How does a GPU actually work? The technology behind modern graphics and AI

Macron’s awkward embrace with Iceland PM Kristrún Frostadóttir goes viral – What happened?

Aliens near US military base? Woman captures bizarre jellyfish-like UFO in Alaska | WATCH

Nuclear blast in space won't hit Earth directly. But what comes next will spell doom

'Miracle on the Mississippi': Cruise boat capsizes after colliding with tanker in New Orleans, all 180 passengers aboard safe

Why are modern GPUs so expensive? 7 things that drive graphics card prices

Why do graphics cards have thousands of small processing cores?

Who is this girl wearing a man's torso? Meet Sofía Monroy, the 27-year-old Mexican-Swedish singer

'Don’t f–k around!' Travis Barker opens up on quitting smoking after precancer diagnosis

CPU vs GPU vs NPU: Which processor does your computer actually need?

After Venezuela and Iran, Trump sets sights on another military intervention before leaving office

'Forbidden' light proposed 40 years ago detected for first time in the universe

Avril Lavigne welcomes first child, keeps baby's name and partner's identity private

Why did the FAA suddenly ground flights across the US? Officials reveal what went wrong

Shape-shifting UFO sighting in Oregon leaves mother-daughter sick: 'Fell like a dead bird'

Vaaste singer Dhvani Bhanushali announces engagement to esports entrepreneur Yash Bhanushali; see pics

From chipmakers to cloud giants: How is Nvidia's stock crash shaking the AI industry?

Crystal-clear Ganga water in Haridwar? Viral video creates buzz online | WATCH

Move over Ram and Ravan, Kunal Kapoor's Lord Indra in Ramayana is stealing hearts in Thailand

Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of fuelling ‘racist’ campaign against Arab Israelis

Nvidia scandal exposes cracks in Trump admin as Bessent blames Lutnick over Megaspeed blacklist delay

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's Australian home targeted by burglars;  3 cars stolen

Trump, Putin and Xi to hold historic trilateral meeting at APEC Summit in China

'Don't hike rates': US Treasury Secretary Bessent warns Fed against rate increase amid Iran war

Jensen Huang seen with wife Lori in Paris in photos shared by daughter Madison

A$AP Rocky's New York event disrupted by on-camera brawl, NYPD steps in

24 hours and counting: Microsoft says 'sorry' for global outage

CM Suvendhu Adhikari turns Bengal's Chhath ghats into launchpad for UP campaign

Mohamed Salah becomes Egypt’s all-time top scorer with brace against Malawi

Video captures horrifying moment Brooklyn apartment building collapses, killing eight people

Colombia 'false positives' scandal: 5 retired army men sentenced over killing of 35 civilians

Who will replace Jensen Huang at Nvidia? 3 Indian-origin tech leaders emerge as possible contenders

Why do powerful graphics cards need so much electricity?

Indian student sentenced to 30 years in UK for online grooming of over 70 children

US President Donald Trump posted a graphic on the Truth Social platform that depicts the Strait of Hormuz as a "new U.S. Territory”. The graphic featured a map of the strategic waterway, claiming that Washington has total control over it. The post comes just after Iran denied opening the Strait of Hormuz until the US naval blockade is lifted.&nbsp;

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi directly mocked U.S. President Donald Trump on social media, dismissing Trump's declaration that the strategic shipping lane would be annexed as "new U.S. territory" as pure delusion."Just as Trump correctly wrote the name of the eternal Persian Gulf, soon his delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this deluded man," said Gharibabadi in a post on X.President Donald Trump on Friday said he would designate the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States “pretty soon” as the status of the waterway, a global chokepoint through which a fifth of global oil and gas passes, remains under a military and diplomatic deadlock.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/abdul-el-sayed-trump-main-character-midterms-michigan-senate-1786989679086">Abdul El-Sayed hits back at Trump: ‘He’s going to turn me into the main character of the midterms’</a><h2>Ghalibaf declared Hormuz will remain closed</h2>Iran's parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US lifts the naval blockade and meets Tehran's demands.&nbsp;“I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding... are implemented,” said Ghalibaf in a speech broadcast on state television.Trump on Thursday threatened to bomb Oman as it was negotiating with Iran over opening a route at the Strait of Hormuz. &nbsp;On the other hand, Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner said the United States and Iran were having “very positive and active conversations”, while noting that “there’s really not a lot of trust between America and Iran after all these years”.

Donald Trump calls the Strait of Hormuz “new US territory” as Iran mocks the claim and vows to keep the strategic waterway closed until US demands are met.

US President Donald Trump posted a graphic on the Truth Social platform that depicts the Strait of Hormuz as a "new U.S. Territory”. The graphic featured a map of the strategic waterway, claiming that Washington has total control over it. The post comes just after Iran denied opening the Strait of Hormuz until the US naval blockade is lifted.

Donald Trump calls the Strait of Hormuz “new US territory” as Iran mocks the claim and vows to keep the strategic waterway closed until US demands are met.

Trump declares Strait of Hormuz ‘new US territory’; Iran mocks ‘delusion’, vows to keep waterway closed

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to the lowest point of his current presidency, while a large majority of Americans believe the US war with Iran could continue for an extended period, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. The poll found that only 33% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance as president, while 64% disapproved. His approval rating dropped from 35% in an earlier poll conducted this month and is now tied with the lowest level recorded during his first term, reached in December 2017.&nbsp;Trump returned to the White House in 2025 with approval from just under half of Americans. His standing has weakened this year following his decision to launch strikes against Iran alongside Israel. The conflict has disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil trade, sending gasoline prices higher and increasing pressure on US households. The economic impact could also create political problems for Trump and Republican candidates seeking to protect their congressional majorities in the November midterm elections.&nbsp;Trump had campaigned on controlling inflation and avoiding prolonged military conflicts. He initially suggested that the confrontation with Iran could be resolved within a few weeks. However, Iran has continued to resist, while disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have kept much of the global oil trade under pressure despite signs that the fighting has cooled. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, 80% of Americans, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans, believe US involvement in Iran will go on for an extended period of time. Only 16% expect the conflict to end within a few weeks.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-s-prominent-anti-war-politician-jailed-for-11-years-who-is-lev-shlosberg-what-was-his-crime-1787046020896">Russia’s prominent anti-war politician jailed for 11 years: Who is Lev Shlosberg? What was his crime?</a>&nbsp;Speaking at a political rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump defended the costs associated with the conflict, saying that paying a tiny little bit more for your gasoline was worthwhile to prevent a very evil country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon has been one of the reasons Trump has cited for the military action. Throughout the conflict, Trump has repeatedly shifted between warnings of further escalation and statements suggesting that a peace agreement could be close. Yet the latest poll indicates that public support for the war remains limited.&nbsp;Only about one in five Americans believe the war has been worth the cost, while just half of Republicans share that view, according to Reuters/Ipsos. The conflict and rising gasoline prices are increasingly worrying Republicans as they prepare for the November 3 elections. The party faces a difficult task in defending its narrow House majority, while Democrats are becoming more optimistic about their chances of making gains in both chambers of Congress.&nbsp;Economic concerns are particularly significant. Reuters/Ipsos polling this month found that voters now favour Democrats over Republicans on economic management for the first time in roughly a decade. In the latest survey, 38% of voters said Democrats would do a better job handling the economy, compared with 35% who preferred the Republican approach. Democrats also received an advantage when voters were asked which party was better equipped to address the rising cost of living.&nbsp;Immigration remains an area where Republicans maintain an advantage, although that lead has narrowed substantially during Trump’s current term. About 40% of registered voters said Republicans have the better approach to immigration policy, compared with 38% who favored Democrats. The two-point Republican advantage is the smallest recorded during Trump’s current presidency. Republicans held a 26-point lead on the issue in January 2025.&nbsp;The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,166 US adults nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of approximately three percentage points in either direction.

Trump's approval rating falls to 33% as Americans worry the Iran war could drag on, fuel prices rise and Republicans face midterm election risks

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to the lowest point of his current presidency, while a large majority of Americans believe the US war with Iran could continue for an extended period, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. The poll found that only 33% of respondents approved of Trump’s performance as president, while 64% disapproved. His approval rating dropped from 35% in an earlier poll conducted this month and is now tied with the lowest level recorded during his first term, reached in December 2017. Trump returned to the White House in 2025 with approval from just under half of Americans. His standing has weakened this year following his decision to launch strikes against Iran alongside Israel. The conflict has disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil trade, sending gasoline prices higher and increasing pressure on US households. The economic impact could also create political problems for Trump and Republican candidates seeking to protect their congressional majorities in the November midterm elections. Trump had campaigned on controlling inflation and avoiding prolonged military conflicts. He initially suggested that the confrontation with Iran could be resolved within a few weeks. However, Iran has continued to resist, while disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have kept much of the global oil trade under pressure despite signs that the fighting has cooled. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, 80% of Americans, including 87% of Democrats and 71% of Republicans, believe US involvement in Iran will go on for an extended period of time. Only 16% expect the conflict to end within a few weeks. Also Read: Russia’s prominent anti-war politician jailed for 11 years: Who is Lev Shlosberg? What was his crime? Speaking at a political rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump defended the costs associated with the conflict, saying that paying a tiny little bit more for your gasoline was worthwhile to prevent a very evil country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon has been one of the reasons Trump has cited for the military action. Throughout the conflict, Trump has repeatedly shifted between warnings of further escalation and statements suggesting that a peace agreement could be close. Yet the latest poll indicates that public support for the war remains limited. Only about one in five Americans believe the war has been worth the cost, while just half of Republicans share that view, according to Reuters/Ipsos. The conflict and rising gasoline prices are increasingly worrying Republicans as they prepare for the November 3 elections. The party faces a difficult task in defending its narrow House majority, while Democrats are becoming more optimistic about their chances of making gains in both chambers of Congress. Economic concerns are particularly significant. Reuters/Ipsos polling this month found that voters now favour Democrats over Republicans on economic management for the first time in roughly a decade. In the latest survey, 38% of voters said Democrats would do a better job handling the economy, compared with 35% who preferred the Republican approach. Democrats also received an advantage when voters were asked which party was better equipped to address the rising cost of living. Immigration remains an area where Republicans maintain an advantage, although that lead has narrowed substantially during Trump’s current term. About 40% of registered voters said Republicans have the better approach to immigration policy, compared with 38% who favored Democrats. The two-point Republican advantage is the smallest recorded during Trump’s current presidency. Republicans held a 26-point lead on the issue in January 2025. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online among 1,166 US adults nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of approximately three percentage points in either direction.

Trump's approval rating falls to 33% as 80% of Americans fear the Iran war will last longer, raising economic and political concerns

Trump's approval rating drops to 33%, lowest of his presidency amid growing war concerns: Poll

Iran is planning to resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled to travel in the first phase.Iran's official Fars News Agency reported that Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation for Hajj and Umrah affairs, said one flight would depart every five days from different Iranian provinces during the initial phase.Registration for Umrah is expected to begin in early Shahrivar, the sixth month of Iran's Solar Hijri calendar, which starts in late August.<h2>18,000 pilgrims in 1st phase</h2>The first phase will cover 18,000 pilgrims, while around five million people holding Umrah registration vouchers are currently waiting to travel.In previous periods, about 200,000 Iranians travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah in less than a year. Towards the end of last year, more than 1,300 pilgrims a day were travelling from Iran to Saudi Arabia.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/amp">‘Don’t beg,’ Pakistan strictly warns its Umrah pilgrims, tells them to fully comply with Saudi laws</a>The expansion of the programme will depend on the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation finalising flight arrangements and securing the foreign currency needed for the trips.Part of the cost of Umrah is linked to foreign currency, while limited flight availability could also affect future departures. The pace of increasing capacity will therefore depend on both available flights and access to foreign currency.<h2>The history of pauses</h2>Going back in history, one finds that the very first time the pause in the Umrah pilgrimage by Iran was imposed was after the Qarmatian Sect Attack, which was from 930 AD to 940 AD. It's the longest continuous stoppage, lasting for a decade.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-us-kuwait-to-india-nations-alert-citizens-as-trump-s-hormuz-deadline-nears-1775589790529">From US, Kuwait to India, nations alert citizens as Trump's Hormuz deadline nears</a>&nbsp;Here are some other notable phases of the pause:<ol><li>2009: Iran banned its citizens from performing Umrah in 2009 because of concerns over the H1N1, or swine flu, pandemic and cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan.</li><li>2010: Arab News reported on 29 January 2010 that Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation instructed a Saudi Umrah service provider that no Iranians would perform Umrah "until further notice".</li><li>Iran suspended all Umrah pilgrimages after allegations that two Iranian teenagers were sexually assaulted by Saudi security personnel at Jeddah airport. AP, VOA and The Guardian all reported the suspension.</li><li>2015-2024: Reuters reported in April 2024 that the first Iranian Umrah group in nine years travelled to Saudi Arabia. The resumption followed the 2023 restoration of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh.</li></ol>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Iran is resuming Umrah pilgrimages for 18,000 citizens after a six-month suspension, reviving a tradition previously halted by historic events, political tensions, health concerns, and diplomatic rifts.

Iran is planning to resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled to travel in the first phase. Iran's official Fars News Agency reported that Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation for Hajj and Umrah affairs, said one flight would depart every five days from different Iranian provinces during the initial phase. Registration for Umrah is expected to begin in early Shahrivar, the sixth month of Iran's Solar Hijri calendar, which starts in late August. 18,000 pilgrims in 1st phase The first phase will cover 18,000 pilgrims, while around five million people holding Umrah registration vouchers are currently waiting to travel. In previous periods, about 200,000 Iranians travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah in less than a year. Towards the end of last year, more than 1,300 pilgrims a day were travelling from Iran to Saudi Arabia. Also read: ‘Don’t beg,’ Pakistan strictly warns its Umrah pilgrims, tells them to fully comply with Saudi laws The expansion of the programme will depend on the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation finalising flight arrangements and securing the foreign currency needed for the trips. Part of the cost of Umrah is linked to foreign currency, while limited flight availability could also affect future departures. The pace of increasing capacity will therefore depend on both available flights and access to foreign currency. The history of pauses Going back in history, one finds that the very first time the pause in the Umrah pilgrimage by Iran was imposed was after the Qarmatian Sect Attack, which was from 930 AD to 940 AD. It's the longest continuous stoppage, lasting for a decade. Also read: From US, Kuwait to India, nations alert citizens as Trump's Hormuz deadline nears Here are some other notable phases of the pause: 2009: Iran banned its citizens from performing Umrah in 2009 because of concerns over the H1N1, or swine flu, pandemic and cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. 2010: Arab News reported on 29 January 2010 that Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation instructed a Saudi Umrah service provider that no Iranians would perform Umrah "until further notice". Iran suspended all Umrah pilgrimages after allegations that two Iranian teenagers were sexually assaulted by Saudi security personnel at Jeddah airport. AP, VOA and The Guardian all reported the suspension. 2015-2024: Reuters reported in April 2024 that the first Iranian Umrah group in nine years travelled to Saudi Arabia. The resumption followed the 2023 restoration of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh.

Iran is resuming Umrah pilgrimages for 18,000 citizens after a six-month suspension, reviving a tradition previously halted by historic events, political tensions, health concerns, and diplomatic rifts.

Iran to resume Umrah for citizens after 6-month suspension. Has it happened before? Know here

Russia has sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in a penal colony. The 63-year-old Yabloko party leader was convicted over anti-war statements and posts about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Yabloko is Russia’s only registered political party to have openly opposed the war in Ukraine. The Pskov court handed down the sentence on Monday (August 17). Prosecutors had sought 12 years and one month.&nbsp;<h2>Who is Lev Shlosberg?</h2>Lev Markovich Shlosberg is a veteran Russian opposition politician, journalist, historian and human-rights activist who is the deputy chairman of Yabloko. Born in Pskov on 30 July 1963, Shlosberg studied history at Pskov State Pedagogical Institute and graduated in 1985. He later studied at the Moscow School of Civic Education. He served in the Soviet Army from 1985 to 1987. After leaving the military, he worked as a teacher at a vocational school for juvenile offenders.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-boris-nadezhdin-putin-critic-arrested-before-russia-s-parliamentary-vote-1783996886804">Who is Boris Nadezhdin? Putin critic arrested before Russia's parliamentary vote</a>He joined Yabloko in 1994 and led its Pskov regional branch from 1996 to 2023. He also served in the Pskov Oblast Assembly of Deputies between 2011 and 2015, and again from 2016 to 2021.As a journalist, Shlosberg published and edited the regional newspaper Pskovskaya Guberniya, which reported on the deaths of Russian soldiers linked to the Donbas conflict in 2014. That reporting brought him threats and violence, and he was assaulted after the newspaper published the investigation.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-s-top-court-bans-only-registered-anti-war-party-ahead-of-key-elections-1786724121947/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-s-top-court-bans-only-registered-anti-war-party-ahead-of-key-elections-1786724121947/embed</a><h2>Why was Shlosberg jailed?</h2>Russian authorities accused Shlosberg of two offences: publicly discrediting Russia’s armed forces under Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code, and spreading false information about the military under Article 207.3.The case centred on his anti-war statements. Shlosberg took part in an online discussion in which he called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, describing the war as a catastrophe for Russia and urging a ceasefire.He was also prosecuted over a Telegram post from February 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The post shared an Echo of Moscow link featuring a Daily Mirror front page depicting a bloodied woman alongside President Vladimir Putin.Shlosberg has rejected the accusations, calling the court proceedings politically motivated.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-semyon-skrepetsky-russian-dissident-artist-killed-poland-1781609134477">Who was Semyon Skrepetsky? Russian dissident artist shot dead in Poland</a><h2>Sentencing follows years of pressure on Shlosberg and comes amid wider crackdown</h2>Shlosberg was designated a “foreign agent” in 2023. In 2025, he was convicted of violating foreign-agent rules and ordered to complete 420 hours of compulsory labour. The latest sentence incorporated that earlier conviction.Yabloko said it would appeal. The party itself faces growing pressure and has been barred from the September 2026 parliamentary elections.Human-rights groups have condemned the prosecution. Memorial, the Russian human-rights organisation, recognises Shlosberg as a political prisoner.His case reflects the widening risks for Russian politicians, journalists and activists who publicly challenge the Kremlin’s position on the war in Ukraine.

