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The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday arrested Indian-origin Nitish Kaushal in Vermont, just days after placing him on its Most Wanted list as part of an investigation into transnational organised crime.&nbsp;The agency said the arrest marked a significant step in its action against the Bhagwanpuria organised crime group.&nbsp;According to the FBI, Kaushal is accused of involvement in offences including murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking in the United States. Investigators alleged that he committed violent crimes, including kidnappings and assaults, while working for the Bhagwanpuria network.&nbsp;"Nitish Kaushal is wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organisation engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling," the agency had said earlier this week.&nbsp;The FBI had earlier warned that Kaushal should be treated as armed, dangerous and likely to flee.&nbsp;Court records show that the US District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant against him on June 25 after prosecutors charged him with racketeering conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nitish Kaushal is <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/wanted?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wanted</a> by the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organization engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. This… <a href="https://t.co/xuEXpJIx6u">pic.twitter.com/xuEXpJIx6u</a>&mdash; FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) <a href="https://x.com/FBIMostWanted/status/2077091021222015445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Who is Nitish Kaushal?</h2>Nitish Kaushal, who is also known by the alias Lala, is an Indian citizen born on June 15, 2000. The FBI alleged that he carried out violent operations, including kidnappings and assaults, for the Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="v">Andy Burnham set to become UK PM, replacing Starmer as Britain gets its seventh premier in a decade</a>&nbsp;According to the agency, the gang originated in Punjab before expanding its activities to California's Central District and other locations. The organisation has been linked to murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling.&nbsp;The FBI placed Kaushal on its wanted list under Operation Hard Ball, an international campaign aimed at dismantling organised crime groups with links to India. Officials said the Bhagwanpuria network had established operations outside India, prompting coordinated action by law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;His arrest came during Operation Hard Ball, under which authorities carried out coordinated raids in the United States, Canada and Europe as part of a broader effort to dismantle transnational criminal syndicates.&nbsp;Earlier this month, US federal prosecutors charged 37 individuals, including jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Goldy Brar, with ordering the assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The list of accused also includes Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Ravinder Singh Dhanda, Rohit Godara and several other alleged members of organised crime groups.

The FBI arrested Nitish Kaushal in Vermont days after placing him on its Most Wanted list, alleging he carried out kidnappings and assaults for the Punjab-based Bhagwanpuria organised crime group.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday arrested Indian-origin Nitish Kaushal in Vermont, just days after placing him on its Most Wanted list as part of an investigation into transnational organised crime. The agency said the arrest marked a significant step in its action against the Bhagwanpuria organised crime group. According to the FBI, Kaushal is accused of involvement in offences including murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking in the United States. Investigators alleged that he committed violent crimes, including kidnappings and assaults, while working for the Bhagwanpuria network. "Nitish Kaushal is wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organisation engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling," the agency had said earlier this week. The FBI had earlier warned that Kaushal should be treated as armed, dangerous and likely to flee. Court records show that the US District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant against him on June 25 after prosecutors charged him with racketeering conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act.

The FBI arrested Nitish Kaushal in Vermont days after placing him on its Most Wanted list, alleging he carried out kidnappings and assaults for the Punjab-based Bhagwanpuria organised crime group.

Who is Nitish Kaushal? FBI nabs alleged Bhagwanpuria gang operative after placing him on Most Wanted list

Veteran UK politician Andy Burnham was on Friday (July 17, 2026) confirmed as the new leader of the ruling Labour Party and is now set to become Britain's next prime minister.&nbsp;"There being no other eligible nominated candidate, it is therefore my honour to declare that the duly elected leader of the Labour Party is Andy Burnham," Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood told a special party conference.&nbsp;Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer, who stepped down last month after months of political turmoil, scandals and a series of missteps.&nbsp;Labour continues to hold a commanding majority in parliament after winning the 2024 general election. As a result, the party's new leader automatically becomes prime minister without the need for a fresh national vote.&nbsp;The leadership change comes only four weeks after Burnham made a surprise return to parliament following a nine-year absence, with the clear aim of replacing Starmer.<h2>Burnham returns to national politics</h2>Burnham will become the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade. Labour lawmakers believe he offers the party its strongest chance of countering Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party, which opinion polls suggest could emerge as the winner in the next general election expected in 2029.&nbsp;Known as the "King of the North" after winning three consecutive elections as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham has made greater devolution one of his main priorities. He wants to hand more powers to cities across Britain to boost economic growth, including through the creation of a "No. 10 North" office.&nbsp;After unsuccessful leadership bids in 2010 and 2015, he has now secured the party leadership on his third attempt after facing no challenger.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-america-heading-towards-popular-revolution-tucker-carlson-raises-concerns-over-growing-discontent-1784286142299">Is America heading towards popular revolution? Tucker Carlson raises concerns over growing discontent</a><h2>Challenges await the new prime minister</h2>Burnham received the support of 379 of Labour's 403 MPs, while no rival secured the 81 nominations required to enter the contest.&nbsp;He now takes office facing many of the same issues that troubled his predecessor. These include a weak economy, high government borrowing costs and rising concern over irregular migrants arriving in small boats, which has helped increase support for Reform UK.&nbsp;Unpredictable energy prices linked to the US-Iran war and an unpredictable US president are also expected to test his government.&nbsp;Burnham will formally take office after meeting the head of state, Charles III. He has pledged to honour Labour's 2024 election manifesto by not increasing the country's main taxes.&nbsp;He will also have to find funding to cover a £4.7 billion or $6.3 billion shortfall over four years in Britain's defence investment plan while dealing with the politically sensitive issue of welfare reform.

Andy Burnham was confirmed as the new Labour leader, replacing Keir Starmer and setting the stage for him to become Britain's next prime minister.

Veteran UK politician Andy Burnham was on Friday (July 17, 2026) confirmed as the new leader of the ruling Labour Party and is now set to become Britain's next prime minister. "There being no other eligible nominated candidate, it is therefore my honour to declare that the duly elected leader of the Labour Party is Andy Burnham," Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood told a special party conference. Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer, who stepped down last month after months of political turmoil, scandals and a series of missteps. Labour continues to hold a commanding majority in parliament after winning the 2024 general election. As a result, the party's new leader automatically becomes prime minister without the need for a fresh national vote. The leadership change comes only four weeks after Burnham made a surprise return to parliament following a nine-year absence, with the clear aim of replacing Starmer. Burnham returns to national politics Burnham will become the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade. Labour lawmakers believe he offers the party its strongest chance of countering Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party, which opinion polls suggest could emerge as the winner in the next general election expected in 2029. Known as the "King of the North" after winning three consecutive elections as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham has made greater devolution one of his main priorities. He wants to hand more powers to cities across Britain to boost economic growth, including through the creation of a "No. 10 North" office. After unsuccessful leadership bids in 2010 and 2015, he has now secured the party leadership on his third attempt after facing no challenger. Also Read: Is America heading towards popular revolution? Tucker Carlson raises concerns over growing discontent Challenges await the new prime minister Burnham received the support of 379 of Labour's 403 MPs, while no rival secured the 81 nominations required to enter the contest. He now takes office facing many of the same issues that troubled his predecessor. These include a weak economy, high government borrowing costs and rising concern over irregular migrants arriving in small boats, which has helped increase support for Reform UK. Unpredictable energy prices linked to the US-Iran war and an unpredictable US president are also expected to test his government. Burnham will formally take office after meeting the head of state, Charles III. He has pledged to honour Labour's 2024 election manifesto by not increasing the country's main taxes. He will also have to find funding to cover a £4.7 billion or $6.3 billion shortfall over four years in Britain's defence investment plan while dealing with the politically sensitive issue of welfare reform.

Andy Burnham was confirmed as the new Labour leader, replacing Keir Starmer and setting the stage for him to become Britain's next prime minister.

Andy Burnham set to become UK PM, replacing Starmer as Britain gets its seventh premier in a decade

Italy has approved a landmark law aimed at breaking the cycle of mafia influence passing from one generation to another. The “Free to Choose” bill will give children and young relatives of organised crime families a chance to leave behind criminal networks and build independent lives.The legislation, approved by the Senate on Wednesday (Jul 15), applies to young people under the age of 25. Those seeking a fresh start can receive support including relocation to safer cities, access to education and, if required, protection through a new identity. Around 400 young people are expected to join the programme every year.<h2>Breaking the mafia family chain</h2>The law targets a long-standing feature of Italy’s organised crime groups, especially the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta, where family ties have helped preserve criminal power for generations. Sons and younger relatives are often pushed into taking over roles within clans, keeping the organisations alive despite arrests and major trials.<h2>From controversial programme to national law</h2>The legislation builds on the “Liberi di Scegliere” (Free to Choose) initiative launched in 2011 by Roberto Di Bella, former president of the youth court in Reggio Calabria.The programme allowed authorities to remove children from dangerous mafia environments and help them create new futures through education, counselling and social support. Initially criticised by some groups as interference in family life, it later received support from mothers inside mafia households who feared their children would be drawn into crime.<h2>A new path away from organised crime</h2>Under the new law, mothers can relocate with their children if they agree to sever links with mafia groups. If parents continue criminal involvement, children may be placed in protected care or with vetted foster families.Supporters say the move changes Italy’s approach to fighting organised crime by focusing not only on arrests but also on preventing young people from inheriting the mafia legacy. Prosecutors believe the law could become a model for tackling similar criminal networks worldwide.

Italy has passed the ‘Free to Choose’ law to help children and young relatives of mafia families escape organised crime through relocation, education, protection and a chance at a new life.

Italy has approved a landmark law aimed at breaking the cycle of mafia influence passing from one generation to another. The “Free to Choose” bill will give children and young relatives of organised crime families a chance to leave behind criminal networks and build independent lives. The legislation, approved by the Senate on Wednesday (Jul 15), applies to young people under the age of 25. Those seeking a fresh start can receive support including relocation to safer cities, access to education and, if required, protection through a new identity. Around 400 young people are expected to join the programme every year. Breaking the mafia family chain The law targets a long-standing feature of Italy’s organised crime groups, especially the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta, where family ties have helped preserve criminal power for generations. Sons and younger relatives are often pushed into taking over roles within clans, keeping the organisations alive despite arrests and major trials. From controversial programme to national law The legislation builds on the “Liberi di Scegliere” (Free to Choose) initiative launched in 2011 by Roberto Di Bella, former president of the youth court in Reggio Calabria. The programme allowed authorities to remove children from dangerous mafia environments and help them create new futures through education, counselling and social support. Initially criticised by some groups as interference in family life, it later received support from mothers inside mafia households who feared their children would be drawn into crime. A new path away from organised crime Under the new law, mothers can relocate with their children if they agree to sever links with mafia groups. If parents continue criminal involvement, children may be placed in protected care or with vetted foster families. Supporters say the move changes Italy’s approach to fighting organised crime by focusing not only on arrests but also on preventing young people from inheriting the mafia legacy. Prosecutors believe the law could become a model for tackling similar criminal networks worldwide.

Italy has passed the ‘Free to Choose’ law to help children and young relatives of mafia families escape organised crime through relocation, education, protection and a chance at a new life.

Italy approves ‘free to choose’ bill: How will it help mafia women and children escape crime?

Prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who campaigned for Donald Trump during his 2024 reelection bid, warned that the United States faces a growing risk of a popular revolution due to what he described as the political leadership's indifference toward ordinary Americans.&nbsp;"We have leaders who have contempt for us, who take us for granted, who use us, who lie to us, who really don't care about us at all," Carlson said in an interview with Bloomberg.&nbsp;Carlson pointed to the decline in American life expectancy as a sign of deeper problems. He said the shrinking middle class has fuelled public dissatisfaction across the country.&nbsp;"And we know that because when life expectancy declines, when people die younger, when the middle class disappears as it did 11 years ago, and nobody says anything about it," he said.&nbsp;Carlson's argument refers to statistical reports released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the figures, the United States recorded a historic 2.7-year fall in life expectancy between 2020 and 2021, bringing the national average down to 76.1 years, the lowest level since 1996.&nbsp;He argued that the United States continues to trail other wealthy countries, which average 82.7 years in life expectancy. He also said rural communities and low-income groups have suffered the most from the country's health crisis.&nbsp;When Carlson was asked about the pessimistic picture he was painting about life in the world's largest economy, he rejected that characterisation.&nbsp;"It's not a bleak picture. It's a normal, human picture."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-from-china-election-claims-to-inflation-here-s-what-trump-got-right-and-wrong-in-his-national-address-1784272026916">Fact check: From China election claims to inflation, here's what Trump got right — and wrong — in his national address</a>&nbsp;"Success breeds decadence, which spurs collapse, and then you have a reset. And hopefully it's a non-dramatic reset where people just kind of come to their senses and recall why they were successful in the first place and do those things. I don't want revolution, but we're going to get a revolution if this continues," Carlson said.&nbsp;Carlson said he does not support political violence but warned that people could eventually turn to violent means if they believe voting no longer offers a way to bring change.&nbsp;"If you convey to people that their vote does not matter, that there's no nonviolent way to be heard, they will by definition, over time, resort to violence. I don't want that," Carlson added.&nbsp;Carlson, who spent nearly two decades in mainstream media, later withdrew his support for President Donald Trump over the US-Israeli war on Iran. He also accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and questioned its influence on American politics, saying the United States has backed the country with military aid and diplomatic support over the years.&nbsp;He also suggested Vice President JD Vance as a future Republican presidential candidate, saying Vance would not have allowed the United States to become involved in a war with Iran and accusing Israel of dragging America into the conflict.

Tucker Carlson warned that growing public discontent, declining trust in political leaders and a shrinking middle class could push the US towards a popular revolution if people lose faith in democratic processes.

Prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who campaigned for Donald Trump during his 2024 reelection bid, warned that the United States faces a growing risk of a popular revolution due to what he described as the political leadership's indifference toward ordinary Americans. "We have leaders who have contempt for us, who take us for granted, who use us, who lie to us, who really don't care about us at all," Carlson said in an interview with Bloomberg. Carlson pointed to the decline in American life expectancy as a sign of deeper problems. He said the shrinking middle class has fuelled public dissatisfaction across the country. "And we know that because when life expectancy declines, when people die younger, when the middle class disappears as it did 11 years ago, and nobody says anything about it," he said. Carlson's argument refers to statistical reports released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the figures, the United States recorded a historic 2.7-year fall in life expectancy between 2020 and 2021, bringing the national average down to 76.1 years, the lowest level since 1996. He argued that the United States continues to trail other wealthy countries, which average 82.7 years in life expectancy. He also said rural communities and low-income groups have suffered the most from the country's health crisis. When Carlson was asked about the pessimistic picture he was painting about life in the world's largest economy, he rejected that characterisation. "It's not a bleak picture. It's a normal, human picture." Also Read: Fact check: From China election claims to inflation, here's what Trump got right — and wrong — in his national address "Success breeds decadence, which spurs collapse, and then you have a reset. And hopefully it's a non-dramatic reset where people just kind of come to their senses and recall why they were successful in the first place and do those things. I don't want revolution, but we're going to get a revolution if this continues," Carlson said. Carlson said he does not support political violence but warned that people could eventually turn to violent means if they believe voting no longer offers a way to bring change. "If you convey to people that their vote does not matter, that there's no nonviolent way to be heard, they will by definition, over time, resort to violence. I don't want that," Carlson added. Carlson, who spent nearly two decades in mainstream media, later withdrew his support for President Donald Trump over the US-Israeli war on Iran. He also accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and questioned its influence on American politics, saying the United States has backed the country with military aid and diplomatic support over the years. He also suggested Vice President JD Vance as a future Republican presidential candidate, saying Vance would not have allowed the United States to become involved in a war with Iran and accusing Israel of dragging America into the conflict.

