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US President Donald Trump said on Friday (July 24) that Washington is engaged in talks with Iran and has not yet decided whether to launch major new strikes, while warning that the US military remains prepared to escalate its campaign if diplomacy fails.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-a-big-price-trump-issues-fresh-warning-as-he-receives-us-troops-killed-by-iran-1784760407508">'Pay a big price': Trump issues fresh warning as he receives US troops killed by Iran</a>&nbsp;"We're talking to them right now," Trump said when asked whether Americans should expect significant military action against Iran. “While we're talking, we'll see what comes in.” The US president said the United States had the option of continuing strikes against Iran "piece by piece" or intensifying the campaign "in a more rapid fashion", but argued that reaching a negotiated agreement would be the better outcome.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;Trump said Iran appeared to be taking negotiations more seriously, although he cautioned that the talks could still break down. He reiterated that any agreement must prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-does-not-control-strait-of-hormuz-centcom-rebuts-irgc-s-bold-claim-1784754761236">'Iran does not control Strait of Hormuz': CENTCOM rebuts IRGC's bold claim</a>&nbsp;Asked who was involved in the negotiations, Trump replied, "Sort of everybody," and identified Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as among the officials participating in the discussions.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/national-mourning-in-america-iran-s-irgc-issues-chilling-9-11-style-threat-to-us-1784749825263">'National mourning in America': Iran's IRGC issues chilling 9/11-style threat to US</a>&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration balancing diplomatic efforts against the threat of further military action. Trump did not provide details on the progress of the negotiations or indicate when a decision on possible strikes might be made.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eye-for-an-eye-iran-threatens-regional-energy-network-after-trump-s-strike-warning-1784748454678">'Eye for an eye': Iran threatens regional energy network after Trump's strike warning</a>

US President Donald Trump stated the US is negotiating with Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, while warning that military strikes remain an option if diplomatic efforts fail.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday (July 24) that Washington is engaged in talks with Iran and has not yet decided whether to launch major new strikes, while warning that the US military remains prepared to escalate its campaign if diplomacy fails. Also read: 'Pay a big price': Trump issues fresh warning as he receives US troops killed by Iran "We're talking to them right now," Trump said when asked whether Americans should expect significant military action against Iran. “While we're talking, we'll see what comes in.” The US president said the United States had the option of continuing strikes against Iran "piece by piece" or intensifying the campaign "in a more rapid fashion", but argued that reaching a negotiated agreement would be the better outcome. Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants Trump said Iran appeared to be taking negotiations more seriously, although he cautioned that the talks could still break down. He reiterated that any agreement must prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Also read: 'Iran does not control Strait of Hormuz': CENTCOM rebuts IRGC's bold claim Asked who was involved in the negotiations, Trump replied, "Sort of everybody," and identified Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as among the officials participating in the discussions. Also read: 'National mourning in America': Iran's IRGC issues chilling 9/11-style threat to US The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration balancing diplomatic efforts against the threat of further military action. Trump did not provide details on the progress of the negotiations or indicate when a decision on possible strikes might be made. Also read: 'Eye for an eye': Iran threatens regional energy network after Trump's strike warning

US President Donald Trump stated the US is negotiating with Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, while warning that military strikes remain an option if diplomatic efforts fail.

Trump says US in talks with Iran, no decision yet on major strikes. Here’s what it means

At least 15 people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday (July 24), including 10 people who died after ballistic missiles struck a drone technology exhibition near Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that around 100 people were injured in the daytime attack on the exhibition, which was attended by leading figures from Ukraine's defence industry. He said the strike was under investigation.&nbsp;Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuri Ihnat told Ukrainian television that Russia fired three ballistic missiles at the venue, with only one intercepted by air defences. Russia acknowledged carrying out the strike. The Russian Defence Ministry said it had used "high-precision long-range weapons" to target a site where drones intended for attacks on civilian targets in Russia were allegedly being demonstrated.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;The ministry claimed that drone manufacturers, representatives of Ukraine's drone forces and security services involved in planning and conducting strikes on Russian territory were present at the event. Ukraine has not publicly responded to those specific claims.&nbsp;The attack also sparked concerns over the safety of Defence Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as Flash, and Lyuba Shypovych, a technology developer involved in supporting the Ukrainian military. Both later confirmed on social media that they were unharmed. Beskrestnov said he had decided not to attend the event because of security concerns.&nbsp;Separately, five people were killed in the eastern city of Sloviansk after Russian glide bomb strikes, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least 15. Later on Friday, Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had warned that Russia could launch another large-scale missile strike "today" or "within the next 48 hours".&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-putin-help-iran-target-cia-bases-us-probes-russia-s-role-in-gulf-drone-strikes-1784752623754">Did Putin help Iran target CIA bases? US probes Russia's role in Gulf drone strikes</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces carried out an overnight strike deep inside Russian territory, killing six people and injuring 26 in the city of Kirov, located more than 1,000 kilometres from the front line, according to Russian authorities. Ukraine also targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer.&nbsp;The strike on the Kyiv exhibition marks at least the third time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 that a defence technology exhibition of this kind has been targeted.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit a defence tech exhibition near Kyiv, killing 10 and injuring roughly 100. Russia targeted drone personnel, raising serious security and event-planning concerns.  

At least 15 people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday (July 24), including 10 people who died after ballistic missiles struck a drone technology exhibition near Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that around 100 people were injured in the daytime attack on the exhibition, which was attended by leading figures from Ukraine's defence industry. He said the strike was under investigation. Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuri Ihnat told Ukrainian television that Russia fired three ballistic missiles at the venue, with only one intercepted by air defences. Russia acknowledged carrying out the strike. The Russian Defence Ministry said it had used "high-precision long-range weapons" to target a site where drones intended for attacks on civilian targets in Russia were allegedly being demonstrated. Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants The ministry claimed that drone manufacturers, representatives of Ukraine's drone forces and security services involved in planning and conducting strikes on Russian territory were present at the event. Ukraine has not publicly responded to those specific claims. The attack also sparked concerns over the safety of Defence Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as Flash, and Lyuba Shypovych, a technology developer involved in supporting the Ukrainian military. Both later confirmed on social media that they were unharmed. Beskrestnov said he had decided not to attend the event because of security concerns. Separately, five people were killed in the eastern city of Sloviansk after Russian glide bomb strikes, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least 15. Later on Friday, Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had warned that Russia could launch another large-scale missile strike "today" or "within the next 48 hours". Also read: Did Putin help Iran target CIA bases? US probes Russia's role in Gulf drone strikes Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces carried out an overnight strike deep inside Russian territory, killing six people and injuring 26 in the city of Kirov, located more than 1,000 kilometres from the front line, according to Russian authorities. Ukraine also targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. The strike on the Kyiv exhibition marks at least the third time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 that a defence technology exhibition of this kind has been targeted.

A Russian ballistic missile strike hit a defence tech exhibition near Kyiv, killing 10 and injuring roughly 100. Russia targeted drone personnel, raising serious security and event-planning concerns. &nbsp;

Russian strike on Kyiv drone expo kills 10, injures around 100. This is what we know

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) member states have voted to remove prosecutor Karim Khan from office after the court's oversight body found that he had committed serious misconduct in connection with allegations of sexual abuse.&nbsp;The decision was taken on Friday (July 24) during a special meeting of the ICC's 125 member states at the United Nations headquarters in New York, marking the first time the court has removed a sitting prosecutor. According to sources familiar with the outcome, 82 member states voted in favour of Khan's removal.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspect-arrested-over-alleged-antisemitic-stabbing-attacks-that-wounded-2-in-manhattan-1784852412232">Suspect arrested over alleged antisemitic stabbing attacks that wounded 2 in Manhattan</a>&nbsp;The vote concludes a disciplinary process that began after allegations were made by a woman who worked under Khan at the ICC. The proceedings examined claims that the British prosecutor engaged in coercive and non-consensual sexual behaviour over an extended period.&nbsp;Khan has consistently denied the allegations. His legal team has argued that the disciplinary process was procedurally unfair and rejected the accusations against him.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;The removal follows findings by the ICC's oversight body that Khan had committed serious misconduct in relation to the allegations.&nbsp;Khan, a prominent British barrister, was elected as ICC prosecutor in 2021 for a nine-year term. As head of the court's prosecution division, he was responsible for leading investigations and prosecutions involving individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.&nbsp;The unprecedented decision comes after nearly two years of scrutiny over the allegations and brings to a close one of the most significant internal crises faced by the Hague-based court in recent years.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-pentagon-hiding-missile-shortage-from-trump-us-officials-raise-alarm-over-iran-war-readiness-1784677584736">Is Pentagon hiding missile shortage from Trump? US officials raise alarm over Iran war readiness</a>

The ICC’s member states voted to remove Prosecutor Karim Khan following an investigation into serious sexual misconduct allegations, marking the first time a sitting prosecutor has been ousted.

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) member states have voted to remove prosecutor Karim Khan from office after the court's oversight body found that he had committed serious misconduct in connection with allegations of sexual abuse. The decision was taken on Friday (July 24) during a special meeting of the ICC's 125 member states at the United Nations headquarters in New York, marking the first time the court has removed a sitting prosecutor. According to sources familiar with the outcome, 82 member states voted in favour of Khan's removal. Also read: Suspect arrested over alleged antisemitic stabbing attacks that wounded 2 in Manhattan The vote concludes a disciplinary process that began after allegations were made by a woman who worked under Khan at the ICC. The proceedings examined claims that the British prosecutor engaged in coercive and non-consensual sexual behaviour over an extended period. Khan has consistently denied the allegations. His legal team has argued that the disciplinary process was procedurally unfair and rejected the accusations against him. Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants The removal follows findings by the ICC's oversight body that Khan had committed serious misconduct in relation to the allegations. Khan, a prominent British barrister, was elected as ICC prosecutor in 2021 for a nine-year term. As head of the court's prosecution division, he was responsible for leading investigations and prosecutions involving individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The unprecedented decision comes after nearly two years of scrutiny over the allegations and brings to a close one of the most significant internal crises faced by the Hague-based court in recent years. Also read: Is Pentagon hiding missile shortage from Trump? US officials raise alarm over Iran war readiness

The ICC’s member states voted to remove Prosecutor Karim Khan following an investigation into serious sexual misconduct allegations, marking the first time a sitting prosecutor has been ousted.

Karim Khan ousted as ICC prosecutor over alleged sexual offence case. Details inside

Slavery has been illegal in Indonesia since the country gained independence in 1945. But nearly 80 years later, reports suggest the practice hasn't disappeared altogether. On the remote island of Sumba, some people are still allegedly born into servitude.&nbsp;Just a short flight from Bali, Sumba is home to around 685,000 people. According to reports, thousands there continue to live under an inherited system of bondage.&nbsp;Activists say many work from dawn to dusk without wages and have faced abuse, including physical violence and sexual assault.&nbsp;The question is: How can slavery still exist in modern Indonesia? &nbsp;The answer lies in a centuries-old belief system known as Marapu.&nbsp;Although nearly 80% of Sumba's population is Christian, Marapu traditions continue to influence social structures. Reports say the system divides society into three hereditary classes—nobles, commoners and slaves.&nbsp;Campaigners argue that the island's isolation from mainland Indonesia has helped preserve these hierarchies for generations. Some members of the traditional elite say they are gradually reforming old customs.&nbsp;However, they stop short of freeing inherited slaves, arguing that doing so would conflict with deeply rooted cultural traditions.&nbsp;Local religious leaders and rights activists, meanwhile, have continued to highlight the abuses allegedly suffered by those trapped in the system.<h2>Government's Response</h2>&nbsp;The issue has also raised questions about the Indonesian government's response.Indonesia's Human Rights Minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, defended the government's gradual approach, saying social change should evolve alongside communities rather than be imposed abruptly.&nbsp;He said, "Indonesia has some ethnic groups that are more advanced, while others are still lagging behind. We have to acknowledge this. The government does not wish to impose change suddenly, rather it follows the social development of each community step by step. We are convinced that education will change everything".&nbsp;He argued that education, over time, would transform society.&nbsp;<h2>Outrage against government</h2>&nbsp;But the government's position has drawn criticism. Human rights groups argue that cultural traditions cannot justify slavery in any form.&nbsp;They are urging Jakarta to strictly enforce Indonesia's constitutional ban on slavery and uphold the international human rights conventions the country has signed.&nbsp;For campaigners, the message is simple: no tradition should come at the cost of human freedom.

Activists say many work from dawn to dusk without wages and have faced abuse, including physical violence and sexual assault.

Slavery has been illegal in Indonesia since the country gained independence in 1945. But nearly 80 years later, reports suggest the practice hasn't disappeared altogether. On the remote island of Sumba, some people are still allegedly born into servitude. Just a short flight from Bali, Sumba is home to around 685,000 people. According to reports, thousands there continue to live under an inherited system of bondage. Activists say many work from dawn to dusk without wages and have faced abuse, including physical violence and sexual assault. The question is: How can slavery still exist in modern Indonesia? The answer lies in a centuries-old belief system known as Marapu. Although nearly 80% of Sumba's population is Christian, Marapu traditions continue to influence social structures. Reports say the system divides society into three hereditary classes—nobles, commoners and slaves. Campaigners argue that the island's isolation from mainland Indonesia has helped preserve these hierarchies for generations. Some members of the traditional elite say they are gradually reforming old customs. However, they stop short of freeing inherited slaves, arguing that doing so would conflict with deeply rooted cultural traditions. Local religious leaders and rights activists, meanwhile, have continued to highlight the abuses allegedly suffered by those trapped in the system. Government's Response The issue has also raised questions about the Indonesian government's response. Indonesia's Human Rights Minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, defended the government's gradual approach, saying social change should evolve alongside communities rather than be imposed abruptly. He said, "Indonesia has some ethnic groups that are more advanced, while others are still lagging behind. We have to acknowledge this. The government does not wish to impose change suddenly, rather it follows the social development of each community step by step. We are convinced that education will change everything". He argued that education, over time, would transform society. Outrage against government But the government's position has drawn criticism. Human rights groups argue that cultural traditions cannot justify slavery in any form. They are urging Jakarta to strictly enforce Indonesia's constitutional ban on slavery and uphold the international human rights conventions the country has signed. For campaigners, the message is simple: no tradition should come at the cost of human freedom.

