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Pakistanis are eating less, and increasingly, they are eating worse. Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows that over the past six years, food consumption has declined across both urban and rural Pakistan, with average consumption falling in almost every major food category. Families are making fewer cups of rice, serving smaller rotis, cooking meat less frequently, giving their children less milk, and even drinking fewer cups of tea each day. The one major exception is vanaspati ghee, consumption of which has surged by 81%, from 690 grams a month to 1.25 kilograms.&nbsp;The shift is more than a change in eating habits. It is a warning about the quality of life and nutrition of millions of Pakistanis. The social indicators are particularly painful. The percentage of households classified as ‘moderate to severely food insecure’ has risen from 15.92 per cent in 2019 to 24.35 per cent in 2025. Over the same period, severe food insecurity increased from 2.37% of households to 5.04%. In other words, nearly a quarter of Pakistani households are now experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, while a growing share are facing severe hunger and deprivation.&nbsp;For a country that has long taken pride in being an agrarian economy, these numbers are difficult to reconcile with the national narrative. Pakistan Studies textbooks have drilled the image of a fertile, self-sufficient Pakistan into generations of students: lush green fields, abundant crops and a country capable of feeding itself. Fertiliser advertisements have reinforced that image with unusually cheerful farmers throwing urea around at sunset. The promise has been repeated for decades. When Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests, citizens were told that whatever happened, the country would not go hungry because it could produce enough food for itself. A similar reassurance surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains were disrupted and food security became a concern around the world.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/focus-on-real-issues-bilawal-bhutto-slams-pakistan-govt-for-spreading-false-stories-about-his-personal-life-1788231225052">'Focus on real issues': Bilawal Bhutto slams Pakistan govt for spreading false stories about his personal life</a>&nbsp;But that ability to feed ourselves has been under serious strain for years. Pakistan has been a net importer of food since at least 2021. At the same time, rising food prices have steadily altered what households can afford to put on the table. This is not simply a story about people eating fewer meals or buying less food. It is about the composition of the Pakistani diet changing under economic pressure. When families cannot afford enough meat, milk, rice and other staples, they do not simply stop eating. They substitute, reduce portions and prioritise the cheapest available calories. The result can be a diet that fills the stomach without providing the nutrition required for healthy growth.&nbsp;That makes the rise in vanaspati ghee particularly significant. While households are cutting back on several food categories, consumption of a cheaper source of fat has increased sharply. The numbers suggest that affordability, rather than nutritional value, is increasingly determining what ends up on the Pakistani dinner table. The consequences could extend far beyond today's household budgets. Children who receive less milk and fewer nutritious foods are at greater risk of inadequate growth and development. Adults who consume poorer-quality diets may have less energy and greater vulnerability to illness. Over time, widespread dietary deterioration can translate into lower productivity, weaker human capital and greater pressure on an already strained healthcare system.&nbsp;The danger is that food insecurity can become self-reinforcing. Poor nutrition affects health and productivity; lower productivity limits household income; and lower incomes make nutritious food even harder to afford. That is why these consumption figures should not be dismissed as merely another indicator of inflation or household spending. They provide a window into how economic stress is changing everyday life. The macroeconomic picture may be bleak, but the most important story is often found at the household level: the smaller roti, the fewer glasses of milk, the less frequent meat curry and the extra spoonful of ghee. Pakistan's food problem is therefore not simply about producing enough food.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is increasingly about whether ordinary families can afford to buy and consume enough of the right food. If the trend continues, the country could end up confronting a generation that is not only poorer, but also less healthy and less well nourished than the one before it. That would be a recipe for a much deeper social and economic crisis.

Pakistanis are eating less as food prices rise, with declining consumption of rice, meat and milk and rising food insecurity threatening nutrition and health

Pakistanis are eating less, and increasingly, they are eating worse. Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows that over the past six years, food consumption has declined across both urban and rural Pakistan, with average consumption falling in almost every major food category. Families are making fewer cups of rice, serving smaller rotis, cooking meat less frequently, giving their children less milk, and even drinking fewer cups of tea each day. The one major exception is vanaspati ghee, consumption of which has surged by 81%, from 690 grams a month to 1.25 kilograms. The shift is more than a change in eating habits. It is a warning about the quality of life and nutrition of millions of Pakistanis. The social indicators are particularly painful. The percentage of households classified as ‘moderate to severely food insecure’ has risen from 15.92 per cent in 2019 to 24.35 per cent in 2025. Over the same period, severe food insecurity increased from 2.37% of households to 5.04%. In other words, nearly a quarter of Pakistani households are now experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, while a growing share are facing severe hunger and deprivation. For a country that has long taken pride in being an agrarian economy, these numbers are difficult to reconcile with the national narrative. Pakistan Studies textbooks have drilled the image of a fertile, self-sufficient Pakistan into generations of students: lush green fields, abundant crops and a country capable of feeding itself. Fertiliser advertisements have reinforced that image with unusually cheerful farmers throwing urea around at sunset. The promise has been repeated for decades. When Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests, citizens were told that whatever happened, the country would not go hungry because it could produce enough food for itself. A similar reassurance surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains were disrupted and food security became a concern around the world. Also Read: 'Focus on real issues': Bilawal Bhutto slams Pakistan govt for spreading false stories about his personal life But that ability to feed ourselves has been under serious strain for years. Pakistan has been a net importer of food since at least 2021. At the same time, rising food prices have steadily altered what households can afford to put on the table. This is not simply a story about people eating fewer meals or buying less food. It is about the composition of the Pakistani diet changing under economic pressure. When families cannot afford enough meat, milk, rice and other staples, they do not simply stop eating. They substitute, reduce portions and prioritise the cheapest available calories. The result can be a diet that fills the stomach without providing the nutrition required for healthy growth. That makes the rise in vanaspati ghee particularly significant. While households are cutting back on several food categories, consumption of a cheaper source of fat has increased sharply. The numbers suggest that affordability, rather than nutritional value, is increasingly determining what ends up on the Pakistani dinner table. The consequences could extend far beyond today's household budgets. Children who receive less milk and fewer nutritious foods are at greater risk of inadequate growth and development. Adults who consume poorer-quality diets may have less energy and greater vulnerability to illness. Over time, widespread dietary deterioration can translate into lower productivity, weaker human capital and greater pressure on an already strained healthcare system. The danger is that food insecurity can become self-reinforcing. Poor nutrition affects health and productivity; lower productivity limits household income; and lower incomes make nutritious food even harder to afford. That is why these consumption figures should not be dismissed as merely another indicator of inflation or household spending. They provide a window into how economic stress is changing everyday life. The macroeconomic picture may be bleak, but the most important story is often found at the household level: the smaller roti, the fewer glasses of milk, the less frequent meat curry and the extra spoonful of ghee. Pakistan's food problem is therefore not simply about producing enough food. It is increasingly about whether ordinary families can afford to buy and consume enough of the right food. If the trend continues, the country could end up confronting a generation that is not only poorer, but also less healthy and less well nourished than the one before it. That would be a recipe for a much deeper social and economic crisis.

According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistanis are eating less and poorer-quality food as inflation and food insecurity rise, raising concerns about nutrition, health and future generations

Pakistanis are eating less. What they are eating instead is even more alarming

Two days before the Nepal flash floods, there were clear signs of an ominous event in the Himalayas waiting to happen, an expert has said. According to Dr Hamish Pritchard, a glaciologist from the British Antarctic Survey, two days before the catastrophe, ground temperature was at its highest in the last two years.&nbsp;Meanwhile, on the day the surging waters washed away everything in its way, the temperature of a lake located at an altitude of 5,100 metres and about 10 km away from the glacier that is believed to have collapsed was the highest this year. Climate experts are still trying to figure out the exact cause of the deluge that has killed more than 900 people, with more than 4,000 missing in Nepal and 500 in Tibet.&nbsp;One of the explanations right now is that a glacier crashed, causing a nearly 4,000-foot chunk of ice to smash into the valley. "These high temperatures would have weakened the snowpack, filled crevasses with water and thawed the bonds between ice and rock that hold these glaciers in place," Pritchard told Daily Mail.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rescuers-blast-hillside-in-search-of-over-900-missing-hydropower-workers-nepal-flood-toll-surges-to-939-1788208591834">Rescuers blast hillside in search of over 900 missing hydropower workers; Nepal flood toll surges to 939</a>&nbsp;Another reason that was initially flagged was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake on August 26. However, later analysis showed that the ground shook because of the glacier that collapsed on the Langtang-Lirung mountain. Ice mixed with rock and sediment cascaded down the mountain and temporarily blocked the Lhende Khola River. A large lake was temporarily formed and soon broke through, causing the devastating flood.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-difficult-for-my-men-nepal-police-face-uphill-battle-in-flood-rescues-1788199547570">'Very difficult for my men': Nepal Police face uphill battle in flood rescues</a><h2>Climate change increases the risk of such events</h2> Scientists say the Himalayas are warming much faster than the rest of the world. The event happened in the monsoon season, when avalanches become more common because of the heavy snowfall and rain in the region, Pritchard said. The rivers were full and soil saturated at this time, setting the stage for the disaster. He added that the conditions got a further push because of “climate change that is causing rapid retreat of Himalayan glaciers.”&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-floods-fake-claims-spread-online-after-devastating-floods-1788200432327/embed<h2>Why Nepal is more susceptible to such events</h2>The terrain in Nepal is already dangerous, with steep slopes making it more vulnerable to landslides, rockfalls, and ice cliff collapses. A warming world means the conditions will only get worse. Permafrost, the layer that keeps glaciers stable, is thawing because of climate change, loosening rocks and mud, and increasing the chances of more such collapses.&nbsp;Satellite data from 1976 to 2024 shows that melt rates have increased everywhere on Earth besides Iceland. This rate has been 25 per cent faster in the Himalayas in the last decade than the long-term average.&nbsp;

Warning signs for an imminent disaster in Nepal and Tibet were hovering two days before the floods struck, an expert has said. The temperature near the glacier, which is believed to have collapsed, was at a two-year high, while a lake was the hottest this year.

Two days before the Nepal flash floods, there were clear signs of an ominous event in the Himalayas waiting to happen, an expert has said. According to Dr Hamish Pritchard, a glaciologist from the British Antarctic Survey, two days before the catastrophe, ground temperature was at its highest in the last two years. Meanwhile, on the day the surging waters washed away everything in its way, the temperature of a lake located at an altitude of 5,100 metres and about 10 km away from the glacier that is believed to have collapsed was the highest this year. Climate experts are still trying to figure out the exact cause of the deluge that has killed more than 900 people, with more than 4,000 missing in Nepal and 500 in Tibet. One of the explanations right now is that a glacier crashed, causing a nearly 4,000-foot chunk of ice to smash into the valley. "These high temperatures would have weakened the snowpack, filled crevasses with water and thawed the bonds between ice and rock that hold these glaciers in place," Pritchard told Daily Mail. Also Read: Rescuers blast hillside in search of over 900 missing hydropower workers; Nepal flood toll surges to 939 Another reason that was initially flagged was a magnitude 5.2 earthquake on August 26. However, later analysis showed that the ground shook because of the glacier that collapsed on the Langtang-Lirung mountain. Ice mixed with rock and sediment cascaded down the mountain and temporarily blocked the Lhende Khola River. A large lake was temporarily formed and soon broke through, causing the devastating flood. Also Read: 'Very difficult for my men': Nepal Police face uphill battle in flood rescues Climate change increases the risk of such events Scientists say the Himalayas are warming much faster than the rest of the world. The event happened in the monsoon season, when avalanches become more common because of the heavy snowfall and rain in the region, Pritchard said. The rivers were full and soil saturated at this time, setting the stage for the disaster. He added that the conditions got a further push because of “climate change that is causing rapid retreat of Himalayan glaciers.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-floods-fake-claims-spread-online-after-devastating-floods-1788200432327/embed Why Nepal is more susceptible to such events The terrain in Nepal is already dangerous, with steep slopes making it more vulnerable to landslides, rockfalls, and ice cliff collapses. A warming world means the conditions will only get worse. Permafrost, the layer that keeps glaciers stable, is thawing because of climate change, loosening rocks and mud, and increasing the chances of more such collapses. Satellite data from 1976 to 2024 shows that melt rates have increased everywhere on Earth besides Iceland. This rate has been 25 per cent faster in the Himalayas in the last decade than the long-term average.

