Qatar’s Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad said on Friday that the country’s security situation remains stable despite ongoing Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Middle East. Speaking to Qatar Television, he confirmed that the government has contingency plans to address potential future strikes and emphasized readiness to take any necessary measures to preserve national stability. He noted that Qatar’s early warning system has been effective, with authorities responding to reports of missile fragments at over 600 sites nationwide. The minister also assured that Qatar has sufficient water and food reserves to sustain the population for extended periods.

The statement comes as Gulf nations face intensified Iranian attacks following the United States and Israel’s launch of a war against Iran on February 28. Although Iran claims to be targeting US and Israeli military assets, its strikes have damaged civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, slowing regional energy production. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further heightened global economic concerns.

Earlier this week, the UN Security Council condemned the Iranian attacks, while Qatar’s UN ambassador described them as violations of international law and damaging to regional relations.

A drone attack on Adikong market in western Sudan, near the border with Chad, killed 11 people and wounded dozens more, including children, on Thursday. The strike ignited fuel reserves, causing fires that tore through the busy market. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it treated more than 20 of the wounded at a hospital across the border in Adre, noting that seven of the injured were children. MSF described it as the second deadly drone attack on the same area in less than a month.

The United Nations warned that Sudan’s intensifying air war has killed more than 200 civilians in just over a week. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk condemned the growing use of drones by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting since April 2023. Recent strikes in West Kordofan and White Nile states have hit markets, hospitals, and schools, killing hundreds of civilians.

The conflict has produced over 1,000 documented drone attacks since 2023, with Sudan now accounting for more than half of all drone strikes recorded across Africa. The UN says 33.7 million people in Sudan require humanitarian aid, and over 12 million have been displaced.

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Friday for the annual al-Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, even as explosions struck the capital during the event. Iranian state television reported that at least one person was killed after multiple blasts were heard near Ferdowsi Square. The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, though they followed an Israeli warning for people to leave the area before a planned strike. State media said the victim, a woman, died from shrapnel caused by a US-Israeli air strike.

The rally took place a day after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to continue resisting the ongoing US-Israeli assault that has killed at least 1,444 people and wounded 18,551 since February 28, according to Iran’s Ministry of Health. President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials attended the demonstration, where participants expressed defiance and solidarity with Palestinians. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that Iranian forces, in coordination with Hezbollah, had launched missiles and drones at Israel using Kheibar Shekan missiles.

The United States and Israel have shown no signs of halting their offensive despite international calls for de-escalation, while Iran has responded by targeting regional sites and closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Germany has criticized the United States for easing certain sanctions on Russian oil, warning that the move could help finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. During a visit to Norway, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that lifting restrictions at this stage was a mistake and that European leaders did not want Moscow to exploit conflicts involving Iran to weaken Ukraine.

German Finance Minister Katharina Reiche also cautioned that relaxing the sanctions could further fill President Vladimir Putin’s war chest. The comments reflect Berlin’s concern that any reduction in pressure on Russia might undermine collective Western efforts to limit Moscow’s ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine.

The remarks underscore ongoing divisions among Western allies over how to balance energy market stability with maintaining strong economic pressure on Russia.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for northern Bangladesh, stated that their votes were taken away during the national election and that the party failed to protect them during the counting process. He made the remarks on Friday evening at an iftar gathering of the NCP’s Panchagarh district branch held at Himalaya Park in Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

Alam emphasized that in the upcoming local elections, every vote must be safeguarded, whether in small or large numbers. He alleged that their results were influenced during the national election, leading to the loss of key victories. As part of the 11-party opposition alliance in parliament, he said the NCP aims to deliver a message of hope and change to the people and to protect the trust placed in their votes.

He urged party members to begin preparations for the local elections and encouraged them to take leadership roles at various administrative levels. Alam also spoke about courage and fear, calling on supporters to lead the struggle for change from the streets.

The United States has deployed 10,000 interceptor drones across the Middle East to counter Iranian drone attacks, according to US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Reports indicate that the drones were sent to the region within five days of the Israel-US war beginning on February 28.

US officials stated that the drones are being used as a cost-effective method to intercept incoming threats, reducing reliance on expensive missile defense systems. Driscoll noted that each Merops interceptor currently costs between 14,000 and 15,000 dollars.

The report added that the Merops interceptor is roughly twice as expensive as Iran’s Shahed-136 drone, which Iranian analyst Esfandiar Batmanghelidj estimated to cost about 7,000 dollars. The information was sourced from Al Jazeera.

The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials. The offer was made under the State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program, which also mentioned that individuals providing credible information could be eligible for relocation assistance.

According to the announcement, the targeted individuals are said to direct and oversee various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the statement alleges is involved in planning, organizing, and executing acts of terrorism worldwide. The list includes Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, Deputy Chief of Staff Ali Asghar Hejazi, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni, and Supreme Council Secretary Ali Larijani.

The report noted that Ali Larijani appeared earlier in the day at an Al-Quds Day rally in Tehran, where his participation photos were released.

The United States is planning to send a Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to rise. According to a report by ABC News, Washington is preparing to deploy around 2,200 Marines aboard three naval ships. Defense officials told Al Jazeera that the unit will be dispatched from the Marine Corps base in Okinawa, Japan, to support potential military operations if required.

Officials stated that the force consists of approximately 2,500 personnel who will travel through the region with the naval vessels. The move comes as part of broader U.S. military positioning in response to regional security concerns involving Iran.