Russian politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years for anti-war statements. The Yabloko deputy chairman rejected the charges as politically motivated. Here is what you should know about him 

Russia has sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in a penal colony. The 63-year-old Yabloko party leader was convicted over anti-war statements and posts about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Yabloko is Russia’s only registered political party to have openly opposed the war in Ukraine. The Pskov court handed down the sentence on Monday (August 17). Prosecutors had sought 12 years and one month. Who is Lev Shlosberg? Lev Markovich Shlosberg is a veteran Russian opposition politician, journalist, historian and human-rights activist who is the deputy chairman of Yabloko. Born in Pskov on 30 July 1963, Shlosberg studied history at Pskov State Pedagogical Institute and graduated in 1985. He later studied at the Moscow School of Civic Education. He served in the Soviet Army from 1985 to 1987. After leaving the military, he worked as a teacher at a vocational school for juvenile offenders. Also read: Who is Boris Nadezhdin? Putin critic arrested before Russia's parliamentary vote He joined Yabloko in 1994 and led its Pskov regional branch from 1996 to 2023. He also served in the Pskov Oblast Assembly of Deputies between 2011 and 2015, and again from 2016 to 2021. As a journalist, Shlosberg published and edited the regional newspaper Pskovskaya Guberniya, which reported on the deaths of Russian soldiers linked to the Donbas conflict in 2014. That reporting brought him threats and violence, and he was assaulted after the newspaper published the investigation. https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-s-top-court-bans-only-registered-anti-war-party-ahead-of-key-elections-1786724121947/embed Why was Shlosberg jailed? Russian authorities accused Shlosberg of two offences: publicly discrediting Russia’s armed forces under Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code, and spreading false information about the military under Article 207.3. The case centred on his anti-war statements. Shlosberg took part in an online discussion in which he called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, describing the war as a catastrophe for Russia and urging a ceasefire. He was also prosecuted over a Telegram post from February 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The post shared an Echo of Moscow link featuring a Daily Mirror front page depicting a bloodied woman alongside President Vladimir Putin. Shlosberg has rejected the accusations, calling the court proceedings politically motivated. Also read: Who was Semyon Skrepetsky? Russian dissident artist shot dead in Poland Sentencing follows years of pressure on Shlosberg and comes amid wider crackdown Shlosberg was designated a “foreign agent” in 2023. In 2025, he was convicted of violating foreign-agent rules and ordered to complete 420 hours of compulsory labour. The latest sentence incorporated that earlier conviction. Yabloko said it would appeal. The party itself faces growing pressure and has been barred from the September 2026 parliamentary elections. Human-rights groups have condemned the prosecution. Memorial, the Russian human-rights organisation, recognises Shlosberg as a political prisoner. His case reflects the widening risks for Russian politicians, journalists and activists who publicly challenge the Kremlin’s position on the war in Ukraine.

Russian politician Lev Shlosberg has been sentenced to 11 years for anti-war statements. The Yabloko deputy chairman rejected the charges as politically motivated. Here is what you should know about him&nbsp;

Russia’s prominent anti-war politician jailed for 11 years: Who is Lev Shlosberg? What was his crime?

President Xi Jinping recently revived a sensitive chapter of China's modern history. In a speech on Monday (Aug 17), Xi described the Communist Party's response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as “correct”. Commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Xi praised Jiang's role in maintaining stability during the political turmoil of 1989. Xi called for an “indomitable fighting spirit” to face future challenges, urging the Party to defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests. His remarks again drew attention to one of the most enduring mysteries from the Tiananmen crackdown: The Tank Man.<h2>Who is the Tank Man?</h2>On 5 June 1989, one day after the army crackdown on pro-democracy and pro-reform protests, a man in a white shirt and black pants stood in front of a column of People's Liberation Army (PLA) tanks on Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photographers and videographers captured the extraordinary scene of the man, holding what appeared to be shopping bags in his hands, moving left and right to stop the tanks from moving forward. The footage was aired globally. The lead tank stopped and tried to move around the man, but he repeatedly stepped into its path. At one point, he climbed onto the tank. He appeared to speak to those inside. He was later pulled away by people nearby.The identity of Tank Man remains unknown, but several names have been linked to the lone protestor over the years, including Zhang Weimin and Wang Weilin.<h2>What happened to the Tank Man?</h2>Some reports have suggested that the Tank Man was arrested, while others claimed he may have been executed. Another theory is that civilians helped him escape. There have also been claims that he survived and lived quietly in China, while some have speculated that he eventually fled the country. None of the claims about his whereabouts has been fully confirmed.During interviews in 1990 and 2000, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin offered a rare comment on the man's fate, saying he believed the Tank Man was “never killed” and “never arrested”.“I don't know where he is now,” Jiang said in one of the interviews.Claims about his later life, including suggestions that he became an archaeologist in Taiwan, have also circulated over the years, though none has been reliably established.The Chinese government does not publicly discuss Tank Man. The famous image is also heavily censored inside China. The mystery is tied to the wider silence surrounding the 1989 crackdown.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed</a><h2>The Tiananmen Square protests. What really happened in 1989?</h2>It is not clear why Xi suddenly recalled the Tiananmen protests. But the events remain etched in Chinese memory.The protests began in April 1989 after the death of reformist former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. Students gathered in Tiananmen Square and demanded political reform, greater freedom of speech and an end to corruption. There was hope, as it was an era near the end of the Cold War. Many Chinese workers and citizens joined the student protesters, and the movement grew into a mass protest.Martial law was declared in May. On the night of 3-4 June, troops moved into Beijing. The PLA used live ammunition, tanks and military force to clear the area.Hundreds died in the crackdown, though exact numbers remain disputed. Chinese authorities put the number at around 200 to 300, including civilians and security personnel. Other estimates range from hundreds to several thousand deaths. Many others were injured or arrested.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-happened-at-tiananmen-square-and-why-is-china-tightening-controls-against-activists-ahead-of-anniversary-1780320488855">What happened at Tiananmen Square and why is China tightening controls against activists ahead of anniversary?</a><h2>Tiananmen, a defining moment for the Chinese Communist Party</h2>The official Party position is that the crackdown was necessary to protect political stability and the socialist system of China. Xi's latest remarks reaffirm that position. The Party's focus remains on stability and control.Xi's message is that the Party must be ready to confront future “storms”, as China faces economic, demographic and geopolitical challenges.Yet for many in the world, it is not the Party line or Xi's remarks that will be the defining image of the Tiananmen protests.It will be the photos and videos of one man standing before tanks.Nearly four decades later, the world still does not know his name, his fate or his current location.But the memory of Tank Man lives on.

Xi Jinping's defence of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown has revived the mystery of Tank Man. Nearly four decades after his iconic stand before PLA tanks, what do we know about the lone protestor?

President Xi Jinping recently revived a sensitive chapter of China's modern history. In a speech on Monday (Aug 17), Xi described the Communist Party's response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as “correct”. Commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Xi praised Jiang's role in maintaining stability during the political turmoil of 1989. Xi called for an “indomitable fighting spirit” to face future challenges, urging the Party to defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests. His remarks again drew attention to one of the most enduring mysteries from the Tiananmen crackdown: The Tank Man. Who is the Tank Man? On 5 June 1989, one day after the army crackdown on pro-democracy and pro-reform protests, a man in a white shirt and black pants stood in front of a column of People's Liberation Army (PLA) tanks on Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photographers and videographers captured the extraordinary scene of the man, holding what appeared to be shopping bags in his hands, moving left and right to stop the tanks from moving forward. The footage was aired globally. The lead tank stopped and tried to move around the man, but he repeatedly stepped into its path. At one point, he climbed onto the tank. He appeared to speak to those inside. He was later pulled away by people nearby. The identity of Tank Man remains unknown, but several names have been linked to the lone protestor over the years, including Zhang Weimin and Wang Weilin. What happened to the Tank Man? Some reports have suggested that the Tank Man was arrested, while others claimed he may have been executed. Another theory is that civilians helped him escape. There have also been claims that he survived and lived quietly in China, while some have speculated that he eventually fled the country. None of the claims about his whereabouts has been fully confirmed. During interviews in 1990 and 2000, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin offered a rare comment on the man's fate, saying he believed the Tank Man was “never killed” and “never arrested”. “I don't know where he is now,” Jiang said in one of the interviews. Claims about his later life, including suggestions that he became an archaeologist in Taiwan, have also circulated over the years, though none has been reliably established. The Chinese government does not publicly discuss Tank Man. The famous image is also heavily censored inside China. The mystery is tied to the wider silence surrounding the 1989 crackdown. https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed The Tiananmen Square protests. What really happened in 1989? It is not clear why Xi suddenly recalled the Tiananmen protests. But the events remain etched in Chinese memory. The protests began in April 1989 after the death of reformist former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. Students gathered in Tiananmen Square and demanded political reform, greater freedom of speech and an end to corruption. There was hope, as it was an era near the end of the Cold War. Many Chinese workers and citizens joined the student protesters, and the movement grew into a mass protest. Martial law was declared in May. On the night of 3-4 June, troops moved into Beijing. The PLA used live ammunition, tanks and military force to clear the area. Hundreds died in the crackdown, though exact numbers remain disputed. Chinese authorities put the number at around 200 to 300, including civilians and security personnel. Other estimates range from hundreds to several thousand deaths. Many others were injured or arrested. Also read: What happened at Tiananmen Square and why is China tightening controls against activists ahead of anniversary? Tiananmen, a defining moment for the Chinese Communist Party The official Party position is that the crackdown was necessary to protect political stability and the socialist system of China. Xi's latest remarks reaffirm that position. The Party's focus remains on stability and control. Xi's message is that the Party must be ready to confront future “storms”, as China faces economic, demographic and geopolitical challenges. Yet for many in the world, it is not the Party line or Xi's remarks that will be the defining image of the Tiananmen protests. It will be the photos and videos of one man standing before tanks. Nearly four decades later, the world still does not know his name, his fate or his current location. But the memory of Tank Man lives on.

Xi Jinping's defence of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown has revived the mystery of Tank Man. Nearly four decades after his iconic stand before PLA tanks, what do we know about the lone protestor?

Where is Tank Man? Mystery of lone protestor lives on as Xi Jinping defends Tiananmen crackdown of 1989

Geopolitical chaos and environmental collapse threaten everyone equally, but safety, as it turns out, comes with a shocking price tag. If you happen to be sitting on a fortune and find yourself worrying about the end of the world, a Swiss firm is offering a solution that feels straight out of an old spy thriller: hide your wealth inside a solid rock mountain.Tucked away in the Brünig massif near the quiet village of Lungern, a team of local engineers is carving an extraordinary subterranean sanctuary into the limestone. It is part luxury storage, part nuclear-grade vault, and entirely a gamble on an increasingly unstable planet.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h2>When will the underground bunkers be made?</h2>This isn't a futuristic concept. According to The Times, excavation on the first wave of caverns kicked off in early 2026 after Brünig Mega Safe locked in its initial batch of high-net-worth clients. Construction on these initial spaces will take roughly two years, but when finished, they will give a whole new meaning to "asset diversification."<h2>A five-star fortress beneath the Earth</h2>The logic behind the project is ancient: if you want to keep something safe, put it behind a barrier nobody can pierce. Brünig Mega Safe is simply packaging that timeless instinct for modern billionaires.Carved more than a hundred meters deep into the earth, the facility will hold two dozen custom-engineered caverns. Entry starts around 500,000 Swiss francs, opening up spaces tailored for everything from fine art collections and rare vintage wines to vintage Ferraris and stacks of precious metals. The natural interior will boast a steady 13°C temperature, ideal for aging a rare vintage, or even sitting out a crisis.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-plays-king-in-house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-style-ai-video-sparks-fresh-royal-backlash-1786426597876">Trump plays king in House of the Dragon-style AI video, sparks fresh 'royal' backlash | WATCH</a>What began as an ultra-secure storage facility, however, has rapidly evolved into a plan for human survival. The developers are designing modular plug-in living quarters, turning bare rock into discreet meeting lounges, executive boardrooms, or private panic rooms. Behind classified, multi-tiered checkpoints, clients can wait out whatever mess is unfolding on the surface. To top it off, the complex shares space with the Brünig Institute, a specialised facility dedicated to tactical security training and crisis management.<h2>An old tradition with an expensive twist</h2>Burrowing into granite is practically a Swiss national pastime. For over a century, Switzerland has transformed its majestic landscape into a network of hidden military fortresses, artillery emplacements, and underground shelters built to house its entire population in a crisis.Brünig Mega Safe is simply giving that cold-war paranoia a sleek, private-sector makeover. The difference today is exclusivity. This isn't a civic shelter designed for the local townspeople, it is a private bunker where the ultra-wealthy can buy 99-year leases on peace of mind. To put it simply, the business is betting that the ultimate safe-haven asset isn't a bank account, but three hundred feet of solid alpine rock.

What if your money, art and prized possessions could survive a war, disaster or economic collapse? A Swiss firm is carving private bunkers deep inside an Alpine mountain, offering the ultra-rich a very expensive version of survival.

Geopolitical chaos and environmental collapse threaten everyone equally, but safety, as it turns out, comes with a shocking price tag. If you happen to be sitting on a fortune and find yourself worrying about the end of the world, a Swiss firm is offering a solution that feels straight out of an old spy thriller: hide your wealth inside a solid rock mountain. Tucked away in the Brünig massif near the quiet village of Lungern, a team of local engineers is carving an extraordinary subterranean sanctuary into the limestone. It is part luxury storage, part nuclear-grade vault, and entirely a gamble on an increasingly unstable planet. Also read | Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside When will the underground bunkers be made? This isn't a futuristic concept. According to The Times, excavation on the first wave of caverns kicked off in early 2026 after Brünig Mega Safe locked in its initial batch of high-net-worth clients. Construction on these initial spaces will take roughly two years, but when finished, they will give a whole new meaning to "asset diversification." A five-star fortress beneath the Earth The logic behind the project is ancient: if you want to keep something safe, put it behind a barrier nobody can pierce. Brünig Mega Safe is simply packaging that timeless instinct for modern billionaires. Carved more than a hundred meters deep into the earth, the facility will hold two dozen custom-engineered caverns. Entry starts around 500,000 Swiss francs, opening up spaces tailored for everything from fine art collections and rare vintage wines to vintage Ferraris and stacks of precious metals. The natural interior will boast a steady 13°C temperature, ideal for aging a rare vintage, or even sitting out a crisis. Also read | Trump plays king in House of the Dragon-style AI video, sparks fresh 'royal' backlash | WATCH What began as an ultra-secure storage facility, however, has rapidly evolved into a plan for human survival. The developers are designing modular plug-in living quarters, turning bare rock into discreet meeting lounges, executive boardrooms, or private panic rooms. Behind classified, multi-tiered checkpoints, clients can wait out whatever mess is unfolding on the surface. To top it off, the complex shares space with the Brünig Institute, a specialised facility dedicated to tactical security training and crisis management. An old tradition with an expensive twist Burrowing into granite is practically a Swiss national pastime. For over a century, Switzerland has transformed its majestic landscape into a network of hidden military fortresses, artillery emplacements, and underground shelters built to house its entire population in a crisis. Brünig Mega Safe is simply giving that cold-war paranoia a sleek, private-sector makeover. The difference today is exclusivity. This isn't a civic shelter designed for the local townspeople, it is a private bunker where the ultra-wealthy can buy 99-year leases on peace of mind. To put it simply, the business is betting that the ultimate safe-haven asset isn't a bank account, but three hundred feet of solid alpine rock.

What if your money, art and prized possessions could survive a war, disaster or economic collapse? A Swiss firm is carving private bunkers deep inside an Alpine mountain, offering the ultra-rich a very expensive version of survival.

Want to survive the apocalypse? This Swiss firm is making end-of-the world bunkers for billionaires

A US guided-missile destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering failure. The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was sailing with the George Washington carrier strike group, lost power on 24 July after what the US Seventh Fleet described as “an engineering casualty involving its generators”.&nbsp;The 10,000-ton warship was subsequently towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines, with power restored two days after it was towed on 28 July, according to USNI News. The loss of power left sailors without galley services, toilets and air conditioning, Commander Matthew Comer told the publication. The USS Robert Smalls, another vessel attached to the carrier strike group, helped provide meals for the crew.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-can-t-catch-us-off-guard-iran-s-irgc-warns-us-israel-of-strategic-surprises-what-s-coming-1786940902003">‘They can’t catch us off-guard’: Iran’s IRGC warns US, Israel of ‘strategic surprises’. What’s coming?</a>&nbsp;“There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness in their response,” Comer said in a statement to USNI News. The incident comes as the US military faces growing demands on its forces amid deployments linked to the conflict with Iran.&nbsp;Separately, President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had ordered Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” annual joint military exercises with South Korea as the US military continues to face pressure on its forces and aircraft carriers.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-owns-and-rules-this-waterway-tehran-warns-us-it-will-never-control-strait-of-hormuz-amid-trump-s-threat-1786785833003">‘Iran owns and rules this waterway’: Tehran warns US it will never control Strait of Hormuz amid Trump’s threat</a>&nbsp;The USS George Washington carrier strike group was heading to the Middle East on Monday to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has recently been the subject of reports by the Navy Times and the Stars and Stripes about multiple attempts by sailors to go overboard after more than 200 days without a port call.&nbsp;

After losing generator power for four days in the South China Sea, the USS Benfold was towed to the Philippines for repairs while Navy deployments face increasing Middle East operational strain.

A US guided-missile destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering failure. The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was sailing with the George Washington carrier strike group, lost power on 24 July after what the US Seventh Fleet described as “an engineering casualty involving its generators”. The 10,000-ton warship was subsequently towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines, with power restored two days after it was towed on 28 July, according to USNI News. The loss of power left sailors without galley services, toilets and air conditioning, Commander Matthew Comer told the publication. The USS Robert Smalls, another vessel attached to the carrier strike group, helped provide meals for the crew. Also read: ‘They can’t catch us off-guard’: Iran’s IRGC warns US, Israel of ‘strategic surprises’. What’s coming? “There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness in their response,” Comer said in a statement to USNI News. The incident comes as the US military faces growing demands on its forces amid deployments linked to the conflict with Iran. Separately, President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had ordered Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” annual joint military exercises with South Korea as the US military continues to face pressure on its forces and aircraft carriers. Also read: ‘Iran owns and rules this waterway’: Tehran warns US it will never control Strait of Hormuz amid Trump’s threat The USS George Washington carrier strike group was heading to the Middle East on Monday to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has recently been the subject of reports by the Navy Times and the Stars and Stripes about multiple attempts by sailors to go overboard after more than 200 days without a port call.