Warning signs for an imminent disaster in Nepal and Tibet were hovering two days before the floods struck, an expert has said. The temperature near the glacier, which is believed to have collapsed, was at a two-year high, while a lake was the hottest this year.

Nepal and Tibet floods: Warning sign of a looming disaster recorded two days before tragedy struck

The US Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling on Monday (Aug 31) allowed Donald Trump's administration to continue construction of his White House ballroom complex as the president challenged a judicial ​order that would halt much of the development. In the 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts, who gave a dissent ruling, called the project "likely unlawful," while 5 other judges said the government would likely suffer "irreparable harm" if the project were blocked, citing national security concerns. The court, however, granted the administration's request to block a lower court's ‌order halting above-ground construction of the $400 million ballroom while a lawsuit by a historic preservation group seeking to stop the project proceeds.&nbsp;Reacting to the decision, Trump in a social media post welcomed the ruling and ​called the legal challenge baseless. "I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat. We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C.," the Republican president wrote. &nbsp;

The US Supreme Court has allowed Donald Trump’s administration to continue above-ground construction of his proposed $400 million White House ballroom complex. The 5-4 ruling blocks a lower court order halting work while a lawsuit challenging the project continues.

The US Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling on Monday (Aug 31) allowed Donald Trump's administration to continue construction of his White House ballroom complex as the president challenged a judicial order that would halt much of the development. In the 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts, who gave a dissent ruling, called the project "likely unlawful," while 5 other judges said the government would likely suffer "irreparable harm" if the project were blocked, citing national security concerns. The court, however, granted the administration's request to block a lower court's ‌order halting above-ground construction of the $400 million ballroom while a lawsuit by a historic preservation group seeking to stop the project proceeds. Reacting to the decision, Trump in a social media post welcomed the ruling and called the legal challenge baseless. "I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat. We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C.," the Republican president wrote.

The US Supreme Court has allowed Donald Trump’s administration to continue above-ground construction of his proposed $400 million White House ballroom complex. The 5-4 ruling blocks a lower court order halting work while a lawsuit challenging the project continues.

'I am pleased': Trump wins Supreme Court backing to continue $400 million White House ballroom work

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has hit out at the Shehbaz Sharif government over the deaths of 14 newborns at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), while accusing those in power of allowing social media controversies to overshadow pressing issues facing the country. In a video message posted on social media, Bilawal dismissed viral reports that he had been engaged or was preparing to marry an Austrian royal, saying that social media had already ‘got me engaged, married’ despite no such development having taken place.&nbsp;“I want to make it clear that neither has the match been finalised nor have I got engaged. Neither do I know any Princess Gloria,” Bilawal said, adding that any decision concerning his personal life would be announced by his family. Bilawal argued that the attention around his alleged marriage was being amplified to divert public attention from what he called the ‘real issues’ confronting Pakistan.<h2>Watch the video here posted by Bilawal Bhutto</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A video message from the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Social media has not only made my engagement official, but has even got me married! Let me make it clear that nothing like this has happened, and I have not proposed to any princess.”… <a href="https://t.co/CVwpIUgqQG">pic.twitter.com/CVwpIUgqQG</a>&mdash; Aamir matto Ronnie (@AamirSs81) <a href="https://x.com/AamirSs81/status/2094439337358414173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He then turned his focus to the PIMS tragedy, in which 14 newborns were killed in a fire that engulfed a neonatal ward in Islamabad on August 26. Bilawal took a sharp swipe at Mohsin Naqvi, without naming him directly, saying a minister who ‘wants to become the Gorbachev of Pakistan’ and divide the country into 30 parts could not even manage a single hospital.&nbsp;His comments come after an interim inquiry into the PIMS fire found serious shortcomings in hospital safety and emergency preparedness. The investigation found that the neonatal ward had no fire alarms or sprinklers and that the hospital lacked adequate emergency procedures and training. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif subsequently suspended eight officials and ordered criminal proceedings against those identified by the inquiry.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-admin-hit-by-another-top-level-exit-as-us-army-secretary-dan-driscoll-resigns-1788227779264">Trump admin hit by another top-level exit as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns</a>&nbsp;Bilawal also criticised recent statements concerning the creation of new provinces in Pakistan. He said a minister from Lahore was telling the city’s businessmen to “make provinces and govern them”, arguing that such major constitutional and political questions could not be settled on the streets or at a business forum. The PPP chairman said the Sindh Assembly had already taken what he described as a courageous position on the issue and insisted that any discussion or decision regarding the creation of provinces must go through the appropriate constitutional and parliamentary process.&nbsp;The provincial boundaries issue is particularly sensitive for the PPP, which governs Sindh and has strongly opposed proposals for a separate Karachi province. Bilawal said the Sindh Assembly would be the forum where the matter should be discussed and decided. Bilawal’s remarks came amid a wave of unverified reports linking him to Gloria von Habsburg, described in social media posts as a member of Austria’s former royal family. The claims gathered momentum after President Asif Ali Zardari travelled abroad on what the Presidency described as a private visit, with social media users linking the trip to alleged wedding plans. The PPP has rejected the reports as incorrect and unfounded.

Bilawal Bhutto rejects Austrian princess marriage rumours, calls them a distraction and attacks Shehbaz govt over PIMS infant deaths and provincial plans

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has hit out at the Shehbaz Sharif government over the deaths of 14 newborns at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), while accusing those in power of allowing social media controversies to overshadow pressing issues facing the country. In a video message posted on social media, Bilawal dismissed viral reports that he had been engaged or was preparing to marry an Austrian royal, saying that social media had already ‘got me engaged, married’ despite no such development having taken place. “I want to make it clear that neither has the match been finalised nor have I got engaged. Neither do I know any Princess Gloria,” Bilawal said, adding that any decision concerning his personal life would be announced by his family. Bilawal argued that the attention around his alleged marriage was being amplified to divert public attention from what he called the ‘real issues’ confronting Pakistan. Watch the video here posted by Bilawal Bhutto

In a video posted, Bilawal Bhutto slams Shehbaz govt over PIMS infant deaths, attacks provincial division plans and calls marriage rumours a social media distraction

'Focus on real issues': Bilawal Bhutto slams Pakistan govt for spreading false stories about his personal life

A woman in New York City’s Times Square stabbed two people on Monday (Aug 31), killing one woman. She was then fatally shot by police, according to officials. The shooting happened before 4:30 p.m. next to a New York Police Department substation, outside One Times Square, the building that hosts the city’s annual New Year’s Eve ball drop celebration.&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;According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the 49-year-old woman from Queens pulled out two knives from a shopping bag and stabbed a 68-year-old man who had just come out of the subway station and was waiting to cross the street with his wife, striking him in the abdomen. Seconds later, the woman stabbed a 32-year-old woman also in the abdomen, Tisch said. Both victims were taken to the hospital. The woman died and the man is in stable condition. “This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world,” Tisch said. The woman has a “documented mental health history with the NYPD,” which include incidents in 2018 and 2019 but no arrest history with the department, Tisch said. She didn’t provide additional details.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-class-10-students-in-telangana-stab-principal-27-times-after-being-caught-stealing-money-1787197004661">Class 10 students in Telangana stab principal 27 times after being caught stealing money</a>&nbsp;Videos posted on social media show a group of at least 10 officers gathered around the woman, who was holding two large kitchen knives. Officers tried to convince the woman to drop the knives for several minutes before using a Taser, Tisch said. The woman told them: “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you,” according to Tisch. In the video posted by bystanders, the woman fell to the ground after being hit by police bullet, where an officer handcuffed her. Officers rolled her onto her back and rendered first aid. Police are investigating the reason of the crime. Tisch said there was no evidence suggesting it was a terrorist attack.&nbsp;Reacting to the incident, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “We know that those families’ lives have been shattered by what took place today, and we will continue to hold them close as the hours and days and weeks continue from this moment." The NYPD temporarily closed part of 7th Avenue and warned the public to stay away from the area. Police tape cordoned off the area as a large group of law enforcement officers worked nearby.

A woman stabbed two people in New York City’s Times Square, killing a 68-year-old woman and injuring a man, police said. Officers shot and killed the 49-year-old suspect after she refused to drop two knives and moved toward them. Police said there was no evidence of terrorism.

A woman in New York City’s Times Square stabbed two people on Monday (Aug 31), killing one woman. She was then fatally shot by police, according to officials. The shooting happened before 4:30 p.m. next to a New York Police Department substation, outside One Times Square, the building that hosts the city’s annual New Year’s Eve ball drop celebration. Also Read: 'Are you Muslim?': Indian man stabbed 15 times in US after being asked about religion According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the 49-year-old woman from Queens pulled out two knives from a shopping bag and stabbed a 68-year-old man who had just come out of the subway station and was waiting to cross the street with his wife, striking him in the abdomen. Seconds later, the woman stabbed a 32-year-old woman also in the abdomen, Tisch said. Both victims were taken to the hospital. The woman died and the man is in stable condition. “This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world,” Tisch said. The woman has a “documented mental health history with the NYPD,” which include incidents in 2018 and 2019 but no arrest history with the department, Tisch said. She didn’t provide additional details. Also Read: Class 10 students in Telangana stab principal 27 times after being caught stealing money Videos posted on social media show a group of at least 10 officers gathered around the woman, who was holding two large kitchen knives. Officers tried to convince the woman to drop the knives for several minutes before using a Taser, Tisch said. The woman told them: “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you,” according to Tisch. In the video posted by bystanders, the woman fell to the ground after being hit by police bullet, where an officer handcuffed her. Officers rolled her onto her back and rendered first aid. Police are investigating the reason of the crime. Tisch said there was no evidence suggesting it was a terrorist attack. Reacting to the incident, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “We know that those families’ lives have been shattered by what took place today, and we will continue to hold them close as the hours and days and weeks continue from this moment." The NYPD temporarily closed part of 7th Avenue and warned the public to stay away from the area. Police tape cordoned off the area as a large group of law enforcement officers worked nearby.

A woman stabbed two people in New York City’s Times Square, killing a 68-year-old woman and injuring a man, police said. Officers shot and killed the 49-year-old suspect after she refused to drop two knives and moved toward them. Police said there was no evidence of terrorism.

Woman stabs one to death, injures another in New York's Times Square; shot dead by cops

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump. His departure is another high-profile exit from the administration after National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard's exit. The matter was first reported by CNN quoting sources but has now been confirmed by the White House. A statement by White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly lauded Driscoll for “outstanding leadership.” Apart from Gabbard, Trump administration has witnessed the exit of dozens of career prosecutors and top officials—including Kevin Driscoll, acting head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-top-us-intelligence-official-tulsi-gabbard-resigns-1779470018180">Trump’s top US intelligence official Tulsi Gabbard resigns</a><h2>Why has Dan Driscoll resigned?</h2>According to CNN sources, Driscoll's departure comes months after friction with Hegseth and also in the wake of six months into the Iran war. Hegseth reportedly fired the Army chief of staff, Gen Randy George, and two other generals earlier this year. George and Driscoll worked closely together. Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, was at one point seen as a potential alternative to Hegseth.&nbsp;<h2>Who is Dan Driscoll ?</h2>A former Army Ranger and venture capitalist, Driscoll advocated for improved living conditions for personnel, equipment modernisation, and applying insights from Ukrainian forces regarding commercial technology in combat. Under his leadership, private enterprises pledged to invest over USD 25 billion into data centres, critical mineral refineries, and dining facilities on US Army installations. Driscoll was confirmed by the Senate on February 25, 2025, in a 66-28 vote. Trump had previously nominated him as Army secretary, highlighting his background as a former soldier, investor, and political adviser. Driscoll previously served in the US Army as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader with the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom before graduating from Yale Law School. He later worked in venture capital and private equity and served as a senior adviser to Vance. move comes after months of reported friction between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ignored-intelligence-warning-of-defeat-in-iran-war-gravitas-1787852090583">Trump ignored intelligence warning of defeat in Iran War | Gravitas</a><h2>What the White House said?</h2>In a statement, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, "Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more. The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War."

