Iran Says ‘Authorised’ Ships Crossing Strait Of Hormuz Must Pay Tehran Service Fees

<p>Iran on Sunday said that vessels from "authorised" countries transiting the Strait of Hormuz will now be required to pay service fees to Tehran.</p> <p>Detailing the scope of the decision, Iran's National Security Commission Spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei stated that the fees will cover a wide range of maritime, environmental, and logistical provisions.</p> <p>According to state broadcaster IRIB, this comes after the approval of the Article 3 "Strategic Action to Ensure the Security and Progress of the Strait of Hormuz" plan.</p> <p>"Article 3 of the 'Strategic Action to Ensure the Security and Progress of the Strait of Hormuz' plan was approved by the National Security Commission, according to which ships from countries authorised to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will pay for the services provided by Iran," he said.</p> <p>"Fees will be charged for services including navigation, environmental, fueling under certain conditions, insurance, safety and other services we provide," he added.</p> <p><br />The spokesperson further stated that the payment structures have been designed with flexible financial terms.</p> <p>"These fees will be charged in Rials or any other currency desired by the Islamic Republic of Iran," IRIB cited him as saying.</p> <p>Earlier, Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Mohsen Rezaei, on Saturday (local time) said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and will not reopen until the United States fulfils its commitments and changes its behaviour amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.</p> <p>In an interview with IRIB, Rezaei said, "The Strait of Hormuz is closed, despite American claims, and will not open until America corrects its behaviour."</p> <p>"This time, America must first fulfil its obligations," he added.</p> <p>Rezaei further alleged that Washington had abandoned military options and was relying on economic pressure against Tehran. "The Americans are completely disappointed with the military attacks and think they can help with military actions through economic blockade," he said.</p> <p>He claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured US President Donald Trump that an economic blockade would force Iran to surrender.</p> <p>On the other hand, US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim of US control over the critical waterway by sharing an image that depicts the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW US Territory."</p> <p>The latest post on Truth Social follows Trump's earlier sharing of the identical graphic on August 18, after he previously floated the prospect of claiming jurisdiction over the waterway.</p> <p>Addressing a police academy gathering on Long Island on August 14, Trump had stated, "Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States".</p> <p>The Strait of Hormuz remains the focal point of the ongoing confrontation, with Tehran holding that the vital passage is shut and warning of countermeasures against unapproved tanker traffic. The shipping disruptions have severely affected international energy movement.</p> <p>While President Trump has repeatedly cautioned foreign governments against providing Tehran with "any type of lifeline" and maintained that Iran must agree to what Washington deems the right deal, Iranian officials have signalled an openness to negotiations alongside their firm stance.</p> <p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the standoff, emphasising that Tehran should aim to end the conflict while safeguarding its national strength and dignity.</p> <p>With President Trump continuing to designate the Strait of Hormuz as "NEW US Territory" and Tehran maintaining that the passage will stay closed without a shift in American policy, the strategic transit route remains at the centre of the worsening crisis.&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>

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22 Killed As Massive Landfill Collapses In Guinea Capital After Heavy Rains

<div class="flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="e63288f6-602b-4210-a69b-a98aa8e57942" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-6-mini" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="fbskMG_root markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling"> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="0" data-end="222">At least 22 people were killed after a massive pile of rubbish collapsed at Guinea&rsquo;s largest landfill in the capital Conakry early Sunday, according to a provisional toll released by the country&rsquo;s civil protection service.</p> <p data-start="224" data-end="431">Heavy rains began around 3am and washed over the waste at the Dar Es Salam landfill, triggering a landslide that buried nearby makeshift shelters. Search and rescue teams were deployed to look for survivors.</p> <p data-start="433" data-end="580">The landfill had been scheduled for closure on Sunday, said Lt Col Bald&eacute; Mamadou Bailo, sanitation officer with the military engineering battalion.</p> <p data-start="582" data-end="772">Authorities had issued eviction notices to residents living near the landfill, prompting many families to leave the area. However, several people were still there when the collapse occurred.</p> <p data-start="774" data-end="933" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&ldquo;We will ensure that the remaining families are relocated elsewhere,&rdquo; Territorial Administration and Decentralisation Minister Dienabou Tour&eacute; said at the site.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start">&nbsp;</div> <div class="pointer-events-none -mb-px h-px w-full opacity-0" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</div>

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IIT Kharagpur outreach network launches Texas AI Learning Centre in Houston, US

