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Massive protests surfaced in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning (July 16, 2026) against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. During the protest, over a thousand people gathered on a central square, singing the Ukrainian national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags, as well as chanting slogans "shame" and "bring Fedorov back". Appointed just six months ago, Fedorov had earned a reputation as a moderniser who attempted to bring reform in the Ukrainian military, which has been under the Russian invasion. His removal risks throwing uncertainty into the army at a time when Ukraine has gained one of its best positions in the conflict for months, slowing Russia's advance and pounding oil and military sites with long-range drones. Fedorov announced late Wednesday he was stepping down, saying it was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people, amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky. No official reason was given for the decision, which protestors saw as part of infighting inside Ukraine's military establishment between Fedorov and commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-sheikh-hasina-wants-to-return-to-bangladesh-despite-death-sentence-and-what-it-means-for-india-wion-decodes-1784188338609">Why Sheikh Hasina wants to return to Bangladesh despite death sentence —and what it means for India | WION Decodes</a><h3>Who is Mykhailo Fedorov?</h3>Mykhailo Fedorov is a Ukrainian tech-focused reformer who served as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine for six months. Prior to his defence role, he gained international recognition as the Minister of Digital Transformation, during which he developed the highly successful Diia state services app and scaled up Ukraine’s "drone army". From 2019 to March 2023, he also served as a Deputy PM and Minister of Digital Transformation. On 21 March 2023, his duties and title were expanded to Deputy PM for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister for Digital Transformation. From 17 July 2025 to 13 January 2026, Fedorov acted as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister of Digital Transformation in the government of Yulia Svyrydenko.<h3>Education and political journey</h3>A graduate of Zaporizhzhya National University, he first gained public attention in 2012 after being elected "Student Mayor of Zaporizhzhia" during a local student festival. He later founded SMM Studio, a digital marketing company, before entering politics. Fedorov made his first electoral attempt in 2014, contesting the parliamentary election as a candidate of the 5.10 political party. However, the party failed to cross the electoral threshold and did not secure representation in parliament. Following Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidential victory in 2019, Fedorov became an adviser to the new president. Later that year, he was elected to Ukraine's parliament on the Servant of the People party list and was appointed Minister of Digital Transformation in the Honcharuk government. As Digital Transformation Minister, Fedorov spearheaded the ambitious "state in a smartphone" initiative, which aimed to make all government services available online and simplify citizens' access to public services through digital platforms. Although funding for the project initially relied on international assistance and partnerships, the programme became one of Ukraine's flagship governance reforms. In 2023, after a brief dismissal, Fedorov was reappointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology while also returning as Minister of Digital Transformation. He further strengthened Ukraine's digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem during the ongoing war. On January 14, 2026, Fedorov was appointed Ukraine's Minister of Defence after being nominated by President Zelenskyy. Upon taking office, he highlighted key challenges facing the military, including mobilisation shortages and desertions. However, his tenure lasted only about seven months. He was removed from office during a wider government reshuffle initiated by President Zelenskyy following the resignation of the prime minister and several cabinet ministers.

Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced late Wednesday he was stepping down, saying it was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people, amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Massive protests surfaced in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning (July 16, 2026) against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. During the protest, over a thousand people gathered on a central square, singing the Ukrainian national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags, as well as chanting slogans "shame" and "bring Fedorov back". Appointed just six months ago, Fedorov had earned a reputation as a moderniser who attempted to bring reform in the Ukrainian military, which has been under the Russian invasion. His removal risks throwing uncertainty into the army at a time when Ukraine has gained one of its best positions in the conflict for months, slowing Russia's advance and pounding oil and military sites with long-range drones. Fedorov announced late Wednesday he was stepping down, saying it was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people, amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky. No official reason was given for the decision, which protestors saw as part of infighting inside Ukraine's military establishment between Fedorov and commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky. Also read: Why Sheikh Hasina wants to return to Bangladesh despite death sentence —and what it means for India | WION Decodes Who is Mykhailo Fedorov? Mykhailo Fedorov is a Ukrainian tech-focused reformer who served as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine for six months. Prior to his defence role, he gained international recognition as the Minister of Digital Transformation, during which he developed the highly successful Diia state services app and scaled up Ukraine’s "drone army". From 2019 to March 2023, he also served as a Deputy PM and Minister of Digital Transformation. On 21 March 2023, his duties and title were expanded to Deputy PM for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister for Digital Transformation. From 17 July 2025 to 13 January 2026, Fedorov acted as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister of Digital Transformation in the government of Yulia Svyrydenko. Education and political journey A graduate of Zaporizhzhya National University, he first gained public attention in 2012 after being elected "Student Mayor of Zaporizhzhia" during a local student festival. He later founded SMM Studio, a digital marketing company, before entering politics. Fedorov made his first electoral attempt in 2014, contesting the parliamentary election as a candidate of the 5.10 political party. However, the party failed to cross the electoral threshold and did not secure representation in parliament. Following Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidential victory in 2019, Fedorov became an adviser to the new president. Later that year, he was elected to Ukraine's parliament on the Servant of the People party list and was appointed Minister of Digital Transformation in the Honcharuk government. As Digital Transformation Minister, Fedorov spearheaded the ambitious "state in a smartphone" initiative, which aimed to make all government services available online and simplify citizens' access to public services through digital platforms. Although funding for the project initially relied on international assistance and partnerships, the programme became one of Ukraine's flagship governance reforms. In 2023, after a brief dismissal, Fedorov was reappointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology while also returning as Minister of Digital Transformation. He further strengthened Ukraine's digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem during the ongoing war. On January 14, 2026, Fedorov was appointed Ukraine's Minister of Defence after being nominated by President Zelenskyy. Upon taking office, he highlighted key challenges facing the military, including mobilisation shortages and desertions. However, his tenure lasted only about seven months. He was removed from office during a wider government reshuffle initiated by President Zelenskyy following the resignation of the prime minister and several cabinet ministers.

Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced late Wednesday he was stepping down, saying it was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people, amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Protest erupts in Ukraine after Zelensky removes Defence Minister? Who is he

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has decided to return to her country despite being sentenced to death. Hasina, 78, has been living in India since she fled Dhaka after she was ousted following a violent student-led protest on August 5, 2024. After the BNP came to power, they have been seeking the extradition of Hasina, however, she had earlier said that she will return when the government in her country can ensure justice. As she hints at her return, the major question that arises is that why has she agreed to return.&nbsp;The longest-serving prime minister of the South Asian nation has been sentenced to death in absentia after the Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity. This happened while the country was still under the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. His government also banned the Awami League from campaigning, carrying out political activities and contesting elections. Hasina had called Yunus a "foreign agent" and accused him of fanning hatred against her party and her government.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-freezes-6-19-billion-linked-to-sheikh-hasina-family-in-massive-crackdown-1784184559837">Bangladesh freezes $6.19 billion linked to Sheikh Hasina, family in massive crackdown</a>&nbsp;The scenario has changed now. It is Bangaldesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in power and former late PM Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman is the prime minister. &nbsp;His government has been maintaining that Hasina should return and pay for her alleged crimes. His advisor Zahed Ur Rahman, recently said that if she returns, the government "will welcome her." he also suggested her to “bring the best lawyers in the world" and follow the judicial process.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/there-is-no-change-india-breaks-silence-on-extradition-of-former-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-1784097304806">'There is no change...': India breaks silence on extradition of Hasina</a>&nbsp;The BNP government has also maintained a good relation with India since in power despite pushing for Hasina's extradition. Combining this with Rahman's advisor's statement, it may be assumed that BNP might not seek political revenge from Hasina and Awami League knows this. Additionally, Hasina might be tempted to expose the unfair judicial process of BNP to the world. While she won't be saved, she would pave way for a bright future for her party Awami League. This is exactly a leaf out of Khaleda Zia's book. While she faced jail term and isolation in Bangladesh, when times changed, her son returned from London and ended up being the head of the state - winning a free and fair election.<h2>What is India's position on the matter?</h2>As for India, there might be a good news and a bad one. If Hasina decides to leave, it would be the end of one of the crucial sensitive issue between New Delhi and Dhaka, amid the latter's increasing ties with Beijing. The bad news is if Hasina is persecuted after she returns, India will be under scanner as it would violate the principle of non-refoulement in the international law. Though India is not a signatory to 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol that makes the principle legally binding, ethically, it would be at the centre of a major controversy.&nbsp;For now, speaking to media on Tuesday (July 15) during weekly press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the matter is a legal issue and will be dealt accordingly. The MEA clarified that there has been no change in New Delhi's stance on the matter even as the former Bangladeshi PM has openly expressed about her plans to leave India and return to her homeland. &nbsp;“There is no change in our approach to the matter. Any extradition matter is a legal issue, and it will be dealt with accordingly,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. India has maintained that the extradition demand will be examined in line with judicial and legal processes.<h2>What Sheikh Hasina said?</h2>Hasina, who is in India, since she fled her nation after August uprising, said that she may go back by December along with other senior party colleagues. While she expressed her fear of getting killed, she said that she is not afraid to be jailed. She also said that people should decide the fate of her party Awami league and the BNP government should not ban it. "They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me...If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed," Hasina said. "When a government works for a long ⁠time, mistakes can ​happen — no government is above error. But the right to judge the good and bad, the right and wrong of a ​government belongs to the people. They may have convicted me, and I may not be able to ​contest elections. But why should they suspend the Awami League?" she added.

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has indicated she may return to Bangladesh despite being sentenced to death in absentia. The BNP government says she will receive due legal process, while India maintains that any extradition request will be handled legally

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has decided to return to her country despite being sentenced to death. Hasina, 78, has been living in India since she fled Dhaka after she was ousted following a violent student-led protest on August 5, 2024. After the BNP came to power, they have been seeking the extradition of Hasina, however, she had earlier said that she will return when the government in her country can ensure justice. As she hints at her return, the major question that arises is that why has she agreed to return. The longest-serving prime minister of the South Asian nation has been sentenced to death in absentia after the Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity. This happened while the country was still under the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. His government also banned the Awami League from campaigning, carrying out political activities and contesting elections. Hasina had called Yunus a "foreign agent" and accused him of fanning hatred against her party and her government. Also Read: Bangladesh freezes $6.19 billion linked to Sheikh Hasina, family in massive crackdown The scenario has changed now. It is Bangaldesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in power and former late PM Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman is the prime minister. His government has been maintaining that Hasina should return and pay for her alleged crimes. His advisor Zahed Ur Rahman, recently said that if she returns, the government "will welcome her." he also suggested her to “bring the best lawyers in the world" and follow the judicial process. Also Read: 'There is no change...': India breaks silence on extradition of Hasina The BNP government has also maintained a good relation with India since in power despite pushing for Hasina's extradition. Combining this with Rahman's advisor's statement, it may be assumed that BNP might not seek political revenge from Hasina and Awami League knows this. Additionally, Hasina might be tempted to expose the unfair judicial process of BNP to the world. While she won't be saved, she would pave way for a bright future for her party Awami League. This is exactly a leaf out of Khaleda Zia's book. While she faced jail term and isolation in Bangladesh, when times changed, her son returned from London and ended up being the head of the state - winning a free and fair election. What is India's position on the matter? As for India, there might be a good news and a bad one. If Hasina decides to leave, it would be the end of one of the crucial sensitive issue between New Delhi and Dhaka, amid the latter's increasing ties with Beijing. The bad news is if Hasina is persecuted after she returns, India will be under scanner as it would violate the principle of non-refoulement in the international law. Though India is not a signatory to 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol that makes the principle legally binding, ethically, it would be at the centre of a major controversy. For now, speaking to media on Tuesday (July 15) during weekly press briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the matter is a legal issue and will be dealt accordingly. The MEA clarified that there has been no change in New Delhi's stance on the matter even as the former Bangladeshi PM has openly expressed about her plans to leave India and return to her homeland. “There is no change in our approach to the matter. Any extradition matter is a legal issue, and it will be dealt with accordingly,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. India has maintained that the extradition demand will be examined in line with judicial and legal processes. What Sheikh Hasina said? Hasina, who is in India, since she fled her nation after August uprising, said that she may go back by December along with other senior party colleagues. While she expressed her fear of getting killed, she said that she is not afraid to be jailed. She also said that people should decide the fate of her party Awami league and the BNP government should not ban it. "They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me...If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed," Hasina said. "When a government works for a long ⁠time, mistakes can happen — no government is above error. But the right to judge the good and bad, the right and wrong of a government belongs to the people. They may have convicted me, and I may not be able to contest elections. But why should they suspend the Awami League?" she added.

Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has indicated she may return to Bangladesh despite being sentenced to death in absentia. The BNP government says she will receive due legal process, while India maintains that any extradition request will be handled legally

Why Sheikh Hasina wants to return to Bangladesh despite death sentence —and what it means for India | WION Decodes

Pakistani security forces foiled a suicide attack when terrorists attempted to ram an explosives-laden vehicle into a military post in the Kari Kot area of Wana in Lower South Waziristan on Thursday (July 16), Dawn and other Pakistani media reported. Four terrorists were killed, and no casualties were reported among security personnel. Clearance operations are ongoing, and the area has been placed under tight security.<h2>South Waziristan has historically been a hotspot for terrorism and extremism</h2>There has been a series of attacks in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), particularly in South Waziristan. The latest attempt is similar to a major assault in November 2025 on the army-run Cadet College Wana, where terrorists tried to target students and staff but were killed before they could harm them.Security forces foiled another attempted suicide attack in May this year on a military post near Azam Warsak Bazaar, in which one civilian was killed and 15 others injured.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-security-forces-kill-seven-terrorists-in-two-separate-operations-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-783426/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-security-forces-kill-seven-terrorists-in-two-separate-operations-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-783426/embed</a>Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said that Pakistan's security situation deteriorated sharply in May due to increased terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, according to the Dawn report.Security forces are also fighting various armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Under Operation Shaban, which has focused on counter-terrorism operations in the border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani security forces have eliminated dozens of militants since early July in joint operations involving the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police. The death toll from these operations has been reported to be as high as 100.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-attacks-military-camp-in-waziristan-after-pakistan-airstrikes-on-kandahar-1773603281376">Afghanistan attacks military camp in Waziristan after Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kandahar</a>&nbsp;<h2>Pakistan Taliban among active terrorist and armed groups in the region</h2>Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the Pakistani government officially refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij, is the most active and deadliest militant group operating in Waziristan. Known as the Pakistan Taliban, the TTP was behind several major attacks following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and has intensified its operations since 2024–2025.TTP splinter factions and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are also active in the area, carrying out attacks against Pakistani security forces and, at times, civilian targets. They continue to exploit the rugged terrain and cross-border sanctuaries along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Pakistani security forces foiled a suicide attack in Waziristan. The incident highlights persistent militant threats from the TTP, ISKP and other groups amid ongoing counter-terror operations.

Pakistani security forces foiled a suicide attack when terrorists attempted to ram an explosives-laden vehicle into a military post in the Kari Kot area of Wana in Lower South Waziristan on Thursday (July 16), Dawn and other Pakistani media reported. Four terrorists were killed, and no casualties were reported among security personnel. Clearance operations are ongoing, and the area has been placed under tight security. South Waziristan has historically been a hotspot for terrorism and extremism There has been a series of attacks in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), particularly in South Waziristan. The latest attempt is similar to a major assault in November 2025 on the army-run Cadet College Wana, where terrorists tried to target students and staff but were killed before they could harm them. Security forces foiled another attempted suicide attack in May this year on a military post near Azam Warsak Bazaar, in which one civilian was killed and 15 others injured. https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-security-forces-kill-seven-terrorists-in-two-separate-operations-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-783426/embed Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said that Pakistan's security situation deteriorated sharply in May due to increased terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, according to the Dawn report. Security forces are also fighting various armed groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Under Operation Shaban, which has focused on counter-terrorism operations in the border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani security forces have eliminated dozens of militants since early July in joint operations involving the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police. The death toll from these operations has been reported to be as high as 100. Also read: Afghanistan attacks military camp in Waziristan after Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kandahar Pakistan Taliban among active terrorist and armed groups in the region Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which the Pakistani government officially refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij, is the most active and deadliest militant group operating in Waziristan. Known as the Pakistan Taliban, the TTP was behind several major attacks following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and has intensified its operations since 2024–2025. TTP splinter factions and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are also active in the area, carrying out attacks against Pakistani security forces and, at times, civilian targets. They continue to exploit the rugged terrain and cross-border sanctuaries along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Pakistani security forces foiled a suicide attack in Waziristan. The incident highlights persistent militant threats from the TTP, ISKP and other groups amid ongoing counter-terror operations.

Waziristan on the boil again: Pakistani security forces kill four terrorists, foil suicide attack

Bangladesh's financial intelligence agency on Wednesday (Jul 15) said authorities have frozen assets worth Tk 760 billion (approximately $6.19 billion USD) linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, members of her family and 10 of the country's biggest business groups, marking one of the largest asset-freezing exercises since last year's political upheaval.Speaking at the launch of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit's (BFIU) annual report in Dhaka, BFIU chief Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun said court orders had enabled authorities to freeze Tk 570 billion worth of assets inside Bangladesh and another Tk 190 billion overseas.Mamun did not provide a breakdown of how much had been frozen from individual family members or specific business groups.Asset recovery efforts underwayThe BFIU chief said authorities were now focused on tracing and recovering money allegedly moved out of the country."We are working to recover the assets that were stolen from the country. We hope to share positive news on asset recovery by the end of this year," he said.The asset freeze follows investigations launched after Hasina was ousted from power on August 5, 2024, following a student-led uprising. She later fled from Bangladesh and has since been living in asylum in India.The interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus subsequently ordered probes into allegations including corruption, bribery, fraud, forgery, money laundering, foreign currency smuggling and tax evasion involving Hasina's family and several major corporate groups.Ten business groups under scannerAccording to the BFIU, the investigation covers S Alam Group, Beximco Group, Nabil Group, Summit Group, Orion Group, Premier Group, Nassa Group, Bashundhara Group, Sikder Group and Aramit Group.The investigations are being carried out jointly by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with the BFIU coordinating the financial intelligence aspect of the probe.'Political identity does not matter'During the event, Mamun was asked why major financial investigations often gather pace after a change in government and whether members of the current interim administration could also face scrutiny.He rejected suggestions that the investigations were politically driven. "When carrying out our work, we do not consider political affiliation or personal identity. We focus on the work itself," he said.Mamun added that banks freeze accounts whenever they identify suspicious transactions, regardless of who is involved. "If anyone from the interim government is involved, that will also come to light," he said. &nbsp;

Bangladesh has frozen assets worth $6.19 billion linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her family and 10 major business groups as part of a sweeping corruption and money laundering investigation.

Bangladesh's financial intelligence agency on Wednesday (Jul 15) said authorities have frozen assets worth Tk 760 billion (approximately $6.19 billion USD) linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, members of her family and 10 of the country's biggest business groups, marking one of the largest asset-freezing exercises since last year's political upheaval. Speaking at the launch of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit's (BFIU) annual report in Dhaka, BFIU chief Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun said court orders had enabled authorities to freeze Tk 570 billion worth of assets inside Bangladesh and another Tk 190 billion overseas. Mamun did not provide a breakdown of how much had been frozen from individual family members or specific business groups. Asset recovery efforts underway The BFIU chief said authorities were now focused on tracing and recovering money allegedly moved out of the country. "We are working to recover the assets that were stolen from the country. We hope to share positive news on asset recovery by the end of this year," he said. The asset freeze follows investigations launched after Hasina was ousted from power on August 5, 2024, following a student-led uprising. She later fled from Bangladesh and has since been living in asylum in India. The interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus subsequently ordered probes into allegations including corruption, bribery, fraud, forgery, money laundering, foreign currency smuggling and tax evasion involving Hasina's family and several major corporate groups. Ten business groups under scanner According to the BFIU, the investigation covers S Alam Group, Beximco Group, Nabil Group, Summit Group, Orion Group, Premier Group, Nassa Group, Bashundhara Group, Sikder Group and Aramit Group. The investigations are being carried out jointly by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with the BFIU coordinating the financial intelligence aspect of the probe. 'Political identity does not matter' During the event, Mamun was asked why major financial investigations often gather pace after a change in government and whether members of the current interim administration could also face scrutiny. He rejected suggestions that the investigations were politically driven. "When carrying out our work, we do not consider political affiliation or personal identity. We focus on the work itself," he said. Mamun added that banks freeze accounts whenever they identify suspicious transactions, regardless of who is involved. "If anyone from the interim government is involved, that will also come to light," he said.

Bangladesh has frozen assets worth $6.19 billion linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her family and 10 major business groups as part of a sweeping corruption and money laundering investigation.

Bangladesh freezes $6.19 billion linked to Sheikh Hasina, family in massive crackdown

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has said that Ukraine's AI drones have significantly decreased the lifespan of Russian soldiers, who only live an average of 20 to 30 minutes on the battlefield. The assertion was previously made by Russian military bloggers who were quoted in an op-ed by historian Peter Frankopan. Meanwhile, a drone flew for 12 hours and covered a distance of 2,500 kilometres to hit an oil refinery in Siberia.&nbsp;"Our intelligence is consistent with some of the open-source reporting you may have seen in Ukraine: the average life expectancy of a Russian recruit right now, arriving on the battlefield in Ukraine, is estimated to be between 20 and 30 minutes," Ratcliffe said at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit on Wednesday.&nbsp;He added that the AI-powered drones have become "specialised, low-cost killing machines".Russia has a larger pool of manpower, but Kyiv's innovation with various attack drones has severely limited Moscow's military impact.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-soldiers-could-die-within-20-minutes-of-being-stationed-on-ukraine-frontline-1782722065760">Russian soldiers could die within 20 minutes of being put on Ukraine frontline, report finds</a><h2>Ukraine drone hits Russia 2,500km deep after flying for 12 hours</h2>It displayed this power once again on July 6, when its FP-1 drones struck the Gazprom Neft oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia. The drones flew for roughly 2,500 km over more than 12 hours to carry out the strikes, which halted operations at Russia's largest gasoline producer, The Telegraph reported. It was the longest-range Ukrainian drone strike of the war.&nbsp;The drone is made of a plywood load-bearing structure, with foam wings and a two-cylinder piston engine, and costs an estimated $55,000 per unit. The drone managed to inflict severe damage and set fire to the CDU-10 crude distillation unit. It handles 24,580 metric tons of crude per day. A second unit, CDU-11, responsible for 37% of production, was shut down after network links crucial for its operation were damaged.<h2>Russian oil refinery attacked</h2>In June, Ukraine carried out a huge attack on Moscow's largest oil refinery, leaving it so crippled that it is not expected to resume operations until next year. Russia's oil refining capacity has come down by around 700,000 barrels per day, reports suggest.&nbsp;Russian president Vladimir Putin is facing flak for continuing the war death toll in the country mounts. More than 30,000 soldiers reportedly either die or are injured every month, and the total casualties are estimated to stand at one million. &nbsp;

CIA has confirmed that Russian soldiers can die within 30 minutes on the frontline because of Ukrainian drone capabilities. Meanwhile, a drone travelled 2,500 kilometres in 12 hours and attacked an oil refinery in Siberia.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has said that Ukraine's AI drones have significantly decreased the lifespan of Russian soldiers, who only live an average of 20 to 30 minutes on the battlefield. The assertion was previously made by Russian military bloggers who were quoted in an op-ed by historian Peter Frankopan. Meanwhile, a drone flew for 12 hours and covered a distance of 2,500 kilometres to hit an oil refinery in Siberia. "Our intelligence is consistent with some of the open-source reporting you may have seen in Ukraine: the average life expectancy of a Russian recruit right now, arriving on the battlefield in Ukraine, is estimated to be between 20 and 30 minutes," Ratcliffe said at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit on Wednesday. He added that the AI-powered drones have become "specialised, low-cost killing machines". Russia has a larger pool of manpower, but Kyiv's innovation with various attack drones has severely limited Moscow's military impact. Also Read: Russian soldiers could die within 20 minutes of being put on Ukraine frontline, report finds Ukraine drone hits Russia 2,500km deep after flying for 12 hours It displayed this power once again on July 6, when its FP-1 drones struck the Gazprom Neft oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia. The drones flew for roughly 2,500 km over more than 12 hours to carry out the strikes, which halted operations at Russia's largest gasoline producer, The Telegraph reported. It was the longest-range Ukrainian drone strike of the war. The drone is made of a plywood load-bearing structure, with foam wings and a two-cylinder piston engine, and costs an estimated $55,000 per unit. The drone managed to inflict severe damage and set fire to the CDU-10 crude distillation unit. It handles 24,580 metric tons of crude per day. A second unit, CDU-11, responsible for 37% of production, was shut down after network links crucial for its operation were damaged. Russian oil refinery attacked In June, Ukraine carried out a huge attack on Moscow's largest oil refinery, leaving it so crippled that it is not expected to resume operations until next year. Russia's oil refining capacity has come down by around 700,000 barrels per day, reports suggest. Russian president Vladimir Putin is facing flak for continuing the war death toll in the country mounts. More than 30,000 soldiers reportedly either die or are injured every month, and the total casualties are estimated to stand at one million.

CIA has confirmed that Russian soldiers can die within 30 minutes on the frontline because of Ukrainian drone capabilities. Meanwhile, a drone travelled 2,500 kilometres in 12 hours and attacked an oil refinery in Siberia.

