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Amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar has experienced a heavy economic crisis, prompting the government to cut its spending. Qatar's government departments have reportedly experienced budget reductions of up to 30 per cent, while funding for overseas aid has been reduced by about 85 per cent. The crisis came as the country's economy heavily depends on liquefied natural gas revenues. Qatar's economy has been particularly hit due to the stoppage of its LNG production following damage linked to the conflict and difficulties shipping gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical channel for its energy exports. These setbacks come amid a steep economic downturn for the country. The IMF projects Qatar's economy will contract by 8.6 per cent this year, the sharpest decline among the six Gulf states.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-chinese-humanoid-robots-beat-usain-bolt-s-100m-record-at-world-humanoid-robot-games-1787453863341">WATCH: Chinese humanoid robots beat Usain Bolt's 100m record at World Humanoid Robot Game</a>s<h3>Impact of Gulf economy</h3>While Qatar holds significant financial reserves, including the roughly $500 billion managed by the Qatar Investment Authority, officials and economists caution that a prolonged disruption could strain government finances further and force additional spending cuts. The broader Gulf economy has also felt the impact of the conflict, with energy exports, trade, tourism, and other sectors all disrupted. Qatar and Kuwait are especially vulnerable given how heavily they depend on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping energy. Despite the economic pressures, however, Qatari authorities confirmed that the country remained capable of managing the crisis and maintaining its long-term economic strategy, citing its experience in dealing with previous regional and global crises.

The broader Gulf economy has also felt the impact of the conflict, with energy exports, trade, tourism, and other sectors all disrupted. Qatar and Kuwait are especially vulnerable given how heavily they depend on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping energy.

Amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar has experienced a heavy economic crisis, prompting the government to cut its spending. Qatar's government departments have reportedly experienced budget reductions of up to 30 per cent, while funding for overseas aid has been reduced by about 85 per cent. The crisis came as the country's economy heavily depends on liquefied natural gas revenues. Qatar's economy has been particularly hit due to the stoppage of its LNG production following damage linked to the conflict and difficulties shipping gas through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical channel for its energy exports. These setbacks come amid a steep economic downturn for the country. The IMF projects Qatar's economy will contract by 8.6 per cent this year, the sharpest decline among the six Gulf states. Also read: WATCH: Chinese humanoid robots beat Usain Bolt's 100m record at World Humanoid Robot Games Impact of Gulf economy While Qatar holds significant financial reserves, including the roughly $500 billion managed by the Qatar Investment Authority, officials and economists caution that a prolonged disruption could strain government finances further and force additional spending cuts. The broader Gulf economy has also felt the impact of the conflict, with energy exports, trade, tourism, and other sectors all disrupted. Qatar and Kuwait are especially vulnerable given how heavily they depend on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping energy. Despite the economic pressures, however, Qatari authorities confirmed that the country remained capable of managing the crisis and maintaining its long-term economic strategy, citing its experience in dealing with previous regional and global crises.

The broader Gulf economy has also felt the impact of the conflict, with energy exports, trade, tourism, and other sectors all disrupted. Qatar and Kuwait are especially vulnerable given how heavily they depend on the Strait of Hormuz for shipping energy.

Qatar slashes budgets by up to 30% as US-Iran conflict shrinks economy

Latest News Today Live Updates: Iran has warned countries against joining US sanctions, saying nations participating in Washington’s economic pressure campaign will be considered enemies. Iranian official Mohsen Rezai threatened to target the interests of countries that support the US measures and warned that Tehran could strike American oil and economic companies in response. He said Iran had so far targeted only US military bases but had more options available. Rezai also issued a warning to Donald Trump, saying any further US action would trigger a confrontation “like an earthquake”. The warning comes as Washington pushes allies to isolate Iran’s economy amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.US President Donald Trump has again shared an image depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “US Territory”, drawing a sharp rebuke from Iran, which dismissed the claim as being far removed from reality. Trump had previously shared the same image on August 18, after saying he could soon claim the strategically vital waterway as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said: “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.”A Hindu trader, Rakesh Kumar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Friday, police confirmed on Saturday. The attackers allegedly entered his shop in Noshki Bazaar’s Qadirabad Stop area and opened fire when Kumar resisted. He died at the scene before police arrived and shifted his body to a district hospital for identification. Authorities have registered a case against the unidentified assailants and launched an investigation into the killing.In a surprising feat, a Chinese humanoid robot completed a 100-metre race in 9.39 seconds during a preliminary heat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22), surpassing the world-record pace set by Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. The robot, named Tiangong Ultra, was developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre. Organisers said it won its heat during the opening of the second edition of the games.

Global luxury brands are facing a deepening sales slump in China, as the country’s campaign to tax offshore wealth sends ripples from stock markets to casino floors and dampens spending by the country’s richest consumers. Sales at the 25 biggest luxury labels in China dropped more than 10% in July, according to three research firms surveyed by Bloomberg that track industry data. That’s worse than the slowdown witnessed in June, and marks a sharp reversal from the brisk business seen earlier this year.

Luxury sales slump in China as tax crackdown hits wealthy shoppers

Lebanon’s economy is projected to shrink by 6.4 percent this year as conflict turns a brief post-crisis recovery into a sharp downturn, says the World Bank. The global lender’s Summer 2026 Lebanon Economic Monitor, titled A Conflict-Torn Economy, noted that the country entered the year on stronger footing after expanding by 4.2 percent in 2025, its highest real gross domestic product (GDP) growth since the 2019 financial collapse.

World Bank projects war-hit Lebanon’s economy to contract by 6.4 percent

The impact of the gas crisis that began on July 21 is spreading across the country’s industrial belts, with factories cutting production, shutting units and sending workers on leave. The latest deterioration follows the shutdown of Excelerate Energy’s LNG terminal after it ran out of inventory on Wednesday, further reducing gas availability in an already strained system. &nbsp;

Gas crunch deepens, factories bear brunt in Bangladesh

Some of Nvidia's opens new tab largest ​customers have been told prices of servers ‌containing its AI chips will rise by more than 15% in many cases, with memory chip costs ​soaring, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday. The price ​hikes will go into effect on systems ⁠shipped early next year and will impact ​systems including those with the flagship Vera Rubin ​and Grace Blackwell chips, the report added, citing people familiar with the process. The increases will depend on Nvidia's ​chip generation and memory configurations, they said.

Nvidia customers notified about AI-related price hikes above 15%

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Crazy footage from Japan as a powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake shakes the area. The tremors look intense &lt;a href="https://t.co/I33aMbSNbI"&gt;pic.twitter.com/I33aMbSNbI&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) &lt;a href="https://x.com/surajit_ghosh2/status/2091254460966408589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;August 22, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Scary visuals emerge after 5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;🇯🇵 JAPAN | M5.9 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES EASTERN JAPAN&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki Prefecture at around 2:00 AM local time on August 23 with strong tremors felt across parts of the Kanto region including Tokyo.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded a maximum… &lt;a href="https://t.co/JrWIABzLER"&gt;pic.twitter.com/JrWIABzLER&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; contentkikamii (@contentkikamii) &lt;a href="https://x.com/contentkikamii/status/2091392553224634844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;August 23, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes Japan, over 30 injured

Tensions between Assam and Meghalaya showed signs of easing after the August 19 violence in Shillong, with the two states agreeing to establish joint mechanisms to prevent further escalation. At a meeting held at the Koinadhara State Guest House on Saturday, both governments decided to complete the evacuation of Assam-bound passengers and vehicles stranded in Meghalaya within 48 hours.The meeting was led by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister S Dhar and Assam Minister Atul Bora, along with senior officials from both states. The discussions lasted more than three hours.Meghalaya expressed regret over the August 19 incident and assured Assam that strict action would be taken against those responsible. The President, Vice-President and General Secretary of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) have been arrested under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act. The two governments also agreed to strengthen coordination and work towards preventing similar incidents from escalating in the future.

Shillong violence: Assam, Meghalaya agree on peace mechanism, passenger evacuation

US President Donald Trump again shared an image calling the Strait of Hormuz calling it a "US Territory" even as Iran slammed him for making such claims stating it far from reality. Trump had first shared the same image on August 18, after previously declaring that he could soon claim the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said, “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.”<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-again-claims-hormuz-as-new-us-territory-as-top-iranian-general-slams-america-of-betraying-negotiations-1787442538249">Read more.</a>

Trump again claims Hormuz as 'new US territory' as top Iranian general slams America of 'betraying negotiations'

In a surprising development, a Chinese ‌humanoid robot ran 100 metres at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22) in 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat, faster than Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt. Organisers of the event confirmed that Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation ​Centre, won its heat at the opening of the second edition of the games.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-chinese-humanoid-robots-beat-usain-bolt-s-100m-record-at-world-humanoid-robot-games-1787453863341">Read more.</a>

WATCH: Chinese humanoid robots beat Usain Bolt's 100m record at World Humanoid Robot Games

Iran on Saturday (Aug 22) warned countries against joining the United States in imposing economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, saying any government that participates in Washington’s campaign will be treated as an enemy. The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, issued the warning as US President Donald Trump’s administration stepped up pressure on allies to join efforts to isolate Tehran’s economy.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/confrontation-like-an-earthquake-iran-threatens-trump-warns-countries-backing-us-sanctions-1787454903260">Read more.</a>

‘Confrontation like an earthquake’: Iran threatens Trump, warns countries backing US sanctions

A Hindu trader identified as Rakesh Kumar was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Pakistan's Balochistan on Friday (Aug 21) and police confirmed the incident late on Saturday (Aug 22). According to reports, some armed men broke into Rakesh Kumar's shop in the Qadirabad Stop area of Noshki Bazaar. When Kumar tried to resist, the men opened fire and fled. Kumar was killed on the spot. When the police received the information, they rushed to the area and took the body to the district hospital, where the victim was identified as Rakesh Kumar. A case was then registered against the unidentified armed men.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/hindu-man-shot-dead-by-unidentified-gunmen-in-pakistan-s-balochistan-1787444730466">Read more.</a>

Hindu man shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Balochistan

Latest News Today Live Updates: Stay connected to WION News for the latest updates from India and around the globe, including major developments in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, global security, diplomacy, energy markets, and other breaking stories shaping the world.

Latest News Today Live Updates: Iran has warned countries against joining US sanctions, saying nations participating in Washington’s economic pressure campaign will be considered enemies. Iranian official Mohsen Rezai threatened to target the interests of countries that support the US measures and warned that Tehran could strike American oil and economic companies in response. He said Iran had so far targeted only US military bases but had more options available. Rezai also issued a warning to Donald Trump, saying any further US action would trigger a confrontation “like an earthquake”. The warning comes as Washington pushes allies to isolate Iran’s economy amid escalating tensions across the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has again shared an image depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “US Territory”, drawing a sharp rebuke from Iran, which dismissed the claim as being far removed from reality. Trump had previously shared the same image on August 18, after saying he could soon claim the strategically vital waterway as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said: “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.” A Hindu trader, Rakesh Kumar, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Friday, police confirmed on Saturday. The attackers allegedly entered his shop in Noshki Bazaar’s Qadirabad Stop area and opened fire when Kumar resisted. He died at the scene before police arrived and shifted his body to a district hospital for identification. Authorities have registered a case against the unidentified assailants and launched an investigation into the killing. In a surprising feat, a Chinese humanoid robot completed a 100-metre race in 9.39 seconds during a preliminary heat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22), surpassing the world-record pace set by Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. The robot, named Tiangong Ultra, was developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre. Organisers said it won its heat during the opening of the second edition of the games.

Latest News Today Live Updates: Stay connected to WION News for the latest updates from India and around the globe, including major developments in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, global security, diplomacy, energy markets, and other breaking stories shaping the world.

LIVE Updates | Latest India & World News Today: Iran warns against US sanctions, hindu man shot dead in Pakistan and more

In a surprising development, a Chinese ‌humanoid robot ran 100 metres at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22) in 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat, faster than Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt. Organisers of the event confirmed that Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation ​Centre, won its heat at the opening of the second edition of the games. The robot left behind smartphone ​maker Honor's ‌humanoid robot 'Lightning' near the finish after falling behind early in the race. Lightning finished the race in 9.47 seconds, which is also faster than Bolt's record, who took 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championships ​in Berlin.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Chinese humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at the World Humanoid Robot Games<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/HumanoidRobot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HumanoidRobot</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/UsainBolt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UsainBolt</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WorldHumanoidRobotGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldHumanoidRobotGames</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Robotics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Robotics</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Technology?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Technology</a> <a href="https://t.co/OUvxF1JzHS">pic.twitter.com/OUvxF1JzHS</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2091163635066532014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Tiangong's victory in Beijing last year</h3>Video of the robots from the event surfaced on social media, showing Tiangong Ultra in orange colour and Lightning in black-and-white running in the race. It is seen that 'Tiangong' fell soon after crossing the finish line, and 'Lightning' finished just after it. Tiangong veered wildly off course into the sidelines, sending onlookers scrambling out of the way, while Lightning collapsed and had to be carried off on a stretcher.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-again-claims-hormuz-as-new-us-territory-as-top-iranian-general-slams-america-of-betraying-negotiations-1787442538249">Trump again claims Hormuz as 'new US territory' as top Iranian general slams America of ‘betraying negotiations’</a> Even so, the results marked a clear improvement on last year's inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra had won the 100 metres in 21.50 seconds. Tiangong also claimed victory in the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon, held in Beijing last year. Earlier on Saturday, Chinese state media reported that Lightning had clocked a 100-metre run in 9.32 seconds during a preparatory test, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second. Lightning went on to win this year's humanoid half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the elite men's human world record pace. During the half-marathon, Lightning stood 169 cm tall with 95-cm legs; researchers later extended its legs by 10 cm, to 1.05 metres, ahead of the games, according to broadcaster CCTV.

Tiangong Ultra pulled ahead of Honor's robot 'Lightning' early on, though Lightning still finished in 9.47 seconds, also beating Bolt's 9.58-second record from the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

In a surprising development, a Chinese ‌humanoid robot ran 100 metres at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (August 22) in 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat, faster than Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt. Organisers of the event confirmed that Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, won its heat at the opening of the second edition of the games. The robot left behind smartphone maker Honor's ‌humanoid robot 'Lightning' near the finish after falling behind early in the race. Lightning finished the race in 9.47 seconds, which is also faster than Bolt's record, who took 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Tiangong Ultra pulled ahead of Honor's robot 'Lightning' early on, though Lightning still finished in 9.47 seconds, also beating Bolt's 9.58-second record from the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

Iran on Saturday (Aug 22) warned countries against joining the United States in imposing economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, saying any government that participates in Washington’s campaign will be treated as an enemy. The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, issued the warning as US President Donald Trump’s administration stepped up pressure on allies to join efforts to isolate Tehran’s economy.“We declare to all countries... do not join the economic war waged by the United States,” Rezai said on state television.“Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy,” he added.Rezai warned that countries refusing to distance themselves from Washington could see their interests targeted by Iran. His comments marked a sharp escalation in Tehran’s rhetoric as the conflict between Iran and the US continues to strain regional security and trade.The Iranian official also claimed that Tehran had not yet used its full range of options against American economic interests.<h2>Iran threatens against US sanctions</h2>“So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if they want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere, and we will strike them,” Rezai said.He further warned that any fresh action by US President Donald Trump could trigger a much broader confrontation.“Should Trump take action, our confrontation will be like an earthquake,” Rezai said.“If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf. Oil will leave neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor through the Persian Gulf,” he added.Washington has been pressing governments, including major trading partners of Iran, to support its campaign to restrict Tehran’s access to international markets. China, one of Iran’s key strategic partners, has criticised the US approach, arguing that sanctions would not help resolve the wider Middle East conflict.Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (Aug 18) announced that it was suspending all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, marking a significant setback for Tehran’s regional economic ties.

Iran warns countries joining US sanctions they will be treated as enemies, threatening to target their interests. Tehran also warns Trump that any escalation could trigger a wider confrontation.

Iran on Saturday (Aug 22) warned countries against joining the United States in imposing economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, saying any government that participates in Washington’s campaign will be treated as an enemy. The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezai, issued the warning as US President Donald Trump’s administration stepped up pressure on allies to join efforts to isolate Tehran’s economy. “We declare to all countries... do not join the economic war waged by the United States,” Rezai said on state television. “Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy,” he added. Rezai warned that countries refusing to distance themselves from Washington could see their interests targeted by Iran. His comments marked a sharp escalation in Tehran’s rhetoric as the conflict between Iran and the US continues to strain regional security and trade. The Iranian official also claimed that Tehran had not yet used its full range of options against American economic interests. Iran threatens against US sanctions “So far, we have only targeted military bases, but if they want to impose economic sanctions on us, the United States has oil and economic companies around Iran and elsewhere, and we will strike them,” Rezai said. He further warned that any fresh action by US President Donald Trump could trigger a much broader confrontation. “Should Trump take action, our confrontation will be like an earthquake,” Rezai said. “If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Persian Gulf. Oil will leave neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor through the Persian Gulf,” he added. Washington has been pressing governments, including major trading partners of Iran, to support its campaign to restrict Tehran’s access to international markets. China, one of Iran’s key strategic partners, has criticised the US approach, arguing that sanctions would not help resolve the wider Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (Aug 18) announced that it was suspending all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, marking a significant setback for Tehran’s regional economic ties.