Tucker Carlson warned that growing public discontent, declining trust in political leaders and a shrinking middle class could push the US towards a popular revolution if people lose faith in democratic processes.

Is America heading towards popular revolution? Tucker Carlson raises concerns over growing discontent

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday (Jul 17) said that Taco Bell has removed lettuce from a supplier that is linked to an ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the country. The parasitic intestinal illness has affected more than 1,600 people across several states. An investigation as identified a possible connection between shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell outlets and reported infections.According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,644 people who tested positive for cyclosporiasis after reportedly consuming food from Taco Bell in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. At least 94 people have been hospitalised, although no fatality due to the infection has been reported.“The affected ingredient from ​our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced ⁠within 24 hours in select states,” Taco bell said in a statement.While the supplier has not been publicly identified by either FDA or Taco Bell, The Washington Post named California-based supplier Taylor Farms as a potential source of the contaminated lettuce.<h2>Is Trump to blame?</h2>The outbreak has brought Trump administration under scrutiny, with health experts and Democrats saying US President Donald Trump’s health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr failed to contain the infection. They have alleged that the efforts to control the outbreak have been hampered by the administration under the banner of “government efficiency”.Actor and comedian Ike Barinholtz took aim at Donald Trump during his guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, linking the president to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US.“I wanted to give the president the credit he deserves,” Barinholtz said sarcastically during the show on Wednesday before referring to the parasite as “Trump diarrhea.”The actor described the outbreak as “hard to contain” while criticising the US response to the crisis. He pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision last year under the Trump administration to halt routine tracking of the parasite that causes severe diarrhoea. Meanwhile, Taco Bell is also facing scrutiny over a possible link to a reported parasite infection, according to The Mirror.

Taco Bell removed lettuce linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has infected 1,644 people in the US. The crisis has also triggered criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the health scare.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday (Jul 17) said that Taco Bell has removed lettuce from a supplier that is linked to an ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the country. The parasitic intestinal illness has affected more than 1,600 people across several states. An investigation as identified a possible connection between shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell outlets and reported infections. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,644 people who tested positive for cyclosporiasis after reportedly consuming food from Taco Bell in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. At least 94 people have been hospitalised, although no fatality due to the infection has been reported. “The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced ⁠within 24 hours in select states,” Taco bell said in a statement. While the supplier has not been publicly identified by either FDA or Taco Bell, The Washington Post named California-based supplier Taylor Farms as a potential source of the contaminated lettuce. Is Trump to blame? The outbreak has brought Trump administration under scrutiny, with health experts and Democrats saying US President Donald Trump’s health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr failed to contain the infection. They have alleged that the efforts to control the outbreak have been hampered by the administration under the banner of “government efficiency”. Actor and comedian Ike Barinholtz took aim at Donald Trump during his guest-hosting stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, linking the president to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US. “I wanted to give the president the credit he deserves,” Barinholtz said sarcastically during the show on Wednesday before referring to the parasite as “Trump diarrhea.” The actor described the outbreak as “hard to contain” while criticising the US response to the crisis. He pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision last year under the Trump administration to halt routine tracking of the parasite that causes severe diarrhoea. Meanwhile, Taco Bell is also facing scrutiny over a possible link to a reported parasite infection, according to The Mirror.

Taco Bell removed lettuce linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has infected 1,644 people in the US. The crisis has also triggered criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the health scare.

‘Trump diarrhea’: US government faces heat as Taco Bell removes lettuce over cyclosporiasis outbreak

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Friday (July 17) claimed they struck US military aircraft stationed in Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones. The attack, IRGC said was in response to the overnight US strikes on multiple places in Iran that claimed the lives of at least eight people.&nbsp;Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets were destroyed in the attack, according to IRGC, while many more were “seriously damaged".&nbsp;They also called on Jordanians to target “the interests of the aggressive and anti-Islamic Americans” in their country.&nbsp;Iran also attacked military sites in Kuwait, Syria, Oman, &nbsp;Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-boat-tragedy-over-500-feared-dead-after-boats-carrying-refugees-capsize-off-myanmar-1784278344720">Rohingya boat tragedy: Over 500 feared dead after boats carrying refugees capsize off Myanmar</a> In a statement carried by Iranian state TV, Iran said that it had deployed drones in Kuwait, targeting “the deployment sites of US forces and the logistical support centers of the ‘terrorist’ and ‘child-killing’ US military.&nbsp;<h2>Iran urges citizens to cut electricity use</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran’s energy ministry urged its citizens to reduce electricity use after US struck energy infrastructure in the south and the power grid came under strain.&nbsp;The power ministry in a statement urged people to switch off air conditioners during extreme heat “to help ensure a stable electricity supply in the southern provinces, which are currently facing extreme heat and attacks on electricity supply facilities.”&nbsp;<h2>Several killed in US Strikes</h2>&nbsp;Iran’s health ministry on Friday (Jul 17) reported that at least 38 people were killed while more than 400 were injured in US strikes on the Islamic Republic since fighting resumed between the two countries on June 22.&nbsp;“The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred” since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour posted on X. “Among them are 22 injured women, three martyred women, nine injured under the age of 18, and one martyr under 18.”

Iran’s energy ministry urged its citizens to reduce electricity use after US struck energy infrastructure in the south and the power grid came under strain.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Friday (July 17) claimed they struck US military aircraft stationed in Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones. The attack, IRGC said was in response to the overnight US strikes on multiple places in Iran that claimed the lives of at least eight people. Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets were destroyed in the attack, according to IRGC, while many more were “seriously damaged". They also called on Jordanians to target “the interests of the aggressive and anti-Islamic Americans” in their country. Iran also attacked military sites in Kuwait, Syria, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq. ALSO READ: Rohingya boat tragedy: Over 500 feared dead after boats carrying refugees capsize off Myanmar In a statement carried by Iranian state TV, Iran said that it had deployed drones in Kuwait, targeting “the deployment sites of US forces and the logistical support centers of the ‘terrorist’ and ‘child-killing’ US military. Iran urges citizens to cut electricity use Meanwhile, Iran’s energy ministry urged its citizens to reduce electricity use after US struck energy infrastructure in the south and the power grid came under strain. The power ministry in a statement urged people to switch off air conditioners during extreme heat “to help ensure a stable electricity supply in the southern provinces, which are currently facing extreme heat and attacks on electricity supply facilities.” Several killed in US Strikes Iran’s health ministry on Friday (Jul 17) reported that at least 38 people were killed while more than 400 were injured in US strikes on the Islamic Republic since fighting resumed between the two countries on June 22. “The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred” since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour posted on X. “Among them are 22 injured women, three martyred women, nine injured under the age of 18, and one martyr under 18.”

Iran’s energy ministry urged its citizens to reduce electricity use after US struck energy infrastructure in the south and the power grid came under strain.

'Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets destroyed', claims Iran amid escalating tensions

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with Myanmar's National Security Adviser U Tin Aung San on the sidelines of the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting in New Delhi. During the high-level talks, India conveyed a clear message that Myanmar must not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities, including cross-border insurgency, arms smuggling, and infiltration. As instability in Myanmar continues to affect India's Northeast, the meeting focused heavily on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, border management, and counter-terrorism coordination.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bimstec-security-chiefs-meet-in-new-delhi-ajit-doval-leads-talks-on-terrorism-maritime-security-1784193102354/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/bimstec-security-chiefs-meet-in-new-delhi-ajit-doval-leads-talks-on-terrorism-maritime-security-1784193102354/embed</a>&nbsp;<h3>Why is India pressing Myanmar to prevent anti-India activities from its territory?&nbsp;</h3>The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has created ungoverned spaces where Northeast insurgent groups establish camps, regroup, store weapons, and launch cross-border attacks. This instability has driven thousands of refugees into Mizoram and Manipur, straining public resources and aggravating existing local ethnic tensions. Furthermore, weak law enforcement has boosted transnational crimes like human trafficking, arms smuggling, and narcotics trafficking from the Golden Triangle, which finance these insurgent groups. The violence has also delayed strategic connectivity projects central to India's regional ambitions, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/5th-bimstec-nsa-meet-nsa-ajit-doval-calls-for-decisive-action-amid-global-conflict-and-economic-turmoil-1784193698075">5th BIMSTEC NSA Meet: NSA Ajit Doval calls for decisive action amid global conflict and economic turmoil</a><h3>How important is Myanmar to India's Act East Policy and regional security strategy?&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;In response, India has prioritised ensuring stability in the Northeast and denying safe havens to insurgents. New Delhi has tightened border controls by suspending the Free Movement Regime (FMR), introducing biometric systems, and accelerating fencing and smart surveillance along the shared border. To reinforce its Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, India is seeking enhanced bilateral cooperation through coordinated patrolling, intelligence sharing, and joint action against cross-border crimes.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-urges-stronger-bimstec-security-cooperation-amid-rohingya-crisis-regional-threats-at-delhi-nsas-meet-1784271233757">Bangladesh urges stronger BIMSTEC security cooperation amid Rohingya crisis, regional threats at Delhi NSAs meet</a>&nbsp;Beyond bilateral ties, both nations are leveraging the BIMSTEC platform, which brings seven member countries together to tackle common security challenges. The regional grouping promotes intelligence sharing, capacity building, and training to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and organised trafficking. At the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval stressed the need for quick, practical, and coordinated action to deal with these emerging threats. Continuous engagement through BIMSTEC and regular security dialogues remains essential for building trust, improving maritime and border security, and ensuring long-term peace and stability in India's Northeast and the wider Bay of Bengal region.

NSA Ajit Doval meets Myanmar's U Tin Aung San at BIMSTEC in Delhi, warning against anti-India activities, cross-border insurgency, and arms smuggling.

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with Myanmar's National Security Adviser U Tin Aung San on the sidelines of the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting in New Delhi. During the high-level talks, India conveyed a clear message that Myanmar must not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities, including cross-border insurgency, arms smuggling, and infiltration. As instability in Myanmar continues to affect India's Northeast, the meeting focused heavily on strengthening bilateral security cooperation, border management, and counter-terrorism coordination. https://www.wionews.com/videos/bimstec-security-chiefs-meet-in-new-delhi-ajit-doval-leads-talks-on-terrorism-maritime-security-1784193102354/embed Why is India pressing Myanmar to prevent anti-India activities from its territory? The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has created ungoverned spaces where Northeast insurgent groups establish camps, regroup, store weapons, and launch cross-border attacks. This instability has driven thousands of refugees into Mizoram and Manipur, straining public resources and aggravating existing local ethnic tensions. Furthermore, weak law enforcement has boosted transnational crimes like human trafficking, arms smuggling, and narcotics trafficking from the Golden Triangle, which finance these insurgent groups. The violence has also delayed strategic connectivity projects central to India's regional ambitions, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. Also read: 5th BIMSTEC NSA Meet: NSA Ajit Doval calls for decisive action amid global conflict and economic turmoil How important is Myanmar to India's Act East Policy and regional security strategy? In response, India has prioritised ensuring stability in the Northeast and denying safe havens to insurgents. New Delhi has tightened border controls by suspending the Free Movement Regime (FMR), introducing biometric systems, and accelerating fencing and smart surveillance along the shared border. To reinforce its Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, India is seeking enhanced bilateral cooperation through coordinated patrolling, intelligence sharing, and joint action against cross-border crimes. Also read: Bangladesh urges stronger BIMSTEC security cooperation amid Rohingya crisis, regional threats at Delhi NSAs meet Beyond bilateral ties, both nations are leveraging the BIMSTEC platform, which brings seven member countries together to tackle common security challenges. The regional grouping promotes intelligence sharing, capacity building, and training to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and organised trafficking. At the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval stressed the need for quick, practical, and coordinated action to deal with these emerging threats. Continuous engagement through BIMSTEC and regular security dialogues remains essential for building trust, improving maritime and border security, and ensuring long-term peace and stability in India's Northeast and the wider Bay of Bengal region.

NSA Ajit Doval meets Myanmar's U Tin Aung San at BIMSTEC in Delhi, warning against anti-India activities, cross-border insurgency, and arms smuggling

NSA Ajit Doval meets Myanmar counterpart at BIMSTEC, warns against anti-India insurgency

More than 500 Rohingya refugees are feared to have died after two overcrowded boats carrying Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority members reportedly capsized in the Bay of Bengal, officials said on Thursday (Jul 17). The incident is being seen as one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving the persecuted minority in recent years.According to reports, the vessels are believed to have departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June, carrying mostly Rohingya families seeking safety. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), one boat carrying about 250 people lost contact shortly after setting sail, while another, reportedly with around 280 passengers on board, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-two-children-killed-after-ferry-collides-into-bridge-in-syria-s-euphrates-river-1783828959222">At least two children killed after ferry collides with bridge in Syria’s Euphrates River | VIDEO</a>“While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said, as quoted by AP.The incident comes amid monsoon season, when rough seas make maritime crossings particularly dangerous. Humanitarian agencies said severe rainfall and flooding across the region would have significantly increased the risks faced by those attempting the journey.In recent years, thousands of Rohingyas have fled both Myanmar and Bangladesh’s squalid refugee camps. For them, the perilous sea route remains one of the few perceived escape options. Reportedly, about 1.2 million of the predominantly Muslim Rohingya have remained trapped in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing military violence in Myanmar.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-were-screaming-for-help-witness-recounts-vietnam-boat-barely-left-the-shore-before-capsizing-1783827155776">‘We were screaming for help’: Witness recounts Vietnam boat barely left the shore before capsizing</a>The UNHCR and IOM have urged stronger regional cooperation, improved rescue operations and action against human trafficking networks to prevent further deaths on one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.“Stronger regional and international efforts are needed to prevent further loss of life along one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes, including through enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks,” the agencies said.In 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya fled, of whom nearly 900 were reported dead or missing while trying to escape by boat.Watch | Vietnam Boat Tragedy Kills 15 Indians; Boat Captain Under Probe<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/vietnam-boat-tragedy-kills-15-indians-boat-captain-under-probe-1783879004472/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/vietnam-boat-tragedy-kills-15-indians-boat-captain-under-probe-1783879004472/embed</a> &nbsp;

More than 500 Rohingya refugees are feared dead after two boats capsized in the Bay of Bengal, highlighting the dangers faced by those fleeing Myanmar amid worsening humanitarian crises.

More than 500 Rohingya refugees are feared to have died after two overcrowded boats carrying Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority members reportedly capsized in the Bay of Bengal, officials said on Thursday (Jul 17). The incident is being seen as one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving the persecuted minority in recent years. According to reports, the vessels are believed to have departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June, carrying mostly Rohingya families seeking safety. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), one boat carrying about 250 people lost contact shortly after setting sail, while another, reportedly with around 280 passengers on board, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8. Also read | At least two children killed after ferry collides with bridge in Syria’s Euphrates River | VIDEO “While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said, as quoted by AP. The incident comes amid monsoon season, when rough seas make maritime crossings particularly dangerous. Humanitarian agencies said severe rainfall and flooding across the region would have significantly increased the risks faced by those attempting the journey. In recent years, thousands of Rohingyas have fled both Myanmar and Bangladesh’s squalid refugee camps. For them, the perilous sea route remains one of the few perceived escape options. Reportedly, about 1.2 million of the predominantly Muslim Rohingya have remained trapped in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing military violence in Myanmar. Also read | ‘We were screaming for help’: Witness recounts Vietnam boat barely left the shore before capsizing The UNHCR and IOM have urged stronger regional cooperation, improved rescue operations and action against human trafficking networks to prevent further deaths on one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes. “Stronger regional and international efforts are needed to prevent further loss of life along one of the world’s deadliest maritime routes, including through enhanced search and rescue efforts, access to asylum and protection, and actions against smuggling and trafficking networks,” the agencies said. In 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya fled, of whom nearly 900 were reported dead or missing while trying to escape by boat. Watch | Vietnam Boat Tragedy Kills 15 Indians; Boat Captain Under Probe https://www.wionews.com/videos/vietnam-boat-tragedy-kills-15-indians-boat-captain-under-probe-1783879004472/embed

More than 500 Rohingya refugees are feared dead after two boats capsized in the Bay of Bengal, highlighting the dangers faced by those fleeing Myanmar amid worsening humanitarian crises.