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his post, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. His departure comes amid reported tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The White House praised Driscoll for his leadership and role in Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump. His departure is another high-profile exit from the administration after National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard's exit. The matter was first reported by CNN quoting sources but has now been confirmed by the White House. A statement by White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly lauded Driscoll for “outstanding leadership.” Apart from Gabbard, Trump administration has witnessed the exit of dozens of career prosecutors and top officials—including Kevin Driscoll, acting head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. Also Read: Trump’s top US intelligence official Tulsi Gabbard resigns Why has Dan Driscoll resigned? According to CNN sources, Driscoll's departure comes months after friction with Hegseth and also in the wake of six months into the Iran war. Hegseth reportedly fired the Army chief of staff, Gen Randy George, and two other generals earlier this year. George and Driscoll worked closely together. Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, was at one point seen as a potential alternative to Hegseth. Who is Dan Driscoll ? A former Army Ranger and venture capitalist, Driscoll advocated for improved living conditions for personnel, equipment modernisation, and applying insights from Ukrainian forces regarding commercial technology in combat. Under his leadership, private enterprises pledged to invest over USD 25 billion into data centres, critical mineral refineries, and dining facilities on US Army installations. Driscoll was confirmed by the Senate on February 25, 2025, in a 66-28 vote. Trump had previously nominated him as Army secretary, highlighting his background as a former soldier, investor, and political adviser. Driscoll previously served in the US Army as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader with the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom before graduating from Yale Law School. He later worked in venture capital and private equity and served as a senior adviser to Vance. move comes after months of reported friction between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Also Read: Trump ignored intelligence warning of defeat in Iran War | Gravitas What the White House said? In a statement, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, "Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more. The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War."

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned from his post. His departure comes amid reported tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The White House praised Driscoll for his leadership and role in Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

Trump admin hit by another top-level exit as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns

More than 900 workers of hydropower projects are still missing, and many of them are believed to be still trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels along Nepal’s Trishuli River as rescue teams are battling to save them.&nbsp;On Monday, rescuers finally resorted to using explosives to blast the hillside before pumping air into the Trishuli-3A site after fearing that the critical window to reach survivors is closing.&nbsp;The death toll from the ⁠unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud and debris on the Nepal-Tibet border last Wednesday has risen to 939 people, according to Nepal’s disaster management authority, which also revised its estimate of the number of missing to 3,925, including 592 foreign nationals.&nbsp;The rescue operation is being spearheaded by an international team of Chinese and Nepalese military personnel, while experts from India, Korea and Australia are also involved.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mulling-limited-strikes-to-prevent-iran-from-rebuilding-military-capabilities-in-strait-of-hormuz-1788202380409">Trump mulling limited strikes to prevent Iran from rebuilding military capabilities in Strait of Hormuz</a><h2>At least 11 hydropower projects damaged in floods</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Nepal relies heavily on hydropower and has spent years developing the projects along its mountainous river systems. At least 11 projects either completed or under construction were damaged in the floods, authorities said. Rescuers began pumping air into a tunnel over the weekend.&nbsp;A team of rescuers succeeded in getting into a tunnel leading to one hydropower plant earlier on Monday but withdrew after finding no one there.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sanctions-pressure-on-tehran-can-work-without-chinese-cooperation-scott-bessent-1788192239582">Sanctions pressure on Tehran can work without Chinese cooperation: Scott Bessent</a>&nbsp;Australian engineer Arnold Dix, who has been helping Nepalese authorities with the underground search operations remotely, said rescuers had been struggling to find the tunnels. He said there is still some hope for those trapped underground, as the subterranean environment might have offered some protection from the deluge above.&nbsp;<h2>Makeshift burials start in Chitwan amid shortage of freezers</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, makeshift burials were started in Chitwan, as men wearing white Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and masks carried unidentified corpses.&nbsp;Chief district officer Ganesh Aryaal said relatives will be able to extricate the remains of their loved ones once they are identified through DNA testing.“We had to choose this last alternative of a temporary burial system, as we don’t have enough freezers here. We are really overwhelmed,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/doomsayers-doomed-india-s-gdp-grows-7-8-in-first-quarter-domestic-economy-gives-boost-amid-global-tensions-1788179210296">‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions</a>&nbsp;Rescue teams are working to reach more than 900 missing hydropower workers, hundreds of whom are feared trapped in the tunnels and underground areas of 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, the ⁠country’s disaster management authority said.&nbsp;<h2>Official death toll in Tibet pegged at 16</h2>&nbsp;Experts fear the chances of finding survivors in tunnels are diminishing as oxygen levels fall.About 250 people were rescued from the Upper Trishuli hydroelectric project over the weekend, and army engineers began blasting operations at the site to rescue another 42 workers thought to be missing.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-based-terrorist-handlers-isi-using-porn-sites-and-encrypted-apps-to-communicate-with-recruits-in-j-k-1788115668072">Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&amp;K</a>&nbsp;In Tibet, the official death toll is 16, with 546 reported missing, according to Chinese state media. Footage of the floods has been heavily censored in China.Chinese authorities have imposed ‘administrative penalties,’ which can range from warnings and fines to short detentions, on people speculating online that the casualty numbers are a lot higher than reported.&nbsp;

At least 11 projects were damaged in the floods, authorities said. Rescuers began pumping air into a tunnel over the weekend. A team of rescuers succeeded in getting into a tunnel leading to one hydropower plant earlier on Monday but withdrew after finding no one there.

More than 900 workers of hydropower projects are still missing, and many of them are believed to be still trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels along Nepal’s Trishuli River as rescue teams are battling to save them. On Monday, rescuers finally resorted to using explosives to blast the hillside before pumping air into the Trishuli-3A site after fearing that the critical window to reach survivors is closing. The death toll from the ⁠unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud and debris on the Nepal-Tibet border last Wednesday has risen to 939 people, according to Nepal’s disaster management authority, which also revised its estimate of the number of missing to 3,925, including 592 foreign nationals. The rescue operation is being spearheaded by an international team of Chinese and Nepalese military personnel, while experts from India, Korea and Australia are also involved. Also Read: Trump mulling limited strikes to prevent Iran from rebuilding military capabilities in Strait of Hormuz At least 11 hydropower projects damaged in floods Nepal relies heavily on hydropower and has spent years developing the projects along its mountainous river systems. At least 11 projects either completed or under construction were damaged in the floods, authorities said. Rescuers began pumping air into a tunnel over the weekend. A team of rescuers succeeded in getting into a tunnel leading to one hydropower plant earlier on Monday but withdrew after finding no one there. Also Read: Sanctions pressure on Tehran can work without Chinese cooperation: Scott Bessent Australian engineer Arnold Dix, who has been helping Nepalese authorities with the underground search operations remotely, said rescuers had been struggling to find the tunnels. He said there is still some hope for those trapped underground, as the subterranean environment might have offered some protection from the deluge above. Makeshift burials start in Chitwan amid shortage of freezers Meanwhile, makeshift burials were started in Chitwan, as men wearing white Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and masks carried unidentified corpses. Chief district officer Ganesh Aryaal said relatives will be able to extricate the remains of their loved ones once they are identified through DNA testing. “We had to choose this last alternative of a temporary burial system, as we don’t have enough freezers here. We are really overwhelmed,” he said. Also Read: ‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions Rescue teams are working to reach more than 900 missing hydropower workers, hundreds of whom are feared trapped in the tunnels and underground areas of 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, the ⁠country’s disaster management authority said. Official death toll in Tibet pegged at 16 Experts fear the chances of finding survivors in tunnels are diminishing as oxygen levels fall. About 250 people were rescued from the Upper Trishuli hydroelectric project over the weekend, and army engineers began blasting operations at the site to rescue another 42 workers thought to be missing. Also Read: Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&K In Tibet, the official death toll is 16, with 546 reported missing, according to Chinese state media. Footage of the floods has been heavily censored in China. Chinese authorities have imposed ‘administrative penalties,’ which can range from warnings and fines to short detentions, on people speculating online that the casualty numbers are a lot higher than reported.

At least 11 projects were damaged in the floods, authorities said. Rescuers began pumping air into a tunnel over the weekend. A team of rescuers succeeded in getting into a tunnel leading to one hydropower plant earlier on Monday but withdrew after finding no one there.

Rescuers blast hillside in search of over 900 missing hydropower workers; Nepal flood toll surges to 939

US President Donald Trump and senior officials in his administration have been considering carrying out limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from rebuilding its radar and missile capabilities to attack ships and close the key waterway.&nbsp;President Trump and his aides have reviewed a new US Central Command plan for limited strikes in the strait aimed at preventing Iran from rebuilding its military capabilities there, said an Axios report, citing senior US officials.&nbsp;The intended plan is to “mow the lawn,” as one US official put it, by striking Iranian radar and missile capabilities and reducing the threat to oil tankers, US Navy vessels and US Air Force aircraft operating in and around the vital waterway.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sanctions-pressure-on-tehran-can-work-without-chinese-cooperation-scott-bessent-1788192239582">Sanctions pressure on Tehran can work without Chinese cooperation: Scott Bessent</a>&nbsp;US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the plan, though Trump has yet to approve it, the report said, adding that the latest exchange of strikes between the US and Iran could push the president toward giving the plan a green light.Over the past two months, the US military has gradually increased its control over the Strait of Hormuz, allowing oil exports through the waterway to rise.&nbsp;<h2>CENTCOM warned about Iran trying to rebuild capabilities</h2>&nbsp;The planning started after CENTCOM warned Hegseth and Trump that Iran has begun trying to rebuild its capabilities in the strait and that limited US strikes may therefore be necessary to prevent Tehran from re-establishing them.Until recently, the White House had been inclined to reject the proposal to avoid further escalation with Iran, but Sunday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Jordan prompted a reassessment, the officials said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/doomsayers-doomed-india-s-gdp-grows-7-8-in-first-quarter-domestic-economy-gives-boost-amid-global-tensions-1788179210296">‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions</a>&nbsp;Over the last two months, the US military has gradually taken control of most of the strait in a sustained campaign by degrading Iranian military capabilities and clearing mines to guide ships through the strait.The US action restricted Iran’s ability to hit oil tankers and allowed more traffic and oil exports through the strait, thereby eroding Iran’s leverage over the crucial waterway.&nbsp;<h2>Iran making efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;US officials say CENTCOM became concerned about Iran's efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities in the strait to target ships more accurately.One recent incident that raised concern was the launch of an Iranian anti-aircraft missile toward a US F-35 fighter jet that was providing cover to ships in the strait, an official said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-based-terrorist-handlers-isi-using-porn-sites-and-encrypted-apps-to-communicate-with-recruits-in-j-k-1788115668072">Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&amp;K</a>&nbsp;The incident signalled Iran’s intent to rebuild its military capacity.&nbsp;CENTCOM said that the military might need to strike Iran periodically in order to keep moving dozens of oil tankers out of the Gulf relatively safely every day.Hegseth supported the plan and sent it to the White House, officials said.Trump told Fox News on Monday morning that the US will respond to the Iranian attacks on bases in Jordan and “hit them hard”.

CENTCOM became concerned about Iran's efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities in the strait to target ships more accurately. One recent incident that raised concern was the launch of an Iranian anti-aircraft missile toward a US F-35 fighter jet.