Ukrainian drone travels 2,500 km in 12 hours to attack oil refinery in Siberia, as CIA confirms 30-minute soldier lifespan

The US Federal Reserve has appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan and two other India-origin people - Delhi-born American economist Raj Chetty and senior Microsoft executive Asha Sharma - in its newly constituted task forces which will play a key role in the broad reforms to review its monetary policymaking framework.They will be responsible for the task forces announced by US Fed Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. Former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King, former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Nobel laureate Thomas Sargent, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen are also part of these teams , apart from the Indian-origin experts.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-hunting-american-troops-through-their-phones-amidst-rising-havoc-1784141815637">Iran hunting American troops through their phones amidst rising havoc</a><h2>What will be Raghuram Rajan's role?</h2>According to Indian news agency PTI, Rajan will serve on the balance sheet policy task force. This group, which also comprises of Harvard economist Karen Dynan and former Federal Reserve Governor Jeremy Stein, will examine the costs, benefits, and institutional implications of the Federal Reserve's current balance sheet regime, including its asset holdings and their role in implementing monetary policy.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-image-shows-exact-replica-of-us-warship-in-middle-of-chinese-desert-1784175280773">Why has China made an exact replica of US warship in the middle of Taklamakan desert?</a>&nbsp;The Fed chairman said that the groups would examine five core areas of the Fed's work: communications, balance sheet policy, the use of economic data, productivity and jobs, and the inflation framework. It's a move towards transparency and new ideas. "Our purpose here is to make better decisions in the conduct of monetary policy and put these years of high inflation behind us," Warsh said on Thursday (Jul 16).&nbsp;Rajan served as RBI governor from 2013 to 2016. Chetty is a Harvard University economist and will co-lead the data task force. Sharma is Wisconsin-born and is the executive vice president of Microsoft and CEO of Xbox. She will serve on the Productivity and Jobs task force alongside venture capitalist Andreessen and Stanford economist Charles I. Jones. Chetty will have McMillon and the University of Chicago economist, Kevin Murphy in his team.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has been appointed to the US Federal Reserve's new balance sheet policy task force. Indian-origin economist Raj Chetty and Microsoft executive Asha Sharma also joined reform panels 

The US Federal Reserve has appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan and two other India-origin people - Delhi-born American economist Raj Chetty and senior Microsoft executive Asha Sharma - in its newly constituted task forces which will play a key role in the broad reforms to review its monetary policymaking framework.They will be responsible for the task forces announced by US Fed Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. Former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King, former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Nobel laureate Thomas Sargent, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen are also part of these teams , apart from the Indian-origin experts. Also Read: Iran hunting American troops through their phones amidst rising havoc What will be Raghuram Rajan's role? According to Indian news agency PTI, Rajan will serve on the balance sheet policy task force. This group, which also comprises of Harvard economist Karen Dynan and former Federal Reserve Governor Jeremy Stein, will examine the costs, benefits, and institutional implications of the Federal Reserve's current balance sheet regime, including its asset holdings and their role in implementing monetary policy. Also Read: Why has China made an exact replica of US warship in the middle of Taklamakan desert? The Fed chairman said that the groups would examine five core areas of the Fed's work: communications, balance sheet policy, the use of economic data, productivity and jobs, and the inflation framework. It's a move towards transparency and new ideas. "Our purpose here is to make better decisions in the conduct of monetary policy and put these years of high inflation behind us," Warsh said on Thursday (Jul 16). Rajan served as RBI governor from 2013 to 2016. Chetty is a Harvard University economist and will co-lead the data task force. Sharma is Wisconsin-born and is the executive vice president of Microsoft and CEO of Xbox. She will serve on the Productivity and Jobs task force alongside venture capitalist Andreessen and Stanford economist Charles I. Jones. Chetty will have McMillon and the University of Chicago economist, Kevin Murphy in his team.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has been appointed to the US Federal Reserve's new balance sheet policy task force. Indian-origin economist Raj Chetty and Microsoft executive Asha Sharma also joined reform panels&nbsp;

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, 2 other Indian-origin experts join US Fed Reserve's task forces

The US announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on some Brazilian imports after a year-long investigation found that the country was involved in “unfair” trade practices. The move was announced by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer ‌late Wednesday in a statement, stating that their probe concluded Brazilian policies harm the interests of Americans.&nbsp;According to the USTR, the probe identified concerns related to digital trade practices, preferential tariff policies, ethanol market access and several other areas. “President Lula and his government have not negotiated with the US in good faith,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. “His economic policies are bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians. For the past year, Lula has put his own ego ahead of making a deal for the welfare of the Brazilian people, and these tariffs are the price for that," he added. &nbsp;“President Lula and his government have not negotiated with the US in good faith,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. “His economic policies are bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians. For the past year, Lula has put his own ego ahead of making a deal for the welfare of the Brazilian people, and these tariffs are the price for that," he added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-freezes-6-19-billion-linked-to-sheikh-hasina-family-in-massive-crackdown-1784184559837">Bangladesh freezes $6.19 billion linked to Sheikh Hasina, family in massive crackdown</a><h3>When tariff scheduled to take effect?</h3>The tariffs, which were initially proposed last month, are scheduled to take effect on July 22. According to a notice issued by the office of the USTR, certain goods are exempted to avoid disruption to supply chains and are they are not produced in the US. This includes certain raw materials, pharmaceuticals, and coffee, among others. Greer said the US remains open to continuing negotiations with Brazil to resolve the issues. These exemptions include select raw materials, pharmaceuticals and coffee, among other goods. Greer stated that the US remains willing to continue discussions with Brazil to solve the outstanding concerns. The US launched the investigation in July last year under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision used to address foreign trade practices that adversely affect US commerce and competitiveness. During the same month, President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazil, which was later withdrawn, and accused the Brazilian government of human rights violations. He also warned of economic action unless Brazil halted the trial of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.&nbsp;Section 301 is typically invoked against countries that maintain a substantial trade surplus with the United States, such as China, which exported $202.1 billion more in goods to the US than it imported in the previous year. By contrast, the United States recorded a goods trade surplus of $14.4 billion with Brazil last year, representing a 112.8 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

According to the USTR, the probe identified concerns related to digital trade practices, preferential tariff policies, ethanol market access and several other areas.

The US announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on some Brazilian imports after a year-long investigation found that the country was involved in “unfair” trade practices. The move was announced by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer ‌late Wednesday in a statement, stating that their probe concluded Brazilian policies harm the interests of Americans. According to the USTR, the probe identified concerns related to digital trade practices, preferential tariff policies, ethanol market access and several other areas. “President Lula and his government have not negotiated with the US in good faith,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. “His economic policies are bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians. For the past year, Lula has put his own ego ahead of making a deal for the welfare of the Brazilian people, and these tariffs are the price for that," he added. “President Lula and his government have not negotiated with the US in good faith,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. “His economic policies are bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians. For the past year, Lula has put his own ego ahead of making a deal for the welfare of the Brazilian people, and these tariffs are the price for that," he added. Also read: Bangladesh freezes $6.19 billion linked to Sheikh Hasina, family in massive crackdown When tariff scheduled to take effect? The tariffs, which were initially proposed last month, are scheduled to take effect on July 22. According to a notice issued by the office of the USTR, certain goods are exempted to avoid disruption to supply chains and are they are not produced in the US. This includes certain raw materials, pharmaceuticals, and coffee, among others. Greer said the US remains open to continuing negotiations with Brazil to resolve the issues. These exemptions include select raw materials, pharmaceuticals and coffee, among other goods. Greer stated that the US remains willing to continue discussions with Brazil to solve the outstanding concerns. The US launched the investigation in July last year under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision used to address foreign trade practices that adversely affect US commerce and competitiveness. During the same month, President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazil, which was later withdrawn, and accused the Brazilian government of human rights violations. He also warned of economic action unless Brazil halted the trial of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. Section 301 is typically invoked against countries that maintain a substantial trade surplus with the United States, such as China, which exported $202.1 billion more in goods to the US than it imported in the previous year. By contrast, the United States recorded a goods trade surplus of $14.4 billion with Brazil last year, representing a 112.8 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

According to the USTR, the probe identified concerns related to digital trade practices, preferential tariff policies, ethanol market access and several other areas.

US to impose 25% tariff on Brazilian imports over 'unfair' trade practices

Days after threatening to kill US President Donald Trump, Iran has hung up a massive poster in Tehran depicting him in a coffin. The big billboard with a graphic depicting Trump's body lying in a coffin, with messages of ‘kill Trump’ written around it has been installed at Tehran's Enghelab square, at the heart of the Iranian capital. This comes after Iran threatened to seek revenge of the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The former Supreme Leader's funeral was held on July 9, almost three months after he was killed in the joint strikes by the US and Israel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-india-balance-ties-with-the-us-and-russia-amid-fresh-tariff-threats-from-america-1784104821858">Can India balance ties with the US and Russia amid fresh tariff threats from America?</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/07/AP26196326080948-640x400.jpg" alt="A billboard bearing anti-Trump messages, including the English-language phrase 'We Kill Trump,' and an apparent image of the US president in a coffin, is displayed at Islamic Revolution Square in downtown Tehran, Iran, July 15, 2026. (AP/Vahid Salemi)"></figure>&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-flags-at-half-mast-day-after-trump-s-sudden-hospital-visit-sparks-speculations-real-reason-is-1783902369057">'Where is he?': US flags at half-mast day after Trump's sudden hospital visit sparks speculations: Real reason is...</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260716/image-1784183400152.png"></figure><h2>Iran threatens to kill Trump&nbsp;</h2>Former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in Iran was held with supporters carrying big banners calling for the death of Trump. Soon after the funeral, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei renewed his vow to avenge his father’s killing. Stating that avenging his father's death is “a national demand”, he said that it “will most certainly be carried out.” Though he did not name the US president but he did pledge to bring his father’s killers to justice, saying they would not be allowed to “die peacefully in their beds.” During the funeral processions, large banners reading "We will kill Trump" and "Kill Trump" were displayed by mourners.<h2>How Trump responded?</h2>After Mojtaba's threat, Trump said that he has been on Iranian hitlist for a while now. "I’ve been number one on their list for years," Trump said on July 8 while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. He went on to claim, "I’m number one on the kill list for Iran." Two days later on July 10, Trump said that he has left orders to decimate Iran if something happens to him. This raised speculations around what US Constitution says about orders of the president who has died or has vacated his post for some other reason. "The only thing is, I've left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before," Trump said.

Iran unveiled a giant poster in Tehran depicting US President Donald Trump in a coffin following calls for his assassination during the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The display has further heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Days after threatening to kill US President Donald Trump, Iran has hung up a massive poster in Tehran depicting him in a coffin. The big billboard with a graphic depicting Trump's body lying in a coffin, with messages of ‘kill Trump’ written around it has been installed at Tehran's Enghelab square, at the heart of the Iranian capital. This comes after Iran threatened to seek revenge of the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The former Supreme Leader's funeral was held on July 9, almost three months after he was killed in the joint strikes by the US and Israel. Also Read: Can India balance ties with the US and Russia amid fresh tariff threats from America? Also Read:'Where is he?': US flags at half-mast day after Trump's sudden hospital visit sparks speculations: Real reason is... Iran threatens to kill Trump Former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in Iran was held with supporters carrying big banners calling for the death of Trump. Soon after the funeral, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei renewed his vow to avenge his father’s killing. Stating that avenging his father's death is “a national demand”, he said that it “will most certainly be carried out.” Though he did not name the US president but he did pledge to bring his father’s killers to justice, saying they would not be allowed to “die peacefully in their beds.” During the funeral processions, large banners reading "We will kill Trump" and "Kill Trump" were displayed by mourners. How Trump responded? After Mojtaba's threat, Trump said that he has been on Iranian hitlist for a while now. "I’ve been number one on their list for years," Trump said on July 8 while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. He went on to claim, "I’m number one on the kill list for Iran." Two days later on July 10, Trump said that he has left orders to decimate Iran if something happens to him. This raised speculations around what US Constitution says about orders of the president who has died or has vacated his post for some other reason. "The only thing is, I've left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before," Trump said.

Iran unveiled a giant poster in Tehran depicting US President Donald Trump in a coffin following calls for his assassination during the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The display has further heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Trump in coffin? Iran unveils massive banner days after Mojtaba vowed to 'seek revenge'

China has built a full-scale replica of a US Navy destroyer in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert to test a kill chain - whether surveillance, tracking, and strike systems can operate together to attack a US naval platform equipped with advanced sensors and defensive capabilities. Satellite images shared by US company Vantor show a model resembling an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang. Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative, was the first to identify the replica, according to a Bloomberg report from June 2026.&nbsp;The replica has the exact dimensions as the actual warship. Such mock-ups of naval vessels have been created previously as well, but were limited to just the outline. But they have moved further, adding radar-related features and launch-position markings. Chinese analysts argue that this is important since modern vessels have advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and layered defences. Compared to the larger aircraft carrier replicas China made before, a destroyer is challenging since it is smaller in size and has different mobility, along with advanced defensive systems.<h2>Features of US warship replica</h2>The track system allows China to simulate a vessel on the move at sea and see how they fare against it. It goes beyond just movement, with some reports suggesting that it also has radar-reflective and electromagnetic features to replicate the exact conditions at sea, allowing for a near-real environment to test missile seekers and targeting systems.&nbsp;Choosing an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer shows the extent of tests China is undertaking. The vessel is a particularly tough target because it provides air and missile defence as well as anti-submarine warfare capabilities, making it a crucial part of the US Navy’s carrier strike groups. The aim is not to destroy the warship, but to reduce its ability by disabling the SPY radar, vertical launch systems, or fire-control capabilities. The replica provides an opportunity to practise reconnaissance and tracking.

In the middle of the Taklamakan Desert in China, lies a replica of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Beijing is using it to test its surveillance, detection and strike systems. 

China has built a full-scale replica of a US Navy destroyer in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert to test a kill chain - whether surveillance, tracking, and strike systems can operate together to attack a US naval platform equipped with advanced sensors and defensive capabilities. Satellite images shared by US company Vantor show a model resembling an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang. Joseph Wu, co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative, was the first to identify the replica, according to a Bloomberg report from June 2026. The replica has the exact dimensions as the actual warship. Such mock-ups of naval vessels have been created previously as well, but were limited to just the outline. But they have moved further, adding radar-related features and launch-position markings. Chinese analysts argue that this is important since modern vessels have advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, and layered defences. Compared to the larger aircraft carrier replicas China made before, a destroyer is challenging since it is smaller in size and has different mobility, along with advanced defensive systems. Features of US warship replica The track system allows China to simulate a vessel on the move at sea and see how they fare against it. It goes beyond just movement, with some reports suggesting that it also has radar-reflective and electromagnetic features to replicate the exact conditions at sea, allowing for a near-real environment to test missile seekers and targeting systems. Choosing an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer shows the extent of tests China is undertaking. The vessel is a particularly tough target because it provides air and missile defence as well as anti-submarine warfare capabilities, making it a crucial part of the US Navy’s carrier strike groups. The aim is not to destroy the warship, but to reduce its ability by disabling the SPY radar, vertical launch systems, or fire-control capabilities. The replica provides an opportunity to practise reconnaissance and tracking.