After losing generator power for four days in the South China Sea, the USS Benfold was towed to the Philippines for repairs while Navy deployments face increasing Middle East operational strain.

US Navy destroyer spent four days without power in South China Sea. This is what we know

A rare Canadian-bred falcon has been sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals, or about $346,000, at an auction north of Riyadh, becoming the most expensive bird sold at this year's event and the second-highest sale in the auction's history.The bird, a juvenile three-quarter gyr Super White falcon, was bred by Jim Wilson Falcons in Ontario, Canada. It went under the hammer on the seventh night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction in Malham, around 65 kilometres north of the Saudi capital.Bidding, as per Gulf News, opened at 200,000 riyals, but competition quickly pushed the price into seven figures before the bird was eventually bought by Nova Falcon. "This bird is rare, and rare birds are priceless," Shadeed Al Rashidi of Nova Falcon said in a video released by the auction organisers.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/someday-your-children-will-white-house-attacks-cnn-reporter-after-question-about-trump-aide-natalie-harp-1787018113542">'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp</a><h2>Two birds fetch 1.45 million riyals</h2>The Canadian breeder had another successful sale on the same evening. A pure gyrfalcon chick from the farm sold for 150,000 riyals, after bidding started at 40,000 riyals.Together, the two birds brought in 1.45 million riyals, underscoring the prices commanded by elite falcons in the Gulf's highly competitive falconry market.The winning sale was also announced by Saudi Arabia's National Center for Falcons, which described the bird as the world's most expensive Mathlouth gyr pure falcon sold in 2026.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;الطير النادر ماله سعر&quot; 1,300,000 ريال قيمة اقتناء شركة نوفا فالكون لأغلى مثلوث جير بيور في العالم لعام 2026، لتضيف إلى الإنتاج المحلي سلالةً يُنتظر أن يمتد أثرها لسنوات. “Some falcons are simply priceless.” NOFA Falcon Company acquires the world’s most expensive Mathlouth… <a href="https://t.co/ExiOOLiQg5">pic.twitter.com/ExiOOLiQg5</a>&mdash; المركز الوطني للصقور National Center for Falcons (@NCFSaudi) <a href="https://x.com/NCFSaudi/status/2088762781793202576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Still short of auction record</h2>Despite the huge price, the bird did not break the event's all-time record. That mark remains 1.75 million riyals, around $467,000, paid in 2021 for a juvenile Ultra White three-quarter pure gyrfalcon. The latest sale, however, exceeded last year's top price of 1.2 million riyals.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-s-last-election-had-trump-invokes-india-while-pushing-us-voter-id-bill-1787014115814">'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill</a><h2>Why pay millions for a falcon?</h2>Falconry has deep cultural roots across Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabian Peninsula. In recent years, events such as the Malham auction have also become major international marketplaces, bringing together specialist breeders, collectors, and professional falconers. The birds sold at the auction automatically qualify for popular falcon racing competitions in Saudi Arabia. The sport offers substantial prize money, with around $12.5 million available across the racing season.The International Falcon Breeders Auction will continue at Malham until August 25, with breeders and buyers from Saudi Arabia and overseas expected to take part.

A rare Canadian-bred falcon has fetched 1.3 million Saudi riyals at an auction near Riyadh, making it the most expensive bird sold at this year's event. But what makes a falcon worth more than $300,000?

A rare Canadian-bred falcon has been sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals, or about $346,000, at an auction north of Riyadh, becoming the most expensive bird sold at this year's event and the second-highest sale in the auction's history. The bird, a juvenile three-quarter gyr Super White falcon, was bred by Jim Wilson Falcons in Ontario, Canada. It went under the hammer on the seventh night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction in Malham, around 65 kilometres north of the Saudi capital. Bidding, as per Gulf News, opened at 200,000 riyals, but competition quickly pushed the price into seven figures before the bird was eventually bought by Nova Falcon. "This bird is rare, and rare birds are priceless," Shadeed Al Rashidi of Nova Falcon said in a video released by the auction organisers. Also read | 'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp Two birds fetch 1.45 million riyals The Canadian breeder had another successful sale on the same evening. A pure gyrfalcon chick from the farm sold for 150,000 riyals, after bidding started at 40,000 riyals. Together, the two birds brought in 1.45 million riyals, underscoring the prices commanded by elite falcons in the Gulf's highly competitive falconry market. The winning sale was also announced by Saudi Arabia's National Center for Falcons, which described the bird as the world's most expensive Mathlouth gyr pure falcon sold in 2026.

A rare Canadian-bred falcon has fetched 1.3 million Saudi riyals at an auction near Riyadh, making it the most expensive bird sold at this year's event. But what makes a falcon worth more than $300,000?

Why did this falcon sell for $346,000? Rare bird becomes Saudi auction sensation

The Taliban regime of Afghanistan on Monday (Aug 18) batted for deeper engagement with India while highlighting the shared past of the two countries, reported Hindustan Times. Taliban charge d’affaires Noor Ahmed Noor was speaking at an event in New Delhi to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Victory Day or the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul on August 15, 2021. He said that India-Afghanistan bond would contribute to regional stability and connectivity. The Indian government was represented at the event by Anand Prakash, the joint secretary heading the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the external affairs ministry and Director (PAI) Sneha Dubey.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-are-the-major-armed-groups-fighting-afghanistan-s-taliban-regime-1786878090252">EXPLAINED: Who are the major armed groups fighting Afghanistan's Taliban regime?</a> Describing Taliban's foreign policy, he said that it is based on “balanced engagement” and non-interference, adding that he plans to forge greater political trust and an economic partnership with India. Noor noted the “significant progress” in India-Afghanistan ties based on mutual respect, political engagement and shared interests. Among the handful of countries that were represented at the event by their ambassadors were Bhutan, Iran, Eritrea, Jamaica, Niger, Palestine and Serbia. The event was also attended by diplomats of countries such as China, Russia, Qatar, Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-years-of-taliban-rule-how-afghanistan-has-changed-since-the-fall-of-kabul-1786790282607">Five years of Taliban rule: How Afghanistan has changed since the fall of Kabul</a> “We believe that stronger political trust, economic partnership and continued engagement between Afghanistan and India will not only benefit both countries, but will also make an important contribution to regional stability, connectivity, and shared prosperity,” he said. Highlighting past bond, he said, ”The ancient cities of Afghanistan, such as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar, welcomed Indian traders and caravans, while Indian cities such as Delhi and Lahore benefited from the influence of Afghan scholars, poets and Sufis." Noor also thanked India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for “their support in protecting and respecting the international rights” of Afghanistan. He then said that diplomatic contacts between the two countries have expanded, embassies and consulates have become more active and high-level delegations have exchanged visits.

The Taliban held its first public reception on Indian soil, signalling deeper engagement with New Delhi. Charge d’affaires Noor Ahmed Noor called for stronger political trust, economic ties and connectivity, while India, which does not recognise the Taliban regime, sent a senior MEA official.

The Taliban regime of Afghanistan on Monday (Aug 18) batted for deeper engagement with India while highlighting the shared past of the two countries, reported Hindustan Times. Taliban charge d’affaires Noor Ahmed Noor was speaking at an event in New Delhi to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Victory Day or the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul on August 15, 2021. He said that India-Afghanistan bond would contribute to regional stability and connectivity. The Indian government was represented at the event by Anand Prakash, the joint secretary heading the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the external affairs ministry and Director (PAI) Sneha Dubey. Also Read: EXPLAINED: Who are the major armed groups fighting Afghanistan's Taliban regime? Describing Taliban's foreign policy, he said that it is based on “balanced engagement” and non-interference, adding that he plans to forge greater political trust and an economic partnership with India. Noor noted the “significant progress” in India-Afghanistan ties based on mutual respect, political engagement and shared interests. Among the handful of countries that were represented at the event by their ambassadors were Bhutan, Iran, Eritrea, Jamaica, Niger, Palestine and Serbia. The event was also attended by diplomats of countries such as China, Russia, Qatar, Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Also Read: Five years of Taliban rule: How Afghanistan has changed since the fall of Kabul “We believe that stronger political trust, economic partnership and continued engagement between Afghanistan and India will not only benefit both countries, but will also make an important contribution to regional stability, connectivity, and shared prosperity,” he said. Highlighting past bond, he said, ”The ancient cities of Afghanistan, such as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar, welcomed Indian traders and caravans, while Indian cities such as Delhi and Lahore benefited from the influence of Afghan scholars, poets and Sufis." Noor also thanked India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for “their support in protecting and respecting the international rights” of Afghanistan. He then said that diplomatic contacts between the two countries have expanded, embassies and consulates have become more active and high-level delegations have exchanged visits.

The Taliban held its first public reception on Indian soil, signalling deeper engagement with New Delhi. Charge d’affaires Noor Ahmed Noor called for stronger political trust, economic ties and connectivity, while India, which does not recognise the Taliban regime, sent a senior MEA official.

'Stronger political trust...': Taliban push for closer India ties at 'Victory Day' event in Delhi; MEA in attendance

&nbsp;China’s humanoid robot race has produced another striking machine. Unitree Robotics has unveiled a new robot called “Superman”, which the company says can jump 2 metres from a standing position and reach a top speed of 12.66 metres per second. The reveal comes at a crucial moment for Unitree. The Hangzhou-based company is preparing to begin trading on Shanghai’s STAR Market after raising 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) in an IPO that attracted extraordinary retail demand. Its retail offering was reportedly more than 8,000 times oversubscribed.&nbsp;<h2>Unitree’s ‘Superman’ can jump 2 metres</h2>Unitree says it developed the new robot in just over three months. Its headline performance figures are unusual even for the rapidly advancing humanoid sector. The robot can reportedly perform a 2-metre standing jump and reach 12.66 m/s, or about 45.6 km/h. For comparison, Usain Bolt's recorded top speed during his 100-metre world-record run was around 12.4 m/s. However, the comparison should be treated carefully: a robot's brief peak speed is not the same as a human athlete's performance over a race. Unitree has also stressed that “Superman” is still a work in progress and could be improved in the coming months.&nbsp;<h2>Why Unitree is attracting so much attention</h2>The robot reveal arrives just before Unitree's Shanghai debut, adding another dose of excitement around one of China's most closely watched robotics companies. Unitree has said it had produced and delivered about 18,000 bipedal humanoid robots across its models by July, highlighting its focus on manufacturing as well as demonstrations. The company has become particularly visible because its robots have been shown running, dancing and performing martial-arts movements. Its official history also records large-scale humanoid demonstrations, including performances involving dozens of robots. Unitree is backed by major Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Alibaba and DeepSeek, further increasing its profile among investors.&nbsp;<h2>The IPO adds another layer to the robot race</h2>Unitree's IPO is being closely watched because it offers investors one of the clearest public-market tests yet for China's humanoid-robot industry. The company priced its shares at 150.80 yuan each, raising about 6.1 billion yuan and implying a valuation of roughly $9 billion. That enthusiasm also comes with a warning. Humanoid robots remain an emerging market, and strong demonstrations do not automatically translate into mass commercial deployment. For Unitree, the next test is therefore bigger than how fast “Superman” can run. Investors will want to know whether China’s humanoid-robot frenzy can turn impressive machines into a sustainable business.

China’s Unitree has unveiled “Superman”, a new humanoid robot that it says can jump 2 metres and reach 12.66 m/s. The reveal comes days before Unitree’s Shanghai IPO, which raised $905 million and attracted record retail investor demand.

China’s humanoid robot race has produced another striking machine. Unitree Robotics has unveiled a new robot called “Superman”, which the company says can jump 2 metres from a standing position and reach a top speed of 12.66 metres per second. The reveal comes at a crucial moment for Unitree. The Hangzhou-based company is preparing to begin trading on Shanghai’s STAR Market after raising 6.1 billion yuan ($905 million) in an IPO that attracted extraordinary retail demand. Its retail offering was reportedly more than 8,000 times oversubscribed. Unitree’s ‘Superman’ can jump 2 metres Unitree says it developed the new robot in just over three months. Its headline performance figures are unusual even for the rapidly advancing humanoid sector. The robot can reportedly perform a 2-metre standing jump and reach 12.66 m/s, or about 45.6 km/h. For comparison, Usain Bolt's recorded top speed during his 100-metre world-record run was around 12.4 m/s. However, the comparison should be treated carefully: a robot's brief peak speed is not the same as a human athlete's performance over a race. Unitree has also stressed that “Superman” is still a work in progress and could be improved in the coming months. Why Unitree is attracting so much attention The robot reveal arrives just before Unitree's Shanghai debut, adding another dose of excitement around one of China's most closely watched robotics companies. Unitree has said it had produced and delivered about 18,000 bipedal humanoid robots across its models by July, highlighting its focus on manufacturing as well as demonstrations. The company has become particularly visible because its robots have been shown running, dancing and performing martial-arts movements. Its official history also records large-scale humanoid demonstrations, including performances involving dozens of robots. Unitree is backed by major Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Alibaba and DeepSeek, further increasing its profile among investors. The IPO adds another layer to the robot race Unitree's IPO is being closely watched because it offers investors one of the clearest public-market tests yet for China's humanoid-robot industry. The company priced its shares at 150.80 yuan each, raising about 6.1 billion yuan and implying a valuation of roughly $9 billion. That enthusiasm also comes with a warning. Humanoid robots remain an emerging market, and strong demonstrations do not automatically translate into mass commercial deployment. For Unitree, the next test is therefore bigger than how fast “Superman” can run. Investors will want to know whether China’s humanoid-robot frenzy can turn impressive machines into a sustainable business.

China’s Unitree has unveiled “Superman”, a new humanoid robot that it says can jump 2 metres and reach 12.66 m/s. The reveal comes days before Unitree’s Shanghai IPO, which raised $905 million and attracted record retail investor demand.

Newly launched Unitree robot can run faster than Usain Bolt: Here’s what makes it different

US Attorney General Todd Blanche has launched a new Justice Department programme allowing some people with felony convictions to seek restoration of their federal right to own firearms, opening a new and potentially contentious chapter in the Trump administration's Second Amendment agenda.The DOJ said the initiative will allow people who lost their federal firearm rights because of qualifying criminal convictions to apply for restoration. The department expects as many as 330,000 applications under the new process.<h2>Not a second-class right</h2>Blanche defended the move by arguing that constitutional rights should not be permanently taken away without considering whether an individual currently poses a threat."The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and the federal government should not permanently deprive Americans of a constitutional right without regard to whether they pose a danger to public safety," Blanche said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/someday-your-children-will-white-house-attacks-cnn-reporter-after-question-about-trump-aide-natalie-harp-1787018113542">'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp</a><h2>Who can apply?</h2>The programme is aimed at people who are federally prohibited from possessing firearms because of their criminal records. The DOJ says certain categories will remain excluded, including undocumented immigrants, registered sex offenders, and people convicted of violent crimes.Notably, the programme does not automatically return gun rights. Applications will be reviewed individually, with public safety taken into account.<h2>The public safety question</h2>The move comes against a complicated backdrop. Research published in the BMJ Group's Injury Prevention has found that prohibited people do sometimes continue to possess firearms despite legal bans.A study using California data found that, as of February 2015, nearly 19,000 prohibited people possessed almost 50,000 firearms, 92per cent of them handguns. Researchers used those figures to estimate that around 100,000 prohibited firearm owners nationally may have possessed guns. The estimate is not a count of all convicted felons who own guns, but an extrapolation based on California data.Another Injury Prevention study found that among firearm offenders in 13 states, people already prohibited from owning guns were far less likely to have obtained their weapons from licensed dealers. Only 3.9 per cent obtained their firearm from a licensed dealer, compared with 19.9 per cent among offenders who were not prohibited.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/within-30-days-trump-top-envoy-jared-kushner-gives-timeline-for-hamas-disarmament-in-gaza-1787014649346">'Within 30 days': Trump top envoy Jared Kushner gives timeline for Hamas disarmament in Gaza</a><h2>Gun deaths remain a major US issue</h2>The debate is unfolding as firearm deaths remain a major public health concern in the United States. According to the CDC, 44,447 people died from firearm injuries in 2024. Of those, 27,593 were firearm suicides, and 15,364 were firearm homicides.&nbsp;

The Trump administration has opened a new path for some people with felony convictions to seek restoration of their federal gun rights. But who qualifies, who remains excluded and how will the Justice Department decide whether an applicant is a public safety risk?

US Attorney General Todd Blanche has launched a new Justice Department programme allowing some people with felony convictions to seek restoration of their federal right to own firearms, opening a new and potentially contentious chapter in the Trump administration's Second Amendment agenda. The DOJ said the initiative will allow people who lost their federal firearm rights because of qualifying criminal convictions to apply for restoration. The department expects as many as 330,000 applications under the new process. Not a second-class right Blanche defended the move by arguing that constitutional rights should not be permanently taken away without considering whether an individual currently poses a threat. "The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and the federal government should not permanently deprive Americans of a constitutional right without regard to whether they pose a danger to public safety," Blanche said. Also read | 'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp Who can apply? The programme is aimed at people who are federally prohibited from possessing firearms because of their criminal records. The DOJ says certain categories will remain excluded, including undocumented immigrants, registered sex offenders, and people convicted of violent crimes. Notably, the programme does not automatically return gun rights. Applications will be reviewed individually, with public safety taken into account. The public safety question The move comes against a complicated backdrop. Research published in the BMJ Group's Injury Prevention has found that prohibited people do sometimes continue to possess firearms despite legal bans. A study using California data found that, as of February 2015, nearly 19,000 prohibited people possessed almost 50,000 firearms, 92per cent of them handguns. Researchers used those figures to estimate that around 100,000 prohibited firearm owners nationally may have possessed guns. The estimate is not a count of all convicted felons who own guns, but an extrapolation based on California data. Another Injury Prevention study found that among firearm offenders in 13 states, people already prohibited from owning guns were far less likely to have obtained their weapons from licensed dealers. Only 3.9 per cent obtained their firearm from a licensed dealer, compared with 19.9 per cent among offenders who were not prohibited. Also read | 'Within 30 days': Trump top envoy Jared Kushner gives timeline for Hamas disarmament in Gaza Gun deaths remain a major US issue The debate is unfolding as firearm deaths remain a major public health concern in the United States. According to the CDC, 44,447 people died from firearm injuries in 2024. Of those, 27,593 were firearm suicides, and 15,364 were firearm homicides.