Activists say many work from dawn to dusk without wages and have faced abuse, including physical violence and sexual assault.

Indonesia accused of delaying action against slavery, says 'don't want to impose change suddenly' | GRAVITAS

The United States has issued new sanctions against Babak Zanjani, an infamous Iranian billionaire who is now allegedly helping Iran avoid previous sanctions and fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.&nbsp;“Today’s action targets four individuals and nine entities tied to Zanjani’s operations,” said Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the US State Department, in a press release.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Zanjani’s re-emergence as a regime-linked financier — despite previously receiving a death sentence in Iran for embezzlement — demonstrates the lengths to which Iranian state-affiliated elites will go to preserve access to the international financial system so that they can enrich themselves, even as they mismanage the Iranian economy,” Pigott added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flew-irgc-men-advisers-and-military-gear-to-yemen-to-bolster-houthis-for-red-sea-blockade-sources-1784820749435">Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources</a>&nbsp;According to the US Treasury Department, Zanjani was sentenced to death for allegedly embezzling millions from the National Iranian Oil Company, but his sentence was commuted in 2024, and then last year, he emerged as a major backer of the regime.&nbsp;“The Iranian regime continues to pay a steep economic price for its reckless behaviour, with the Rial plunging to another record low and inflation up massively,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Under President Trump’s leadership, the US Treasury will continue cutting off economic access for corrupt Iranian regime elites, along with their financiers and facilitators, he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-s-mulling-a-massive-bigger-than-ever-before-attack-on-iran-1784828958067">Trump says he’s mulling ‘a massive, bigger than ever before’ attack on Iran</a>&nbsp;The sanctions target Zanjani’s Dot One conglomerate, which the US asserts is involved in everything from telecommunications and transportation to airlines and digital assets, like cryptocurrency.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>EU sanctions Iranian judges, hacker heading cyber group</h2>&nbsp;The European Union on Friday announced sanctions on five Iranian judges, as well as a leading cyber group figure, for human rights offenses.The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that though the world’s focus is on the Middle East conflict, Iran’s repression against its own people cannot be overlooked.&nbsp;“While the world’s attention is on the war in the Middle East, we can’t lose sight of Iran’s repression against its own people,” Kallas said in a post on X.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terror-attack-on-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-checkpost-kills-15-including-12-pakistani-soldiers-1784902212890">Terror attack on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa checkpost kills 15, including 12 Pakistani soldiers</a>&nbsp;The European Council said in a statement that it was including five judges of Iran’s regional Revolutionary courts who have presided over trials targeting religious minorities and political dissidents on the basis of vaguely defined national security and religious charges.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They have imposed death sentences and long prison sentences, flogging, fines or supplementary punishments on political dissidents and human rights activists,” the statement added.&nbsp;The council further said that it was also targeting an Iranian hacker and computer engineer named Nima Salehi, who is the founder and a leading figure within the ‘Ashiyane’ cyber group, which cooperates closely with the EU-listed Cyber Police (FATA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is responsible for intensive cyber-attacks on both domestic opponents and reformists and foreign institutions, thereby assisting the regime’s crackdown against the opposition.

According to the US Treasury Department, Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani was sentenced to death for allegedly embezzling millions from the National Iranian Oil Company, but his sentence was commuted in 2024, and then last year, he emerged as a major backer of the regime.

The United States has issued new sanctions against Babak Zanjani, an infamous Iranian billionaire who is now allegedly helping Iran avoid previous sanctions and fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “Today’s action targets four individuals and nine entities tied to Zanjani’s operations,” said Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the US State Department, in a press release. “Zanjani’s re-emergence as a regime-linked financier — despite previously receiving a death sentence in Iran for embezzlement — demonstrates the lengths to which Iranian state-affiliated elites will go to preserve access to the international financial system so that they can enrich themselves, even as they mismanage the Iranian economy,” Pigott added. Also Read: Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources According to the US Treasury Department, Zanjani was sentenced to death for allegedly embezzling millions from the National Iranian Oil Company, but his sentence was commuted in 2024, and then last year, he emerged as a major backer of the regime. “The Iranian regime continues to pay a steep economic price for its reckless behaviour, with the Rial plunging to another record low and inflation up massively,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Under President Trump’s leadership, the US Treasury will continue cutting off economic access for corrupt Iranian regime elites, along with their financiers and facilitators, he added. Also Read: Trump says he’s mulling ‘a massive, bigger than ever before’ attack on Iran The sanctions target Zanjani’s Dot One conglomerate, which the US asserts is involved in everything from telecommunications and transportation to airlines and digital assets, like cryptocurrency. EU sanctions Iranian judges, hacker heading cyber group The European Union on Friday announced sanctions on five Iranian judges, as well as a leading cyber group figure, for human rights offenses. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said that though the world’s focus is on the Middle East conflict, Iran’s repression against its own people cannot be overlooked. “While the world’s attention is on the war in the Middle East, we can’t lose sight of Iran’s repression against its own people,” Kallas said in a post on X. Also Read: Terror attack on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa checkpost kills 15, including 12 Pakistani soldiers The European Council said in a statement that it was including five judges of Iran’s regional Revolutionary courts who have presided over trials targeting religious minorities and political dissidents on the basis of vaguely defined national security and religious charges. “They have imposed death sentences and long prison sentences, flogging, fines or supplementary punishments on political dissidents and human rights activists,” the statement added. The council further said that it was also targeting an Iranian hacker and computer engineer named Nima Salehi, who is the founder and a leading figure within the ‘Ashiyane’ cyber group, which cooperates closely with the EU-listed Cyber Police (FATA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is responsible for intensive cyber-attacks on both domestic opponents and reformists and foreign institutions, thereby assisting the regime’s crackdown against the opposition.

According to the US Treasury Department, Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani was sentenced to death for allegedly embezzling millions from the National Iranian Oil Company, but his sentence was commuted in 2024, and then last year, he emerged as a major backer of the regime.

US imposes new sanctions against Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani for enabling regime

Before its recent wars with Iran and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s air defence systems were considered by military experts as among the best, if not the best, in the world.&nbsp;However, as per experts, the recent wars and conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s defences, especially against drone attacks.&nbsp;Amid Iran’s growing drone attacks against American targets across West Asia, Israel’s government is reportedly considering a total ban on the use of civilian drones in Israeli airspace.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Israel’s N12 news, the reason is the growing fears of a potential Iranian attack against Israel.&nbsp;The report cited an Israeli security cabinet meeting at which the issue was discussed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The consideration of a total ban is reportedly due to the lack of effective counter-drone technologies in Israel, with concerns that an Iranian or Hezbollah attack would involve an increased use of drones.&nbsp;And there is recent history to this.&nbsp;Back in May, under a barrage of daily Hezbollah drone attacks, Israel’s defence forces reportedly started deploying hundreds of mesh nets to entangle and stop incoming Hezbollah first-person view drones.In fact, according to local media reports, Israel defence ministry in June reported that successful drone interception against Hezbollah drones stood at just 50%.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-mulls-national-drone-ban-after-iran-claims-to-have-tripled-drone-production-1784914914777/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-mulls-national-drone-ban-after-iran-claims-to-have-tripled-drone-production-1784914914777/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;So, amid the possibility of intense Iranian or Hezbollah drone attacks and uncertainties surrounding its countermeasures could Israel be limiting its airspace to identify and neutralise hostile drones more effectively?At the same time, Iran is claiming to have launched a series of drone attacks against American targets in West Asia.&nbsp;&nbsp;On wednesday, for example, the IRGC claimed to have struck US-linked targets in Bahrain as well as Jordanian air bases with explosive drones.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this month, in a post on X, Iran’s acting defence minister claimed the country had tripled its production of drones and further stating that Iranian drone operations had helped the country “identify the enemy’s weak points.”&nbsp;So, as Iran ramps up its drone production, Israel’s recent battlefield experiences appear to have impacted its domestic policies as well.

Back in May, Israel’s defence forces started deploying hundreds of mesh nets to entangle and stop incoming Hezbollah first-person view drones. Local media said the Israeli defence ministry reported a successful drone interception against Hezbollah drones of just 50% in June. 

Before its recent wars with Iran and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s air defence systems were considered by military experts as among the best, if not the best, in the world. However, as per experts, the recent wars and conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s defences, especially against drone attacks. Amid Iran’s growing drone attacks against American targets across West Asia, Israel’s government is reportedly considering a total ban on the use of civilian drones in Israeli airspace. According to Israel’s N12 news, the reason is the growing fears of a potential Iranian attack against Israel. The report cited an Israeli security cabinet meeting at which the issue was discussed. The consideration of a total ban is reportedly due to the lack of effective counter-drone technologies in Israel, with concerns that an Iranian or Hezbollah attack would involve an increased use of drones. And there is recent history to this. Back in May, under a barrage of daily Hezbollah drone attacks, Israel’s defence forces reportedly started deploying hundreds of mesh nets to entangle and stop incoming Hezbollah first-person view drones. In fact, according to local media reports, Israel defence ministry in June reported that successful drone interception against Hezbollah drones stood at just 50%. https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-mulls-national-drone-ban-after-iran-claims-to-have-tripled-drone-production-1784914914777/embed So, amid the possibility of intense Iranian or Hezbollah drone attacks and uncertainties surrounding its countermeasures could Israel be limiting its airspace to identify and neutralise hostile drones more effectively? At the same time, Iran is claiming to have launched a series of drone attacks against American targets in West Asia. On wednesday, for example, the IRGC claimed to have struck US-linked targets in Bahrain as well as Jordanian air bases with explosive drones. Earlier this month, in a post on X, Iran’s acting defence minister claimed the country had tripled its production of drones and further stating that Iranian drone operations had helped the country “identify the enemy’s weak points.” So, as Iran ramps up its drone production, Israel’s recent battlefield experiences appear to have impacted its domestic policies as well.

Back in May, Israel’s defence forces started deploying hundreds of mesh nets to entangle and stop incoming Hezbollah first-person view drones. Local media said the Israeli defence ministry reported a successful drone interception against Hezbollah drones of just 50% in June.&nbsp;

Israel mulls national drone ban after Iran claims to have tripled drone production | Gravitas

US President Donald Trump warned China and Russia on Friday against selling weapons to Iran. In his social media post, Trump said that during his visit to China the Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that Beijing would not be selling Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran under any circumstances and that he takes his word on the commitment.&nbsp;"President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also," said Trump on Truth Social.&nbsp;He also said that a similar promise was made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries."&nbsp;"Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea. Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating," he said.&nbsp;Trump ended his post by threatening message that read, “If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests. Thank you for your attention to this matter!.”

He also said that a similar promise was made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries."

US President Donald Trump warned China and Russia on Friday against selling weapons to Iran. In his social media post, Trump said that during his visit to China the Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that Beijing would not be selling Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran under any circumstances and that he takes his word on the commitment. "President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also," said Trump on Truth Social. He also said that a similar promise was made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries." "Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea. Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating," he said. Trump ended his post by threatening message that read, “If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests. Thank you for your attention to this matter!.”

He also said that a similar promise was made by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries."

'It would be very bad for them': Trump warns China, Russia against selling weapons to Iran

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affirmed on Friday that India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner, while questioning Beijing’s claims over Indian territory.At a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China has been in illegal occupation of parts of Indian territory in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963 and added that it is India and not China that has been raising issues related to sovereignty.&nbsp;“EAM said that when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be and is raising them. India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner and has been consistent,” Jaiswal said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flew-irgc-men-advisers-and-military-gear-to-yemen-to-bolster-houthis-for-red-sea-blockade-sources-1784820749435">Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources</a>&nbsp;Beijing claimed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that India’s positions on issues concerning Taiwan and Xizang (Tibet) have not changed and that India respects China’s sovereignty.&nbsp;Jaishankar and Wang had met in Manila on July 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia foreign ministers meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Delhi: Addressing press conference, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, &quot;The External Affairs Minister said that, when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be, and is, raising them. India does not violate China&#39;s sovereignty in any manner… <a href="https://t.co/TiQj0yDt3x">pic.twitter.com/TiQj0yDt3x</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://x.com/PTI_News/status/2080635856742969387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>Objects to Chinese projects in J&amp;K</h2>&nbsp;Jaiswal further said that China continues to illegally occupy Indian territories despite acknowledging India’s rights over those regions. He also objected to Chinese projects in territories in Jammu &amp; Kashmir.“But China is in illegal occupation of Indian territory in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, where India’s right is officially acknowledged even by China. Also, there are Chinese projects on territories in Jammu and Kashmir that belong to India, and we object to that,” Jaiswal said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-s-mulling-a-massive-bigger-than-ever-before-attack-on-iran-1784828958067">Trump says he’s mulling ‘a massive, bigger than ever before’ attack on Iran</a><h2>Rejects Pakistani media reports of ‘deliberate’ flooding</h2>&nbsp;The MEA also rejected alleged Pakistani media reports claiming that flooding was deliberately caused in Pakistan. The MEA spokesperson called the claims “baseless” and said that the excess water flow in Chenab was the result of heavy rainfall, not any deliberate action by India.&nbsp;Jaiswal said the recent increase in the flow of the Chenab River was a direct consequence of heavy monsoon rainfall in Jammu and adjoining catchment areas between July 20 and 23.&nbsp;“We have seen Pakistani media reports alleging that India is deliberately causing flooding in Pakistan and such allegations are baseless and contrary to the facts. The recent increase in flows in the River Chenab is a direct consequence of intense monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas during 20–23 July 2026,” Jaiswal said in the media briefing.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terror-attack-on-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-checkpost-kills-15-including-12-pakistani-soldiers-1784902212890">Terror attack on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa checkpost kills 15, including 12 Pakistani soldiers</a>&nbsp;Jaiswal added that Pakistan had itself earlier attributed the high water levels in the Chenab River to heavy rainfall over the upper catchment.&nbsp;“Significantly, Pakistan’s own Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore, in its Flood Advisory issued on 22 July 2026 (1718 PST), attributed the high flood levels in the River Chenab to heavy rainfall over the upper catchment and stated that high flows at Marala were expected to persist before gradually receding as rainfall over the catchment decreased.”&nbsp;“The rise in river flows is, therefore, a natural hydrological response to heavy monsoon rainfall and not the result of any deliberate action by India,” he added.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China is in illegal occupation of Indian territory in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, where India’s right is officially acknowledged even by China. He also objected to Chinese projects on territories in Jammu and Kashmir that belong to India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affirmed on Friday that India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner, while questioning Beijing’s claims over Indian territory. At a media briefing in New Delhi, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China has been in illegal occupation of parts of Indian territory in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963 and added that it is India and not China that has been raising issues related to sovereignty. “EAM said that when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be and is raising them. India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner and has been consistent,” Jaiswal said. Also Read: Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources Beijing claimed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that India’s positions on issues concerning Taiwan and Xizang (Tibet) have not changed and that India respects China’s sovereignty. Jaishankar and Wang had met in Manila on July 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia foreign ministers meeting.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China is in illegal occupation of Indian territory in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, where India’s right is officially acknowledged even by China. He also objected to Chinese projects on territories in Jammu and Kashmir that belong to India.