Rohingya boat tragedy: Over 500 feared dead after boats carrying refugees capsize off Myanmar

Donald Trump's media company is preparing to launch a premium service that would give paying customers faster access to posts on Truth Social. This new premium service could let Wall Street traders see market-moving posts milliseconds before everyone else. However, critics are now questioning whether the president stands to profit from his own announcements. Here's all you need to know about it.Trump's Truth PSIThe feature, called Truth PSI, is designed for Wall Street firms, institutional investors and other professional traders who rely on breaking news to make split-second investment decisions. According to the company, subscribers will be able to view posts from the platform's "highest-ranking" accounts milliseconds before they become available to the general public.That list is likely to include Trump, who has nearly 13 million followers and routinely uses Truth Social to announce policy decisions, comment on global conflicts and signal changes in trade and immigration policy.The company has not said whether the president's posts will be included in the paid service or how much it plans to charge.Why Trump's posts matter to marketsTrump's Truth Social account has increasingly become the first place where major White House announcements appear.In recent months, he has posted about tariffs, the conflict involving Iran and immigration enforcement operations before or alongside official government statements.Those posts can move financial markets within seconds. Developments in the Middle East, for example, can influence oil prices, while tariff announcements often affect stock markets and bond yields. Investors closely monitor such updates because they can alter expectations about inflation, interest rates and economic growth.By offering faster access to these posts, Truth Media is effectively creating a product aimed at traders seeking an advantage over competitors.Critics see a conflict of interestEthics experts say the proposal raises questions that go well beyond a typical subscription service.Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law, told The Guardian that the arrangement amounts to selling privileged access to presidential communications."He's selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president," Clark said, calling it "yet more brazen corruption" and an improper use of public office for personal financial gain.A president exempt from federal conflict rules?Federal conflict-of-interest laws generally prohibit government officials from participating in matters that could financially benefit businesses they own.The president and vice president, however, are exempt from those provisions.Even so, previous presidents have typically sold individual business interests, divested assets or placed investments into blind trusts to avoid even the appearance of benefiting financially from decisions made while in office.Trump has chosen not to do so and has instead retained significant financial interests in businesses operated by his family. &nbsp;

Donald Trump's media company is preparing to launch Truth PSI, a premium service offering paying subscribers millisecond-early access to selected Truth Social posts, prompting ethics experts to question whether the president could financially benefit from market-moving announcements.

Donald Trump's media company is preparing to launch a premium service that would give paying customers faster access to posts on Truth Social. This new premium service could let Wall Street traders see market-moving posts milliseconds before everyone else. However, critics are now questioning whether the president stands to profit from his own announcements. Here's all you need to know about it. Trump's Truth PSI The feature, called Truth PSI, is designed for Wall Street firms, institutional investors and other professional traders who rely on breaking news to make split-second investment decisions. According to the company, subscribers will be able to view posts from the platform's "highest-ranking" accounts milliseconds before they become available to the general public. That list is likely to include Trump, who has nearly 13 million followers and routinely uses Truth Social to announce policy decisions, comment on global conflicts and signal changes in trade and immigration policy. The company has not said whether the president's posts will be included in the paid service or how much it plans to charge. Why Trump's posts matter to markets Trump's Truth Social account has increasingly become the first place where major White House announcements appear. In recent months, he has posted about tariffs, the conflict involving Iran and immigration enforcement operations before or alongside official government statements. Those posts can move financial markets within seconds. Developments in the Middle East, for example, can influence oil prices, while tariff announcements often affect stock markets and bond yields. Investors closely monitor such updates because they can alter expectations about inflation, interest rates and economic growth. By offering faster access to these posts, Truth Media is effectively creating a product aimed at traders seeking an advantage over competitors. Critics see a conflict of interest Ethics experts say the proposal raises questions that go well beyond a typical subscription service. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law, told The Guardian that the arrangement amounts to selling privileged access to presidential communications. "He's selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president," Clark said, calling it "yet more brazen corruption" and an improper use of public office for personal financial gain. A president exempt from federal conflict rules? Federal conflict-of-interest laws generally prohibit government officials from participating in matters that could financially benefit businesses they own. The president and vice president, however, are exempt from those provisions. Even so, previous presidents have typically sold individual business interests, divested assets or placed investments into blind trusts to avoid even the appearance of benefiting financially from decisions made while in office. Trump has chosen not to do so and has instead retained significant financial interests in businesses operated by his family.

Donald Trump's media company is preparing to launch Truth PSI, a premium service offering paying subscribers millisecond-early access to selected Truth Social posts, prompting ethics experts to question whether the president could financially benefit from market-moving announcements.

Insider trading made legal? Trump's media company to sell early access to Truth Social posts via 'Truth PSI'

In a historic leap toward sustainable transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first-ever hydrogen-powered passenger train, named the NaMo Green Rail, from Jind, Haryana. Operating on the Jind–Sonipat route, this pioneering train marks India's entry into a select elite global group exploring hydrogen fuel cell technology for clean rail transit.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-launches-first-hydrogen-powered-train-pm-modi-flags-off-green-rail-revolution-1784269617678/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-launches-first-hydrogen-powered-train-pm-modi-flags-off-green-rail-revolution-1784269617678/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at the ceremony, PM Modi said, "... Not only is this Indian hydrogen train emission-free, but it is also a highly successful example of the 'Make in India' initiative... In the near future, further infrastructure related to hydrogen trains will be developed here. New factories will be set up to cater to the needs of the hydrogen train network. In other words, this train is bound to create numerous new employment opportunities for the youth of Haryana."&nbsp;<h3>How is a hydrogen train different from a diesel-electricity powered train?</h3>Both types are essentially electric trains, but they differ entirely in how they generate that electricity. In a diesel-electric train, the&nbsp;engine burns fuel to spin a large alternator, which generates the electricity used to power the traction motors. This process releases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;While hydrogen fuel cell trains&nbsp;use onboard hydrogen fuel cells instead of burning anything. Hydrogen from onboard tanks combines with oxygen from the outside air in a chemical reaction that generates electricity. Pure water vapour and heat are the only byproducts of this process.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-pm-modi-japan-pm-sanae-takaichi-exchange-warm-handshake-as-india-japan-summit-begins-what-it-signifies-1782968755332">Watch: PM Modi, Japan PM Sanae Takaichi exchange warm handshake as India-Japan summit begins: What it signifies</a><h3>How much pollution can a hydrogen train reduce compared to diesel trains?</h3>At the point of operation, a hydrogen train reduces 100% of direct tailpipe emissions because it emits nothing but water vapour. However, the total lifecycle pollution reduction depends heavily on how the hydrogen is manufactured.<ul><li>Green Hydrogen: If the hydrogen is produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy (like wind or solar), the lifecycle carbon footprint is zero. &nbsp;</li><li>Grey/Blue Hydrogen: If the hydrogen is produced using traditional natural gas reforming, lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are still roughly 45% lower than operating a standard diesel locomotive.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3>What is the top speed of a hydrogen train, and is it as powerful as a diesel locomotive?</h3>Commercial passenger models, such as Alstom's Coradia iLint, generally operate at top speeds of 140 km/h. Currently, hydrogen fuel cell systems are highly efficient for lighter regional passenger fleets but are less powerful than heavy-duty diesel locomotives. Because hydrogen requires a massive amount of physical storage volume, matching the immense tractive power required for heavy freight trains over long distances remains a significant engineering hurdle.<h3>How far can a hydrogen train travel on a single tank of hydrogen?</h3>Standard regional hydrogen passenger trains generally feature an operational range of 600 to 1,000 kilometers on a single fill. In 2022, a modified Alstom Coradia iLint set a world record by traveling 1,175 kilometers on a single tank of hydrogen during a promotional run. Smaller or retrofitted passenger configurations, such as pilot trains designed for shorter regional lines, often operate with ranges closer to 250 kilometers per cycle.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>How long does it take to refuel a hydrogen train compared to charging an electric train?</h3>Refueling a hydrogen train takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes extending up to 60 minutes for large-capacity fleet. This allows it to quickly return to service, mimicking traditional diesel logistics.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pure battery-electric trains used on non-electrified tracks require anywhere from several hours for a full depot charge to 20–30 minutes using fast-charging stations, which can disrupt standard route schedules. But the conventional electric trains running continuously on overhead catenary wires do not require refueling downtime at all.&nbsp;<h3>Which countries already operate or deploy hydrogen trains?</h3><ul><li>Germany: The global pioneer, having launched the world's first fully commercial, regular passenger service using a fleet of hydrogen trains in Lower Saxony.&nbsp;</li><li>China: Has developed and successfully deployed multiple fuel cell variants, including urban digital transits and regional locomotives.</li><li>India: Has actively entered the space by retrofitting older rolling stock into hydrogen fuel-cell setups, deploying pilot passenger runs on dedicated regional test tracks like the Jind–Sonipat corridor.&nbsp;</li><li>Japan &amp; United States: Both nations currently run active, localised pilot routes, testing small passenger fleets for regional transit authorities.</li></ul><h3>Key Features of the Hydrogen-Powered Train on the Jind-Sonipat Section</h3><ul><li>10-car&nbsp;hydrogen fuel cell-based trainset.</li><li>Powered by a&nbsp;1200 kW&nbsp;hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.</li><li>Approved to operate at a maximum speed of&nbsp;75 km/h&nbsp;with a design speed of&nbsp;110 km/h.</li><li>Capacity of around&nbsp;2,600&nbsp;passengers.</li><li>Developed from the&nbsp;design stage&nbsp;through&nbsp;prototype manufacturing.</li><li>It will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction, and Sonipat while serving intermediate stations.</li><li>Proposed halts include Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butane Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New.</li></ul>

PM Modi has inaugurated India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on the Jind-Sonipat route. Learn how this 3,200 HP green fuel cell technology replaces diesel to generate clean electricity onboard with zero carbon emissions.

In a historic leap toward sustainable transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first-ever hydrogen-powered passenger train, named the NaMo Green Rail, from Jind, Haryana. Operating on the Jind–Sonipat route, this pioneering train marks India's entry into a select elite global group exploring hydrogen fuel cell technology for clean rail transit. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-launches-first-hydrogen-powered-train-pm-modi-flags-off-green-rail-revolution-1784269617678/embed Speaking at the ceremony, PM Modi said, "... Not only is this Indian hydrogen train emission-free, but it is also a highly successful example of the 'Make in India' initiative... In the near future, further infrastructure related to hydrogen trains will be developed here. New factories will be set up to cater to the needs of the hydrogen train network. In other words, this train is bound to create numerous new employment opportunities for the youth of Haryana." How is a hydrogen train different from a diesel-electricity powered train? Both types are essentially electric trains, but they differ entirely in how they generate that electricity. In a diesel-electric train, the engine burns fuel to spin a large alternator, which generates the electricity used to power the traction motors. This process releases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. While hydrogen fuel cell trains use onboard hydrogen fuel cells instead of burning anything. Hydrogen from onboard tanks combines with oxygen from the outside air in a chemical reaction that generates electricity. Pure water vapour and heat are the only byproducts of this process. Also read: Watch: PM Modi, Japan PM Sanae Takaichi exchange warm handshake as India-Japan summit begins: What it signifies How much pollution can a hydrogen train reduce compared to diesel trains? At the point of operation, a hydrogen train reduces 100% of direct tailpipe emissions because it emits nothing but water vapour. However, the total lifecycle pollution reduction depends heavily on how the hydrogen is manufactured. Green Hydrogen: If the hydrogen is produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy (like wind or solar), the lifecycle carbon footprint is zero. Grey/Blue Hydrogen: If the hydrogen is produced using traditional natural gas reforming, lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are still roughly 45% lower than operating a standard diesel locomotive. What is the top speed of a hydrogen train, and is it as powerful as a diesel locomotive? Commercial passenger models, such as Alstom's Coradia iLint, generally operate at top speeds of 140 km/h. Currently, hydrogen fuel cell systems are highly efficient for lighter regional passenger fleets but are less powerful than heavy-duty diesel locomotives. Because hydrogen requires a massive amount of physical storage volume, matching the immense tractive power required for heavy freight trains over long distances remains a significant engineering hurdle. How far can a hydrogen train travel on a single tank of hydrogen? Standard regional hydrogen passenger trains generally feature an operational range of 600 to 1,000 kilometers on a single fill. In 2022, a modified Alstom Coradia iLint set a world record by traveling 1,175 kilometers on a single tank of hydrogen during a promotional run. Smaller or retrofitted passenger configurations, such as pilot trains designed for shorter regional lines, often operate with ranges closer to 250 kilometers per cycle. How long does it take to refuel a hydrogen train compared to charging an electric train? Refueling a hydrogen train takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes extending up to 60 minutes for large-capacity fleet. This allows it to quickly return to service, mimicking traditional diesel logistics. Pure battery-electric trains used on non-electrified tracks require anywhere from several hours for a full depot charge to 20–30 minutes using fast-charging stations, which can disrupt standard route schedules. But the conventional electric trains running continuously on overhead catenary wires do not require refueling downtime at all. Which countries already operate or deploy hydrogen trains? Germany: The global pioneer, having launched the world's first fully commercial, regular passenger service using a fleet of hydrogen trains in Lower Saxony. China: Has developed and successfully deployed multiple fuel cell variants, including urban digital transits and regional locomotives. India: Has actively entered the space by retrofitting older rolling stock into hydrogen fuel-cell setups, deploying pilot passenger runs on dedicated regional test tracks like the Jind–Sonipat corridor. Japan & United States: Both nations currently run active, localised pilot routes, testing small passenger fleets for regional transit authorities. Key Features of the Hydrogen-Powered Train on the Jind-Sonipat Section 10-car hydrogen fuel cell-based trainset. Powered by a 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. Approved to operate at a maximum speed of 75 km/h with a design speed of 110 km/h. Capacity of around 2,600 passengers. Developed from the design stage through prototype manufacturing. It will connect Jind Junction, Gohana Junction, and Sonipat while serving intermediate stations. Proposed halts include Jind City, Pandu Pindara Junction, Lalit Khera Halt, Bhambhewa, Isapur Kheri Halt, Butane Halt, Khandrai Halt, Rabrah Halt, Lath Halt, Mohana, Barwasni Halt and Sonipat New.

PM Modi has inaugurated India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered train on the Jind-Sonipat route. Learn how this 3,200 HP green fuel cell technology replaces diesel to generate clean electricity onboard with zero carbon emissions.