US President Donald Trump and senior officials in his administration have been considering carrying out limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from rebuilding its radar and missile capabilities to attack ships and close the key waterway. President Trump and his aides have reviewed a new US Central Command plan for limited strikes in the strait aimed at preventing Iran from rebuilding its military capabilities there, said an Axios report, citing senior US officials. The intended plan is to “mow the lawn,” as one US official put it, by striking Iranian radar and missile capabilities and reducing the threat to oil tankers, US Navy vessels and US Air Force aircraft operating in and around the vital waterway. Also Read: Sanctions pressure on Tehran can work without Chinese cooperation: Scott Bessent US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the plan, though Trump has yet to approve it, the report said, adding that the latest exchange of strikes between the US and Iran could push the president toward giving the plan a green light. Over the past two months, the US military has gradually increased its control over the Strait of Hormuz, allowing oil exports through the waterway to rise. CENTCOM warned about Iran trying to rebuild capabilities The planning started after CENTCOM warned Hegseth and Trump that Iran has begun trying to rebuild its capabilities in the strait and that limited US strikes may therefore be necessary to prevent Tehran from re-establishing them. Until recently, the White House had been inclined to reject the proposal to avoid further escalation with Iran, but Sunday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Jordan prompted a reassessment, the officials said. Also Read: ‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions Over the last two months, the US military has gradually taken control of most of the strait in a sustained campaign by degrading Iranian military capabilities and clearing mines to guide ships through the strait. The US action restricted Iran’s ability to hit oil tankers and allowed more traffic and oil exports through the strait, thereby eroding Iran’s leverage over the crucial waterway. Iran making efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities US officials say CENTCOM became concerned about Iran's efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities in the strait to target ships more accurately. One recent incident that raised concern was the launch of an Iranian anti-aircraft missile toward a US F-35 fighter jet that was providing cover to ships in the strait, an official said. Also Read: Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&K The incident signalled Iran’s intent to rebuild its military capacity. CENTCOM said that the military might need to strike Iran periodically in order to keep moving dozens of oil tankers out of the Gulf relatively safely every day. Hegseth supported the plan and sent it to the White House, officials said. Trump told Fox News on Monday morning that the US will respond to the Iranian attacks on bases in Jordan and “hit them hard”.

CENTCOM became concerned about Iran's efforts to rebuild its radar, air defence and anti-ship missile capabilities in the strait to target ships more accurately. One recent incident that raised concern was the launch of an Iranian anti-aircraft missile toward a US F-35 fighter jet.

Trump mulling limited strikes to prevent Iran from rebuilding military capabilities in Strait of Hormuz

The six-month US-Iran conflict has created a major commercial windfall for state-owned defence conglomerate EDGE Group. While nearly 3,000 missiles and drones targeted the UAE during the conflict, testing its status as a safe haven, the experience has provided practical validation for the country's domestic arms industry.&nbsp;"Before the war, we only had a handful of products that we could say were battle proven. After the war, we can say a lot of products are now battle proven," Khaled Al Zaabi, president of EDGE's platforms and systems cluster, told new agency AFP from the company's Abu Dhabi headquarters. Zaabi cited the "battle-proven" label as an absolute selling point driving increased global demand.&nbsp;Founded in 2019, EDGE employs 19,000 people across drones, missiles, armored vehicles, and naval vessels. At Tawazun Industrial Park, subsidiary EPI is expanding with a 5,600-square-meter facility dedicated to producing micro-jet engines for autonomous military systems.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/short-videos/us-iran-war-uae-calls-iranian-drone-attack-a-dangerous-escalation-1788178838361">US-Iran war: UAE calls Iranian drone attack a ‘dangerous escalation’</a>&nbsp;While the UAE spent over $8 billion on advanced US air systems like Patriots and THAAD, officials highlighted cost-efficient countermeasures. Zaabi noted that low-cost drones can counter threats like Shahed kamikaze drones, while chairman Faisal Al Bannai stated locally produced jammers achieved an 85 percent interception rate against incoming drones.&nbsp;International exports accounted for 70 percent of EDGE's $5 billion in revenue last year. The group established its European headquarters in Paris in June to target Western and NATO markets amid rising European defense spending, planning French facilities for engine and drone production alongside investments in Brazil.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-seeks-negotiated-end-us-war-pezeshkian-dialogue-1788178915862">Iran seeks negotiated end to US war as Pezeshkian calls for dialogue</a>&nbsp;Allegations by Amnesty International indicated EDGE armored vehicles equipped with French weapons were utilized by Sudanese paramilitaries. EDGE denied selling weapons used in Sudan, and the UAE denied supporting paramilitary forces.&nbsp;Industry analysts note EDGE's strategic shift toward localising air defense systems like the SkyKnight short-range system, positioning the firm to advance toward its objective of becoming a top 10 global defense contractor.

As the West Asia conflict drives global demand for military arms, a major UAE defence company is rapidly expanding its footprint worldwide. 

The six-month US-Iran conflict has created a major commercial windfall for state-owned defence conglomerate EDGE Group. While nearly 3,000 missiles and drones targeted the UAE during the conflict, testing its status as a safe haven, the experience has provided practical validation for the country's domestic arms industry. "Before the war, we only had a handful of products that we could say were battle proven. After the war, we can say a lot of products are now battle proven," Khaled Al Zaabi, president of EDGE's platforms and systems cluster, told new agency AFP from the company's Abu Dhabi headquarters. Zaabi cited the "battle-proven" label as an absolute selling point driving increased global demand. Founded in 2019, EDGE employs 19,000 people across drones, missiles, armored vehicles, and naval vessels. At Tawazun Industrial Park, subsidiary EPI is expanding with a 5,600-square-meter facility dedicated to producing micro-jet engines for autonomous military systems. Also read: US-Iran war: UAE calls Iranian drone attack a ‘dangerous escalation’ While the UAE spent over $8 billion on advanced US air systems like Patriots and THAAD, officials highlighted cost-efficient countermeasures. Zaabi noted that low-cost drones can counter threats like Shahed kamikaze drones, while chairman Faisal Al Bannai stated locally produced jammers achieved an 85 percent interception rate against incoming drones. International exports accounted for 70 percent of EDGE's $5 billion in revenue last year. The group established its European headquarters in Paris in June to target Western and NATO markets amid rising European defense spending, planning French facilities for engine and drone production alongside investments in Brazil. Also read: Iran seeks negotiated end to US war as Pezeshkian calls for dialogue Allegations by Amnesty International indicated EDGE armored vehicles equipped with French weapons were utilized by Sudanese paramilitaries. EDGE denied selling weapons used in Sudan, and the UAE denied supporting paramilitary forces. Industry analysts note EDGE's strategic shift toward localising air defense systems like the SkyKnight short-range system, positioning the firm to advance toward its objective of becoming a top 10 global defense contractor.

As the West Asia conflict drives global demand for military arms, a major UAE defence company is rapidly expanding its footprint worldwide.&nbsp;

Inside the UAE defense giant rapidly scaling up amid West Asia war

In another vital step to ensuring energy self-sufficiency, India decided to finalise a long-term agreement with Uzbekistan for the supply of uranium. The deal will guarantee a steady supply of raw nuclear material from Uzbekistan, which accounts for nearly 6.6% of the world's uranium production. This underscores New Delhi's drive to diversify its strategic energy imports and stabilise domestic power generation through clean, base-load nuclear power.This is also seen as a part of India's goal of achieving 100 gigawatt of nuclear capacity by 2047, when the country completes hundred years of independence. At present, India operates 24 nuclear power reactors, with a capacity of 8.78 gigawatt.Listen in to PM Modi outlining India's nuclear vision during his Independence Day speech...Now, India has been building a global uranium supply chain by securing long-term supplies from across the world. India already has a long-term uranium supply agreement with Kazakhstan, which is the world's largest producer of uranium.During PM Modi's visit to Canada in March, Canadian firm Cameco entered into a commercial agreement with India's Department of Atomic Energy. As a result, India will get nearly 22 million pounds of uranium ore concentrate from Canada between 2027 to 2035. This shall contribute to the country's civil nuclear energy generation, clean energy transition objectives, and long-term energy security.This is not all. When PM Modi met Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Melbourne last month, both countries finalised administrative arrangements to enable the export of Australian uranium to India for peaceful purposes. This was in pursuance of provisions under the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.Amid growing energy demands, India's emphasis on augmenting sources of uranium procurement is set to further expand the country's nuclear capacity.

India finalises a long-term uranium supply agreement with Uzbekistan as New Delhi seeks to expand nuclear capacity and strengthen energy security.

In another vital step to ensuring energy self-sufficiency, India decided to finalise a long-term agreement with Uzbekistan for the supply of uranium. The deal will guarantee a steady supply of raw nuclear material from Uzbekistan, which accounts for nearly 6.6% of the world's uranium production. This underscores New Delhi's drive to diversify its strategic energy imports and stabilise domestic power generation through clean, base-load nuclear power. This is also seen as a part of India's goal of achieving 100 gigawatt of nuclear capacity by 2047, when the country completes hundred years of independence. At present, India operates 24 nuclear power reactors, with a capacity of 8.78 gigawatt. Listen in to PM Modi outlining India's nuclear vision during his Independence Day speech... Now, India has been building a global uranium supply chain by securing long-term supplies from across the world. India already has a long-term uranium supply agreement with Kazakhstan, which is the world's largest producer of uranium. During PM Modi's visit to Canada in March, Canadian firm Cameco entered into a commercial agreement with India's Department of Atomic Energy. As a result, India will get nearly 22 million pounds of uranium ore concentrate from Canada between 2027 to 2035. This shall contribute to the country's civil nuclear energy generation, clean energy transition objectives, and long-term energy security. This is not all. When PM Modi met Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Melbourne last month, both countries finalised administrative arrangements to enable the export of Australian uranium to India for peaceful purposes. This was in pursuance of provisions under the 2015 Australia-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Amid growing energy demands, India's emphasis on augmenting sources of uranium procurement is set to further expand the country's nuclear capacity.

India finalises a long-term uranium supply agreement with Uzbekistan as New Delhi seeks to expand nuclear capacity and strengthen energy security.

Gravitas | India locks in uranium from Uzbekistan, targets nuclear superpower status

Six days after catastrophic flash floods struck Nepal, rescue teams faced severe obstacles due to destroyed infrastructure, high floodwaters, and treacherous marshland. The death toll is mounting, while the number of missing persons rose past 4,700. Emergency operations centred in Bidur, a small town on the Trishuli River in Nuwakot district, which became the main hub for rescue efforts.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-flood-crisis-threat-of-further-landslides-makes-rescue-operation-dangerous-1788179736706/amp/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-flood-crisis-threat-of-further-landslides-makes-rescue-operation-dangerous-1788179736706/amp/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Highlighting the extent of the destruction, local police officer E. Hawadi told news agency AFP, "There are too many challenges. There are no roads, they have all been washed away, and many areas are just not accessible." He added that the work remained extremely difficult for his men: "The area is still flooded, and elsewhere it is all marshland."&nbsp;Swollen rivers continuously altered course, complicating search plans and halting nighttime operations. "For example, an area that was dry yesterday is completely flooded today," Hawadi explained to AFP, warning that "floods can come at any time." Rescuers also lacked essential equipment, including flotation devices.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nepal-floods-a-saree-saves-21-tamil-nadu-pilgrims-on-mount-kailash-yatra-this-is-how-1788166746690">Nepal floods: A saree saves 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims on Mount Kailash yatra. This is how</a>&nbsp;Ground transport collapsed, leaving responders reliant on helicopters to access isolated mountain settlements. Hawadi noted, "Once my men are dropped, they have to roam over large distances to conduct search and rescue. But the helicopters have to return because there are not enough of them."&nbsp;Over 40 bridges were damaged or destroyed. India and China began supplying prefabricated Bailey bridges to quickly rebuild access without heavy equipment.Foreign Ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri appealed for international aid, noting, "This is the Himalayas... The gorges are very deep and steep, so that's the difficulty." Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the mission as "challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain, and ongoing risks."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-rejects-claims-of-inadequate-disaster-data-sharing-with-nepal-1788165839030">China rejects claims of inadequate disaster data-sharing with Nepal</a>&nbsp;The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent estimated that around 93,000 people were affected. As the UN World Food Programme brought in 2.4 tonnes of high-energy biscuits for displaced families, authorities carried out mass burials for unidentified victims following DNA sampling.