‘China in illegal occupation of Indian territory’: MEA rejects Beijing’s claim on sovereignty

US President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday (July 24), three months after gunshots forced his evacuation and led organisers to cancel the event. The dinner will take place under heightened security. However, First Lady Melania Trump will not accompany the president to the event.&nbsp;A White House spokesperson confirmed that Melania has a prior commitment, as per Fox News.Trump will deliver the speech he could not give in April after gunshots were fired at the Washington Hilton, forcing the cancellation of the black-tie dinner.&nbsp;The event has also moved from the Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria, a former Trump hotel. Organisers said the new venue will make the gala much smaller and "more intimate."<h2>Previous gala called off after shooting</h2>Chaos erupted at the White House dinner on April 25, 2026, when gunman Cole Tomas Allen opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton. Armed with a shotgun, pistol and knives, the 31-year-old shot a Secret Service officer, whose vest prevented serious injury.&nbsp;Tactical agents rushed President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance to safety as 2,600 guests scrambled under tables. Officers quickly subdued Allen, who had emailed an anti-government manifesto beforehand.&nbsp;The dinner was cancelled, and Allen now faces federal attempted assassination charges.California man Cole Allen, 31, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include attempting to kill the president.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-army-chief-used-private-oil-venture-to-keep-iran-attacks-off-saudi-arabia-report-1784899497194">Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report</a><h2>Trump to return after three months</h2>"In April, President Trump promised to finish the job and plan another WHCA Dinner, and today, he will deliver on that promise," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;"We look forward to a great and fun evening celebrating 250 years of American greatness and a free press."&nbsp;Trump's appearance at the April dinner marked his first attendance at the event during either of his two terms as president. His absence from previous dinners reflected his disdain for the media, which he has called the "enemy of the people."

US President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner three months after a shooting forced the previous event to be cancelled, while First Lady Melania Trump will skip the gathering due to a prior commitment.

US President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner on Friday (July 24), three months after gunshots forced his evacuation and led organisers to cancel the event. The dinner will take place under heightened security. However, First Lady Melania Trump will not accompany the president to the event. A White House spokesperson confirmed that Melania has a prior commitment, as per Fox News. Trump will deliver the speech he could not give in April after gunshots were fired at the Washington Hilton, forcing the cancellation of the black-tie dinner. The event has also moved from the Hilton to the Waldorf Astoria, a former Trump hotel. Organisers said the new venue will make the gala much smaller and "more intimate." Previous gala called off after shooting Chaos erupted at the White House dinner on April 25, 2026, when gunman Cole Tomas Allen opened fire near a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton. Armed with a shotgun, pistol and knives, the 31-year-old shot a Secret Service officer, whose vest prevented serious injury. Tactical agents rushed President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance to safety as 2,600 guests scrambled under tables. Officers quickly subdued Allen, who had emailed an anti-government manifesto beforehand. The dinner was cancelled, and Allen now faces federal attempted assassination charges. California man Cole Allen, 31, has pleaded not guilty to charges that include attempting to kill the president. Also Read: Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report Trump to return after three months "In April, President Trump promised to finish the job and plan another WHCA Dinner, and today, he will deliver on that promise," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was quoted as saying by AFP. "We look forward to a great and fun evening celebrating 250 years of American greatness and a free press." Trump's appearance at the April dinner marked his first attendance at the event during either of his two terms as president. His absence from previous dinners reflected his disdain for the media, which he has called the "enemy of the people."

US President Donald Trump will attend the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner three months after a shooting forced the previous event to be cancelled, while First Lady Melania Trump will skip the gathering due to a prior commitment.

Trump to attend White House press dinner rescheduled after shooting; Melania to skip

A terror attack on a joint police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Thursday night killed 15 people, including 14 security personnel, the Pakistan military’s media wing said on Friday. Among those killed were 12 Pakistani soldiers and two policemen.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers tried to breach the security of the joint check post but were repelled by security forces.&nbsp;The attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the facility.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-s-mulling-a-massive-bigger-than-ever-before-attack-on-iran-1784828958067">Trump says he’s mulling ‘a massive, bigger than ever before’ attack on Iran</a>&nbsp;The ISPR said that the blast killed 15 men, including 12 military troops, two policemen and a government official from the forest department.&nbsp;It added that the troops engaged with the attackers and killed 12 terrorists.&nbsp;The ISPR stated that a sanitisation operation was underway in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-flew-irgc-men-advisers-and-military-gear-to-yemen-to-bolster-houthis-for-red-sea-blockade-sources-1784820749435">Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources</a>&nbsp;Following the attack, Tank Deputy Commissioner Jamshed Khan imposed Section 144 across the district and announced a district-wide curfew in view of the prevailing security situation. Under the order, all movement has been restricted from 6 am to 6 pm until further notice.&nbsp;The order exempts law enforcement agencies, rescue services, ambulances, the fire brigade and other emergency services from the restrictions. Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and avoid unnecessary travel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-will-hold-iran-responsible-for-houthi-attacks-on-ships-in-red-sea-1784813106940">Trump says US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea</a>&nbsp;K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a report on the incident from the relevant authorities.&nbsp;Police said that further details regarding the attack and any additional casualties will be released after the operation is completed.

The attackers first tried to breach the security of the joint check post but were repelled by security forces. The attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the facility.

A terror attack on a joint police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Thursday night killed 15 people, including 14 security personnel, the Pakistan military’s media wing said on Friday. Among those killed were 12 Pakistani soldiers and two policemen. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers tried to breach the security of the joint check post but were repelled by security forces. The attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the facility. Also Read: Trump says he’s mulling ‘a massive, bigger than ever before’ attack on Iran The ISPR said that the blast killed 15 men, including 12 military troops, two policemen and a government official from the forest department. It added that the troops engaged with the attackers and killed 12 terrorists. The ISPR stated that a sanitisation operation was underway in the area. Also Read: Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources Following the attack, Tank Deputy Commissioner Jamshed Khan imposed Section 144 across the district and announced a district-wide curfew in view of the prevailing security situation. Under the order, all movement has been restricted from 6 am to 6 pm until further notice. The order exempts law enforcement agencies, rescue services, ambulances, the fire brigade and other emergency services from the restrictions. Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and avoid unnecessary travel. Also Read: Trump says US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on ships in Red Sea K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a report on the incident from the relevant authorities. Police said that further details regarding the attack and any additional casualties will be released after the operation is completed.

The attackers first tried to breach the security of the joint check post but were repelled by security forces. The attackers then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the check post, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the facility.

Terror attack on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa checkpost kills 15, including 12 Pakistani soldiers

Pakistan army chief has reportedly helped Saudi Arabia reach an agreement with Iran during the West Asia conflict, shielding the kingdom from Tehran's attacks by leveraging a joint oil transport venture between him and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ahmad Vahidi, The Times of Israel reported, citing three officials.&nbsp;The understanding was reached in late March, weeks after the start of the war triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic, the report said.&nbsp;The joint venture between Munir and Vahidi, which used to mediate between Tehran and was responsible for transporting oil from Iran to Pakistan since last year, generated millions of dollars in dividends for both.&nbsp;Owing to the accord, Saudi Arabia remained largely shielded from Iran's counterattacks after the first month of the war, while other Gulf countries, which are considered allies of the United States and house its military on their soil, came under fire from massive drone and missile barrages launched by Tehran.&nbsp;After nearly three months of no Iran-linked attacks on Saudi Arabia, the IRGC fired a missile at the kingdom over the weekend.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/6-killed-26-injured-as-ukraine-fires-missiles-in-russia-s-kirov-region-targeting-an-enterprise-1784897766750">6 killed, 26 injured as Ukraine fires missiles in Russia's Kirov region targeting an enterprise</a>&nbsp;As per the report, following the attack, Munir sent a warning to Vahidi that such conduct risked the operation of their joint venture, resulting in a repetition of attacks.&nbsp;Islamabad and Riyadh signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, which binds both countries to a military pact that requires a joint response to external security threats in case of aggression.&nbsp;Cash-strapped Pakistan increasingly sees Saudi Arabia as a source of much-needed economic support and is working towards making the kingdom more reliant on Islamabad for its security.&nbsp;Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir's diplomatic profile has been on the rise since the beginning of the conflict between the United States and Iran. Munir has been at the centre of Islamabad's mediation outreach, which led to the signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding in June, which was rendered obsolete by the recent flare-up.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir reportedly used his private oil venture to broker an understanding with Iran that helped shield Saudi Arabia from Iranian attacks during the West Asia conflict.

Pakistan army chief has reportedly helped Saudi Arabia reach an agreement with Iran during the West Asia conflict, shielding the kingdom from Tehran's attacks by leveraging a joint oil transport venture between him and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ahmad Vahidi, The Times of Israel reported, citing three officials. The understanding was reached in late March, weeks after the start of the war triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic, the report said. The joint venture between Munir and Vahidi, which used to mediate between Tehran and was responsible for transporting oil from Iran to Pakistan since last year, generated millions of dollars in dividends for both. Owing to the accord, Saudi Arabia remained largely shielded from Iran's counterattacks after the first month of the war, while other Gulf countries, which are considered allies of the United States and house its military on their soil, came under fire from massive drone and missile barrages launched by Tehran. After nearly three months of no Iran-linked attacks on Saudi Arabia, the IRGC fired a missile at the kingdom over the weekend. Also Read: 6 killed, 26 injured as Ukraine fires missiles in Russia's Kirov region targeting an enterprise As per the report, following the attack, Munir sent a warning to Vahidi that such conduct risked the operation of their joint venture, resulting in a repetition of attacks. Islamabad and Riyadh signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, which binds both countries to a military pact that requires a joint response to external security threats in case of aggression. Cash-strapped Pakistan increasingly sees Saudi Arabia as a source of much-needed economic support and is working towards making the kingdom more reliant on Islamabad for its security. Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir's diplomatic profile has been on the rise since the beginning of the conflict between the United States and Iran. Munir has been at the centre of Islamabad's mediation outreach, which led to the signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding in June, which was rendered obsolete by the recent flare-up.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir reportedly used his private oil venture to broker an understanding with Iran that helped shield Saudi Arabia from Iranian attacks during the West Asia conflict.

Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report

Six people were killed and 26 others injured in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kirov region on Friday (July 24), according to a social media post by regional Governor Alexander Sokolov. The attack targeted an enterprise in Kirov, about 790 km northeast of Moscow. The injured are receiving medical care.&nbsp;The attack led to a fire but it was controlled and emergency crews were working to deal with the aftermath, Sokolov further said and added that nearby buildings were being assessed for any damage.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rejected-a-peace-deal-proposed-by-us-president-donald-trump-and-conveyed-by-iraq-claims-report-1784879312937">Iran rejected a peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, claims report</a>&nbsp;Zelensky said the "key military enterprise" was struck in Kirov as it "supplies components for the occupier's aircraft and missile systems, which are used in the massive attacks against our cities."&nbsp;Also, a warehouses belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries, Russia's equivalent of Amazon, was attacked by Ukraine outside Saint Petersburg for the third time this week.&nbsp;Zelensky has accused Wildberries of storing drone components and helping the Russian army.&nbsp;<h2>Ukraine too claims strike by Russia</h2>&nbsp;While Ukraine claimed a Russian missile strike outside the Ukrainian capital killed six people and injured several others. Zelensky also said that Russian aerial bombing killed five people in the frontline city of Sloviansk.&nbsp;Ukraine argues that the retaliatory strikes on Russia are aimed at forcing Russia to come to the negotiating table and end the war that has continued for over four years now.&nbsp;According to the United Nations, the four-and-a-half-year war has seen more civilians dying this summer than in any period since the &nbsp;Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Zelensky said the key military enterprise was struck in Kirov as it supplies components for the occupiers aircraft and missile systems.

