Three killed in plane crash in eastern DR Congo

According to the Indian Embassy in Beirut, the first batch of 177 Indian nationals was repatriated to New Delhi on a charter flight arranged by their employer on Wednesday. The group was seen off at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport by India's Ambassador to Lebanon, Noor Rahman Sheikh.

Two drones struck the area surrounding Dubai International airport causing no casualties but injuring a few people.

Speaking to journalists, the State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment said that since the outbreak of the Iran-Israel war, four Bangladeshis have been killed so far. Among them, one was killed in Bahrain, one in Dubai, and two in Saudi Arabia.

The escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has continued to reverberate through global aviation networks, forcing widespread airspace closures, flight cancellations and rerouting across Middle East corridors and beyond.

Meanwhile, LBCI Lebanon News, the leading TV station and news website in Beirut, reported, citing sources, that Russian aircraft departed from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport shortly after midnight between Saturday and Sunday carrying 117 Iranian nationals. The LBCI report quoted the sources as saying that the flight also transported the bodies of five members of an Iranian family.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb concluded his official visit to India, marking a "defining moment" as bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability. He was seen off at the airport by Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, signalling a new era of cooperation between the nations.

Major Gulf carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, have resumed limited flight operations as of Saturday, following regional airspace closures. Services are gradually restoring, with some restricted to "relief corridors" for stranded passengers.

Iran's Ambassador to India condemned US-Israeli "aggression" as a moral struggle, while the US confirmed 3,000 strikes under "Operation Epic Fury." President Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender," aiming to "Make Iran Great Again" (MIGA) with new leadership. Meanwhile, airstrikes hit Tehran's Mehrabad Airport as regional conflict reaches a fever pitch.

Middle East tensions have escalated as airstrikes hit Tehran, leaving Mehrabad Airport on fire. In retaliation, Iran targeted Tel Aviv, while Saudi Arabia intercepted 16 drones and missiles aimed at vital oil fields and air bases. Riyadh and the GCC condemned the "treacherous Iranian aggression," asserting their right to respond.

UAE Ambassador Mansoor Abulhoul has urged the UK for increased support following "completely unjustified" Iranian attacks. With strikes hitting Dubai's airport and hotels, Abulhoul emphasised the nations' strong ties, stating the UAE is evaluating all options to protect its territory and end the expanding regional conflict.