The Trump administration has opened a new path for some people with felony convictions to seek restoration of their federal gun rights. But who qualifies, who remains excluded and how will the Justice Department decide whether an applicant is a public safety risk?

‘Second Amendment not a second-class right’: Trump DOJ moves to restore gun rights for convicted felons

The Chabad House in Hiriketiya, in southern Sri Lanka, has faced a series of alleged harassment incidents and threats from some residents in recent days, with a protest led by Buddhist monks held outside the site on Friday (Aug 14).&nbsp;The protesters called on authorities to investigate the legality of the Chabad House’s activities and close the site if it is found to be operating without the required permits. The Chabad House, which recently opened to serve Israeli and Jewish tourists in the area, operates a kosher restaurant, hosts Shabbat meals and provides a space for Israeli travellers visiting southern Sri Lanka.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A newly opened Chabad House in Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, was targeted by protesters over the weekend. Chabad says it contacted Sri Lankan authorities and <a href="https://x.com/IsraelMFA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsraelMFA</a> after the violence, and is determined to remain in the town. by <a href="https://x.com/etgar_l?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@etgar_l</a> Article link in first comment <a href="https://t.co/hdOZUZpd5f">pic.twitter.com/hdOZUZpd5f</a>&mdash; Jerusalem News Syndicate (@JNS_org) <a href="https://x.com/JNS_org/status/2089241922061705238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-can-t-catch-us-off-guard-iran-s-irgc-warns-us-israel-of-strategic-surprises-what-s-coming-1786940902003">‘They can’t catch us off-guard’: Iran’s IRGC warns US, Israel of ‘strategic surprises’. What’s coming?</a>&nbsp;However, local officials have raised concerns over what they describe as religious and commercial activities taking place at the site without the necessary approvals, according to Chabad officials.&nbsp;It was reported that during a Shabbat dinner, protesters gathered near the Chabad House. Chabad officials alleged that loud music was played, firecrackers were thrown into the courtyard, and stones were hurled at the site during the night.&nbsp;According to the Chabad House, some Israelis travelling to the Shabbat meal were also stopped by protesters and told not to approach the site. Firecrackers were allegedly set off near some guests in an attempt to frighten them and prevent them from reaching the Chabad House.&nbsp;The situation reportedly escalated further after Shabbat ended, when several Israelis leaving the site were allegedly threatened with sticks. The situation calmed temporarily after local police returned to the area and increased their presence, Chabad officials said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-s-likud-targets-mamdani-in-election-ad-featuring-iran-s-khamenei-erdogan-and-hezbollah-chief-1786947496093">Netanyahu’s party puts Mamdani alongside Khamenei, Erdogan and Hezbollah chief in election ad</a>&nbsp;The Chabad House has warned that the incidents pose a threat to its emissaries, their families and Israeli tourists visiting the site, and called for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation.&nbsp;“The Chabad House was opened to serve Israeli tourists in Hiriketiya, allow them to eat kosher food and provide them with a warm and safe place far from home,” a Chabad official said. “Now we need urgent help so we can continue operating safely,” they added.&nbsp;

A Chabad House serving Israeli tourists in southern Sri Lanka faces protests led by Buddhist monks, including alleged threats, firecrackers, and stone-throwing, over claims it operates without proper permits.

The Chabad House in Hiriketiya, in southern Sri Lanka, has faced a series of alleged harassment incidents and threats from some residents in recent days, with a protest led by Buddhist monks held outside the site on Friday (Aug 14). The protesters called on authorities to investigate the legality of the Chabad House’s activities and close the site if it is found to be operating without the required permits. The Chabad House, which recently opened to serve Israeli and Jewish tourists in the area, operates a kosher restaurant, hosts Shabbat meals and provides a space for Israeli travellers visiting southern Sri Lanka.

A Chabad House serving Israeli tourists in southern Sri Lanka faces protests led by Buddhist monks, including alleged threats, firecrackers, and stone-throwing, over claims it operates without proper permits.

Buddhist monks lead violent protest against Jewish centre in Sri Lanka: What’s happening?

After US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 17) took aim at another female journalist, the White House also sharply criticised CNN reporter Kristen Holmes for asking the POTUS about his relationship with aide Natalie Harp. Holmes had asked the US President to comment on a widely shared remark by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in a speech on Sunday.The Democrat had told a crowd that the POTUS "doesn't want to do the job" and instead "wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-natalie-harp-trump-s-human-printer-is-making-headlines-again-here-s-why-1787024735322">Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s ‘human printer’ is making headlines again</a><h2>Trump's fresh rant against female journalist</h2>The confrontation took place during an Oval Office event on Monday that was meant to honour a teenage lifeguard who rescued a child from powerful waves. Trump, however, opened the floor to questions on a range of other issues.Holmes asked the president about comments made by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who had criticised Trump over his relationship with Harp and accused him of being more interested in "build[ing] his ballroom and travel[ling] with Natalie" than carrying out his duties.Trump also lashed out at Holmes when she attempted to ask him another question about North Korea."You're a loud, boisterous person, you're fake news, be quiet," Trump told the reporter before calling her "very disrespectful".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Trump: Quiet, quiet, quiet. You are very disrespectful. Quiet. Who are you with? Reporter: I am with CNN. Trump: You are fake news. Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet. You are a fake reporter. <a href="https://t.co/r9sAi7NY7B">pic.twitter.com/r9sAi7NY7B</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2089414218441252899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The White House's Rapid Response account then targeted Holmes on X, writing: "Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question." It then separately accused Holmes of using an event honouring a young hero to make what it called a "cheap shot" at one of Trump's staffers. "These scumbags are the lowest of the low," the account said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://x.com/KristenhCNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KristenhCNN</a>: Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question. They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling. <a href="https://t.co/EWgPy7mXQP">https://t.co/EWgPy7mXQP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2089422283039203736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-s-last-election-had-trump-invokes-india-while-pushing-us-voter-id-bill-1787014115814">'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India in push for US voter ID bill</a><h2>CNN defends reporter</h2>CNN strongly defended Holmes and condemned the White House's response."We stand firmly behind Kristen and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms," the network said, describing the attacks as "beneath the office".<h2>Who is Natalie Harp?</h2>Harp, 35, is a former television news personality who serves as one of Trump's aides and is frequently seen alongside the president. She has earned the nickname "human printer" because she is known for providing Trump with printed information during his workday.She also became the subject of renewed public attention after reports that she was among the small group of aides with Trump during the covert aircraft switch in Turkey in July, when the president was moved from the plane carrying the press corps to another military aircraft amid an alleged security threat.Recent comments by Ossoff brought Harp back into the political spotlight. Trump responded by attacking the senator, calling him a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike", while defending his controversial plans for a new White House ballroom.The latest confrontation adds to a growing pattern of tense exchanges between the Trump administration and female journalists, with the White House and news organisations increasingly clashing over the tone and substance of questions directed at the president.

A question about Trump's aide Natalie Harp sparked a heated Oval Office confrontation with CNN's Kristen Holmes. Trump attacked the reporter on camera, and the White House later escalated the clash with a sharply worded social media post.

After US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 17) took aim at another female journalist, the White House also sharply criticised CNN reporter Kristen Holmes for asking the POTUS about his relationship with aide Natalie Harp. Holmes had asked the US President to comment on a widely shared remark by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in a speech on Sunday. The Democrat had told a crowd that the POTUS "doesn't want to do the job" and instead "wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar". Also read | Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s ‘human printer’ is making headlines again Trump's fresh rant against female journalist The confrontation took place during an Oval Office event on Monday that was meant to honour a teenage lifeguard who rescued a child from powerful waves. Trump, however, opened the floor to questions on a range of other issues. Holmes asked the president about comments made by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who had criticised Trump over his relationship with Harp and accused him of being more interested in "build[ing] his ballroom and travel[ling] with Natalie" than carrying out his duties. Trump also lashed out at Holmes when she attempted to ask him another question about North Korea. "You're a loud, boisterous person, you're fake news, be quiet," Trump told the reporter before calling her "very disrespectful".

A question about Trump's aide Natalie Harp sparked a heated Oval Office confrontation with CNN's Kristen Holmes. Trump attacked the reporter on camera, and the White House later escalated the clash with a sharply worded social media post.

'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp

A Pentagon official has warned that regional conflict can lead to use of nuclear weapons leading to wider escalation and endangering the world. He said that such a regional conflict poses a greater danger than a surprise mass attack on the United States. The official has been identified as Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy. He said that the consequences of a large-scale nuclear strike on the United States would deter countries capable of launching one.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-s-last-election-had-trump-invokes-india-while-pushing-us-voter-id-bill-1787014115814">'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill</a> “What I would fear more is a regional war,” Colby told the 2026 United States Strategic Command Deterrence Symposium. He described the danger as “a kind of local war, conventional war that might have local employment, God forbid, of nuclear weapons that could escalate from there as it expanded outward.” “That would lead very rapidly to an incredibly pressurised situation that would be almost by definition not in our interests,” he said. He batted for safer options: “It’s not taking away options for the president. It’s adding credible options." He called the modernisation of America’s nuclear deterrent “the single most important initiative for the American military.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/within-30-days-trump-top-envoy-jared-kushner-gives-timeline-for-hamas-disarmament-in-gaza-1787014649346">'Within 30 days': Trump top envoy Jared Kushner gives timeline for Hamas disarmament in Gaza</a> Highlighting on the nuclear aspect with respect to China, he said that it has “created an unprecedented strategic problem.” “Unlike during the Cold War, the United States now faces two potential nuclear peers — China and Russia. I remain cautiously optimistic about the ability for us to maintain effective deterrence in the context of three sort of great power nuclear states. I’m not sanguine about that. If you can try to mitigate these pressures through engagement, through respectful dialogue, that’s totally consistent with being strong,” he said. &nbsp;<h2>What Marjorie Taylor Greene said?</h2>This comes after former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that the Trump administration is discussing the possible use of nuclear weapons against Iran in high-level strategy meetings. But she has not provided any evidence to support this allegation. “They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings,” Greene said in a post on X on Sunday (Aug 16). “It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know,” she added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings. Yes you read that correctly. It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know. And it’s pure evil. The last time a nuclear weapon was used was August 6th and 9th of 1945 on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and…&mdash; Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@FmrRepMTG) <a href="https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2089069623706603837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pentagon official Elbridge Colby warned that a regional conflict involving limited nuclear use could escalate into a wider nuclear war. His remarks come amid Marjorie Taylor Greene’s unsubstantiated claim that the Trump administration discussed using nuclear weapons against Iran

A Pentagon official has warned that regional conflict can lead to use of nuclear weapons leading to wider escalation and endangering the world. He said that such a regional conflict poses a greater danger than a surprise mass attack on the United States. The official has been identified as Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy. He said that the consequences of a large-scale nuclear strike on the United States would deter countries capable of launching one. Also Read: 'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill “What I would fear more is a regional war,” Colby told the 2026 United States Strategic Command Deterrence Symposium. He described the danger as “a kind of local war, conventional war that might have local employment, God forbid, of nuclear weapons that could escalate from there as it expanded outward.” “That would lead very rapidly to an incredibly pressurised situation that would be almost by definition not in our interests,” he said. He batted for safer options: “It’s not taking away options for the president. It’s adding credible options." He called the modernisation of America’s nuclear deterrent “the single most important initiative for the American military.” Also Read: 'Within 30 days': Trump top envoy Jared Kushner gives timeline for Hamas disarmament in Gaza Highlighting on the nuclear aspect with respect to China, he said that it has “created an unprecedented strategic problem.” “Unlike during the Cold War, the United States now faces two potential nuclear peers — China and Russia. I remain cautiously optimistic about the ability for us to maintain effective deterrence in the context of three sort of great power nuclear states. I’m not sanguine about that. If you can try to mitigate these pressures through engagement, through respectful dialogue, that’s totally consistent with being strong,” he said. What Marjorie Taylor Greene said? This comes after former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that the Trump administration is discussing the possible use of nuclear weapons against Iran in high-level strategy meetings. But she has not provided any evidence to support this allegation. “They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings,” Greene said in a post on X on Sunday (Aug 16). “It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know,” she added.

Pentagon official Elbridge Colby warned that a regional conflict involving limited nuclear use could escalate into a wider nuclear war. His remarks come amid Marjorie Taylor Greene’s unsubstantiated claim that the Trump administration discussed using nuclear weapons against Iran

'What I would fear more...': Pentagon official warns of nuclear war after ex-Trump aide's massive claim

Russian families are increasingly turning to clairvoyants, tarot readers and other occult practitioners in search of answers about relatives killed or missing in the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;According to a report by The Telegraph, one woman, identified as Tatyana, recently posted a photograph of Sergei, a soldier listed as missing in action since June 12, 2026, on Vkontakte, Russia's equivalent of Facebook. “Please help,” she wrote, saying she was posting at the request of Sergei's mother. The family was seeking help from mystics and mediums to determine his fate.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-new-infiltration-bill-could-turn-foreign-contacts-into-crimes-journalists-and-others-face-prison-under-proposed-law-details-inside-1786935582385">What's inside Iran’s new ‘infiltration’ bill that could turn foreign contacts into crimes: Journalists and others face prison under this law</a>&nbsp;The Telegraph reported that some families pay practitioners to try to communicate with servicemen believed to have died, while others consult card readers about whether missing soldiers are still alive or seek protective spells. The growing demand comes as Russia's military losses mount and the effects of the war increasingly affect families at home.&nbsp;Data cited by Russian business daily Vedomosti showed that 103,000 people downloaded astrology, fortune-telling and tarot applications from RuStore, Russia's equivalent of Google Play, between January and July this year. The figure was 96 per cent higher than during the same period last year.&nbsp;A survey by state pollster VTsIOM earlier this year found that about 85 per cent of Russians had experimented with some form of magic. The pollster linked the trend to “geopolitical and economic challenges in Russia and worldwide”.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-planning-to-use-nuclear-weapons-on-iran-marjorie-taylor-greene-makes-bombshell-claim-1786942480319">‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim</a>&nbsp;“Especially against the backdrop of military threats, belief (regardless of which gods are involved) turns into a tool of psychological defence,” VTsIOM said.&nbsp;The practices have faced criticism from Russian authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church. However, demand for what Russian media describe as “esoteric services” has continued to grow during the war. The market was estimated at about 2.4 trillion roubles, or more than £20 billion, last year and has been expanding by an average of 20 to 30 per cent annually, according to Russian media reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Russian families are reportedly turning to clairvoyants, tarot readers, and occult practitioners for psychological comfort to determine the fates of missing or deceased soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Russian families are increasingly turning to clairvoyants, tarot readers and other occult practitioners in search of answers about relatives killed or missing in the war in Ukraine. According to a report by The Telegraph, one woman, identified as Tatyana, recently posted a photograph of Sergei, a soldier listed as missing in action since June 12, 2026, on Vkontakte, Russia's equivalent of Facebook. “Please help,” she wrote, saying she was posting at the request of Sergei's mother. The family was seeking help from mystics and mediums to determine his fate. Also read: What's inside Iran’s new ‘infiltration’ bill that could turn foreign contacts into crimes: Journalists and others face prison under this law The Telegraph reported that some families pay practitioners to try to communicate with servicemen believed to have died, while others consult card readers about whether missing soldiers are still alive or seek protective spells. The growing demand comes as Russia's military losses mount and the effects of the war increasingly affect families at home. Data cited by Russian business daily Vedomosti showed that 103,000 people downloaded astrology, fortune-telling and tarot applications from RuStore, Russia's equivalent of Google Play, between January and July this year. The figure was 96 per cent higher than during the same period last year. A survey by state pollster VTsIOM earlier this year found that about 85 per cent of Russians had experimented with some form of magic. The pollster linked the trend to “geopolitical and economic challenges in Russia and worldwide”. Also read: ‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim “Especially against the backdrop of military threats, belief (regardless of which gods are involved) turns into a tool of psychological defence,” VTsIOM said. The practices have faced criticism from Russian authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church. However, demand for what Russian media describe as “esoteric services” has continued to grow during the war. The market was estimated at about 2.4 trillion roubles, or more than £20 billion, last year and has been expanding by an average of 20 to 30 per cent annually, according to Russian media reports.

Russian families are reportedly turning to clairvoyants, tarot readers, and occult practitioners for psychological comfort to determine the fates of missing or deceased soldiers killed in Ukraine.

‘Please help’: Russian widows turn to clairvoyants to contact husbands killed in war

Natalie Harp, a close aide to US President Donald Trump, has come under renewed scrutiny after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff referred to her during a campaign rally in Atlanta. The 35-year-old Californian first gained wider attention in 2019 when she appeared at a conference in Washington, D.C., and praised Trump for signing the 2018 Right to Try Act, which allows terminally ill patients to seek experimental treatments not yet fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Harp, who had battled stage II bone cancer, said at the time that both the “political” and “medical establishment” had left her behind, while crediting Trump with helping her. “He gave up his quality of life so we could live and work and fight with dignity,” she said, adding that Trump believed in “survival of the fighters, not the fittest”.<h2>‘Thanks to President Trump, I'm living with cancer’</h2>Harp later appeared on Fox News’ “Fox &amp; Friends”, where she credited Trump’s healthcare policies with helping her survive cancer. According to CNN, she said: “I'm not dying from cancer anymore. Thanks to President Trump, I'm living with cancer.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-planning-to-use-nuclear-weapons-on-iran-marjorie-taylor-greene-makes-bombshell-claim-1786942480319">‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim</a>Her public profile grew through appearances at events including the Faith and Freedom Conference and the 2020 Republican National Convention. At the convention, Harp again credited Trump’s healthcare policies with saving her life and compared him to Jimmy Stewart’s character in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”.“I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for you,” she told Trump.<h2>Why did Jon Ossoff mention Natalie Harp?</h2>Harp was among a small group of Trump staffers who accompanied the president during a secret plane swap in Turkey in July, according to The Independent.The reported operation involved Trump and several aides switching aircraft using an airport catering truck amid concerns about a possible Iranian assassination threat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were reportedly among those left behind on the decoy aircraft with journalists.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-news-trump-dismisses-reports-of-food-shortages-aboard-uss-lincoln-1787020785211">‘Fake news’: Trump dismisses reports of food shortages aboard USS Lincoln</a>Ossoff referred to the incident during a campaign rally in Atlanta on Sunday while criticising Trump's leadership and handling of the military.“While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings, he golfs, and trades stocks,” Ossoff said.Harp's role in Trump's inner circle has drawn attention for her close proximity to the president. The latest remarks have once again put the aide in the spotlight amid a wider political debate over Trump's conduct and his administration.