Six people were killed and 26 others injured in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kirov region on Friday (July 24), according to a social media post by regional Governor Alexander Sokolov. The attack targeted an enterprise in Kirov, about 790 km northeast of Moscow. The injured are receiving medical care. The attack led to a fire but it was controlled and emergency crews were working to deal with the aftermath, Sokolov further said and added that nearby buildings were being assessed for any damage. ALSO READ: Iran rejected a peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, claims report Zelensky said the "key military enterprise" was struck in Kirov as it "supplies components for the occupier's aircraft and missile systems, which are used in the massive attacks against our cities." Also, a warehouses belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries, Russia's equivalent of Amazon, was attacked by Ukraine outside Saint Petersburg for the third time this week. Zelensky has accused Wildberries of storing drone components and helping the Russian army. Ukraine too claims strike by Russia While Ukraine claimed a Russian missile strike outside the Ukrainian capital killed six people and injured several others. Zelensky also said that Russian aerial bombing killed five people in the frontline city of Sloviansk. Ukraine argues that the retaliatory strikes on Russia are aimed at forcing Russia to come to the negotiating table and end the war that has continued for over four years now. According to the United Nations, the four-and-a-half-year war has seen more civilians dying this summer than in any period since the Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Zelensky said the "key military enterprise" was struck in Kirov as it “supplies components for the occupier's aircraft and missile systems.”

6 killed, 26 injured as Ukraine fires missiles in Russia's Kirov region targeting an enterprise

The European Union on Friday (July 24) accused TikTok of failing to adequately protect children, warning that its account settings could expose minors to risks such as cyberbullying and predatory behaviour. The EU said children's accounts should only be visible to people they have approved. Children aged 13 and above can currently use TikTok.&nbsp;"A high level of protection should not be an opt-in; it should be the default," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.&nbsp;The EU launched its investigation into Chinese-owned TikTok in 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The law requires platforms to provide the strongest safety and security protections by default for children's accounts.<h2>EU raises concerns over TikTok settings</h2>The EU said TikTok's current settings do not meet the required safety standards because they allow minors' accounts and content to remain widely accessible.&nbsp;The investigation found that children can make their accounts public, allowing anyone, including people without a TikTok account, to view their content.&nbsp;Even if minors switch their accounts to private, other users can still "easily find" them through their "following" and "followers" lists, the EU said.&nbsp;Brussels has asked TikTok to change the default settings for minors with public accounts. Under the proposed changes, their content should only be visible to users they have accepted.&nbsp;The EU has stepped up its efforts to protect children online. New rules expected later this year will ban children under 13 from using social media.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/not-sure-if-his-vision-will-be-saved-rahul-gandhi-attacks-centre-over-pellet-gun-use-1784890783029">'Not sure if his vision will be saved': Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre over pellet gun use</a>&nbsp;<h2>TikTok responds to EU findings</h2>TikTok said it remains committed to protecting minors on its platform. A spokesperson said teen accounts have more than 50 preset privacy and safety features and stressed that accounts belonging to users under 18 are private by default.&nbsp;"We will review these preliminary findings as we continue to engage constructively" with the EU, the spokesperson added.&nbsp;The EU's latest findings are preliminary. If the bloc confirms its concerns, TikTok could face a fine of up to six per cent of its total worldwide annual turnover.&nbsp;The 27-nation bloc has already taken action against TikTok over its design. In February, Brussels ordered the platform to change its addictive design or face heavy fines.&nbsp;Meta has also faced similar scrutiny. Two weeks ago, the EU told the tech company to change addictive design features, including infinite scrolling.&nbsp;The EU is also preparing to roll out an age verification app across the bloc. The system aims to ensure that platforms check users' ages before allowing them to access social media platforms.

The European Union accused TikTok of failing to protect children from online risks adequately and warned that the platform could face a heavy fine if the findings are confirmed.

The European Union on Friday (July 24) accused TikTok of failing to adequately protect children, warning that its account settings could expose minors to risks such as cyberbullying and predatory behaviour. The EU said children's accounts should only be visible to people they have approved. Children aged 13 and above can currently use TikTok. "A high level of protection should not be an opt-in; it should be the default," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement. The EU launched its investigation into Chinese-owned TikTok in 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The law requires platforms to provide the strongest safety and security protections by default for children's accounts. EU raises concerns over TikTok settings The EU said TikTok's current settings do not meet the required safety standards because they allow minors' accounts and content to remain widely accessible. The investigation found that children can make their accounts public, allowing anyone, including people without a TikTok account, to view their content. Even if minors switch their accounts to private, other users can still "easily find" them through their "following" and "followers" lists, the EU said. Brussels has asked TikTok to change the default settings for minors with public accounts. Under the proposed changes, their content should only be visible to users they have accepted. The EU has stepped up its efforts to protect children online. New rules expected later this year will ban children under 13 from using social media. Also Read: 'Not sure if his vision will be saved': Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre over pellet gun use TikTok responds to EU findings TikTok said it remains committed to protecting minors on its platform. A spokesperson said teen accounts have more than 50 preset privacy and safety features and stressed that accounts belonging to users under 18 are private by default. "We will review these preliminary findings as we continue to engage constructively" with the EU, the spokesperson added. The EU's latest findings are preliminary. If the bloc confirms its concerns, TikTok could face a fine of up to six per cent of its total worldwide annual turnover. The 27-nation bloc has already taken action against TikTok over its design. In February, Brussels ordered the platform to change its addictive design or face heavy fines. Meta has also faced similar scrutiny. Two weeks ago, the EU told the tech company to change addictive design features, including infinite scrolling. The EU is also preparing to roll out an age verification app across the bloc. The system aims to ensure that platforms check users' ages before allowing them to access social media platforms.

The European Union accused TikTok of failing to protect children from online risks adequately and warned that the platform could face a heavy fine if the findings are confirmed.

EU accuses TikTok of exposing children to cyberbullying, predatory behaviour; may face heavy fine

An inquest into the death of a member of the Saudi royal family found dead in a west London hotel room has formally concluded. The Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi Al Saud died of an accidental drug and alcohol overdose, with investigators finding no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement. The 29-year-old was found unresponsive on November 25, 2025, on the bathroom floor of his locked suite at the London Marriott Hotel in Kensington. According to evidence presented at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court, hotel security and emergency services were called after a housekeeper discovered the locked room, but paramedics were unable to revive him.&nbsp;Law enforcement and forensic investigators reviewed hotel surveillance footage, which showed Prince Abdullah returning to his room alone on the evening prior to his death after stepping outside to smoke a cigarette. Police found no signs of forced entry, no evidence of a physical struggle, and no suicide note inside the suite, leading authorities to rule out both homicide and self-harm.&nbsp;Toxicology reports submitted to the court revealed that the prince had a blood alcohol concentration of 222 mg per 100 ml—nearly three times the legal driving limit in England. The post-mortem examination also identified potentially fatal levels of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), alongside traces of cannabis, alprazolam (Xanax), and other anti-anxiety medications.&nbsp;Medical examiners concluded that the combined depressant effects of the substances triggered fatal cardiac arrest. The court heard that Prince Abdullah had previously sought treatment for alcohol and prescription drug dependency at private rehabilitation clinics in the UK, completing detox programs earlier that year.&nbsp;Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin recorded a formal verdict of death by misadventure. Officials confirmed that the medical and police findings were formally communicated to the Saudi Royal Court, after which royal funeral proceedings took place in Riyadh.

A UK coroner’s inquest into the high-profile death of a Saudi prince in London has officially ruled out foul play, concluding that the royal died as a result of an accidental drug overdose following a thorough forensic and toxicological investigation.

An inquest into the death of a member of the Saudi royal family found dead in a west London hotel room has formally concluded. The Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi Al Saud died of an accidental drug and alcohol overdose, with investigators finding no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement. The 29-year-old was found unresponsive on November 25, 2025, on the bathroom floor of his locked suite at the London Marriott Hotel in Kensington. According to evidence presented at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court, hotel security and emergency services were called after a housekeeper discovered the locked room, but paramedics were unable to revive him. Law enforcement and forensic investigators reviewed hotel surveillance footage, which showed Prince Abdullah returning to his room alone on the evening prior to his death after stepping outside to smoke a cigarette. Police found no signs of forced entry, no evidence of a physical struggle, and no suicide note inside the suite, leading authorities to rule out both homicide and self-harm. Toxicology reports submitted to the court revealed that the prince had a blood alcohol concentration of 222 mg per 100 ml—nearly three times the legal driving limit in England. The post-mortem examination also identified potentially fatal levels of Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), alongside traces of cannabis, alprazolam (Xanax), and other anti-anxiety medications. Medical examiners concluded that the combined depressant effects of the substances triggered fatal cardiac arrest. The court heard that Prince Abdullah had previously sought treatment for alcohol and prescription drug dependency at private rehabilitation clinics in the UK, completing detox programs earlier that year. Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin recorded a formal verdict of death by misadventure. Officials confirmed that the medical and police findings were formally communicated to the Saudi Royal Court, after which royal funeral proceedings took place in Riyadh.

A UK coroner’s inquest into the high-profile death of a Saudi prince in London has officially ruled out foul play, concluding that the royal died as a result of an accidental drug overdose following a thorough forensic and toxicological investigation.

Accidental overdose: UK inquest rules out foul play in Saudi Prince’s London death

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has called on fellow BRICS nations to take a “clear and decisive” stand against what he described as aggression on Iranian territory, while speaking at the group's ministerial meeting in New Delhi.Speaking at the BRICS Ministers of Interior Meeting, Momeni said attacks had violated Iran’s integrity and caused widespread destruction. “The aggression against territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the violation of the country’s integrity, the widespread destruction of infrastructure, power plants, residential areas, schools, hospitals and other civilian sites, the killing of women, children and the elderly are a clear manifestation of disregard for all international documents, including the United Nations Charter,” he said.He expressed hope that BRICS members would respond within the framework of international law. “The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes that the respected BRICS members… while condemning these actions, will adopt a clear and decisive position in opposing aggression and violation of the sovereignty of countries, attacks on civilians and the destruction of vital infrastructure.”Momeni added that a unified BRICS voice defending international law and national sovereignty “will have an important message for the international community and will help strengthen international peace, security and stability.”The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict involving Iran that began earlier this year with strikes on Iranian targets by the US and Israel. BRICS, which includes Iran as a member, has struggled to reach consensus on the issue.Shifting focus to shared challenges, Momeni stressed that modern risks transcend borders. “Today, the world is facing risks that have crossed geographical, political and economic borders. Climate change, natural disasters, disease epidemics, vulnerability of critical infrastructure and other emerging crises have simultaneously affected the security, development and well-being of nations,” he said. “In such circumstances, no country can cope with these threats alone, and multilateral cooperation is more imperative than ever.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rejected-a-peace-deal-proposed-by-us-president-donald-trump-and-conveyed-by-iraq-claims-report-1784879312937">Iran rejected a peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, claims report</a>He highlighted Iran’s experience managing earthquakes, floods, droughts and other hazards, offering it as a basis for BRICS collaboration. Urbanisation, he noted, had increased exposure to climate-related risks, requiring a “comprehensive, forward-looking and resilient approach” to infrastructure.“Today, more than ever, we need a comprehensive look at the concept of resilience. Resilience does not only mean post-crisis reconstruction, but also means prevention, preparedness, smart risk management and increasing the capacity of communities to continue essential services in crisis situations,” Momeni said. He argued that critical infrastructure resilience had become “one of the pillars of national security, human safety and sustainable development.”On behalf of Iran, he proposed that member countries develop operational plans based on recent BRICS documents on urban infrastructure resilience and disaster management. Iran welcomed specialised training courses, exchanges of technical teams and joint manoeuvres to implement the Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals.The New Delhi meeting forms part of India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship, focusing on internal security, counter-terrorism and related cooperation.

The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict involving Iran that began earlier this year with strikes on Iranian targets by the US and Israel. 

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has called on fellow BRICS nations to take a “clear and decisive” stand against what he described as aggression on Iranian territory, while speaking at the group's ministerial meeting in New Delhi. Speaking at the BRICS Ministers of Interior Meeting, Momeni said attacks had violated Iran’s integrity and caused widespread destruction. “The aggression against territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the violation of the country’s integrity, the widespread destruction of infrastructure, power plants, residential areas, schools, hospitals and other civilian sites, the killing of women, children and the elderly are a clear manifestation of disregard for all international documents, including the United Nations Charter,” he said. He expressed hope that BRICS members would respond within the framework of international law. “The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes that the respected BRICS members… while condemning these actions, will adopt a clear and decisive position in opposing aggression and violation of the sovereignty of countries, attacks on civilians and the destruction of vital infrastructure.” Momeni added that a unified BRICS voice defending international law and national sovereignty “will have an important message for the international community and will help strengthen international peace, security and stability.” The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict involving Iran that began earlier this year with strikes on Iranian targets by the US and Israel. BRICS, which includes Iran as a member, has struggled to reach consensus on the issue. Shifting focus to shared challenges, Momeni stressed that modern risks transcend borders. “Today, the world is facing risks that have crossed geographical, political and economic borders. Climate change, natural disasters, disease epidemics, vulnerability of critical infrastructure and other emerging crises have simultaneously affected the security, development and well-being of nations,” he said. “In such circumstances, no country can cope with these threats alone, and multilateral cooperation is more imperative than ever.” Also read | Iran rejected a peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, claims report He highlighted Iran’s experience managing earthquakes, floods, droughts and other hazards, offering it as a basis for BRICS collaboration. Urbanisation, he noted, had increased exposure to climate-related risks, requiring a “comprehensive, forward-looking and resilient approach” to infrastructure. “Today, more than ever, we need a comprehensive look at the concept of resilience. Resilience does not only mean post-crisis reconstruction, but also means prevention, preparedness, smart risk management and increasing the capacity of communities to continue essential services in crisis situations,” Momeni said. He argued that critical infrastructure resilience had become “one of the pillars of national security, human safety and sustainable development.” On behalf of Iran, he proposed that member countries develop operational plans based on recent BRICS documents on urban infrastructure resilience and disaster management. Iran welcomed specialised training courses, exchanges of technical teams and joint manoeuvres to implement the Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals. The New Delhi meeting forms part of India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship, focusing on internal security, counter-terrorism and related cooperation.