Zero emissions, pure water: Inside India’s first hydrogen train flagged off by PM Modi

Iran on Friday (Jul 17) launched attacks across the Gulf region for “revenge” against those killed in US strikes on the Islamic Republic. Tehran claimed responsibility for the attacks on military sites in Kuwait, Syria, and Oman, while strikes in Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq were also reported. This comes as military tensions escalate in the region after US President Donald Trump said last week that the ceasefire was over.<h2>Iran strikes across Gulf</h2>In a statement carried by Iranian state TV, Iran said that it had deployed drones in Kuwait, targeting “the deployment sites of US forces and the logistical support centers of the ‘terrorist’ and ‘child-killing’ US military.” It added that “the attacks were in response to the crimes of the arrogant enemy and in revenge for the blood of the martyrs of the homeland.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-surge-as-renewed-us-iran-attacks-threaten-hormuz-and-red-sea-shipping-routes-1784258313413">‘We should be worried’: Oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran attacks threaten Hormuz and Red Sea shipping routes</a>In Syria, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that they launched a “surprise attack” on the Special Operations Command Centre in Syria’s Al-Tanf region “in retaliation for the blood of the martyred Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr.”In a statement, Iran’s Guards said that their forces “targeted and destroyed the maritime surveillance radar at the Salamah Rocks and the US air surveillance radar stationed in the Ghanam area.”Meanwhile, Jordan said that its military shot down three Iranian missiles on Friday. “This Friday morning, air defence systems intercepted three Iranian missiles that entered Jordanian airspace and were targeting the kingdom's territory, and managed to intercept and bring them down,” the military said in a statement.In a similar statement, Kurdish counterterrorism forces said that “coalition forces downed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 04:19 and 05:25 am (0119 and 0225 GMT).”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-terrified-deer-flee-in-panic-on-iran-s-kharg-island-amid-us-strikes-1784191354216">WATCH | Terrified deer flee in panic on Iran’s Kharg Island amid US strikes</a>Earlier in the day, blasts were heard in the Qatari capital of Doha. Explosions were also reported in Bahrain. Iranian media reported that Tehran had targeted US military planes and helicopters at an air base.<h2>38 killed, more than 400 injured</h2>Iran’s health ministry on Friday (Jul 17) reported that at least 38 people were killed while more than 400 were injured in US strikes on the Islamic Republic since fighting resumed between the two countries on June 22.“The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred” since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour posted on X. “Among them are 22 injured women, three martyred women, nine injured under the age of 18, and one martyr under 18.”Watch | US and Iran exchange waves of strikes, moderate &amp; hardline approach at play simultaneously<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-iran-exchange-waves-of-strikes-moderate-hardline-approach-at-play-simultaneously-1784216554001/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-iran-exchange-waves-of-strikes-moderate-hardline-approach-at-play-simultaneously-1784216554001/embed</a>

Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, targeting sites linked to US forces in Kuwait, Syria and Oman. The escalation follows US strikes on Iran that Tehran says killed 38 people and injured more than 400.

Iran on Friday (Jul 17) launched attacks across the Gulf region for “revenge” against those killed in US strikes on the Islamic Republic. Tehran claimed responsibility for the attacks on military sites in Kuwait, Syria, and Oman, while strikes in Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq were also reported. This comes as military tensions escalate in the region after US President Donald Trump said last week that the ceasefire was over. Iran strikes across Gulf In a statement carried by Iranian state TV, Iran said that it had deployed drones in Kuwait, targeting “the deployment sites of US forces and the logistical support centers of the ‘terrorist’ and ‘child-killing’ US military.” It added that “the attacks were in response to the crimes of the arrogant enemy and in revenge for the blood of the martyrs of the homeland.” Also read | ‘We should be worried’: Oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran attacks threaten Hormuz and Red Sea shipping routes In Syria, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that they launched a “surprise attack” on the Special Operations Command Centre in Syria’s Al-Tanf region “in retaliation for the blood of the martyred Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr.” In a statement, Iran’s Guards said that their forces “targeted and destroyed the maritime surveillance radar at the Salamah Rocks and the US air surveillance radar stationed in the Ghanam area.” Meanwhile, Jordan said that its military shot down three Iranian missiles on Friday. “This Friday morning, air defence systems intercepted three Iranian missiles that entered Jordanian airspace and were targeting the kingdom's territory, and managed to intercept and bring them down,” the military said in a statement. In a similar statement, Kurdish counterterrorism forces said that “coalition forces downed eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil between 04:19 and 05:25 am (0119 and 0225 GMT).” Also read | WATCH | Terrified deer flee in panic on Iran’s Kharg Island amid US strikes Earlier in the day, blasts were heard in the Qatari capital of Doha. Explosions were also reported in Bahrain. Iranian media reported that Tehran had targeted US military planes and helicopters at an air base. 38 killed, more than 400 injured Iran’s health ministry on Friday (Jul 17) reported that at least 38 people were killed while more than 400 were injured in US strikes on the Islamic Republic since fighting resumed between the two countries on June 22. “The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred” since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour posted on X. “Among them are 22 injured women, three martyred women, nine injured under the age of 18, and one martyr under 18.” Watch | US and Iran exchange waves of strikes, moderate & hardline approach at play simultaneously https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-iran-exchange-waves-of-strikes-moderate-hardline-approach-at-play-simultaneously-1784216554001/embed

Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, targeting sites linked to US forces in Kuwait, Syria and Oman. The escalation follows US strikes on Iran that Tehran says killed 38 people and injured more than 400.

‘Response to the crimes of arrogant enemy’: Iran launches ‘revenge’ attacks across Gulf

President Donald Trump used his Thursday (Jul 16) night address to make a sweeping case for his administration, mixing newly declassified intelligence on the 2020 election with familiar talking points on stolen election, immigration, crime, inflation and the economy. The speech, delivered just four months before the vital US midterm elections, was dominated by Trump's allegation that China interfered in the 2020 presidential race. But he also rattled off a series of claims about record-low crime, illegal immigration, inflation and employment.Some claims stand up to scrutiny. Others leave out important context or are simply inaccurate. Here's a closer look.<h2>Claim: China meddled in US elections</h2>Verdict: Denied by BeijingChina has denied Trump's claims. Speaking at a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “The relevant claims made by the US side are pure fabrications and malicious smears that have long since been proven to be groundless statements.”"China has... no interest in the US election and has never interfered in it," Lin said.<h2>Claim: Stolen election</h2>Verdict: FalseTrump has spent years sowing suspicions about ​electoral outcomes, falsely claiming his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was rigged. He has also claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is rife with fraud, voting machines are vulnerable to manipulation and non-citizen ​voting is widespread.Notably, more than 60 lawsuits by Trump and his allies produced no ruling establishing fraud capable of changing the outcome of the 2020 election, while recounts, audits, and his own Justice Department found none.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/revoke-their-licenses-trump-lashes-out-at-tv-networks-that-skipped-his-speech-1784251571059">'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech</a><h2>Claim: Zero illegal immigrants entered the US in the past 14 months</h2>Verdict: MisleadingTrump said the United States had recorded "zero illegal aliens" entering the country over the past 14 months.The claim appears to stem from US Customs and Border Protection data showing 14 consecutive months with zero migrant releases into the US from Border Patrol custody. That, however, is not the same as saying no one crossed the border illegally.NewsNation reported in May that law enforcement agencies along the US-Mexico border were still encountering migrants attempting to enter the country unlawfully.<h2>Claim: America's murder rate is the lowest since 1900</h2>Verdict: Largely trueTrump also highlighted falling crime, saying the country's murder rate is at its lowest level in more than a century.That claim is backed by a report from the Council on Criminal Justice, which projected that if FBI data follows current trends, the US homicide rate for 2025 could fall to roughly four murders per 100,000 people — the lowest level recorded since comparable national data began in 1900.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-address-to-nation-repeats-stolen-election-claims-alleges-china-compromised-220-million-voter-data-files-1784250898408">Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files</a><h2>Claim: Inflation posted its biggest monthly decline in more than six years</h2>Verdict: True, but incompleteTrump pointed to June's inflation figures as evidence that his economic policies are working.The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4 per cent during the month, its sharpest monthly decline since April 2020, largely because petrol prices dropped sharply.But economists have warned against reading too much into a single month's data.Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh cautioned that declaring victory over inflation would be premature, while economists have warned that energy prices could rebound and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict involving Iran, may push inflation higher again.<h2>Claim: Trump inherited the worst inflation in 48 years</h2>Verdict: FalseTrump repeated his frequent claim that he took office after the worst inflation in 48 years.Inflation did reach 9.1 per cent in June 2022 during Joe Biden's presidency, the highest annual rate in about four decades. But that peak came more than two years before Trump returned to office. By January 2025, inflation had already fallen significantly.The United States has also experienced much higher inflation historically, including a record annual rate of nearly 24 per cent in 1920.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-unveils-declassified-election-documents-alleges-china-accessed-us-voter-data-since-2020-1784260658593/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-unveils-declassified-election-documents-alleges-china-accessed-us-voter-data-since-2020-1784260658593/embed</a><h2>Claim: The US has the biggest and best military</h2>Verdict: Partly trueCalling the US military the "best" is ultimately a matter of opinion.Calling it the "biggest" is false, because nations like India and China have significantly more troop members that the US.But if Trump was referring to defence spending or military capability, the United States remains the world's largest military spender by a wide margin.<h2>Claim: More Americans are working today than ever before</h2>Verdict: Technically true, but lacking contextTrump has made this claim repeatedly during his second term. In absolute numbers, more Americans are employed today than at any point in history. That's largely because the US population and labour force continue to grow over time.A better measure of labour market strength is the share of people who are working.As per a WRAL report, Labour force participation and the employment-population ratio remain below previous peaks, while employment growth during Trump's current term has been weaker than under Barack Obama, Joe Biden and even Trump's own first administration.

President Donald Trump's White House address mixed accurate, misleading and false claims on the 2020 election, immigration, crime, inflation and the economy, with several key assertions lacking evidence or omitting important context. Here's a fact-check.

President Donald Trump used his Thursday (Jul 16) night address to make a sweeping case for his administration, mixing newly declassified intelligence on the 2020 election with familiar talking points on stolen election, immigration, crime, inflation and the economy. The speech, delivered just four months before the vital US midterm elections, was dominated by Trump's allegation that China interfered in the 2020 presidential race. But he also rattled off a series of claims about record-low crime, illegal immigration, inflation and employment. Some claims stand up to scrutiny. Others leave out important context or are simply inaccurate. Here's a closer look. Claim: China meddled in US elections Verdict: Denied by Beijing China has denied Trump's claims. Speaking at a press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “The relevant claims made by the US side are pure fabrications and malicious smears that have long since been proven to be groundless statements.” "China has... no interest in the US election and has never interfered in it," Lin said. Claim: Stolen election Verdict: False Trump has spent years sowing suspicions about electoral outcomes, falsely claiming his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was rigged. He has also claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is rife with fraud, voting machines are vulnerable to manipulation and non-citizen voting is widespread. Notably, more than 60 lawsuits by Trump and his allies produced no ruling establishing fraud capable of changing the outcome of the 2020 election, while recounts, audits, and his own Justice Department found none. Also read | 'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech Claim: Zero illegal immigrants entered the US in the past 14 months Verdict: Misleading Trump said the United States had recorded "zero illegal aliens" entering the country over the past 14 months. The claim appears to stem from US Customs and Border Protection data showing 14 consecutive months with zero migrant releases into the US from Border Patrol custody. That, however, is not the same as saying no one crossed the border illegally. NewsNation reported in May that law enforcement agencies along the US-Mexico border were still encountering migrants attempting to enter the country unlawfully. Claim: America's murder rate is the lowest since 1900 Verdict: Largely true Trump also highlighted falling crime, saying the country's murder rate is at its lowest level in more than a century. That claim is backed by a report from the Council on Criminal Justice, which projected that if FBI data follows current trends, the US homicide rate for 2025 could fall to roughly four murders per 100,000 people — the lowest level recorded since comparable national data began in 1900. Also read | Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files Claim: Inflation posted its biggest monthly decline in more than six years Verdict: True, but incomplete Trump pointed to June's inflation figures as evidence that his economic policies are working. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4 per cent during the month, its sharpest monthly decline since April 2020, largely because petrol prices dropped sharply. But economists have warned against reading too much into a single month's data. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh cautioned that declaring victory over inflation would be premature, while economists have warned that energy prices could rebound and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict involving Iran, may push inflation higher again. Claim: Trump inherited the worst inflation in 48 years Verdict: False Trump repeated his frequent claim that he took office after the worst inflation in 48 years. Inflation did reach 9.1 per cent in June 2022 during Joe Biden's presidency, the highest annual rate in about four decades. But that peak came more than two years before Trump returned to office. By January 2025, inflation had already fallen significantly. The United States has also experienced much higher inflation historically, including a record annual rate of nearly 24 per cent in 1920. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-unveils-declassified-election-documents-alleges-china-accessed-us-voter-data-since-2020-1784260658593/embed Claim: The US has the biggest and best military Verdict: Partly true Calling the US military the "best" is ultimately a matter of opinion. Calling it the "biggest" is false, because nations like India and China have significantly more troop members that the US. But if Trump was referring to defence spending or military capability, the United States remains the world's largest military spender by a wide margin. Claim: More Americans are working today than ever before Verdict: Technically true, but lacking context Trump has made this claim repeatedly during his second term. In absolute numbers, more Americans are employed today than at any point in history. That's largely because the US population and labour force continue to grow over time. A better measure of labour market strength is the share of people who are working. As per a WRAL report, Labour force participation and the employment-population ratio remain below previous peaks, while employment growth during Trump's current term has been weaker than under Barack Obama, Joe Biden and even Trump's own first administration.

President Donald Trump's White House address mixed accurate, misleading and false claims on the 2020 election, immigration, crime, inflation and the economy, with several key assertions lacking evidence or omitting important context. Here's a fact-check.

Fact check: From China election claims to inflation, here's what Trump got right — and wrong — in his national address

New Delhi: Bangladesh has called for deeper regional collaboration on security issues, highlighting the Rohingya refugee crisis, maritime threats, and cyber risks, at the Fifth Meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in New Delhi. In a detailed country statement, Dr Shamsul Islam, Defence Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and head of the delegation, stressed that security and development in the Bay of Bengal region are "inseparable". A major focus of Bangladesh's intervention was the prolonged Rohingya crisis. The country currently hosts over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, incurring high economic and security costs.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bimstec-nsa-meet-and-a-stable-bay-of-bengal-how-maritime-security-is-crucial-for-trade-flows-1784201850998">Why BIMSTEC NSA meet matters: Secure Bay of Bengal is crucial for trade flows</a> "This prolonged crisis is an exceptional humanitarian issue," Dr Islam stated. "Also, with complex border, maritime, and transnational security challenges that stand to affect the security and stability of our entire region. Safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation remains the only durable solution." He urged all BIMSTEC member states to collectively create conditions for the Rohingyas' return. The adviser outlined Bangladesh's domestic priorities under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including restoring public confidence, safeguarding communal harmony, and countering disinformation, hate speech, and AI-enabled manipulation. On maritime security, Dr Islam emphasised the Bay of Bengal's importance for the livelihoods of millions. "They face threats from maritime crime, trafficking, illegal fishing, pollution, and natural disasters," he said, calling for enhanced cooperation among navies, coast guards, and disaster-response institutions, including the use of technological tools.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bimstec-nsa-meeting-amid-security-challenges-in-a-complex-world-the-evolution-of-cooperation-1784101472635">BIMSTEC NSA meeting: Security cooperation in a world of conflict</a> The meeting, chaired by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, brought together security chiefs from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to address evolving non-traditional security challenges in the region. Bangladesh's Dr Islam stressed that BIMSTEC, now three decades old, must prioritise security and stability ahead of economic undertakings. He advocated drawing on lessons from SAARC and building cooperation on "mutual trust and shared benefits". "Connectivity may be the engine of BIMSTEC, but security is the foundation," he declared. "Our success will be measured not by declaration, but by the cooperation we deliver." Bangladesh, as the current BIMSTEC Chair, expressed readiness to work with all member states towards a "safer, resilient, and prosperous Bay of Bengal region".