In the middle of the Taklamakan Desert in China, lies a replica of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Beijing is using it to test its surveillance, detection and strike systems.&nbsp;

Why has China made an exact replica of US warship in the middle of Taklamakan desert?

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (Jul 16) announced that all US troops, including women, will now have to get a screening for “testosterone deficiency”. He said that the move was necessary to allow them to operate at their “absolute best”. The screening program will be conducted annually as part of the required medical screenings for service members aged 30 and older. Hegseth said soldiers with low testosterone can receive a hormone treatment voluntarily. He did not specify whether female troops will be included in the screening process.“Our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,” Hegseth said in a video message on X. “We have a sacred duty to maintain that advantage.”Hegseth said that the goal behind the screening program was a “High-T Department of War” – his preferred name for the Department of Defence.Under the program, troops under 30 can also volunteer to be screened. Anyone with low testosterone levels can opt to receive testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT.“It’s about restoring and optimising your natural capability,” Hegseth said.&nbsp;Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-have-something-unique-to-offer-indian-origin-democrat-ro-khanna-eyes-2028-us-presidential-race-1783845781244"> Ro Khanna eyeing 2028 US presidential race? Indian-origin Democrat says, ‘I have something unique to offer...’</a><h2>Pentagon’s ‘double standards’</h2>Hegseth’s latest announcement comes after US President Donald Trump last year banned transgender troops from serving in the US military. Pentagon had backed the ban, saying that transgender troops may not be able to access hormone therapy during wars. The policy is facing a legal challenge in federal courts.“The Armed Forces must adhere to high mental and physical health standards to ensure our military can deploy, fight, and win, including in austere conditions and without the benefit of routine medical treatment or special provisions,” the Trump administration said at the time of announcing the transgender ban.Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Centre for LGBTQ Rights, questioned the “double standards” of the Trump administration over its contradictory reasoning.“Hegseth’s recommendation that male service members take testosterone makes crystal clear that the policy banning transgender troops for taking the same medication is pure bias,” said Minter. “This is a blatant double standard and underscores the irrationality of the ban.” Watch | U.S.-Iran war intensifies | Fresh American strikes hit Iran as Trump issues new warning to Tehran<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed</a>&nbsp;

US troops aged 30 and above will undergo annual testosterone deficiency screening, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. Those with low levels can voluntarily receive hormone replacement therapy.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday (Jul 16) announced that all US troops, including women, will now have to get a screening for “testosterone deficiency”. He said that the move was necessary to allow them to operate at their “absolute best”. The screening program will be conducted annually as part of the required medical screenings for service members aged 30 and older. Hegseth said soldiers with low testosterone can receive a hormone treatment voluntarily. He did not specify whether female troops will be included in the screening process. “Our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,” Hegseth said in a video message on X. “We have a sacred duty to maintain that advantage.” Hegseth said that the goal behind the screening program was a “High-T Department of War” – his preferred name for the Department of Defence. Under the program, troops under 30 can also volunteer to be screened. Anyone with low testosterone levels can opt to receive testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. “It’s about restoring and optimising your natural capability,” Hegseth said. Also read | Ro Khanna eyeing 2028 US presidential race? Indian-origin Democrat says, ‘I have something unique to offer...’ Pentagon’s ‘double standards’ Hegseth’s latest announcement comes after US President Donald Trump last year banned transgender troops from serving in the US military. Pentagon had backed the ban, saying that transgender troops may not be able to access hormone therapy during wars. The policy is facing a legal challenge in federal courts. “The Armed Forces must adhere to high mental and physical health standards to ensure our military can deploy, fight, and win, including in austere conditions and without the benefit of routine medical treatment or special provisions,” the Trump administration said at the time of announcing the transgender ban. Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Centre for LGBTQ Rights, questioned the “double standards” of the Trump administration over its contradictory reasoning. “Hegseth’s recommendation that male service members take testosterone makes crystal clear that the policy banning transgender troops for taking the same medication is pure bias,” said Minter. “This is a blatant double standard and underscores the irrationality of the ban.” Watch | U.S.-Iran war intensifies | Fresh American strikes hit Iran as Trump issues new warning to Tehran https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed

US troops aged 30 and above will undergo annual testosterone deficiency screening, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. Those with low levels can voluntarily receive hormone replacement therapy.

‘High-T Department of War’: Hegseth mandates testosterone screening for US troops

The US State Department has approved a potential $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia to strengthen its air defences as conflict intensifies in West Asia. According to a department release, the sale aligns with US foreign policy and national security goals by enhancing the security of a major non-NATO ally, which it described as a force for economic progress and political stability in the Gulf region.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Saudi Arabia intends to acquire up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems alongside their corresponding warheads. The US Navy’s website characterises these systems as an inexpensive means to eliminate targets while minimising collateral damage during close combat. The State Department named BAE Systems, located in Nashua, New Jersey, as the principal contractor for the deal. In a statement, the State Department said, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-will-be-defeated-very-soon-asks-tehran-to-better-behave-1784150299349">Trump warns Iran ‘will be defeated very soon,’ asks Tehran to ‘better behave’</a>&nbsp;The State Department noted that the sale will bolster Saudi Arabia’s homeland defence, improving its capacity to deter both current and future threats. Additionally, it will increase the kingdom's interoperability with United States forces, NATO forces, and other regional militaries. The department also assured that the transaction will not cause any adverse impact on US defence readiness.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-iran-allowed-detained-us-citizen-to-leave-country-this-is-what-we-know-1784159342555">Trump says Iran allowed detained US citizen to leave country. This is what we know</a>&nbsp;This approval comes amid escalating regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia appearing to be on the verge of renewed warfare with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. This follows a Monday (July 13) incident where the Houthis launched missiles at an airport in Abha, a city in southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthi missile strike was retaliation for a Yemeni government attack on the Sanaa airport, which was intended to divert a flight carrying a Houthi delegation back from the funeral of Iran's supreme leader. The Houthis attributed responsibility for that initial airport attack to Riyadh.&nbsp;Concurrently, the United States has been increasing its own waves of attacks against Iran. This military escalation follows the US reimposing a naval blockade as the two adversarial nations return to a state of war.

The US State Department has approved a major $1.96 billion sale of precision-guided weapons and defence equipment to Saudi Arabia to support regional stability. 

The US State Department has approved a potential $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia to strengthen its air defences as conflict intensifies in West Asia. According to a department release, the sale aligns with US foreign policy and national security goals by enhancing the security of a major non-NATO ally, which it described as a force for economic progress and political stability in the Gulf region. https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-iran-war-intensifies-fresh-american-strikes-hit-iran-as-trump-issues-new-warning-to-tehran-1784171541103/embed Saudi Arabia intends to acquire up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems alongside their corresponding warheads. The US Navy’s website characterises these systems as an inexpensive means to eliminate targets while minimising collateral damage during close combat. The State Department named BAE Systems, located in Nashua, New Jersey, as the principal contractor for the deal. In a statement, the State Department said, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.” Also read: Trump warns Iran ‘will be defeated very soon,’ asks Tehran to ‘better behave’ The State Department noted that the sale will bolster Saudi Arabia’s homeland defence, improving its capacity to deter both current and future threats. Additionally, it will increase the kingdom's interoperability with United States forces, NATO forces, and other regional militaries. The department also assured that the transaction will not cause any adverse impact on US defence readiness. Also read: Trump says Iran allowed detained US citizen to leave country. This is what we know This approval comes amid escalating regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia appearing to be on the verge of renewed warfare with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. This follows a Monday (July 13) incident where the Houthis launched missiles at an airport in Abha, a city in southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthi missile strike was retaliation for a Yemeni government attack on the Sanaa airport, which was intended to divert a flight carrying a Houthi delegation back from the funeral of Iran's supreme leader. The Houthis attributed responsibility for that initial airport attack to Riyadh. Concurrently, the United States has been increasing its own waves of attacks against Iran. This military escalation follows the US reimposing a naval blockade as the two adversarial nations return to a state of war.

The US State Department has approved a major $1.96 billion sale of precision-guided weapons and defence equipment to Saudi Arabia to support regional stability.&nbsp;

US State Department green lights $2 billion Saudi arms deal amid regional tensions

US Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that the Trump administration mishandled its communication over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, saying officials "absolutely screwed up the comms" while insisting there was no effort to cover up evidence. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Vance said the administration should have released all the available documents from the outset instead of allowing confusion and speculation to grow."We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files. Like, we just did," Vance said. "But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-epstein-files-accuse-trump-of-raping-13-year-old-murdering-a-new-born-white-house-says-this-about-allegations-1769823565436">Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations</a><h2>Vance defends Bondi despite criticism</h2>Vance also addressed criticism directed at former Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose earlier comments about the investigation drew intense scrutiny. Bondi had previously suggested that Epstein's alleged "client list" was "sitting on my desk right now," a remark that fuelled expectations of explosive disclosures.Reflecting on the episode, Vance said Bondi had simply over promised. "I know Pam. I like Pam. I don't think there was anything malicious going on," he said. "I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn't have."Bondi also came under fire after distributing binders labelled The Epstein Files: Phase 1 and Declassified to conservative commentators and influencers. Much of the material later turned out to be documents that had already been publicly released, adding to criticism that the rollout had been poorly handled.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-photo-vanishes-from-epstein-files-then-reappears-doj-claims-it-was-deleted-out-of-an-abundance-of-caution-sparks-cover-up-claims-1766368755262">Trump photo vanishes from Epstein files, then reappears. DOJ claims it was deleted 'out of an abundance of caution'</a><h2>Epstein file delays fuelled public mistrust</h2>The administration's handling of the Epstein files became one of the most politically damaging controversies of Trump's second term, drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.&nbsp;After months of pressure, Congress passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release a broader collection of records linked to federal investigations into Epstein. The department began publishing the files in December, releasing heavily redacted material that included photographs, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts. However, the extensive redactions and missed deadlines for releasing additional records sparked fresh accusations that the government was not being fully transparent.

US Vice President JD Vance has admitted the Trump administration "absolutely screwed up the comms" surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, while insisting there was no attempt to hide evidence. He also defended Pam Bondi, saying she simply "overpromised" what the admin had.

US Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that the Trump administration mishandled its communication over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, saying officials "absolutely screwed up the comms" while insisting there was no effort to cover up evidence. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Vance said the administration should have released all the available documents from the outset instead of allowing confusion and speculation to grow. "We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files. Like, we just did," Vance said. "But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No." Also read | Explosive Epstein files accuse Trump of raping 13-year-old, murdering a newborn; White House says THIS about allegations Vance defends Bondi despite criticism Vance also addressed criticism directed at former Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose earlier comments about the investigation drew intense scrutiny. Bondi had previously suggested that Epstein's alleged "client list" was "sitting on my desk right now," a remark that fuelled expectations of explosive disclosures. Reflecting on the episode, Vance said Bondi had simply over promised. "I know Pam. I like Pam. I don't think there was anything malicious going on," he said. "I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn't have." Bondi also came under fire after distributing binders labelled The Epstein Files: Phase 1 and Declassified to conservative commentators and influencers. Much of the material later turned out to be documents that had already been publicly released, adding to criticism that the rollout had been poorly handled. Also read | Trump photo vanishes from Epstein files, then reappears. DOJ claims it was deleted 'out of an abundance of caution' Epstein file delays fuelled public mistrust The administration's handling of the Epstein files became one of the most politically damaging controversies of Trump's second term, drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. After months of pressure, Congress passed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release a broader collection of records linked to federal investigations into Epstein. The department began publishing the files in December, releasing heavily redacted material that included photographs, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts. However, the extensive redactions and missed deadlines for releasing additional records sparked fresh accusations that the government was not being fully transparent.

US Vice President JD Vance has admitted the Trump administration "absolutely screwed up the comms" surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, while insisting there was no attempt to hide evidence. He also defended Pam Bondi, saying she simply "overpromised" what the admin had.

'We screwed up...': JD Vance admits Trump administration botched Epstein files release

Patients, including children undergoing cancer treatment, were evacuated from a hospital in southwestern Iran after US missiles struck nearby on Thursday (Jul 16), according to Iranian state media.Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the strikes hit the vicinity of Shahid Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz, prompting staff to move patients out of the facility as a precaution. The hospital is known for treating cancer patients, including children receiving chemotherapy.Fars news agency also reported that several missiles landed near the hospital, triggering panic among patients and their families. Medical staff were seen relocating children as explosions echoed across the area. Neither agency reported casualties nor confirmed whether the hospital itself had been damaged.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-delhi-to-track-every-indian-seafarer-in-hormuz-after-deadly-iran-tanker-attack-kills-sailor-injures-10-others-1784075142969">New Delhi to track every Indian seafarer in Hormuz after deadly Iran tanker attack kills sailor, injures 10 others</a><h2>US launches fresh wave of strikes</h2>The reported incident came as the United States carried out a second round of military strikes against Iran within 24 hours, further escalating the conflict between Washington and Tehran.US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces launched fresh operations targeting Iranian military assets allegedly used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."At 3 p.m. ET, US forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran," CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that the action was carried out under President Donald Trump's orders to hold Iran accountable.The latest offensive follows Wednesday's strikes, which the US said were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to disrupt one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/can-india-withstand-another-west-asia-crisis-how-israel-hezbollah-iran-tensions-could-hit-its-energy-security-wion-decodes-1782374369218">Can India withstand another West Asia crisis? How Israel-Hezbollah-Iran tensions could hit its energy security | WION Decodes</a><h2>Oil tanker disabled during operation</h2>CENTCOM also said US forces intercepted an empty oil tanker attempting to breach the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.According to the military, a US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the smokestack of the Curacao flagged tanker M/T Belma, disabling the vessel without sinking it. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," CENTCOM said.Explosions reported across southern IranIranian media reported explosions in several cities following the latest strikes, including Bandar Abbas, Rask and Chabahar. Additional blasts were also reported around Qeshm, Bandar Imam Khomeini and Bushehr, home to Iran's only civilian nuclear power plant.&nbsp;

Children undergoing cancer treatment were among patients evacuated from a hospital in Iran after US missiles struck nearby, according to Iranian state media. The incident came as Washington launched a second wave of strikes within 24 hours, further escalating tensions with Tehran. 