The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict involving Iran that began earlier this year with strikes on Iranian targets by the US and Israel.&nbsp;

Iran's interior minister Momeni urges BRICS to take clear stand against attacks on its territory during Delhi meet

Iran has rejected a peace deal that was proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, even as the US pounded Iranian targets for nearly three weeks, The New York Times reported on Thursday (Jul 23). The report claimed that Trump's proposal was delivered to Iran by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during his recent Tehran visit.<h2>Iran rejects mediation and temporary ceasefire</h2>The report, citing Iranian and Iraqi officials, claimed that the proposal was "the only one on the table". It did not specify the details. The Iranian officials were unwilling to accept a temporary deal that did not address control of the Strait of Hormuz, it added.The Iraqi PM had visited the US before meeting Iranian officials with the peace deal. He met Trump at the White House before travelling to Tehran. He met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior Iranian officials.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed</a><h2>Failed mediation amid US attacks: Iran slams America's 'greedy, controlling, illogical' outlook&nbsp;</h2>The foreign minister dismissed the need for intermediaries, while confirming that Al-Zaidi conveyed his "views and impressions" from Washington. He said, "The problem is not passing messages. The problem is America's outlook, which is illogical, greedy and controlling."Araghchi said Iraq and Iran share close economic, political and security ties and described the PM's visit as significant amid regional tensions.The US has been hitting Iranian military bases and infrastructure for nearly two weeks now. Iran targeted American military assets in the Middle East with ballistic missile and drone attacks.Also read: <a href="Iran’s 10-point plan EXPLAINED: Compensation, sanctions, Hormuz and more, here's what Tehran wants after 2-week ceasefire deal">Iran’s 10-point plan EXPLAINED: Compensation, sanctions, Hormuz and more, here's what Tehran wants after 2-week ceasefire deal</a><h2>Iran ready for wider conflict amid Trump's threats on Tehran</h2>The NYT report cited two Iranian officials as saying that the country is preparing for the possibility of a wider war if Trump follows through on threats to target the capital, Tehran, and other critical infrastructure. They threatened to expand the conflict by striking Israeli capital Tel Aviv. The officials also said Iran could ask its Houthi allies in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis have already threatened to close the waterway and attacked several ships transiting the area. Iranians continue to support the government, with pro-regime rallies being held at Azadi Square in Tehran. At a military parade, Iranian-made ballistic missiles were displayed, which appeared to contradict Trump's claims that Iran's military capabilities had been severely damaged in the American strikes.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran rejected a peace proposal conveyed by the Iraqi PM after talks with Donald Trump, claims a report by NYT. Tehran is insisting that the Strait of Hormuz issue remain central to the peace talks

Iran has rejected a peace deal that was proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, even as the US pounded Iranian targets for nearly three weeks, The New York Times reported on Thursday (Jul 23). The report claimed that Trump's proposal was delivered to Iran by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during his recent Tehran visit. Iran rejects mediation and temporary ceasefire The report, citing Iranian and Iraqi officials, claimed that the proposal was "the only one on the table". It did not specify the details. The Iranian officials were unwilling to accept a temporary deal that did not address control of the Strait of Hormuz, it added. The Iraqi PM had visited the US before meeting Iranian officials with the peace deal. He met Trump at the White House before travelling to Tehran. He met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior Iranian officials. https://www.wionews.com/videos/goldman-warns-brent-could-top-120-again-wion-news-world-business-watch-1784783515303/embed Failed mediation amid US attacks: Iran slams America's 'greedy, controlling, illogical' outlook The foreign minister dismissed the need for intermediaries, while confirming that Al-Zaidi conveyed his "views and impressions" from Washington. He said, "The problem is not passing messages. The problem is America's outlook, which is illogical, greedy and controlling." Araghchi said Iraq and Iran share close economic, political and security ties and described the PM's visit as significant amid regional tensions. The US has been hitting Iranian military bases and infrastructure for nearly two weeks now. Iran targeted American military assets in the Middle East with ballistic missile and drone attacks. Also read: Iran’s 10-point plan EXPLAINED: Compensation, sanctions, Hormuz and more, here's what Tehran wants after 2-week ceasefire deal Iran ready for wider conflict amid Trump's threats on Tehran The NYT report cited two Iranian officials as saying that the country is preparing for the possibility of a wider war if Trump follows through on threats to target the capital, Tehran, and other critical infrastructure. They threatened to expand the conflict by striking Israeli capital Tel Aviv. The officials also said Iran could ask its Houthi allies in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis have already threatened to close the waterway and attacked several ships transiting the area. Iranians continue to support the government, with pro-regime rallies being held at Azadi Square in Tehran. At a military parade, Iranian-made ballistic missiles were displayed, which appeared to contradict Trump's claims that Iran's military capabilities had been severely damaged in the American strikes. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran rejected a peace proposal conveyed by the Iraqi PM after talks with Donald Trump, claims a report by NYT. Tehran is insisting that the Strait of Hormuz issue remain central to the peace talks

Iran rejected a peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump and conveyed by Iraq, claims report

The death toll from a massive landslide in southwestern China has risen to 11, with 50 people remaining missing as rescue operations enter a grim phase, local authorities announced late Thursday. Search teams reported finding no signs of life beneath the rubble. The disaster struck last Friday in Pengshui County, located in the Chongqing municipality. A torrent of earth and rock collapsed down a mountain slope, sweeping away multiple residential structures situated near the foot of the hill and along a riverbank. State media footage revealed a vast pile of debris burying a mixed residential and commercial street.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nagaland-landslides-mon-district-8-dead-heavy-rain-imd-warning-1784468077738">8 killed, 12 injured in Nagaland landslides as heavy rain batters Mon district</a>&nbsp;Hundreds of emergency personnel have been deployed to the site, though hopes of finding survivors have faded."Following multiple rounds of life detection and search operations, no signs of life have been detected," Pengshui authorities stated in a social media release. Officials added that ten people were treated for injuries.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heavy-rain-triggers-landslide-in-baramulla-flood-risk-rises-across-jammu-and-kashmir-1784792967740">Heavy rain triggers landslide in Baramulla; flood risk rises across Jammu and Kashmir</a>&nbsp;Search conditions at the site remain precarious. Authorities cited a massive volume of debris, large fallen boulders, a highly confined work area, and slope instability as major obstacles to the operation. Despite these hazards, specialised teams are continuing round-the-clock efforts to locate remains in what officials described as a "scientific and orderly manner."The casualty figures mark a significant increase from earlier official estimates, which had reported eight dead and 34 missing.The Pengshui disaster comes less than two weeks after a separate landslide hit northwestern Gansu province, which buried 33 people and resulted in 21 confirmed deaths. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

China landslide death toll rises to 11 as rescuers report no signs of life among the rubble, with 50 people still missing. 

The death toll from a massive landslide in southwestern China has risen to 11, with 50 people remaining missing as rescue operations enter a grim phase, local authorities announced late Thursday. Search teams reported finding no signs of life beneath the rubble. The disaster struck last Friday in Pengshui County, located in the Chongqing municipality. A torrent of earth and rock collapsed down a mountain slope, sweeping away multiple residential structures situated near the foot of the hill and along a riverbank. State media footage revealed a vast pile of debris burying a mixed residential and commercial street. Also read: 8 killed, 12 injured in Nagaland landslides as heavy rain batters Mon district Hundreds of emergency personnel have been deployed to the site, though hopes of finding survivors have faded. "Following multiple rounds of life detection and search operations, no signs of life have been detected," Pengshui authorities stated in a social media release. Officials added that ten people were treated for injuries. Also read: Heavy rain triggers landslide in Baramulla; flood risk rises across Jammu and Kashmir Search conditions at the site remain precarious. Authorities cited a massive volume of debris, large fallen boulders, a highly confined work area, and slope instability as major obstacles to the operation. Despite these hazards, specialised teams are continuing round-the-clock efforts to locate remains in what officials described as a "scientific and orderly manner." The casualty figures mark a significant increase from earlier official estimates, which had reported eight dead and 34 missing. The Pengshui disaster comes less than two weeks after a separate landslide hit northwestern Gansu province, which buried 33 people and resulted in 21 confirmed deaths.

China landslide death toll rises to 11 as rescuers report no signs of life among the rubble, with 50 people still missing.&nbsp;

Death toll rises to 11 in China landslide as rescuers find 'no signs of life'

WASHINGTON – “My main concern is with lethal autonomous weapons systems. Let us call them what they are: killer robots. Machines selecting and engaging their target and taking a life – without human control and judgement. This is morally repugnant.”So said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at a meeting in July that brought together AI leaders from UN member states, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society leaders.Officially named the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, it reflected growing global concern that rapidly advancing AI is outrunning the ability of governments to regulate it. While that applies to all aspects of modern life, it is particularly worrying in warfare.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-s-next-terror-threat-may-not-cross-the-border-it-may-enter-through-your-phone-wion-decodes-1784346117443">India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes</a>Therefore, Guterres argued, the deployment of LAWS (lethal autonomous weapons systems) “is politically unacceptable. And it must be banned by international law.”International law and international bans have a poor track record, but Guterres deserves praise for finally drawing attention to a subject that has been debated for decades by human rights groups, the military and experts working for the world’s biggest AI companies, most of them based in the United States.One of them, Anthropic, is involved in a high-profile dispute with the US Department of Defence that mirrored the concerns voiced by Guterres’s UN conference. Anthropic, along with Google, OpenAI and xAI, won government contracts last year worth around $200 million to accelerate AI adoption for national security.Unlike the other AI companies, Anthropic insisted that its most sophisticated model must not be used by the government for fully autonomous weapons; i.e. robots, and mass domestic surveillance. &nbsp;To emphasise fears that technology is outrunning human control, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, called for a global, coordinated slowdown in artificial intelligence development. AI systems, he warned, are advancing with such speed that they soon could build and improve their own successors, without human control.Other AI-developing companies reacted coolly. The Pentagon reacted with anger. It ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology and declared the company a “supply chain risk” – a designation that is now the subject of a battle in court. &nbsp;It is more than a contract dispute – it is a fundamental disagreement over who controls the use of AI in weapons or other aspects of life.When you talk to techies, sooner or later the different types of control over aerial, ground and maritime unmanned vehicles come up. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-tower-of-babel-and-why-did-pope-leo-warn-about-it-while-talking-about-ai-wion-decodes-1779790151646">Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI?</a>There is “in the loop”, meaning that a human operator directs the autonomous system and decides whether or not to kill the target. There is “on the loop” when a human operator does not directly control the automated system but can override its decision. &nbsp;Finally, “off the loop” indicates that the system operates independently and makes life-or-death decisions.For an illustrative example of an “in the loop” operation, let’s look back to the January 3, 2020 assassination of Major-General Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s most powerful military leaders, in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.Soleimani’s movements had been closely tracked for days, and it became known that he was about to visit Baghdad. On arrival, he was greeted by the leader of a pro-Iranian Iraqi militia who escorted him to two cars waiting outside. As they began pulling away, they were hit by 100-pound Hellfire missiles launched from MQ9 Reaper drones high overhead.The cars exploded into fireballs, incinerating Solimani, his host and eight of their aides.Typical for an “in the loop” operation, the American Air Force officer who pushed the button to launch the missile sat in a stationary “cockpit” at Creech Air Force base near Las Vegas, almost 12,000 kilometres from Baghdad.In the six years since the assassination – or “targeted killing” as the US called it- drones have become a central weapon in the wars between Ukraine and Russia, the US and Iran, Sudan, and most of all Israel against Hamas, a campaign which turned Gaza into a field of ruins and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians.Israel’s war on Gaza showed the limits of “in the loop” operations given the green light by military and political leaders. One of the main purposes of using AI in war is to process huge amounts of data to identify suspected enemies. Left to human intelligence officers, that can be a protracted process.It took weeks to follow Solimani and finally pinpoint him at the door of Baghdad airport. In contrast, Israeli AI programmes, based on cellphone data, facial recognition and locations known to frequent Hamas militants, produced a list of 37,000 targets within days of the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,200 Israelis.One user of the system, named Lavender, told the Israeli/Palestinian +972 news outlet that “I would invest 20 seconds for each target and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval” (of the AI-generated list). &nbsp;Though you could argue that the Israelis followed “in the loop” procedures, simply pressing a fire button in response to a target provided by a computer, without the time to double-check, does not amount to human control. &nbsp;AI-generated target lists are part of the explanation of the high Palestinian death toll in Gaza. Human rights organisations say most of those killed were civilians, or in military jargon “collateral damage.”It is not often that the chief of an AI company and the chief of the United Nations publicly share worries about how speedily technology spreads. But addressing the UN meeting on Artificial Intelligence this month, Antonio Guterres gave an example.“The Internet took 15 years to reach a billion people,” he said. “AI got there in two. And these systems are no longer tools awaiting instruction – they are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight.”Numbers from the two wars the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan provide another illustration of the astonishing speed of the development of robotic warfare. The US forces that stormed into Iraq in 2003 had no robots on the ground. There were none in Afghanistan either.Just six years later, the two wars were waged with the help of an estimated 12,000 ground-based robots and 7,000 drones.While there is growing understanding that technology is outpacing both scientific understanding and the ability of governments to adapt, the prospects of universal agreement on a solution are remote.Last November, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution on the risks AI can pose to international humanitarian law and an emerging arms race. &nbsp;The vote was 156 in favour and five against. These five were the United States, Russia, North Korea, Belarus and Israel. There were eight abstentions, including China, which is competing with the US on accelerating AI development.A major problem in pushing ahead, according to a report in the MIT Technology Review, is what the computational neuroscientist Uri Maoz calls “Black Boxes. “He wrote: “Having studied intentions in the human brain for decades and in AI systems more recently, I can attest that state-of –the-art AI systems are essentially Black Boxes. &nbsp;“We know the inputs and outputs, but the artificial “brain” processing them remains opaque. Even their creators cannot fully interpret them or understand how they work.” &nbsp;That will be even more true once the countries that are now using drones – Ukraine has emerged as a leader in its fight against the Russian invasion – begin to use large swarms rather than individual drones. This is why scientists have intensified their study of bees.Like bees, drone swarms operate in large numbers, adapt their behaviour in real time, share tasks, communicate with each other and continue with their tasks even after suffering losses.