Nepal Police face an uphill task in flood rescue operations as swollen rivers and washed-out roads hamper efforts. Rescue teams share key updates.

Six days after catastrophic flash floods struck Nepal, rescue teams faced severe obstacles due to destroyed infrastructure, high floodwaters, and treacherous marshland. The death toll is mounting, while the number of missing persons rose past 4,700. Emergency operations centred in Bidur, a small town on the Trishuli River in Nuwakot district, which became the main hub for rescue efforts. https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-flood-crisis-threat-of-further-landslides-makes-rescue-operation-dangerous-1788179736706/amp/embed Highlighting the extent of the destruction, local police officer E. Hawadi told news agency AFP, "There are too many challenges. There are no roads, they have all been washed away, and many areas are just not accessible." He added that the work remained extremely difficult for his men: "The area is still flooded, and elsewhere it is all marshland." Swollen rivers continuously altered course, complicating search plans and halting nighttime operations. "For example, an area that was dry yesterday is completely flooded today," Hawadi explained to AFP, warning that "floods can come at any time." Rescuers also lacked essential equipment, including flotation devices. Also read: Nepal floods: A saree saves 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims on Mount Kailash yatra. This is how Ground transport collapsed, leaving responders reliant on helicopters to access isolated mountain settlements. Hawadi noted, "Once my men are dropped, they have to roam over large distances to conduct search and rescue. But the helicopters have to return because there are not enough of them." Over 40 bridges were damaged or destroyed. India and China began supplying prefabricated Bailey bridges to quickly rebuild access without heavy equipment. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri appealed for international aid, noting, "This is the Himalayas... The gorges are very deep and steep, so that's the difficulty." Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the mission as "challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain, and ongoing risks." Also read: China rejects claims of inadequate disaster data-sharing with Nepal The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent estimated that around 93,000 people were affected. As the UN World Food Programme brought in 2.4 tonnes of high-energy biscuits for displaced families, authorities carried out mass burials for unidentified victims following DNA sampling.

Nepal Police face an uphill task in flood rescue operations as swollen rivers and washed-out roads hamper efforts. Rescue teams share key updates.

'Very difficult for my men': Nepal Police face uphill battle in flood rescues

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have agreed to establish a secretariat Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The countries officially agreed that the central administrative body in Riyadh will be managed initially by the Pakistani Secretary General for three years.&nbsp;“A Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, will be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support their work within the framework of the agreement," said the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement following the meeting. &nbsp;“The Secretariat will be initially headed by a Secretary General from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for a period of three years.”This is being seen as a move to institutionalise the cooperation between the three nations, “enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence,” and support “a just, inclusive and lasting peace.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jd-vance-trump-kharg-island-post-iran-us-denies-strike-1788192311560">JD Vance says Trump’s Kharg Island AI video was a message to Iran</a>Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the alliance was based on “international principles, such as respecting the sovereignty of other states, territorial integrity and not intervening in internal affairs” and it remained open for participation &nbsp;"of any other country.”Pakistan's delegation was led by Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Turkiye was represented by Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Saudi Arabia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of the General Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili.While many analysts have previously termed it an Islamic NATO based on an Article 5-like stipulation where an attack on one is considered an attack on all. However, many analysts push back on this analogy that the pact has no integrated command, no joint military budget, and no discernible bureaucratic structure that underpins NATO. However, this decision to establish a secretariat can be seen as a step towards having an operational capacity of the alliance.&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey agree to establish a secretariat in Riyadh under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to strengthen trilateral defence cooperation.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have agreed to establish a secretariat Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The countries officially agreed that the central administrative body in Riyadh will be managed initially by the Pakistani Secretary General for three years. “A Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, will be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support their work within the framework of the agreement," said the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement following the meeting. “The Secretariat will be initially headed by a Secretary General from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for a period of three years.” This is being seen as a move to institutionalise the cooperation between the three nations, “enhance their solidarity, ensure the credibility and effectiveness of their collective deterrence and defence,” and support “a just, inclusive and lasting peace.” Also Read: JD Vance says Trump’s Kharg Island AI video was a message to Iran Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the alliance was based on “international principles, such as respecting the sovereignty of other states, territorial integrity and not intervening in internal affairs” and it remained open for participation "of any other country.” Pakistan's delegation was led by Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Turkiye was represented by Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of the General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Saudi Arabia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and Chief of the General Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili. While many analysts have previously termed it an Islamic NATO based on an Article 5-like stipulation where an attack on one is considered an attack on all. However, many analysts push back on this analogy that the pact has no integrated command, no joint military budget, and no discernible bureaucratic structure that underpins NATO. However, this decision to establish a secretariat can be seen as a step towards having an operational capacity of the alliance.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey agree to establish a secretariat in Riyadh under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to strengthen trilateral defence cooperation.

Pakistan to lead secretariat in Riyadh under Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defence pact

After a month-long lull in the West Asia war, fighting resumed once again, as US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, claiming that the IRGC was preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.This triggered an immediate fierce retaliation by Iran on US bases in Jordan and UAE.&nbsp;Now, Larak is a strategic island along the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;According to reports, this island is home to multiple IRGC facilities and is used to observe and respond to shipping activity in and around Hormuz.While CENTCOM justified its strike, citing the need to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and free flow of global commerce, IRGC said that the attack injured and killed several soldiers and civilians.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video claiming that Kharg Island, which caters to 90% of Iran's oil exports, was being blown to smithereens.&nbsp;While US refused to confirm such a strike, Iran outrightly dismissed Trump's claim as laughable.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;In response, Iran claimed to have launched an attack on the King Hussein and Al azraq bases in Jordan.Iranian state media released these visuals of ballistic missiles being fired at these American bases.According to IRGC, these sites were used to launch and support the attack on Larak Island.&nbsp;Additionally, the Iranian army claimed to have conducted a drone attack on UAE's Al-minhad air base, where US forces and helicopters were reportedly stationed.&nbsp;Although UAE's ministry of defence denied this claim, it claimed to have intercepted an Iranian drone over the country's territorial waters and termed it a 'dangerous escalation'.&nbsp;Condemning the US strike on Larak Island, Iran's ministry of foreign affairs asserted that it would respond decisively to any military aggression by US.&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also made it clear that his country does not desire a war. In a key development, Pezeshkian met PM Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek.This is the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since the war began in February.&nbsp;PM Modi expressed concern at escalation of tensions and reiterated that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.&nbsp;On his part, the Iranian president urged the PM to use India's extensive contacts with various nations to convince them to return to the path of dialogue.&nbsp;Now, PM Modi also called for safeguarding freedom of navigation and emphasised that seafarers must not be harmed under any circumstances.&nbsp;This comes barely hours after IRGC announced that an oil tanker caught fire on being hit by two sea mines while attempting to take a non-approved route in Hormuz.&nbsp;However, CENTCOM rubbished this claim.&nbsp;At a time when the US weapon stockpiles have depleted and its West Asian military bases have suffered immense damage, Iran has been bolstering its military strength.&nbsp;In a recent interview, Iran's supreme national security council chief Mohsen Rezai asserted that IRGC has hidden military capabilities underground.He also revealed that Iran has already upgraded its missiles like Kheiber Shekan and drones based on the lessons from the war.&nbsp;On the other hand, the mood inside the US military is markedly different.&nbsp;According to the Washington Post, key military leaders advised US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth against extending operations against Iran.They reportedly warned him that prolonging the war is unsustainable and risks weakening US military's ability to confront threats elsewhere.&nbsp;As per the report, US Navy chief Daryl Caudle conveyed to Hegseth that barely one-fourth of the navy's destroyer fleet is ready to deploy...&nbsp;With Trump saying that US will hit Iran hard after its retaliatory strikes, it appears that we are looking at a fresh phase of limited strikes...

While CENTCOM justified its strike on Larak Island, citing the need to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and free flow of global commerce, IRGC said that the attack injured and killed several soldiers and civilians.

After a month-long lull in the West Asia war, fighting resumed once again, as US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, claiming that the IRGC was preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. This triggered an immediate fierce retaliation by Iran on US bases in Jordan and UAE. Now, Larak is a strategic island along the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, this island is home to multiple IRGC facilities and is used to observe and respond to shipping activity in and around Hormuz. While CENTCOM justified its strike, citing the need to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and free flow of global commerce, IRGC said that the attack injured and killed several soldiers and civilians. This is not all. US President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video claiming that Kharg Island, which caters to 90% of Iran's oil exports, was being blown to smithereens. While US refused to confirm such a strike, Iran outrightly dismissed Trump's claim as laughable.

While CENTCOM justified its strike on Larak Island, citing the need to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and free flow of global commerce, IRGC said that the attack injured and killed several soldiers and civilians.

Iran punishes Jordan & UAE for American strike on Larak Island | Gravitas

Kyiv is facing increasingly lengthy daytime air raid warnings as Russia intensifies its drone campaign against Ukraine, launching around 800 jet-powered drones in just four days.The new-generation Shahed drones can reportedly reach cruising speeds of between 200mph and 250mph, roughly twice the speed of their piston-engine predecessors, which travel at about 115mph. Their higher speed is making them more difficult for Ukraine’s low-cost interceptor drones to bring down.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that jet-powered drones now make up more than half of the unmanned aircraft Russia is using in its attacks, describing the campaign as an effort to “wear down” Ukraine.“There were almost 1,500 drones of all types in these four days alone – about 800 of them jet-powered,” the president said. Ukraine was currently relying on combat aircraft to shoot them down, he added.One of the latest models, the Geran-4, hit an ammunition storage site in Myla, a village around 15 miles west of Kyiv, on Thursday. The attack reportedly killed 38 people and triggered hours of secondary explosions. Warehouses were destroyed and nearby residential properties were also damaged.Russia has continued to conduct waves of daytime drone attacks over recent days, resulting in prolonged air raid warnings, particularly in the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv recorded eight air raid alerts by lunchtime on Monday.Although daytime strikes have occurred previously, they were relatively unusual. The latest attacks have disrupted daily life, with some businesses temporarily suspending operations during alerts. Residents have also been forced to decide whether to stay inside, move to shelters or continue their activities despite the warnings.The presence of nearby drones can also complicate emergency response operations. Firefighters and other emergency crews may be forced to withdraw from damaged locations when another attack is detected, potentially allowing fires to spread. A similar situation occurred earlier this month after a food storage facility in Boryspil, east of Kyiv, was hit.Russian forces have also targeted warehouses in and around Kyiv during the past month. The strikes have been linked to retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on the Wildberries and Ozon distribution networks in Russia. The resulting disruption has contributed to shortages of some food products in Ukrainian stores, although officials have attempted to reassure the public.Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy on defence technology, urged people “do not give in to rumours, misinformation, and panic” and said that companies were rebuilding supply chains in response to the attacks. “We will not die of hunger,” he wrote in a social media posting.Shahed drones feature a distinctive delta-wing design and were initially developed in Iran before the technology was transferred to Russia. Iran first unveiled the jet-powered Shahed-238 in autumn 2023, and the system subsequently appeared in attacks against Ukraine.Russia began producing and deploying its newest jet-powered version, the Geran-4, in significant numbers during the spring. Moscow is now producing more jet-powered drones than the earlier piston-engine variants, with the Geran-4 and Geran-5 among the models being used.The Geran-5 has a different appearance from the delta-wing Geran-4, resembling a small missile fitted with wings.Beskrestnov said at least 2,500 jet-powered drones had been launched against Ukraine during August, compared with approximately 1,500 in July. He said production date stamps discovered on drone components indicated that some weapons were being launched only days after leaving the manufacturing facility in Yelabuga.Ukraine has previously developed a network of inexpensive ground-launched interceptors capable of destroying slower piston-engine Shahed drones. Those systems helped push interception rates above 90%.Over the weekend, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would need to maintain that level of defence effectiveness as the country enters autumn.Ukrainian engineers are now working on faster interceptor drones designed specifically to counter the newer jet-powered Shaheds. Few technical details have been disclosed publicly, but Zelenskyy said progress was already being made.“Four companies have developed the relevant interceptor drones, and one company has the most successful technology,” Zelensky said.The shift toward faster drones presents a new challenge for Ukraine's air-defence network. As Russia increases production and uses the weapons in sustained waves during daylight hours, Ukrainian forces face growing pressure to develop interceptors capable of matching their speed while remaining inexpensive enough for large-scale deployment.