Patients, including children undergoing cancer treatment, were evacuated from a hospital in southwestern Iran after US missiles struck nearby on Thursday (Jul 16), according to Iranian state media. Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the strikes hit the vicinity of Shahid Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz, prompting staff to move patients out of the facility as a precaution. The hospital is known for treating cancer patients, including children receiving chemotherapy. Fars news agency also reported that several missiles landed near the hospital, triggering panic among patients and their families. Medical staff were seen relocating children as explosions echoed across the area. Neither agency reported casualties nor confirmed whether the hospital itself had been damaged. Also read | New Delhi to track every Indian seafarer in Hormuz after deadly Iran tanker attack kills sailor, injures 10 others US launches fresh wave of strikes The reported incident came as the United States carried out a second round of military strikes against Iran within 24 hours, further escalating the conflict between Washington and Tehran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces launched fresh operations targeting Iranian military assets allegedly used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "At 3 p.m. ET, US forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran," CENTCOM said in a statement, adding that the action was carried out under President Donald Trump's orders to hold Iran accountable. The latest offensive follows Wednesday's strikes, which the US said were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to disrupt one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes. Also read | Can India withstand another West Asia crisis? How Israel-Hezbollah-Iran tensions could hit its energy security | WION Decodes Oil tanker disabled during operation CENTCOM also said US forces intercepted an empty oil tanker attempting to breach the naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports. According to the military, a US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the smokestack of the Curacao flagged tanker M/T Belma, disabling the vessel without sinking it. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," CENTCOM said. Explosions reported across southern Iran Iranian media reported explosions in several cities following the latest strikes, including Bandar Abbas, Rask and Chabahar. Additional blasts were also reported around Qeshm, Bandar Imam Khomeini and Bushehr, home to Iran's only civilian nuclear power plant.

Children undergoing cancer treatment were among patients evacuated from a hospital in Iran after US missiles struck nearby, according to Iranian state media. The incident came as Washington launched a second wave of strikes within 24 hours, further escalating tensions with Tehran.&nbsp;

US missiles strike near Iran children's cancer hospital; mass evacuations underway

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 15) that Iran had allowed an American citizen who was "wrongfully detained" in December 2024 to leave the country, describing the move as a "gesture of goodwill" by Tehran.&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;In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the woman is now safely outside Iran and 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;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;Trump did not identify the woman or provide further details about her detention or release. Iranian authorities have not immediately commented on his claim.&nbsp;The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the two countries locked in a broader confrontation over regional security and military activity.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/justice-has-finally-been-served-meloni-reacts-as-italy-s-apex-court-upholds-life-sentences-in-saman-abbas-honour-killing-case-1784143290105">‘Justice has finally been served': Meloni reacts as Italy's apex court upholds life sentences in Saman Abbas honour killing case</a>&nbsp;Despite the strained relationship, the release of detained citizens has at times served as a rare area of engagement between the longtime adversaries.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-no-longer-bound-by-mou-tehran-blames-us-after-naval-blockade-returns-1784070590945">'Iran no longer bound by MoU': Tehran blames US after naval blockade returns</a>&nbsp;There was no immediate confirmation from US officials or Iran on whether the woman's departure was part of a formal agreement or a broader diplomatic understanding. &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>

US President Trump announced that Iran has released an American woman wrongfully detained since December 2024, calling it a "gesture of goodwill" amid high tensions between the two nations.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 15) that Iran had allowed an American citizen who was "wrongfully detained" in December 2024 to leave the country, describing the move as a "gesture of goodwill" by Tehran. Also read: 'We will continue to aggressively follow the money': US freezes over $130mn in Iran-linked crypto wallets In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the woman is now safely outside Iran and 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. Also read: 'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar Trump did not identify the woman or provide further details about her detention or release. Iranian authorities have not immediately commented on his claim. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the two countries locked in a broader confrontation over regional security and military activity. Also read: ‘Justice has finally been served': Meloni reacts as Italy's apex court upholds life sentences in Saman Abbas honour killing case Despite the strained relationship, the release of detained citizens has at times served as a rare area of engagement between the longtime adversaries. Also read: 'Iran no longer bound by MoU': Tehran blames US after naval blockade returns There was no immediate confirmation from US officials or Iran on whether the woman's departure was part of a formal agreement or a broader diplomatic understanding. 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

US President Trump announced that Iran has released an American woman wrongfully detained since December 2024, calling it a "gesture of goodwill" amid high tensions between the two nations.

Trump says Iran allowed detained US citizen to leave country. This is what we know

US Senator Tom Cotton on Wednesday (July 15) said Iran and its regional allies could not be trusted to negotiate in good faith, arguing that President Donald Trump's use of military force was the only approach Tehran understood.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-iran-will-be-defeated-very-soon-asks-tehran-to-better-behave-1784150299349">Trump warns Iran ‘will be defeated very soon,’ asks Tehran to ‘better behave’</a>&nbsp;In a post on X, Cotton accused Iran-backed groups of repeatedly violating agreements and warned against taking the Iranian leadership's rhetoric lightly.&nbsp;"Iran's proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, don't negotiate in good faith. They will lie, cheat, and break deals. When the regime chants 'Death to America,' we should all believe they mean it. President Trump is speaking the only language Tehran understands: force," Cotton wrote.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/justice-has-finally-been-served-meloni-reacts-as-italy-s-apex-court-upholds-life-sentences-in-saman-abbas-honour-killing-case-1784143290105">‘Justice has finally been served': Meloni reacts as Italy's apex court upholds life sentences in Saman Abbas honour killing case</a>&nbsp;His remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate following a fresh wave of US military strikes against Iranian targets.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rules-out-negotiations-with-us-after-fresh-american-strikes-intensify-fight-for-control-of-hormuz-1784141154940">Iran rules out negotiations with United States after fresh American strikes</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy commander Ali Ozmaei vowed a strong military response while reaffirming Tehran's strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.&nbsp;"In response to the commander-in-chief, while maintaining the strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, we will inflict the severest blows on the aggressor enemy," Ozmaei said in a post on X.&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;The exchange of statements underscores the increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides, with senior US and Iranian officials signalling little room for diplomacy as the conflict intensifies.&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;

Senator Tom Cotton backed President Trump’s use of force against Iran, arguing Tehran only understands strength, while the IRGC vowed “severest blows” and promised to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

US Senator Tom Cotton on Wednesday (July 15) said Iran and its regional allies could not be trusted to negotiate in good faith, arguing that President Donald Trump's use of military force was the only approach Tehran understood. Also read: Trump warns Iran ‘will be defeated very soon,’ asks Tehran to ‘better behave’ In a post on X, Cotton accused Iran-backed groups of repeatedly violating agreements and warned against taking the Iranian leadership's rhetoric lightly. "Iran's proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, don't negotiate in good faith. They will lie, cheat, and break deals. When the regime chants 'Death to America,' we should all believe they mean it. President Trump is speaking the only language Tehran understands: force," Cotton wrote. Also read: ‘Justice has finally been served': Meloni reacts as Italy's apex court upholds life sentences in Saman Abbas honour killing case His remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate following a fresh wave of US military strikes against Iranian targets. Also read: Iran rules out negotiations with United States after fresh American strikes Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy commander Ali Ozmaei vowed a strong military response while reaffirming Tehran's strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed. "In response to the commander-in-chief, while maintaining the strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, we will inflict the severest blows on the aggressor enemy," Ozmaei said in a post on X. 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 The exchange of statements underscores the increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides, with senior US and Iranian officials signalling little room for diplomacy as the conflict intensifies. Also read: 'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar

Senator Tom Cotton backed President Trump’s use of force against Iran, arguing Tehran only understands strength, while the IRGC vowed “severest blows” and promised to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

'Iran only understands force': US senator backs Trump as IRGC vows 'severest blows'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 15) said Iran would be "defeated very soon" and claimed that Tehran "badly" wanted to settle with Washington, while making clear that any decision on a potential agreement would rest with the United States.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters after arriving in Pennsylvania for the Defence and Innovation Summit on July 15, Trump struck a defiant tone on both diplomacy and the ongoing confrontation with Iran. "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon," Trump said, without elaborating on what he meant by Iran's defeat or providing a timeline.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/they-better-behave-trump-says-iran-badly-wants-to-settle-with-us-1784148656860">'They better behave': Trump says Iran 'badly' wants to settle with US</a>&nbsp;The US president also claimed that Tehran was eager to resolve its differences with Washington but insisted that the United States would decide whether any settlement would move forward. "Iran badly wants to settle with the United States," Trump said, offering no further details about any ongoing or potential diplomatic contacts.&nbsp;Asked about possible negotiations, Trump said he was not inclined to impose deadlines but issued a fresh warning to Tehran. "I don't like giving deadlines. They'd better behave," he said. Trump also defended recent US military strikes on Iran, saying the action was taken because Tehran "did not obey". He did not specify what actions by Iran had prompted the operation.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/are-you-muslim-indian-man-stabbed-15-times-in-us-after-being-asked-about-religion-1784133567663">'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times after revealing his faith in US</a>&nbsp;His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran after recent US military operations against Iranian targets and repeated warnings from both sides. The latest comments are likely to add to concerns over further escalation even as Trump continues to suggest that the door to a potential settlement remains open, provided it is on terms acceptable to Washington. &nbsp;

US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be ‘defeated very soon,’ asserting Tehran eagerly wants a diplomatic settlement with Washington while demanding they behave and defending recent American military strikes. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 15) said Iran would be "defeated very soon" and claimed that Tehran "badly" wanted to settle with Washington, while making clear that any decision on a potential agreement would rest with the United States. Speaking to reporters after arriving in Pennsylvania for the Defence and Innovation Summit on July 15, Trump struck a defiant tone on both diplomacy and the ongoing confrontation with Iran. "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon," Trump said, without elaborating on what he meant by Iran's defeat or providing a timeline. Also read: 'They better behave': Trump says Iran 'badly' wants to settle with US The US president also claimed that Tehran was eager to resolve its differences with Washington but insisted that the United States would decide whether any settlement would move forward. "Iran badly wants to settle with the United States," Trump said, offering no further details about any ongoing or potential diplomatic contacts. Asked about possible negotiations, Trump said he was not inclined to impose deadlines but issued a fresh warning to Tehran. "I don't like giving deadlines. They'd better behave," he said. Trump also defended recent US military strikes on Iran, saying the action was taken because Tehran "did not obey". He did not specify what actions by Iran had prompted the operation. Also read: 'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times after revealing his faith in US His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran after recent US military operations against Iranian targets and repeated warnings from both sides. The latest comments are likely to add to concerns over further escalation even as Trump continues to suggest that the door to a potential settlement remains open, provided it is on terms acceptable to Washington.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be ‘defeated very soon,’ asserting Tehran eagerly wants a diplomatic settlement with Washington while demanding they behave and defending recent American military strikes.

Trump warns Iran ‘will be defeated very soon,’ asks Tehran to ‘better behave’

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 15) claimed that Iran "badly" wants to settle with the United States, while insisting that Washington would decide whether to pursue such an agreement. He also warned Tehran to "behave" and said Iran would be "defeated very soon".&nbsp;Speaking to reporters after arriving in Pennsylvania for the Defence and Innovation Summit on July 15, Trump said he was not in favour of setting deadlines for negotiations but signalled that the US remained in control of any potential diplomatic process. "I don't like giving deadlines," Trump said, before issuing a warning to Tehran. "They better behave."&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;Trump claimed that Iran was eager to settle its differences with Washington, adding that the United States would determine whether such a move would take place. "Iran badly wants to settle with the United States," he said, without providing further details on any possible talks or diplomatic contacts.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-stock-below-ipo-price-lockup-expiry-share-price-1784135108716">SpaceX stock falls below IPO price first time. The worst may be yet to come</a>&nbsp;The US president also defended Washington's recent military action against Iran, saying the strikes were carried out because Tehran "did not obey". He did not elaborate on what specific actions by Iran prompted the operation.&nbsp;Trump further escalated his rhetoric by predicting a swift defeat for Iran. "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon," he said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rules-out-negotiations-with-us-after-fresh-american-strikes-intensify-fight-for-control-of-hormuz-1784141154940">Iran rules out negotiations with United States after fresh American strikes</a>&nbsp;His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent US military operations against Iranian targets and repeated warnings from both sides, with the prospect of further escalation continuing to fuel uncertainty across the region. &nbsp;

Donald Trump claimed Iran wants a settlement with the US, warning them to "behave" while defending recent military strikes and predicting a swift defeat for Tehran amid heightened regional tensions.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (July 15) claimed that Iran "badly" wants to settle with the United States, while insisting that Washington would decide whether to pursue such an agreement. He also warned Tehran to "behave" and said Iran would be "defeated very soon". Speaking to reporters after arriving in Pennsylvania for the Defence and Innovation Summit on July 15, Trump said he was not in favour of setting deadlines for negotiations but signalled that the US remained in control of any potential diplomatic process. "I don't like giving deadlines," Trump said, before issuing a warning to Tehran. "They better behave." Also read: 'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar Trump claimed that Iran was eager to settle its differences with Washington, adding that the United States would determine whether such a move would take place. "Iran badly wants to settle with the United States," he said, without providing further details on any possible talks or diplomatic contacts. Also read: SpaceX stock falls below IPO price first time. The worst may be yet to come The US president also defended Washington's recent military action against Iran, saying the strikes were carried out because Tehran "did not obey". He did not elaborate on what specific actions by Iran prompted the operation. Trump further escalated his rhetoric by predicting a swift defeat for Iran. "We'll have Iran defeated soon. They'll be defeated very soon," he said. Also read: Iran rules out negotiations with United States after fresh American strikes His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent US military operations against Iranian targets and repeated warnings from both sides, with the prospect of further escalation continuing to fuel uncertainty across the region.