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms modern warfare, the United Nations is calling for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems that can identify and engage targets without meaningful human control, warning that the technology is advancing faster than it can be regulated.

WASHINGTON – “My main concern is with lethal autonomous weapons systems. Let us call them what they are: killer robots. Machines selecting and engaging their target and taking a life – without human control and judgement. This is morally repugnant.” So said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at a meeting in July that brought together AI leaders from UN member states, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society leaders. Officially named the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, it reflected growing global concern that rapidly advancing AI is outrunning the ability of governments to regulate it. While that applies to all aspects of modern life, it is particularly worrying in warfare. Also read | India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes Therefore, Guterres argued, the deployment of LAWS (lethal autonomous weapons systems) “is politically unacceptable. And it must be banned by international law.” International law and international bans have a poor track record, but Guterres deserves praise for finally drawing attention to a subject that has been debated for decades by human rights groups, the military and experts working for the world’s biggest AI companies, most of them based in the United States. One of them, Anthropic, is involved in a high-profile dispute with the US Department of Defence that mirrored the concerns voiced by Guterres’s UN conference. Anthropic, along with Google, OpenAI and xAI, won government contracts last year worth around $200 million to accelerate AI adoption for national security. Unlike the other AI companies, Anthropic insisted that its most sophisticated model must not be used by the government for fully autonomous weapons; i.e. robots, and mass domestic surveillance. To emphasise fears that technology is outrunning human control, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, called for a global, coordinated slowdown in artificial intelligence development. AI systems, he warned, are advancing with such speed that they soon could build and improve their own successors, without human control. Other AI-developing companies reacted coolly. The Pentagon reacted with anger. It ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology and declared the company a “supply chain risk” – a designation that is now the subject of a battle in court. It is more than a contract dispute – it is a fundamental disagreement over who controls the use of AI in weapons or other aspects of life. When you talk to techies, sooner or later the different types of control over aerial, ground and maritime unmanned vehicles come up. Also read | Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI? There is “in the loop”, meaning that a human operator directs the autonomous system and decides whether or not to kill the target. There is “on the loop” when a human operator does not directly control the automated system but can override its decision. Finally, “off the loop” indicates that the system operates independently and makes life-or-death decisions. For an illustrative example of an “in the loop” operation, let’s look back to the January 3, 2020 assassination of Major-General Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s most powerful military leaders, in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. Soleimani’s movements had been closely tracked for days, and it became known that he was about to visit Baghdad. On arrival, he was greeted by the leader of a pro-Iranian Iraqi militia who escorted him to two cars waiting outside. As they began pulling away, they were hit by 100-pound Hellfire missiles launched from MQ9 Reaper drones high overhead. The cars exploded into fireballs, incinerating Solimani, his host and eight of their aides. Typical for an “in the loop” operation, the American Air Force officer who pushed the button to launch the missile sat in a stationary “cockpit” at Creech Air Force base near Las Vegas, almost 12,000 kilometres from Baghdad. In the six years since the assassination – or “targeted killing” as the US called it- drones have become a central weapon in the wars between Ukraine and Russia, the US and Iran, Sudan, and most of all Israel against Hamas, a campaign which turned Gaza into a field of ruins and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. Israel’s war on Gaza showed the limits of “in the loop” operations given the green light by military and political leaders. One of the main purposes of using AI in war is to process huge amounts of data to identify suspected enemies. Left to human intelligence officers, that can be a protracted process. It took weeks to follow Solimani and finally pinpoint him at the door of Baghdad airport. In contrast, Israeli AI programmes, based on cellphone data, facial recognition and locations known to frequent Hamas militants, produced a list of 37,000 targets within days of the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,200 Israelis. One user of the system, named Lavender, told the Israeli/Palestinian +972 news outlet that “I would invest 20 seconds for each target and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval” (of the AI-generated list). Though you could argue that the Israelis followed “in the loop” procedures, simply pressing a fire button in response to a target provided by a computer, without the time to double-check, does not amount to human control. AI-generated target lists are part of the explanation of the high Palestinian death toll in Gaza. Human rights organisations say most of those killed were civilians, or in military jargon “collateral damage.” It is not often that the chief of an AI company and the chief of the United Nations publicly share worries about how speedily technology spreads. But addressing the UN meeting on Artificial Intelligence this month, Antonio Guterres gave an example. “The Internet took 15 years to reach a billion people,” he said. “AI got there in two. And these systems are no longer tools awaiting instruction – they are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight.” Numbers from the two wars the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan provide another illustration of the astonishing speed of the development of robotic warfare. The US forces that stormed into Iraq in 2003 had no robots on the ground. There were none in Afghanistan either. Just six years later, the two wars were waged with the help of an estimated 12,000 ground-based robots and 7,000 drones. While there is growing understanding that technology is outpacing both scientific understanding and the ability of governments to adapt, the prospects of universal agreement on a solution are remote. Last November, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution on the risks AI can pose to international humanitarian law and an emerging arms race. The vote was 156 in favour and five against. These five were the United States, Russia, North Korea, Belarus and Israel. There were eight abstentions, including China, which is competing with the US on accelerating AI development. A major problem in pushing ahead, according to a report in the MIT Technology Review, is what the computational neuroscientist Uri Maoz calls “Black Boxes. “ He wrote: “Having studied intentions in the human brain for decades and in AI systems more recently, I can attest that state-of –the-art AI systems are essentially Black Boxes. “We know the inputs and outputs, but the artificial “brain” processing them remains opaque. Even their creators cannot fully interpret them or understand how they work.” That will be even more true once the countries that are now using drones – Ukraine has emerged as a leader in its fight against the Russian invasion – begin to use large swarms rather than individual drones. This is why scientists have intensified their study of bees. Like bees, drone swarms operate in large numbers, adapt their behaviour in real time, share tasks, communicate with each other and continue with their tasks even after suffering losses.

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms modern warfare, the United Nations is calling for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems that can identify and engage targets without meaningful human control, warning that the technology is advancing faster than it can be regulated.

Urgent UN warnings: time to tame killer robots is running out

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jul 23) reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, saying the United States was doing "extremely well" as tensions with Tehran continued to escalate.Speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Washington, DC, while unveiling his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Trump said Iran was not yet ready for any meaningful engagement and accused it of harbouring "evil intentions."<h2>Trump blames predecessors for Iran's might</h2>"We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran—we're doing extremely well. They would like to do something, but I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They've got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-approves-95-billion-budget-for-trump-s-war-against-iran-here-s-what-it-means-1784763680195">US House approves $95 billion budget for Trump's war against Iran. Where will the money go?</a>He further asserted that Iran should not even be allowed to contemplate acquiring nuclear weapons. "We cannot let them even think about having nuclear weapons, and that is exactly what is happening. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This should've been done by other American Presidents or other countries. It didn't have to be us, but if we don't do it nobody else will. I will, and nobody else has the capability to do it," he said.<h2>Trump takes credit for US military</h2>The US president also praised the strength of the American military, saying it had been built during his first term and was now being deployed more extensively than he had anticipated. "We are using it (the military) a little more than we thought," Trump said, while also referring to Venezuela and oil production, adding that the United States had "paid for that war many times over."<h2>CENTCOM claims naval blockade success</h2>Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had intensified maritime operations against Iran. According to CENTCOM, since resuming its naval blockade against Iran nine days ago, US forces have redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one vessel to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Since resuming the naval blockade against Iran nine days ago, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled 1 to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports or coastal areas. <a href="https://t.co/zV8zAK0H2X">pic.twitter.com/zV8zAK0H2X</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2080359848793846029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Iran claims retaliatory strikes</h2>The remarks came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army claimed to have carried out retaliatory strikes on US military infrastructure in Kuwait and Jordan.According to the Iranian claim, the attacks targeted key air defence systems, logistics depots and drone facilities. The claims could not be independently verified.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-targets-india-s-gateway-to-central-asia-centcom-confirms-surveillance-tower-at-iran-s-chabahar-port-destroyed-1784336537527">US destroying India's gateway to Central Asia? CENTCOM confirms surveillance tower at Iran's Chabahar Port annihilated</a><h2>Rubio warns Iran of further consequences</h2>Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Tehran would continue to face severe consequences for its actions.Rubio said Iran would continue to "pay a very heavy price" and described President Trump's approach as "a head for an eye." He accused Tehran of repeatedly failing to honour agreements and indicated that Washington would maintain pressure until Iran was prepared to negotiate a deal.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US President Donald Trump said Iran would "never" be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, accusing Tehran of harbouring "evil intentions", while Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the country would continue to "pay a very heavy price" as tensions escalated.

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jul 23) reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, saying the United States was doing "extremely well" as tensions with Tehran continued to escalate. Speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Washington, DC, while unveiling his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Trump said Iran was not yet ready for any meaningful engagement and accused it of harbouring "evil intentions." Trump blames predecessors for Iran's might "We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran—we're doing extremely well. They would like to do something, but I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They've got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. Also read | US House approves $95 billion budget for Trump's war against Iran. Where will the money go? He further asserted that Iran should not even be allowed to contemplate acquiring nuclear weapons. "We cannot let them even think about having nuclear weapons, and that is exactly what is happening. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This should've been done by other American Presidents or other countries. It didn't have to be us, but if we don't do it nobody else will. I will, and nobody else has the capability to do it," he said. Trump takes credit for US military The US president also praised the strength of the American military, saying it had been built during his first term and was now being deployed more extensively than he had anticipated. "We are using it (the military) a little more than we thought," Trump said, while also referring to Venezuela and oil production, adding that the United States had "paid for that war many times over." CENTCOM claims naval blockade success Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had intensified maritime operations against Iran. According to CENTCOM, since resuming its naval blockade against Iran nine days ago, US forces have redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one vessel to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.

US President Donald Trump said Iran would "never" be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, accusing Tehran of harbouring "evil intentions", while Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the country would continue to "pay a very heavy price" as tensions escalated.

Trump warns Iran has 'evil intentions', vows it will 'never' get nuclear weapons

As the United States announced fresh tariffs of 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, India has secured a place in the lower 10 per cent category. This comes after discussions with Washington on labour practices, officials said.The new duties, announced by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday, are aimed at countries that the US says have failed to adequately prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour. The tariffs will take effect on Friday (Jul 24).Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-decodes-why-is-the-us-threatening-india-with-fresh-12-5-tariff-under-section-301-which-industries-stand-to-lose-the-most-1783489179101">WION Decodes: Why is the US threatening India with fresh 12.5% tariff under Section 301? Which industries stand to lose the most?</a><h2>How did India secure a lower tariff?</h2>According to officials, India was initially expected to face a 12.5 per cent tariff but secured the lower rate following what they described as constructive engagement with the United States on labour standards.With this, India is among 17 economies that will face the lower 10 per cent tariff, said USTR. Other countries in this category include the United Kingdom, Canada, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.In its notification, the USTR said the 10 per cent rate would apply to economies that have either imposed a prohibition on forced labour imports, committed to doing so through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or introduced a partial regime aimed at preventing the import of certain goods produced through forced labour.For all other investigated economies, the USTR has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff. Certain products from the European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland will also attract duties ranging between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent, net of Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rates.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-says-trade-deal-with-india-is-very-very-close-what-s-holding-it-up-wion-decodes-1782280167960">US says trade deal with India is 'very, very close'. What's holding it up? | WION Decodes</a><h2>Trump administration cites forced labour concerns</h2>The action follows investigations launched by the USTR in March under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 into 60 economies over what it described as inadequate enforcement of bans on imports made with forced labour.Section 301 gives the US Trade Representative the authority to impose tariffs and other trade measures against countries found to be engaging in unfair trade practices.The USTR said the investigation included consultations with more than 45 governments, public hearings and a review of over 1,600 written submissions on the proposed measures.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action was taken at the direction of President Donald Trump. "President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," Greer said. He added that he was encouraged by countries that had moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions and expressed hope they would effectively enforce them.

India has secured the lower 10 per cent tariff slab under the United States' new Section 301 trade measures after discussions with Washington on labour standards, avoiding the higher 12.5 per cent rate imposed on several other economies.