Kyiv faces prolonged air raids as Russia deploys faster jet-powered Shahed drones, forcing Ukraine to develop new low-cost air defence interceptors

Kyiv is facing increasingly lengthy daytime air raid warnings as Russia intensifies its drone campaign against Ukraine, launching around 800 jet-powered drones in just four days. The new-generation Shahed drones can reportedly reach cruising speeds of between 200mph and 250mph, roughly twice the speed of their piston-engine predecessors, which travel at about 115mph. Their higher speed is making them more difficult for Ukraine’s low-cost interceptor drones to bring down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that jet-powered drones now make up more than half of the unmanned aircraft Russia is using in its attacks, describing the campaign as an effort to “wear down” Ukraine. “There were almost 1,500 drones of all types in these four days alone – about 800 of them jet-powered,” the president said. Ukraine was currently relying on combat aircraft to shoot them down, he added. One of the latest models, the Geran-4, hit an ammunition storage site in Myla, a village around 15 miles west of Kyiv, on Thursday. The attack reportedly killed 38 people and triggered hours of secondary explosions. Warehouses were destroyed and nearby residential properties were also damaged. Russia has continued to conduct waves of daytime drone attacks over recent days, resulting in prolonged air raid warnings, particularly in the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv recorded eight air raid alerts by lunchtime on Monday. Although daytime strikes have occurred previously, they were relatively unusual. The latest attacks have disrupted daily life, with some businesses temporarily suspending operations during alerts. Residents have also been forced to decide whether to stay inside, move to shelters or continue their activities despite the warnings. The presence of nearby drones can also complicate emergency response operations. Firefighters and other emergency crews may be forced to withdraw from damaged locations when another attack is detected, potentially allowing fires to spread. A similar situation occurred earlier this month after a food storage facility in Boryspil, east of Kyiv, was hit. Russian forces have also targeted warehouses in and around Kyiv during the past month. The strikes have been linked to retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on the Wildberries and Ozon distribution networks in Russia. The resulting disruption has contributed to shortages of some food products in Ukrainian stores, although officials have attempted to reassure the public. Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy on defence technology, urged people “do not give in to rumours, misinformation, and panic” and said that companies were rebuilding supply chains in response to the attacks. “We will not die of hunger,” he wrote in a social media posting. Shahed drones feature a distinctive delta-wing design and were initially developed in Iran before the technology was transferred to Russia. Iran first unveiled the jet-powered Shahed-238 in autumn 2023, and the system subsequently appeared in attacks against Ukraine. Russia began producing and deploying its newest jet-powered version, the Geran-4, in significant numbers during the spring. Moscow is now producing more jet-powered drones than the earlier piston-engine variants, with the Geran-4 and Geran-5 among the models being used. The Geran-5 has a different appearance from the delta-wing Geran-4, resembling a small missile fitted with wings. Beskrestnov said at least 2,500 jet-powered drones had been launched against Ukraine during August, compared with approximately 1,500 in July. He said production date stamps discovered on drone components indicated that some weapons were being launched only days after leaving the manufacturing facility in Yelabuga. Ukraine has previously developed a network of inexpensive ground-launched interceptors capable of destroying slower piston-engine Shahed drones. Those systems helped push interception rates above 90%. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would need to maintain that level of defence effectiveness as the country enters autumn. Ukrainian engineers are now working on faster interceptor drones designed specifically to counter the newer jet-powered Shaheds. Few technical details have been disclosed publicly, but Zelenskyy said progress was already being made. “Four companies have developed the relevant interceptor drones, and one company has the most successful technology,” Zelensky said. The shift toward faster drones presents a new challenge for Ukraine's air-defence network. As Russia increases production and uses the weapons in sustained waves during daylight hours, Ukrainian forces face growing pressure to develop interceptors capable of matching their speed while remaining inexpensive enough for large-scale deployment.

Kyiv faces prolonged daytime air raids as Russia deploys hundreds of faster jet-powered Shahed drones, challenging Ukraine’s air defences

Russia unleashes 800-jet powered drones on Ukraine in four days as Kyiv faces prolonged air raids

The US Iran war has witnessed a brief exchange of strikes again.Days after Donald Trump threatened unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran, and the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on 60 individuals and entities, the West Asia region once again witnessed military action. This time, the target for American troops was the Larak Island.US military struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island, and later said that the strikes were to prevent Iran from deploying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The attack comes after Trump last week said that the US Navy removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway which has remained the biggest flashpoint between both countries.Larak Island serves as a critical maritime choke point at the narrowest section of the Strait of Hormuz. The island’s location and military infrastructure give Tehran a strategic position from which Iranian authorities can monitor and even control the scale of maritime activity across a waterway that is the root cause for stalemate in talks right now.The IRGC said that the US strike killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians. In response, Iranian forces claimed to have hit two U.S. airbases in Jordan with ballistic missiles, inflicting heavy damage. Iran also claimed a strike targeting US personnel in the UAE. However, Emirati officials denied that any such attack had occurred.Following the first strike and retaliation in a month, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned, that while Iran does not seek war, the country can deliver a decisive response in the face of aggression. The US President on his part has issued a fresh threat, warning of a strike on Kharg Island, which is Iran's main oil export terminal.Trump had shared an AI generated video with the caption, 'Kharg is going to be blown to smithereens.'But the expanse of American strikes is still unclear. Will the US resume full-scale or even partial sporadic strikes on Iranian assets?The question arises amid reports, which indicate that Washington is attempting to avoid large-scale combat with Iran to preserve its stockpiles of critical munitions and missile interceptors.The Wall Street Journal had reported that the US is shifting its strategy toward a tighter maritime blockade and intensified economic sanctions.Question is: will Trump change that tactic if the economic impact on Iran is not what Washington had anticipated? &nbsp;

The US-Iran war sees fresh strikes on Larak Island as Iran retaliates, while Donald Trump threatens action against Iran's Kharg Island.

The US Iran war has witnessed a brief exchange of strikes again. Days after Donald Trump threatened unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran, and the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on 60 individuals and entities, the West Asia region once again witnessed military action. This time, the target for American troops was the Larak Island. US military struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island, and later said that the strikes were to prevent Iran from deploying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The attack comes after Trump last week said that the US Navy removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway which has remained the biggest flashpoint between both countries. Larak Island serves as a critical maritime choke point at the narrowest section of the Strait of Hormuz. The island’s location and military infrastructure give Tehran a strategic position from which Iranian authorities can monitor and even control the scale of maritime activity across a waterway that is the root cause for stalemate in talks right now. The IRGC said that the US strike killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians. In response, Iranian forces claimed to have hit two U.S. airbases in Jordan with ballistic missiles, inflicting heavy damage. Iran also claimed a strike targeting US personnel in the UAE. However, Emirati officials denied that any such attack had occurred. Following the first strike and retaliation in a month, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned, that while Iran does not seek war, the country can deliver a decisive response in the face of aggression. The US President on his part has issued a fresh threat, warning of a strike on Kharg Island, which is Iran's main oil export terminal. Trump had shared an AI generated video with the caption, 'Kharg is going to be blown to smithereens.' But the expanse of American strikes is still unclear. Will the US resume full-scale or even partial sporadic strikes on Iranian assets? The question arises amid reports, which indicate that Washington is attempting to avoid large-scale combat with Iran to preserve its stockpiles of critical munitions and missile interceptors. The Wall Street Journal had reported that the US is shifting its strategy toward a tighter maritime blockade and intensified economic sanctions. Question is: will Trump change that tactic if the economic impact on Iran is not what Washington had anticipated?

The US-Iran war sees fresh strikes on Larak Island as Iran retaliates, while Donald Trump threatens action against Iran's Kharg Island.

Race To Power | Larak Island strike raises questions over Trump's next move

US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the US President Donald Trump was sending a message with his Truth Social post of an AI-generated video claiming Iran’s Kharg Island had been ‘blown to smithereens’. However, the US Defence Department said American forces had not struck the country’s main oil export hub."The president likes to switch it up ​on social media a little bit. He ⁠would be the first to say he ​doesn't make announcements about military actions on social ​media, but I think that he's sending a message to the Iranians," Vance said when asked about Trump's post.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-flight-emergency-landing-ahmedabad-bomb-note-1788188924366">‘Bomb’ note triggers emergency landing of Air India Express flight in Ahmedabad</a>The head of National Iranian Oil Co, Hamid Bovard, said on Monday that the president’s post was “laughable” and described conditions on Kharg Island as “calm and appropriate.” US had targeted Iranian ​launchers on Larak Island, and in response, Iranian forces fired missiles at Jordan and the UAE. A senior Iranian source, speaking to Reuters, described the overnight hostilities between the United States and Iran, the first since late July, as a “limited and contained confrontation”, but said Iran would respond harshly if attacked again.&nbsp;The Global oil market is already witnessing a shortfall of roughly 20 per cent of daily supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A successful attack on the Iranian Kharg Island will cut off roughly 90 per cent of Iranian crude oil exports. This would send crude oil prices soaring higher, worsening the energy crisis and putting pressure on the global economy.Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the start of the war: dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers.

JD Vance says Donald Trump’s Kharg Island post was a message to Iran, while the US Defence Department denied striking the key oil export hub.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the US President Donald Trump was sending a message with his Truth Social post of an AI-generated video claiming Iran’s Kharg Island had been ‘blown to smithereens’. However, the US Defence Department said American forces had not struck the country’s main oil export hub. "The president likes to switch it up on social media a little bit. He ⁠would be the first to say he doesn't make announcements about military actions on social media, but I think that he's sending a message to the Iranians," Vance said when asked about Trump's post. Also Read: ‘Bomb’ note triggers emergency landing of Air India Express flight in Ahmedabad The head of National Iranian Oil Co, Hamid Bovard, said on Monday that the president’s post was “laughable” and described conditions on Kharg Island as “calm and appropriate.” US had targeted Iranian launchers on Larak Island, and in response, Iranian forces fired missiles at Jordan and the UAE. A senior Iranian source, speaking to Reuters, described the overnight hostilities between the United States and Iran, the first since late July, as a “limited and contained confrontation”, but said Iran would respond harshly if attacked again. The Global oil market is already witnessing a shortfall of roughly 20 per cent of daily supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A successful attack on the Iranian Kharg Island will cut off roughly 90 per cent of Iranian crude oil exports. This would send crude oil prices soaring higher, worsening the energy crisis and putting pressure on the global economy. Trump has yet to achieve the objectives he set out at the start of the war: dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme, curbing its ability to attack regional rivals and creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their clerical rulers.

JD Vance says Donald Trump’s Kharg Island post was a message to Iran, while the US Defence Department denied striking the key oil export hub.

