Orange alert as rain leaves Gurugram waterlogged; disrupts traffic The Sector 52A market was among the most affected areas, with visuals showing commuters wading through knee-deep water Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:14:38 IST By Sampurna Panigrahi, Mihika Shah
‘Buy buy buy!’: Foreign tourist reacts to duty-free shopping after Delhi immigration A foreign tourist has posted a video of his Delhi airport experience, questioning the shopping pitches he encountered just after immigration. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
India security chief visits China for border talks India security chief visits China for border talks Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:06:38 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link India's top security official arrived in Beijing on Monday for talks on the countries' disputed Himalayan border
‘Jo bhi hai, tera ghar hai’: American compares Indian and US hospitality An American Hindi speaker’s take on Indian hospitality has viewers discussing the differences between socialising in India and the US. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:31:09 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share
Manipur: 1 CRPF personnel injured, 2 houses burnt by unknown armed individuals The gunfight broke out after two houses belonging to separate communities were set ablaze by an unidentified group of people Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:49:38 IST By Thomas Ngangom
What is Trump's 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump has announced a pause to the just-launched US initiative that aimed to help guide ships stranded by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had said the initiative - Project Freedom - was a humanitarian gesture "meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong". Iran has said vessels can only cross the pivotal waterway with its authorisation.
Trump announced the new initiative on Sunday. Since then, Iran's military said it has fired at US warships to deter them from navigating the waterway and the US says it has sunk small boats - threatening a ceasefire meant to end the war.
Then on Tuesday - two days after first being announced - Trump said the initiative would pause "for a short period of time" to see whether the US and Iran can come to an agreement.
Here is what we know about "Project Freedom" and the concerns over whether it could lead to a wider resumption of hostilities.
The Hormuz Strait has remained largely blocked since the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on 28 February - and Tehran responded by blocking the crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas is meant to pass freely.
The US says there are 22,500 mariners on 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Gulf.
There has been growing concern over dwindling supplies and the effects on sailors' physical and mental health.
US Central Command (Centcom) says that "guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members" were being used to support the operation.
In a briefing on the first day of the operation, Centcom commander Adm Brad Cooper said vessels from 87 countries were stranded in the Gulf - and the US had contacted "dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through".
It wasn't clear when the operation was announced whether the US would attempt to provide stranded ships with a military escort.
Mick Mulroy, former US deputy assistant secretary of defence and a Marine veteran, told the BBC he believed the US military would likely be more focused on air cover, and defence from drone or missile attacks, rather than physically escorting ships.
"The question is whether ships will trust their ability to get through without being attacked, and more importantly, the insurance company," he said, before the operation was paused.
Tim Wilkins, managing director at Intertanko, a trade body representing independent tanker owners and operators, told the BBC the Trump administration did not establish any co-ordination for the operation, leaving members worried about their safety transiting the Strait.
On Monday afternoon, Centcom said US Navy guided-missile destroyers were operating in the Gulf "after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom".
It added American forces were "actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping" but gave no details.
"As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey," Centcom also said. Again, no details were released about the identity of the commercial vessels.
Shipping company Maersk confirmed that one of its vessels was able to exit the Gulf, accompanied by the US military.
But Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied any vessels had passed through the Strait.
For now, though, with the operation to help guide vessels paused, it's unclear whether more ships will be able to navigate through.
Hours after the US operation was set to start on Monday, the Iranian military said it had fired against "American and Zionist enemy destroyers", which it said the Americans had "disregarded".
Centcom quickly denied the Iranian claims that a warship had been hit by two missiles. It confirmed that Iran did fire cruise missiles at both US warships and US-flagged commercial ships, while drones and small boats were used against commercial ships.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) - a Gulf ally of the US, which has often been attacked by Iran during the war - said a tanker affiliated with Adnoc, its state-owned oil company, was targeted by two drones as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
No-one was injured, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. At least three missile interceptions also were reported.
A suspected strike hit a South Korean cargo vessel anchored in the strait, near the UAE.
Centcom commander Cooper said that some of the US attack helicopters supporting the mission were used to sink six small Iranian boats that were targeting civilian vessels. Iran has denied this.
Iran insisted that it will take "decisive action" against ships that do not use the regime-approved route through the strait.
The country's top negotiator has accused the US of jeopardising shipping security with its own blockade of Iranian ports, saying the "continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America".
Trump, on Tuesday, said the US was pausing the new operation at the request of Pakistan - the intermediary in negotiations between the US and Iran, along with other countries.
When Trump announced the initiative's pause on social media on Tuesday, he said "great progress" had been made toward "a complete and final agreement" with Iran.
He said the Strait would remain blockaded during the pause.
The White House told the BBC that it had nothing to add regarding the president's post.
Iranian state media said the pause demonstrated that Trump had "retreated" after "continued failures" in his efforts to reopen the vital waterway for global shipping.
Grant Rumley, a Middle East expert who served as an adviser to the Biden and Trump administrations between 2018 and 2021, said that the plan to secure passage for ships in the Gulf would be "very, very hard".
Before it was paused, he noted such an operation would likely require a stronger, more "kinetic" military option.
I think that the general consensus is that a resumption of hostilities is a question of when," he said. "Not if.
Nitya Labh, a fellow on the International Security Programme at London's Chatham House, said the US operation was "extremely risky" and"quite escalatory".
She added that, if Trump's "Project Freedom" succeeded in getting some vessels out of the strait, "it will be a temporary relief at best" - a more sustained effort would be required to open up the critical waterway.