As the United States announced fresh tariffs of 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, India has secured a place in the lower 10 per cent category. This comes after discussions with Washington on labour practices, officials said. The new duties, announced by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Thursday, are aimed at countries that the US says have failed to adequately prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour. The tariffs will take effect on Friday (Jul 24). Also read | WION Decodes: Why is the US threatening India with fresh 12.5% tariff under Section 301? Which industries stand to lose the most? How did India secure a lower tariff? According to officials, India was initially expected to face a 12.5 per cent tariff but secured the lower rate following what they described as constructive engagement with the United States on labour standards. With this, India is among 17 economies that will face the lower 10 per cent tariff, said USTR. Other countries in this category include the United Kingdom, Canada, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. In its notification, the USTR said the 10 per cent rate would apply to economies that have either imposed a prohibition on forced labour imports, committed to doing so through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or introduced a partial regime aimed at preventing the import of certain goods produced through forced labour. For all other investigated economies, the USTR has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff. Certain products from the European Union, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland will also attract duties ranging between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent, net of Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) rates. Also read | US says trade deal with India is 'very, very close'. What's holding it up? | WION Decodes Trump administration cites forced labour concerns The action follows investigations launched by the USTR in March under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 into 60 economies over what it described as inadequate enforcement of bans on imports made with forced labour. Section 301 gives the US Trade Representative the authority to impose tariffs and other trade measures against countries found to be engaging in unfair trade practices. The USTR said the investigation included consultations with more than 45 governments, public hearings and a review of over 1,600 written submissions on the proposed measures. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the action was taken at the direction of President Donald Trump. "President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," Greer said. He added that he was encouraged by countries that had moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions and expressed hope they would effectively enforce them.

India has secured the lower 10 per cent tariff slab under the United States' new Section 301 trade measures after discussions with Washington on labour standards, avoiding the higher 12.5 per cent rate imposed on several other economies.

India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how

A suspect has been taken into custody after two men were stabbed in Manhattan's Upper West Side in what New York City officials described as apparent antisemitic attacks on Thursday (July 23). The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said one of the victims is Jewish and that witnesses reported hearing the suspect shout "Allahu Akbar" during both assaults. Investigators are examining whether the incidents should be classified as hate crimes.&nbsp;Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales and said he is being investigated in connection with both stabbings. "Detectives are continuing to work the case and determine motive, but according to victim and witness statements, Morales yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;The attacks took place near West 84th Street and Central Park West, an area known for its large Jewish community.&nbsp;New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on what he called the "horrifying stabbings" and confirmed that the victims were an Asian man and a Jewish man.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-s-the-architect-of-the-genocide-against-palestinians-despite-trump-s-remark-mamdani-repeats-netanyahu-will-be-arrested-if-visits-us-1784666149643">‘He's the architect of the genocide against Palestinians’: Mamdani repeats Netanyahu will be arrested if he visits US</a>&nbsp;"According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks," Mamdani said. "The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults, and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response."&nbsp;Authorities have not disclosed the conditions of the victims. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish a motive and determine whether hate crime charges are warranted.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/intended-to-degrade-iranian-military-capabilities-us-continues-to-strike-iran-on-10th-consecutive-day-1784581451083">‘Intended to degrade Iranian military capabilities’: US continues to strike Iran on 10th consecutive day</a>

Police arrested suspect Raul Morales after two men were stabbed on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in potential antisemitic attacks where the assailant reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” according to officials.

A suspect has been taken into custody after two men were stabbed in Manhattan's Upper West Side in what New York City officials described as apparent antisemitic attacks on Thursday (July 23). The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said one of the victims is Jewish and that witnesses reported hearing the suspect shout "Allahu Akbar" during both assaults. Investigators are examining whether the incidents should be classified as hate crimes. Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales and said he is being investigated in connection with both stabbings. "Detectives are continuing to work the case and determine motive, but according to victim and witness statements, Morales yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants The attacks took place near West 84th Street and Central Park West, an area known for its large Jewish community. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had been briefed on what he called the "horrifying stabbings" and confirmed that the victims were an Asian man and a Jewish man. Also read: ‘He's the architect of the genocide against Palestinians’: Mamdani repeats Netanyahu will be arrested if he visits US "According to witness and victim statements, the perpetrator yelled 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks," Mamdani said. "The NYPD responded immediately and arrested Raul Morales in connection with both assaults, and I am grateful to the officers for their swift response." Authorities have not disclosed the conditions of the victims. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish a motive and determine whether hate crime charges are warranted. Also read: ‘Intended to degrade Iranian military capabilities’: US continues to strike Iran on 10th consecutive day

Police arrested suspect Raul Morales after two men were stabbed on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in potential antisemitic attacks where the assailant reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” according to officials.

Suspect arrested over alleged antisemitic stabbing attacks that wounded 2 in Manhattan

US President Donald Trump on Friday (July 24) said the United States would use frozen Iranian assets under its control to compensate for damage to ships and cargo caused by strikes in and around the Gulf. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that, until further notice, “any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto” would be paid for using Iranian funds held by the US government.&nbsp;“Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls,” Trump wrote.He added that the losses “may be very substantial” but argued that using the frozen assets was “the fair and equitable thing to do.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;Trump did not specify how the policy would be implemented or identify the incidents that would qualify for compensation.&nbsp;Iran has been subject to extensive US and Western sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of significant Iranian assets abroad, including oil revenues held in foreign accounts.There is no official estimate of the total value of Iranian assets frozen worldwide. However, media reports have previously estimated the amount to be between $100 billion and $123 billion.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/10-10-strategy-iran-s-ghalibaf-mocks-us-strategy-after-oil-prices-surge-past-100-1784845873885">‘10/10 strategy’: Iran's Ghalibaf mocks US strategy after oil prices surge past $100</a> &nbsp;Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where commercial shipping has faced repeated disruptions linked to the regional conflict. His announcement signals that the US administration intends to draw on Iranian funds under its control to meet compensation claims for maritime losses, although further details have not yet been provided.

Donald Trump announced the US will use frozen Iranian assets to compensate for maritime damages in the Gulf, amid rising tensions and shipping disruptions linked to regional conflicts.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (July 24) said the United States would use frozen Iranian assets under its control to compensate for damage to ships and cargo caused by strikes in and around the Gulf. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that, until further notice, “any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto” would be paid for using Iranian funds held by the US government. “Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls,” Trump wrote. He added that the losses “may be very substantial” but argued that using the frozen assets was “the fair and equitable thing to do.” Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants Trump did not specify how the policy would be implemented or identify the incidents that would qualify for compensation. Iran has been subject to extensive US and Western sanctions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of significant Iranian assets abroad, including oil revenues held in foreign accounts. There is no official estimate of the total value of Iranian assets frozen worldwide. However, media reports have previously estimated the amount to be between $100 billion and $123 billion. Also read: ‘10/10 strategy’: Iran's Ghalibaf mocks US strategy after oil prices surge past $100 Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where commercial shipping has faced repeated disruptions linked to the regional conflict. His announcement signals that the US administration intends to draw on Iranian funds under its control to meet compensation claims for maritime losses, although further details have not yet been provided.

Donald Trump announced the US will use frozen Iranian assets to compensate for maritime damages in the Gulf, amid rising tensions and shipping disruptions linked to regional conflicts.

‘All damages done to ships will be paid for by Iranian money’: Trump over strikes in Gulf

Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has ridiculed the United States' military strategy aimed at weakening Tehran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the approach has backfired by driving up global oil prices.In a sarcastic post on X, Ghalibaf wrote: "They wanted to punish Iran. Punished themselves with triple-digit oil instead. 10/10 strategy."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;His remarks came after Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, briefly climbed above $100 a barrel on Thursday following attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on two Saudi oil tankers.The comments come amid the continuing fallout from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has fuelled concerns over energy supplies and disrupted global markets.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-a-big-price-trump-issues-fresh-warning-as-he-receives-us-troops-killed-by-iran-1784760407508">'Pay a big price': Trump issues fresh warning as he receives US troops killed by Iran</a>&nbsp;Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its global growth forecast, citing the economic impact of the conflict. The IMF described the outlook as a "modest slowdown", revising its projected global growth rate for the year from 3.1 per cent to 3 per cent.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-pentagon-hiding-missile-shortage-from-trump-us-officials-raise-alarm-over-iran-war-readiness-1784677584736">Is Pentagon hiding missile shortage from Trump? US officials raise alarm over Iran war readiness</a>&nbsp;The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world's oil passes, remains at the centre of regional tensions, with markets closely monitoring developments over fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-s-the-architect-of-the-genocide-against-palestinians-despite-trump-s-remark-mamdani-repeats-netanyahu-will-be-arrested-if-visits-us-1784666149643">‘He's the architect of the genocide against Palestinians’: Mamdani repeats Netanyahu will be arrested if he visits US</a>Jul 22, 2026

Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked US military strategy near the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it backfired by pushing global Brent crude prices past $100 amid regional energy conflict.

Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has ridiculed the United States' military strategy aimed at weakening Tehran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the approach has backfired by driving up global oil prices. In a sarcastic post on X, Ghalibaf wrote: "They wanted to punish Iran. Punished themselves with triple-digit oil instead. 10/10 strategy." Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants His remarks came after Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, briefly climbed above $100 a barrel on Thursday following attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on two Saudi oil tankers. The comments come amid the continuing fallout from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has fuelled concerns over energy supplies and disrupted global markets. Also read: 'Pay a big price': Trump issues fresh warning as he receives US troops killed by Iran Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its global growth forecast, citing the economic impact of the conflict. The IMF described the outlook as a "modest slowdown", revising its projected global growth rate for the year from 3.1 per cent to 3 per cent. Also read: Is Pentagon hiding missile shortage from Trump? US officials raise alarm over Iran war readiness The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world's oil passes, remains at the centre of regional tensions, with markets closely monitoring developments over fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies. Also read: ‘He's the architect of the genocide against Palestinians’: Mamdani repeats Netanyahu will be arrested if he visits US Jul 22, 2026

Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked US military strategy near the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it backfired by pushing global Brent crude prices past $100 amid regional energy conflict.

‘10/10 strategy’: Iran's Ghalibaf mocks US strategy after oil prices surge past $100

The Trump administration on Friday (July 24) announced a fresh round of tariffs targeting 60 trading partners, saying the measures are aimed at countries that have failed to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports produced with forced labour.&nbsp;US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs were imposed following investigations conducted by his office under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. "The Trump administration is imposing tariffs on 60 trading partners for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor," Greer said in a statement.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-delusional-us-president-has-khamenei-s-adviser-warns-of-severe-response-to-any-us-strikes-on-bridges-or-power-plants-1784837345063">'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants</a>&nbsp;The move marks President Donald Trump's latest attempt to restore broad-based import tariffs after the US Supreme Court struck down his "Liberation Day" tariffs, which ranged from 10 per cent to 50 per cent and had been introduced last year under a national emergencies law. The court ruled that the legislation did not provide the legal authority for the sweeping tariff regime.&nbsp;Following the ruling, Trump introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff for 150 days, a measure that is due to expire on Friday. Greer said the latest tariffs were intended to address human rights abuses linked to forced labour in global supply chains.&nbsp;"President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labor from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," he said."Today's action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere," Greer added.&nbsp;The announcement came a day after the Trump administration signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a country that has long faced criticism from international rights organisations over its human rights record.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-saudi-nuclear-deal-opens-door-to-riyadh-s-uranium-enrichment-ambitions-here-s-how-1784766129922">US-Saudi nuclear deal opens door to Riyadh's uranium enrichment ambitions. Here’s how</a>&nbsp;Human Rights Watch has previously accused Saudi Arabia of using major sports and entertainment events to improve its international image while migrant workers, including those employed on projects linked to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, continue to face widespread labour abuses across multiple sectors.&nbsp;The administration has framed the new tariff measures as part of a broader effort to combat forced labour while reshaping US trade policy following the legal setback to Trump's earlier tariff programme.

The Trump administration announced new Section 301 tariffs on 60 trading partners, targeting countries that fail to prohibit or enforce bans on goods produced using forced labour.

The Trump administration on Friday (July 24) announced a fresh round of tariffs targeting 60 trading partners, saying the measures are aimed at countries that have failed to prohibit and effectively enforce bans on imports produced with forced labour. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs were imposed following investigations conducted by his office under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. "The Trump administration is imposing tariffs on 60 trading partners for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor," Greer said in a statement. Also read: 'The delusional US president has...': Khamenei’s adviser warns of ‘severe’ response to any US strikes on bridges or power plants The move marks President Donald Trump's latest attempt to restore broad-based import tariffs after the US Supreme Court struck down his "Liberation Day" tariffs, which ranged from 10 per cent to 50 per cent and had been introduced last year under a national emergencies law. The court ruled that the legislation did not provide the legal authority for the sweeping tariff regime. Following the ruling, Trump introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff for 150 days, a measure that is due to expire on Friday. Greer said the latest tariffs were intended to address human rights abuses linked to forced labour in global supply chains. "President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labor from global supply chains. The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," he said. "Today's action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere," Greer added. The announcement came a day after the Trump administration signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, a country that has long faced criticism from international rights organisations over its human rights record. Also read: US-Saudi nuclear deal opens door to Riyadh's uranium enrichment ambitions. Here’s how Human Rights Watch has previously accused Saudi Arabia of using major sports and entertainment events to improve its international image while migrant workers, including those employed on projects linked to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, continue to face widespread labour abuses across multiple sectors. The administration has framed the new tariff measures as part of a broader effort to combat forced labour while reshaping US trade policy following the legal setback to Trump's earlier tariff programme.

The Trump administration announced new Section 301 tariffs on 60 trading partners, targeting countries that fail to prohibit or enforce bans on goods produced using forced labour.