<p>Houston (US), Aug 23 (PTI): Texas AI Learning Centre, set up in collaboration with the IIT Kharagpur Outreach Network, was inaugurated at the Tagore Centre here to advance artificial intelligence education, skill development, and industry solutions.</p><p>Coinciding with India’s 80th Independence Day and IIT Kharagpur’s 75th anniversary, the facility was jointly launched by India’s Consul General in Houston, DC Manjunath, Tagore Centre Foundation co-founder and IIT Kharagpur Foundation President Dr Asoke Deysarkar, and IIT Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty.</p><p>Consul General Manjunath highlighted the expanding India–US tech partnership, noting that AI cooperation is opening new avenues for institutional synergy. Recalling the year-long groundwork behind the effort, he expressed optimism that the facility would scale into a full-fledged overseas IIT Outreach Centre.</p><p>Prof. Chakraborty envisioned the centre transforming into a broader Pan-IIT platform for alumni and global stakeholders to offer professional development courses and address complex industry challenges.</p><p>In a video message, US Consul General in Kolkata Kathy Giles-Diaz lauded the academic collaboration, while HCL Tech co-founder and IIT alumnus Arjun Malhotra pledged support for expanding its reach.</p><p>The centre commenced operations with a two-day AI certificate bootcamp coordinated by Texas A&M University professor Dr Debyajoti Banerjee.</p><p>The inauguration drew strong participation from IIT alumni, tech professionals, Indian diaspora leaders, and representatives from Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones’s office. PTI SHK SHS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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Bangladesh open to joining Saudi-Pak-Turkiye defence pact: ministers

<p> Dhaka, Aug 22 (PTI): Bangladesh is open to joining the recently formed defence alliance between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, two junior ministers have said, while stressing that any decision would be guided by the country's national interests.</p><p> Signed in Makkah on August 7, the pact establishes a framework for collective deterrence and stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three.</p><p> “Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, taking into account its own interests and the changing dynamics of the global economy and trade,” newly appointed state minister for foreign affairs Humayun Kobir said.</p><p> In an interview with the Bangla service of state-run BSS on Friday, Kobir said the government was pursuing a “Bangladesh First” policy and a balanced foreign policy with national interests at its core, which might lead Dhaka to join the defence pact.</p><p> He said Bangladesh would also strengthen bilateral ties with Pakistan through normal diplomatic engagement, focusing on trade and people-to-people connectivity.</p><p> Kobir, appointed as the second state minister for foreign affairs on Friday, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to visit Riyadh at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's invitation and the tour schedule is likely to be finalised after the summer.</p><p> Another state minister for foreign affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, in a separate media interaction on Friday, supplemented Kobir’s comments, saying Bangladesh's national interest and the interests of its people would determine Dhaka’s stance on joining the pact.</p><p> "Whether we join any pact or any multilateral body will be decided primarily on whether Bangladesh's interests and the interests of the Bangladeshi people are protected," she said when asked whether Bangladesh would be part of the trilateral framework.</p><p> The two junior ministers' comments came two days after Rahman’s finance and planning adviser Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said a “Bangladesh First” policy marked a “paradigm shift” in the country’s foreign policy.</p><p> He said the policy placed national interest, sovereignty, mutual respect and regional harmony at the centre of Bangladesh’s engagement with the international community by maintaining constructive and mutually beneficial relations with all countries.</p><p> “The Bangladesh First policy means putting Bangladesh’s interests first, but Bangladesh for all,” Titumir said. PTI AR GRS GRS GRS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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Kazakhstan's Post-Election Future: Russia, EU Or China?

