LiveLive Updates August 08, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 08, 2026UpdatesAdditional vessel struck by 'unknown projectile' in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO saysAnother vessel has been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Saturday, as the security situation in the waterway remains tense.The UKMTO said it had received a report of an incident 18 nautical miles (33 kilometres) east of the northern Omani port of Al Khasab.A vessel was hit by an "unknown projectile," causing a fire on board which has been extinguished, according to the report. The ship and its crew were safe, UKMTO said.U.K. police probe Islamic charity over alleged links to HamasA U.K.-based aid charity is facing a probe by counter-terror police and the country's charity watchdog over alleged links to Hamas.The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into the Al-Khair Foundation, an Islamic U.K.-based charity purported to provide emergency relief and developmental support around the world.Mohammad Yousef Hasna, 45, from Istanbul, Turkey, was arrested in the U.K. last week on the accusation of conspiring to funnel money and supplies to Hamas through his senior role in what prosecutors say was a sham global humanitarian organization. Hasna is being held pending extradition proceedings before he can be taken to New York to face charges brought by the U.S.Counter Terror Policing London (CTP) have also confirmed they are investigating the foundation and have carried out two search warrants on addresses in Croydon, but have not made any arrests.U.S. lawyer Jamie McDonald in New York alleged Hasna worked closely with Hamas' senior leadership to deliver supplies, food and funding to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid.The Al-Khair Foundation recorded an income of more than £74 million ($85.5 million) in the financial year ending July 31, 2025, the watchdog said.The Israeli-Canadian climate activist taking Prime Minister Carney to courtThe daughter of an Israeli-born couple who are Canadian citizens, Shirley Barnea, 22, is currently studying economics and political science at the Université de Montréal. She doesn't have a driver's license, uses a cellphone she bought secondhand four years ago and never uses disposable bottles. In addition, her resumé includes organizing dozens of pro-climate demonstrations, publishing articles on environmental subjects and even running in elections for the Montreal City Council as the representative of a "green" party.Barnea, age 17, at a pro-climate protest in 2022. She and her friends demanded and received a compost facility for their high school. Credit: Gabriel PellandBarnea, age 17, at a pro-climate protest in 2022. She and her friends demanded and received a compost facility for their high school. Credit: Gabriel PellandIndeed, Barnea has become a public figure, especially as she and two other young women, along with two environmentalist organizations, are now suing the government of Canada under Prime Minister Mark Carney. They allege that he is turning Canada – a country perceived to be a leader in passing and implementing environmentally friendly legislation – into a major polluter.The lawsuit cites a very long list of governmental measures that, Barnea's group claims, shows that Carney wants Canada to produce and export more oil, gas and minerals. To that end, he has pushed through a law that streamlines procedures for the approval of constructing mines, ports, pipelines and gas facilities, which the government considers to be of national importance, and eases enforcement of strict environmental regulations in such cases.Read the full articleNetanyahu seeks $17 billion added to planned military spending hike over decadePrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Israel's Finance Ministry to increase a proposed 13-year boost to the defense budget from 350 billion to 400 billion shekels ($117 to $133 billion), demanding the funds be allocated before the upcoming October election.Finance Ministry officials strongly oppose the proposal, saying that such an increase in spending must be accompanied by raising taxes, cutting other spending or increasing the country's deficit.Israeli tanks at the Gaza border, last year. Credit: Jack Guez/AFPIsraeli tanks at the Gaza border, last year. Credit: Jack Guez/AFPIsrael's defense budget has increased repeatedly since war broke out after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023. At the beginning of this year, the government approved a defense budget of 112 billion shekels ($37 billion). After Israel launched its war with the U.S. against Iran, the government increased the allocation to 143 billion shekels ($48 billion).The Israeli military requested an additional 40 billion shekels ($13 billion), of which 15 billion ($5 billion) was approved immediately and the rest was earmarked for October and November, subject on actual expenditures.Israeli defense officials are now seeking an additional several billion shekels and warning that defense companies could shut down some production lines unless they are granted. They say these companies were required to expand their manufacturing capacity to meet the military's wartime demand for weapons and ammunition, but now face the prospect of closing some lines because the Israel Defense Forces cannot guarantee new orders amid the dispute with the Finance Ministry.Read the full articleIran, Oman 'very close' to agreement on new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, says Iranian foreign minister Iran and Oman are "very close" to an agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday, as the two countries discuss a temporary arrangement for commercial shipping.Araghchi said Tehran no longer accepts the previous scheme for separating maritime traffic through the strait and that a new route is