Natalie Harp, a key aide of the US president who previously praised Trump’s Right to Try Act, drew fresh scrutiny after Senator Jon Ossoff highlighted her involvement in a Turkish plane-swap incident.

Natalie Harp, a close aide to US President Donald Trump, has come under renewed scrutiny after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff referred to her during a campaign rally in Atlanta. The 35-year-old Californian first gained wider attention in 2019 when she appeared at a conference in Washington, D.C., and praised Trump for signing the 2018 Right to Try Act, which allows terminally ill patients to seek experimental treatments not yet fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Harp, who had battled stage II bone cancer, said at the time that both the “political” and “medical establishment” had left her behind, while crediting Trump with helping her. “He gave up his quality of life so we could live and work and fight with dignity,” she said, adding that Trump believed in “survival of the fighters, not the fittest”. ‘Thanks to President Trump, I'm living with cancer’ Harp later appeared on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”, where she credited Trump’s healthcare policies with helping her survive cancer. According to CNN, she said: “I'm not dying from cancer anymore. Thanks to President Trump, I'm living with cancer.” Also read: ‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim Her public profile grew through appearances at events including the Faith and Freedom Conference and the 2020 Republican National Convention. At the convention, Harp again credited Trump’s healthcare policies with saving her life and compared him to Jimmy Stewart’s character in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life”. “I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for you,” she told Trump. Why did Jon Ossoff mention Natalie Harp? Harp was among a small group of Trump staffers who accompanied the president during a secret plane swap in Turkey in July, according to The Independent. The reported operation involved Trump and several aides switching aircraft using an airport catering truck amid concerns about a possible Iranian assassination threat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were reportedly among those left behind on the decoy aircraft with journalists. Also read: ‘Fake news’: Trump dismisses reports of food shortages aboard USS Lincoln Ossoff referred to the incident during a campaign rally in Atlanta on Sunday while criticising Trump's leadership and handling of the military. “While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings, he golfs, and trades stocks,” Ossoff said. Harp's role in Trump's inner circle has drawn attention for her close proximity to the president. The latest remarks have once again put the aide in the spotlight amid a wider political debate over Trump's conduct and his administration.

Natalie Harp, a key aide of the US president who previously praised Trump’s Right to Try Act, drew fresh scrutiny after Senator Jon Ossoff highlighted her involvement in a Turkish plane-swap incident.

Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s ‘human printer’ is making headlines again. Here’s why

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has always treated him with “great respect,” hinting at the possibility of talks soon. He said that they share a personal bond, adding that his approach is aimed at making the situation on the Korean Peninsula safer. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said that he had met Kim on multiple occasions and that the two leaders understood each other. Trump contrasted his relationship with Kim with the North Korean leader's reported views of previous US presidents. Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office why Kim had not responded to his efforts to re-engage, Trump responded, "he has." He did not provide further details.<blockquote>"Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect, and we met on two primary occasions, spoke, and spent time. I understand him. He understands me. I get along with him. You know, he didn't like Biden, he didn't like Obama, he didn't like anybody, but I get along with him very well. Now, what I'm doing is making things safer, just the opposite," Trump said.</blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Reporter: Why hasn’t Kim Jong Un responded to your request to have a conversation? Trump: How do you know? Reporter: Has he? Trump: Um, yeah, yes. <a href="https://t.co/AsRlhFXcWU">pic.twitter.com/AsRlhFXcWU</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2089412342048043027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This comes after Trump announced a day ago that the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea. He cited his "very good relationship" with Kim Jong Un and highlighted South Korea's rejection to join the war in Iran. In a Truth Social post, he said that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran, adding that the joint these exercises costs a lot to the US. Last week, Trump also posted a picture with Kim Jong Un and joked about their "unfriendly look" while reaffirming that the two get along well.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-good-relationship-with-kim-trump-substantially-reduces-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea-1786926915050/amp">'Very good relationship with Kim...': Trump 'substantially reduces' joint military exercises with South Korea</a><h2>Trump and Kim Jong Un meeting</h2>Trump and Kim Jong Un met for the first time in 2018 and held a summit in Singapore. In 2019, they held two meetings: the Hanoi Summit in Vietnam and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. After Hanoi Summit, Kim invited Trump to cross the border line between South and North Korea, and Trump briefly crossed into North Korea. The two had a major photo-op as they shook hands and patted each other's backs. With this, Trump became the first sitting US president to cross into North Korea. Trump and Kim also signed a joint statement, titled "Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit", which Trump described as a "very important" and "comprehensive" agreement. However, the engagements soon derailed after Trump lost the 2020 presidential elections. &nbsp;

Trump praised his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying Kim has always treated him with respect. Trump said his approach aims to make the Korean Peninsula safer, after announcing plans to substantially reduce joint US-South Korea military exercises.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has always treated him with “great respect,” hinting at the possibility of talks soon. He said that they share a personal bond, adding that his approach is aimed at making the situation on the Korean Peninsula safer. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said that he had met Kim on multiple occasions and that the two leaders understood each other. Trump contrasted his relationship with Kim with the North Korean leader's reported views of previous US presidents. Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office why Kim had not responded to his efforts to re-engage, Trump responded, "he has." He did not provide further details. "Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect, and we met on two primary occasions, spoke, and spent time. I understand him. He understands me. I get along with him. You know, he didn't like Biden, he didn't like Obama, he didn't like anybody, but I get along with him very well. Now, what I'm doing is making things safer, just the opposite," Trump said.

Trump praised his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying Kim has always treated him with respect. Trump said his approach aims to make the Korean Peninsula safer, after announcing plans to substantially reduce joint US-South Korea military exercises.

'Kim Jong Un treated me with great respect': Trump hints at renewed engagement with North Korea

US President Donald Trump has dismissed reports of food shortages and deteriorating living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling the coverage “fake news” and claiming the aircraft carrier is “beautifully maintained”. Speaking at the White House on Monday (Aug 17), Trump criticised CNN reporter Kristen Holmes after she raised reports about conditions aboard the carrier, which has been deployed in the Strait of Hormuz for more than 250 days. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-owns-and-rules-this-waterway-tehran-warns-us-it-will-never-control-strait-of-hormuz-amid-trump-s-threat-1786785833003">‘Iran owns and rules this waterway’: Tehran warns US it will never control Strait of Hormuz amid Trump’s threat</a>&nbsp;Trump said he had received what he described as third-hand information from a retired admiral, who allegedly told him that the Lincoln was being “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of”. “The Lincoln has been out there for a period of time, a good period of time, but over the years, we’ve had them out there much longer,” Trump said, referring to his conversation with the unnamed former admiral. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-new-infiltration-bill-could-turn-foreign-contacts-into-crimes-journalists-and-others-face-prison-under-proposed-law-details-inside-1786935582385">What's inside Iran’s new ‘infiltration’ bill that could turn foreign contacts into crimes: Journalists and others face prison under this law</a>&nbsp;He added that “other people” had also found the claims about the carrier’s condition to be true, but did not identify those individuals. Trump accused CNN of publishing “fake news reporting” and told Holmes to “be quiet” during the exchange. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-are-steam-catapults-and-why-does-trump-want-them-back-on-us-aircraft-carriers-wion-decodes-1786701770704">What are steam catapults, and why does Trump want them back on US aircraft carriers? WION Decodes</a>&nbsp;The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, left San Diego on November 21, 2025. It has now spent more than 250 days at sea without making a port call, setting a modern record for the longest such deployment.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-is-planning-to-use-nuclear-weapons-on-iran-marjorie-taylor-greene-makes-bombshell-claim-1786942480319">‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim</a>&nbsp;

Donald Trump dismissed reports of food shortages and poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as "fake news," citing a retired admiral while defending the carrier's record-breaking 250-plus-day deployment.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed reports of food shortages and deteriorating living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling the coverage “fake news” and claiming the aircraft carrier is “beautifully maintained”. Speaking at the White House on Monday (Aug 17), Trump criticised CNN reporter Kristen Holmes after she raised reports about conditions aboard the carrier, which has been deployed in the Strait of Hormuz for more than 250 days. Also read: ‘Iran owns and rules this waterway’: Tehran warns US it will never control Strait of Hormuz amid Trump’s threat Trump said he had received what he described as third-hand information from a retired admiral, who allegedly told him that the Lincoln was being “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of”. “The Lincoln has been out there for a period of time, a good period of time, but over the years, we’ve had them out there much longer,” Trump said, referring to his conversation with the unnamed former admiral. Also read: What's inside Iran’s new ‘infiltration’ bill that could turn foreign contacts into crimes: Journalists and others face prison under this law He added that “other people” had also found the claims about the carrier’s condition to be true, but did not identify those individuals. Trump accused CNN of publishing “fake news reporting” and told Holmes to “be quiet” during the exchange. Also read: What are steam catapults, and why does Trump want them back on US aircraft carriers? WION Decodes The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, left San Diego on November 21, 2025. It has now spent more than 250 days at sea without making a port call, setting a modern record for the longest such deployment. Also read: ‘Trump is planning to use nuclear weapons on Iran’: Marjorie Taylor Greene makes bombshell claim

Donald Trump dismissed reports of food shortages and poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as "fake news," citing a retired admiral while defending the carrier's record-breaking 250-plus-day deployment.

‘Fake news’: Trump dismisses reports of food shortages aboard USS Lincoln

At least two people were killed in a shooting at a high school in the ​southern Philippines on Tuesday (Aug 18), officials said. This is second such incident in the country in nearly two months. The situation is now ‌under control, officials said. The shooting took place at a ​school attached to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University ​in the southern city of Zamboanga. The city's mayor ⁠Khymer Adan Olaso told DZMM radio that both casualties were ​students and one was the shooter, who used a “high-powered ​firearm.” Associated Press quoted journalists at the scene and said that the suspect was a Grade 7 student and the victims were shot in a classroom. Previously, regional police spokesperson Maj. Shellamie Chang said &nbsp;that police forces were trying to secure the school campus.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/georgia-high-school-shooting-student-injured-teen-suspect-arrested-after-bathroom-fight-escalates-1786621541068">Georgia High School Shooting: Student Injured, Teen Suspect Arrested After Bathroom Fight Escalates</a>&nbsp;The university's president Ernald Andal confirmed there was no longer an active shooting and there were no additional fatalities or reported injuries. "As of ​now, we confirm that there are two fatalities," Andal ​said. "There are no more active shooters." Andal said that the university was coordinating ‌with ⁠authorities and would provide more details as information became available. "We do not want any of these things to happen. We wish to prioritise the safety of all our students," ​he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WARNING: GRAPHIC BREAKING: At least 2 killed after shooter livestreams attack at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Philippines <a href="https://t.co/Jq8lJ36w7P">pic.twitter.com/Jq8lJ36w7P</a>&mdash; Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) <a href="https://x.com/RapidReport2025/status/2089547033996607765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shooting-at-virginia-state-university-several-injured-campus-on-lockdown-police-1786794898892">Shooting at Virginia State University, 5 injured; campus lockdown lifted</a><h2>Mass shooting in the region</h2>Previously, mass shooting was reported in a public high school in June in Tacloban City in which at least three ​students were killed and about 20 others injured. Officials said that two schoolmates opened fire on campus. The shooting also happened less than 10 days after a high-profile incident in Thailand, ⁠where ​a student went on a shooting rampage ​at a school on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two people have been confirmed dead following a shooting at a school in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, according to Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso. Authorities are investigating the incident, with further details on the victims and circumstances awaited.

At least two people were killed in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Tuesday (Aug 18), officials said. This is second such incident in the country in nearly two months. The situation is now ‌under control, officials said. The shooting took place at a school attached to the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern city of Zamboanga. The city's mayor ⁠Khymer Adan Olaso told DZMM radio that both casualties were students and one was the shooter, who used a “high-powered firearm.” Associated Press quoted journalists at the scene and said that the suspect was a Grade 7 student and the victims were shot in a classroom. Previously, regional police spokesperson Maj. Shellamie Chang said that police forces were trying to secure the school campus. Also Read: Georgia High School Shooting: Student Injured, Teen Suspect Arrested After Bathroom Fight Escalates The university's president Ernald Andal confirmed there was no longer an active shooting and there were no additional fatalities or reported injuries. "As of now, we confirm that there are two fatalities," Andal said. "There are no more active shooters." Andal said that the university was coordinating ‌with ⁠authorities and would provide more details as information became available. "We do not want any of these things to happen. We wish to prioritise the safety of all our students," he said.

Two people have been confirmed dead following a shooting at a school in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, according to Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso. Authorities are investigating the incident, with further details on the victims and circumstances awaited.

At least 2 dead in mass shooting at Philippines school, suspect reportedly from Class 7

US President Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner said Monday (Aug 17) that efforts to disarm Hamas and move ahead with a Gaza peace plan could start showing progress within a month. His statement follows talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Speaking to Fox News in Tel Aviv, Kushner said the first steps could involve removing weapons from Hamas and dealing with the extensive tunnel network in Gaza. "We could be seeing progress... in as little as 30 days," Kushner said, adding that he hoped weapons could begin to be removed and tunnels filled in during that period.The comments came after Kushner and Netanyahu agreed on a mechanism for overseeing Hamas's disarmament. According to an Israeli official, an American general would supervise the initial handover and decommissioning of weapons.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-jump-as-trump-rules-out-extending-iran-ceasefire-what-comes-next-1787012394772">Oil prices jump as Trump rules out extending Iran ceasefire. What comes next?</a><h2>US general to oversee Hamas disarmament</h2>The agreement comes as the Trump administration tries to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas over the next phase of its Gaza plan.An Israeli official said the two sides had agreed that there would be no Israeli redeployment or reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.The first stage of demilitarisation would require Hamas to surrender its weapons for decommissioning under the supervision of an American general.The roadmap accepted by Hamas on July 30 proposed that the International Stabilization Force oversee the weapons decommissioning. The emerging arrangement would put an American general at the centre of that process.Kushner met Netanyahu in Jerusalem a day after holding direct talks with Hamas representatives in Egypt. Hamas has said it remains committed to the US-backed Gaza plan and wants Washington to put pressure on Netanyahu to move forward.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-s-last-election-had-trump-invokes-india-while-pushing-us-voter-id-bill-1787014115814">'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill</a><h2>Netanyahu under pressure</h2>The discussions come at a politically sensitive moment for Netanyahu, who faces elections on October 27 and has publicly pushed back against parts of the US plan.Trump's administration is seeking to reassure Israel that any disarmament process will not compromise its security. An official involved in implementing the plan told AFP that every weapon collected would be fully decommissioned and that Israel would retain its right to defend itself if Hamas attempted to rearm or launch attacks.The talks also come against a backdrop of continuing violence and hardline rhetoric inside Israel.Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir recently called for the killing of dozens of people in Gaza every night, drawing widespread attention. &nbsp;

A key question hanging over Trump's Gaza plan now has a possible timeline. Jared Kushner says the next phase, including efforts to remove Hamas weapons and deal with its tunnel network, could begin showing progress within 30 days. All you need to know.

US President Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner said Monday (Aug 17) that efforts to disarm Hamas and move ahead with a Gaza peace plan could start showing progress within a month. His statement follows talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to Fox News in Tel Aviv, Kushner said the first steps could involve removing weapons from Hamas and dealing with the extensive tunnel network in Gaza. "We could be seeing progress... in as little as 30 days," Kushner said, adding that he hoped weapons could begin to be removed and tunnels filled in during that period. The comments came after Kushner and Netanyahu agreed on a mechanism for overseeing Hamas's disarmament. According to an Israeli official, an American general would supervise the initial handover and decommissioning of weapons. Also read | Oil prices jump as Trump rules out extending Iran ceasefire. What comes next? US general to oversee Hamas disarmament The agreement comes as the Trump administration tries to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas over the next phase of its Gaza plan. An Israeli official said the two sides had agreed that there would be no Israeli redeployment or reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. The first stage of demilitarisation would require Hamas to surrender its weapons for decommissioning under the supervision of an American general. The roadmap accepted by Hamas on July 30 proposed that the International Stabilization Force oversee the weapons decommissioning. The emerging arrangement would put an American general at the centre of that process. Kushner met Netanyahu in Jerusalem a day after holding direct talks with Hamas representatives in Egypt. Hamas has said it remains committed to the US-backed Gaza plan and wants Washington to put pressure on Netanyahu to move forward. Also read | 'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill Netanyahu under pressure The discussions come at a politically sensitive moment for Netanyahu, who faces elections on October 27 and has publicly pushed back against parts of the US plan. Trump's administration is seeking to reassure Israel that any disarmament process will not compromise its security. An official involved in implementing the plan told AFP that every weapon collected would be fully decommissioned and that Israel would retain its right to defend itself if Hamas attempted to rearm or launch attacks. The talks also come against a backdrop of continuing violence and hardline rhetoric inside Israel. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir recently called for the killing of dozens of people in Gaza every night, drawing widespread attention.

A key question hanging over Trump's Gaza plan now has a possible timeline. Jared Kushner says the next phase, including efforts to remove Hamas weapons and deal with its tunnel network, could begin showing progress within 30 days. All you need to know.

'Within 30 days': Trump top envoy Jared Kushner gives timeline for Hamas disarmament in Gaza

US President Donald Trump has renewed his call for Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, pointing to India's election system and voter identification requirements as an example.In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited remarks attributed to India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who had questioned how elections could be conducted in the US without a requirement for valid photo identification.Trump also pointed to India's 2024 general election, writing: "India's last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1 per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document."