JD Vance says Trump’s Kharg Island AI video was a message to Iran

US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent said on Monday that the US plan to choke Iran’s economy by slapping sanctions on its financial enablers can work even if China doesn’t cooperate. China is Tehran’s top trade partner and oil buyer.&nbsp;“I would push back on that false narrative that somehow the media has jumped on this, ‘Oh, you can’t do it without China,’” Bessent told CNBC in an interview.&nbsp;“Well, you can,” he said, adding, “because one of the things is that there are only 30 million Iranian barrels of Iranian oil left on the water because of the blockade. So even if they were to get remittances from China, that’s going to run out.”&nbsp;China has publicly said that it opposes “illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/doomsayers-doomed-india-s-gdp-grows-7-8-in-first-quarter-domestic-economy-gives-boost-amid-global-tensions-1788179210296">‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions</a><h2>Beijing less resistant behind the scenes? Bessent suggests so&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Bessent, however, suggested that Beijing may be less resistant behind the scenes.“We have more in common with the Chinese on Iran than we disagree on,” he added. “The Chinese agree that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The Chinese agree that the [Strait of Hormuz] must be open to free and fair ship transit.”Bessent also said he met with Chinese central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng on Sunday but did not share more details about their conversation.&nbsp;Bessent is expected to ask his counterparts in the G20 meeting if their countries will join the US in its goal of cutting off Iran from the global economy, officials said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/islam-superior-to-all-other-religions-says-karnataka-minister-basavaraj-rayareddy-bjp-demands-apology-1788123594820">‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology</a><h2>Trump admin may unveil sanctions on another bank this week</h2>&nbsp;Bessent has also revealed that the Trump administration plans to unveil sanctions on another bank this week as part of its plan to economically isolate Iran by targeting its financial “enablers.”Bessent is also likely to sit down with officials from South Korea and Argentina, among other nations.&nbsp;US Treasury Secretary told reporters at the Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting that international pressure could cause Iran’s economy to collapse “within weeks or months”.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-based-terrorist-handlers-isi-using-porn-sites-and-encrypted-apps-to-communicate-with-recruits-in-j-k-1788115668072">Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&amp;K</a><h2>‘Tehran just has to come to their sense, &nbsp;economy doesn’t have to collapse’</h2>&nbsp;Bessent, however, added that “the economy doesn’t have to collapse,” Tehran just has to “come to their sense.”Referring to Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Sunday night, Bessent said, “They are lashing out kinetically because they are losing economically”. He also thanked the European Union for its “fulsome support” of ramped-up sanctions against Iran.Bessent also downplayed any impact of the war on US growth. “We will get to the other side of this Iran conflict,” he said.&nbsp;Referring to Iran, Bessent said, “We are starting to see their elected leadership openly complain about the state of the economy... In my experience with people like this, the main thing they care about is their head staying attached to their neck.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he met with Chinese central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng on Sunday but did not share details about their conversation. He will ask his counterparts in the G20 meeting if their countries will join the US in its goal of cutting off Iran from global economy.

US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent said on Monday that the US plan to choke Iran’s economy by slapping sanctions on its financial enablers can work even if China doesn’t cooperate. China is Tehran’s top trade partner and oil buyer. “I would push back on that false narrative that somehow the media has jumped on this, ‘Oh, you can’t do it without China,’” Bessent told CNBC in an interview. “Well, you can,” he said, adding, “because one of the things is that there are only 30 million Iranian barrels of Iranian oil left on the water because of the blockade. So even if they were to get remittances from China, that’s going to run out.” China has publicly said that it opposes “illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.” Also Read: ‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions Beijing less resistant behind the scenes? Bessent suggests so Bessent, however, suggested that Beijing may be less resistant behind the scenes. “We have more in common with the Chinese on Iran than we disagree on,” he added. “The Chinese agree that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The Chinese agree that the [Strait of Hormuz] must be open to free and fair ship transit.” Bessent also said he met with Chinese central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng on Sunday but did not share more details about their conversation. Bessent is expected to ask his counterparts in the G20 meeting if their countries will join the US in its goal of cutting off Iran from the global economy, officials said. Also Read: ‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology Trump admin may unveil sanctions on another bank this week Bessent has also revealed that the Trump administration plans to unveil sanctions on another bank this week as part of its plan to economically isolate Iran by targeting its financial “enablers.” Bessent is also likely to sit down with officials from South Korea and Argentina, among other nations. US Treasury Secretary told reporters at the Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting that international pressure could cause Iran’s economy to collapse “within weeks or months”. Also Read: Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&K ‘Tehran just has to come to their sense, economy doesn’t have to collapse’ Bessent, however, added that “the economy doesn’t have to collapse,” Tehran just has to “come to their sense.” Referring to Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Sunday night, Bessent said, “They are lashing out kinetically because they are losing economically”. He also thanked the European Union for its “fulsome support” of ramped-up sanctions against Iran. Bessent also downplayed any impact of the war on US growth. “We will get to the other side of this Iran conflict,” he said. Referring to Iran, Bessent said, “We are starting to see their elected leadership openly complain about the state of the economy... In my experience with people like this, the main thing they care about is their head staying attached to their neck.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he met with Chinese central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng on Sunday but did not share details about their conversation. He will ask his counterparts in the G20 meeting if their countries will join the US in its goal of cutting off Iran from global economy.

Sanctions pressure on Tehran can work without Chinese cooperation: Scott Bessent

The SCO Summit underway in Bishkek offers the world a unique opportunity to take advantage of India. It is wrong to say that India has no stance in conflicts. India definitely chose a side in the wars that broke out. And that position was its own strategic interests. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India chose peace. India does not have to become Russia’s supporter against the West. It also does not have to become America’s and Europe's supporter against Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;You see, India has always been non-west, not anti-west. And there's a difference between the two. On the other hand, India has civilizational and trade ties with Iran, but it also has a very strong relationship with Israel. Anyone who forces India to choose one side fails to understand the benefits of being in India's position. Why pressure India to choose sides when you can use it to get warring sides to the table?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-members-converge-in-bishkek-amid-raging-wars-pm-modi-gives-message-of-peace-1788196798563/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-members-converge-in-bishkek-amid-raging-wars-pm-modi-gives-message-of-peace-1788196798563/embed</a>&nbsp;Why should India throw away one relationship for the other when it can sit with Russia, US, China, Iran and central Asian countries, and talk about issues that matter? The ability to talk to everyone is a skill that not many have. And in international politics, a country that can still talk to everyone can sometimes achieve what countries trapped inside rival camps cannot. India must use this position at the ongoing SCO Summit. It should push for practical cooperation on counter-terrorism, regional security, energy, trade and connectivity, rather than allowing the organisation to become another platform for countries to attack the West.&nbsp;Similarly, for the SCO, calling Pakistan out on spreading terrorism would reflect the group's commitment to action, instead of lip service. Let's be clear about one thing: no camp does not mean weakness. India can choose peace and still condemn terrorism. India can refuse to join a military camp and still defend its borders. India does not need permission to have an independent foreign policy. India is not sitting on the fence. It is standing its own ground. And for that, it should not be apologetic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

India’s strategic autonomy gives it the ability to engage Russia, the US, China, Iran and others while pushing peace, security and counter-terrorism

The SCO Summit underway in Bishkek offers the world a unique opportunity to take advantage of India. It is wrong to say that India has no stance in conflicts. India definitely chose a side in the wars that broke out. And that position was its own strategic interests. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India chose peace. India does not have to become Russia’s supporter against the West. It also does not have to become America’s and Europe's supporter against Vladimir Putin. You see, India has always been non-west, not anti-west. And there's a difference between the two. On the other hand, India has civilizational and trade ties with Iran, but it also has a very strong relationship with Israel. Anyone who forces India to choose one side fails to understand the benefits of being in India's position. Why pressure India to choose sides when you can use it to get warring sides to the table? https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-members-converge-in-bishkek-amid-raging-wars-pm-modi-gives-message-of-peace-1788196798563/embed Why should India throw away one relationship for the other when it can sit with Russia, US, China, Iran and central Asian countries, and talk about issues that matter? The ability to talk to everyone is a skill that not many have. And in international politics, a country that can still talk to everyone can sometimes achieve what countries trapped inside rival camps cannot. India must use this position at the ongoing SCO Summit. It should push for practical cooperation on counter-terrorism, regional security, energy, trade and connectivity, rather than allowing the organisation to become another platform for countries to attack the West. Similarly, for the SCO, calling Pakistan out on spreading terrorism would reflect the group's commitment to action, instead of lip service. Let's be clear about one thing: no camp does not mean weakness. India can choose peace and still condemn terrorism. India can refuse to join a military camp and still defend its borders. India does not need permission to have an independent foreign policy. India is not sitting on the fence. It is standing its own ground. And for that, it should not be apologetic. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

At the SCO Summit, India must use its strategic autonomy to promote peace, counter-terrorism, regional security and cooperation without choosing camps

The Verdict: India’s independent foreign policy is a strength, not a weakness

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy could reverse some of the gains of the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms.Yilwatda made the remarks in Abuja while receiving a delegation of economic stakeholders who visited to discuss the state of the Nigerian economy and prospects for sustainable growth.&nbsp;The APC chairman argued that returning to subsidy could place fresh pressure on government finances and affect the ability of both federal and state governments to meet their obligations.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-in-kidnap-video-president-tinubu-gives-matching-order-to-military-to-rescue-victims-1787686203286">Hundreds in kidnap video: President Tinubu gives order to military to rescue victims</a>&nbsp;He said the removal of subsidy had increased federal allocations to states, improving the finances of several sub-national governments and enabling them to meet salary and pension commitments as well as fund development projects. Yilwatda also linked the subsidy debate to the sustainability of Nigeria’s new minimum wage.&nbsp;According to him, higher wages can only be sustained when governments have sufficient revenue to meet recurrent obligations without sacrificing spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-2027-elections-presidential-candidates-party-leaders-sign-national-peace-accord-in-abuja-1787146838145">Nigeria 2027 Elections: Presidential candidates, party leaders sign National Peace Accord in Abuja</a>&nbsp;The APC chairman further warned that reduced government revenue could have consequences for education, highlighting the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, as an intervention that has expanded access to tertiary education financing.&nbsp;He also pointed to improvements in Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem, saying reforms in the foreign exchange and payments space were creating opportunities for young Nigerians, including freelancers, software developers and content creators who work with international clients.&nbsp;Yilwatda acknowledged the hardship Nigerians have experienced since the removal of fuel subsidy, but said government must continue strengthening measures to cushion the impact on vulnerable citizens.&nbsp;He maintained that the solution should not be a return to what he described as an expensive and fiscally unsustainable subsidy system.&nbsp;The APC chairman challenged political leaders advocating a return to subsidy to explain how much the policy would cost, how it would be funded, what programmes might be affected and how long it could be sustained.&nbsp;He said Nigeria’s economic future should be guided by policies capable of delivering sustainable growth, employment and improved living standards rather than short-term political considerations.&nbsp;The APC Chairmand defence comes as former Nigeria's vice president and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar recently reaffirmed his pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying it would lower transport and food costs and restore Nigerians’ purchasing power.&nbsp;He says the plan would focus on reducing production and energy costs rather than returning to the former subsidy regime, arguing that Nigerians need relief from the rising cost of living. &nbsp;

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to restore fuel subsidy, warning that it could reverse economic gains, threaten workers' minimum wage, and cripple government funding for education.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy could reverse some of the gains of the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms. Yilwatda made the remarks in Abuja while receiving a delegation of economic stakeholders who visited to discuss the state of the Nigerian economy and prospects for sustainable growth. The APC chairman argued that returning to subsidy could place fresh pressure on government finances and affect the ability of both federal and state governments to meet their obligations. Also read: Hundreds in kidnap video: President Tinubu gives order to military to rescue victims He said the removal of subsidy had increased federal allocations to states, improving the finances of several sub-national governments and enabling them to meet salary and pension commitments as well as fund development projects. Yilwatda also linked the subsidy debate to the sustainability of Nigeria’s new minimum wage. According to him, higher wages can only be sustained when governments have sufficient revenue to meet recurrent obligations without sacrificing spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare. Also read: Nigeria 2027 Elections: Presidential candidates, party leaders sign National Peace Accord in Abuja The APC chairman further warned that reduced government revenue could have consequences for education, highlighting the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, as an intervention that has expanded access to tertiary education financing. He also pointed to improvements in Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem, saying reforms in the foreign exchange and payments space were creating opportunities for young Nigerians, including freelancers, software developers and content creators who work with international clients. Yilwatda acknowledged the hardship Nigerians have experienced since the removal of fuel subsidy, but said government must continue strengthening measures to cushion the impact on vulnerable citizens. He maintained that the solution should not be a return to what he described as an expensive and fiscally unsustainable subsidy system. The APC chairman challenged political leaders advocating a return to subsidy to explain how much the policy would cost, how it would be funded, what programmes might be affected and how long it could be sustained. He said Nigeria’s economic future should be guided by policies capable of delivering sustainable growth, employment and improved living standards rather than short-term political considerations. The APC Chairmand defence comes as former Nigeria's vice president and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar recently reaffirmed his pledge to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying it would lower transport and food costs and restore Nigerians’ purchasing power. He says the plan would focus on reducing production and energy costs rather than returning to the former subsidy regime, arguing that Nigerians need relief from the rising cost of living.

