Aug 11, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

Iran and Oman have agreed on the geographical coordinates for a safe transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials confirmed. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that fully reopening the strategic waterway remains "subject to other conditions," including demands for compensation for war damages.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned that bilateral coordination with Oman cannot single-handedly guarantee maritime security while US economic measures remain in place. He added that the final announcement could still be disrupted by third parties.

Concerns over regional navigation persist following a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations regarding two unexplained explosions near an oil tanker off the coast of Oman. The vessel and crew were reported safe.

Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

Iran continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Washington fulfill all terms of the June memorandum, including sanctions relief, unfrozen assets, and war damages. Tehran officials dismissed ongoing speculation regarding Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's health, maintaining he recently met with President Masoud Pezeshkian and military leaders.

Concurrently, Houthi forces launched fresh strikes near Yemen's Red Sea port of Mokha targeting regional naval assets. In Gaza diplomacy, international envoy Nickolay Mladenov urged regional backing for the US-supported peace roadmap, describing it as vital for long-term security. The push follows initial reservations from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as Israeli forces reportedly began adjusting troop positions on the ground.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

Typhoon Dolphin has struck eastern China as the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year, following its passage near Okinawa, Japan. The storm forced the evacuation of over one million people across coastal regions and prompted authorities to issue the highest meteorological alert level.

Transportation across eastern regions experienced severe disruptions, with reports indicating between 900 and nearly 1,400 flight cancellations at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Although the typhoon has begun to weaken as it advances toward central and northern China, emergency measures remain in place. Local officials continue to warn of ongoing threats from heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, and potential landslides.

Sources: ANSA, Digi24, Expresso, La Repubblica, Moldova1.

Russia’s Supreme Court has disqualified the liberal opposition party Yabloko from participating in the upcoming September parliamentary election.

Judge Vyacheslav Kirillov ruled in favour of a lawsuit brought by Alexey Zhuravlyov, a lawmaker from the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina. The complaint, which received support from the prosecutor's office, alleged illegal campaign spending and statutory election law violations.

Yabloko, which actively opposes Russia’s war in Ukraine, announced plans to appeal the verdict. In the days preceding the court decision, the party’s symbol—an apple—emerged across Russian-language social media as a widespread emblem of opposition solidarity, gaining support from prominent regime critics.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Southern and central European nations continue to endure extreme conditions as a fourth summer heatwave sweeps across the continent. Italian authorities issued top-level red health alerts across all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as temperatures approaching 40°C are expected to persist for another week. Health officials advised the public to remain indoors during peak afternoon hours following at least four heat-related fatalities in the country.

Meanwhile, meteorological services documented unprecedented temperature benchmarks across central and western Europe. Austria registered a preliminary national record of 40.8°C in northern Vienna, surpassing its previous maximum set in 2013. Rising temperatures were also reported in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where authorities are preparing for heightened wildfire risks and prolonged drought conditions.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)