At the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' meeting in New Delhi, Bangladesh urged member states to deepen cooperation on the Rohingya crisis, maritime security and cyber threats, saying a secure Bay of Bengal is essential for regional stability and development.

New Delhi: Bangladesh has called for deeper regional collaboration on security issues, highlighting the Rohingya refugee crisis, maritime threats, and cyber risks, at the Fifth Meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs in New Delhi. In a detailed country statement, Dr Shamsul Islam, Defence Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and head of the delegation, stressed that security and development in the Bay of Bengal region are "inseparable". A major focus of Bangladesh's intervention was the prolonged Rohingya crisis. The country currently hosts over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, incurring high economic and security costs. Also read | Why BIMSTEC NSA meet matters: Secure Bay of Bengal is crucial for trade flows "This prolonged crisis is an exceptional humanitarian issue," Dr Islam stated. "Also, with complex border, maritime, and transnational security challenges that stand to affect the security and stability of our entire region. Safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation remains the only durable solution." He urged all BIMSTEC member states to collectively create conditions for the Rohingyas' return. The adviser outlined Bangladesh's domestic priorities under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including restoring public confidence, safeguarding communal harmony, and countering disinformation, hate speech, and AI-enabled manipulation. On maritime security, Dr Islam emphasised the Bay of Bengal's importance for the livelihoods of millions. "They face threats from maritime crime, trafficking, illegal fishing, pollution, and natural disasters," he said, calling for enhanced cooperation among navies, coast guards, and disaster-response institutions, including the use of technological tools. Also read | BIMSTEC NSA meeting: Security cooperation in a world of conflict The meeting, chaired by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, brought together security chiefs from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to address evolving non-traditional security challenges in the region. Bangladesh's Dr Islam stressed that BIMSTEC, now three decades old, must prioritise security and stability ahead of economic undertakings. He advocated drawing on lessons from SAARC and building cooperation on "mutual trust and shared benefits". "Connectivity may be the engine of BIMSTEC, but security is the foundation," he declared. "Our success will be measured not by declaration, but by the cooperation we deliver." Bangladesh, as the current BIMSTEC Chair, expressed readiness to work with all member states towards a "safer, resilient, and prosperous Bay of Bengal region".

At the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' meeting in New Delhi, Bangladesh urged member states to deepen cooperation on the Rohingya crisis, maritime security and cyber threats, saying a secure Bay of Bengal is essential for regional stability and development.

Bangladesh urges stronger BIMSTEC security cooperation amid Rohingya crisis, regional threats at Delhi NSAs meet

The Philippines has criticised a video published by China Daily, calling it "dehumanising and racist" for depicting the country as a frightened monkey being pushed by the US and Japan to take Beijing on over the South China Sea. The AI-generated video shared last week features a monkey wearing a Filipino shirt being forced onto a karaoke stage on a boat by arms bearing US and Japanese flags. After being rebuked for singing the wrong song, the man pulls out a sheet reading "South China Sea arbitration award" before being thrown into the sea and blasted by a water cannon. The video comes amid growing tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, particularly around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese Coast Guard has repeatedly used high-pressure water cannons against Philippine vessels in the contested waters, causing damage and injuries.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Beijing’s primary state-run media organ, China Daily, has crossed a dangerous line by releasing a degrading 58-second AI animation that depicts the Philippines as a tattered, screeching monkey to mock a landmark legal ruling. In this official propaganda video, the caricature of…&mdash; UnveiledChina (@Unveiled_ChinaX) <a href="https://x.com/Unveiled_ChinaX/status/2077398673286406433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Demanding the removal of the clip, Manila's foreign ministry said, "Disagreement over legal and political issues does not justify resorting to disturbing imagery, which has no place in the civil public discourse of a responsible state". "Such imagery and misinformation only serve to widen the distrust between the Philippines and China," it added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-ats-arrests-five-more-in-alleged-jaish-linked-terror-module-probe-total-held-rises-to-13-1784266681362">Gujarat ATS arrests five more in alleged Jaish-linked terror module probe, total held rises to 13</a><h3>Philippine calls the video 'propaganda'</h3>The Philippine defence ministry labelled the video as "contemptible propaganda" and stated that it "exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China's propaganda machine". "The recent spate of schizophrenic behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party is too clear to disregard or ignore," Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said. The previous week marked a decade since the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, and concluded that the expansive claims of China in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. However, Beijing has ignored the ruling, stating the tribunal lacks jurisdiction. Tensions between Beijing and Manila have risen sharply in recent years due to their overlapping claims. In the ongoing development, both sides accuse the other of provocations and altercations at sea, including some involving weapons such as swords, spears and knives. In June, China placed a floating barrier at the entrance to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, but later removed it after the Philippines lodged formal diplomatic protests. During the same month, Beijing also imposed travel restrictions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, barring them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.&nbsp;

The video comes amid growing tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, particularly around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines has criticised a video published by China Daily, calling it "dehumanising and racist" for depicting the country as a frightened monkey being pushed by the US and Japan to take Beijing on over the South China Sea. The AI-generated video shared last week features a monkey wearing a Filipino shirt being forced onto a karaoke stage on a boat by arms bearing US and Japanese flags. After being rebuked for singing the wrong song, the man pulls out a sheet reading "South China Sea arbitration award" before being thrown into the sea and blasted by a water cannon. The video comes amid growing tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, particularly around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. The Chinese Coast Guard has repeatedly used high-pressure water cannons against Philippine vessels in the contested waters, causing damage and injuries.

The video comes amid growing tensions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, particularly around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.

Philippines slams China's AI monkey video as 'Dehumanising and Racist', demands removal of clip

Federal investigators with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) found that Gabriel Perez, US President Donald Trump's longtime teleprompter operator, allegedly made over $100,000 by placing bets on more than a dozen of Trump's speeches. The trades occurred on Kalshi, a prediction market featuring a "Mentions" market where users bet on whether specific words or topics are spoken publicly.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-vs-us-media-president-donald-trump-escalates-fight-over-election-speech-coverage-1784266046460/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-vs-us-media-president-donald-trump-escalates-fight-over-election-speech-coverage-1784266046460/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Kalshi's surveillance team flagged the suspicious activity and referred it to the CFTC. Kalshi prohibits users from betting based on employment-related information and recently updated its policies to require users to disclose their employers.&nbsp;White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump personally decided to place Perez on unpaid administrative leave, calling the situation a "disgrace." Leavitt was unaware of other staffers making similar trades, and White House spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasised that staffers must follow strict ethics guidelines. In March, the White House issued an internal memo warning staff against using nonpublic information for prediction market bets.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-address-to-nation-repeats-stolen-election-claims-alleges-china-compromised-220-million-voter-data-files-1784250898408">Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files</a>&nbsp;Perez has operated Trump’s teleprompter since 2016 and typically has final eyes on prepared remarks, including last-minute edits. He previously faced scrutiny regarding edits made before Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. Investigators discovered Perez bet on speeches over three months, including the State of the Union, a December address, a Davos speech, a Medal of Honor ceremony, and a Detroit Economic Club address. Because Trump frequently deviates from his scripts, investigators found instances where Perez backed out of bets mid-speech when Trump skipped specific words.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/revoke-their-licenses-trump-lashes-out-at-tv-networks-that-skipped-his-speech-1784251571059">'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech</a>&nbsp;Perez interviewed with regulators and acknowledged some trades. While the CFTC alerted federal prosecutors in Manhattan, they declined to open a criminal investigation. The CFTC is now in talks to settle with Perez, discussing terms that require him to surrender his profits and refrain from similar trading.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/donald-trump-to-attend-spain-vs-argentina-fifa-world-cup-2026-final-white-house-confirms-1784235881896">Donald Trump to attend Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 final, White House confirms</a>&nbsp;This follows recent Department of Justice insider trading cases involving prediction markets. While Trump has criticised the rise of these markets in principle, he expressed support for them in April, so the US is not "left out in the cold." Additionally, Trump Media and Technology Group announced plans last October to explore launching its own prediction market.

Donald Trump's longtime teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez has been put on unpaid leave after allegedly winning $100K by betting on the president's speeches.

Federal investigators with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) found that Gabriel Perez, US President Donald Trump's longtime teleprompter operator, allegedly made over $100,000 by placing bets on more than a dozen of Trump's speeches. The trades occurred on Kalshi, a prediction market featuring a "Mentions" market where users bet on whether specific words or topics are spoken publicly. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-vs-us-media-president-donald-trump-escalates-fight-over-election-speech-coverage-1784266046460/embed Kalshi's surveillance team flagged the suspicious activity and referred it to the CFTC. Kalshi prohibits users from betting based on employment-related information and recently updated its policies to require users to disclose their employers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump personally decided to place Perez on unpaid administrative leave, calling the situation a "disgrace." Leavitt was unaware of other staffers making similar trades, and White House spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasised that staffers must follow strict ethics guidelines. In March, the White House issued an internal memo warning staff against using nonpublic information for prediction market bets. Also read: Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files Perez has operated Trump’s teleprompter since 2016 and typically has final eyes on prepared remarks, including last-minute edits. He previously faced scrutiny regarding edits made before Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. Investigators discovered Perez bet on speeches over three months, including the State of the Union, a December address, a Davos speech, a Medal of Honor ceremony, and a Detroit Economic Club address. Because Trump frequently deviates from his scripts, investigators found instances where Perez backed out of bets mid-speech when Trump skipped specific words. Also read: 'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech Perez interviewed with regulators and acknowledged some trades. While the CFTC alerted federal prosecutors in Manhattan, they declined to open a criminal investigation. The CFTC is now in talks to settle with Perez, discussing terms that require him to surrender his profits and refrain from similar trading. Also read: Donald Trump to attend Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 final, White House confirms This follows recent Department of Justice insider trading cases involving prediction markets. While Trump has criticised the rise of these markets in principle, he expressed support for them in April, so the US is not "left out in the cold." Additionally, Trump Media and Technology Group announced plans last October to explore launching its own prediction market.

Donald Trump's longtime teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez has been put on unpaid leave after allegedly winning $100K by betting on the president's speeches.

White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez placed on leave after winning $100K betting on Trump's speeches

Sonam Wangchuk continues to dominate the headlines today (Jul 17) as his Anshan (fast unto death) enters day 20. As the climate activist's hunger strike crosses the critical 20-day mark, doctors are warning of imminent organ damage. The escalating crisis raises an uncomfortable, historical question: Can the government legally force-feed a protester?Ten years ago, the answer seemed simple. For nearly 16 years, Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila was repeatedly arrested and kept alive through a nasogastric tube inserted into her nose to break her protest against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). But on Thursday (July 16, 2026), the Delhi High Court ordered daily medical monitoring for Wangchuk while stopping short of ordering force-feeding. Today, India’s legal framework has fundamentally shifted.The Delhi High Court's order suggests it isn't that straightforward anymore. If a person's life is at risk, can the government legally force them to eat? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. What does the law say? Let's Decode.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-share-the-anguish-congress-appeals-to-sonam-wangchuk-to-end-fast-even-as-rahul-gandhi-remains-missing-from-jantar-mantar-protest-1784252531651">'We share the anguish...': Congress appeals to Sonam Wangchuk to end fast, even as Rahul Gandhi remains missing from Jantar Mantar</a><h2>Saving a life isn't the same as ending a protest</h2>Over the years, courts have steadily moved away from treating hunger strikes as something the state must immediately break. The focus today is different. Keep the person alive, yes. But don't crush the protest in the process.The petition before the Delhi High Court wasn't really about the demands Wangchuk is making. It was about what the government should do now that his health is worsening.The judges recorded the Centre's assurance that government doctors were already examining him every day. They directed that this should continue and that doctors should intervene medically whenever necessary. What was striking was what the order left unsaid. There was no instruction permitting force-feeding. Why?<h2>Supreme Court, Anshan and force feeding</h2>The Supreme Court has dealt with this before. A similar dilemma arose during Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite fast in 2024.When Dallewal's indefinite fast had stretched beyond three weeks, prompting concerns about his health, a SC bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, reminded both the Punjab government and the Centre that protecting a person's life was their "bounden duty". It directed authorities to ensure Dallewal received immediate medical attention, while making it equally clear that he should not be compelled to abandon his fast unless doing so became absolutely necessary to save his life.The message was straightforward: The state cannot watch someone die. But neither can it casually override the decision of a competent adult who has chosen to protest by refusing food.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/make-sonam-wangchuk-education-minister-kejriwal-visits-jantar-mantar-warns-bjp-of-2014-like-fate-1784217796653">'Make Sonam Wangchuk Education Minister': Kejriwal warns BJP of '2014-like fate'</a><h2>Irom Sharmila's hunger strike and government force-feeding</h2>Mention hunger strikes in India, and one name inevitably comes up. Irom Sharmila. Her case unfolded under a very different law.Back then, attempting suicide was still an offence under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities repeatedly arrested Sharmila, admitted her to the hospital and kept her alive through force-feeding administered via a nasogastric tube.Notably, today's legal framework looks very different.<h2>What does Indian law say about hunger strike vs suicide attempt</h2>With the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the IPC, attempted suicide is no longer a criminal offence. Courts have also become far more protective of bodily autonomy and individual choice than they were two decades ago.However, that doesn't mean the state can simply walk away. It means its first instinct is expected to be medical care and dialogue, not coercion.<h2>2011 Ramdev hunger strike: The "talk first" mandate</h2>That idea runs through one of the Supreme Court's better-known judgments on protests. In June 2011, Baba Ramdev observed a peaceful anti-corruption and anti-black money protest at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. He announced that he would remain on an indefinite fast. However, just one day into the hunger strike, a midnight police crackdown ended with him being evicted from the protest site. He eventually continued the hunger strike at his Patanjali Yogpeeth ashram in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. &nbsp;Taking suo motu cognisance of the midnight police crackdown, the Supreme Court, in its judgement, underscored that the Executive must not adopt a hostile stance against hunger strikers. It highlighted that the state must proactively reach out, engage, and peacefully persuade individuals to protect their lives rather than use immediate force.The judgment noted how the then-prime minister Manmohan Singh wrote to him, senior ministers met him, and discussions continued in an attempt to persuade him to call off the fast. The court saw those efforts as significant.Governments, it suggested, should engage with protesters instead of immediately treating a hunger strike as a law-and-order problem. Peaceful fasting, after all, has long occupied a special place in India's democratic tradition, shaped by Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha.Notably, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is yet to engage with Sonam Wangchuk or the Cockroach Janata Party.<h2>So, can Wangchuk be forced to eat?</h2>If you're looking for a simple yes or no, the courts haven't given one. What they have done is draw a line. The government has a responsibility to prevent a death if a hunger strike reaches that point. But judges have become increasingly reluctant to endorse force-feeding simply because someone has chosen to protest through fasting.That explains why the Delhi High Court's order in Wangchuk's case is framed the way it is:Daily medical monitoring? Yes.Treatment if doctors think it's needed? Yes.A direction to break his fast by force? Not yet.

As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 20th day, the Delhi High Court ordered daily medical monitoring but stopped short of authorising force-feeding, for now. Can he be forced to eat? What Supreme Court past judgments tell us. WION Decodes.