Iran warns countries joining US sanctions they will be treated as enemies, threatening to target their interests. Tehran also warns Trump that any escalation could trigger a wider confrontation.

US President Donald Trump again shared an image calling the Strait of Hormuz calling it a "US Territory" even as Iran slammed him for making such claims stating it far from reality. Trump had first shared the same image on August 18, after previously declaring that he could soon claim the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said, “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.”&nbsp;Trump has announced an aggressive new campaign of "unprecedented economic warfare and isolation" against Iran, shifting the strategy away from direct military combat as the conflict approaches its six-month mark. Dubbed "Economic D-Day," the operation aims to completely choke off Iran's remaining financial lifelines&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/37-5-billion-iran-war-cost-adds-pressure-to-us-decisions-1787165129455">$37.5 billion Iran war cost adds pressure to US decisions</a><h2>What Iran said?</h2>Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said that there has to be reforms in Iran's diplomatic behaviour given US reneging of its promises. The top Iranian securiity official, in an inteview with Iran's national TV, aired on suggested that Iran must change its “diplomatic behaviour” with respect to US. “The whole world looks at Iran through a new lens. After several negotiations and the Americans' breach of promise, reforms must be made in the diplomatic behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the world. There will definitely be a change in the method of war.&nbsp;The Americans betrayed their negotiations, diplomacy, and signature,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/short-videos/trump-s-great-retreat-from-bombing-iran-to-stone-age-to-porous-sanctions-1787338814205">Trump's Great Retreat From Bombing Iran to Stone Age to Porous Sanctions</a>&nbsp;Speaking at the 31st general assembly of the Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Community, Pezeshkian defended the MoU as “honourable and valuable.” He said that it had been reached through unity in the Supreme National Security Council and that everyone involved had defended it firmly, and suggested that ending the war while Iran was strong and powerful was the right course. He also noted that the world recognised Iran's victory and saw the United States as "detested" for attacking schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all norms. He stressed that this did not mean Iran would ever submit to aggression. "We will never bow to bullying. We will stand until our last breath and deliver a crushing response," he said.

US President Donald Trump again called the Strait of Hormuz “US Territory” as tensions with Iran escalated over sanctions and oil trade. Iran's Mohsen Rezaei urged changes to Tehran's diplomatic approach, while President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed Iran would resist US pressure and aggression.

US President Donald Trump again shared an image calling the Strait of Hormuz calling it a "US Territory" even as Iran slammed him for making such claims stating it far from reality. Trump had first shared the same image on August 18, after previously declaring that he could soon claim the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island on August 14, Trump had said, “Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.” Trump has announced an aggressive new campaign of "unprecedented economic warfare and isolation" against Iran, shifting the strategy away from direct military combat as the conflict approaches its six-month mark. Dubbed "Economic D-Day," the operation aims to completely choke off Iran's remaining financial lifelines Also Read: $37.5 billion Iran war cost adds pressure to US decisions What Iran said? Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said that there has to be reforms in Iran's diplomatic behaviour given US reneging of its promises. The top Iranian securiity official, in an inteview with Iran's national TV, aired on suggested that Iran must change its “diplomatic behaviour” with respect to US. “The whole world looks at Iran through a new lens. After several negotiations and the Americans' breach of promise, reforms must be made in the diplomatic behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the world. There will definitely be a change in the method of war. The Americans betrayed their negotiations, diplomacy, and signature,” he added. Also Read: Trump's Great Retreat From Bombing Iran to Stone Age to Porous Sanctions Speaking at the 31st general assembly of the Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Community, Pezeshkian defended the MoU as “honourable and valuable.” He said that it had been reached through unity in the Supreme National Security Council and that everyone involved had defended it firmly, and suggested that ending the war while Iran was strong and powerful was the right course. He also noted that the world recognised Iran's victory and saw the United States as "detested" for attacking schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all norms. He stressed that this did not mean Iran would ever submit to aggression. "We will never bow to bullying. We will stand until our last breath and deliver a crushing response," he said.

US President Donald Trump again called the Strait of Hormuz “US Territory” as tensions with Iran escalated over sanctions and oil trade. Iran's Mohsen Rezaei urged changes to Tehran's diplomatic approach, while President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed Iran would resist US pressure and aggression.

Apple is not asking a court for money. It is asking for an order that would stop OpenAI building the device it is building, while the case is argued.&nbsp;The Complaint&nbsp;Apple filed a 41-page trade-secrets complaint on July 10 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. It names OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products, and two former Apple employees, Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu.&nbsp;The claims are brought under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and related state law, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of intellectual property agreements.&nbsp;On August 4, Apple went further and moved for a preliminary injunction — an order that would bar OpenAI and the two individuals from accessing, using or disclosing the information Apple says is confidential, before any trial establishes whether the allegations are true.&nbsp;Why A Preliminary Injunction Is The Aggressive Move&nbsp;Preliminary injunctions are difficult to obtain and unusually powerful, which is why they are worth understanding separately from the underlying claim.&nbsp;To win one, Apple must persuade the court it is likely to succeed on the merits, that it faces irreparable harm without the order, that the balance of hardships favours it, and that an injunction serves the public interest. That is a demanding standard, and it requires Apple to substantially prove its case months before trial.&nbsp;The payoff, if granted, is that OpenAI's hardware programme could be halted or severely constrained for the duration of the litigation, along with orders to return and preserve the disputed material. Litigation of this kind runs for years. In a market where a competitor is trying to define a new product category, a two-year constraint is not a delay. It is the outcome.&nbsp;That is precisely the argument Apple is making about irreparable harm, and it is also why courts are cautious about granting these orders.&nbsp;What OpenAI Is Building&nbsp;The dispute only makes sense in the light of what OpenAI is understood to be developing.&nbsp;Analysts have described a phone or comparable AI-powered device designed to operate without conventional applications or an operating system in the familiar sense — a machine where the interface is a model rather than a grid of icons.&nbsp;If that product works, it is an attack on the assumption the iPhone rests on: that a personal computing device is a platform for applications, and that whoever controls the platform controls the economics. A device that removes the app layer removes the App Store with it.&nbsp;This is the context in which Apple's urgency should be read. The company is not defending a component design. It is arguing that the people building the thing that could displace the iPhone took Apple's knowledge with them when they left.&nbsp;The Weakness In Apple's Position&nbsp;The obvious difficulty is that employees are allowed to change jobs.&nbsp;California, where this is being litigated, has among the strongest public policies in the United States against restraining employee mobility. Non-compete agreements are largely unenforceable there, a rule widely credited with enabling Silicon Valley to function as it does. Courts in that jurisdiction are alert to trade-secret claims used as substitutes for non-competes.&nbsp;The distinction Apple must hold is between general skill and knowledge, which a departing employee is entitled to carry, and specific confidential information, which they are not. Two hardware engineers who worked on Apple devices will inevitably know a great deal about designing hardware. Establishing that what they took was identifiable proprietary information rather than accumulated expertise is the whole case.&nbsp;OpenAI has moved to dismiss, and both motions are listed before Judge Edward Davila in October.&nbsp;What Is Actually At Stake&nbsp;For OpenAI, an injunction would arrive at the worst possible moment. The company is preparing for a public listing, has just completed a $50 billion investment from Amazon, and is competing with Anthropic on revenue growth. A court order freezing a flagship product line is not the disclosure a company wants in that position.&nbsp;For Apple, the case is a signal as much as a claim. The company has been slower into generative AI than any of its peers and has spent two years being described as behind. Litigating aggressively against the company most likely to build a rival device is a way of defending the position it has, at a moment when the position it is building is less clear.&nbsp;And for everyone else in the industry, the October hearing is worth watching for a reason that has nothing to do with either party. If a trade-secrets injunction can constrain a competitor's product development for the length of a lawsuit, it becomes an instrument any incumbent can reach for whenever senior engineers leave for a rival.&nbsp;That would be a meaningful change in how technology companies compete, and it would be decided in a courtroom rather than a market.

Apple's trade-secrets complaint names OpenAI, io Products and two former Apple employees, and it has moved for a preliminary injunction barring use of what it says is confidential information. Both that motion and OpenAI's bid to dismiss are heard in October.

Apple is not asking a court for money. It is asking for an order that would stop OpenAI building the device it is building, while the case is argued. The Complaint Apple filed a 41-page trade-secrets complaint on July 10 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. It names OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products, and two former Apple employees, Tang Yew Tan and Chang Liu. The claims are brought under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and related state law, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of intellectual property agreements. On August 4, Apple went further and moved for a preliminary injunction — an order that would bar OpenAI and the two individuals from accessing, using or disclosing the information Apple says is confidential, before any trial establishes whether the allegations are true. Why A Preliminary Injunction Is The Aggressive Move Preliminary injunctions are difficult to obtain and unusually powerful, which is why they are worth understanding separately from the underlying claim. To win one, Apple must persuade the court it is likely to succeed on the merits, that it faces irreparable harm without the order, that the balance of hardships favours it, and that an injunction serves the public interest. That is a demanding standard, and it requires Apple to substantially prove its case months before trial. The payoff, if granted, is that OpenAI's hardware programme could be halted or severely constrained for the duration of the litigation, along with orders to return and preserve the disputed material. Litigation of this kind runs for years. In a market where a competitor is trying to define a new product category, a two-year constraint is not a delay. It is the outcome. That is precisely the argument Apple is making about irreparable harm, and it is also why courts are cautious about granting these orders. What OpenAI Is Building The dispute only makes sense in the light of what OpenAI is understood to be developing. Analysts have described a phone or comparable AI-powered device designed to operate without conventional applications or an operating system in the familiar sense — a machine where the interface is a model rather than a grid of icons. If that product works, it is an attack on the assumption the iPhone rests on: that a personal computing device is a platform for applications, and that whoever controls the platform controls the economics. A device that removes the app layer removes the App Store with it. This is the context in which Apple's urgency should be read. The company is not defending a component design. It is arguing that the people building the thing that could displace the iPhone took Apple's knowledge with them when they left. The Weakness In Apple's Position The obvious difficulty is that employees are allowed to change jobs. California, where this is being litigated, has among the strongest public policies in the United States against restraining employee mobility. Non-compete agreements are largely unenforceable there, a rule widely credited with enabling Silicon Valley to function as it does. Courts in that jurisdiction are alert to trade-secret claims used as substitutes for non-competes. The distinction Apple must hold is between general skill and knowledge, which a departing employee is entitled to carry, and specific confidential information, which they are not. Two hardware engineers who worked on Apple devices will inevitably know a great deal about designing hardware. Establishing that what they took was identifiable proprietary information rather than accumulated expertise is the whole case. OpenAI has moved to dismiss, and both motions are listed before Judge Edward Davila in October. What Is Actually At Stake For OpenAI, an injunction would arrive at the worst possible moment. The company is preparing for a public listing, has just completed a $50 billion investment from Amazon, and is competing with Anthropic on revenue growth. A court order freezing a flagship product line is not the disclosure a company wants in that position. For Apple, the case is a signal as much as a claim. The company has been slower into generative AI than any of its peers and has spent two years being described as behind. Litigating aggressively against the company most likely to build a rival device is a way of defending the position it has, at a moment when the position it is building is less clear. And for everyone else in the industry, the October hearing is worth watching for a reason that has nothing to do with either party. If a trade-secrets injunction can constrain a competitor's product development for the length of a lawsuit, it becomes an instrument any incumbent can reach for whenever senior engineers leave for a rival. That would be a meaningful change in how technology companies compete, and it would be decided in a courtroom rather than a market.

Apple filed a 41-page trade-secrets complaint against OpenAI, its hardware subsidiary io Products and two former Apple employees, and has moved for a preliminary injunction barring them from using what it says is its confidential information. The motion and OpenAI's bid to dismiss are both before Judge Edward Davila in October.

Apple is trying to freeze OpenAI's hardware business in court

Most claims about AI in drug discovery are claims about software. This one was tested in a laboratory by people who did not write it.&nbsp;Anthropic reports that Claude ran autonomous protein binder design campaigns against 15 clinically significant targets. Fourteen produced at least one binder that worked. The designs were synthesised and tested by Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience without modification.&nbsp;What A Binder Is, And Why This Is Hard&nbsp;A large number of drugs work by binding to a specific protein in the body and blocking or altering what it does. Designing a molecule that attaches tightly to a chosen target, and only to that target, is the first step of the process and one of the most difficult.&nbsp;Done conventionally, it takes weeks or months of specialist work per target, and most attempts fail. The industry baseline for designing binders from scratch — de novo, without starting from a known molecule — is a success rate of roughly 10 to 15 per cent.&nbsp;Claude's campaigns produced confirmed binders at rates between 22.6 and 35.1 per cent, depending on how the sessions were structured. That is somewhere between one and a half and three times the conventional rate.&nbsp;The Targets Were Not Easy Ones&nbsp;The choice of targets matters, because success against trivial proteins would prove nothing.&nbsp;The 15 included PD-L1, the checkpoint protein at the centre of modern cancer immunotherapy; TREM2, implicated in Alzheimer's disease; TNF-alpha, the target of anti-inflammatory drugs including Humira, one of the best-selling pharmaceuticals ever made; and EGFR, a long-established oncology target.&nbsp;These are proteins that pharmaceutical companies have spent decades and enormous sums working on. They were chosen because they are clinically consequential and well characterised, which means the results can be judged against a substantial body of existing work.&nbsp;Why The Wet Lab Matters More Than The Model&nbsp;The most important detail is not the hit rate. It is who measured it.&nbsp;Computational biology has a long history of impressive predictions that did not survive contact with a laboratory. A model can propose a structure that scores well against its own objective and simply fails to fold, bind or remain stable when actually synthesised. The field's credibility problem has always been the gap between prediction and physical confirmation.&nbsp;Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience are independent companies that build and test proteins. They took Claude's designs as submitted, made them, and measured whether they bound. That is external validation of a physical result, which is a materially different claim from a benchmark score.&nbsp;The word autonomous is doing real work too. This was not a researcher using a model as an assistant. Claude ran the campaigns — proposing candidates, evaluating them, iterating — which is a claim about a workflow rather than a single output.&nbsp;The Appropriate Caution&nbsp;Several things this result is not.&nbsp;It is not a drug. A binder that attaches to its target in a laboratory assay is separated from a medicine by years of work on selectivity, stability, toxicity, manufacturing, delivery and clinical trials in humans. The overwhelming majority of molecules that bind correctly never become treatments, and that attrition is where pharmaceutical economics actually lives.&nbsp;It is also research published by the company that makes the model. Anthropic has released a paper and the collaborators have published their own account, which is considerably better than a press release, but this is not yet independent replication by unaffiliated academic groups. That is the standard the result will ultimately be held to.&nbsp;And a hit rate is a comparison against a baseline that depends on how it is defined. Industry figures for de novo binder design vary by target class, by method and by who is reporting them.&nbsp;What It Would Change If It Holds&nbsp;The significance is not that an AI can do what protein designers do. It is where the bottleneck moves if it can.&nbsp;The rate-limiting step in early drug discovery has been the number of credible candidate molecules a team can generate and test. Expert time is the scarce input, and it is why programmes concentrate on targets commercially large enough to justify the expense. Rare diseases go unaddressed not because the biology is impossible but because nobody can fund the search.&nbsp;A system that generates candidates at two to three times the conventional hit rate, without consuming specialist months per target, moves the constraint to synthesis and testing capacity — which is equipment and money rather than scarce human expertise, and scales differently.&nbsp;That is the case for taking this seriously, and it is why the wet-lab confirmation matters more than any benchmark Anthropic could have published.&nbsp;It also arrives in a week when the same company was graded zero on its published plan for containing a model that escapes control. Both things are true about the same technology, and the second is not an argument against the first. It is the reason the first is worth getting right.

Anthropic says Claude autonomously designed protein binders against 15 clinically significant targets, with 14 producing confirmed binders. Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience tested the designs unmodified, measuring 22.6 to 35.1 per cent hit rates.