The deployment underscores Washington’s continued focus on maintaining readiness and operational flexibility in the Middle East, though no specific timeline or mission details were disclosed in the reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last Shah, in Paris. According to the report, the meeting focused on Iran’s current situation and ongoing operations against what was described as the United States’ so-called “terrorist regime.” In a post on social media platform X, Zelensky said that Pahlavi, known for his pro-Israel stance, and his team shared messages they have been receiving from inside Iran.

Zelensky stated that Iran’s ruling system has already suffered significant losses. He emphasized the importance of preventing the Iranian government from gaining any advantage from the current situation, while ensuring that ordinary Iranians receive greater protection and more opportunities to determine their own future. Reza Pahlavi is the son of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was overthrown during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Earlier, Zelensky had remarked that the ongoing war in the Middle East was bringing no positive outcomes for Ukraine.

A violent clash between BNP and Jamaat supporters in Madhabpur village of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila left Krishak Dal union organizing secretary Taru Munshi, 55, dead on Friday night. He succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 9 p.m., confirmed Shahjahan Ali, joint convener of the Ganna Union Jubo Dal. The confrontation erupted earlier in the day over a dispute surrounding a Jamaat women’s training meeting and iftar gathering, which resulted in injuries to at least 12 people from both sides.

According to witnesses, the altercation began when local BNP leader Ilias Hossain questioned the gathering of Jamaat’s female activists at a house in the village. The argument escalated into a physical clash involving sticks, with both male and female participants joining in. Several of Taru Munshi’s relatives, including his son and brother, were among the injured and admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital.

Jhenaidah Jamaat’s amir Dr. Habibur Rahman claimed that BNP activists initiated the attack, injuring several Jamaat members. Police Superintendent Mahfuz Afzal stated that arrests have begun and additional forces have been deployed to restore order.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States may launch its largest wave of airstrikes on Iran tonight. Speaking at a press conference in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday, he said the day could mark the most extensive US attacks over Tehran and across Iran. Hegseth claimed that the United States and Israel have already carried out strikes on nearly 15,000 Iranian targets.

He described the ongoing operations as a major achievement, asserting that the United States is advancing according to its plan to destroy Iran’s key military capabilities. The statement follows recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who warned of tougher actions against Iran in an interview with Fox News last week.

Hegseth’s comments about possible large-scale attacks tonight have further heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, signaling a potential escalation in the conflict, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Iranian authorities have arrested a 37-year-old man accused of selling internet access through Starlink terminals, according to the state news agency ISNA. The man was detained in the city of Shiraz and allegedly built a network across several provinces to provide unrestricted internet connections using Starlink equipment. Officials did not disclose the exact date of the arrest.

The report noted that Iran has faced near-total internet blackouts since the start of the current conflict, prompting many citizens to seek alternative access through SpaceX’s Starlink service. However, the use of Starlink in Iran is officially banned, and such activities are treated as criminal offenses.

Earlier in January, following anti-government protests, Iranian authorities imposed an 18-day nationwide internet shutdown, reflecting the government’s continued control over online communications.

Iran is exporting significantly more oil than usual despite the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Associated Press journalist Inzamam Rashid. He reported that around 1,000 ships remain anchored near the strait’s entrance, including about 200 oil tankers. Rashid told Al Jazeera that the strait is one of the world’s busiest waterways, typically carrying about 20 percent of global oil supply, or roughly 20 million barrels per day. However, he noted that this normal flow has not been observed for about nine days, and most of the few tankers that managed to pass were used for Iranian oil exports.

The Joint Maritime Information Center has warned that the threat level in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz is currently at a “critical” stage. The organization issued this alert based on its latest risk assessment. Rashid emphasized that under these conditions, Iran is exporting “much more oil” than before.

The situation underscores heightened tension in a key global energy corridor, with maritime security risks remaining severe.

Speculation has emerged in European football ahead of the summer transfer window, with reports suggesting that Barcelona has held discussions with Manchester City regarding Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. However, Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta stated in a Spanish television interview that the talks are not at a decisive stage. She added that any decision will depend on future circumstances and that a quick transfer is unlikely at this point.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United is planning to strengthen its midfield, reportedly considering Italy’s Sandro Tonali and Monaco’s young midfielder Lamine Camara. Manchester United is monitoring 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who could move if his current club faces relegation from the Premier League.

In addition, Newcastle is also tracking 19-year-old German winger Said El Malak from FC Cologne, while Juventus has shown interest in Barcelona’s veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, whose contract may expire this summer, leaving open the possibility of a move.

Swedish pole vaulter Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis set another world record at the Mondo Classic indoor meeting in Uppsala, Sweden. Competing at the IFU Arena, he cleared 6.31 meters, surpassing his previous record of 6.30 meters set at last year’s World Athletics Championships. This achievement marks his 15th career world record, further extending his dominance in the event.

Duplantis, who was born in the United States but competes for Sweden through his mother, thrilled the home crowd by clearing 5.65m, 5.90m, and 6.08m on his first attempts before successfully vaulting 6.31m. The audience and fellow competitors celebrated as he completed the record-breaking jump. Since first setting a world record of 6.17m in Poland in February 2020, Duplantis has raised the mark by a total of 14 centimeters, often improving by just one centimeter at a time.

This was Duplantis’s second world record on Swedish soil and his first of 2026. The victory also extended his winning streak to 38 consecutive competitions, bringing his career total to 130 wins, including 50 in a row.