<p>On August 23, Kazakhstan, a former Soviet country that has recently adopted a new constitution, will hold elections to its parliament.</p> <p>The legislative body will be transformed from a two-chamber to a single-chamber system. Citizens will elect 145 members of parliament via party lists. All seven registered parties have been admitted to the election, including the ruling party, Adilet (which translates to "Justice").</p> <p>But the election result is the least of the campaign's intrigues. Experts DW interviewed agree that no party other than President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's Adilet stands a chance of winning.</p> <h2>Consolidation of power in the president's hands</h2> <p>Luca Anceschi, Professor of Eurasian Studies at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, suggests that the new parliament will do the same as the previous one, "which is pretty much to represent whatever the regime wants them to do."</p> <p>In his view, one should not expect representatives of the genuine opposition to be elected to parliament.</p> <p>Stefan Meister, Head of the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), shares this assessment. He says the ruling party is likely to win the election, a scenario also reflected in recent opinion polls.</p> <p>Both experts agree that these elections are intended to consolidate Tokayev's power and further weaken the bloc led by Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country's president from 1991-2019.</p> <p>Constitutional amendments approved earlier allow Tokayev to seek another seven-year presidential term in 2029 and replace the two-chamber parliament with a single-chamber assembly called the Kurultai.</p> <p>According to former Kazakhstani senator Zauresh Battalova, who now heads the NGO Foundation for the Development of Parliamentarism in Kazakhstan, what matters is not the number of chambers in parliament, but "the scope of its powers, its autonomy and its ability to oversee the executive branch of government."</p> <p>The new constitution has changed not only the structure of parliament but also the way its members are elected. Independent candidates are no longer allowed to run under the current electoral system. Zauresh Battalova sees this as one of the factors limiting voters' political choice.</p> <p>"The election will be held exclusively on the basis of party lists, in the absence of a political opposition and with limited party competition. The scope for genuine political choice remains extremely narrow," she told DW.</p> <h2>Kazakhstan's democratic backlash: Will Europe react?</h2> <p>Meister and Anceschi both say that one should not expect any reaction from European Union members or the European Commission to the deterioration in political freedoms in Kazakhstan.</p> <p>Meister points out that, since the start of the war in Ukraine, the EU has adopted a more pragmatic approach towards Central Asian states. Europe is now interested in developing trade routes as an alternative to those via Russia, as well as in the region's abundant resources. In his view, the only bodies likely to react to the current situation in Kazakhstan are civil society organizations, the European Parliament or the Council of Europe.</p> <p>"The days when the European Union and individual EU member states were more critical of the rule of law and governance in Central Asia are gone, unfortunately," Anceschi says.</p> <p>The University of Glasgow professor notes that an authoritarian backslide is taking place not only in Kazakhstan but also in other EU partner countries.</p> <p>As for Kazakhstan itself, says Meister, it remains the least repressive authoritarian country in the region, with at least some space for civil society, albeit one that is narrowing.</p> <p>"Wherever you buy your oil and gas from, you are never going to buy it from a democracy ― unless it is Norway. So, in that sense, there is not much of a choice," Anceschi says.</p> <p>In 2025, Kazakhstan became the second-largest oil exporter to the EU, with a total share of 12.8%, amounting to 55.8 million tons of crude oil, surpassed only by the United States, according to the European Council of the EU.</p> <h2>The future of Kazakhstan's foreign policy</h2> <p>Experts acknowledge that Kazakhstan has managed to remain neutral in the standoff between Russia and Europe against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Maintaining this course may prove difficult.</p> <p>"They are affected by the conflict, but they are not participating," says Anceschi, describing the country's current position as a "geopolitical comfort zone."</p> <p>Kazakhstan has not officially opposed the European sanctions against Russia, nor has it joined them.</p> <p>"Of course, it is a task with only one ultimate goal, which is the preservation of authoritarian rule," Anceschi says. "So even in this case, foreign policy is becoming an instrument for achieving internal stability."</p> <p>Meister, in turn, draws attention to the increasing level of cooperation between the Central Asian states, which, facing significant external pressure, tend to act as a single bloc while actively seeking to reduce tensions among themselves. He suggests that Kazakhstan is interested in diversifying its external relations not only with the EU, Russia and China, but also with other world powers, such as Arab or East Asian states.</p> <p>According to Meister, Kazakhstan "does not want to be too dependent on Russia ― it has seen what Russia is doing in Ukraine ― and it does not want to be dependent on China."</p> <p>So, the country is looking for alternatives, and Europe could be one of them, both as a market for its resources and as a potential investor in Kazakhstan's economy.</p> <p><em>This article was adapted from Russian.</em></p> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> <p><em><strong>(&ldquo;Disclaimer: This article uses information originally published by Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ). The views expressed are those of the original authors and not necessarily of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, legal or tax advice. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and/or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as investment advice. ABP Network, its employees and associates shall not be responsible or liable for any losses or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on this article or any information contained herein.&rdquo;)</strong></em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Nigeria Mosque Attack: Gunmen Abduct Dozens During Friday Prayers

<p><em>Edited by: Sean Sinico</em></p> <p>Extremists attacked and abducted a number of worshipers in Nigeria's Niger State, authorities said on Saturday.</p> <p>Police said the armed men attacked the villages, including Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, before storming the latter village's mosque during Friday prayers.</p> <p>"Soon after finishing the normal Friday prayer, the armed group [...] in their hundreds, wielding guns, knives and machetes, began to attack us," one survivor told the AFP news agency. "They slaughtered some of our people, saying we are not practicing the true teachings of Islam."</p> <p>Local residents told the AFP and Reuters news agencies that dozens of people &mdash; as many as 60 &mdash; were kidnapped.</p> <p>Witnesses also told AFP that the armed men killed several people, although according to police, "the developing report indicated that no life &zwnj;was ​lost."</p> <h2>Who was responsible for the attack?</h2> <p>Police have not confirmed which group was responsible for Friday's attack.</p> <p>One witness told AFP that the gunmen belonged to Lakurawa &mdash; an increasingly radical outfit that researchers link to the "Islamic State Sahel Province" group.</p> <p>Another resident told AFP that the attackers were Ansaru, which split from Boko Haram and is now aligned with al-Qaeda.</p> <p>Witnesses also said that a third, rival jihadi group known as Mahmuda clashed with the attackers and allowed some of the abductees to escape.</p> <p>Although jihadi attacks have declined in Nigeria since the height of Boko Haram's insurgency last decade, the military and police remain overstretched as they face multiple, sometimes overlapping conflicts.</p> <p>In addition to jihadist insurgency in the north, parts of Nigeria also face violence and kidnappings from non-ideological gangs known locally as "bandits."</p> <p><em>Disclaimer: This report first appeared on <strong>Deutsche Welle,</strong> and has been republished on <strong>ABP Live</strong> as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by <strong>ABP Live.</strong></em></p>