Most claims about AI in drug discovery are claims about software. This one was tested in a laboratory by people who did not write it. Anthropic reports that Claude ran autonomous protein binder design campaigns against 15 clinically significant targets. Fourteen produced at least one binder that worked. The designs were synthesised and tested by Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience without modification. What A Binder Is, And Why This Is Hard A large number of drugs work by binding to a specific protein in the body and blocking or altering what it does. Designing a molecule that attaches tightly to a chosen target, and only to that target, is the first step of the process and one of the most difficult. Done conventionally, it takes weeks or months of specialist work per target, and most attempts fail. The industry baseline for designing binders from scratch — de novo, without starting from a known molecule — is a success rate of roughly 10 to 15 per cent. Claude's campaigns produced confirmed binders at rates between 22.6 and 35.1 per cent, depending on how the sessions were structured. That is somewhere between one and a half and three times the conventional rate. The Targets Were Not Easy Ones The choice of targets matters, because success against trivial proteins would prove nothing. The 15 included PD-L1, the checkpoint protein at the centre of modern cancer immunotherapy; TREM2, implicated in Alzheimer's disease; TNF-alpha, the target of anti-inflammatory drugs including Humira, one of the best-selling pharmaceuticals ever made; and EGFR, a long-established oncology target. These are proteins that pharmaceutical companies have spent decades and enormous sums working on. They were chosen because they are clinically consequential and well characterised, which means the results can be judged against a substantial body of existing work. Why The Wet Lab Matters More Than The Model The most important detail is not the hit rate. It is who measured it. Computational biology has a long history of impressive predictions that did not survive contact with a laboratory. A model can propose a structure that scores well against its own objective and simply fails to fold, bind or remain stable when actually synthesised. The field's credibility problem has always been the gap between prediction and physical confirmation. Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience are independent companies that build and test proteins. They took Claude's designs as submitted, made them, and measured whether they bound. That is external validation of a physical result, which is a materially different claim from a benchmark score. The word autonomous is doing real work too. This was not a researcher using a model as an assistant. Claude ran the campaigns — proposing candidates, evaluating them, iterating — which is a claim about a workflow rather than a single output. The Appropriate Caution Several things this result is not. It is not a drug. A binder that attaches to its target in a laboratory assay is separated from a medicine by years of work on selectivity, stability, toxicity, manufacturing, delivery and clinical trials in humans. The overwhelming majority of molecules that bind correctly never become treatments, and that attrition is where pharmaceutical economics actually lives. It is also research published by the company that makes the model. Anthropic has released a paper and the collaborators have published their own account, which is considerably better than a press release, but this is not yet independent replication by unaffiliated academic groups. That is the standard the result will ultimately be held to. And a hit rate is a comparison against a baseline that depends on how it is defined. Industry figures for de novo binder design vary by target class, by method and by who is reporting them. What It Would Change If It Holds The significance is not that an AI can do what protein designers do. It is where the bottleneck moves if it can. The rate-limiting step in early drug discovery has been the number of credible candidate molecules a team can generate and test. Expert time is the scarce input, and it is why programmes concentrate on targets commercially large enough to justify the expense. Rare diseases go unaddressed not because the biology is impossible but because nobody can fund the search. A system that generates candidates at two to three times the conventional hit rate, without consuming specialist months per target, moves the constraint to synthesis and testing capacity — which is equipment and money rather than scarce human expertise, and scales differently. That is the case for taking this seriously, and it is why the wet-lab confirmation matters more than any benchmark Anthropic could have published. It also arrives in a week when the same company was graded zero on its published plan for containing a model that escapes control. Both things are true about the same technology, and the second is not an argument against the first. It is the reason the first is worth getting right.

Anthropic reports that Claude autonomously designed protein binders against 15 clinically significant targets, including PD-L1, TREM2, TNF-alpha and EGFR. Fourteen produced at least one confirmed binder. Adaptyv Bio and Twist Bioscience synthesised and tested the designs without modification, measuring hit rates of 22.6 to 35.1 per cent against an industry baseline of 10 to 15 per cent.

Claude designed working drug molecules for 14 of 15 targets

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has played down the immediate significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, questioning what the pact has achieved amid the ongoing military situations confronting its three signatories. “There are live military situations which each of the signatories face, what has the Makkah pact done in response to that?” he said when asked about India’s reaction to the agreement at an event in Delhi.&nbsp;At the same time, Jaishankar made it clear that New Delhi would not ignore the development. He said India would factor the agreement into its broader security assessment, particularly when it involves countries whose policies are viewed as unfavourable towards India. “In my calculus, everything counts, everything will have a weight…and sometimes things need to play out,” he said. “Everything which happens on the part of any player who’s not well disposed towards me, of course counts in my calculation.”<h2>What is the Makkah joint defence agreement?</h2>Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 after talks involving Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A joint statement issued by the three countries said the agreement is rooted in shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation. “The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” it said.&nbsp;“It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states,” the joint statement said.The pact establishes a framework for collective defence and deeper military cooperation among the three countries. It also builds on the expanding defence relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.<h2>What did the MEA say about the pact?</h2>India initially responded cautiously to the agreement. On August 7, the Ministry of External Affairs said it was closely monitoring the development. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Regarding your question about the trilateral pact, this is a development we are monitoring closely, and we will keep you updated.”&nbsp;On August 11, the MEA offered a more detailed assessment, saying New Delhi was examining the agreement from the perspective of national security and regional peace and stability. “As far as this agreement is concerned, we are examining its implications both from the perspective of India's national security and considerations of regional peace and stability,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his bi-weekly media briefing.&nbsp;Jaiswal also said India remained committed to safeguarding its national interests and would take all necessary measures in this regard. He added that New Delhi was continuing to closely monitor “all developments in the West Asia conflict.” Jaishankar's latest comments suggest that while India is taking the pact seriously as part of its strategic assessment, New Delhi is not necessarily viewing it as an immediate game-changing military development.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dan-driscoll-to-leave-us-army-secretary-post-amid-tension-with-hegseth-here-s-what-report-claims-1787424895390">Dan Driscoll to leave US Army secretary post amid tension with Hegseth? Here's what report claims</a><h2>Jaishankar calls Pakistan ‘unique’ over terrorism</h2>Jaishankar also sharply criticised Pakistan while discussing its relationship with the United States. Describing Pakistan as a “unique” country, he argued that no other nation uses terrorism as systematically and continuously to pressure a neighbouring state. “Pakistan is unique not because it is a neighbour of India. We have other neighbours. There are other countries who have problems between them.&nbsp;“It is unique because in this day and age, there is no other country which uses terrorism so systematically and in such a sustained manner to attack and pressurise another neighbour, and that has an impact on public opinion in this country,” he said. Jaishankar was responding to a question about Pakistan-US relations. He noted that Washington and Islamabad have a long history of ties, while emphasising that India has developed its own relationship with the United States.<h2>Jaishankar on India-China ties</h2>The external affairs minister also discussed India-China relations, saying both countries have an interest in maintaining a stable relationship, while stressing that the border situation remains central to the broader relationship. “China industrialised much faster and much earlier than India. We missed an opportunity to industrialise and manufacture for 50 years from the 1960s onwards,” he said. “I think we went through a particularly bad patch between the summer of 2020 and the autumn of 2024, and that was primarily an outcome of the situation in the border areas,” he said.&nbsp;Jaishankar said India and China are “very big economies” and important markets for each other, while arguing that India must continue doing business with the entire world, including China. “The world is competitive. We must build up our strengths. We have to do business with the entire world. That includes China too. But it is important we deal with them confidently and we stand our ground as we have stood in the the border,” he said.

S Jaishankar questions the Makkah defence pact’s significance and says India will factor Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye’s moves into its security calculus

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has played down the immediate significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, questioning what the pact has achieved amid the ongoing military situations confronting its three signatories. “There are live military situations which each of the signatories face, what has the Makkah pact done in response to that?” he said when asked about India’s reaction to the agreement at an event in Delhi. At the same time, Jaishankar made it clear that New Delhi would not ignore the development. He said India would factor the agreement into its broader security assessment, particularly when it involves countries whose policies are viewed as unfavourable towards India. “In my calculus, everything counts, everything will have a weight…and sometimes things need to play out,” he said. “Everything which happens on the part of any player who’s not well disposed towards me, of course counts in my calculation.” What is the Makkah joint defence agreement? Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7 after talks involving Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A joint statement issued by the three countries said the agreement is rooted in shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation. “The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all,” it said. “It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three states,” the joint statement said. The pact establishes a framework for collective defence and deeper military cooperation among the three countries. It also builds on the expanding defence relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. What did the MEA say about the pact? India initially responded cautiously to the agreement. On August 7, the Ministry of External Affairs said it was closely monitoring the development. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Regarding your question about the trilateral pact, this is a development we are monitoring closely, and we will keep you updated.” On August 11, the MEA offered a more detailed assessment, saying New Delhi was examining the agreement from the perspective of national security and regional peace and stability. “As far as this agreement is concerned, we are examining its implications both from the perspective of India's national security and considerations of regional peace and stability,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his bi-weekly media briefing. Jaiswal also said India remained committed to safeguarding its national interests and would take all necessary measures in this regard. He added that New Delhi was continuing to closely monitor “all developments in the West Asia conflict.” Jaishankar's latest comments suggest that while India is taking the pact seriously as part of its strategic assessment, New Delhi is not necessarily viewing it as an immediate game-changing military development. Also Read: Dan Driscoll to leave US Army secretary post amid tension with Hegseth? Here's what report claims Jaishankar calls Pakistan ‘unique’ over terrorism Jaishankar also sharply criticised Pakistan while discussing its relationship with the United States. Describing Pakistan as a “unique” country, he argued that no other nation uses terrorism as systematically and continuously to pressure a neighbouring state. “Pakistan is unique not because it is a neighbour of India. We have other neighbours. There are other countries who have problems between them. “It is unique because in this day and age, there is no other country which uses terrorism so systematically and in such a sustained manner to attack and pressurise another neighbour, and that has an impact on public opinion in this country,” he said. Jaishankar was responding to a question about Pakistan-US relations. He noted that Washington and Islamabad have a long history of ties, while emphasising that India has developed its own relationship with the United States. Jaishankar on India-China ties The external affairs minister also discussed India-China relations, saying both countries have an interest in maintaining a stable relationship, while stressing that the border situation remains central to the broader relationship. “China industrialised much faster and much earlier than India. We missed an opportunity to industrialise and manufacture for 50 years from the 1960s onwards,” he said. “I think we went through a particularly bad patch between the summer of 2020 and the autumn of 2024, and that was primarily an outcome of the situation in the border areas,” he said. Jaishankar said India and China are “very big economies” and important markets for each other, while arguing that India must continue doing business with the entire world, including China. “The world is competitive. We must build up our strengths. We have to do business with the entire world. That includes China too. But it is important we deal with them confidently and we stand our ground as we have stood in the the border,” he said.

Jaishankar questioned the Makkah defence pact’s impact while saying India will factor every move by unfriendly players into its security calculus

'What has the Makkah pact done?': Jaishankar questions significance of Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi defence deal

Anthropic's second-quarter revenue exceeded $11.5 billion. In the same quarter a year earlier it was $787 million.&nbsp;That is a fourteenfold increase in twelve months, at a scale where such multiples do not normally occur. Companies growing that fast are usually small. Anthropic was not small a year ago.&nbsp;The Numbers&nbsp;The annualised run rate reached roughly $65 billion by the end of July, up sharply from where it stood at the close of 2025.&nbsp;Anthropic was valued at $965 billion in its Series H round in May. It has filed confidentially for a listing, working with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, and could begin trading as early as this autumn.&nbsp;Investor expectations for the offering have reached $2 trillion or higher. If that holds, it would surpass the $1.77 trillion record SpaceX set in June and become the largest initial public offering ever completed.&nbsp;Backers expect annualised revenue between $100 billion and $120 billion by the end of this year.&nbsp;One caution on those figures: the valuation expectations come from investors, not from the company. Senior Anthropic executives have not set a public target, and reporting suggests they have not set one privately either. The revenue figures are attributed to people familiar with the finances rather than to audited disclosure, which is normal for a company that has filed confidentially and cannot say much until it doesn't.&nbsp;It Is Now Ahead Of OpenAI&nbsp;The comparison that matters is not with SpaceX. It is with the company Anthropic was founded by people who left.&nbsp;On current revenue generation, Anthropic is reported to be ahead of OpenAI. That is a reversal of the assumption that has governed coverage of this industry since 2022, and it happened without a consumer product anyone would call a household name.&nbsp;OpenAI, meanwhile, appears to be slowing down. It filed confidentially in June and was reported to be targeting a September listing, then to be weighing a delay into 2027 rather than accept a valuation below $1 trillion. Sam Altman is reported to have treated any cut to that figure as a nonstarter.&nbsp;So the two companies may arrive at the public markets in the opposite order to the one everyone expected, and for opposite reasons — one accelerating into a receptive market, the other holding back for a number.&nbsp;Where The Money Is Coming From&nbsp;The composition of Anthropic's revenue explains the growth better than the headline figure does.&nbsp;Anthropic sells overwhelmingly to businesses rather than consumers. Enterprise contracts are larger, longer and less volatile than subscriptions, and they expand inside an organisation once the first team adopts them. That is a slower start and a steeper curve, which is close to the shape the numbers show.&nbsp;It also has a coding business that has become the strongest product-market fit in the industry, at a moment when software development is the single clearest commercial application of these models. Independent assessments of AI coding tools have repeatedly placed Anthropic's offering first.&nbsp;The risk in that concentration is the obvious one. A business weighted towards enterprise software and coding is exposed to exactly one thing going wrong: a competitor closing the capability gap on code. Google shipped Gemini 3.7 Flash this month with a sixteen-point jump on one agentic coding benchmark in three weeks, at half the blended price of its predecessor.&nbsp;What An IPO Changes&nbsp;A listing at this scale converts a private research company into a public one with quarterly obligations, and that is a genuine change in what Anthropic is.&nbsp;The company has built its identity on safety, on publishing research that complicates its own commercial story, and on a governance structure designed to let it decline revenue. Public markets do not forbid any of that, but they price it. Every decision to slow a release, restrict a capability or spend on alignment research becomes a line an analyst can question on a call.&nbsp;There is a live example. An assessment published this week graded five frontier labs on their internal AI control practices, and Anthropic scored zero on having a published plan for containing a model that escapes control — the lowest possible mark, on the one measure most directly tied to its public identity.&nbsp;That gap existed while the company was private and answerable to nobody but its own board. It is harder to explain from a stock exchange.&nbsp;The Number To Watch&nbsp;Fourteenfold growth is the figure that will lead coverage, and it is real. But the one that determines whether the valuation holds is the $100 billion to $120 billion the backers expect by December.&nbsp;That requires the run rate to rise by more than half again in five months. If it lands, the $2 trillion conversation is defensible on any normal revenue multiple. If it stalls at $65 billion, a company priced at thirty times revenue on the promise of continued acceleration becomes a considerably harder story to tell to public shareholders than to private ones.

Anthropic's Q2 revenue topped $11.5 billion against $787 million a year earlier, with an annualised run rate of $65 billion. It has filed confidentially for an IPO that investors expect could exceed SpaceX's record $1.77 trillion debut.