Sonam Wangchuk continues to dominate the headlines today (Jul 17) as his Anshan (fast unto death) enters day 20. As the climate activist's hunger strike crosses the critical 20-day mark, doctors are warning of imminent organ damage. The escalating crisis raises an uncomfortable, historical question: Can the government legally force-feed a protester? Ten years ago, the answer seemed simple. For nearly 16 years, Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila was repeatedly arrested and kept alive through a nasogastric tube inserted into her nose to break her protest against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). But on Thursday (July 16, 2026), the Delhi High Court ordered daily medical monitoring for Wangchuk while stopping short of ordering force-feeding. Today, India’s legal framework has fundamentally shifted. The Delhi High Court's order suggests it isn't that straightforward anymore. If a person's life is at risk, can the government legally force them to eat? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. What does the law say? Let's Decode. Also read | 'We share the anguish...': Congress appeals to Sonam Wangchuk to end fast, even as Rahul Gandhi remains missing from Jantar Mantar Saving a life isn't the same as ending a protest Over the years, courts have steadily moved away from treating hunger strikes as something the state must immediately break. The focus today is different. Keep the person alive, yes. But don't crush the protest in the process. The petition before the Delhi High Court wasn't really about the demands Wangchuk is making. It was about what the government should do now that his health is worsening. The judges recorded the Centre's assurance that government doctors were already examining him every day. They directed that this should continue and that doctors should intervene medically whenever necessary. What was striking was what the order left unsaid. There was no instruction permitting force-feeding. Why? Supreme Court, Anshan and force feeding The Supreme Court has dealt with this before. A similar dilemma arose during Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite fast in 2024. When Dallewal's indefinite fast had stretched beyond three weeks, prompting concerns about his health, a SC bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, reminded both the Punjab government and the Centre that protecting a person's life was their "bounden duty". It directed authorities to ensure Dallewal received immediate medical attention, while making it equally clear that he should not be compelled to abandon his fast unless doing so became absolutely necessary to save his life. The message was straightforward: The state cannot watch someone die. But neither can it casually override the decision of a competent adult who has chosen to protest by refusing food. Also read | 'Make Sonam Wangchuk Education Minister': Kejriwal warns BJP of '2014-like fate' Irom Sharmila's hunger strike and government force-feeding Mention hunger strikes in India, and one name inevitably comes up. Irom Sharmila. Her case unfolded under a very different law. Back then, attempting suicide was still an offence under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities repeatedly arrested Sharmila, admitted her to the hospital and kept her alive through force-feeding administered via a nasogastric tube. Notably, today's legal framework looks very different. What does Indian law say about hunger strike vs suicide attempt With the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the IPC, attempted suicide is no longer a criminal offence. Courts have also become far more protective of bodily autonomy and individual choice than they were two decades ago. However, that doesn't mean the state can simply walk away. It means its first instinct is expected to be medical care and dialogue, not coercion. 2011 Ramdev hunger strike: The "talk first" mandate That idea runs through one of the Supreme Court's better-known judgments on protests. In June 2011, Baba Ramdev observed a peaceful anti-corruption and anti-black money protest at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. He announced that he would remain on an indefinite fast. However, just one day into the hunger strike, a midnight police crackdown ended with him being evicted from the protest site. He eventually continued the hunger strike at his Patanjali Yogpeeth ashram in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Taking suo motu cognisance of the midnight police crackdown, the Supreme Court, in its judgement, underscored that the Executive must not adopt a hostile stance against hunger strikers. It highlighted that the state must proactively reach out, engage, and peacefully persuade individuals to protect their lives rather than use immediate force. The judgment noted how the then-prime minister Manmohan Singh wrote to him, senior ministers met him, and discussions continued in an attempt to persuade him to call off the fast. The court saw those efforts as significant. Governments, it suggested, should engage with protesters instead of immediately treating a hunger strike as a law-and-order problem. Peaceful fasting, after all, has long occupied a special place in India's democratic tradition, shaped by Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha. Notably, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is yet to engage with Sonam Wangchuk or the Cockroach Janata Party. So, can Wangchuk be forced to eat? If you're looking for a simple yes or no, the courts haven't given one. What they have done is draw a line. The government has a responsibility to prevent a death if a hunger strike reaches that point. But judges have become increasingly reluctant to endorse force-feeding simply because someone has chosen to protest through fasting. That explains why the Delhi High Court's order in Wangchuk's case is framed the way it is: Daily medical monitoring? Yes. Treatment if doctors think it's needed? Yes. A direction to break his fast by force? Not yet.

As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 20th day, the Delhi High Court ordered daily medical monitoring but stopped short of authorising force-feeding, for now. Can he be forced to eat? What Supreme Court past judgments tell us. WION Decodes.

Can the government force-feed Sonam Wangchuk like it did Irom Sharmila? Here's what the law says about hunger strikes | WION Decodes

Oil prices soared once again on Friday (Jul 17) amid renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran, triggering concerns over disruption of gOil prices jump as US-Iran conflict raises fears over Hormuz and Red Sea supplieslobal energy supply in the Gulf region. Brent crude futures rose to around $85.3 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded near $80 a barrel, recovering from losses in the previous session. The gains capped a strong week for both benchmarks, with Brent and WTI posting double-digit weekly increases amid mounting geopolitical tensions.The market reacted after Washington launched another round of airstrikes on Iran, extending its military campaign for a sixth consecutive night. US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, describing the operation as part of efforts to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities.Iran has answered with missile and drone attacks on US military facilities across the region, including an air base in Jordan, keeping investors focused on the risk of a wider conflict.Supply concerns deepened after Tehran asked Yemen’s Houthi movement to be ready to close the Red Sea oil route if US strikes hit Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported. Any disruption in the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz would threaten one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, through which a significant share of global crude exports moves.The prospect of tighter supplies has added a geopolitical premium to oil prices, reversing losses seen in the previous session.<h2>‘We should be worried’</h2>Speaking in Washington on Thursday, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said the conflict remained a risk for global energy markets.“We should be worried, and I am worried, if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks,” Birol said.Analysts have said prices could remain supported as long as the conflict shows no sign of easing, with traders closely tracking developments around the Gulf's key oil shipping routes. &nbsp;

Oil prices climbed after fresh US-Iran attacks heightened fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Brent rose above $85 a barrel, extending strong weekly gains.


Oil prices soared once again on Friday (Jul 17) amid renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran, triggering concerns over disruption of gOil prices jump as US-Iran conflict raises fears over Hormuz and Red Sea supplieslobal energy supply in the Gulf region. Brent crude futures rose to around $85.3 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded near $80 a barrel, recovering from losses in the previous session. The gains capped a strong week for both benchmarks, with Brent and WTI posting double-digit weekly increases amid mounting geopolitical tensions. The market reacted after Washington launched another round of airstrikes on Iran, extending its military campaign for a sixth consecutive night. US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, describing the operation as part of efforts to degrade Tehran’s military capabilities. Iran has answered with missile and drone attacks on US military facilities across the region, including an air base in Jordan, keeping investors focused on the risk of a wider conflict. Supply concerns deepened after Tehran asked Yemen’s Houthi movement to be ready to close the Red Sea oil route if US strikes hit Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported. Any disruption in the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz would threaten one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, through which a significant share of global crude exports moves. The prospect of tighter supplies has added a geopolitical premium to oil prices, reversing losses seen in the previous session. ‘We should be worried’ Speaking in Washington on Thursday, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said the conflict remained a risk for global energy markets. “We should be worried, and I am worried, if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks,” Birol said. Analysts have said prices could remain supported as long as the conflict shows no sign of easing, with traders closely tracking developments around the Gulf's key oil shipping routes.

Oil prices climbed after fresh US-Iran attacks heightened fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Brent rose above $85 a barrel, extending strong weekly gains.

‘We should be worried’: Oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran attacks threaten Hormuz and Red Sea shipping routes

The Qatari Ministry of Defence Ministry on Friday (July 17) announced that its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting the country. The official statement on social media platform X. "The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar," the defense ministry wrote in the post, confirming the direct threat to the Gulf nation. While the Qatari military has not officially named the actor behind the attack, the incident occurs amidst a sharp escalation in hostilities between regional forces and the United States.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-trump-threatens-more-strikes-while-iran-targets-u-s-bases-across-the-gulf-region-1784195817838/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-trump-threatens-more-strikes-while-iran-targets-u-s-bases-across-the-gulf-region-1784195817838/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;This interception follows a series of intensified aerial confrontations across the Gulf. On Thursday (July 16) the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a wave of military strikes targeting command centers, air defence sites, and missile capabilities in Iran near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran initiated retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting US military assets in neighbouring Kuwait and Bahrain, prompting local air defence systems to activate.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-strikes-hit-key-bridge-and-airport-in-southern-iran-irgc-linked-media-reports-1784245573544">US strikes hit key bridge and airport in southern Iran, IRGC-linked media reports</a>&nbsp;The latest incident in Doha marks a continuation of threats to the peninsula. Just days prior, on July 12, Qatar's defence ministry reported intercepting a separate series of ballistic missile attacks. Following these escalations, the Qatari interior ministry raised the security threat level to "high" and urged members of the public to stay indoors and avoid handling any unidentified debris.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-eyes-iran-s-buried-pickaxe-mountain-nuclear-facility-as-next-potential-target-report-1784241487786">Trump eyes Iran's buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility as next potential target: Report</a>&nbsp;International allies have strongly condemned the spillover of hostilities. Neighbouring countries, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, have expressed solidarity with Qatar, condemning any violation of Arab state sovereignty and actions that threaten the security of civilian infrastructure. As diplomatic consultative sessions convene across Gulf capitals, defence forces remain on high alert to neutralise incoming aerial threats.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence confirmed its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting the country after multiple loud explosions were reported in the capital city of Doha.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence Ministry on Friday (July 17) announced that its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting the country. The official statement on social media platform X. "The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar," the defense ministry wrote in the post, confirming the direct threat to the Gulf nation. While the Qatari military has not officially named the actor behind the attack, the incident occurs amidst a sharp escalation in hostilities between regional forces and the United States. https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-trump-threatens-more-strikes-while-iran-targets-u-s-bases-across-the-gulf-region-1784195817838/embed This interception follows a series of intensified aerial confrontations across the Gulf. On Thursday (July 16) the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a wave of military strikes targeting command centers, air defence sites, and missile capabilities in Iran near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran initiated retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting US military assets in neighbouring Kuwait and Bahrain, prompting local air defence systems to activate. Also read: US strikes hit key bridge and airport in southern Iran, IRGC-linked media reports The latest incident in Doha marks a continuation of threats to the peninsula. Just days prior, on July 12, Qatar's defence ministry reported intercepting a separate series of ballistic missile attacks. Following these escalations, the Qatari interior ministry raised the security threat level to "high" and urged members of the public to stay indoors and avoid handling any unidentified debris. Also read: Trump eyes Iran's buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility as next potential target: Report International allies have strongly condemned the spillover of hostilities. Neighbouring countries, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, have expressed solidarity with Qatar, condemning any violation of Arab state sovereignty and actions that threaten the security of civilian infrastructure. As diplomatic consultative sessions convene across Gulf capitals, defence forces remain on high alert to neutralise incoming aerial threats.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence confirmed its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting the country after multiple loud explosions were reported in the capital city of Doha.

Blasts heard in Doha, Qatar confirms intercepted missile attack

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Jul 16) that television networks choosing not to broadcast his national address should have their broadcasting licenses revoked, after several major US networks opted against airing the speech on their main channels. The POTUS claimed that these channels were “part of a plot”."TV channels not covering the speech should have their licenses revoked," Trump said during his prime-time address, which focused on election security and claims of a stolen election just four months before the US midterm elections."They and others in the media are part of a plot. Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses. They use our public multi-billion-dollar-in-value airwaves for absolutely no money. They pay nothing," he said, calling out ABC and NBC by name.<h2>Why did channels skip the Trump speech?</h2>The decision by several broadcasters comes against the backdrop of Trump's long-running criticism of US media and his repeated, unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Some Democrats, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had urged networks not to broadcast the speech, arguing that Trump could repeat debunked allegations about election fraud.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-in-address-to-nation-repeats-stolen-election-claims-alleges-china-compromised-220-million-voter-data-files-1784250898408">Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files</a>The speech also unfolded amid heightened tensions between the administration and major media companies. ABC's parent company, Disney, is facing FCC inquiries, while FCC Chair Brendan Carr has also launched investigations involving NBC and Comcast. Carr said on Wednesday that he believes broadcast networks should carry Trump's remarks, saying Americans "have every right to be able to get" the speech over the airwaves.ABC said it would stream the address on ABC News Live and air it on ABC News Radio, but not on its main broadcast network. NBC took a similar approach, saying the speech would air on its streaming platform, NBC News NOW, rather than on its primary television channel. CNN said it would monitor the address for news coverage while making a live feed available on its website and subscription streaming service, rather than carrying it on its main cable network.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-screwed-up-jd-vance-admits-trump-administration-botched-paedophile-epstein-files-release-1784164012571">'We screwed up...': JD Vance admits Trump administration botched Epstein files release</a><h2>‘All the more reason’</h2>White House, however, sought to pressure major US television networks to air the speech live. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said Trump may address the situation in Iran and the US economy during the speech, calling that "all the more reason" for networks to air it live.The White House had previously indicated that Trump could use the address to disclose newly declassified intelligence related to the 2020 US election, including claims about China's alleged intent or capability to interfere. Reuters reported that some administration officials have expressed concern that the intelligence collected during Trump's first term could be misleading.

President Donald Trump has called for television networks that declined to air his national address to have their broadcasting licenses revoked, escalating his long-running confrontation with major US media outlets.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Jul 16) that television networks choosing not to broadcast his national address should have their broadcasting licenses revoked, after several major US networks opted against airing the speech on their main channels. The POTUS claimed that these channels were “part of a plot”. "TV channels not covering the speech should have their licenses revoked," Trump said during his prime-time address, which focused on election security and claims of a stolen election just four months before the US midterm elections. "They and others in the media are part of a plot. Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses. They use our public multi-billion-dollar-in-value airwaves for absolutely no money. They pay nothing," he said, calling out ABC and NBC by name. Why did channels skip the Trump speech? The decision by several broadcasters comes against the backdrop of Trump's long-running criticism of US media and his repeated, unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Some Democrats, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had urged networks not to broadcast the speech, arguing that Trump could repeat debunked allegations about election fraud. Also read | Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files The speech also unfolded amid heightened tensions between the administration and major media companies. ABC's parent company, Disney, is facing FCC inquiries, while FCC Chair Brendan Carr has also launched investigations involving NBC and Comcast. Carr said on Wednesday that he believes broadcast networks should carry Trump's remarks, saying Americans "have every right to be able to get" the speech over the airwaves. ABC said it would stream the address on ABC News Live and air it on ABC News Radio, but not on its main broadcast network. NBC took a similar approach, saying the speech would air on its streaming platform, NBC News NOW, rather than on its primary television channel. CNN said it would monitor the address for news coverage while making a live feed available on its website and subscription streaming service, rather than carrying it on its main cable network. Also read | 'We screwed up...': JD Vance admits Trump administration botched Epstein files release ‘All the more reason’ White House, however, sought to pressure major US television networks to air the speech live. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said Trump may address the situation in Iran and the US economy during the speech, calling that "all the more reason" for networks to air it live. The White House had previously indicated that Trump could use the address to disclose newly declassified intelligence related to the 2020 US election, including claims about China's alleged intent or capability to interfere. Reuters reported that some administration officials have expressed concern that the intelligence collected during Trump's first term could be misleading.