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Trump Calls Hormuz ‘American Territory’, Says Iran Ready For Deal But Not The ‘Right’ One

<p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="1180" data-end="1443">US President Donald Trump called the Strait of Hormuz &ldquo;American territory&rdquo; and warned that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue over the strategic waterway.</p> <p data-start="1445" data-end="1575">Addressing a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, Trump said the US could not allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon.</p> <p data-start="1577" data-end="1712">"We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon; we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or you will see some very bad things," Trump said.</p> <p data-start="1714" data-end="1799">"We went down, and we stopped them; they will never have a nuclear weapon," he added.</p> <p data-start="1714" data-end="1799"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EyXJ42Yxh90?si=FUitdswN1wMVYPbw" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <h2 data-start="1801" data-end="1846">Trump Claims Control Over Strait Of Hormuz</h2> <p data-start="1848" data-end="2011">Trump said Iran wanted to reach an agreement but questioned whether Washington would accept a deal, while asserting that the Strait of Hormuz was under US control.</p> <p data-start="2013" data-end="2200">"They want to make a deal so badly, we don't even know if we want [a deal] because I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now, it's an American territory," Trump said.</p> <p data-start="2202" data-end="2446">Earlier, while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before leaving for Myrtle Beach, Trump claimed that the United States had &ldquo;total control&rdquo; over the Strait of Hormuz and backed the idea of declaring the strategic waterway US territory.</p> <p data-start="2448" data-end="2700">"We're just going to sort of see what happens, and we have total control, as you know, of the border; we have total control -- if you look at the blockade, we have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said.</p> <p data-start="2702" data-end="2794">He also said Iran wanted a deal but was not ready for what he described as the &ldquo;right deal&rdquo;.</p> <p data-start="2796" data-end="2904">"So they would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal in my opinion," Trump said.</p> <p data-start="2796" data-end="2904"><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-president-pezeshkian-says-better-to-end-war-today-amid-us-pressure-1863236">Iran President Pezeshkian Says &lsquo;Better To End War Today&rsquo; Amid US Pressure</a></strong></p> <h2 data-start="2906" data-end="2936">Iran Rejects Trump&rsquo;s Claims</h2> <p data-start="2938" data-end="3107">Trump's remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes.</p> <p data-start="3109" data-end="3315">Trump had earlier shared an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform depicting the strategic waterway as "NEW U.S. Territory", while continuing to assert that the United States controlled the region.</p> <p data-start="3317" data-end="3515">Iran rejected Trump's claims.</p> <p data-start="3317" data-end="3515">Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the US president's assertions about the Strait of Hormuz would be &ldquo;corrected&rdquo; either by circumstances or by Iran.</p> <p data-start="3517" data-end="3747">"Just as Trump correctly wrote the name of the eternal Persian Gulf, soon his delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will either be corrected or we will correct the delusions of this deluded man," Gharibabadi said in a post on X.</p> <p data-start="3749" data-end="3841">Iran's Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei also criticised Trump's remarks.</p> <p data-start="3843" data-end="4101">"The gap between America's inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and its claim to own it is greater than the 7,000-mile distance between Washington and the Strait itself. Welcome to the post-American order in the Persian Gulf," Rezaei said in a post on X.</p> <p data-start="3843" data-end="4101"><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/india/26-11-trial-mumbai-police-move-mha-to-serve-interpol-notices-to-hafiz-saeed-lakhvi-1863233">26/11 Trial: Mumbai Police Move MHA To Serve Interpol Notices To Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi</a></strong></p> <h2 data-start="4103" data-end="4142">Trump Warns Of Economic Consequences</h2> <p data-start="4144" data-end="4257">Trump had recently announced what he described as the "most crushing economic operation ever taken" against Iran.</p> <p data-start="4259" data-end="4384">He also warned countries providing financial, business or government support to Tehran of "tremendous economic consequences."</p> <p data-start="4386" data-end="4588">Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfils commitments under a 14-point memorandum of understanding.</p> <p data-start="4590" data-end="4693" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">The commitments include lifting the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and easing oil sanctions.</p>

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