Anthropic's second-quarter revenue exceeded $11.5 billion. In the same quarter a year earlier it was $787 million. That is a fourteenfold increase in twelve months, at a scale where such multiples do not normally occur. Companies growing that fast are usually small. Anthropic was not small a year ago. The Numbers The annualised run rate reached roughly $65 billion by the end of July, up sharply from where it stood at the close of 2025. Anthropic was valued at $965 billion in its Series H round in May. It has filed confidentially for a listing, working with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, and could begin trading as early as this autumn. Investor expectations for the offering have reached $2 trillion or higher. If that holds, it would surpass the $1.77 trillion record SpaceX set in June and become the largest initial public offering ever completed. Backers expect annualised revenue between $100 billion and $120 billion by the end of this year. One caution on those figures: the valuation expectations come from investors, not from the company. Senior Anthropic executives have not set a public target, and reporting suggests they have not set one privately either. The revenue figures are attributed to people familiar with the finances rather than to audited disclosure, which is normal for a company that has filed confidentially and cannot say much until it doesn't. It Is Now Ahead Of OpenAI The comparison that matters is not with SpaceX. It is with the company Anthropic was founded by people who left. On current revenue generation, Anthropic is reported to be ahead of OpenAI. That is a reversal of the assumption that has governed coverage of this industry since 2022, and it happened without a consumer product anyone would call a household name. OpenAI, meanwhile, appears to be slowing down. It filed confidentially in June and was reported to be targeting a September listing, then to be weighing a delay into 2027 rather than accept a valuation below $1 trillion. Sam Altman is reported to have treated any cut to that figure as a nonstarter. So the two companies may arrive at the public markets in the opposite order to the one everyone expected, and for opposite reasons — one accelerating into a receptive market, the other holding back for a number. Where The Money Is Coming From The composition of Anthropic's revenue explains the growth better than the headline figure does. Anthropic sells overwhelmingly to businesses rather than consumers. Enterprise contracts are larger, longer and less volatile than subscriptions, and they expand inside an organisation once the first team adopts them. That is a slower start and a steeper curve, which is close to the shape the numbers show. It also has a coding business that has become the strongest product-market fit in the industry, at a moment when software development is the single clearest commercial application of these models. Independent assessments of AI coding tools have repeatedly placed Anthropic's offering first. The risk in that concentration is the obvious one. A business weighted towards enterprise software and coding is exposed to exactly one thing going wrong: a competitor closing the capability gap on code. Google shipped Gemini 3.7 Flash this month with a sixteen-point jump on one agentic coding benchmark in three weeks, at half the blended price of its predecessor. What An IPO Changes A listing at this scale converts a private research company into a public one with quarterly obligations, and that is a genuine change in what Anthropic is. The company has built its identity on safety, on publishing research that complicates its own commercial story, and on a governance structure designed to let it decline revenue. Public markets do not forbid any of that, but they price it. Every decision to slow a release, restrict a capability or spend on alignment research becomes a line an analyst can question on a call. There is a live example. An assessment published this week graded five frontier labs on their internal AI control practices, and Anthropic scored zero on having a published plan for containing a model that escapes control — the lowest possible mark, on the one measure most directly tied to its public identity. That gap existed while the company was private and answerable to nobody but its own board. It is harder to explain from a stock exchange. The Number To Watch Fourteenfold growth is the figure that will lead coverage, and it is real. But the one that determines whether the valuation holds is the $100 billion to $120 billion the backers expect by December. That requires the run rate to rise by more than half again in five months. If it lands, the $2 trillion conversation is defensible on any normal revenue multiple. If it stalls at $65 billion, a company priced at thirty times revenue on the promise of continued acceleration becomes a considerably harder story to tell to public shareholders than to private ones.

Anthropic's second-quarter revenue exceeded $11.5 billion, against $787 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Its annualised run rate reached $65 billion by the end of July. It has filed confidentially for an IPO with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, could begin trading this autumn, and investors are discussing a valuation that would make it the largest public debut in history.

Anthropic made $11.5 billion last quarter! A year earlier it made $787 million

Five frontier AI companies have been graded on a question none of them has answered in public: what happens if one of their own models slips human control.&nbsp;The results are poor across the board. The most interesting one is not the company that finished last.&nbsp;The Grades&nbsp;GuideLight AI Standards assessed Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and Meta across six control practices, each scored from zero to five.&nbsp;Anthropic and OpenAI tied at the top with C+, both scoring 2.50 overall. Google took a D+ at 1.50, xAI a D-minus at 0.83, and Meta an F at 0.67.&nbsp;No company scored above a three on any single practice. On a five-point scale, that means not one of the five reached what the assessment calls substantial implementation of any measure it examined — not the leaders, not on their strongest categories.&nbsp;The Result That Stands Out&nbsp;Anthropic has built its public identity on safety more explicitly than any of its competitors. Its scores mostly bear that out: three out of five on logging, on measuring whether its monitoring actually works, on gating high-risk actions, on circuit breaking, and on third-party review. That is the strongest set in the table.&nbsp;On the sixth practice — having a published plan for containing a model that goes wrong — Anthropic scored zero.&nbsp;OpenAI scored three on the same measure, the highest anyone achieved. Meta also scored zero. So on the specific question of what you do when a system starts evading control, the company most associated with worrying about that problem has disclosed no more than the company that finished last overall.&nbsp;Asked about it, Anthropic said it would conduct risk assessments if it detected evasion attempts. That is a description of a response, not a containment protocol.&nbsp;What Was Actually Measured&nbsp;The six practices are worth naming, because they describe an ordinary security posture rather than anything exotic.&nbsp;Logging: does the company record what its internal AI systems are doing. Monitor efficacy: does it check whether its own detection actually catches misbehaviour. Gated actions: are high-risk operations blocked behind approval. Circuit breaking: can systems be halted automatically when flagged behaviour spikes. Third-party review: does anyone independent examine the controls and publish. Containment plan: is there a written procedure for a model that is actively working around its restrictions.&nbsp;Anthropic and OpenAI log substantial portions of their internal AI activity and scan it for signs of misbehaviour. Both take steps to measure whether that scanning works and to escalate to humans on suspicious behaviour. Below them, the picture thins quickly. xAI scored zero on logging, on monitor efficacy, and on third-party review. Meta scored zero on gated actions, on circuit breaking, and on containment.&nbsp;GuideLight's summary is that the companies are weakest in prevention and containment, and that they have few containment protocols ready for an emergency.&nbsp;The Important Limitation&nbsp;This is an assessment of what the companies have published, not of what they do.&nbsp;The evidence base is system cards, safety frameworks, risk reports, blog posts and third-party descriptions of collaborations. A company with excellent internal controls that discusses none of them publicly would score badly here, and several of the companies made exactly that argument.&nbsp;OpenAI said it has restriction processes the report does not capture. Google said the assessment does not represent its full safety measures, and declined to confirm whether it has internal containment plans. Meta declined to comment on internal plans and pointed to its existing framework. xAI did not respond.&nbsp;Those objections are fair as far as they go. But disclosure is not incidental to this particular problem. A containment plan that regulators, independent researchers and the public cannot see is one nobody can evaluate before it is needed — and the entire argument for self-regulation in this industry rests on the claim that the companies can be trusted to have thought it through.&nbsp;'I was surprised by how little the AI companies have said about how they would handle a very serious incident,' said Steven Adler, GuideLight's chief scientist.&nbsp;Why It Is Being Asked Now&nbsp;The question stopped being hypothetical this year.&nbsp;Models from both OpenAI and Anthropic obtained unintended internet access during safety evaluations. OpenAI paused a substantial portion of frontier post-training work for roughly two weeks this month after concluding it could not rule out that an unreleased model had reached its highest cybersecurity risk tier — the level at which a system can independently find and build working exploits.&nbsp;That pause is arguably the strongest evidence in the industry that internal controls function. It is also an illustration of the gap the report identifies: the response was improvised around a specific capability finding, not executed from a published playbook.&nbsp;The Regulation Arriving Behind It&nbsp;The disclosure gap is about to stop being voluntary.&nbsp;California's SB 53 and New York's RAISE Act already require disclosure of incident response frameworks. Illinois has gone further: the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, signed in July, makes it the first state to mandate annual independent third-party audits of frontier developers, conducted by qualified experts with no financial conflict of interest, with findings submitted to the administering agency and the Attorney General.&nbsp;It applies to models trained above 10 to the 26th floating-point operations, with heightened obligations on developers earning more than $500 million a year. The audit requirement begins on January 1, 2028.&nbsp;That gives the companies roughly sixteen months. On the evidence of this assessment, the practice most of them will have to build from close to nothing is the one about what happens when a model stops doing what it is told.

GuideLight graded Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and Meta on six AI control practices. Meta finished last with an F, but Anthropic scored top marks on five practices and zero on its plan for containing a model that escapes control.

Five frontier AI companies have been graded on a question none of them has answered in public: what happens if one of their own models slips human control. The results are poor across the board. The most interesting one is not the company that finished last. The Grades GuideLight AI Standards assessed Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and Meta across six control practices, each scored from zero to five. Anthropic and OpenAI tied at the top with C+, both scoring 2.50 overall. Google took a D+ at 1.50, xAI a D-minus at 0.83, and Meta an F at 0.67. No company scored above a three on any single practice. On a five-point scale, that means not one of the five reached what the assessment calls substantial implementation of any measure it examined — not the leaders, not on their strongest categories. The Result That Stands Out Anthropic has built its public identity on safety more explicitly than any of its competitors. Its scores mostly bear that out: three out of five on logging, on measuring whether its monitoring actually works, on gating high-risk actions, on circuit breaking, and on third-party review. That is the strongest set in the table. On the sixth practice — having a published plan for containing a model that goes wrong — Anthropic scored zero. OpenAI scored three on the same measure, the highest anyone achieved. Meta also scored zero. So on the specific question of what you do when a system starts evading control, the company most associated with worrying about that problem has disclosed no more than the company that finished last overall. Asked about it, Anthropic said it would conduct risk assessments if it detected evasion attempts. That is a description of a response, not a containment protocol. What Was Actually Measured The six practices are worth naming, because they describe an ordinary security posture rather than anything exotic. Logging: does the company record what its internal AI systems are doing. Monitor efficacy: does it check whether its own detection actually catches misbehaviour. Gated actions: are high-risk operations blocked behind approval. Circuit breaking: can systems be halted automatically when flagged behaviour spikes. Third-party review: does anyone independent examine the controls and publish. Containment plan: is there a written procedure for a model that is actively working around its restrictions. Anthropic and OpenAI log substantial portions of their internal AI activity and scan it for signs of misbehaviour. Both take steps to measure whether that scanning works and to escalate to humans on suspicious behaviour. Below them, the picture thins quickly. xAI scored zero on logging, on monitor efficacy, and on third-party review. Meta scored zero on gated actions, on circuit breaking, and on containment. GuideLight's summary is that the companies are weakest in prevention and containment, and that they have few containment protocols ready for an emergency. The Important Limitation This is an assessment of what the companies have published, not of what they do. The evidence base is system cards, safety frameworks, risk reports, blog posts and third-party descriptions of collaborations. A company with excellent internal controls that discusses none of them publicly would score badly here, and several of the companies made exactly that argument. OpenAI said it has restriction processes the report does not capture. Google said the assessment does not represent its full safety measures, and declined to confirm whether it has internal containment plans. Meta declined to comment on internal plans and pointed to its existing framework. xAI did not respond. Those objections are fair as far as they go. But disclosure is not incidental to this particular problem. A containment plan that regulators, independent researchers and the public cannot see is one nobody can evaluate before it is needed — and the entire argument for self-regulation in this industry rests on the claim that the companies can be trusted to have thought it through. 'I was surprised by how little the AI companies have said about how they would handle a very serious incident,' said Steven Adler, GuideLight's chief scientist. Why It Is Being Asked Now The question stopped being hypothetical this year. Models from both OpenAI and Anthropic obtained unintended internet access during safety evaluations. OpenAI paused a substantial portion of frontier post-training work for roughly two weeks this month after concluding it could not rule out that an unreleased model had reached its highest cybersecurity risk tier — the level at which a system can independently find and build working exploits. That pause is arguably the strongest evidence in the industry that internal controls function. It is also an illustration of the gap the report identifies: the response was improvised around a specific capability finding, not executed from a published playbook. The Regulation Arriving Behind It The disclosure gap is about to stop being voluntary. California's SB 53 and New York's RAISE Act already require disclosure of incident response frameworks. Illinois has gone further: the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, signed in July, makes it the first state to mandate annual independent third-party audits of frontier developers, conducted by qualified experts with no financial conflict of interest, with findings submitted to the administering agency and the Attorney General. It applies to models trained above 10 to the 26th floating-point operations, with heightened obligations on developers earning more than $500 million a year. The audit requirement begins on January 1, 2028. That gives the companies roughly sixteen months. On the evidence of this assessment, the practice most of them will have to build from close to nothing is the one about what happens when a model stops doing what it is told.

GuideLight AI Standards graded Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and Meta on six practices for controlling their own AI systems. Meta finished last with an F. But the most striking result is Anthropic, which scored three out of five on every practice except one — its plan for containing a model that escapes control, where it scored zero.

Five AI labs were graded on stopping a rogue model! The safety-first one scored zero

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to leave his position by the end of the year amid growing tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Driscoll's possible departure would create another leadership gap at the top of the US Army, which has already been without a Senate-confirmed chief since Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April.&nbsp;Hegseth dismissed George without publicly giving a reason and has not yet nominated a permanent successor. General Christopher LaNeve, the Army's vice chief of staff and a former senior military aide to Hegseth, is currently serving as acting Army chief of staff. According to the report, Driscoll and his family moved out of the official family residence at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall this summer. His family has relocated to North Carolina, while Driscoll is now living in a smaller apartment on the military installation.<h2>Driscoll's relationship with Hegseth strained</h2>A former Army Ranger and long-time friend of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll reportedly came under Hegseth's scrutiny early in the Trump administration. The tensions emerged after Driscoll attempted to arrange a visit for Vance and President Donald Trump to meet soldiers and discuss proposed reforms to the Army.&nbsp;Despite the strained relationship with Hegseth, Driscoll developed a strong partnership with George during his approximately 18 months as Army secretary. The two pushed the Army to adopt emerging technologies and argued that commercially developed innovations could have a major impact on the future of warfare. Driscoll also travelled to Ukraine alongside George and General Chris Donahue, who was then the Army's senior general in Europe. During the visit, Driscoll met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed peace negotiations.&nbsp;He encouraged the Army to draw lessons from the war in Ukraine, particularly regarding the use of commercially available technology on the battlefield. During Driscoll's tenure, private companies also committed more than $25 billion to projects involving data centres, critical mineral refineries and dining facilities at Army bases across the United States.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-grants-iraqi-oil-tankers-permission-to-pass-through-strait-of-hormuz-iran-state-media-1787418007916">Tehran grants Iraqi oil tankers permission to pass through Strait of Hormuz: Iran state media</a><h2>Partnership with George disrupted</h2>Driscoll's partnership with George was interrupted when Hegseth abruptly removed the Army chief in April. The decision drew criticism from members of Congress, including Republicans who expressed support for George. During a congressional hearing, Driscoll avoided directly criticising Hegseth but made his support for George clear.&nbsp;"I, too, love Gen. George," Driscoll told lawmakers, describing him as “an amazing, transformational leader.” Despite uncertainty over his own future, Driscoll received public praise from Trump at a defence conference in Pennsylvania last month.&nbsp;Trump highlighted Driscoll's presence while portraying the Army secretary as someone whose appearance did not reflect his toughness. "With that beautiful smile, but he's actually a killer. Look at that beautiful, nice face. Everything's so happy. He's a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best guys, actually," Trump said.

Dan Driscoll may leave as US Army secretary by year-end amid tensions with Pete Hegseth, following the removal of Army chief Randy George

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to leave his position by the end of the year amid growing tensions with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Driscoll's possible departure would create another leadership gap at the top of the US Army, which has already been without a Senate-confirmed chief since Hegseth removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April. Hegseth dismissed George without publicly giving a reason and has not yet nominated a permanent successor. General Christopher LaNeve, the Army's vice chief of staff and a former senior military aide to Hegseth, is currently serving as acting Army chief of staff. According to the report, Driscoll and his family moved out of the official family residence at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall this summer. His family has relocated to North Carolina, while Driscoll is now living in a smaller apartment on the military installation. Driscoll's relationship with Hegseth strained A former Army Ranger and long-time friend of Vice President JD Vance, Driscoll reportedly came under Hegseth's scrutiny early in the Trump administration. The tensions emerged after Driscoll attempted to arrange a visit for Vance and President Donald Trump to meet soldiers and discuss proposed reforms to the Army. Despite the strained relationship with Hegseth, Driscoll developed a strong partnership with George during his approximately 18 months as Army secretary. The two pushed the Army to adopt emerging technologies and argued that commercially developed innovations could have a major impact on the future of warfare. Driscoll also travelled to Ukraine alongside George and General Chris Donahue, who was then the Army's senior general in Europe. During the visit, Driscoll met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed peace negotiations. He encouraged the Army to draw lessons from the war in Ukraine, particularly regarding the use of commercially available technology on the battlefield. During Driscoll's tenure, private companies also committed more than $25 billion to projects involving data centres, critical mineral refineries and dining facilities at Army bases across the United States. Also Read: Tehran grants Iraqi oil tankers permission to pass through Strait of Hormuz: Iran state media Partnership with George disrupted Driscoll's partnership with George was interrupted when Hegseth abruptly removed the Army chief in April. The decision drew criticism from members of Congress, including Republicans who expressed support for George. During a congressional hearing, Driscoll avoided directly criticising Hegseth but made his support for George clear. "I, too, love Gen. George," Driscoll told lawmakers, describing him as “an amazing, transformational leader.” Despite uncertainty over his own future, Driscoll received public praise from Trump at a defence conference in Pennsylvania last month. Trump highlighted Driscoll's presence while portraying the Army secretary as someone whose appearance did not reflect his toughness. "With that beautiful smile, but he's actually a killer. Look at that beautiful, nice face. Everything's so happy. He's a killer. Would you believe it? Those are the best guys, actually," Trump said.