President Donald Trump has called for television networks that declined to air his national address to have their broadcasting licenses revoked, escalating his long-running confrontation with major US media outlets.

'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the immediate declassification of intelligence related to US elections, claiming it reveals "shocking vulnerabilities" in the country's voting system. In a national address from the White House just four ‌months before the critical midterm elections, Trump accused China of carrying out what he described as the "largest compromise" of US election data during the 2020 election."The authenticity of this intelligence is confirmed," Trump said, claiming that Chinese actors compromised 220 million US data files.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-screwed-up-jd-vance-admits-trump-administration-botched-paedophile-epstein-files-release-1784164012571">'We screwed up...': JD Vance admits Trump administration botched Epstein files release</a><h2>Data from 18 states ‘bought’?</h2>"Over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People's Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China's illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files," Trump said in a televised prime-time address from the White House.He further alleged that election-related data from 18 US states had been "bought" or "stolen."The White House earlier said the newly declassified intelligence concerns investigations into US elections and vulnerabilities in voting systems. However, Trump did not immediately provide evidence to support his claims during the address.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-missiles-strike-near-iran-children-s-cancer-hospital-mass-evacuations-underway-1784163497565">US missiles strike near Iran children's cancer hospital; mass evacuations underway</a><h2>Trump's ‘false’ stolen election claims</h2>Trump has spent years sowing suspicions about ​electoral outcomes, falsely claiming his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was rigged. He has also claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is rife with fraud, voting machines are vulnerable to manipulation and non-citizen ​voting is widespread. Notably, more than 60 lawsuits by Trump and his allies produced no ruling establishing fraud capable of changing the outcome of the 2020 election, while recounts, audits, and his own Justice Department found none.

President Donald Trump has declassified intelligence related to US elections, claiming it exposes "shocking vulnerabilities" and alleging that China compromised 220 million US data files and stole or bought election-related data from 18 states, though he presented no evidence.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the immediate declassification of intelligence related to US elections, claiming it reveals "shocking vulnerabilities" in the country's voting system. In a national address from the White House just four ‌months before the critical midterm elections, Trump accused China of carrying out what he described as the "largest compromise" of US election data during the 2020 election. "The authenticity of this intelligence is confirmed," Trump said, claiming that Chinese actors compromised 220 million US data files. Also read | 'We screwed up...': JD Vance admits Trump administration botched Epstein files release Data from 18 states ‘bought’? "Over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People's Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China's illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files," Trump said in a televised prime-time address from the White House. He further alleged that election-related data from 18 US states had been "bought" or "stolen." The White House earlier said the newly declassified intelligence concerns investigations into US elections and vulnerabilities in voting systems. However, Trump did not immediately provide evidence to support his claims during the address. Also read | US missiles strike near Iran children's cancer hospital; mass evacuations underway Trump's ‘false’ stolen election claims Trump has spent years sowing suspicions about electoral outcomes, falsely claiming his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden was rigged. He has also claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is rife with fraud, voting machines are vulnerable to manipulation and non-citizen voting is widespread. Notably, more than 60 lawsuits by Trump and his allies produced no ruling establishing fraud capable of changing the outcome of the 2020 election, while recounts, audits, and his own Justice Department found none.

President Donald Trump has declassified intelligence related to US elections, claiming it exposes "shocking vulnerabilities" and alleging that China compromised 220 million US data files and stole or bought election-related data from 18 states, though he presented no evidence.

Trump in address to nation, repeats stolen election claims, alleges China compromised 220 million voter data files

An Iraqi armed group has announced a $10 million reward for the killing of US President Donald Trump, according to reports by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and Russia’s state-run RT. The group, identifying itself as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said on Thursday (July 16) that the bounty was in response to what it described as Trump’s “audacious and offensive statements” about commanders who were killed while fighting the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-israel-have-no-right-to-be-in-the-region-iran-warns-regional-infrastructure-could-be-targeted-if-its-own-is-attacked-1784238645378">‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked</a>&nbsp;Neither IRNA nor RT provided further details on the mechanism for the reward, and the group’s statement could not be independently verified.&nbsp;The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region following an escalation in hostilities involving the United States, Iran and allied armed groups. Conservative US activist Laura Loomer criticised the reports, saying on X that Russian state media was “promoting the Iraqi Islamic Resistance’s $10 million bounty for the assassination of President Trump.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-military-always-acts-in-good-faith-trump-denies-us-role-in-minab-school-attack-wh-defends-him-1784230811330">‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him</a>&nbsp;“Every day, Russia proves more and more why they aren’t an ally,” Loomer wrote. There was no immediate response from the White House or US law enforcement authorities regarding the reported threat.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-re-going-to-knock-out-all-their-power-plants-trump-warns-iran-of-bigger-strikes-if-tehran-doesn-t-agree-for-negotiation-1784074218930">‘We’re going to knock out all their power plants’: Trump warns Iran of bigger strikes if Tehran doesn’t agree for negotiation</a>

An Iraqi armed group reportedly announced a $10 million bounty on US President Donald Trump over offensive remarks, escalating regional tensions. The claim remains unverified by US officials.

An Iraqi armed group has announced a $10 million reward for the killing of US President Donald Trump, according to reports by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and Russia’s state-run RT. The group, identifying itself as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said on Thursday (July 16) that the bounty was in response to what it described as Trump’s “audacious and offensive statements” about commanders who were killed while fighting the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. Also read: ‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked Neither IRNA nor RT provided further details on the mechanism for the reward, and the group’s statement could not be independently verified. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region following an escalation in hostilities involving the United States, Iran and allied armed groups. Conservative US activist Laura Loomer criticised the reports, saying on X that Russian state media was “promoting the Iraqi Islamic Resistance’s $10 million bounty for the assassination of President Trump.” Also read: ‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him “Every day, Russia proves more and more why they aren’t an ally,” Loomer wrote. There was no immediate response from the White House or US law enforcement authorities regarding the reported threat. Also read: ‘We’re going to knock out all their power plants’: Trump warns Iran of bigger strikes if Tehran doesn’t agree for negotiation

An Iraqi armed group reportedly announced a $10 million bounty on US President Donald Trump over offensive remarks, escalating regional tensions. The claim remains unverified by US officials.

Iraqi armed group announces $10 million reward for killing Trump

Islamabad and Beijing wanted 2026 to be the year Gwadar graduated from state-funded infrastructure to private commercial traffic. The insurgency had other plans. Pakistan's military said on July 8 that three militant attacks since July 4 — near Quetta, at a police post guarding the Mangi Dam project in Ziarat, and on an army convoy on the N-25 highway near Bela — had killed 42 police, army personnel and civilians, while security forces killed 54 militants in the operations that followed. That announcement landed just days after a truck-bomb attack on a Pakistan Coast Guard camp near Jiwani on July 3 — more than thirty personnel reportedly killed, according to the Baloch Liberation Army's own claim, which Islamabad has not confirmed — at the worst possible moment for Islamabad's pitch to global investors this year. The body count has reportedly increased since the official update. There was a specific pitch being made to global investors and shipping majors going into this year: Gwadar was ready to move past its first, state-funded phase of breakwaters, roads and terminals and into what Chinese and Pakistani planners liked to call CPEC 2.0 — a second act built on private capital, industrial zones and genuine commercial maritime traffic rather than government-to-government loans. Chinese and Pakistani officials have talked up this shift throughout 2026, describing it as a move from infrastructure to industrialisation, with dozens of new special economic zones approved and Chinese firms courted for manufacturing and assembly. The timing of this year's escalation could not have been worse for that narrative.&nbsp; Consider what the pitch requires to succeed. It needed global shipping conglomerates, operating on wafer-thin margins and unforgiving delivery schedules, to trust that cargo routed through Gwadar would move predictably. It needed private industrial investors willing to build inside the Special Economic Zones adjacent to the port. And it needed a general sense, communicable to insurers, charterers and corporate boards sitting in Singapore, Dubai or Shanghai, that Gwadar in 2026 was a fundamentally different, safer proposition than Gwadar a decade earlier. None of those conditions have been met. Instead, this year has delivered a Coast Guard patrol boat attacked at sea in April, a coordinated multi-district offensive in late January and early February — which the BLA branded Operation Herof 2.0 — that Pakistani forces say required killing over two hundred militants to suppress, a further wave of some 65 coordinated attacks the BLA claimed to have carried out across the province between March 29 and April 1, and now a truck-bomb assault on a coast guard camp near Jiwani that the BLA claims killed more than thirty personnel, followed within days by the military's own admission of 42 more dead in a fresh round of attacks. Each of these episodes, individually, might be absorbed as a cost of doing business in a difficult security environment. Stacked together across a single calendar year, they read as exactly the kind of instability that scares private capital away rather than drawing it in.The mechanics of capital flight here are not abstract. No board of directors approves an industrial facility inside a Special Economic Zone when the neighbouring district has, within the same quarter, required a multi-day military clearance operation to reclaim control of its own highways. No shipping line reroutes its Gulf-to-Asia traffic through a port whose approach roads have been the site of coordinated insurgent blockades. The commercial logic that CPEC 2.0 depended on — Gwadar as a calculable, bankable risk — simply does not survive contact with a year like this one.There is also a quieter cost that rarely makes headlines: the diversion of Gwadar's own development budget. Money originally earmarked for dredging, digital customs infrastructure, warehousing and berth expansion increasingly has to be redirected toward force protection, private security contracting and physical hardening of existing facilities. A port cannot out-build an insurgency and out-compete regional rivals like Dubai's Jebel Ali or Oman's Salalah at the same time on the same budget. For Indian policymakers and businesses watching this unfold, the takeaway is not schadenfreude but a sober read of regional trade geography. Every year Gwadar remains a security project rather than a commercial one is a year in which established, stable alternatives consolidate their share of Gulf and South Asian shipping traffic. CPEC 2.0 was meant to be Gwadar's coming-of-age story. In 2026, with the latest Jiwani bombing arriving in the same week Pakistan's own military disclosed a further 42 dead across the province, it has instead become a case study in how quickly an investment narrative can be undone by a security narrative that refuses to end. There is a broader lesson here for how investment pitches around conflict-adjacent infrastructure tend to age. Master plans and summit declarations can describe a port's future capacity in glowing detail, but they cannot retroactively rewrite a year's worth of attack headlines once those headlines exist. Sovereign wealth funds, container-shipping majors and industrial investors making decisions with multi-decade time horizons will, in the end, weigh the last several years of lived security experience far more heavily than the next several years of promised stability. On that basis, 2026 has made the CPEC 2.0 pitch a considerably harder sell than it was even twelve months ago, regardless of how the underlying construction and infrastructure work at the port itself continues to progress on paper. About the author: Commodore (Dr.) Johnson Odakkal is a maritime scholar, strategic affairs analyst, and a former Indian Naval Wargame and Strategic Planner and Research Analyst. He is a specialist in Global Politics and Theory of Knowledge and an Adjunct Faculty member of the Maritime and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College, Goa. &nbsp;He can be reached at ceo@johnsonodakkal.com &nbsp;

In 2026, severe insurgent attacks by the BLA have shattered the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0) narrative, scaring off private investors and stalling Gwadar Port’s transition into a commercial hub.

Islamabad and Beijing wanted 2026 to be the year Gwadar graduated from state-funded infrastructure to private commercial traffic. The insurgency had other plans. Pakistan's military said on July 8 that three militant attacks since July 4 — near Quetta, at a police post guarding the Mangi Dam project in Ziarat, and on an army convoy on the N-25 highway near Bela — had killed 42 police, army personnel and civilians, while security forces killed 54 militants in the operations that followed. That announcement landed just days after a truck-bomb attack on a Pakistan Coast Guard camp near Jiwani on July 3 — more than thirty personnel reportedly killed, according to the Baloch Liberation Army's own claim, which Islamabad has not confirmed — at the worst possible moment for Islamabad's pitch to global investors this year. The body count has reportedly increased since the official update. There was a specific pitch being made to global investors and shipping majors going into this year: Gwadar was ready to move past its first, state-funded phase of breakwaters, roads and terminals and into what Chinese and Pakistani planners liked to call CPEC 2.0 — a second act built on private capital, industrial zones and genuine commercial maritime traffic rather than government-to-government loans. Chinese and Pakistani officials have talked up this shift throughout 2026, describing it as a move from infrastructure to industrialisation, with dozens of new special economic zones approved and Chinese firms courted for manufacturing and assembly. The timing of this year's escalation could not have been worse for that narrative. Consider what the pitch requires to succeed. It needed global shipping conglomerates, operating on wafer-thin margins and unforgiving delivery schedules, to trust that cargo routed through Gwadar would move predictably. It needed private industrial investors willing to build inside the Special Economic Zones adjacent to the port. And it needed a general sense, communicable to insurers, charterers and corporate boards sitting in Singapore, Dubai or Shanghai, that Gwadar in 2026 was a fundamentally different, safer proposition than Gwadar a decade earlier. None of those conditions have been met. Instead, this year has delivered a Coast Guard patrol boat attacked at sea in April, a coordinated multi-district offensive in late January and early February — which the BLA branded Operation Herof 2.0 — that Pakistani forces say required killing over two hundred militants to suppress, a further wave of some 65 coordinated attacks the BLA claimed to have carried out across the province between March 29 and April 1, and now a truck-bomb assault on a coast guard camp near Jiwani that the BLA claims killed more than thirty personnel, followed within days by the military's own admission of 42 more dead in a fresh round of attacks. Each of these episodes, individually, might be absorbed as a cost of doing business in a difficult security environment. Stacked together across a single calendar year, they read as exactly the kind of instability that scares private capital away rather than drawing it in. The mechanics of capital flight here are not abstract. No board of directors approves an industrial facility inside a Special Economic Zone when the neighbouring district has, within the same quarter, required a multi-day military clearance operation to reclaim control of its own highways. No shipping line reroutes its Gulf-to-Asia traffic through a port whose approach roads have been the site of coordinated insurgent blockades. The commercial logic that CPEC 2.0 depended on — Gwadar as a calculable, bankable risk — simply does not survive contact with a year like this one. There is also a quieter cost that rarely makes headlines: the diversion of Gwadar's own development budget. Money originally earmarked for dredging, digital customs infrastructure, warehousing and berth expansion increasingly has to be redirected toward force protection, private security contracting and physical hardening of existing facilities. A port cannot out-build an insurgency and out-compete regional rivals like Dubai's Jebel Ali or Oman's Salalah at the same time on the same budget. For Indian policymakers and businesses watching this unfold, the takeaway is not schadenfreude but a sober read of regional trade geography. Every year Gwadar remains a security project rather than a commercial one is a year in which established, stable alternatives consolidate their share of Gulf and South Asian shipping traffic. CPEC 2.0 was meant to be Gwadar's coming-of-age story. In 2026, with the latest Jiwani bombing arriving in the same week Pakistan's own military disclosed a further 42 dead across the province, it has instead become a case study in how quickly an investment narrative can be undone by a security narrative that refuses to end. There is a broader lesson here for how investment pitches around conflict-adjacent infrastructure tend to age. Master plans and summit declarations can describe a port's future capacity in glowing detail, but they cannot retroactively rewrite a year's worth of attack headlines once those headlines exist. Sovereign wealth funds, container-shipping majors and industrial investors making decisions with multi-decade time horizons will, in the end, weigh the last several years of lived security experience far more heavily than the next several years of promised stability. On that basis, 2026 has made the CPEC 2.0 pitch a considerably harder sell than it was even twelve months ago, regardless of how the underlying construction and infrastructure work at the port itself continues to progress on paper. About the author: Commodore (Dr.) Johnson Odakkal is a maritime scholar, strategic affairs analyst, and a former Indian Naval Wargame and Strategic Planner and Research Analyst. He is a specialist in Global Politics and Theory of Knowledge and an Adjunct Faculty member of the Maritime and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College, Goa. He can be reached at ceo@johnsonodakkal.com

In 2026, severe insurgent attacks by the BLA have shattered the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0) narrative, scaring off private investors and stalling Gwadar Port’s transition into a commercial hub.