Trump imposes fresh tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced labour concerns

Lisa Su just made the most aggressive move of AMD's history. At the Advancing AI 2026 conference in San Francisco, she unveiled the hardware AMD believes can break Nvidia's stranglehold on artificial intelligence — and she brought receipts: OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle have all signed up.&nbsp;The MI450: AMD's AI Superchip&nbsp;The centrepiece of the event was the Instinct MI450, AMD's next-generation AI accelerator. The chip packs 432 gigabytes of HBM4 memory — high-bandwidth memory that is the critical bottleneck in training large AI models. AMD claims the MI450 delivers roughly 10 times the training performance of the MI300X, the company's current flagship.&nbsp;Whether that multiplier holds in real-world workloads remains to be seen — vendor performance claims at launch events routinely overstate gains compared to independent benchmarks. But even discounted, the MI450 represents a generational leap that puts AMD in direct competition with Nvidia's Blackwell architecture for the first time at the frontier scale.&nbsp;EPYC Venice: The First 2nm Server CPU&nbsp;Alongside the GPU, AMD unveiled EPYC Venice — the first x86 server processor in volume production on TSMC's 2-nanometre process node. The move to 2nm gives Venice a significant power-efficiency advantage over current server CPUs, which matters enormously in data centres where electricity consumption is becoming the binding constraint on scale.&nbsp;Venice is designed to pair with the MI450 in AMD's Helios rack system, a fully integrated AI training platform that AMD is positioning as a turnkey alternative to Nvidia's DGX infrastructure. The rack delivers 31 terabytes of HBM4 memory across its GPU complement.&nbsp;The Customer Commitments&nbsp;Hardware specifications are one thing. Customer commitments are another, and here AMD delivered its strongest evidence yet that the industry is ready to diversify beyond Nvidia.&nbsp;OpenAI has committed to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU capacity under a multi-generation agreement signed in October 2025, with the first gigawatt of MI450 deployments beginning in the second half of 2026. Meta signed a matching 6-gigawatt deal in February 2026, centred on custom MI450 GPUs paired with Venice CPUs. Microsoft and Oracle have also committed to significant AMD deployments, absorbing what AMD says is the near-term supply.&nbsp;Six gigawatts is an extraordinary number. For reference, a typical nuclear power plant generates about one gigawatt. OpenAI alone has committed to the AI computing equivalent of six nuclear plants' worth of AMD hardware.&nbsp;The Nvidia Challenge&nbsp;AMD's pitch is straightforward: comparable performance at competitive pricing, with an open software ecosystem built on ROCm 7 that avoids the lock-in of Nvidia's proprietary CUDA platform. The problem has always been software maturity — Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem has a decade-long head start, and most AI researchers and engineers have built their workflows around it.&nbsp;AMD is betting that the sheer scale of demand — and the desire of companies like OpenAI and Meta to avoid single-supplier dependency — will overcome the switching costs. The gigawatt-scale commitments suggest that bet is working, at least at the hyperscaler level.&nbsp;What Comes Next&nbsp;Su also previewed the MI500, scheduled for 2027, which AMD claims will deliver 1,000 times the training performance of the MI300X. That claim is aspirational and should be treated accordingly — but the roadmap signals that AMD views AI hardware as its defining business for the rest of the decade.&nbsp;The AI chip market has been Nvidia's monopoly for the past three years. AMD's Advancing AI event did not end that monopoly. But 12 gigawatts of committed capacity from OpenAI and Meta, the first 2nm server CPU, and a GPU with 432GB of HBM4 represent the most credible challenge Nvidia has faced since the AI boom began.

At Advancing AI 2026, AMD unveiled the MI450 with 432GB HBM4, EPYC Venice on TSMC 2nm, and the Helios rack. OpenAI committed 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs, Meta matched with 6GW more — the most serious challenge to Nvidia's AI dominance.

Lisa Su just made the most aggressive move of AMD's history. At the Advancing AI 2026 conference in San Francisco, she unveiled the hardware AMD believes can break Nvidia's stranglehold on artificial intelligence — and she brought receipts: OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle have all signed up. The MI450: AMD's AI Superchip The centrepiece of the event was the Instinct MI450, AMD's next-generation AI accelerator. The chip packs 432 gigabytes of HBM4 memory — high-bandwidth memory that is the critical bottleneck in training large AI models. AMD claims the MI450 delivers roughly 10 times the training performance of the MI300X, the company's current flagship. Whether that multiplier holds in real-world workloads remains to be seen — vendor performance claims at launch events routinely overstate gains compared to independent benchmarks. But even discounted, the MI450 represents a generational leap that puts AMD in direct competition with Nvidia's Blackwell architecture for the first time at the frontier scale. EPYC Venice: The First 2nm Server CPU Alongside the GPU, AMD unveiled EPYC Venice — the first x86 server processor in volume production on TSMC's 2-nanometre process node. The move to 2nm gives Venice a significant power-efficiency advantage over current server CPUs, which matters enormously in data centres where electricity consumption is becoming the binding constraint on scale. Venice is designed to pair with the MI450 in AMD's Helios rack system, a fully integrated AI training platform that AMD is positioning as a turnkey alternative to Nvidia's DGX infrastructure. The rack delivers 31 terabytes of HBM4 memory across its GPU complement. The Customer Commitments Hardware specifications are one thing. Customer commitments are another, and here AMD delivered its strongest evidence yet that the industry is ready to diversify beyond Nvidia. OpenAI has committed to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU capacity under a multi-generation agreement signed in October 2025, with the first gigawatt of MI450 deployments beginning in the second half of 2026. Meta signed a matching 6-gigawatt deal in February 2026, centred on custom MI450 GPUs paired with Venice CPUs. Microsoft and Oracle have also committed to significant AMD deployments, absorbing what AMD says is the near-term supply. Six gigawatts is an extraordinary number. For reference, a typical nuclear power plant generates about one gigawatt. OpenAI alone has committed to the AI computing equivalent of six nuclear plants' worth of AMD hardware. The Nvidia Challenge AMD's pitch is straightforward: comparable performance at competitive pricing, with an open software ecosystem built on ROCm 7 that avoids the lock-in of Nvidia's proprietary CUDA platform. The problem has always been software maturity — Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem has a decade-long head start, and most AI researchers and engineers have built their workflows around it. AMD is betting that the sheer scale of demand — and the desire of companies like OpenAI and Meta to avoid single-supplier dependency — will overcome the switching costs. The gigawatt-scale commitments suggest that bet is working, at least at the hyperscaler level. What Comes Next Su also previewed the MI500, scheduled for 2027, which AMD claims will deliver 1,000 times the training performance of the MI300X. That claim is aspirational and should be treated accordingly — but the roadmap signals that AMD views AI hardware as its defining business for the rest of the decade. The AI chip market has been Nvidia's monopoly for the past three years. AMD's Advancing AI event did not end that monopoly. But 12 gigawatts of committed capacity from OpenAI and Meta, the first 2nm server CPU, and a GPU with 432GB of HBM4 represent the most credible challenge Nvidia has faced since the AI boom began.

At AMD's Advancing AI 2026 event in San Francisco, CEO Lisa Su unveiled the Instinct MI450 accelerator with 432GB of HBM4, the EPYC Venice CPU on TSMC's 2nm process, and the Helios rack system. OpenAI has committed 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU capacity, with Meta signing a matching 6-gigawatt deal — the most serious challenge to Nvidia's AI dominance yet.

AMD unveils its Nvidia killer: MI450 superchip gets OpenAI's 6-gigawatt backing

OpenAI is now planning to spend three-quarters of a trillion dollars on computing infrastructure by 2030. Its own chief financial officer is not sure the company can afford it.&nbsp;The New Number&nbsp;According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI has raised its projected compute spending through 2030 to approximately $750 billion — up from the roughly $600 billion figure it had communicated to investors earlier this year. The increase reflects both new infrastructure deals and expanded commitments on existing ones, as the company's appetite for computing power continues to accelerate faster than even its own projections.&nbsp;To put the number in context: $750 billion exceeds the entire gross domestic product of Switzerland. It is more than the combined market capitalisation of most Fortune 500 companies. And it is being planned by a company that, by its own most recent disclosure, is not yet profitable.&nbsp;Project Camellia&nbsp;The centrepiece of the new spending is Project Camellia, a $20 billion data centre in Effingham County, Georgia, that OpenAI announced this week. It marks the first time the company is designing and building its own data centre rather than leasing capacity from cloud providers — a transition from tenant to landlord that signals OpenAI's belief that it will need more compute than any existing provider can supply.&nbsp;The Georgia facility includes a 3.2-gigawatt power contract — roughly the electricity consumption of a city of two million people. The scale of the power requirement alone illustrates why OpenAI's infrastructure ambitions are becoming as much an energy story as a technology story.&nbsp;The Contracts On The Books&nbsp;Project Camellia sits within a broader web of infrastructure commitments that OpenAI has assembled over the past year. Among the deals already signed: a contract with Oracle covering 6 gigawatts of data centre capacity, an expanded arrangement with Amazon Web Services worth $138 billion across eight years, and a separate pledge of $250 billion in incremental spending through Microsoft Azure.&nbsp;Each of these contracts individually would rank among the largest infrastructure deals in corporate history. Combined, they represent a bet on future computing demand that has no precedent in any industry.&nbsp;The CFO's Concern&nbsp;Not everyone inside OpenAI shares the confidence. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar has privately raised concerns that the company may not be able to honour its future computing contracts if revenue growth does not keep pace with the commitments being made, according to the Journal's reporting.&nbsp;The concern is not abstract. OpenAI's compute contracts are binding obligations. If the company's revenue — currently driven primarily by ChatGPT subscriptions and API access — does not grow fast enough to cover the payments, OpenAI would face a cash crisis even as it sits on some of the most advanced technology in the world.&nbsp;Friar's involvement became publicly visible earlier when CEO Sam Altman stated that OpenAI intended to spend $1.4 trillion on computing capacity — a figure that unsettled investors. Friar subsequently stepped in to correct the record, telling investors the actual projected outlay through 2030 was approximately $600 billion. That number has now risen to $750 billion, suggesting the trajectory Friar was trying to moderate is accelerating beyond her corrections.&nbsp;The Strategic Logic&nbsp;OpenAI's spending makes sense only under one assumption: that demand for AI compute will continue to grow faster than supply for the rest of the decade. If that assumption holds, every dollar spent on infrastructure today secures capacity that will be worth multiples tomorrow. If it does not, OpenAI will be locked into contracts for computing power it cannot use and cannot afford.&nbsp;The company that started as a non-profit research lab less than a decade ago is now making the largest infrastructure bet in corporate history — and its own finance chief is on record worrying about whether the maths works.

OpenAI raised its compute spending projection to $750 billion through 2030, up from $600 billion. Project Camellia is a $20 billion self-built data centre in Georgia. CFO Sarah Friar has privately warned the company may not be able to honour its contracts.

OpenAI is now planning to spend three-quarters of a trillion dollars on computing infrastructure by 2030. Its own chief financial officer is not sure the company can afford it. The New Number According to The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI has raised its projected compute spending through 2030 to approximately $750 billion — up from the roughly $600 billion figure it had communicated to investors earlier this year. The increase reflects both new infrastructure deals and expanded commitments on existing ones, as the company's appetite for computing power continues to accelerate faster than even its own projections. To put the number in context: $750 billion exceeds the entire gross domestic product of Switzerland. It is more than the combined market capitalisation of most Fortune 500 companies. And it is being planned by a company that, by its own most recent disclosure, is not yet profitable. Project Camellia The centrepiece of the new spending is Project Camellia, a $20 billion data centre in Effingham County, Georgia, that OpenAI announced this week. It marks the first time the company is designing and building its own data centre rather than leasing capacity from cloud providers — a transition from tenant to landlord that signals OpenAI's belief that it will need more compute than any existing provider can supply. The Georgia facility includes a 3.2-gigawatt power contract — roughly the electricity consumption of a city of two million people. The scale of the power requirement alone illustrates why OpenAI's infrastructure ambitions are becoming as much an energy story as a technology story. The Contracts On The Books Project Camellia sits within a broader web of infrastructure commitments that OpenAI has assembled over the past year. Among the deals already signed: a contract with Oracle covering 6 gigawatts of data centre capacity, an expanded arrangement with Amazon Web Services worth $138 billion across eight years, and a separate pledge of $250 billion in incremental spending through Microsoft Azure. Each of these contracts individually would rank among the largest infrastructure deals in corporate history. Combined, they represent a bet on future computing demand that has no precedent in any industry. The CFO's Concern Not everyone inside OpenAI shares the confidence. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar has privately raised concerns that the company may not be able to honour its future computing contracts if revenue growth does not keep pace with the commitments being made, according to the Journal's reporting. The concern is not abstract. OpenAI's compute contracts are binding obligations. If the company's revenue — currently driven primarily by ChatGPT subscriptions and API access — does not grow fast enough to cover the payments, OpenAI would face a cash crisis even as it sits on some of the most advanced technology in the world. Friar's involvement became publicly visible earlier when CEO Sam Altman stated that OpenAI intended to spend $1.4 trillion on computing capacity — a figure that unsettled investors. Friar subsequently stepped in to correct the record, telling investors the actual projected outlay through 2030 was approximately $600 billion. That number has now risen to $750 billion, suggesting the trajectory Friar was trying to moderate is accelerating beyond her corrections. The Strategic Logic OpenAI's spending makes sense only under one assumption: that demand for AI compute will continue to grow faster than supply for the rest of the decade. If that assumption holds, every dollar spent on infrastructure today secures capacity that will be worth multiples tomorrow. If it does not, OpenAI will be locked into contracts for computing power it cannot use and cannot afford. The company that started as a non-profit research lab less than a decade ago is now making the largest infrastructure bet in corporate history — and its own finance chief is on record worrying about whether the maths works.

OpenAI has raised its projected compute spending through 2030 from $600 billion to approximately $750 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company announced a $20 billion data centre called Project Camellia in Georgia — its first self-built facility. But CFO Sarah Friar has privately raised concerns that OpenAI may not be able to honour its contracts if revenue growth does not keep pace.

'OpenAI's $750 Billion Bet': The biggest infrastructure gamble in corporate history

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