Iran showcased its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, releasing footage of commandos storming a large cargo ship and announcing its first proceeds from tolls imposed on vessels transiting the waterway.

Britain and France have agreed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the Channel in small boats, the two sides announced.

A group of militants killed at least 10 people, including a Turkish national, at a copper and gold mining project in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, officials said yesterday, with another Turk taken hostage.

Voting began yesterday in two of India’s politically key opposition-held states, with tens of millions casting ballots in West Bengal and the southern Tamil Nadu.

Cyber criminals hacked into the Sri Lankan finance ministry’s computer system and siphoned off $2.5 million, the government said yesterday, the most amount of cash ever stolen by hackers from a state institution in the debt-saddled country.

Lebanon’s president and prime minister yesterday accused Israel of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country’s south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas.

Vows continued maritime enforcement against vessels supporting Iran 

US President ramps up pressure on Iran to reopen strait

Iran proven resilient to past oil revenue declines, regime unlikely to concede quickly 

Deputy Hajibabei confirms first proceeds from shipping tolls collected 

Six crude carriers transited with AIS data switched off

Food insecurity expected to peak in coming months

“We are trying to control the situation,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Majid Khan

"More than 40,000 members" took part, a union official told AFP, declining to be named

About 40 militants on motorcycles and other vehicles stormed the mining project site of Pakistani company National Resources Private Limited (NRL) in the Darigwan area of Chagai district on Wednesday

Aid shipment sent via Red Crescent after decision of PM Tarique Rahman

Local emergency services told Reuters.

Her employer, the Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, also announced her death.

Like other rural areas, Kochi faces a declining birth rate and the migration of young people to cities such as Tokyo.

Polling opened at 7:00am across 152 constituencies, with voters queuing early at booths in both urban centres and rural districts.