ceasefire broke down last month, the Gaza health ministry has reported more than 50,000 casualties, including civilians, exacerbating the already tense situation. In the aftermath of the protests, various political groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamic groups, have voiced strong support for the rally and called for the government to take a stronger stance on Palestine. The public outcry has led to calls for greater isolation of Israel and increased support for the Palestinian cause within Bangladesh's diplomatic framework.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/bKdjDkE
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...
Post a Comment
Read more

US, Philippines kick off joint military drills in South China Sea with 16,000 troops

Some 16,000 US and Philippine troops kicked off the annual joint military drills on Monday in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), local media reported. WPS is the official designation by Philippines to the parts of the South China Sea that are included in the country's exclusive economic zone. The 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 US troops, making it the largest joint military drills between the two allies conducted in decades, local English daily Manila Times reported citing the military. A total of 14 nations, including Japan and India, will take part in the drills as observers amid mounting maritime tensions in the South China Sea. Contingents from the Australian Defence Force and the French Navy will also join the exercise as participants. Read also: China urges US to stop using Philippines as a pawn to destabilise South China Sea France will join the group sail but will only navigate on the edge of the Philippine E...
Post a Comment
Read more

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...
Post a Comment
Read more