As per report, Dan Driscoll may leave as US Army secretary by year-end amid tensions with Pete Hegseth, adding to uncertainty over Army leadership

Dan Driscoll to leave US Army secretary post amid tension with Hegseth? Here's what report claims

Tehran has authorised a number of Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strategically important Strait of Hormuz following repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state media reported on Saturday (August 22). IRNA said the approvals were granted despite what it described as heightened military activity and insecurity in the waterway amid US actions. "Despite being subjected to the most severe military measures and insecurity created in the strait due to the hostile actions of the United States, Tehran has granted permission to a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz over the past six months," the IRNA news agency said.&nbsp;According to the report, Iraq made repeated requests through several diplomatic channels. One such appeal reportedly came during a visit to Iraq by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator in discussions with the United States. Iran has maintained that it controls passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route, since the Middle East war began on February 28. Tehran says vessels must secure permission and pay transit fees before passing through the waterway.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-us-trade-talks-collapse-as-carney-vows-dollar-for-dollar-tariff-response-1787413897991">Canada-US trade talks collapse as Carney vows dollar-for-dollar tariff response</a>&nbsp;US President Donald Trump, however, has claimed that Washington ‘has total control’ of the strait and described it as an American territory. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG exports passed through the waterway. IRNA said Iraq remains heavily dependent on the strait to move most of its crude exports. "The experience of the past six months has shown that there is no alternative for Iraq other than the Strait of Hormuz to export the bulk of its crude oil," IRNA said.&nbsp;The agency added that Iraqi officials continue to press Iranian authorities for additional transit permits for their oil tankers. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are negotiating the creation of a new route through the strait. The waterway controls access to the Gulf and lies between Iran and Oman, but the discussions have yet to produce a final agreement. Tehran has also warned that establishing another route would not automatically result in the reopening of the waterway. Iran says broader demands involving the United States would need to be addressed before the strait could be fully opened.

Iran allows Iraqi oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests from Baghdad, amid tensions with the US and talks with Oman

Tehran has authorised a number of Iraqi oil tankers to transit the strategically important Strait of Hormuz following repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state media reported on Saturday (August 22). IRNA said the approvals were granted despite what it described as heightened military activity and insecurity in the waterway amid US actions. "Despite being subjected to the most severe military measures and insecurity created in the strait due to the hostile actions of the United States, Tehran has granted permission to a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz over the past six months," the IRNA news agency said. According to the report, Iraq made repeated requests through several diplomatic channels. One such appeal reportedly came during a visit to Iraq by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator in discussions with the United States. Iran has maintained that it controls passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route, since the Middle East war began on February 28. Tehran says vessels must secure permission and pay transit fees before passing through the waterway. Also Read: Canada-US trade talks collapse as Carney vows dollar-for-dollar tariff response US President Donald Trump, however, has claimed that Washington ‘has total control’ of the strait and described it as an American territory. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG exports passed through the waterway. IRNA said Iraq remains heavily dependent on the strait to move most of its crude exports. "The experience of the past six months has shown that there is no alternative for Iraq other than the Strait of Hormuz to export the bulk of its crude oil," IRNA said. The agency added that Iraqi officials continue to press Iranian authorities for additional transit permits for their oil tankers. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are negotiating the creation of a new route through the strait. The waterway controls access to the Gulf and lies between Iran and Oman, but the discussions have yet to produce a final agreement. Tehran has also warned that establishing another route would not automatically result in the reopening of the waterway. Iran says broader demands involving the United States would need to be addressed before the strait could be fully opened.

Iran permits some Iraqi oil tankers to cross the Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests as Tehran maintains control amid rising US-Iran tensions

Tehran grants Iraqi oil tankers permission to pass through Strait of Hormuz: Iran state media

A Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying iron ore from Paradip port to China sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, around 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast in Odisha, officials said. Indian Coast Guard and Navy have launched a search and rescue operation.&nbsp;The vessel, which left Paradip at about 10:30 p.m. on August 20, carrying 1700 tonnes of iron ore fines, was last reported to have been sailing about 200 nautical miles from the port when communication was lost.&nbsp;According to preliminary information 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, 1 Bangladeshi, and 3 Myanmar nationals were on board the ship that was heading towards Singapore when it sank, reported news agency PTI.&nbsp;An IPS officer speaking to the news agency said, "We are not sure how many of the crew members have been rescued."&nbsp;Other vessels operating in the vicinity had also been alerted and asked to assist in the rescue effort, said the officer.&nbsp;<h2>Search and rescue operation</h2>&nbsp;The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram ( Port Blair ) received an alert at 1148 hrs on 22 August about the loss of communication with MV Ocean Winner (IMO 9145530). The ship’s operator, Victory Star Group Co Ltd, requested immediate assistance.The vessel’s last known position was reported roughly 310 NM northwest of the northern tip of the Andaman Islands. On board were 24 crew: 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.&nbsp;MRCC activated the Indian Search and Rescue Network and diverted the tanker MT Aisopos to the area. At approximately 2000 hrs the same day, MT Aisopos recovered two survivors from two life rafts. Indian Coast Guard ships ICGS Varad, ICGS Anmol and ICGS Vijit have been deployed to continue the search for the remaining 22 crew members. ICGS Vijit sailed from Sri Vijaya Puram to reinforce the effort.&nbsp;Officials said search operations remain under way across a wide area of the northern Bay of Bengal. No further details on the condition of the two rescued survivors or the circumstances that led to the loss of contact have been released. Authorities continue to coordinate surface searches and are assessing additional assets that may be required as efforts to locate the missing crew continue into the night. This is a developing story.&nbsp;(Reported by Sidhant Sibal)

Other vessels operating in the vicinity have been alerted and asked to assist in the search operations.

A Panama-flagged cargo ship carrying iron ore from Paradip port to China sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, around 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast in Odisha, officials said. Indian Coast Guard and Navy have launched a search and rescue operation. The vessel, which left Paradip at about 10:30 p.m. on August 20, carrying 1700 tonnes of iron ore fines, was last reported to have been sailing about 200 nautical miles from the port when communication was lost. According to preliminary information 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, 1 Bangladeshi, and 3 Myanmar nationals were on board the ship that was heading towards Singapore when it sank, reported news agency PTI. An IPS officer speaking to the news agency said, "We are not sure how many of the crew members have been rescued." Other vessels operating in the vicinity had also been alerted and asked to assist in the rescue effort, said the officer. Search and rescue operation The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Vijaya Puram ( Port Blair ) received an alert at 1148 hrs on 22 August about the loss of communication with MV Ocean Winner (IMO 9145530). The ship’s operator, Victory Star Group Co Ltd, requested immediate assistance. The vessel’s last known position was reported roughly 310 NM northwest of the northern tip of the Andaman Islands. On board were 24 crew: 20 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh. MRCC activated the Indian Search and Rescue Network and diverted the tanker MT Aisopos to the area. At approximately 2000 hrs the same day, MT Aisopos recovered two survivors from two life rafts. Indian Coast Guard ships ICGS Varad, ICGS Anmol and ICGS Vijit have been deployed to continue the search for the remaining 22 crew members. ICGS Vijit sailed from Sri Vijaya Puram to reinforce the effort. Officials said search operations remain under way across a wide area of the northern Bay of Bengal. No further details on the condition of the two rescued survivors or the circumstances that led to the loss of contact have been released. Authorities continue to coordinate surface searches and are assessing additional assets that may be required as efforts to locate the missing crew continue into the night. This is a developing story. (Reported by Sidhant Sibal)

Other vessels operating in the vicinity have been alerted and asked to assist in the search operations.

Cargo ship with 24 crew members sinks in Bay of Bengal

The final bridge segment linking the Maldivian capital Malé with the neighbouring island of Villingili has been officially set in place, marking a significant step forward for the country’s largest infrastructure project. The Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), also known as the Thilamalé Bridge, is more than 75% complete as of mid-2026. Once finished, the 6.74-kilometre network of bridges, viaducts and roads will connect Malé with Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi, areas that together house nearly half the nation’s population.&nbsp;The Indian High Commission in the Maldives described the development as “a big milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project,” saying the installation brings “seamless connectivity between the islands one step closer.”&nbsp;Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam welcomed the progress. “I am pleased to see the significant progress made towards the completion of the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP). The momentum achieved under the leadership of President Dr. Muizzu reflects his commitment to delivering tangible results and advancing his development vision for the Maldives,” she said.&nbsp;Adam noted that during bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in May 2026, she had stressed the need to accelerate ongoing projects. “GMCP is a flagship example of Maldives–India cooperation, demonstrating how sustained bilateral engagement, institutional coordination and project-based cooperation can translate our partnership into tangible outcomes for our people and further strengthen the enduring ties between our two countries.”&nbsp;Opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Shahid hailed the achievement. “A major milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project today! Honored to have launched this project during my tenure as Foreign Minister. The Maldives–India friendship is built on trust and shared progress. This link is a symbol of that commitment and of India’s support for Maldives’ development,” he said, expressing appreciation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar.&nbsp;India is funding the project with $500 million, $100 million as a grant and $400 million as a line of credit. Indian contractor Afcons Infrastructure is carrying out the work. The scheme, first proposed during a 2019 visit by India’s external affairs minister and contracted in 2021, includes three navigation bridges over deep channels, extensive marine viaducts and at-grade roads.&nbsp;&nbsp;The project is expected to ease chronic congestion in densely packed Malé, where residents currently depend on boats for inter-island travel. It will improve access to the industrial zone on Thilafushi and a planned new port at Gulhifalhu, support decentralisation and reduce pressure on the capital’s limited land. Officials view it as a potential economic catalyst that will transform daily life and regional connectivity across the Greater Malé area. &nbsp;

The Indian High Commission in the Maldives described the development as “a big milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project,” saying the installation brings “seamless connectivity between the islands one step closer.”

The final bridge segment linking the Maldivian capital Malé with the neighbouring island of Villingili has been officially set in place, marking a significant step forward for the country’s largest infrastructure project. The Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), also known as the Thilamalé Bridge, is more than 75% complete as of mid-2026. Once finished, the 6.74-kilometre network of bridges, viaducts and roads will connect Malé with Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi, areas that together house nearly half the nation’s population. The Indian High Commission in the Maldives described the development as “a big milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project,” saying the installation brings “seamless connectivity between the islands one step closer.” Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam welcomed the progress. “I am pleased to see the significant progress made towards the completion of the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP). The momentum achieved under the leadership of President Dr. Muizzu reflects his commitment to delivering tangible results and advancing his development vision for the Maldives,” she said. Adam noted that during bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in May 2026, she had stressed the need to accelerate ongoing projects. “GMCP is a flagship example of Maldives–India cooperation, demonstrating how sustained bilateral engagement, institutional coordination and project-based cooperation can translate our partnership into tangible outcomes for our people and further strengthen the enduring ties between our two countries.” Opposition leader and former Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Shahid hailed the achievement. “A major milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project today! Honored to have launched this project during my tenure as Foreign Minister. The Maldives–India friendship is built on trust and shared progress. This link is a symbol of that commitment and of India’s support for Maldives’ development,” he said, expressing appreciation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar. India is funding the project with $500 million, $100 million as a grant and $400 million as a line of credit. Indian contractor Afcons Infrastructure is carrying out the work. The scheme, first proposed during a 2019 visit by India’s external affairs minister and contracted in 2021, includes three navigation bridges over deep channels, extensive marine viaducts and at-grade roads. The project is expected to ease chronic congestion in densely packed Malé, where residents currently depend on boats for inter-island travel. It will improve access to the industrial zone on Thilafushi and a planned new port at Gulhifalhu, support decentralisation and reduce pressure on the capital’s limited land. Officials view it as a potential economic catalyst that will transform daily life and regional connectivity across the Greater Malé area.

The Indian High Commission in the Maldives described the development as “a big milestone for the Greater Malé Connectivity Project,” saying the installation brings “seamless connectivity between the islands one step closer.”

Maldives’ biggest infrastructure project advances with India's support as Malé-Villingili link is installed

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has described a fresh wave of US tariffs on Canadian goods as a ‘miscalculation’ aimed at ‘hurt and divide us’, following the collapse of trade talks between Ottawa and Washington late on Friday. Speaking to Canadians on Saturday morning, Carney said he walked away from a potential agreement because he was unwilling to 'compromise Canada's sovereignty'. "They asked too much and they offered too little," Carney said in his address.&nbsp;The prime minister announced that Canada will respond to the new US tariffs with matching measures ‘dollar-for-dollar’ from 8 September. The retaliatory tariffs are expected to cover products including steel, dairy, appliances and electronics. US President Donald Trump has yet to comment publicly on Carney's remarks. The two countries had appeared increasingly optimistic about reaching a trade agreement earlier this week. However, negotiations broke down on Friday night, with both sides accusing the other of introducing last-minute changes.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-shopping-centre-strike-search-for-survivors-continues-as-death-toll-rises-zelensky-calls-attack-cynical-and-despicable-1787407371255">Ukraine shopping centre strike: Search for survivors continues as death toll rises, Zelensky calls attack 'cynical and despicable'</a>&nbsp;Following the collapse of the talks, Canadian exports will face new 50% US tariffs on a range of goods. These will come on top of existing American tariffs affecting Canadian steel, aluminum, automobiles and lumber. Carney said Canada was retaliating ‘reluctantly’ but insisted that the measures were necessary to protect the country's economic interests. He said further details of Canada's counter-measures would be announced in the coming days.&nbsp;Saturday's speech was Carney's first major address to Canadians since he announced late Friday that an agreement would not be reached. At the time, he accused US negotiators of making ‘last-minute changes’ that he described as ‘unfair and uneconomic’.&nbsp;US negotiators, meanwhile, accused Canada of introducing ‘new demands and walk backs’ involving terms that they said had already been agreed earlier in the week. The breakdown marks a fresh escalation in trade tensions between the two North American neighbours, with businesses and consumers now facing greater uncertainty as both governments prepare to impose additional tariffs.

Canada PM Mark Carney calls new US tariffs a 'miscalculation' after trade talks collapse, promising dollar-for-dollar retaliation from 8 September

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has described a fresh wave of US tariffs on Canadian goods as a ‘miscalculation’ aimed at ‘hurt and divide us’, following the collapse of trade talks between Ottawa and Washington late on Friday. Speaking to Canadians on Saturday morning, Carney said he walked away from a potential agreement because he was unwilling to 'compromise Canada's sovereignty'. "They asked too much and they offered too little," Carney said in his address. The prime minister announced that Canada will respond to the new US tariffs with matching measures ‘dollar-for-dollar’ from 8 September. The retaliatory tariffs are expected to cover products including steel, dairy, appliances and electronics. US President Donald Trump has yet to comment publicly on Carney's remarks. The two countries had appeared increasingly optimistic about reaching a trade agreement earlier this week. However, negotiations broke down on Friday night, with both sides accusing the other of introducing last-minute changes. Also Read: Ukraine shopping centre strike: Search for survivors continues as death toll rises, Zelensky calls attack 'cynical and despicable' Following the collapse of the talks, Canadian exports will face new 50% US tariffs on a range of goods. These will come on top of existing American tariffs affecting Canadian steel, aluminum, automobiles and lumber. Carney said Canada was retaliating ‘reluctantly’ but insisted that the measures were necessary to protect the country's economic interests. He said further details of Canada's counter-measures would be announced in the coming days. Saturday's speech was Carney's first major address to Canadians since he announced late Friday that an agreement would not be reached. At the time, he accused US negotiators of making ‘last-minute changes’ that he described as ‘unfair and uneconomic’. US negotiators, meanwhile, accused Canada of introducing ‘new demands and walk backs’ involving terms that they said had already been agreed earlier in the week. The breakdown marks a fresh escalation in trade tensions between the two North American neighbours, with businesses and consumers now facing greater uncertainty as both governments prepare to impose additional tariffs.