He then renewed his appeal to lawmakers, writing: "We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now!"Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-trade-adviser-peter-navarro-slams-indians-claim-they-firebombed-him-online-over-brahmins-profiteering-remark-1786498920422">Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro slams Indians, claims they ‘firebombed’ him online over ‘Brahmins profiteering’ remark | WATCH</a><h2>What does the SAVE America Act propose?</h2>According to the White House, the legislation is designed to ensure that only US citizens participate in federal elections.The administration says the bill would require voters to provide valid identification and proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It would also seek to restrict mail-in voting to specific circumstances, including illness, disability, military service, or travel.The legislation would further direct states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.The White House has described the measure as a "common sense, bipartisan bill", arguing that American elections should be decided by American citizens.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/smuggling-disguised-as-trade-us-claims-india-part-of-40-nation-shadow-network-helping-china-evade-tariffs-1786679286732">'Smuggling disguised as trade': US claims India part of 40-nation 'shadow network' helping China evade tariffs</a><h2>White House compares US system with India</h2>The Trump administration has increasingly pointed to election systems in other countries while making its case for tighter voting requirements in the US. The White House said, "India and Brazil tie voter ID to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship."The bill was introduced in Congress on January 29. Trump's latest remarks put India at the centre of his argument for changing how voter eligibility and identification are handled in US federal elections.

Donald Trump has once again pointed to India's election system while pushing for stricter voter identification rules in the US. But what exactly does his SAVE America Act seek to change, and why is India central to his argument?

US President Donald Trump has renewed his call for Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, pointing to India's election system and voter identification requirements as an example. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited remarks attributed to India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who had questioned how elections could be conducted in the US without a requirement for valid photo identification. Trump also pointed to India's 2024 general election, writing: "India's last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1 per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document."

Donald Trump has once again pointed to India's election system while pushing for stricter voter identification rules in the US. But what exactly does his SAVE America Act seek to change, and why is India central to his argument?

'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India while pushing US voter ID bill

Latest News Today Live Updates: Stay tuned to this live blog for all the latest news and breaking developments from India and around the world.US President Donald Trump has renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, citing India's voter identification system and the 2024 general election as examples while calling for stricter voter eligibility rules in the US. In other news, he claims Iran wants a deal but not on terms he considers acceptable, while backing continued pressure over its nuclear programme and making fresh comments about US control of the Strait of Hormuz.Oil prices rose sharply after Trump ruled out extending an interim agreement with Iran, with Brent crude settling at $90.87 a barrel and WTI at $84.50. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remain a major concern for global energy markets.Meanwhile, the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia has warned Umrah pilgrims and workers not to beg or engage in unauthorised activities, stressing that Saudi authorities have a zero-tolerance policy and violations could lead to arrest, detention or deportation.Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates, and developments as they unfold.

The Delhi Police has defended its use of force against student protesters during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” protest march, telling the Supreme Court that it resorted to a “graded” response only after the gathering ceased to remain peaceful

Delhi Police denies excessive use of force during protest

Trump praised his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying Kim has always treated him with respect. Trump said his approach aims to make the Korean Peninsula safer, after announcing plans to substantially reduce joint US-South Korea military exercises. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-treated-me-with-great-respect-trump-hints-at-re-engaging-with-north-korea-1787022526362">READ MORE</a>

A Bihar Police constable, Abhishek Patel, was suspended after being caught on camera firing four AK-47 rounds into the air during student protests over NEET-UG exam irregularities. The Bihar government told the Supreme Court no one was injured, while the SC criticised police excesses.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-did-bihar-cop-fire-ak-47-state-govt-tells-supreme-court-he-was-trapped-in-crowd-1787032702101"> READ MORE</a>

Why did Bihar cop fire AK-47? State govt tells Supreme Court he was 'trapped in crowd'

Iran has announced the resumption of its Umrah pilgrimage program following a six-month pause, with 18,000 pilgrims scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia in the initial phase. The longest continuous stoppage of Umrah lasted for 10 years during the Qarmatian Sect Attack in 930–940 AD

Iran resumes Umrah after six-month pause with 18,000 pilgrims

A Bengaluru woman was detained after her husband and five-year-old son were found dead at their home, with police saying she smothered the two following a family dispute.

Bengaluru woman detained after husband, son found dead; cops say she smothered them

More than 52 people were injured when a hand grenade exploded near a school in Afghanistan's capital on Monday, local media reported. The hand grenade exploded near a private school in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul’s 18th police district, local broadcaster Tolo News reported, citing Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police.

Over 50 injured in explosion near school in Kabul

A survey of more than 23,000 consumers found that 40% of those who purchased cosmetics and beauty products in the past three years encountered at least one fake or counterfeit product. Another 26% reported suffering an allergic reaction to one or more cosmetics they had purchased.Online platforms, apps, and websites were the biggest source of counterfeit cosmetics, accounting for 23% of such purchases among surveyed consumers. Beauty, cosmetics, and general stores followed at 18%, while local shops and market stalls accounted for 14%.The survey was conducted by LocalCircles, an Indian community social media platform that enables citizens to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions.

40% consumers found cosmetics they bought were fake, survey finds

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced a revised farm loan waiver scheme following requests from farmers' associations. Under the new measure, cooperative farm loans up to Rs 75,000 will be fully waived, while loans between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh will get a waiver of up to Rs 75,000. Loans above Rs 1 lakh will receive a maximum waiver of Rs 35,000.The move will benefit 2.38 lakh farmers, with each receiving a waiver of up to Rs 40,000, and add Rs 953.06 crore to the state government's expenditure. Overall, the government will waive Rs 6,220 crore in cooperative loans for 13.34 lakh farmers.

Tamil Nadu announces farm loan waiver of up to Rs 75,000 for farmers

DMK MLAs staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday after an intense debate over drug abuse and related crimes, saying they were dissatisfied with the government's response. The walkout followed a heated exchange with ministers over the murder of college student Amudhan and allegations of a wider drug menace in the state.The government rejected claims that drugs were linked to Amudhan's murder, saying the investigation found it resulted from a clash between students. Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said 15 people had been arrested and assured the House that all those responsible would face justice.The debate escalated after Nirmal Kumar referred to alleged links between international drug trafficker Jaffer Sadiq and the then chief minister's family. DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin objected to the reference and questioned the government over allegations involving a TVK minister. The DMK members subsequently walked out. &nbsp;

DMK MLAs stage walkout from Tamil Nadu Assembly over drug menace debate

A key question hanging over Trump's Gaza plan now has a possible timeline. Jared Kushner says the next phase, including efforts to remove Hamas weapons and deal with its tunnel network, could begin showing progress within 30 days.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/within-30-days-trump-top-envoy-jared-kushner-gives-timeline-for-hamas-disarmament-in-gaza-1787014649346">All you need to know</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260818/image-1787015084079.jpg?rect=(0,101,1598,1198)"></figure>

Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $90.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose to $84.50. The gains reflected renewed concern that stalled diplomacy could prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-jump-as-trump-rules-out-extending-iran-ceasefire-what-comes-next-1787012394772">Read more here</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260421/image-1776739375648.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)"></figure>

Oil prices jump as Trump rules out extending Iran ceasefire. What comes next?

Donald Trump has once again pointed to India's election system while pushing for stricter voter identification rules in the US. But what exactly does his SAVE America Act seek to change, and why is India central to his argument?<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-s-last-election-had-trump-invokes-india-while-pushing-us-voter-id-bill-1787014115814">Click here to read</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260818/image-1787014337330.jpg?rect=(0,175,3639,2730)"></figure>

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

Latest News Today Live Updates: Stay tuned to this live blog for all the latest news and breaking developments from India and around the world. US President Donald Trump has renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, citing India's voter identification system and the 2024 general election as examples while calling for stricter voter eligibility rules in the US. In other news, he claims Iran wants a deal but not on terms he considers acceptable, while backing continued pressure over its nuclear programme and making fresh comments about US control of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices rose sharply after Trump ruled out extending an interim agreement with Iran, with Brent crude settling at $90.87 a barrel and WTI at $84.50. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remain a major concern for global energy markets. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia has warned Umrah pilgrims and workers not to beg or engage in unauthorised activities, stressing that Saudi authorities have a zero-tolerance policy and violations could lead to arrest, detention or deportation. Stay with us for the latest news, breaking updates, and developments as they unfold.

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

LIVE Updates | Latest India & World News Aug 18: Delhi Police statement on student protest violence, Trump-Kim bonhomie and more

Oil prices rose sharply on Monday (Aug 17) after US President Donald Trump ruled out extending an interim ceasefire arrangement with Iran, deepening uncertainty over the conflict and the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $90.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose to $84.50. The gains reflected renewed concern that stalled diplomacy could prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.President Trump said Monday that he did not want to extend the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran in June. The agreement had been intended to create a path toward a broader settlement, but negotiations have struggled over several issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz.Iran has also hardened its position. A senior Iranian official warned that Tehran could shift toward a more offensive military posture if diplomatic efforts fail.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-firm-joins-rescue-race-as-oil-spill-from-russian-shadow-fleet-tanker-spreads-along-oman-s-coast-1786690658895">'Extremely challenging situation': UK firm joins rescue race as oil spill from Russian shadow fleet tanker spreads along Oman's coast</a><h2>Why Hormuz matters</h2>The Strait of Hormuz remains the most important factor for oil markets. Before the conflict, around one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international markets.Traffic remains heavily disrupted. Only five commodity vessels crossed the strait on Saturday, compared with 31 the previous weekend, while no crossings were recorded on Sunday, according to shipping data cited by Reuters.Even without a complete shutdown, reduced tanker traffic can increase shipping and insurance costs and restrict supplies from major Gulf producers.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-alleged-nuclear-arsenal-no-longer-top-concern-for-us-vance-says-cheap-oil-is-priority-no-1-in-iran-war-nuclear-threat-goal-number-two-1786669765626">Iran's alleged nuclear arsenal no longer top concern for US? Vance says cheap oil is priority No. 1 in Iran war, nuclear threat 'goal number two'</a><h2>What’s next?</h2>The immediate focus will be on whether Washington and Tehran can maintain diplomatic contacts despite increasingly confrontational rhetoric.Sustained increases in crude prices can feed into gasoline and transportation costs, making the conflict increasingly relevant to American consumers.For oil markets, Hormuz will remain the key indicator.Any agreement that restores significant tanker traffic could quickly ease some of the geopolitical premium built into crude prices. Further attacks or a deeper disruption of the strait could push prices higher.For now, markets are pricing in a conflict with no clear diplomatic exit and an energy supply route that remains vulnerable to the next political or military move.&nbsp;

Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $90.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose to $84.50. The gains reflected renewed concern that stalled diplomacy could prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.

Oil prices rose sharply on Monday (Aug 17) after US President Donald Trump ruled out extending an interim ceasefire arrangement with Iran, deepening uncertainty over the conflict and the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $90.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose to $84.50. The gains reflected renewed concern that stalled diplomacy could prolong disruptions to global energy supplies. President Trump said Monday that he did not want to extend the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran in June. The agreement had been intended to create a path toward a broader settlement, but negotiations have struggled over several issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has also hardened its position. A senior Iranian official warned that Tehran could shift toward a more offensive military posture if diplomatic efforts fail. Also read | 'Extremely challenging situation': UK firm joins rescue race as oil spill from Russian shadow fleet tanker spreads along Oman's coast Why Hormuz matters The Strait of Hormuz remains the most important factor for oil markets. Before the conflict, around one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international markets. Traffic remains heavily disrupted. Only five commodity vessels crossed the strait on Saturday, compared with 31 the previous weekend, while no crossings were recorded on Sunday, according to shipping data cited by Reuters. Even without a complete shutdown, reduced tanker traffic can increase shipping and insurance costs and restrict supplies from major Gulf producers. Also read | Iran's alleged nuclear arsenal no longer top concern for US? Vance says cheap oil is priority No. 1 in Iran war, nuclear threat 'goal number two' What’s next? The immediate focus will be on whether Washington and Tehran can maintain diplomatic contacts despite increasingly confrontational rhetoric. Sustained increases in crude prices can feed into gasoline and transportation costs, making the conflict increasingly relevant to American consumers. For oil markets, Hormuz will remain the key indicator. Any agreement that restores significant tanker traffic could quickly ease some of the geopolitical premium built into crude prices. Further attacks or a deeper disruption of the strait could push prices higher. For now, markets are pricing in a conflict with no clear diplomatic exit and an energy supply route that remains vulnerable to the next political or military move.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, settled at $90.87 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose to $84.50. The gains reflected renewed concern that stalled diplomacy could prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.

Imagine paying upfront for a month of 'unlimited' AI video generation. Then discovering you can barely produce anything before the plan expires. You ask customer support what happened and never get a reply, or if you are lucky, you get a copied reply. You push harder, and you are muted on their discord server for asking. That is what Higgsfield AI's paying customers say is happening to them right now.&nbsp;When Higgsfield launched its unlimited Seedance offer, it published a number to prove the product worked.&nbsp;‘Average generation time under 5 minutes,’ the company stated, ‘measured across 23,913 generations in the first 7 hours after launch.’&nbsp;That was the benchmark Higgsfield chose for itself. Eleven days into the promotion, its paying customers are describing something that bears no resemblance to it.&nbsp;The Offer&nbsp;The deal went live on August 7, open to anyone who activated it before August 9. It provides unlimited generation on ByteDance's Seedance 2.5 at up to 720p, with no credits deducted per clip, for a window of 22 to 33 days depending on plan and billing cycle.&nbsp;That window is the detail that makes this different from an ordinary subscription complaint. It does not roll over and it cannot be paused. Every day the product runs slowly is a day of a finite, non-renewable entitlement being consumed. A customer who activated on August 7 is now roughly a third of the way through whatever they bought.&nbsp;What Customers Say They Are Getting&nbsp;In the company's public Discord, the accounts are consistent and specific.&nbsp;‘Yes, we purchased the Unlimited plan, but for the past three days, it has been almost impossible to generate anything,’ wrote a user posting as Marqques. ‘The system simply isn’t generating.'&nbsp;His question is the one Higgsfield has not answered publicly: ‘Why are you resisting providing the Unlimited service that you advertise — as if you are deliberately trying to prevent users from generating content? If that is the case, then please don’t sell a product as Unlimited.'&nbsp;A user posting as NCEE described the degradation in measurable terms. ‘Now generation under unlimited takes 2 hours++ ??? reset twice and still doesnt seem to work. it used to be 20 mins. and my friends are still getting 20 mins.’&nbsp;Against the company's published figure of under five minutes, that is a slowdown of more than twentyfold. And the second half of the sentence is the more serious allegation: that the same plan, at the same moment, is performing differently for different accounts.&nbsp;Another user reported that a 20-second clip at 720p was taking 15 to 20 minutes and was ‘just not usable’.&nbsp;A user posting as palmcreator set out what the delays cost customers outside the United States. ‘I’m paying almost 6x the subscription price in my local currency because the Brazilian real is much weaker than the dollar,' he wrote. ‘So when I’ve gone days without being able to generate anything on a paid Unlimited plan, what am I realistically supposed to feel?'&nbsp;He was careful to separate the staff from the company: ‘I’m not blaming the moderators. I know you're trying to help. We're just frustrated because we paid for a service, the time is passing, and we still don't have a solution.'&nbsp;However, the moderators have another problem of their own. it appears, that to handle 300k customers, their discord group barely as 2-3 moderators diverting the query to just one single guy known as THEO. 1 customer agent for 300k customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not everyone agreed. At least one user urged the channel to give the administrators a break, while saying he too was unhappy with how long generations were taking. But the question arises, that a company valued at $5.4 billion is onboarding users and selling packages on false promises. Over the top of that, moderators mute users and threaten permanent ban from accessing customer service on discord when asking for accountability.&nbsp;Why One Stuck Job Stops Everything&nbsp;The reason a slowdown becomes total paralysis is in Higgsfield's own published specification.&nbsp;Unlimited mode runs on what the company describes as the ‘Standard (shared)’ queue, with a concurrency limit of ‘1 job at a time’. Credit-based generation runs on the priority queue with ‘Multiple parallel jobs’.&nbsp;One job at a time means a single generation that hangs blocks the account entirely. A customer whose clip has been processing for hours cannot start another, cannot queue work, and cannot test whether the problem is their prompt. They can only wait. Higgsfield's own help documentation tells users to contact support if a generation has been stuck for more than 10 hours.&nbsp;That is how an unlimited plan produces a handful of videos a day, or none.&nbsp;The company's terms describe the same architecture in contractual language. Section 10.6 states that ‘Unlimited models operate on a dedicated processing queue, separate from the priority queue used for credit-based generations’, and that processing speed and parallel generation capacity are not guaranteed. It permits the company to ‘restrict, suspend, throttle, or place on a slower processing queue’ usage that ‘materially exceeds typical individual use’ — a threshold the terms never define.&nbsp;Higgsfield's published guidance also recommends drafting at lower resolutions on Unlimited and switching to paid credit mode for maximum speed.&nbsp;The Conclusion Customers Have Reached On Their Own&nbsp;What is notable about the channel is that its users are not describing an outage. They are describing a policy.&nbsp;‘Seedance 2.5 unlimited seems controlled so that people don’t just actually spam generations and maybe for the business side of it can't have people generate infinitely,' wrote a user posting as pq11111. ‘Of course they can’t say that publicly but from what everyone is experiencing and saying seems like it.'&nbsp;Another, Tommy87, worked through what a throttled unlimited plan is worth in practice, calculating that a user held to roughly 13 generations a day across the 33-day window would still have consumed a large notional value in credits — leaving the company free to argue the subscription had been worth the money regardless of whether the customer could use it.&nbsp;Neither user has seen the contract language. Both arrived at the architecture Higgsfield has already written down.&nbsp;How The Complaints Were Handled&nbsp;The response has become part of the complaint.&nbsp;‘I think everyone is frustrated and desperate right now because the moderators are basically the only people we can actually talk to,’ palmcreator wrote. ‘So when something isn’t working, especially something we've paid a significant amount for, it's natural that people are going to complain and ask for help.'&nbsp;That matches what has been documented elsewhere about Higgsfield's support. Billing issues have been reported as often requiring direct contact with one specific Discord moderator, making resolution dependent on a single person's availability rather than any standard process. In one documented case, 731 credits were deducted from an account after the subscription had already been cancelled, and were returned only after the customer complained publicly.&nbsp;Users in the channel describe moderators replying with identical copied text rather than addressing individual cases. One user who pressed on that point, and who had posted a screenshot showing a support contact failing to respond, was placed on a 24-hour timeout by an account identified as a senior moderator.&nbsp;The notice cited conduct rather than the substance of the complaint: ‘You were given more than enough opportunities to correct your conduct, yet you chose to disregard each warning and continue the same behaviour.’ It warned that further violations ‘may result in additional moderation action, up to a 1 week timeout or a permanent ban from the server.’&nbsp;The identical notice was issued twice, two minutes apart. Higgsfield has not said publicly what the underlying rule violation was. Several users have separately reported that questions about accountability posted on the server are removed.&nbsp;For a customer inside a 33-day window, a 24-hour timeout is not only a moderation action. It is a day of the entitlement they paid for, spent unable to ask why it is not working.&nbsp;The Refund Window Closed On Day Seven&nbsp;For most people posting, the contractual remedy has already expired.&nbsp;Section 9.3 of Higgsfield's terms permits refunds only within seven days of the initial purchase, only where no credits have been used, and minus a service fee of up to six per cent. Renewals are excluded outright: refunds apply to ‘initial purchases, not renewals’.&nbsp;A customer who activated on August 7 lost the right to a refund on August 14. The complaints in the channel are dated after that. Critics have described the policy as technically advertised but practically impossible to use, and have questioned whether it would survive scrutiny under European consumer protection law.&nbsp;The remaining options are the moderator, a public complaint, or a chargeback through the bank.&nbsp;The Round Landed In The Middle Of It&nbsp;On August 17, with the promotion running and the channel filling with complaints, Higgsfield announced it had raised $400 million at a valuation of $5.4 billion.&nbsp;The Series B was led by DST Global, with new money from Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Intel Capital, Tribe Capital, Smash Capital, Fifth Wall, Valor Capital, Liberty Global Tech Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital and NTT DOCOMO Ventures. The company reported annualised revenue of $700 million, more than 30 million users across 238 countries, and visual production work for 390 of the Fortune 500. Its valuation has more than quadrupled in eight months.&nbsp;‘Every business needs visual content, but creating it at the quality, speed and scale companies demand remains complex and expensive,’ chief executive Alex Mashrabov said in announcing the round.&nbsp;What Higgsfield Says&nbsp;The company has acknowledged problems before, and has been direct about some of them.&nbsp;Higgsfield refunded $1.35 million to users affected by slowdowns, attributing those partly to some 40,000 fraudulent bot accounts it closed over December and January. It has cited infrastructure demand and bot activity during peak periods as the cause of degraded performance, and says speed may fluctuate at peak times to maintain platform stability.&nbsp;Mashrabov, who ran generative AI at Snap before founding the company in 2023, has said: ‘Rapid scaling brings real challenges. We acknowledge that our internal processes and external communications haven’t always kept pace with our core values, and we have made mistakes.'&nbsp;On December 19, 2025, large numbers of heavy unlimited-plan users were banned outright. The company said 99 per cent of those bans involved fraudulent activity through what it called grey or black payment methods. Numerous affected users said they had paid with ordinary personal credit cards. Higgsfield says suspensions follow content violations and denies any correlation with holding an unlimited plan.&nbsp;Its Trustpilot rating stands at around 3.2 out of 5 across more than 1,200 reviews, and it carries an open complaints record with the Better Business Bureau.&nbsp;The Word Customers Are Using&nbsp;On review platforms, the language has hardened well beyond disappointment.&nbsp;Reviewers accuse the company of luring customers with unlimited packages that expired early and charging for a service they could not use. One describes buying a Black Friday deal for 365 days of unlimited generations and losing access after roughly a month. Another says an offer sold as a year of unlimited use functioned for a matter of days. Multiple reviewers report that once Higgsfield stopped selling unlimited plans, accounts holding them began to be suspended.&nbsp;The word scam appears repeatedly in those reviews, and in at least one published write-up devoted to the company's unlimited tier. Whether it is the correct word is a question the evidence does not settle on its own.&nbsp;What would make it a scam, rather than a badly run promotion, is intent — selling access the company knew it could not deliver. Nothing in the public record establishes that, and Higgsfield's disclosures cut against it: the throttling is in the terms, the queue split is in the specification, and the concurrency limit is published. A company running a deliberate deception does not usually document the mechanism on its own website.&nbsp;What cuts the other way is the sequencing. The refund window is seven days. The degradation customers describe becomes undeniable well after that. The promotion is a fixed countdown that cannot be paused while the problem is fixed. And the marketing word was ‘unlimited’ while the operative words sat in section 10.6.&nbsp;The Number That Started It&nbsp;Higgsfield was not obliged to publish a speed benchmark. It chose to, because on day one the number was good: under five minutes, across 23,913 generations.&nbsp;That figure is now the clearest measure of what has happened since. The company set the standard, in public, using its own data. Its customers are simply holding it there.&nbsp;And the $400 million arrived anyway — priced, closed and announced while the people inside the promotion were still waiting on a single clip. Whatever that capital was buying, the experience of the paying customer does not appear to have been part of the calculation.&nbsp;So is ‘unlimited’ a scam? On the narrow legal question, Higgsfield has built itself a defence, and it is a real one: everything customers are angry about is disclosed somewhere they did not read.&nbsp;On the question the customers are actually asking, the answer is less comfortable. They were sold a word, given a countdown, charged in advance, throttled onto a slower queue than people paying per clip, locked to one job at a time so a single stuck generation froze the account, left past the refund deadline before the pattern was visible, and then told to take it up with a moderator who timed them out.&nbsp;Every step of that is permitted by the contract. That may be the most damning thing about it.

