WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he has ordered the U.S. Navy "to shoot and kill" any boat putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
There is to be "no hesitation" for U.S. forces to attack Iran's "small boats" putting mines, and the U.S. minesweepers are clearing the Strait of Hormuz right now, Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. (Trump-Iran-Strait of Hormuz)
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TEHRAN -- Iran has received its first revenue from tolls imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Thursday, citing a senior Iranian lawmaker.
A member of the parliament's presiding board told the agency that he had learned from reliable sources that Iran has imposed fees on passing ships. (Iran-Strait of Hormuz-Toll)
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BRUSSELS -- European Council President Antonio Costa said on Thursday that the European Union has formally approved a 90-billion-euro (105 billion U.S. dollars) loan package for Ukraine.
Costa said on social media that the bloc has officially greenlighted the financial assistance program. (Brussels-EU-Ukraine)
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. forces intercepted and boarded an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean overnight, the Department of War said Thursday.
The vessel, named "Majestic X," was reportedly transporting oil from Iran. (U.S.-Iran-Oil Tanker)
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ISLAMABAD -- Nine people were killed and a foreign worker abducted after terrorists attacked a mining exploration site in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday evening, security sources said on Thursday.
The attack happened at about 7 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday at a site operated by the National Resources Limited company in Chaghi district, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Pakistan-Mining-Attack) ■