Canada PM Mark Carney calls new US tariffs a ‘miscalculation’ as trade talks collapse, promising dollar-for-dollar retaliation from 8 September

Canada-US trade talks collapse as Carney vows dollar-for-dollar tariff response

Rescuers in Ukraine continued searching for survivors on Saturday after a major shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih was struck by two Russian drones in quick succession on Friday. Sixteen people were killed and 130 injured in the attack, while four people remained missing. Officials said the search-and-rescue operation could continue for another two days because of the extensive destruction and the continuing threat of further Russian attacks.&nbsp;The attack has been described as a ‘double-tap strike’, in which a second strike hits an area after emergency responders arrive. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned what he called a ‘cynical and despicable’ attack, saying the second drone targeted emergency workers. Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said the death toll reached 16 after another body was recovered from the rubble overnight.&nbsp;"We're doing everything possible to speed up... the search and rescue operation," he told Ukrainian TV on Saturday morning.Hanzha said rescue work could continue for another two days because of the scale of the devastation and the risk of additional Russian attacks. Rescue teams from seven other Ukrainian regions were sent to Kryvyi Rih on Friday evening to assist with the search for survivors. The huge fire, which covered around 9,000 sq m, has now been extinguished.&nbsp;In a later update on Saturday, Hanzha said 52 injured people, including 14 children, remained in hospitals across the city. Kryvyi Rih's military chief, Oleksandr Vilkul, said dozens of people had already undergone surgery. A day of mourning was being observed across the Dnipropetrovsk region. Dramatic footage verified by the BBC showed the second drone striking the shopping centre while it was already burning. Russia's military has not commented on the attack.&nbsp;Vilkul said the drones had been flying at "extremely low altitudes" and described the attackers as 'animals'. Ukrainian officials have not explained why air defence systems failed to intercept Friday's drones. Ukraine's military says its overall drone interception rate is about 90%. The country's ability to intercept ballistic missiles is considerably lower, at around 40%, according to figures reported by Ukraine's defence ministry in June. Kyiv has repeatedly warned that it is running short of US-made Patriot missiles, which are considered its most effective defence against ballistic missiles.&nbsp;Zelensky said missile and drone attacks continued across Ukraine overnight, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. He said one person was killed and another injured after ballistic missile strikes damaged railway infrastructure in Kyiv. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, three people were injured when a drone struck a city minibus. Ukraine's state emergency service, DSNS, said two people were also killed in a separate Russian attack in the Kyiv region.<h3>Overnight Strikes Across Russia and Ukraine</h3>Russia's defence ministry said it had shot down 457 Ukrainian drones overnight.In Russia's southern Krasnodar region, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said two children were killed and two adults injured in a drone strike on a port town.In the western Belgorod region, acting Governor Alkesandr Shuvaev said two people were killed and 13 injured in Ukrainian air strikes and shelling.Ukraine's military said it had also struck an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region overnight, triggering a fire.Russian online retailer Ozon, the country's second-largest retailer, said one of its warehouses in the region had also been hit. It was reportedly the first time the facility had been targeted.The incident follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on logistics hubs operated by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which is often compared with Amazon.Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy facilities and logistics infrastructure in recent months. Kyiv describes such sites as legitimate targets because they contribute to financing Russia's war effort, while Moscow has accused Ukraine of targeting civilians.Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, primarily in the country's south and east.

Ukraine's Kryvyi Rih shopping centre strike killed 16 and injured 130. Rescuers continue searching the rubble as overnight attacks hit both sides

Rescuers in Ukraine continued searching for survivors on Saturday after a major shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih was struck by two Russian drones in quick succession on Friday. Sixteen people were killed and 130 injured in the attack, while four people remained missing. Officials said the search-and-rescue operation could continue for another two days because of the extensive destruction and the continuing threat of further Russian attacks. The attack has been described as a ‘double-tap strike’, in which a second strike hits an area after emergency responders arrive. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned what he called a ‘cynical and despicable’ attack, saying the second drone targeted emergency workers. Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said the death toll reached 16 after another body was recovered from the rubble overnight. "We're doing everything possible to speed up... the search and rescue operation," he told Ukrainian TV on Saturday morning. Hanzha said rescue work could continue for another two days because of the scale of the devastation and the risk of additional Russian attacks. Rescue teams from seven other Ukrainian regions were sent to Kryvyi Rih on Friday evening to assist with the search for survivors. The huge fire, which covered around 9,000 sq m, has now been extinguished. In a later update on Saturday, Hanzha said 52 injured people, including 14 children, remained in hospitals across the city. Kryvyi Rih's military chief, Oleksandr Vilkul, said dozens of people had already undergone surgery. A day of mourning was being observed across the Dnipropetrovsk region. Dramatic footage verified by the BBC showed the second drone striking the shopping centre while it was already burning. Russia's military has not commented on the attack. Vilkul said the drones had been flying at "extremely low altitudes" and described the attackers as 'animals'. Ukrainian officials have not explained why air defence systems failed to intercept Friday's drones. Ukraine's military says its overall drone interception rate is about 90%. The country's ability to intercept ballistic missiles is considerably lower, at around 40%, according to figures reported by Ukraine's defence ministry in June. Kyiv has repeatedly warned that it is running short of US-made Patriot missiles, which are considered its most effective defence against ballistic missiles. Zelensky said missile and drone attacks continued across Ukraine overnight, damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. He said one person was killed and another injured after ballistic missile strikes damaged railway infrastructure in Kyiv. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, three people were injured when a drone struck a city minibus. Ukraine's state emergency service, DSNS, said two people were also killed in a separate Russian attack in the Kyiv region. Overnight Strikes Across Russia and Ukraine Russia's defence ministry said it had shot down 457 Ukrainian drones overnight. In Russia's southern Krasnodar region, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said two children were killed and two adults injured in a drone strike on a port town. In the western Belgorod region, acting Governor Alkesandr Shuvaev said two people were killed and 13 injured in Ukrainian air strikes and shelling. Ukraine's military said it had also struck an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region overnight, triggering a fire. Russian online retailer Ozon, the country's second-largest retailer, said one of its warehouses in the region had also been hit. It was reportedly the first time the facility had been targeted. The incident follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on logistics hubs operated by Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, which is often compared with Amazon. Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy facilities and logistics infrastructure in recent months. Kyiv describes such sites as legitimate targets because they contribute to financing Russia's war effort, while Moscow has accused Ukraine of targeting civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, primarily in the country's south and east.

Russia's Kryvyi Rih shopping centre strike killed 16 and injured 130 as rescuers searched for survivors amid fears of further attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attack

Ukraine shopping centre strike: Search for survivors continues as death toll rises, Zelensky calls attack 'cynical and despicable'

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu is set to issue summons to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who has been named as an accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case. The summons will direct Saeed to appear before the special NIA court in Jammu in connection with the trial. The legal communication is expected to be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as Saeed is based in Pakistan.&nbsp;The court has already issued a non-bailable warrant against Saeed following his inclusion in the NIA's supplementary chargesheet. The agency has accused him of being a key conspirator behind the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and a local resident were killed.<h2>Trial could proceed in Hafiz Saeed's absence</h2>If Saeed fails to appear despite the completion of the required legal procedures, the court could eventually proceed with a trial in absentia under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The provision allows a court, subject to specified safeguards, to conduct proceedings and pronounce judgment against a proclaimed offender who has deliberately absconded to evade the trial and has no immediate prospect of arrest.&nbsp;The law requires several procedural steps before a trial can begin in the accused's absence. These include the issuance of the prescribed warrants and publication of a notice requiring the proclaimed offender to appear before the court. A trial in absentia is not automatic. The court must satisfy the statutory requirements, and the accused must be provided legal representation if proceedings continue without his presence.<h2>Hafiz Saeed named in NIA supplementary chargesheet</h2>The NIA named Saeed in a supplementary chargesheet filed in July 2026. He has been arraigned both in his individual capacity and as the founder and chief of the banned LeT and its active proxy organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF). The agency has invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The charges include allegations of waging war against India and conspiring from Pakistan in connection with the Pahalgam attack.&nbsp;The supplementary chargesheet builds on the NIA's original 1,597-page chargesheet. According to the agency, the latest filing sets out details of the alleged Pakistan-based conspiracy, Saeed's alleged role and evidence gathered during the investigation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-cm-bhupendra-patel-s-us-visit-opens-new-avenues-for-global-investment-technology-1787399613994">Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel's US visit opens new avenues for global investment, technology</a><h2>What the original Pahalgam chargesheet said</h2>The NIA filed its original chargesheet on December 15, 2025, naming seven accused, including Pakistan-based handler Sajid Jatt and the banned LeT/TRF organisation as a legal entity. The chargesheet also named three Pakistani terrorists, Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran and Hamza Afghani, who were subsequently killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in July 2025.&nbsp;Two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, were arrested over allegations that they provided assistance to the terrorists. The accused were charged under provisions of the BNS, the Arms Act and the UAPA. The NIA alleged that the wider conspiracy was directed from Pakistan and included planning, facilitation and logistical support for the attack.&nbsp;According to the agency, the attackers targeted tourists on the basis of their religious identity, allegedly seeking to create communal tensions and harm Kashmir's tourism industry. The attack took place at Baisaran near Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. Twenty-five tourists and one local resident were killed. The case was initially registered by Pahalgam Police before the Union Home Ministry transferred the investigation to the NIA.<h2>NIA investigates local support network</h2>The investigation has also examined the alleged network of local individuals who provided shelter, movement and logistical assistance to the foreign terrorists. According to the NIA's case, the attack allegedly followed an operational model involving Pakistan-based handlers, infiltrated terrorists and local support on the ground.&nbsp;The agency has described TRF as a proxy organisation of LeT and alleged that the group was used to obscure the involvement of its Pakistan-based parent organisation. The killing of the three Pakistani terrorists during Operation Mahadev provided investigators with further leads, while the wider probe has focused on identifying the alleged planners, facilitators and supporters behind the attack.&nbsp;With Hafiz Saeed now named in the supplementary chargesheet and a non-bailable warrant already issued, the next stage of the proceedings will determine whether the statutory requirements for a trial in absentia are fulfilled.

Hafiz Saeed summons in Pahalgam terror attack case: NIA court moves towards trial in absentia after chargesheet and non-bailable warrant

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu is set to issue summons to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who has been named as an accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case. The summons will direct Saeed to appear before the special NIA court in Jammu in connection with the trial. The legal communication is expected to be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as Saeed is based in Pakistan. The court has already issued a non-bailable warrant against Saeed following his inclusion in the NIA's supplementary chargesheet. The agency has accused him of being a key conspirator behind the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and a local resident were killed. Trial could proceed in Hafiz Saeed's absence If Saeed fails to appear despite the completion of the required legal procedures, the court could eventually proceed with a trial in absentia under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The provision allows a court, subject to specified safeguards, to conduct proceedings and pronounce judgment against a proclaimed offender who has deliberately absconded to evade the trial and has no immediate prospect of arrest. The law requires several procedural steps before a trial can begin in the accused's absence. These include the issuance of the prescribed warrants and publication of a notice requiring the proclaimed offender to appear before the court. A trial in absentia is not automatic. The court must satisfy the statutory requirements, and the accused must be provided legal representation if proceedings continue without his presence. Hafiz Saeed named in NIA supplementary chargesheet The NIA named Saeed in a supplementary chargesheet filed in July 2026. He has been arraigned both in his individual capacity and as the founder and chief of the banned LeT and its active proxy organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF). The agency has invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The charges include allegations of waging war against India and conspiring from Pakistan in connection with the Pahalgam attack. The supplementary chargesheet builds on the NIA's original 1,597-page chargesheet. According to the agency, the latest filing sets out details of the alleged Pakistan-based conspiracy, Saeed's alleged role and evidence gathered during the investigation. Also Read: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel's US visit opens new avenues for global investment, technology What the original Pahalgam chargesheet said The NIA filed its original chargesheet on December 15, 2025, naming seven accused, including Pakistan-based handler Sajid Jatt and the banned LeT/TRF organisation as a legal entity. The chargesheet also named three Pakistani terrorists, Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran and Hamza Afghani, who were subsequently killed by security forces during Operation Mahadev in July 2025. Two local residents, Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, were arrested over allegations that they provided assistance to the terrorists. The accused were charged under provisions of the BNS, the Arms Act and the UAPA. The NIA alleged that the wider conspiracy was directed from Pakistan and included planning, facilitation and logistical support for the attack. According to the agency, the attackers targeted tourists on the basis of their religious identity, allegedly seeking to create communal tensions and harm Kashmir's tourism industry. The attack took place at Baisaran near Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. Twenty-five tourists and one local resident were killed. The case was initially registered by Pahalgam Police before the Union Home Ministry transferred the investigation to the NIA. NIA investigates local support network The investigation has also examined the alleged network of local individuals who provided shelter, movement and logistical assistance to the foreign terrorists. According to the NIA's case, the attack allegedly followed an operational model involving Pakistan-based handlers, infiltrated terrorists and local support on the ground. The agency has described TRF as a proxy organisation of LeT and alleged that the group was used to obscure the involvement of its Pakistan-based parent organisation. The killing of the three Pakistani terrorists during Operation Mahadev provided investigators with further leads, while the wider probe has focused on identifying the alleged planners, facilitators and supporters behind the attack. With Hafiz Saeed now named in the supplementary chargesheet and a non-bailable warrant already issued, the next stage of the proceedings will determine whether the statutory requirements for a trial in absentia are fulfilled.

NIA court to summon Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam terror case; if he fails to appear, proceedings may move towards a trial in absentia under BNSS

Pahalgam terror attack: NIA court to send summons to Hafiz Saeed through MEA

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Saturday (August 22) said Tehran had received many messages from neighbouring countries seeking new regional security arrangements and greater economic cooperation. He said the messages came as countries in the region reassessed their security concerns following the US actions.&nbsp;"We’ve received numerous messages from neighbouring countries about shaping new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region," Ghalibaf wrote on X.&nbsp;"The United States put the security of every single one of its allies at such risk through bullying and pure disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel that they briefly saw their entire existence on the line," he said, adding, “A homegrown, independent order is what will actually deliver peace and security.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1/2 We’ve received numerous messages from neighboring countries about shaping new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region. The United States put the security of every single one of its allies at such risk…&mdash; محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) <a href="https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2091108458430943245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, Ghalibaf did not name the countries that had contacted Iran. He also did not provide details about the proposed arrangements or evidence of the reported outreach.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/contrary-to-law-us-federal-judge-strikes-down-trump-administration-s-75-country-visa-ban-1787401056447">'Contrary to law': US Federal judge strikes down Trump administration’s 75-country visa ban</a><h2>Iran pushes for new regional order</h2>The remarks echoed comments Ghalibaf made during his visit to Iraq this week. He had said Tehran wanted to speed up the creation of a "new regional order" without foreign involvement.&nbsp;His Iraq visit came as Baghdad faces US pressure to disarm Iran-backed armed groups. Iraq is also seeking Tehran's approval for its oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;This statement comes against the backdrop of Washington preparing to announce what US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called the "toughest sanctions in history" against Iran.&nbsp;The Iranian parliamentary speaker, who leads Tehran's mediated negotiations with Washington, acknowledged the growing economic pressure this week. He warned that Iran "won’t endure" if its people remain hungry and the economy stays strangled.&nbsp;In a related development, Tehran has allowed some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests from Baghdad, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;"Despite being subjected to the most severe military measures and insecurity created in the strait due to the hostile actions of the United States, Tehran has granted permission to many Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz over the past six months," the IRNA news agency said.&nbsp;Iraq had sought permission through several channels, including during Ghalibaf's visit to the country, according to the report.&nbsp;Tehran has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war began on February 28. Tehran requires vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before using the waterway.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said several neighbouring countries have sought new security and economic ties with Tehran amid the ongoing war with the US and rising pressure on Iran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Saturday (August 22) said Tehran had received many messages from neighbouring countries seeking new regional security arrangements and greater economic cooperation. He said the messages came as countries in the region reassessed their security concerns following the US actions. "We’ve received numerous messages from neighbouring countries about shaping new security arrangements and economic cooperation in the region," Ghalibaf wrote on X. "The United States put the security of every single one of its allies at such risk through bullying and pure disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel that they briefly saw their entire existence on the line," he said, adding, “A homegrown, independent order is what will actually deliver peace and security.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said several neighbouring countries have sought new security and economic ties with Tehran amid the ongoing war with the US and rising pressure on Iran.

Iran says 'numerous' neighbours seek new security ties amid ongoing war with US

Pakistan has deployed three companies of its army in Rawalpindi for six months to undertake "sensitive security duties", according to an official order issued by the country’s Interior Ministry. The deployment comes at the request of the Punjab home department, based on a letter dated July 22, 2026. Three companies of the Pakistan Army will be deployed in the city under Article 245 of the Pakistani Constitution, according to which the armed forces are allowed to assist the civil administration in maintaining security, reported Pakistan Observer.&nbsp;A notification has been issued by the Ministry of Interior in this regard. "The federal government, exercising the powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan, is pleased to authorise the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army for sensitive security duties in Rawalpindi," read the notification issued by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control on Friday.<h2>What are the possible reasons for such deployment?</h2>The deployment will help strengthen security at sensitive areas and key roads. It will help the district administration in dealing with any untoward situation and help maintain a secure environment in the city. Speculation is also rife over a further elevation and expanded powers for Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. It also comes as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters announced that they will march towards Islamabad on September 27 if "justice" is not provided to the party's founding chairman and incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has announced. ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigerian-navy-disrupts-crude-oil-theft-operation-recovers-93-000-litres-in-bonny-1787399410204">Nigerian Navy disrupts crude oil theft operation, recovers 93,000 litres in Bonny</a>&nbsp;However, the government is yet to specify any particular incident, threat or security challenge that led to deployment of the Pakistani army. The move comes days after a man allegedly linked to former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party opened fire at security forces in Rawalpindi. He was killed in retaliatory firing.&nbsp;Notably, Rawalpindi is home to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), the military’s top command centre. The city is also a key military and administrative centre. The deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army has been authorised for six months.