Donald Trump claimed Iran wants a settlement with the US, warning them to "behave" while defending recent military strikes and predicting a swift defeat for Tehran amid heightened regional tensions.

'They better behave': Trump says Iran 'badly' wants to settle with US

The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran on Wednesday (July 15), escalating its campaign against Tehran as Washington said the operation was aimed at protecting international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes began at 1900 GMT and targeted Iranian military assets allegedly being used to threaten vessels transiting the strategic waterway."The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a post on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At 3 p.m. ET, U.S. forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran. The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce. The…&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2077471657456025781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-stock-below-ipo-price-lockup-expiry-share-price-1784135108716">SpaceX stock falls below IPO price first time. The worst may be yet to come</a>&nbsp;The renewed attacks come amid mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining at the centre of the confrontation. Nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply passes through the narrow maritime corridor, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.&nbsp;As the US operation unfolded, explosions were reported in multiple parts of southern Iran. Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said blasts were heard in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, although the exact source and location were not immediately known.&nbsp;In a separate report, Mehr said three explosions were also heard in the southeastern port city of Chabahar. Iranian authorities had not immediately confirmed the cause of the explosions or reported any casualties.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/are-you-muslim-indian-man-stabbed-15-times-in-us-after-being-asked-about-religion-1784133567663">'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times after revealing his faith in US</a>&nbsp;The latest military action came as Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Tehran would continue to pursue diplomacy while remaining prepared for a prolonged military confrontation. "We have never welcomed war and do not, but we must always be ready to fight and stand to the end to safeguard our national security and interests," Ghalibaf said in a statement.&nbsp;He accused the United States of attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic and fragment Iran, describing the current conflict as an "essential and existential war". Ghalibaf said Iran's strategy must combine military readiness with negotiations, arguing that treating war and diplomacy as mutually exclusive options would be a "strategic error".

The US launched fresh military strikes on Iranian targets in Ahvaz and Chabahar to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting capabilities threatening transit.

The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran on Wednesday (July 15), escalating its campaign against Tehran as Washington said the operation was aimed at protecting international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes began at 1900 GMT and targeted Iranian military assets allegedly being used to threaten vessels transiting the strategic waterway. "The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a post on X.

The US launched fresh military strikes on Iranian targets in Ahvaz and Chabahar to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting capabilities threatening transit.

'Targeting Iran's military capabilities': US launches fresh strikes as explosions rock Ahvaz, Chabahar

Italy's Supreme Court has upheld the life sentences of five family members convicted over the murder of Pakistani-origin teenager Saman Abbas, bringing one of the country's most high-profile honour killing cases to a close.&nbsp;The Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed the life sentences of Abbas' parents, Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, as well as her cousins, Ijaz Ikram and Nomanul Haq. The court also upheld the 22-year prison sentence imposed on her uncle, Danish Hasnain, as reported by Italian news agency ANSA on Wednesday (July 15).&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-seizes-6-2-billion-in-assets-linked-to-sheikh-hasina-amid-return-speculation-1784130584547">Bangladesh seizes $6.2 billion in assets linked to Sheikh Hasina, family</a>&nbsp;Reacting to the ruling, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the verdict marked the end of a long search for justice. "No verdict can bring her life back, but it is right that those responsible for this barbaric crime have been definitively convicted," Meloni wrote in a post on social media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Con la sentenza definitiva per l&#39;omicidio di Saman Abbas si chiude una dolorosa vicenda giudiziaria. Saman, giovane di origine pakistana in Italia, è stata uccisa dai suoi genitori e da alcuni familiari dopo essersi opposta a un matrimonio forzato e aver rivendicato il diritto… <a href="https://t.co/nFrH3QyoId">pic.twitter.com/nFrH3QyoId</a>&mdash; Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://x.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/2077368575031976329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Saman Abbas, an 18-year-old of Pakistani origin, was killed in the northern Italian town of Novellara in 2021 after refusing to marry a cousin in Pakistan, in what prosecutors described as an arranged marriage.&nbsp;Before her death, Abbas had sought protection from Italian social services and was placed in a shelter in late 2020. She also filed a complaint against her parents over fears for her safety. However, she returned to live with her family in April 2021.&nbsp;The investigation began after police visited the family's home on May 5, 2021, and found it abandoned. Officers later discovered that Abbas' parents had travelled to Pakistan without their daughter.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/keir-starmer-farewell-speech-house-of-commons-goodbye-prime-minister-1784123642509">'This is the end of my political journey': Starmer delivers goodbye speech</a>&nbsp;Investigators later obtained security camera footage recorded on April 29, 2021, showing five people leaving the family's home carrying shovels, a crowbar and a bucket before returning several hours later. Prosecutors said the footage became a key piece of evidence in the murder investigation.

Italy’s Supreme Court confirmed life sentences for the family of Pakistani teenager Saman Abbas, murdered in 2021 for rejecting an arranged marriage. PM Giorgia Meloni declared that justice was served.

Italy's Supreme Court has upheld the life sentences of five family members convicted over the murder of Pakistani-origin teenager Saman Abbas, bringing one of the country's most high-profile honour killing cases to a close. The Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed the life sentences of Abbas' parents, Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, as well as her cousins, Ijaz Ikram and Nomanul Haq. The court also upheld the 22-year prison sentence imposed on her uncle, Danish Hasnain, as reported by Italian news agency ANSA on Wednesday (July 15). Also read: Bangladesh seizes $6.2 billion in assets linked to Sheikh Hasina, family Reacting to the ruling, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the verdict marked the end of a long search for justice. "No verdict can bring her life back, but it is right that those responsible for this barbaric crime have been definitively convicted," Meloni wrote in a post on social media.

Italy’s Supreme Court confirmed life sentences for the family of Pakistani teenager Saman Abbas, murdered in 2021 for rejecting an arranged marriage. PM Giorgia Meloni declared that justice was served.

‘Justice has finally been served': Meloni reacts as Italy's apex court upholds life sentences in Saman Abbas honour killing case

For yet another day in a row, Iran and the United States have exchanged fire. It is a dangerous new phase. But will this become the new normal for West Asia? As far as Donald Trump is concerned, it has been a case of a new day, old threat. He has once again threatened to strike Iran's bridges and power plants next week if Iran does not return to talks.In a Fox News interview, Trump was asked whether he believes the Iranians are serious about making a deal. According to him, they have no choice.But is that really the case?As of now, Iran continues to up the ante, both through high-voltage attacks and sharpened rhetoric. In fact, Iran has reportedly been turning mobile phones into weapons, allegedly hunting US troops through their phones.According to a report in the Financial Times, telecom data, cybersecurity experts, and officials familiar with the matter indicate that US military personnel and contractors in the region were targeted through a coordinated phone-tracking campaign before and during the conflict.The report says they appear to have exploited weaknesses in mobile phone roaming systems using something called SS7 pings, which can reveal the approximate location of phones connected to foreign networks.Investigators also believe commercially available smartphone advertising data may have been used to identify the locations of certain devices.Who is suspected of carrying this out?<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-hunting-american-troops-through-their-phones-amidst-rising-havoc-1784133731455/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-hunting-american-troops-through-their-phones-amidst-rising-havoc-1784133731455/embed</a>&nbsp;Officials in Gulf countries reportedly suspect Iran or groups allied with it.The tracking attempts reportedly began in the period leading up to the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran in late February and continued during the early days of the war, when Iran launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and military sites across the region.Experts have reportedly said it is too early to directly connect the surveillance to individual missile or drone strikes. They also noted that military targeting typically relies on multiple intelligence sources, not just digital location data.U.S. Central Command also said it had received several threat reports about adversaries exploiting commercial location data but added that it took extensive protective measures.A U.S. official said claims that phone tracking played a significant role in the attacks were "a departure from the facts."And there's the thing.A 2024 Pentagon Inspector General review reportedly had already found that the military had not fully addressed smartphone-related security vulnerabilities.Former intelligence officials also said smartphones generate large amounts of location and usage data that can reveal a person's movements even if the phone itself is never hacked, especially when personnel carry personal devices alongside secure government phones.Meanwhile, the region continues to witness high-intensity attacks.Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck facilities used by the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to state television, after U.S. strikes on Iranian territory.Iran struck a critical facility in Kuwait on Wednesday, causing multiple "massive" explosions and starting a fire.Eyewitness video released earlier showed the moment a drone hit a warehouse in the port town of Al Shuaiba in Kuwait.Iran has also threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports after the U.S. blockade.With drones striking Jordan and other parts of the region, the attacks have continued, along with sharpened rhetoric.As far as Trump is concerned, it has been a new day, old threat. He has once again threatened to strike Iran's bridges and power plants next week if Iran does not return to talks.But what really is Trump's strategy?Remember, Trump earlier reversed a threat of a 20% fee on all Strait of Hormuz cargo shipping but resumed blockading Iranian ports.The U.S. has threatened to reopen the strait by force.But here's the thing.Is that even possible?Experts have reportedly assessed and pointed out that doing so would require a much bigger armada, if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil.If there is one thing that Trump seems to have excelled in, it is the art of taking U-turns.After threatening to intensify attacks against Iran, will he make yet another U-turn?Or is this going to be yet another endless conflict for America?What really is Trump's strategy? And what will Iran's next move be?The region is on tenterhooks, and the global economy cannot afford more uncertainty.

US-Iran military clashes escalate with mutual strikes and phone-tracking surveillance. Donald Trump threatens infrastructure attacks, leaving experts to question his volatile blockade strategy amid rising regional and global economic instability.

For yet another day in a row, Iran and the United States have exchanged fire. It is a dangerous new phase. But will this become the new normal for West Asia? As far as Donald Trump is concerned, it has been a case of a new day, old threat. He has once again threatened to strike Iran's bridges and power plants next week if Iran does not return to talks. In a Fox News interview, Trump was asked whether he believes the Iranians are serious about making a deal. According to him, they have no choice. But is that really the case? As of now, Iran continues to up the ante, both through high-voltage attacks and sharpened rhetoric. In fact, Iran has reportedly been turning mobile phones into weapons, allegedly hunting US troops through their phones. According to a report in the Financial Times, telecom data, cybersecurity experts, and officials familiar with the matter indicate that US military personnel and contractors in the region were targeted through a coordinated phone-tracking campaign before and during the conflict. The report says they appear to have exploited weaknesses in mobile phone roaming systems using something called SS7 pings, which can reveal the approximate location of phones connected to foreign networks. Investigators also believe commercially available smartphone advertising data may have been used to identify the locations of certain devices. Who is suspected of carrying this out? https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-hunting-american-troops-through-their-phones-amidst-rising-havoc-1784133731455/embed Officials in Gulf countries reportedly suspect Iran or groups allied with it. The tracking attempts reportedly began in the period leading up to the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran in late February and continued during the early days of the war, when Iran launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and military sites across the region. Experts have reportedly said it is too early to directly connect the surveillance to individual missile or drone strikes. They also noted that military targeting typically relies on multiple intelligence sources, not just digital location data. U.S. Central Command also said it had received several threat reports about adversaries exploiting commercial location data but added that it took extensive protective measures. A U.S. official said claims that phone tracking played a significant role in the attacks were "a departure from the facts." And there's the thing. A 2024 Pentagon Inspector General review reportedly had already found that the military had not fully addressed smartphone-related security vulnerabilities. Former intelligence officials also said smartphones generate large amounts of location and usage data that can reveal a person's movements even if the phone itself is never hacked, especially when personnel carry personal devices alongside secure government phones. Meanwhile, the region continues to witness high-intensity attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck facilities used by the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to state television, after U.S. strikes on Iranian territory. Iran struck a critical facility in Kuwait on Wednesday, causing multiple "massive" explosions and starting a fire. Eyewitness video released earlier showed the moment a drone hit a warehouse in the port town of Al Shuaiba in Kuwait. Iran has also threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports after the U.S. blockade. With drones striking Jordan and other parts of the region, the attacks have continued, along with sharpened rhetoric. As far as Trump is concerned, it has been a new day, old threat. He has once again threatened to strike Iran's bridges and power plants next week if Iran does not return to talks. But what really is Trump's strategy? Remember, Trump earlier reversed a threat of a 20% fee on all Strait of Hormuz cargo shipping but resumed blockading Iranian ports. The U.S. has threatened to reopen the strait by force. But here's the thing. Is that even possible? Experts have reportedly assessed and pointed out that doing so would require a much bigger armada, if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil. If there is one thing that Trump seems to have excelled in, it is the art of taking U-turns. After threatening to intensify attacks against Iran, will he make yet another U-turn? Or is this going to be yet another endless conflict for America? What really is Trump's strategy? And what will Iran's next move be? The region is on tenterhooks, and the global economy cannot afford more uncertainty.