CPEC 2.0 was supposed to bring investors to Gwadar. It's bringing body bags instead

US airstrikes targeted a key bridge and an airport in southern Iran on Thursday (July , according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, as hostilities between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate.&nbsp;Tasnim reported that the Bandar Abbas-Kahurestan-Lar bridge, a major road link connecting the southern port city of Bandar Abbas with Shiraz, was struck along with Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-military-always-acts-in-good-faith-trump-denies-us-role-in-minab-school-attack-wh-defends-him-1784230811330">‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him</a>&nbsp;The agency said the attacks also hit Bandar Khamir and the Kahurestan district in Hormuzgan province, where several explosions were heard and electricity was disrupted in parts of the area. According to Tasnim, three powerful explosions were heard near Iranshahr Airport after US warplanes launched missile strikes on the facility. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the reported attacks or the extent of the damage.&nbsp;Separately, the Hormuzgan governor’s office said locations near Qeshm were struck at around 11:10 a.m. local time, but did not provide further details on casualties or damage. The reported strikes came amid an intensifying military confrontation between the United States and Iran, with both sides exchanging threats and military action across the region.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-israel-have-no-right-to-be-in-the-region-iran-warns-regional-infrastructure-could-be-targeted-if-its-own-is-attacked-1784238645378">‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked</a>&nbsp;In a separate development, Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi, a member of Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, called for Iran to target US leaders in retaliation for what he described as “ongoing assassinations and expanding sanctions”.&nbsp;“Strike their leaders in America,” Azghadi said, while also urging Tehran to withdraw from international treaties. He cited a Quranic verse that he said permits retaliation against those who initiate aggression. His remarks reflected the increasingly hardline rhetoric emerging from Iranian officials as tensions with Washington continue to mount.

US airstrikes reportedly targeted a strategic bridge and airport in southern Iran amid escalating tensions, while an Iranian official called for retaliation against US leaders.

US airstrikes targeted a key bridge and an airport in southern Iran on Thursday (July , according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, as hostilities between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate. Tasnim reported that the Bandar Abbas-Kahurestan-Lar bridge, a major road link connecting the southern port city of Bandar Abbas with Shiraz, was struck along with Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran. Also read: ‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him The agency said the attacks also hit Bandar Khamir and the Kahurestan district in Hormuzgan province, where several explosions were heard and electricity was disrupted in parts of the area. According to Tasnim, three powerful explosions were heard near Iranshahr Airport after US warplanes launched missile strikes on the facility. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the reported attacks or the extent of the damage. Separately, the Hormuzgan governor’s office said locations near Qeshm were struck at around 11:10 a.m. local time, but did not provide further details on casualties or damage. The reported strikes came amid an intensifying military confrontation between the United States and Iran, with both sides exchanging threats and military action across the region. Also read: ‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked In a separate development, Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi, a member of Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, called for Iran to target US leaders in retaliation for what he described as “ongoing assassinations and expanding sanctions”. “Strike their leaders in America,” Azghadi said, while also urging Tehran to withdraw from international treaties. He cited a Quranic verse that he said permits retaliation against those who initiate aggression. His remarks reflected the increasingly hardline rhetoric emerging from Iranian officials as tensions with Washington continue to mount.

US airstrikes reportedly targeted a strategic bridge and airport in southern Iran amid escalating tensions, while an Iranian official called for retaliation against US leaders.

US strikes hit key bridge and airport in southern Iran, IRGC-linked media reports

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military strikes on Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear complex, a facility that US and Israeli officials believe could play a future role in reviving Tehran's nuclear programme.&nbsp;Citing US officials, The Wall Street Journal on Thursday (July 16) said Trump has been weighing possible military action against the site after receiving several days of briefings from senior aides.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-israel-have-no-right-to-be-in-the-region-iran-warns-regional-infrastructure-could-be-targeted-if-its-own-is-attacked-1784238645378">‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked</a>&nbsp;According to the report, Iran began constructing the underground complex near the Natanz nuclear facility in 2020 after an aboveground uranium enrichment plant was damaged in what was widely believed to be an act of sabotage. A year later, then-Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the facility would house "sensitive" equipment.&nbsp;WSJ, citing former US and Israeli officials, reported that the mountain complex could play a significant role in any future Iranian effort to rebuild its nuclear programme. However, it said construction appears to be incomplete, and it remains unclear whether any nuclear-related activity is currently taking place at the site.&nbsp;The report also said Iran has not submitted design information for the facility to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in March that inspectors should be granted access to the complex.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-military-always-acts-in-good-faith-trump-denies-us-role-in-minab-school-attack-wh-defends-him-1784230811330">‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him</a>&nbsp;The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security estimated in a 2022 report that the underground facility could span more than 5,000 square metres and could eventually accommodate a uranium enrichment plant alongside other nuclear-related activities. The think tank also said recent satellite imagery indicated construction resumed following the June 2025 conflict.&nbsp;The newspaper quoted Dan Shapiro, a former senior Pentagon official in the Biden administration, as saying the site had become "a plausible target for attack" because Trump was concerned Iran could eventually reverse the damage inflicted on its nuclear programme during last year's war.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military strikes on Iran's unfinished, deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility to prevent Tehran from reviving its nuclear programme after last year's war.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military strikes on Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear complex, a facility that US and Israeli officials believe could play a future role in reviving Tehran's nuclear programme. Citing US officials, The Wall Street Journal on Thursday (July 16) said Trump has been weighing possible military action against the site after receiving several days of briefings from senior aides. Also read: ‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked According to the report, Iran began constructing the underground complex near the Natanz nuclear facility in 2020 after an aboveground uranium enrichment plant was damaged in what was widely believed to be an act of sabotage. A year later, then-Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the facility would house "sensitive" equipment. WSJ, citing former US and Israeli officials, reported that the mountain complex could play a significant role in any future Iranian effort to rebuild its nuclear programme. However, it said construction appears to be incomplete, and it remains unclear whether any nuclear-related activity is currently taking place at the site. The report also said Iran has not submitted design information for the facility to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in March that inspectors should be granted access to the complex. Also read: ‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security estimated in a 2022 report that the underground facility could span more than 5,000 square metres and could eventually accommodate a uranium enrichment plant alongside other nuclear-related activities. The think tank also said recent satellite imagery indicated construction resumed following the June 2025 conflict. The newspaper quoted Dan Shapiro, a former senior Pentagon official in the Biden administration, as saying the site had become "a plausible target for attack" because Trump was concerned Iran could eventually reverse the damage inflicted on its nuclear programme during last year's war.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering military strikes on Iran's unfinished, deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility to prevent Tehran from reviving its nuclear programme after last year's war.

Trump eyes Iran's buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility as next potential target: Report

Iran warned on Thursday (July 16) that it would target infrastructure across West Asia if its own facilities came under attack, with a senior military spokesperson accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-to-arm-ukraine-like-never-before-macron-announces-rafales-missile-manufacturing-deal-1783984384339">‘France to arm Ukraine like never before': Macron announces Rafales, missile manufacturing deal</a>&nbsp;Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, senior armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said any damage to Iran's infrastructure would be met with retaliatory strikes against infrastructure elsewhere in the region.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-military-always-acts-in-good-faith-trump-denies-us-role-in-minab-school-attack-wh-defends-him-1784230811330">‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him</a>&nbsp;"The United States and Israel have no right to be in the region," Shekarchi said, reiterating Tehran's longstanding opposition to the American military presence in the Middle East. He also described Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz as "a source of security for the entire region" and said the Islamic Republic would never abandon its position on the strategically important waterway.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-re-going-to-knock-out-all-their-power-plants-trump-warns-iran-of-bigger-strikes-if-tehran-doesn-t-agree-for-negotiation-1784074218930">‘We’re going to knock out all their power plants’: Trump warns Iran of bigger strikes if Tehran doesn’t agree for negotiation</a>&nbsp;Shekarchi added that Iran remained committed to securing the withdrawal of US forces from the region, framing it as a key objective of Tehran's regional policy. "We delivered a crushing response to the enemy and will continue to do so. They have suffered heavy blows," he said, without providing further details.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-continue-to-aggressively-follow-the-money-us-freezes-over-130mn-in-iran-linked-crypto-wallets-1784075752403">'We will continue to aggressively follow the money': US freezes over $130mn in Iran-linked crypto wallets</a>&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical global shipping route and a frequent flashpoint in regional security disputes.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hollywood-style-lies-ahmadinejad-blasts-mossad-recruitment-report-denies-coup-plot-claims-1783986728488">'Hollywood-style lies': Ahmadinejad blasts Mossad recruitment report, denies coup plot claims</a>

Iran warned it will target West Asia infrastructure if its own is attacked, declaring the US and Israel have no right in the region while defending its control of Hormuz.

Iran warned on Thursday (July 16) that it would target infrastructure across West Asia if its own facilities came under attack, with a senior military spokesperson accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the region. Also read: ‘France to arm Ukraine like never before': Macron announces Rafales, missile manufacturing deal Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, senior armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said any damage to Iran's infrastructure would be met with retaliatory strikes against infrastructure elsewhere in the region. Also read: ‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him "The United States and Israel have no right to be in the region," Shekarchi said, reiterating Tehran's longstanding opposition to the American military presence in the Middle East. He also described Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz as "a source of security for the entire region" and said the Islamic Republic would never abandon its position on the strategically important waterway. Also read: ‘We’re going to knock out all their power plants’: Trump warns Iran of bigger strikes if Tehran doesn’t agree for negotiation Shekarchi added that Iran remained committed to securing the withdrawal of US forces from the region, framing it as a key objective of Tehran's regional policy. "We delivered a crushing response to the enemy and will continue to do so. They have suffered heavy blows," he said, without providing further details. Also read: 'We will continue to aggressively follow the money': US freezes over $130mn in Iran-linked crypto wallets The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical global shipping route and a frequent flashpoint in regional security disputes. Also read: 'Hollywood-style lies': Ahmadinejad blasts Mossad recruitment report, denies coup plot claims

Iran warned it will target West Asia infrastructure if its own is attacked, declaring the US and Israel have no right in the region while defending its control of Hormuz.

‘US, Israel have no right to be in the region’: Iran warns regional infrastructure could be targeted if its own is attacked

Iran’s judiciary on Thursday (July 16) denied that any American prisoner had been released or exchanged, contradicting a statement by US President Donald Trump that Tehran had allowed a US citizen who was “wrongfully detained” since December 2024 to leave the country. The denial was issued by the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency, which said no US national had been freed as part of any release or prisoner swap arrangement.&nbsp;Trump said on Wednesday that an American woman who had been detained in Iran was now safely outside the country and in good condition. He did not identify the individual. According to a Reuters report, human rights lawyer Jared Genser identified the woman as Dena Karari, a California resident who had travelled to Shiraz in December 2024.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-military-always-acts-in-good-faith-trump-denies-us-role-in-minab-school-attack-wh-defends-him-1784230811330">‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him</a>&nbsp;Reuters reported that Iranian authorities confiscated Karari’s passport during the visit, preventing her from leaving the country. She was not formally detained, but was repeatedly interrogated before eventually being allowed to depart Iran, the report said.&nbsp;The differing accounts highlight the continuing lack of clarity surrounding the case, with Washington portraying the episode as the release of a wrongfully detained citizen while Iranian judicial authorities insist no prisoner release took place.&nbsp;Earlier, US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday (July 15), said that Iran had allowed an American citizen who was "wrongfully detained" since December 2024 to leave the country, calling the move a "gesture of goodwill" by Tehran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/targeting-iran-s-military-capabilities-us-launches-fresh-strikes-as-explosions-rock-ahvaz-chabahar-1784144502014">'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar</a>&nbsp;In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the woman had safely left Iran and was in good condition. "Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the 'presidency' of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Trump wrote. &nbsp;

Iran’s judiciary denied US President Donald Trump’s claim regarding the release of a wrongfully detained American citizen, stating no US prisoner or spy has been freed or exchanged.

Iran’s judiciary on Thursday (July 16) denied that any American prisoner had been released or exchanged, contradicting a statement by US President Donald Trump that Tehran had allowed a US citizen who was “wrongfully detained” since December 2024 to leave the country. The denial was issued by the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency, which said no US national had been freed as part of any release or prisoner swap arrangement. Trump said on Wednesday that an American woman who had been detained in Iran was now safely outside the country and in good condition. He did not identify the individual. According to a Reuters report, human rights lawyer Jared Genser identified the woman as Dena Karari, a California resident who had travelled to Shiraz in December 2024. Also read: ‘Our military always acts in good faith’: Trump denies US role in Minab school attack, WH defends him Reuters reported that Iranian authorities confiscated Karari’s passport during the visit, preventing her from leaving the country. She was not formally detained, but was repeatedly interrogated before eventually being allowed to depart Iran, the report said. The differing accounts highlight the continuing lack of clarity surrounding the case, with Washington portraying the episode as the release of a wrongfully detained citizen while Iranian judicial authorities insist no prisoner release took place. Earlier, US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday (July 15), said that Iran had allowed an American citizen who was "wrongfully detained" since December 2024 to leave the country, calling the move a "gesture of goodwill" by Tehran. Also read: 'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the woman had safely left Iran and was in good condition. "Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the 'presidency' of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!" Trump wrote.

Iran’s judiciary denied US President Donald Trump’s claim regarding the release of a wrongfully detained American citizen, stating no US prisoner or spy has been freed or exchanged.

‘No US prisoner released’: Iran rejects Trump's claim over American citizen

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Who is Nitish Kaushal? FBI nabs alleged Bhagwanpuria gang operative after placing him on Most Wanted list

Andy Burnham set to become UK PM as Britain gets its seventh premier in a decade

Italy’s ‘free to choose’ bill: How will it help mafia children escape crime?

Is US heading for a popular revolution? Tucker Carlson cites growing discontent

Trump admin faces heat as Taco Bell removes lettuce over parasite outbreak

'Several US refueling aircraft and fighter jets destroyed', claims Iran

India presses Myanmar on border security at BIMSTEC meet

Over 500 feared dead after boats carrying Rohingyas capsize off Myanmar

Insider trading? Trump media company to sell early access to Truth Social posts

Inside India’s first hydrogen train flagged off by PM Modi

‘Response to crimes of arrogant enemy’: Iran launches attacks across Gulf

Trump's speech fact-checked: Which claims are true, misleading or false?

Bangladesh urges stronger BIMSTEC security cooperation amid Rohingya crisis, regional threats at Delhi NSAs meet

Philippines slams China's AI monkey video as 'Dehumanising and Racist'

Trump teleprompter operator put on leave over $100K speech betting scandal

Can government force-feed Sonam Wangchuk? The law behind India's hunger strikes

Oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran attacks threaten key shipping routes

Blasts heard in Doha, Qatar confirms intercepted missile attack

'Revoke their licenses': Trump lashes out at TV networks that skipped his speech

Trump drops 'shocking' election intel, alleges China hacked 220mn US records

Iraqi armed group announces $10 million reward for killing Trump

CPEC 2.0 was supposed to bring investors to Gwadar, but...

US strikes hit key bridge and airport in southern Iran

Trump eyes Iran's buried Pickaxe Mountain nuke facility as next target: Report