Higgsfield published its own benchmark of under five minutes per generation when its 33-day unlimited offer launched on August 7. Eleven days on, paying customers report waits of two hours or more, and say complaints are met with timeouts and deleted messages.

Imagine paying upfront for a month of 'unlimited' AI video generation. Then discovering you can barely produce anything before the plan expires. You ask customer support what happened and never get a reply, or if you are lucky, you get a copied reply. You push harder, and you are muted on their discord server for asking. That is what Higgsfield AI's paying customers say is happening to them right now. When Higgsfield launched its unlimited Seedance offer, it published a number to prove the product worked. ‘Average generation time under 5 minutes,’ the company stated, ‘measured across 23,913 generations in the first 7 hours after launch.’ That was the benchmark Higgsfield chose for itself. Eleven days into the promotion, its paying customers are describing something that bears no resemblance to it. The Offer The deal went live on August 7, open to anyone who activated it before August 9. It provides unlimited generation on ByteDance's Seedance 2.5 at up to 720p, with no credits deducted per clip, for a window of 22 to 33 days depending on plan and billing cycle. That window is the detail that makes this different from an ordinary subscription complaint. It does not roll over and it cannot be paused. Every day the product runs slowly is a day of a finite, non-renewable entitlement being consumed. A customer who activated on August 7 is now roughly a third of the way through whatever they bought. What Customers Say They Are Getting In the company's public Discord, the accounts are consistent and specific. ‘Yes, we purchased the Unlimited plan, but for the past three days, it has been almost impossible to generate anything,’ wrote a user posting as Marqques. ‘The system simply isn’t generating.' His question is the one Higgsfield has not answered publicly: ‘Why are you resisting providing the Unlimited service that you advertise — as if you are deliberately trying to prevent users from generating content? If that is the case, then please don’t sell a product as Unlimited.' A user posting as NCEE described the degradation in measurable terms. ‘Now generation under unlimited takes 2 hours++ ??? reset twice and still doesnt seem to work. it used to be 20 mins. and my friends are still getting 20 mins.’ Against the company's published figure of under five minutes, that is a slowdown of more than twentyfold. And the second half of the sentence is the more serious allegation: that the same plan, at the same moment, is performing differently for different accounts. Another user reported that a 20-second clip at 720p was taking 15 to 20 minutes and was ‘just not usable’. A user posting as palmcreator set out what the delays cost customers outside the United States. ‘I’m paying almost 6x the subscription price in my local currency because the Brazilian real is much weaker than the dollar,' he wrote. ‘So when I’ve gone days without being able to generate anything on a paid Unlimited plan, what am I realistically supposed to feel?' He was careful to separate the staff from the company: ‘I’m not blaming the moderators. I know you're trying to help. We're just frustrated because we paid for a service, the time is passing, and we still don't have a solution.' However, the moderators have another problem of their own. it appears, that to handle 300k customers, their discord group barely as 2-3 moderators diverting the query to just one single guy known as THEO. 1 customer agent for 300k customers. Not everyone agreed. At least one user urged the channel to give the administrators a break, while saying he too was unhappy with how long generations were taking. But the question arises, that a company valued at $5.4 billion is onboarding users and selling packages on false promises. Over the top of that, moderators mute users and threaten permanent ban from accessing customer service on discord when asking for accountability. Why One Stuck Job Stops Everything The reason a slowdown becomes total paralysis is in Higgsfield's own published specification. Unlimited mode runs on what the company describes as the ‘Standard (shared)’ queue, with a concurrency limit of ‘1 job at a time’. Credit-based generation runs on the priority queue with ‘Multiple parallel jobs’. One job at a time means a single generation that hangs blocks the account entirely. A customer whose clip has been processing for hours cannot start another, cannot queue work, and cannot test whether the problem is their prompt. They can only wait. Higgsfield's own help documentation tells users to contact support if a generation has been stuck for more than 10 hours. That is how an unlimited plan produces a handful of videos a day, or none. The company's terms describe the same architecture in contractual language. Section 10.6 states that ‘Unlimited models operate on a dedicated processing queue, separate from the priority queue used for credit-based generations’, and that processing speed and parallel generation capacity are not guaranteed. It permits the company to ‘restrict, suspend, throttle, or place on a slower processing queue’ usage that ‘materially exceeds typical individual use’ — a threshold the terms never define. Higgsfield's published guidance also recommends drafting at lower resolutions on Unlimited and switching to paid credit mode for maximum speed. The Conclusion Customers Have Reached On Their Own What is notable about the channel is that its users are not describing an outage. They are describing a policy. ‘Seedance 2.5 unlimited seems controlled so that people don’t just actually spam generations and maybe for the business side of it can't have people generate infinitely,' wrote a user posting as pq11111. ‘Of course they can’t say that publicly but from what everyone is experiencing and saying seems like it.' Another, Tommy87, worked through what a throttled unlimited plan is worth in practice, calculating that a user held to roughly 13 generations a day across the 33-day window would still have consumed a large notional value in credits — leaving the company free to argue the subscription had been worth the money regardless of whether the customer could use it. Neither user has seen the contract language. Both arrived at the architecture Higgsfield has already written down. How The Complaints Were Handled The response has become part of the complaint. ‘I think everyone is frustrated and desperate right now because the moderators are basically the only people we can actually talk to,’ palmcreator wrote. ‘So when something isn’t working, especially something we've paid a significant amount for, it's natural that people are going to complain and ask for help.' That matches what has been documented elsewhere about Higgsfield's support. Billing issues have been reported as often requiring direct contact with one specific Discord moderator, making resolution dependent on a single person's availability rather than any standard process. In one documented case, 731 credits were deducted from an account after the subscription had already been cancelled, and were returned only after the customer complained publicly. Users in the channel describe moderators replying with identical copied text rather than addressing individual cases. One user who pressed on that point, and who had posted a screenshot showing a support contact failing to respond, was placed on a 24-hour timeout by an account identified as a senior moderator. The notice cited conduct rather than the substance of the complaint: ‘You were given more than enough opportunities to correct your conduct, yet you chose to disregard each warning and continue the same behaviour.’ It warned that further violations ‘may result in additional moderation action, up to a 1 week timeout or a permanent ban from the server.’ The identical notice was issued twice, two minutes apart. Higgsfield has not said publicly what the underlying rule violation was. Several users have separately reported that questions about accountability posted on the server are removed. For a customer inside a 33-day window, a 24-hour timeout is not only a moderation action. It is a day of the entitlement they paid for, spent unable to ask why it is not working. The Refund Window Closed On Day Seven For most people posting, the contractual remedy has already expired. Section 9.3 of Higgsfield's terms permits refunds only within seven days of the initial purchase, only where no credits have been used, and minus a service fee of up to six per cent. Renewals are excluded outright: refunds apply to ‘initial purchases, not renewals’. A customer who activated on August 7 lost the right to a refund on August 14. The complaints in the channel are dated after that. Critics have described the policy as technically advertised but practically impossible to use, and have questioned whether it would survive scrutiny under European consumer protection law. The remaining options are the moderator, a public complaint, or a chargeback through the bank. The Round Landed In The Middle Of It On August 17, with the promotion running and the channel filling with complaints, Higgsfield announced it had raised $400 million at a valuation of $5.4 billion. The Series B was led by DST Global, with new money from Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Intel Capital, Tribe Capital, Smash Capital, Fifth Wall, Valor Capital, Liberty Global Tech Ventures, Mirae Asset Capital and NTT DOCOMO Ventures. The company reported annualised revenue of $700 million, more than 30 million users across 238 countries, and visual production work for 390 of the Fortune 500. Its valuation has more than quadrupled in eight months. ‘Every business needs visual content, but creating it at the quality, speed and scale companies demand remains complex and expensive,’ chief executive Alex Mashrabov said in announcing the round. What Higgsfield Says The company has acknowledged problems before, and has been direct about some of them. Higgsfield refunded $1.35 million to users affected by slowdowns, attributing those partly to some 40,000 fraudulent bot accounts it closed over December and January. It has cited infrastructure demand and bot activity during peak periods as the cause of degraded performance, and says speed may fluctuate at peak times to maintain platform stability. Mashrabov, who ran generative AI at Snap before founding the company in 2023, has said: ‘Rapid scaling brings real challenges. We acknowledge that our internal processes and external communications haven’t always kept pace with our core values, and we have made mistakes.' On December 19, 2025, large numbers of heavy unlimited-plan users were banned outright. The company said 99 per cent of those bans involved fraudulent activity through what it called grey or black payment methods. Numerous affected users said they had paid with ordinary personal credit cards. Higgsfield says suspensions follow content violations and denies any correlation with holding an unlimited plan. Its Trustpilot rating stands at around 3.2 out of 5 across more than 1,200 reviews, and it carries an open complaints record with the Better Business Bureau. The Word Customers Are Using On review platforms, the language has hardened well beyond disappointment. Reviewers accuse the company of luring customers with unlimited packages that expired early and charging for a service they could not use. One describes buying a Black Friday deal for 365 days of unlimited generations and losing access after roughly a month. Another says an offer sold as a year of unlimited use functioned for a matter of days. Multiple reviewers report that once Higgsfield stopped selling unlimited plans, accounts holding them began to be suspended. The word scam appears repeatedly in those reviews, and in at least one published write-up devoted to the company's unlimited tier. Whether it is the correct word is a question the evidence does not settle on its own. What would make it a scam, rather than a badly run promotion, is intent — selling access the company knew it could not deliver. Nothing in the public record establishes that, and Higgsfield's disclosures cut against it: the throttling is in the terms, the queue split is in the specification, and the concurrency limit is published. A company running a deliberate deception does not usually document the mechanism on its own website. What cuts the other way is the sequencing. The refund window is seven days. The degradation customers describe becomes undeniable well after that. The promotion is a fixed countdown that cannot be paused while the problem is fixed. And the marketing word was ‘unlimited’ while the operative words sat in section 10.6. The Number That Started It Higgsfield was not obliged to publish a speed benchmark. It chose to, because on day one the number was good: under five minutes, across 23,913 generations. That figure is now the clearest measure of what has happened since. The company set the standard, in public, using its own data. Its customers are simply holding it there. And the $400 million arrived anyway — priced, closed and announced while the people inside the promotion were still waiting on a single clip. Whatever that capital was buying, the experience of the paying customer does not appear to have been part of the calculation. So is ‘unlimited’ a scam? On the narrow legal question, Higgsfield has built itself a defence, and it is a real one: everything customers are angry about is disclosed somewhere they did not read. On the question the customers are actually asking, the answer is less comfortable. They were sold a word, given a countdown, charged in advance, throttled onto a slower queue than people paying per clip, locked to one job at a time so a single stuck generation froze the account, left past the refund deadline before the pattern was visible, and then told to take it up with a moderator who timed them out. Every step of that is permitted by the contract. That may be the most damning thing about it.

Higgsfield launched a 33-day unlimited Seedance 2.5 offer on August 7 and published its own benchmark: average generation under five minutes, across 23,913 generations. Eleven days on, paying customers describe waits of two hours or more, days without a completed video, and complaints met with timeouts rather than answers. Its $400 million Series B was announced in the middle of it.