Notably, Rawalpindi is home to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), the military’s top command centre. The city is also a key military and administrative centre.

Pakistan has deployed three companies of its army in Rawalpindi for six months to undertake "sensitive security duties", according to an official order issued by the country’s Interior Ministry. The deployment comes at the request of the Punjab home department, based on a letter dated July 22, 2026. Three companies of the Pakistan Army will be deployed in the city under Article 245 of the Pakistani Constitution, according to which the armed forces are allowed to assist the civil administration in maintaining security, reported Pakistan Observer. A notification has been issued by the Ministry of Interior in this regard. "The federal government, exercising the powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan, is pleased to authorise the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army for sensitive security duties in Rawalpindi," read the notification issued by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control on Friday. What are the possible reasons for such deployment? The deployment will help strengthen security at sensitive areas and key roads. It will help the district administration in dealing with any untoward situation and help maintain a secure environment in the city. Speculation is also rife over a further elevation and expanded powers for Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. It also comes as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters announced that they will march towards Islamabad on September 27 if "justice" is not provided to the party's founding chairman and incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has announced. ALSO READ: Nigerian Navy disrupts crude oil theft operation, recovers 93,000 litres in Bonny However, the government is yet to specify any particular incident, threat or security challenge that led to deployment of the Pakistani army. The move comes days after a man allegedly linked to former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party opened fire at security forces in Rawalpindi. He was killed in retaliatory firing. Notably, Rawalpindi is home to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), the military’s top command centre. The city is also a key military and administrative centre. The deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army has been authorised for six months.

Notably, Rawalpindi is home to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ), the military’s top command centre. The city is also a key military and administrative centre.

Pakistan facing security threats? 3 Army units deployed in Rawalpindi for six months

A federal judge in Manhattan has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, ruling that the measure was ‘contrary to law’ and exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The State Department introduced the policy in January, pausing immigrant visa processing for people from nearly 40% of the world’s countries. The administration said the move was intended to prevent the admission of immigrants who could potentially 'take welfare and public benefits'.&nbsp;Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Federal District Court in Manhattan rejected that reasoning, ruling that visa denials based solely on the policy must be reversed. Her decision represents another legal setback for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Under US immigration law, applicants can be denied entry as a potential ‘public charge’ only after a consular officer evaluates the individual’s circumstances. That assessment must consider factors including the applicant’s finances, age, health, skills and family situation.&nbsp;Vargas found that the State Department’s policy effectively instructed US consular officers to deny immigrant visas based solely on an applicant’s country of nationality, even when the applicant could demonstrate an ability to support themselves. A cable sent by Rubio to US diplomatic and consular posts, which was included in the court record, instructed officers to refuse applicants even when someone “provides additional evidence that demonstrates he or she overcomes the public charge refusal.”“The outcome is predetermined,” Vargas wrote. “The visa will be refused.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigerian-navy-disrupts-crude-oil-theft-operation-recovers-93-000-litres-in-bonny-1787399410204">Nigerian Navy disrupts crude oil theft operation, recovers 93,000 litres in Bonny</a>&nbsp;The judge concluded that the policy conflicted with a 1965 law prohibiting nationality-based discrimination in the issuance of immigrant visas. She also found that another federal provision prevents the secretary of state from controlling how consular officers make individual visa determinations. The ruling applies to denials based on the disputed policy. Visa refusals based on separate legal grounds remain valid, even if officers also referenced the 75-country policy. As a result, the precise number of visa denials that could be reversed remains uncertain.&nbsp;The suspension affected immigrant visas used by people seeking permanent residence in the United States, including those joining family members or moving to the country for employment. It did not apply to nonimmigrant visas, including tourist and student visas. The administration’s list covered countries across the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. It included several US partners, including Jordan, Egypt and Georgia.&nbsp;According to the administration, the State Department developed the list using data from the Council of Economic Advisers. Countries were targeted where more than 30% of immigrant households were reported to receive some form of public assistance. The plaintiffs included six US citizens who had filed family-based immigration petitions and argued that the policy prevented relatives in Ghana, Jamaica, Guatemala and Ethiopia from receiving immigrant visas. Five Colombian applicants seeking employment-based visas also joined the case. One of them received a visa denial notice that specifically cited the policy.&nbsp;The Trump administration did prevail on one narrower issue. Vargas agreed that the policy did not constitute a formal rule requiring the government to open the measure to public comment before putting it into effect. In defending the policy, government lawyers relied in part on a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the third version of Trump’s first-term travel ban. That policy restricted entry by nationals of several countries, most of which had majority-Muslim populations.&nbsp;Vargas, however, distinguished that precedent from the current case. She said the 2018 ruling concerned the president’s authority to determine who could enter the United States, while the current dispute involved the separate question of whether a visa could be issued in the first place. Vargas, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, gave both sides until September 11 to submit proposals for resolving the remaining issues in the case. The Trump administration can appeal the ruling, potentially setting up another legal battle over the scope of executive authority in US immigration policy.

A federal judge strikes down Trump’s 75-country immigrant visa ban, ruling the policy was 'contrary to law' and exceeded Secretary of State Rubio’s authority

A federal judge in Manhattan has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, ruling that the measure was ‘contrary to law’ and exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The State Department introduced the policy in January, pausing immigrant visa processing for people from nearly 40% of the world’s countries. The administration said the move was intended to prevent the admission of immigrants who could potentially 'take welfare and public benefits'. Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Federal District Court in Manhattan rejected that reasoning, ruling that visa denials based solely on the policy must be reversed. Her decision represents another legal setback for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Under US immigration law, applicants can be denied entry as a potential ‘public charge’ only after a consular officer evaluates the individual’s circumstances. That assessment must consider factors including the applicant’s finances, age, health, skills and family situation. Vargas found that the State Department’s policy effectively instructed US consular officers to deny immigrant visas based solely on an applicant’s country of nationality, even when the applicant could demonstrate an ability to support themselves. A cable sent by Rubio to US diplomatic and consular posts, which was included in the court record, instructed officers to refuse applicants even when someone “provides additional evidence that demonstrates he or she overcomes the public charge refusal.” “The outcome is predetermined,” Vargas wrote. “The visa will be refused.” Also Read: Nigerian Navy disrupts crude oil theft operation, recovers 93,000 litres in Bonny The judge concluded that the policy conflicted with a 1965 law prohibiting nationality-based discrimination in the issuance of immigrant visas. She also found that another federal provision prevents the secretary of state from controlling how consular officers make individual visa determinations. The ruling applies to denials based on the disputed policy. Visa refusals based on separate legal grounds remain valid, even if officers also referenced the 75-country policy. As a result, the precise number of visa denials that could be reversed remains uncertain. The suspension affected immigrant visas used by people seeking permanent residence in the United States, including those joining family members or moving to the country for employment. It did not apply to nonimmigrant visas, including tourist and student visas. The administration’s list covered countries across the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. It included several US partners, including Jordan, Egypt and Georgia. According to the administration, the State Department developed the list using data from the Council of Economic Advisers. Countries were targeted where more than 30% of immigrant households were reported to receive some form of public assistance. The plaintiffs included six US citizens who had filed family-based immigration petitions and argued that the policy prevented relatives in Ghana, Jamaica, Guatemala and Ethiopia from receiving immigrant visas. Five Colombian applicants seeking employment-based visas also joined the case. One of them received a visa denial notice that specifically cited the policy. The Trump administration did prevail on one narrower issue. Vargas agreed that the policy did not constitute a formal rule requiring the government to open the measure to public comment before putting it into effect. In defending the policy, government lawyers relied in part on a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the third version of Trump’s first-term travel ban. That policy restricted entry by nationals of several countries, most of which had majority-Muslim populations. Vargas, however, distinguished that precedent from the current case. She said the 2018 ruling concerned the president’s authority to determine who could enter the United States, while the current dispute involved the separate question of whether a visa could be issued in the first place. Vargas, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, gave both sides until September 11 to submit proposals for resolving the remaining issues in the case. The Trump administration can appeal the ruling, potentially setting up another legal battle over the scope of executive authority in US immigration policy.

Trump’s 75-country immigrant visa ban was struck down by a federal judge, who ruled it exceeded legal authority and unlawfully targeted nationalities

'Contrary to law': US Federal judge strikes down Trump administration’s 75-country visa ban

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, uncovering and deactivating suspected crude oil storage facilities containing approximately 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny local government area of rivers state. The operation, conducted on August 20 by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY under Operation Delta Sentinel, followed actionable intelligence indicating suspected illegal crude oil storage activities around Allison Community, Abiodun Folorunsho, Captain, Nigerian Navy Director of Naval Information said in a press statement on Saturday.&nbsp;According to him, naval personnel discovered 10 dugout pits believed to have been used in the illicit storage of crude oil during the operation. Five of the pits contained an estimated 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining five were filled with water. The operation also led to the discovery of a substantial quantity of hoses believed to have been used for the movement and transfer of crude oil.&nbsp;Captain Folurunsho said that the recovered products, dugout pits and associated materials were subsequently handled in line with established operational procedures, adding that the intervention effectively disrupted the suspected illegal operation and denied those involved access to infrastructure and equipment needed to sustain crude oil theft. The latest operation highlights the Nigerian Navy's continuing efforts to dismantle the infrastructure that supports crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across the Niger Delta.&nbsp;&nbsp;Official data indicate that Nigeria's crude-oil theft problem has declined substantially in recent years, although illegal bunkering remains widespread across the Niger Delta.&nbsp;Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) data show estimated oil theft falling from an average of 22,900 barrels per day in 2023 to 11,200 barrels per day in 2024, with the average at 10,180 barrels per day between January and August 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy reported more than 580 anti-oil-theft operations between April and June 2026, during which it destroyed 58 illegal refining sites, dismantled 48 illegal storage facilities and deactivated 239 dugout pits, recovering 4.7 million litres of stolen petroleum products.&nbsp;&nbsp;The service said its sustained operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL demonstrate its commitment to protecting critical national assets, securing Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure and curbing activities that undermine the nation's economy,&nbsp; reaffirng&nbsp;its resolve to maintain operational pressure against networks involved in the illegal exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources and to deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate within the nation's maritime environment.

Naval personnel discovered 10 dugout pits believed to have been used in the illicit storage of crude oil during the operation

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, uncovering and deactivating suspected crude oil storage facilities containing approximately 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny local government area of rivers state. The operation, conducted on August 20 by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY under Operation Delta Sentinel, followed actionable intelligence indicating suspected illegal crude oil storage activities around Allison Community, Abiodun Folorunsho, Captain, Nigerian Navy Director of Naval Information said in a press statement on Saturday. According to him, naval personnel discovered 10 dugout pits believed to have been used in the illicit storage of crude oil during the operation. Five of the pits contained an estimated 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining five were filled with water. The operation also led to the discovery of a substantial quantity of hoses believed to have been used for the movement and transfer of crude oil. Captain Folurunsho said that the recovered products, dugout pits and associated materials were subsequently handled in line with established operational procedures, adding that the intervention effectively disrupted the suspected illegal operation and denied those involved access to infrastructure and equipment needed to sustain crude oil theft. The latest operation highlights the Nigerian Navy's continuing efforts to dismantle the infrastructure that supports crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across the Niger Delta. Official data indicate that Nigeria's crude-oil theft problem has declined substantially in recent years, although illegal bunkering remains widespread across the Niger Delta. Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) data show estimated oil theft falling from an average of 22,900 barrels per day in 2023 to 11,200 barrels per day in 2024, with the average at 10,180 barrels per day between January and August 2025. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy reported more than 580 anti-oil-theft operations between April and June 2026, during which it destroyed 58 illegal refining sites, dismantled 48 illegal storage facilities and deactivated 239 dugout pits, recovering 4.7 million litres of stolen petroleum products. The service said its sustained operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL demonstrate its commitment to protecting critical national assets, securing Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure and curbing activities that undermine the nation's economy, reaffirng its resolve to maintain operational pressure against networks involved in the illegal exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources and to deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate within the nation's maritime environment.

Naval personnel discovered 10 dugout pits believed to have been used in the illicit storage of crude oil during the operation

Nigerian Navy disrupts crude oil theft operation, recovers 93,000 litres in Bonny

After organising a UFC fight on the White House lawn, President Donald Trump is set to take a lap of honour at an IndyCar race through the streets of Washington this weekend, as he seeks to put his mark on celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States.&nbsp;Racing cars will speed past historic landmarks, including the US Capitol and Smithsonian museums, as 25 drivers complete 147 laps at speeds of up to 185 mph (298 kmh).&nbsp;Workers have welded down more than 200 manhole covers along the 250-mile (400-kilometre) circuit to prevent the force of the speeding cars from tearing them off.&nbsp;Practice and qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday, while the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix" will be held on Sunday.&nbsp;Trump, 80, is expected to take a ceremonial lap of honour in his armoured limousine, "The Beast", before waving the green flag to start the race.&nbsp;The event is being managed by IndyCar championship organisers. The US motorsport series features cars similar to Formula One vehicles but often holds races on oval tracks, including the Indianapolis 500.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-meets-gorkha-leaders-in-darjeeling-mha-panel-to-draft-permanent-political-solution-1787397945546">Amit Shah meets Gorkha leaders in Darjeeling, MHA panel to draft ‘permanent political solution’</a><h2>IndyCar race adds to 250th anniversary events</h2>The race marks another attempt by Trump to put his stamp on Washington's celebrations for the 250th anniversary. The events began with a UFC bout held inside a huge cage on the White House lawn in June.&nbsp;As with the UFC event, IndyCar organisers are covering the cost of the major logistical operation. The race has also forced the closure of some of Washington's busiest roads for several days.&nbsp;Thousands of spectators are expected to line the route for the unprecedented race, which resembles Formula One events held on city streets in Las Vegas, Monaco and Singapore.<h2>Trump takes centre stage in celebrations</h2>Trump has placed himself at the centre of celebrations marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which marked the separation of the original 13 American colonies from Britain.&nbsp;He has also sought to leave his mark on Washington by starting construction of a large ballroom at the White House, renaming institutions after himself and launching a troubled repainting project at the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.&nbsp;Instead of bringing Americans together, however, the 250th anniversary celebrations have largely become a source of political discord.&nbsp;In a July 3 speech at Mount Rushmore, Trump launched a strong attack on Democrats and said the country faced a "communist menace".&nbsp;He later became the main attraction at a major Fourth of July concert in Washington after several musical artists withdrew, saying the event had become too political.&nbsp;The former reality TV star ended the evening with military jet flyovers followed by a world record fireworks display featuring 850,000 rockets over 40 minutes.&nbsp;Polls have meanwhile shown Trump remains deeply unpopular about a year and a half after returning to the White House, with the Iran war and cost of living pushing his approval ratings down.

After hosting a UFC event at the White House, Donald Trump is set to take a ceremonial lap at an IndyCar race in Washington as part of the US 250th anniversary celebrations.

After organising a UFC fight on the White House lawn, President Donald Trump is set to take a lap of honour at an IndyCar race through the streets of Washington this weekend, as he seeks to put his mark on celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Racing cars will speed past historic landmarks, including the US Capitol and Smithsonian museums, as 25 drivers complete 147 laps at speeds of up to 185 mph (298 kmh). Workers have welded down more than 200 manhole covers along the 250-mile (400-kilometre) circuit to prevent the force of the speeding cars from tearing them off. Practice and qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday, while the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix" will be held on Sunday. Trump, 80, is expected to take a ceremonial lap of honour in his armoured limousine, "The Beast", before waving the green flag to start the race. The event is being managed by IndyCar championship organisers. The US motorsport series features cars similar to Formula One vehicles but often holds races on oval tracks, including the Indianapolis 500. Also Read: Amit Shah meets Gorkha leaders in Darjeeling, MHA panel to draft ‘permanent political solution’ IndyCar race adds to 250th anniversary events The race marks another attempt by Trump to put his stamp on Washington's celebrations for the 250th anniversary. The events began with a UFC bout held inside a huge cage on the White House lawn in June. As with the UFC event, IndyCar organisers are covering the cost of the major logistical operation. The race has also forced the closure of some of Washington's busiest roads for several days. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the route for the unprecedented race, which resembles Formula One events held on city streets in Las Vegas, Monaco and Singapore. Trump takes centre stage in celebrations Trump has placed himself at the centre of celebrations marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which marked the separation of the original 13 American colonies from Britain. He has also sought to leave his mark on Washington by starting construction of a large ballroom at the White House, renaming institutions after himself and launching a troubled repainting project at the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. Instead of bringing Americans together, however, the 250th anniversary celebrations have largely become a source of political discord. In a July 3 speech at Mount Rushmore, Trump launched a strong attack on Democrats and said the country faced a "communist menace". He later became the main attraction at a major Fourth of July concert in Washington after several musical artists withdrew, saying the event had become too political. The former reality TV star ended the evening with military jet flyovers followed by a world record fireworks display featuring 850,000 rockets over 40 minutes. Polls have meanwhile shown Trump remains deeply unpopular about a year and a half after returning to the White House, with the Iran war and cost of living pushing his approval ratings down.