US-Iran military clashes escalate with mutual strikes and phone-tracking surveillance. Donald Trump threatens infrastructure attacks, leaving experts to question his volatile blockade strategy amid rising regional and global economic instability.

Iran hunting American troops through their phones amidst rising havoc

Iran on Wednesday ruled out any immediate negotiations with the United States, saying its immediate priority is defending the country as military confrontation between the two sides continues to intensify.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran currently has no plans to hold talks with Washington and would honour its international commitments only if the United States fulfilled its own obligations.&nbsp;"Our commitments remain in effect only as long as the other side fulfils its pledges," Baghaei said.&nbsp;He said Iran had stopped implementing its obligations under the recent memorandum of understanding after accusing the United States of breaching the agreement.&nbsp;"After the other party violated its obligations, we also refrained from implementing ours in any area where it was required," Baghaei said.<h3>US launches fresh strikes as tensions escalate</h3>His remarks came after the United States military launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran on Wednesday, saying the operation was aimed "to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz".&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-seizes-6-2-billion-in-assets-linked-to-sheikh-hasina-amid-return-speculation-1784130584547">Bangladesh seizes $6.2 billion in assets linked to Sheikh Hasina amid return speculation</a>&nbsp;The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later said it had completed the operation by launching "precision munitions against coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz".&nbsp;Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the renewed US naval blockade "has, in a way, dismantled the Islamabad memorandum," referring to the temporary agreement reached last month to halt hostilities and pursue negotiations.&nbsp;The agreement had briefly led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before Tehran once again declared that the strategic waterway would remain closed "until the US ends its aggression."&nbsp;The diplomatic deadlock comes as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could sharply expand its military campaign if Iran refuses to return to the negotiating table.&nbsp;"Next week it gets really bad for them," Trump told Fox News, while indicating that future strikes could target power plants and bridges.&nbsp;

Tehran ruled out negotiations with Washington after fresh US strikes, saying it would only honour its commitments if the United States fulfilled its own obligations.

Iran on Wednesday ruled out any immediate negotiations with the United States, saying its immediate priority is defending the country as military confrontation between the two sides continues to intensify. Speaking to reporters, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran currently has no plans to hold talks with Washington and would honour its international commitments only if the United States fulfilled its own obligations. "Our commitments remain in effect only as long as the other side fulfils its pledges," Baghaei said. He said Iran had stopped implementing its obligations under the recent memorandum of understanding after accusing the United States of breaching the agreement. "After the other party violated its obligations, we also refrained from implementing ours in any area where it was required," Baghaei said. US launches fresh strikes as tensions escalate His remarks came after the United States military launched a fresh wave of strikes across Iran on Wednesday, saying the operation was aimed "to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz". Also Read: Bangladesh seizes $6.2 billion in assets linked to Sheikh Hasina amid return speculation The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later said it had completed the operation by launching "precision munitions against coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz". Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the renewed US naval blockade "has, in a way, dismantled the Islamabad memorandum," referring to the temporary agreement reached last month to halt hostilities and pursue negotiations. The agreement had briefly led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before Tehran once again declared that the strategic waterway would remain closed "until the US ends its aggression." The diplomatic deadlock comes as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could sharply expand its military campaign if Iran refuses to return to the negotiating table. "Next week it gets really bad for them," Trump told Fox News, while indicating that future strikes could target power plants and bridges.

Tehran ruled out negotiations with Washington after fresh US strikes, saying it would only honour its commitments if the United States fulfilled its own obligations.

Iran rules out negotiations with US after fresh American strikes intensify fight for control of Hormuz

In Spain, fans are celebrating after a 2-0 victory over France, with all eyes now firmly on the World Cup final. The winner between the defending champions, Argentina and England will take on the 2010 champions.&nbsp;Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a brilliant move involving teenager Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro added another goal as Spain booked its place in its first World Cup final since winning the title in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.&nbsp;"I am very happy with the team's attitude from start to finish. I think we played a great match. We did everything we had to do today to reach the final," said Pedro Porro, the Tottenham defender.&nbsp;But football has now produced an unlikely geopolitical moment. As the FIFA World Cup enters its final stages in the United States, one of Washington's biggest adversaries, Iran, has openly picked its favourite. And it is not just about football. It is also about politics, diplomacy, and a message to the world.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-says-spain-on-right-side-of-history-ahead-of-world-cup-final-1784201235152/embed&nbsp;Now, as all eyes turn to Sunday's final, Iran has publicly backed Spain, not only for its football but also for what it described as Spain's principled stand during one of West Asia's most turbulent periods.&nbsp;Spain's decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine and its refusal to provide military assistance to the United States and Israel during regional conflicts have significantly reshaped its diplomatic relationship with Iran.&nbsp;Also Read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/are-you-muslim-indian-man-stabbed-15-times-in-us-after-being-asked-about-religion-1784133567663">Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times in US after being asked about religion</a>&nbsp;In a post on social media, Iran congratulated Spain, saying it had chosen "the right side of history."&nbsp;"Spain's responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition's flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran, shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West. I commend Spanish officials for their stances," Iranian President Pezeshkian wrote on X.&nbsp;This is not the first time Tehran has publicly praised Madrid.&nbsp;In March, Tehran thanked Madrid for refusing to support US-led strikes, marking a rare moment of diplomatic warmth between a nation under bombardment and a European country resisting Washington's pressure.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup2026</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/GoalFIFA2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoalFIFA2026</a> | Why is Iran publicly supporting Spain at the FIFA World Cup being played in the United States? This is more than a football story. It is a story of diplomacy, symbolism and geopolitics<a href="https://x.com/MollyGambhir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MollyGambhir</a> has more <a href="https://t.co/czjbrnNtuB">pic.twitter.com/czjbrnNtuB</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2077439074324074576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Spain&#39;s responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition&#39;s flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran, shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West. I commend Spanish officials for their stances.&mdash; Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) <a href="https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/2029259618984026499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Even Pope Leo XIV recently commended Spain's commitment to peace, dialogue, and international solidarity.&nbsp;However, Madrid's position has not gone down well with Washington. US President Donald Trump has ordered a complete freeze on all American trade with Spain, openly branding it a terrible partner in NATO.&nbsp;Iran's own World Cup campaign makes this moment even more significant. The national team arrived in the United States facing restrictions that no other team experienced, with its base camp shifted at the last minute to Mexico, staff denied visas, and players competing while their country remained under attack back home.&nbsp;The Iranian team left the United States in the last week of June, leaving behind a message in the locker room in Los Angeles thanking their hosts.&nbsp;The letter referred to the 168 people, most of them children, who were killed in a US airstrike on a school in Minab shortly after the US-led conflict with Iran began in February.&nbsp;That backdrop makes Tehran's support for Spain about far more than football. It is a gesture of solidarity towards a country willing to say no to Washington, expressed by a nation that knows exactly what saying no can cost. Football was supposed to be neutral ground. This World Cup appears to be something else.

Iran publicly backed Spain ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, linking its support to Madrid's diplomatic stance on West Asia and adding a geopolitical dimension to the tournament.

In Spain, fans are celebrating after a 2-0 victory over France, with all eyes now firmly on the World Cup final. The winner between the defending champions, Argentina and England will take on the 2010 champions. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a brilliant move involving teenager Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro added another goal as Spain booked its place in its first World Cup final since winning the title in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday. "I am very happy with the team's attitude from start to finish. I think we played a great match. We did everything we had to do today to reach the final," said Pedro Porro, the Tottenham defender. But football has now produced an unlikely geopolitical moment. As the FIFA World Cup enters its final stages in the United States, one of Washington's biggest adversaries, Iran, has openly picked its favourite. And it is not just about football. It is also about politics, diplomacy, and a message to the world. https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-says-spain-on-right-side-of-history-ahead-of-world-cup-final-1784201235152/embed Now, as all eyes turn to Sunday's final, Iran has publicly backed Spain, not only for its football but also for what it described as Spain's principled stand during one of West Asia's most turbulent periods. Spain's decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine and its refusal to provide military assistance to the United States and Israel during regional conflicts have significantly reshaped its diplomatic relationship with Iran. Also Read: 'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times in US after being asked about religion In a post on social media, Iran congratulated Spain, saying it had chosen "the right side of history." "Spain's responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition's flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran, shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West. I commend Spanish officials for their stances," Iranian President Pezeshkian wrote on X. This is not the first time Tehran has publicly praised Madrid. In March, Tehran thanked Madrid for refusing to support US-led strikes, marking a rare moment of diplomatic warmth between a nation under bombardment and a European country resisting Washington's pressure.

Iran publicly backed Spain ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, linking its support to Madrid's diplomatic stance on West Asia and adding a geopolitical dimension to the tournament.

Spain's World Cup final run takes a geopolitical dimension as Iran publicly backs Madrid | Gravitas

SpaceX's share price has fallen below the IPO price. The stock price fell 2 per cent to $133.34 on Wednesday, July 15, falling the level of $135 per share at the opening. This marks a major milestone since the company record breaking debut on June 12, 2026. The stock hit an intraday low of $132.15 per piece, wiping out the initial momentum of the first day, which saw it raise around $85.7 ​billion and fetch a valuation of around $2.1 trillion at the end of its first trading day.Though it is not extremely uncommon for a stock to fall below the IPO price under the broader duress of the market. But for a megacap company to fall below their IPO price within the first month of its trading is a red flag. Analysts are predicting that this is just the beginning of the pain for traders. As the staggered expiry of the lock-up period is approaching. Many of the early investors are looking for an exit before the hype completely wanes. The IPO surged nearly 50 per cent over their first three days of trading, then lost nearly a quarter of its value over the next three trading sessions.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-ukraine-chinese-drone-components-defence-loan-report-1784129067249">Ukraine gets EU approval to purchase Chinese drone parts under €6 billion defence fund</a><h2>Historical precedent</h2>This current dip is quite similar to that of Facebook in 2012, which broke its $38 IPO price within days due to trading glitches and immediate growth concerns, taking over a year to recover before staging a long-term rally following its quarterly earnings reports in 2013. More devastating was the case for Uber, which plummeted on Day One. It took years of time and structural adjustments for it to recover and win back Wall Street confidence. Uber debuted in a brutal time of the US-China trade war, followed by COVID-19. The same seems to be the case for SpaceX, which debuted at a time of US-Iran war and the Hormuz crisis. Just like Facebook and Uber, the growth narrative waned as the company's Space XAI is suffering huge losses.&nbsp;However, Wall Street seems genuinely upbeat despite a hole in the SpaceX balance sheet. SpaceX's valuation was stretched, given that it lost $4.9 billion last year and many of its ambitions are untested."There hasn't been anything lately to remind people of some of the catalysts for why they bought SpaceX," said Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers. “The fact that a stock has fallen a couple of dollars below its IPO price in itself ​is not a tragedy, but SpaceX is ​heavily watched and has an important ⁠role in investor psyche.” While some are suggesting that it is just beginning, we will see massive losses, despite its addition to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100."I think the elephant in the room is there’s a lot of folks that are in the stock, and maybe some of them or ​a good number of them are wanting to take some liquidity, which is essentially putting a lot of pressure on the stock," said Justus Parmar, CEO of SpaceX ​investor Fortuna Investments. "You’re probably seeing a little bit of it, and through the course of the year, we’ll be seeing more of that." Being fast-tracked into the Nasdaq 100 forced index funds to buy early, which pulled forward demand that would normally have sustained the stock for months. Further investors are panicking ahead of the August lockup expiry, which would be a genuine test for SpaceX.<ul><li>&nbsp;</li></ul>

SpaceX shares slipped below their $135 IPO price for the first time since listing, as investors weigh lock-up expiry, valuation concerns and broader market pressure.

