Turkey denounces Netanyahu's 'petty political tactics' Turkey on Friday denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "petty political tactics" in a statement from the president's office. In a statement posted on X, it condemned what it called the Netanyahu government's attempt "to present Turkey as a new threat".
Trump says Iran not ready to make the 'right deal' US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not think that Iran was ready make the "right deal," and that Washington was observing "what happens" in the war. "It just means that we're seeing what happens," Trump told reporters when asked if US military options with Iran were limited. "We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and that means well into it, the land areas.
Warnings from senior Iranian officials about the cost of prolonging the war are increasingly converging with Washington’s central pressure point: whether Iran can economically sustain the conflict.
Israel launches attacks in southern Lebanon Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes on southern Lebanon five minutes apart, targeting the Ali al-Taher ridge in Nabatieh province, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The ridge overlooks southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The agency also reported an attack near the town of Deir Siryan, a raid on Doha Kafr Rumman and a bombing in the al-Mansouri area.
A warning by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that Iran cannot endure if its people go hungry has exposed tensions in Tehran over acknowledging economic strain, with hardliners arguing that signs of weakness will encourage further US pressure.
Indian workers in Israel demand accountability after murder of Indian caregiver Submitted by Shraddha Joshi on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 20:17 The stabbing of an Indian domestic worker has raised concerns about the vulnerability of thousands of Indian workers in Israel Long lines of Indian men queued on January 25, applying for jobs in Israel (Naeem Ansari / AFP) Off Indian workers in Israel have filed an appeal demanding justice and accountability following the murder of Indian caregiver Rajeev Acharya, who was stabbed to death by an Israeli national, India's NDTV news channel reports . Israeli authorities have since indicted Avior Zaken, the grandson of the elderly couple who employed Acharya, for attacking him repeatedly with a sharp object on 23 July. Workers have called for the Israeli government to prosecute the case fully, provide compensation to Acharya's family, and protect Indian foreign workers from violence and abuse, according to NDTV.
EU's von der Leyen joins European countries to condemn Israel's West Bank plan European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday joined European countries to condemn plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for a settlement project called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank. "The Israeli Government's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable," she said in a post on X. "We have long opposed this step.
Iran’s Ghalibaf: ‘We stay out of Iraq’s affairs’ Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday Iran does not interfere in Iraqi internal affairs and will support any agreement between the factions and the Iraqi government. Ghalibaf's statement follows Baghdad's 30 September deadline for all paramilitary factions to integrate into formal state security structures.
Iranian crude loadings have fallen to about one-seventh of their pre-war level under the US naval blockade, while Chinese receipts of Iranian oil and fuel exports have also dropped sharply, tanker-tracking data reviewed by Iran International shows.
US elections: Aisha Wahab becomes first Afghan-American in Congress Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 18:19 Wahab will assume the seat of Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April, but she will still compete in the November midterms California State Senator Aisha Wahab speaks to reporters during an election night watch party at Firefighters Local 1909 in Hayward, California on 18 August 2026 (Heather Diehl/Getty Images via AFP) Off The first Afghan-American to take a seat in the US Congress will represent California, following an election which saw a well-financed campaign led by pro-Israel voices to defeat her. Aisha Wahab, a progressive California state senator, was declared the winner of the tight runoff election in her state's 14th district on Thursday, some 48 hours after polls closed. The district includes the cities of Fremont and Hayward, and is located north of San Jose, along the San Francisco bay.
There has been a significant expansion of building and road construction on Palestinian land occupied by Israel in recent years.
'Shameful:' UK, Canada and Australia condemn Israel's refusal to investigate aid worker attack Israel's decision not to launch a criminal investigation into an attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza is "shameful", according to the UK , Canada and Australia. The 2024 attack by Israel killed at least seven humanitarian workers. "The announcement by the [Israeli military] on August 19, 2026, that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful," the three countries wrote in a statement on Friday.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 21 (ANI): In a major push for India's port infrastructure, Vir S.
New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that it is closely monitoring incidents involving Indian sailors in high-risk maritime zones, including the Strait of Hormuz and the coasts of Yemen and Somalia.
New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): India on Friday said that it stands for a peaceful resolution of issues in West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy when asked about US President Donald Trump's threat of imposing tougher economic measures against Iran as the conflict in the region continues.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian man in Gaza Israeli forces shot dead 29-year-old Palestinian Ibrahim Mohammed Kawar’a in the Qizan al-Najjar area, south of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, on Friday evening, Wafa news agency reported. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Kawar’a was handcuffed and shackled before the killing. Medical sources said his body was taken to Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
Baghdad [Iraq], August 21 (ANI): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called for Iranian and Iraqi business leaders to develop a plan to beat 'cruel sanctions,' after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Tehran of the 'toughest sanctions in history'.
Iran president says time to end war while in position of strength Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday it was time to end the months-long war with the United States because Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington. Talks between the longtime foes remain on hold, and the war started by the US and Israel in February has been locked in a stalemate. Tehran is keeping the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut and Washington is persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.
FM Araghchi says US economic pressure campaign is doomed to fail Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said US President Donald Trump’s threat to launch the “most crushing economic operation ever” against Iran was “doomed to failure”. “We’ve seen this movie before; the same old story, just with different bullies,” Araghchi said, adding that US threats to impose the “most crippling sanctions in history” 14 years ago had failed.
'Shameful:' UK, Canada and Australia condemn Israel's refusal to investigate aid worker attack Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 18:45 Israel sidelining death of aid workers is 'egregious', allies say A boy walks carrying a table on his back past salvage workers scrapping the rubble of a building that was destroyed during Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, to use the recycled remains in the future, in Gaza City on August 16, 2026. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) Off Israel's decision not to launch a criminal investigation into an attack on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza is "shameful", according to the UK , Canada and Australia. The 2024 attack by Israel killed at least seven humanitarian workers.