Is 'Unlimited' a scam? Higgsfield is making customers wait for days to generate even 1 video

Higgsfield sold thousands of people unlimited access to AI video generation, at discounts of up to 85 per cent. What many of them describe receiving is a product too slow to use and a support system that tells them to buy credits instead.&nbsp;The company's own documentation explains why, and it is not a malfunction. It is designed to deceive.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Architecture&nbsp;Higgsfield operates two queues, and it says so in its own terms of use. Section 10.6 states that ‘Unlimited models operate on a dedicated processing queue, separate from the priority queue used for credit-based generations.’ Buying credits buys the priority lane. An unlimited subscription does not.&nbsp;That is a design decision, not a capacity problem. A customer who pays for an unlimited plan is placed, by construction, in the slower lane. A customer who buys credits is moved to the faster one.&nbsp;The practical gap is substantial. Users report that a simple 15-second video takes two to four hours on Unlimited, against 10 to 15 seconds in credit mode, the same platform, the same model. Others describe generations sitting in processing for hours. Higgsfield's own help documentation advises that if a generation is stuck for more than 10 hours, contact support.&nbsp;The Company's Own Advice&nbsp;The clearest evidence of how the two tiers are meant to relate comes from Higgsfield itself.&nbsp;Its published guidance recommends drafting at 480p or 720p on Unlimited and using credit mode for 1080p ‘for maximum speed’. Customers on review platforms report that support, when told Unlimited was too slow to work with, directed them to use paid credits instead.&nbsp;Users have described that as deceptive marketing designed to push them into buying extra credits. It is at minimum an acknowledgement, in the company's own words, that the unlimited product is the degraded one.&nbsp;The Terms Permit It&nbsp;Higgsfield has not hidden that it throttles. It has put it in section 10.6.&nbsp;That section opens by stating that usage under tiers ‘marketed as Unlimited’ is subject to the company's ‘fair-use limits and the dynamic speed and concurrency limitations described below’. It then permits the company to ‘restrict, suspend, throttle, or place on a slower processing queue’ any usage that is ‘automated or materially exceeds typical individual use’.&nbsp;The terms do not define typical individual use, set a threshold, or say who decides. The same section adds that ‘during periods of high demand, generation speeds may vary and additional concurrency limits may apply’, and that processing speed and parallel generation capacity are not guaranteed at all.&nbsp;That clause is the company's legal cover, and it is a real one. Nobody buying an unlimited plan can claim they were told throttling would never occur. But ‘unlimited’ was the word on the promotion, at $25 a month with 65 per cent off, and the qualification sits in a clause with no number attached to it — leaving the company sole authority over how slow the product it sold as unlimited is permitted to become.&nbsp;Users also describe a mechanism they call the battery system, in which generation speed falls the more the unlimited tier is used, replacing earlier unlimited speeds without notice.&nbsp;The Pattern That Follows The Refund Window&nbsp;The most striking element in customer accounts is the timing.&nbsp;Subscribers describe fast generation in the first week, mild slowdown in weeks two and three, and delays of 15 to 30 minutes or more by week four — while newly created trial accounts on the same platform generate almost instantly. One customer's summary has circulated widely: paying $20 a month for unlimited while a friend on a free trial gets faster service.&nbsp;Set that against the refund policy. Section 9.3 of the same terms permits refunds only within seven days of the initial purchase, only where no credits have been used, and minus a service fee of up to six per cent. Renewals are excluded in as many words: refunds apply to ‘initial purchases, not renewals’.&nbsp;So the degradation customers describe becomes unmistakable in roughly week four, and the window to reclaim the money closes at day seven. Whether that alignment is deliberate or a consequence of infrastructure filling up, the effect on the customer is the same: by the time the problem is undeniable, the contractual remedy has expired.&nbsp;What Happened To The Heavy Users&nbsp;On December 19, 2025, Higgsfield banned large numbers of heavy unlimited-plan users. Accounts froze and credits disappeared.&nbsp;The company's position was that 99 per cent of the bans involved fraudulent activity through what it described as grey or black payment methods. Numerous affected users said they had paid with ordinary personal credit cards, with no intermediary involved.&nbsp;Customers also report terms changing after purchase: concurrent generation slots cut without notice, and content filters applied retroactively to accounts bought before they existed. On Trustpilot, multiple users reported that suspensions began shortly after Higgsfield stopped selling unlimited plans. The company says suspensions follow content violations and denies any correlation with unlimited holders.&nbsp;What Is Not In Dispute&nbsp;Higgsfield refunded $1.35 million to users affected by slowdowns, attributing those partly to some 40,000 fraudulent bot accounts it closed over December and January. A company does not refund $1.35 million over a problem it believes did not occur.&nbsp;Chief executive Alex Mashrabov, formerly head of generative AI at Snap, has acknowledged the criticism directly: ‘Rapid scaling brings real challenges. We acknowledge that our internal processes and external communications haven’t always kept pace with our core values, and we have made mistakes.'&nbsp;The company's Trustpilot rating sits at around 3.2 out of 5 across more than 1,200 reviews, and it carries an open complaints record with the Better Business Bureau. A post on the verified-employee platform Blind is titled simply: higgsfield is a total bait and switch.&nbsp;The Word That Is Doing The Work&nbsp;None of this is unique to one company, and that is the more useful point for anyone about to pay for an AI subscription.&nbsp;‘Unlimited’ has quietly been redefined across the industry to mean generation without credit deduction — not without limits. Speed throttling, resolution caps, concurrency limits and queue deprioritisation have become standard instruments for controlling infrastructure costs while keeping the word in the marketing.&nbsp;There is precedent for where that ends. The US Federal Trade Commission sued AT&amp;T over throttling customers on plans sold as unlimited data. The AI industry is now using the same word, with the same gap between the promise and the delivery, and none of the regulatory attention.&nbsp;For customers, the practical defences are unglamorous. Read the throttling clause before the marketing. Note the refund window, and test the product hard inside it rather than after. And treat ‘unlimited’ as a claim about billing rather than about performance — because on the evidence of Higgsfield's own architecture, that is precisely what it now means.

Higgsfield's own terms say unlimited AI video runs on a queue separate from the priority queue used for paid credits, and that speed is not guaranteed. Customers report free trials generating faster than plans they paid for.

Higgsfield sold thousands of people unlimited access to AI video generation, at discounts of up to 85 per cent. What many of them describe receiving is a product too slow to use and a support system that tells them to buy credits instead. The company's own documentation explains why, and it is not a malfunction. It is designed to deceive. The Architecture Higgsfield operates two queues, and it says so in its own terms of use. Section 10.6 states that ‘Unlimited models operate on a dedicated processing queue, separate from the priority queue used for credit-based generations.’ Buying credits buys the priority lane. An unlimited subscription does not. That is a design decision, not a capacity problem. A customer who pays for an unlimited plan is placed, by construction, in the slower lane. A customer who buys credits is moved to the faster one. The practical gap is substantial. Users report that a simple 15-second video takes two to four hours on Unlimited, against 10 to 15 seconds in credit mode, the same platform, the same model. Others describe generations sitting in processing for hours. Higgsfield's own help documentation advises that if a generation is stuck for more than 10 hours, contact support. The Company's Own Advice The clearest evidence of how the two tiers are meant to relate comes from Higgsfield itself. Its published guidance recommends drafting at 480p or 720p on Unlimited and using credit mode for 1080p ‘for maximum speed’. Customers on review platforms report that support, when told Unlimited was too slow to work with, directed them to use paid credits instead. Users have described that as deceptive marketing designed to push them into buying extra credits. It is at minimum an acknowledgement, in the company's own words, that the unlimited product is the degraded one. The Terms Permit It Higgsfield has not hidden that it throttles. It has put it in section 10.6. That section opens by stating that usage under tiers ‘marketed as Unlimited’ is subject to the company's ‘fair-use limits and the dynamic speed and concurrency limitations described below’. It then permits the company to ‘restrict, suspend, throttle, or place on a slower processing queue’ any usage that is ‘automated or materially exceeds typical individual use’. The terms do not define typical individual use, set a threshold, or say who decides. The same section adds that ‘during periods of high demand, generation speeds may vary and additional concurrency limits may apply’, and that processing speed and parallel generation capacity are not guaranteed at all. That clause is the company's legal cover, and it is a real one. Nobody buying an unlimited plan can claim they were told throttling would never occur. But ‘unlimited’ was the word on the promotion, at $25 a month with 65 per cent off, and the qualification sits in a clause with no number attached to it — leaving the company sole authority over how slow the product it sold as unlimited is permitted to become. Users also describe a mechanism they call the battery system, in which generation speed falls the more the unlimited tier is used, replacing earlier unlimited speeds without notice. The Pattern That Follows The Refund Window The most striking element in customer accounts is the timing. Subscribers describe fast generation in the first week, mild slowdown in weeks two and three, and delays of 15 to 30 minutes or more by week four — while newly created trial accounts on the same platform generate almost instantly. One customer's summary has circulated widely: paying $20 a month for unlimited while a friend on a free trial gets faster service. Set that against the refund policy. Section 9.3 of the same terms permits refunds only within seven days of the initial purchase, only where no credits have been used, and minus a service fee of up to six per cent. Renewals are excluded in as many words: refunds apply to ‘initial purchases, not renewals’. So the degradation customers describe becomes unmistakable in roughly week four, and the window to reclaim the money closes at day seven. Whether that alignment is deliberate or a consequence of infrastructure filling up, the effect on the customer is the same: by the time the problem is undeniable, the contractual remedy has expired. What Happened To The Heavy Users On December 19, 2025, Higgsfield banned large numbers of heavy unlimited-plan users. Accounts froze and credits disappeared. The company's position was that 99 per cent of the bans involved fraudulent activity through what it described as grey or black payment methods. Numerous affected users said they had paid with ordinary personal credit cards, with no intermediary involved. Customers also report terms changing after purchase: concurrent generation slots cut without notice, and content filters applied retroactively to accounts bought before they existed. On Trustpilot, multiple users reported that suspensions began shortly after Higgsfield stopped selling unlimited plans. The company says suspensions follow content violations and denies any correlation with unlimited holders. What Is Not In Dispute Higgsfield refunded $1.35 million to users affected by slowdowns, attributing those partly to some 40,000 fraudulent bot accounts it closed over December and January. A company does not refund $1.35 million over a problem it believes did not occur. Chief executive Alex Mashrabov, formerly head of generative AI at Snap, has acknowledged the criticism directly: ‘Rapid scaling brings real challenges. We acknowledge that our internal processes and external communications haven’t always kept pace with our core values, and we have made mistakes.' The company's Trustpilot rating sits at around 3.2 out of 5 across more than 1,200 reviews, and it carries an open complaints record with the Better Business Bureau. A post on the verified-employee platform Blind is titled simply: higgsfield is a total bait and switch. The Word That Is Doing The Work None of this is unique to one company, and that is the more useful point for anyone about to pay for an AI subscription. ‘Unlimited’ has quietly been redefined across the industry to mean generation without credit deduction — not without limits. Speed throttling, resolution caps, concurrency limits and queue deprioritisation have become standard instruments for controlling infrastructure costs while keeping the word in the marketing. There is precedent for where that ends. The US Federal Trade Commission sued AT&T over throttling customers on plans sold as unlimited data. The AI industry is now using the same word, with the same gap between the promise and the delivery, and none of the regulatory attention. For customers, the practical defences are unglamorous. Read the throttling clause before the marketing. Note the refund window, and test the product hard inside it rather than after. And treat ‘unlimited’ as a claim about billing rather than about performance — because on the evidence of Higgsfield's own architecture, that is precisely what it now means.

Higgsfield sold discounted ‘unlimited’ AI video plans to thousands of customers. Its own terms of use state that unlimited generations run on a queue separate from the priority queue used for paid credits, that speed is not guaranteed, and that it may throttle usage exceeding an undefined threshold. Its support has directed users to buy credits for acceptable speed, and customers report free trial accounts generating faster than plans they paid for.

How Higgsfield sells 'unlimited' Seedance 2.5 that barely generates anything

President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran wants to make a deal, but “they’re not going to make the kind of deal that I feel is necessary.”&nbsp;When Trump was asked by reporters if the US was any closer to a deal with Iran to end its nuclear programme, he said, “They want to make a deal, but they’re not going to make the kind of deal that I feel is necessary.” The president did not share anything more about where the negotiations stood.The US and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 June, but the two-month window for a negotiated settlement ended on Monday without any consequence.&nbsp;“Look, we’re in there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;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>&nbsp;<h2>Like the idea of making Strait of Hormuz a US territory: Trump</h2>&nbsp;Trump further said that making the Strait of Hormuz a US territory is a great idea.“We control it. We control it with the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it a territory. We have total control over the strait. Now, they can be a nuisance, they can put a mine in the water … but the blockade has been very effective,” he told reporters.&nbsp;Trump also said the US is moving millions of barrels of oil out of the strait. “The strait is open and the oil prices are coming down and will continue to come down unless we decide to do something far more drastic. Iran is in big trouble, they have 300% inflation. The country is a mess,” he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irgc-refutes-trump-s-claim-of-backchannel-talks-calls-it-result-of-his-delusion-1786980019117">IRGC refutes Trump’s claim of backchannel talks, calls it ‘result of his delusions’</a><h2>Kim Jong-un has responded, says president</h2>&nbsp;Trump also revealed that North Korean leader ⁠Kim Jong-un ⁠has responded to his overtures after he ordered the US to scale back military exercises with South Korea.Trump was asked by reporters why Kim had not responded to his overtures, when he shot back, saying, “How do you know he hasn’t responded?” The reporter then asked again if he had.“Um, yeah he has,” Trump said, but didn’t give further details about Kim’s &nbsp;response.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/supreme-court-rejects-trump-s-renewed-appeal-to-block-e-jean-carroll-award-1786975184644">Supreme Court rejects Trump’s renewed appeal to block E. Jean Carroll award</a>&nbsp;“Kim Jong-un has always treated me with great respect and we met on numerous occasions, actually two primary occasions, spoken and spent time. I understand him. He understands me,” he said.&nbsp;<h2>Trump says USS Abraham Lincoln is ‘beautifully maintained’</h2>&nbsp;Trump then moved on to answering another reporter’s question, claiming that it was “a CNN fake report” that there isn’t enough food on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which hasn’t seen port in nine months.“The Lincoln has been out there for a good period of time,” he said, claiming that it’s been out at sea for longer periods of time and is “beautifully maintained”.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump has been downplaying concerns about the mental health crisis and poor conditions for those onboard the aircraft carrier, as its 5,000 sailors and marines endure a record-breaking deployment at sea.&nbsp;The president also had an astonishing exchange with a CNN reporter, telling her multiple times to “BE QUIET” and accusing her of being “a fake reporter”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-cannot-live-with-war-former-iran-president-warns-against-prolonged-conflict-urges-diplomacy-1786912223136">‘We cannot live with war’: Former Iran president warns against prolonged conflict, urges diplomacy</a>&nbsp;She tried several times to ask her question, while Trump talked over and insulted her:“You’re fake news. You’re a loud, boisterous person. Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet. You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news,” he said.Trump has a history of speaking to female reporters in this way.&nbsp;Trump was speaking to the press in the Oval Office as he met Ryder Williams, a teenage lifeguard who saved a 10-year-old boy from pounding waves off the California coast last month.Trump had invited Williams to the White House to reward his bravery. The child Williams saved, Nathaniel Rai, and his father were also at the meeting.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump reiterated that making the Strait of Hormuz a US territory is a great idea. Trump also said the US is moving millions of barrels of oil out of the strait. The strait is open and the oil prices are coming down, the president added.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran wants to make a deal, but “they’re not going to make the kind of deal that I feel is necessary.” When Trump was asked by reporters if the US was any closer to a deal with Iran to end its nuclear programme, he said, “They want to make a deal, but they’re not going to make the kind of deal that I feel is necessary.” The president did not share anything more about where the negotiations stood. The US and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding on 17 June, but the two-month window for a negotiated settlement ended on Monday without any consequence. “Look, we’re in there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he added. Also Read: ‘Don’t beg,’ Pakistan strictly warns its Umrah pilgrims, tells them to fully comply with Saudi laws Like the idea of making Strait of Hormuz a US territory: Trump Trump further said that making the Strait of Hormuz a US territory is a great idea. “We control it. We control it with the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it a territory. We have total control over the strait. Now, they can be a nuisance, they can put a mine in the water … but the blockade has been very effective,” he told reporters. Trump also said the US is moving millions of barrels of oil out of the strait. “The strait is open and the oil prices are coming down and will continue to come down unless we decide to do something far more drastic. Iran is in big trouble, they have 300% inflation. The country is a mess,” he added. Also Read: IRGC refutes Trump’s claim of backchannel talks, calls it ‘result of his delusions’ Kim Jong-un has responded, says president Trump also revealed that North Korean leader ⁠Kim Jong-un ⁠has responded to his overtures after he ordered the US to scale back military exercises with South Korea. Trump was asked by reporters why Kim had not responded to his overtures, when he shot back, saying, “How do you know he hasn’t responded?” The reporter then asked again if he had. “Um, yeah he has,” Trump said, but didn’t give further details about Kim’s response. Also Read: Supreme Court rejects Trump’s renewed appeal to block E. Jean Carroll award “Kim Jong-un has always treated me with great respect and we met on numerous occasions, actually two primary occasions, spoken and spent time. I understand him. He understands me,” he said. Trump says USS Abraham Lincoln is ‘beautifully maintained’ Trump then moved on to answering another reporter’s question, claiming that it was “a CNN fake report” that there isn’t enough food on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which hasn’t seen port in nine months. “The Lincoln has been out there for a good period of time,” he said, claiming that it’s been out at sea for longer periods of time and is “beautifully maintained”. Trump has been downplaying concerns about the mental health crisis and poor conditions for those onboard the aircraft carrier, as its 5,000 sailors and marines endure a record-breaking deployment at sea. The president also had an astonishing exchange with a CNN reporter, telling her multiple times to “BE QUIET” and accusing her of being “a fake reporter”. Also Read: ‘We cannot live with war’: Former Iran president warns against prolonged conflict, urges diplomacy She tried several times to ask her question, while Trump talked over and insulted her: “You’re fake news. You’re a loud, boisterous person. Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet. You’re a fake reporter and you report fake news,” he said. Trump has a history of speaking to female reporters in this way. Trump was speaking to the press in the Oval Office as he met Ryder Williams, a teenage lifeguard who saved a 10-year-old boy from pounding waves off the California coast last month. Trump had invited Williams to the White House to reward his bravery. The child Williams saved, Nathaniel Rai, and his father were also at the meeting.

President Donald Trump reiterated that making the Strait of Hormuz a US territory is a great idea. Trump also said the US is moving millions of barrels of oil out of the strait. The strait is open and the oil prices are coming down, the president added.

world news

Trump declares Strait of Hormuz ‘new US territory’; Iran mocks ‘delusion’, vows to keep waterway closed

Trump's approval rating drops to 33%, lowest of his presidency amid Iran war

Iran to resume Umrah for citizens after 6-month suspension

Russia’s anti-war politician jailed for 11 years: Who is Lev Shlosberg?

Where is Tank Man? Mystery endures as Xi defends Tiananmen crackdown

$500k to survive the apocalypse? Swiss mountain bunker opens to billionaires

US Navy destroyer spent four days without power in South China Sea

'Rare birds are priceless': Falcon sells for $346,000 at Saudi auction

Taliban push for closer India ties at event in Delhi; MEA in attendance

Unitree’s ‘Superman’ robot can jump 2 metres and run faster than Usain Bolt

‘Not a second-class right’: DOJ moves to restore gun rights for convicted felons

Buddhist monks lead violent protest against Jewish centre in Sri Lanka

'Someday, your children will...': White House attacks CNN reporter after question about Trump aide Natalie Harp

Pentagon official warns of nuclear war after ex-Trump aide's massive claim

Russian widows turn to clairvoyants to contact husbands killed in war

Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s ‘human printer’ is making headlines again

Trump hints at renewed engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

‘Fake news’: Trump dismisses reports of food shortages aboard USS Lincoln

Two people confirmed dead in shooting at a school in southern Philippines

US top envoy Jared Kushner says Gaza disarmament push could begin within 30 days

'India’s last Election had...': Trump invokes India in push for US voter ID bill

LIVE | India & World News: Trump cites India on voter ID, Iran deal tensions

Oil prices jump as Trump rules out extending Iran ceasefire. What comes next?

Is 'Unlimited' a scam? Higgsfield is making users wait days to generate 1 video