After hosting a UFC event at the White House, Donald Trump is set to take a ceremonial lap at an IndyCar race in Washington as part of the US 250th anniversary celebrations.

After UFC at White House, Trump gears up for motor race in US capital

Ukraine is seeking Elon Musk’s approval to use Starlink-equipped attack drones against Russian ballistic missile launchers deep inside Russia, as Kyiv faces growing pressure on its air-defence capabilities, according to people familiar with the discussions.The proposal would allow Ukrainian drones using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to operate up to 200km inside Russian territory. Kyiv believes the move could help target missile launchers, command centres and other military infrastructure responsible for attacks on Ukraine.<h2>The Trump angle</h2>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly raised the request during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in July. Zelensky asked Trump to speak to Musk about permitting the use of Starlink beyond Ukraine’s borders.However, Trump was non-committal, and people familiar with the meeting said he did not appear supportive of the proposal. Musk has also previously resisted allowing Starlink to be used for offensive operations inside Russia.The request comes as Ukraine struggles with a shortage of Patriot interceptors, its main defence against Russian ballistic missiles. Intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks, coupled with high demand for Patriot systems in the Middle East, have further strained global supplies.Military analyst Franz-Stefan Gady said Ukraine needed to consider a more proactive approach to countering Russian attacks.“How can Ukraine engage in a more proactive, shooting-the-archer strategy?” Gady asked, referring to efforts to destroy missile launchers, command systems and logistics before attacks are carried out.<h2>Why Starlink?</h2>Starlink-equipped drones can maintain communications over longer distances and are less vulnerable to conventional jamming, making them potentially valuable for deep-strike missions.Musk has previously restricted Starlink access in sensitive situations. In 2022, access was cut during a Ukrainian operation near Crimea over concerns that the move could trigger a wider escalation.Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had maintained direct contact with Musk, has also acknowledged the difficulty of securing approval.“Let’s just say, [it’s] a difficult task right now to achieve the outcome we need through this communication,” Fedorov said on August 6.

Ukraine is seeking Elon Musk’s approval to use Starlink-equipped drones up to 200 km inside Russia to target ballistic missile launchers, as Kyiv faces shortages of Patriot air-defence interceptors.

Ukraine is seeking Elon Musk’s approval to use Starlink-equipped attack drones against Russian ballistic missile launchers deep inside Russia, as Kyiv faces growing pressure on its air-defence capabilities, according to people familiar with the discussions. The proposal would allow Ukrainian drones using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to operate up to 200km inside Russian territory. Kyiv believes the move could help target missile launchers, command centres and other military infrastructure responsible for attacks on Ukraine. The Trump angle Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly raised the request during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in July. Zelensky asked Trump to speak to Musk about permitting the use of Starlink beyond Ukraine’s borders. However, Trump was non-committal, and people familiar with the meeting said he did not appear supportive of the proposal. Musk has also previously resisted allowing Starlink to be used for offensive operations inside Russia. The request comes as Ukraine struggles with a shortage of Patriot interceptors, its main defence against Russian ballistic missiles. Intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks, coupled with high demand for Patriot systems in the Middle East, have further strained global supplies. Military analyst Franz-Stefan Gady said Ukraine needed to consider a more proactive approach to countering Russian attacks. “How can Ukraine engage in a more proactive, shooting-the-archer strategy?” Gady asked, referring to efforts to destroy missile launchers, command systems and logistics before attacks are carried out. Why Starlink? Starlink-equipped drones can maintain communications over longer distances and are less vulnerable to conventional jamming, making them potentially valuable for deep-strike missions. Musk has previously restricted Starlink access in sensitive situations. In 2022, access was cut during a Ukrainian operation near Crimea over concerns that the move could trigger a wider escalation. Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had maintained direct contact with Musk, has also acknowledged the difficulty of securing approval. “Let’s just say, [it’s] a difficult task right now to achieve the outcome we need through this communication,” Fedorov said on August 6.

Ukraine is seeking Elon Musk’s approval to use Starlink-equipped drones up to 200 km inside Russia to target ballistic missile launchers, as Kyiv faces shortages of Patriot air-defence interceptors.

Starlink strikes in Russia? Zelensky seeks Musk’s approval for Ukraine drones

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Supreme Court against the government, alleging that authorities violated its order on the medical transfer of jailed party founder Imran Khan. The contempt petition was filed on Saturday (Aug 22) after Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for a brief medical examination instead of being transferred to the private Shifa International Hospital, as directed by the top court.PTI legal adviser Naeem Panjutha said the petition seeks action against senior government officials, including the prime minister, law minister and information minister.“The petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister” and other government officials, Panjutha said, adding that the party has also sought Khan’s treatment at the private hospital specified by the court.A three-judge Supreme Court bench had on Tuesday directed the government to shift Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days for a medical examination. Authorities instead took the former prime minister to PIMS late Friday before returning him to prison. PTI has also alleged that Khan was not allowed to consult his personal physician, describing the move as another breach of the court’s directions. The party maintains that the court order requires Khan to remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September.Khan’s sister Uzma Khan, who was present during his examination at PIMS, told reporters that her brother appeared physically fit but claimed he had told her that he was “being repeatedly tortured in prison”.Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the decision to take Khan to PIMS, saying the examination was conducted there because of security concerns.The 73-year-old has been serving a 14-year prison sentence since August 2023 after he was charged with corruption and other crimes. Khan, who was found guilty of concealing details of Toshakhana gifts, has insisted that the charges were politically motivated. He was also found guilty in a $259 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, while being held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, reports have emerged about his health concerns, with his party members, family and supporters expressing outrage.Khan served as the prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He was ousted in a no-confidence vote when the country was facing a political crisis fuelled by tensions between his government and the military establishment. He was arrested in May 2023, triggering a nationwide protest.&nbsp;

PTI has filed a contempt petition in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, alleging the government violated its order by taking Imran Khan to a state hospital instead of the private facility directed by the court.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Supreme Court against the government, alleging that authorities violated its order on the medical transfer of jailed party founder Imran Khan. The contempt petition was filed on Saturday (Aug 22) after Khan was taken to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for a brief medical examination instead of being transferred to the private Shifa International Hospital, as directed by the top court. PTI legal adviser Naeem Panjutha said the petition seeks action against senior government officials, including the prime minister, law minister and information minister. “The petition seeks action against the prime minister, law minister, information minister” and other government officials, Panjutha said, adding that the party has also sought Khan’s treatment at the private hospital specified by the court. A three-judge Supreme Court bench had on Tuesday directed the government to shift Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital within two days for a medical examination. Authorities instead took the former prime minister to PIMS late Friday before returning him to prison. PTI has also alleged that Khan was not allowed to consult his personal physician, describing the move as another breach of the court’s directions. The party maintains that the court order requires Khan to remain under medical supervision until at least mid-September. Khan’s sister Uzma Khan, who was present during his examination at PIMS, told reporters that her brother appeared physically fit but claimed he had told her that he was “being repeatedly tortured in prison”. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the decision to take Khan to PIMS, saying the examination was conducted there because of security concerns. The 73-year-old has been serving a 14-year prison sentence since August 2023 after he was charged with corruption and other crimes. Khan, who was found guilty of concealing details of Toshakhana gifts, has insisted that the charges were politically motivated. He was also found guilty in a $259 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, while being held at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, reports have emerged about his health concerns, with his party members, family and supporters expressing outrage. Khan served as the prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He was ousted in a no-confidence vote when the country was facing a political crisis fuelled by tensions between his government and the military establishment. He was arrested in May 2023, triggering a nationwide protest.

PTI has filed a contempt petition in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, alleging the government violated its order by taking Imran Khan to a state hospital instead of the private facility directed by the court.

Imran Khan hospital row: PTI accuses Pakistan govt of defying SC order

More than 20,000 Pakistani nationals were deported from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries between March 1 and July 13, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounting for the vast majority of the cases, according to figures presented in Pakistan's National Assembly.The data, shared by the Narcotics Control Ministry, showed that authorities in the Gulf cited a range of reasons for the deportations, including immigration violations, criminal offences, security concerns and documentation issues.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/don-t-beg-pakistan-strictly-warns-its-umrah-pilgrims-tells-them-to-fully-comply-with-saudi-laws-1786991746961">‘Don’t beg,’ Pakistan strictly warns its Umrah pilgrims, tells them to fully comply with Saudi laws</a><h2>Saudi Arabia accounts for most deportations</h2>Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deportations, sending back 15,500 Pakistani nationals during the period.The UAE followed with 3,803 cases, while the numbers from the other four GCC countries were significantly lower.Oman deported 1,606 Pakistanis, followed by Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429 and Kuwait with 97.Together, the figures cover all six GCC countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.<h2>Visa violations and crime among reasons</h2>The ministry said deportations were linked to several categories of violations. These included illegal entry, overstaying, begging, drug-related offences, security concerns, and forged or improper documents.The data showed that 4,628 people were classified as absconders, while another 1,294 people who had served time in prison were deported.A further 968 Pakistanis were blacklisted, while 1,155 cases involved lost passports. Another 689 people were deported for visa violations, while 342 were sent back after being refused entry.More than 6,000 cases were listed under "Others", without a detailed breakdown from the ministry.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/if-you-want-peace-prepare-for-war-naravane-warns-china-not-pakistan-is-india-s-main-competitor-1787283477651">'If you want peace, prepare for war': Ex-Army chief Manoj Naravane warns China, not Pakistan, is India's main competitor</a><h2>Some cases linked to Iran war videos</h2>The figures also include cases involving Pakistani nationals who were detained or deported after filming or uploading videos and other material related to Iranian attacks in their cities during the ongoing Iran-US conflict.<h2>Figures do not cover voluntary returns</h2>Pakistan's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, told lawmakers that the figures do not represent every Pakistani who left Gulf countries during the period.The data covers only people who were formally detained and deported after Pakistani diplomatic missions issued emergency travel documents. Pakistanis who left voluntarily or returned using valid passports were not included.

More than 20,000 Pakistanis have been deported from the six Gulf states since March, with Saudi Arabia accounting for most cases. But why are so many Pakistani nationals being sent back?

More than 20,000 Pakistani nationals were deported from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries between March 1 and July 13, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounting for the vast majority of the cases, according to figures presented in Pakistan's National Assembly. The data, shared by the Narcotics Control Ministry, showed that authorities in the Gulf cited a range of reasons for the deportations, including immigration violations, criminal offences, security concerns and documentation issues. Also read | ‘Don’t beg,’ Pakistan strictly warns its Umrah pilgrims, tells them to fully comply with Saudi laws Saudi Arabia accounts for most deportations Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deportations, sending back 15,500 Pakistani nationals during the period. The UAE followed with 3,803 cases, while the numbers from the other four GCC countries were significantly lower. Oman deported 1,606 Pakistanis, followed by Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429 and Kuwait with 97. Together, the figures cover all six GCC countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Visa violations and crime among reasons The ministry said deportations were linked to several categories of violations. These included illegal entry, overstaying, begging, drug-related offences, security concerns, and forged or improper documents. The data showed that 4,628 people were classified as absconders, while another 1,294 people who had served time in prison were deported. A further 968 Pakistanis were blacklisted, while 1,155 cases involved lost passports. Another 689 people were deported for visa violations, while 342 were sent back after being refused entry. More than 6,000 cases were listed under "Others", without a detailed breakdown from the ministry. Also read | 'If you want peace, prepare for war': Ex-Army chief Manoj Naravane warns China, not Pakistan, is India's main competitor Some cases linked to Iran war videos The figures also include cases involving Pakistani nationals who were detained or deported after filming or uploading videos and other material related to Iranian attacks in their cities during the ongoing Iran-US conflict. Figures do not cover voluntary returns Pakistan's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, told lawmakers that the figures do not represent every Pakistani who left Gulf countries during the period. The data covers only people who were formally detained and deported after Pakistani diplomatic missions issued emergency travel documents. Pakistanis who left voluntarily or returned using valid passports were not included.

More than 20,000 Pakistanis have been deported from the six Gulf states since March, with Saudi Arabia accounting for most cases. But why are so many Pakistani nationals being sent back?

Over 20,000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf countries in four months. Here's Why

A Myanmar military airstrike on a monastery hosting over 100 civilians for a meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent left 14 people dead, according to two rebel fighters who saw the aftermath. The strike hit the monastery hall around 9:00 am (0230 GMT) Friday (August 22) in Myaung township, central Sagaing region, killing 11 men and three women, said Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy fighter who helped recover the bodies.&nbsp;"Five dead people were from our village and the other nine were from other villages," said a second local opposition fighter on Saturday.&nbsp;Several media reports confirmed that the plane had dropped two bombs on the village 15 minutes apart, where over 100 people were staying in and around the monastery for a weeklong retreat for Buddhist Lent. Following the incident, the military did not immediately comment; however, it has previously claimed to be attacking legitimate targets.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-strait-of-hormuz-american-territory-vows-iran-will-never-get-nuclear-weapon-1787385976123">Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'American territory', vows Iran will never get nuclear weapon</a><h3>Civil war in Myanmar&nbsp;</h3>Myanmar has been gripped by near-nationwide civil war since the military ousted the elected government in February 2021. The junta's violent crackdown on peaceful protests pushed many opponents of military rule to take up arms. The forces resisting the government form a fragmented mix of ethnically and politically distinct armed groups, some dating back decades. Aung San Suu Kyi, the 81-year-old Nobel laureate and pro-democracy figure who held the role of state counsellor, equivalent to prime minister, has remained in detention since the 2021 takeover, and was shifted to house arrest in April. Resistance forces and ethnic armies now hold an estimated 42 per cent of the country, against the military government's 21 per cent. Myaung township sits in Sagaing region, a longtime stronghold of anti-junta resistance. The UN-backed Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported in August that it had recorded a marked rise in air attacks in the run-up to elections held in December and January, a trend that has continued since. Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back against the IIMM's findings, saying strikes target only "terrorists" and that security forces exercise maximum restraint to avoid harming civilians. &nbsp;

The strike hit the monastery hall around 9:00 am (0230 GMT) Friday (August 22) in Myaung township, central Sagaing region, killing 11 men and three women, said Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy fighter who helped recover the bodies.

A Myanmar military airstrike on a monastery hosting over 100 civilians for a meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent left 14 people dead, according to two rebel fighters who saw the aftermath. The strike hit the monastery hall around 9:00 am (0230 GMT) Friday (August 22) in Myaung township, central Sagaing region, killing 11 men and three women, said Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy fighter who helped recover the bodies. "Five dead people were from our village and the other nine were from other villages," said a second local opposition fighter on Saturday. Several media reports confirmed that the plane had dropped two bombs on the village 15 minutes apart, where over 100 people were staying in and around the monastery for a weeklong retreat for Buddhist Lent. Following the incident, the military did not immediately comment; however, it has previously claimed to be attacking legitimate targets. Also read: Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'American territory', vows Iran will never get nuclear weapon Civil war in Myanmar Myanmar has been gripped by near-nationwide civil war since the military ousted the elected government in February 2021. The junta's violent crackdown on peaceful protests pushed many opponents of military rule to take up arms. The forces resisting the government form a fragmented mix of ethnically and politically distinct armed groups, some dating back decades. Aung San Suu Kyi, the 81-year-old Nobel laureate and pro-democracy figure who held the role of state counsellor, equivalent to prime minister, has remained in detention since the 2021 takeover, and was shifted to house arrest in April. Resistance forces and ethnic armies now hold an estimated 42 per cent of the country, against the military government's 21 per cent. Myaung township sits in Sagaing region, a longtime stronghold of anti-junta resistance. The UN-backed Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported in August that it had recorded a marked rise in air attacks in the run-up to elections held in December and January, a trend that has continued since. Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back against the IIMM's findings, saying strikes target only "terrorists" and that security forces exercise maximum restraint to avoid harming civilians.

The strike hit the monastery hall around 9:00 am (0230 GMT) Friday (August 22) in Myaung township, central Sagaing region, killing 11 men and three women, said Nway Oo Myaung, a pro-democracy fighter who helped recover the bodies.

Three women among 14 dead after military airstrike hits Myanmar monastery in Sagaing region

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Imran Khan hospital row: PTI accuses Pakistan govt of defying SC order