SpaceX's share price has fallen below the IPO price. The stock price fell 2 per cent to $133.34 on Wednesday, July 15, falling the level of $135 per share at the opening. This marks a major milestone since the company record breaking debut on June 12, 2026. The stock hit an intraday low of $132.15 per piece, wiping out the initial momentum of the first day, which saw it raise around $85.7 billion and fetch a valuation of around $2.1 trillion at the end of its first trading day. Though it is not extremely uncommon for a stock to fall below the IPO price under the broader duress of the market. But for a megacap company to fall below their IPO price within the first month of its trading is a red flag. Analysts are predicting that this is just the beginning of the pain for traders. As the staggered expiry of the lock-up period is approaching. Many of the early investors are looking for an exit before the hype completely wanes. The IPO surged nearly 50 per cent over their first three days of trading, then lost nearly a quarter of its value over the next three trading sessions. Also Read: Ukraine gets EU approval to purchase Chinese drone parts under €6 billion defence fund Historical precedent This current dip is quite similar to that of Facebook in 2012, which broke its $38 IPO price within days due to trading glitches and immediate growth concerns, taking over a year to recover before staging a long-term rally following its quarterly earnings reports in 2013. More devastating was the case for Uber, which plummeted on Day One. It took years of time and structural adjustments for it to recover and win back Wall Street confidence. Uber debuted in a brutal time of the US-China trade war, followed by COVID-19. The same seems to be the case for SpaceX, which debuted at a time of US-Iran war and the Hormuz crisis. Just like Facebook and Uber, the growth narrative waned as the company's Space XAI is suffering huge losses. However, Wall Street seems genuinely upbeat despite a hole in the SpaceX balance sheet. SpaceX's valuation was stretched, given that it lost $4.9 billion last year and many of its ambitions are untested. "There hasn't been anything lately to remind people of some of the catalysts for why they bought SpaceX," said Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers. “The fact that a stock has fallen a couple of dollars below its IPO price in itself is not a tragedy, but SpaceX is heavily watched and has an important ⁠role in investor psyche.” While some are suggesting that it is just beginning, we will see massive losses, despite its addition to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100. "I think the elephant in the room is there’s a lot of folks that are in the stock, and maybe some of them or a good number of them are wanting to take some liquidity, which is essentially putting a lot of pressure on the stock," said Justus Parmar, CEO of SpaceX investor Fortuna Investments. "You’re probably seeing a little bit of it, and through the course of the year, we’ll be seeing more of that." Being fast-tracked into the Nasdaq 100 forced index funds to buy early, which pulled forward demand that would normally have sustained the stock for months. Further investors are panicking ahead of the August lockup expiry, which would be a genuine test for SpaceX.

SpaceX shares slipped below their $135 IPO price for the first time since listing, as investors weigh lock-up expiry, valuation concerns and broader market pressure.

SpaceX stock falls below IPO price first time. The worst may be yet to come

An Indian origin Muslim man was stabbed 15 times inside a shopping mall in Utah on Monday after being questioned about his religion, according to police. The victim suffered multiple serious injuries across his body, causing heavy blood loss. Investigators said the 48 year old suspect targeted him because he was Muslim.&nbsp;The attack took place at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, where the victim, identified by friends as Sohail, was working at a kiosk. Police described the incident as a targeted attack and said the suspect posed a serious threat to public safety.&nbsp;The accused, 48 year old Peter Michael Larsen, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, according to jail records.<h3>Victim attacked after revealing his religion</h3>&nbsp;The suspect said "he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim)," according to the police booking affidavit.&nbsp;Before the attack, the suspect approached Sohail, asked his name, questioned him about his religion and requested a bottle of water, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing Imam Shuaib Din, who heads the Utah Islamic Center and has been in touch with the victim's family.&nbsp;Luna Nunez, Sohail's colleague and friend who later visited him in hospital, recalled what the victim told her.&nbsp;"He said (Larsen) asked, 'Where are you from?', and he told him, 'I'm from India, my name's Sohail,'" Nunez told ABC4. "Larsen said, 'Are you Muslim?' and Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him."&nbsp;Sohail was rushed to hospital in critical condition. As he continues to recover from the near fatal attack, Nunez has started a GoFundMe campaign to help support him and his family.&nbsp;"I know he doesn't have insurance. He's the only man that is working in his family. He has two babies and a wife, and they are not working right now," Nunez told KSL.&nbsp;Larsen remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Court records also show that in 2022, police responded after he set fire to his yard and threatened to shoot responding firefighters. He was later sentenced to prison and released in January 2025.

An Indian origin Muslim man remains in critical condition after a targeted stabbing at a Utah shopping mall, where police say the attacker admitted targeting him because of his faith.

An Indian origin Muslim man was stabbed 15 times inside a shopping mall in Utah on Monday after being questioned about his religion, according to police. The victim suffered multiple serious injuries across his body, causing heavy blood loss. Investigators said the 48 year old suspect targeted him because he was Muslim. The attack took place at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, where the victim, identified by friends as Sohail, was working at a kiosk. Police described the incident as a targeted attack and said the suspect posed a serious threat to public safety. The accused, 48 year old Peter Michael Larsen, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, according to jail records. Victim attacked after revealing his religion The suspect said "he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim)," according to the police booking affidavit. Before the attack, the suspect approached Sohail, asked his name, questioned him about his religion and requested a bottle of water, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing Imam Shuaib Din, who heads the Utah Islamic Center and has been in touch with the victim's family. Luna Nunez, Sohail's colleague and friend who later visited him in hospital, recalled what the victim told her. "He said (Larsen) asked, 'Where are you from?', and he told him, 'I'm from India, my name's Sohail,'" Nunez told ABC4. "Larsen said, 'Are you Muslim?' and Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him." Sohail was rushed to hospital in critical condition. As he continues to recover from the near fatal attack, Nunez has started a GoFundMe campaign to help support him and his family. "I know he doesn't have insurance. He's the only man that is working in his family. He has two babies and a wife, and they are not working right now," Nunez told KSL. Larsen remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Court records also show that in 2022, police responded after he set fire to his yard and threatened to shoot responding firefighters. He was later sentenced to prison and released in January 2025.

An Indian origin Muslim man remains in critical condition after a targeted stabbing at a Utah shopping mall, where police say the attacker admitted targeting him because of his faith.

'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times in US after being asked about religion

Imagine getting a private invitation to meet your country's prime minister. The video call looks real. The leaders sound real. The officials on screen seem genuine. You thank them, trust them, and minutes later, US$3.8 million is gone. This isn't science fiction. It is the terrifying new face of cybercrime, where artificial intelligence is turning the images and voices of trusted political leaders into powerful weapons for global scam syndicates.&nbsp;For example, one victim in Singapore reportedly received a WhatsApp message claiming to be from the Secretary to the Cabinet, inviting him to a confidential Zoom meeting. What followed was an elaborate fake summit featuring AI-generated versions of Singapore's prime minister, president, cabinet ministers and even foreign dignitaries discussing funding linked to the Strait of Hormuz.The fake prime minister thanked the victim for attending before a fake lawyer took over the call. By the end of it, US$3.8 million had disappeared into an account that no longer exists.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-scammers-rip-off-millions-using-political-leader-s-image-1784197656263/embed&nbsp;This is no longer an isolated crime. Across Southeast Asia, scammers are reportedly cloning the faces and voices of political leaders to exploit the one thing no security software can fully protect: human trust. Experts say these scams succeed because most people are conditioned to trust and respect authority, making them more likely to comply before they question.&nbsp;In Indonesia, shortly after Prabowo Subianto's election victory, a convincing AI-generated video reportedly appeared to show him offering government aid. Thousands reportedly believed it. Victims across 20 provinces paid so-called administrative fees of up to US$55 for benefits that never existed.In the Philippines, fraudsters used President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s face in a deepfake video promoting an online trading scheme. One victim reportedly lost US$1.5 million before realising it was all fake.&nbsp;An Interpol report released in June called AI-powered crime one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing threats. The organisation further claimed that discussions about deepfake technology on criminal forums surged by 600 per cent during a five-month period in 2024.The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has also warned that AI tools are becoming a standard part of scam operations across Southeast Asia and beyond. Interpol estimates that global cybercrime losses reached US$10.5 trillion in 2025, with the threat expected to grow sharply by the end of the decade.&nbsp;Experts say the best defence is simple: never trust a high-stakes request simply because it looks or sounds authentic.&nbsp;Don't reply through the same message or caller. Instead, verify the request through a completely different channel. Call the person directly, use another platform, or meet them in person if possible. And ask an unexpected question. AI can copy a face and clone a voice, but it often struggles when forced off script.

Cybercriminals are using AI-generated voices and faces of political leaders to trick victims into transferring millions. Learn how these deepfake scams work and how to protect yourself.

Imagine getting a private invitation to meet your country's prime minister. The video call looks real. The leaders sound real. The officials on screen seem genuine. You thank them, trust them, and minutes later, US$3.8 million is gone. This isn't science fiction. It is the terrifying new face of cybercrime, where artificial intelligence is turning the images and voices of trusted political leaders into powerful weapons for global scam syndicates. For example, one victim in Singapore reportedly received a WhatsApp message claiming to be from the Secretary to the Cabinet, inviting him to a confidential Zoom meeting. What followed was an elaborate fake summit featuring AI-generated versions of Singapore's prime minister, president, cabinet ministers and even foreign dignitaries discussing funding linked to the Strait of Hormuz.The fake prime minister thanked the victim for attending before a fake lawyer took over the call. By the end of it, US$3.8 million had disappeared into an account that no longer exists. https://www.wionews.com/videos/asian-scammers-rip-off-millions-using-political-leader-s-image-1784197656263/embed This is no longer an isolated crime. Across Southeast Asia, scammers are reportedly cloning the faces and voices of political leaders to exploit the one thing no security software can fully protect: human trust. Experts say these scams succeed because most people are conditioned to trust and respect authority, making them more likely to comply before they question. In Indonesia, shortly after Prabowo Subianto's election victory, a convincing AI-generated video reportedly appeared to show him offering government aid. Thousands reportedly believed it. Victims across 20 provinces paid so-called administrative fees of up to US$55 for benefits that never existed. In the Philippines, fraudsters used President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s face in a deepfake video promoting an online trading scheme. One victim reportedly lost US$1.5 million before realising it was all fake. An Interpol report released in June called AI-powered crime one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing threats. The organisation further claimed that discussions about deepfake technology on criminal forums surged by 600 per cent during a five-month period in 2024.The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has also warned that AI tools are becoming a standard part of scam operations across Southeast Asia and beyond. Interpol estimates that global cybercrime losses reached US$10.5 trillion in 2025, with the threat expected to grow sharply by the end of the decade. Experts say the best defence is simple: never trust a high-stakes request simply because it looks or sounds authentic. Don't reply through the same message or caller. Instead, verify the request through a completely different channel. Call the person directly, use another platform, or meet them in person if possible. And ask an unexpected question. AI can copy a face and clone a voice, but it often struggles when forced off script.

Cybercriminals are using AI-generated voices and faces of political leaders to trick victims into transferring millions. Learn how these deepfake scams work and how to protect yourself.

Asian scammers rip off millions using political leaders' images

Ukraine has been granted permission to purchase Chinese drone components from an EU defence loan, which could amount to €6 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times. This would be the first tranche, which is dedicated to drone procurement, among the total €60 billion earmarked for defence procurement. This is done to “respond as quickly as possible to the most urgent needs that Ukraine has…derogations are possible. These are granted in exceptionally rare cases,” said a spokesperson of the commission as reported by FT.In general, it is stipulated that the funds are being used to purchase components from Europe, Ukraine or other approved partners. However, if the necessary quantities are not available within the required time, then Ukraine may request to purchase them from other countries. These components include- batteries, engines, flight controllers, and specialised electronics — rather than finished, assembled commercial unmanned aerial vehicles.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/keir-starmer-farewell-speech-house-of-commons-goodbye-prime-minister-1784123642509">'This is the end of my political journey': Keir Starmer delivers emotional goodbye speech</a><h2>A strategic paradox for the European Union</h2>Europe has repeatedly accused Beijing of being “the key enabler of Russia's war” against Ukraine as a key supplier to Moscow's military industrial complex. This highlights the inability of the EU and US defence industries to match the production needs for drone manufacturing. Ukraine has itself developed an incredibly advanced and innovative defence industry, but it is significantly dependent on China's supply chain of raw materials. The country's defence production has grown from $1 billion before to $35-55 billion. China remains a key player in the global supply chain. Though Ukraine is heavily trying to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, it remains the only option for many key components. EU officials recognise the contradiction of sending European capital to Beijing, which is actively supplying dual-use components like semiconductors and drone engines to Russia, but it becomes necessary to prioritise survival.&nbsp;

Ukraine has reportedly received EU approval to use part of a defence loan to purchase Chinese drone components, highlighting Europe's dependence on China's supply chain.

Ukraine has been granted permission to purchase Chinese drone components from an EU defence loan, which could amount to €6 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times. This would be the first tranche, which is dedicated to drone procurement, among the total €60 billion earmarked for defence procurement. This is done to “respond as quickly as possible to the most urgent needs that Ukraine has…derogations are possible. These are granted in exceptionally rare cases,” said a spokesperson of the commission as reported by FT. In general, it is stipulated that the funds are being used to purchase components from Europe, Ukraine or other approved partners. However, if the necessary quantities are not available within the required time, then Ukraine may request to purchase them from other countries. These components include- batteries, engines, flight controllers, and specialised electronics — rather than finished, assembled commercial unmanned aerial vehicles. Also Read: 'This is the end of my political journey': Keir Starmer delivers emotional goodbye speech A strategic paradox for the European Union Europe has repeatedly accused Beijing of being “the key enabler of Russia's war” against Ukraine as a key supplier to Moscow's military industrial complex. This highlights the inability of the EU and US defence industries to match the production needs for drone manufacturing. Ukraine has itself developed an incredibly advanced and innovative defence industry, but it is significantly dependent on China's supply chain of raw materials. The country's defence production has grown from $1 billion before to $35-55 billion. China remains a key player in the global supply chain. Though Ukraine is heavily trying to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, it remains the only option for many key components. EU officials recognise the contradiction of sending European capital to Beijing, which is actively supplying dual-use components like semiconductors and drone engines to Russia, but it becomes necessary to prioritise survival.

Ukraine has reportedly received EU approval to use part of a defence loan to purchase Chinese drone components, highlighting Europe's dependence on China's supply chain.

Ukraine gets EU approval to purchase Chinese drone parts under €6 billion defence fund

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SpaceX stock falls below IPO price first time. The worst may be yet to come

'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times after revealing his faith in US