needed.He added that reopening the strait would depend on additional conditions, including compensation for what Iran described as U.S. violations of the June memorandum of understanding.Reopening Strait of Hormuz depends on U.S. accepting Iran's conditions, says Iran's Revolutionary Guards Reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the United States fully accepting Iran's conditions, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Saturday, adding that the issue is separate from ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Oman, according to Iranian state news agency Tasnim.IRGC spokesman Sardar Mohebi said the reopening of the waterway was subject to "specific mechanisms and conditions" set by Iran. "For us, the Strait of Hormuz is not merely an economic waterway, but rather a component of geographical and strategic power."He added that reopening the strait was conditional on the United States "fully accepting Iran's conditions and ceasing to interfere in the regional negotiations.""Whenever the U.S. accepts Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will definitely open," he said.RECAP: Iran war tensions rise as Hormuz deal remains uncertain; Gaza talks stallHere are Saturday's latest updates:■ The United States is signaling progress toward a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with a U.S. official telling Reuters that Washington expects a deal between Iran and Oman soon. The official said the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once commercial shipping through the strait resumes without impediments. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, however, said reopening the strait depends on Washington accepting Iran's conditions and is unrelated to talks between Iran and Oman.■ Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement, under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three. Former U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill told CNN that the pact signals growing doubts among U.S. allies about Washington's security guarantees. ■ Lebanon and Israel agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah's disarmament under a U.S.-brokered agreement, a Lebanese official told Reuters. The United States is expected to select countries from the list. The talks are part of an agreement linking Israel's gradual withdrawal from Lebanon to Hezbollah's disarmament.■ Israeli reservations have delayed a planned Cairo meeting between Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Turkeyon implementing the Gaza cease-fire agreement, a Palestinian source familiar with the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat. The source said Israeli objections focused particularly on withdrawal arrangements. "Everyone is waiting for the American move and to see what they can do about this, especially in terms of putting pressure on Israel," the source said. A Hamas delegation remains in Egypt.■ Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine has privately warned senior Trump administration officials that the United States needs a way to wind down its war with Iran, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Caine warned that further escalation could backfire and that airpower alone was unlikely to achieve Trump's objectives, according to the report. ■ A Palestinian man was wounded after Israeli settlers opened fire in the West Bank village of Abu Njeim, southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Palestine News Agency. The report said settlers also attacked an ambulance that arrived to treat the wounded man, smashing its windows and spraying pepper spray at medical workers. Palestinian media also reported that settlers attacked Beit Dajan, east of Nablus, wounding three residents.■ A vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was targeted by a missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, the company said. No injuries were reported, and the situation was under control, according to ADNOC. ■ The IDF said a suspected infiltration into the West Bank settlement of Ofarim had been cleared after security forces chased a suspected vehicle that entered the community. The suspect was apprehended and transferred to police, the IDF said, adding that "there is no suspicion of a security incident."■ The IDF was sweeping the area of Kibbutz Zikim near the Gaza border after a gap was found in its fence. No suspects were found, and an examination of surveillance footage indicated that it was unlikely anyone had crossed from Gaza into Israeli territory.UAE says ADNOC tanker targeted by missile in Strait of Hormuz; no injuries reportedThe United Arab Emirates condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on a tanker operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after the vessel was targeted by a missile while transiting the waterway.The UAE's state oil company ADNOC said the incident caused no injuries and that the situation was under control.Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Monday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSVessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Monday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSThe UAE Foreign Ministry called the attack a "flagrant violation" of a UN Security Council resolution and said targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of "pressure or economic blackmail" constituted acts of piracy by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.The ministry said the attack posed a direct threat to regional stability and global energy security.Traffic through the strait remained subdued Friday as shipping operators awaited details of plans by Iran and Oman to manage the vital waterway, maritime intelligence firm Kpler said. Only eight vessels transited the strait that day, fewer than the previous day.Hormuz traffic remains subdued