At a briefing on Tuesday, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was asked if US operations in the strait meant that the ceasefire was over.
No, the ceasefire is not over," he said. "This is a separate and distinct project.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that even though Iran had fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two container ships and attacked US forces 10 times since the ceasefire agreement on 8 April, those actions were below the threshold of restarting major combat operations "at this point".
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Latest News
No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:51:09 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Bengaluru, Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader on Monday assured the public that there was no
8 hours ago
‘You endorse misogyny, cut the crap’: Shehzad Poonawalla joins BJP attack on Rahul Gandhi's ‘smash patriarchy’ call Shehzad Poonawalla and BJP were responding to Rahul Gandhi's call to "smash the patriarchy" during his party's 'Chhatro ki Goonj' programme in Pune. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
For Delhi-NCR residents, Guleria struck a reassuring note while explaining why this year’s wave has felt worse, but citizens need not panic The H1N1 virus driving Delhi-NCR’s current flu surge appears to be changing its structure — a process that is making it spread faster and slip past the
11 hours ago
A job applicant’s unusual rejection from a software engineering internship has left the internet divided after the candidate was reportedly turned down over the name of their resume file. The incident was highlighted in a now-viral post on X by user @adnaannasir_
11 hours ago
Elderly woman killed, husband injured in SUV hit-and-run at Delhi's posh GK-1 The woman, identified as Shashi, was declared brought dead at the hospital, while her husband Kulbhushan (65), was left injured. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:00:26 IST By HT News Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
11 hours ago
Woman reflects on high-rise living in big cities: ‘Even the slice of the sky is fixed for us’ A woman shared her thoughts on high-rise life, saying big-city living can feel confined despite better work opportunities. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Governor Abdullah Sarhadi gives money to treat a boy's broken arm and hands out funds for a local mosque - then, in his office in northern Afghanistan, an astonishing exchange unfolds. A young woman tells the grey-bearded former Taliban commander that she wants to divorce her husband
11 hours ago
Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv - and will hand over blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles. The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing"
11 hours ago
Apple’s next iPhone launch is getting closer, and the company’s usual September schedule is beginning to take shape. According to a recent Forbes report, Apple could hold its special event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
11 hours ago
Fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has, in an audio clip, purportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, The Indian Express reported. The newspaper said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip
11 hours ago
Dad crashes daughter’s late-night work meeting over parcels: ‘Ek paise ki saving nahi karti’ A father’s surprise appearance during his daughter’s work call turns into a lecture on spending and saving. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 10:56:44 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
11 hours ago
A Zimbabwean content creator’s tongue-in-cheek take on life in India has caught the attention of social media users after he shared 10 everyday conveniences that have completely changed his standard of living. From paying for almost everything with just a phone to having food
11 hours ago
Starting September 1, passengers traveling internationally will be required to use an e-boarding pass on their smartphones for immigration clearance, as announced by immigration authorities. This significant change comes as the Bureau of Immigration (BOI)
14 hours ago
The September 2026 US Visa Bulletin brings a mixed picture for Indian green card applicants. While some family-sponsored categories have moved forward, several employment-based categories remain severely constrained, with two India-specific categories listed as unavailable and the State Department
14 hours ago
The Maharashtra Transport Department has issued notices to 777 drivers for lacking practical knowledge of Marathi, The Hindu quoted unidentified officials as saying on Saturday. A total of 5,211 drivers were tested during a statewide inspection campaign that began on August 20, including 3
14 hours ago
19-year-old killed, friend injured after truck hits motorcycle on Delhi's Indraprastha flyover A police team reached the spot and found a motorcycle lying in a damaged condition and two people seriously injured. One of them died in the hospital. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Indian woman reveals why her family returned to India after 13 years in US: ‘You don’t really belong here’ A woman shared five reasons her family decided to leave the US and return to India after 13 years. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:43:56 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google
14 hours ago
New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:28 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday on his first international
14 hours ago
Bengaluru vs Gurgaon? Man who lived in both cities explains why the comparison is ‘completely pointless’ A man said the Bengaluru versus Gurgaon debate was pointless and urged people to live in both cities before deciding. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Circle Wealth CIO and Managing Partner Chadha said the market was rewarding companies with strong earnings and improving outlooks, even as large-cap stocks remained under pressure. Diwali season is expected to bring a fresh boost for Indian equities following strong corporate earnings
14 hours ago
The restriction was imposed under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which governs the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics. The central government on Saturday restricted the manufacturing, sale and distribution of all fixed-dose combinations (FDCs)
14 hours ago
Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:29 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ukraine on Monday hosts a meeting of its key European backers to press for critical
14 hours ago
'Trouble proving citizenship after representing India in 3 countries': Ex-envoy to ECI over Punjab SIR Suri served as India’s ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:34:33 IST By HT Correspondent Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
2 killed after illegal building in Hyderabad's Gachibowli caves in Officials alleged that the building was built over or adjacent to a drain without the required permissions. Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:41:02 IST By Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link At least two
1 days ago
J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:43:04 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ramgarh
1 days ago
Jaiñtia Hills to the G7: Can Meghalaya turn ‘Lakadong’ into a global brand? The high-curcumin turmeric has gone from an obscure hill crop to a GI-tagged premium product showcased before world leaders. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:48:20 IST By David Laitphlang
1 days ago
Ex-NRI shares why she takes auto for 1 km ride to gym after moving to India: 'Life here is a compromise' The woman shared that she has to walk through an area where "everybody stares", while the pathway is "ubad-khabad", dirty and encroached. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