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to restore fuel subsidy, warning that it could reverse economic gains, threaten workers' minimum wage, and cripple government funding for education.

Yilwatda blasts Atiku’s subsidy proposal, says it threatens minimum wage, student grants in Nigeria

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 31) took a dig at Iran by accusing the Islamic Republic of killing more than 100,000 protesters. "Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD! They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/schizophrenia-hallucinations-delusions-iran-slams-trump-advises-him-to-consult-psychologists-after-us-prez-calls-hormuz-us-terrotory-1787926399000">‘Schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions’: Iran slams Trump, advises him to consult psychologists after US prez calls Hormuz ‘US terrotory’</a>&nbsp;"The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!), and a good line of "BULLS**T." Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP," he added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wash-rice-twice-use-less-water-for-wudu-over-367-000-uk-campaign-urges-south-asians-muslims-to-save-water-amid-drought-1787563912742">‘Wash rice twice, use less water for wudu’: Over $367,000 UK campaign urges South Asians, Muslims to save water amid drought</a> &nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/great-near-great-below-average-trump-puts-himself-above-lincoln-washington-in-bizarre-ranking-of-greatest-us-presidents-1787903513307">‘Great, near great, below average’: Trump puts himself above Lincoln, Washington in bizarre ranking of ‘greatest’ US presidents</a>&nbsp;This came just hours after the US struck two Iranian launch systems on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/video-remember-the-coupe-who-climbed-empire-state-building-they-are-facing-burglary-criminal-mischief-charges-1787659415861">Video | Remember the couple who climbed Empire State Building? They are facing burglary, criminal mischief charges</a>&nbsp;"I can confirm that earlier today US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz," one US official said, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-human-rights-emergency-jemima-goldsmith-urges-uk-pm-andy-burnham-to-intervene-over-ex-husband-imran-khan-s-prison-treatment-1787568862766">'A human-rights emergency': Jemima Goldsmith urges UK PM Andy Burnham to intervene over ex-husband Imran Khan’s prison treatment</a>&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump called Iran a "Failed Nation," accusing its leadership of killing over 100,000 protesters. The statement followed US strikes on Iranian launch systems on Larak Island.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 31) took a dig at Iran by accusing the Islamic Republic of killing more than 100,000 protesters. "Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD! They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Also read: ‘Schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions’: Iran slams Trump, advises him to consult psychologists after US prez calls Hormuz ‘US terrotory’ "The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!), and a good line of "BULLS**T." Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP," he added. Also read: ‘Wash rice twice, use less water for wudu’: Over $367,000 UK campaign urges South Asians, Muslims to save water amid drought

US President Donald Trump called Iran a "Failed Nation," accusing its leadership of killing over 100,000 protesters. The statement followed US strikes on Iranian launch systems on Larak Island.

'Now over 100,000 people dead': Trump accuses Iran of killing protesters, calls it 'failed nation'

Human rights organisations on Monday demanded that the Indian government take urgent diplomatic action against what they described as escalating persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, while calling for the release of four prominent minority-rights figures currently jailed or barred from receiving medical care.&nbsp;At a press conference held at the Kolkata Press Club, representatives of the Campaign Against Atrocities on Minorities in Bangladesh (CAAMB), the All-India Refugee Front, Secular Mission and Human Rights Beyond Frontiers Foundation presented data documenting hundreds of attacks on religious minorities since the political upheaval of August 2024.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/doomsayers-doomed-india-s-gdp-grows-7-8-in-first-quarter-domestic-economy-gives-boost-amid-global-tensions-1788179210296">‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions</a>&nbsp;According to figures released by the groups, 66 members of religious minorities were killed in 2025 alone, alongside dozens of incidents involving vandalism of temples, land seizures and attacks on homes and businesses. In the first half of 2026, organisers said, 44 more minority-community members were killed in 40 separate incidents.&nbsp;The activists — Mohit Ray, Sujit Shikdar, Osman Mallik and Shantanu Singha — singled out the cases of four rights advocates they said were being targeted for their activism: journalist and filmmaker Shahriar Kabir, economist Dr. Abul Barkat, lawyer Rana Dasgupta, and monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/islam-superior-to-all-other-religions-says-karnataka-minister-basavaraj-rayareddy-bjp-demands-apology-1788123594820">‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology</a>&nbsp;Kabir, 76, has been imprisoned since September 2024 and now faces a murder charge before the International Crimes Tribunal despite deteriorating health, the groups said. Barkat, 72, was arrested in July 2025 and, though granted bail this June, still faces multiple pending cases. Dasgupta, 77, who has prostate cancer, has reportedly been unable to appear publicly for nearly two years, cutting him off from treatment. Organisers said he had been "pushed towards death due to the lack of medical treatment."&nbsp;Brahmachari, arrested in November 2024, was implicated in a lawyer's murder in Chattogram despite what organisers say is court evidence placing him in custody at the time. His ailing mother has reportedly appealed directly to Bangladesh's leadership for his release.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pak-based-terrorist-handlers-isi-using-porn-sites-and-encrypted-apps-to-communicate-with-recruits-in-j-k-1788115668072">Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&amp;K</a>&nbsp;Rights activist Mohit Ray told reporters that Hindus in Bangladesh are "in danger" and that it is "quite distressing they can't even come to India."&nbsp;The groups called on New Delhi to summon Bangladesh's High Commissioner, issue a formal diplomatic note, and raise the matter with international human rights bodies, warning that inaction would be "humiliating for India" and damage its global standing. Organisers said they would forward their appeal directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari arrested in November 2024, was implicated in a lawyer's murder in Chattogram despite what organisers say is court evidence placing him in custody at the time. His ailing mother has reportedly appealed directly to Bangladesh's leadership for his release.

Human rights organisations on Monday demanded that the Indian government take urgent diplomatic action against what they described as escalating persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, while calling for the release of four prominent minority-rights figures currently jailed or barred from receiving medical care. At a press conference held at the Kolkata Press Club, representatives of the Campaign Against Atrocities on Minorities in Bangladesh (CAAMB), the All-India Refugee Front, Secular Mission and Human Rights Beyond Frontiers Foundation presented data documenting hundreds of attacks on religious minorities since the political upheaval of August 2024. Also Read: ‘Doomsayers doomed’: India’s GDP grows 7.8% in first quarter, domestic economy gives boost amid global tensions According to figures released by the groups, 66 members of religious minorities were killed in 2025 alone, alongside dozens of incidents involving vandalism of temples, land seizures and attacks on homes and businesses. In the first half of 2026, organisers said, 44 more minority-community members were killed in 40 separate incidents. The activists — Mohit Ray, Sujit Shikdar, Osman Mallik and Shantanu Singha — singled out the cases of four rights advocates they said were being targeted for their activism: journalist and filmmaker Shahriar Kabir, economist Dr. Abul Barkat, lawyer Rana Dasgupta, and monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. Also Read: ‘Islam superior to all other religions,’ says Karnataka minister Basavaraj Rayareddy; BJP demands apology Kabir, 76, has been imprisoned since September 2024 and now faces a murder charge before the International Crimes Tribunal despite deteriorating health, the groups said. Barkat, 72, was arrested in July 2025 and, though granted bail this June, still faces multiple pending cases. Dasgupta, 77, who has prostate cancer, has reportedly been unable to appear publicly for nearly two years, cutting him off from treatment. Organisers said he had been "pushed towards death due to the lack of medical treatment." Brahmachari, arrested in November 2024, was implicated in a lawyer's murder in Chattogram despite what organisers say is court evidence placing him in custody at the time. His ailing mother has reportedly appealed directly to Bangladesh's leadership for his release. Also Read: Pak-based terrorist handlers, ISI using porn sites and encrypted apps to communicate with ‘recruits’ in J&K Rights activist Mohit Ray told reporters that Hindus in Bangladesh are "in danger" and that it is "quite distressing they can't even come to India." The groups called on New Delhi to summon Bangladesh's High Commissioner, issue a formal diplomatic note, and raise the matter with international human rights bodies, warning that inaction would be "humiliating for India" and damage its global standing. Organisers said they would forward their appeal directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari arrested in November 2024, was implicated in a lawyer's murder in Chattogram despite what organisers say is court evidence placing him in custody at the time. His ailing mother has reportedly appealed directly to Bangladesh's leadership for his release.

Activists urge India to intervene as Hindu persecution in Bangladesh continues, say rights leaders face ‘politically motivated’ cases

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan. The meeting takes place at a critical time for India as New Delhi seeks to balance its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, its ties with Iran and its ongoing engagement with the administration of US President Donald Trump.<h2>PM Modi calls for an end to hostilities</h2>During the meeting, PM Modi told Putin, “Every day spent in war sets humanity back, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move away from endless war towards an end to the war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity. A peaceful resolution to all issues at the earliest is the call of humanity, and this is India’s message. Modi added that the “land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha share a single message: the path of peace." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/activists-urge-india-to-intervene-as-hindu-persecution-in-bangladesh-continues-say-rights-leaders-face-politically-motivated-cases-1788185506059">Activists urge India to intervene as Hindu persecution in Bangladesh continues, say rights leaders face ‘politically motivated’ cases</a><h2>Watch the video here of Modi meeting Putin</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Video: The Kremlin <a href="https://t.co/3kla6xrXow">pic.twitter.com/3kla6xrXow</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2094423907877192052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The last meeting between Modi and Putin took place in December 2025, when the Russian President visited India for a two-day state visit to attend the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. Ahead of their meeting in Bishkek, the two leaders shared a warm hug. During the meeting, Modi also invited Putin to attend the BRICS summit, which is scheduled to be held in India later this year, saying that the entire country was ‘eager’ to welcome him.&nbsp;“India is hosting the BRICS Summit in a few days, and all Indians are eager to welcome you and your delegation. Your visit will strengthen our bilateral relations and further reinforce dialogue and cooperation within the BRICS framework,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi meets Putin at the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan, calling for an end to hostilities as India balances ties with Russia, Iran and the US

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan. The meeting takes place at a critical time for India as New Delhi seeks to balance its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, its ties with Iran and its ongoing engagement with the administration of US President Donald Trump. PM Modi calls for an end to hostilities During the meeting, PM Modi told Putin, “Every day spent in war sets humanity back, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move away from endless war towards an end to the war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity. A peaceful resolution to all issues at the earliest is the call of humanity, and this is India’s message. Modi added that the “land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha share a single message: the path of peace." Also Read: Activists urge India to intervene as Hindu persecution in Bangladesh continues, say rights leaders face ‘politically motivated’ cases Watch the video here of Modi meeting Putin

PM Modi meets Putin at the SCO summit, urging an end to the Russia-Ukraine war as India balances ties with Russia, Iran and the United States

PM Modi meets Russia President Putin for bilateral talks, says 'every day of war sets humanity back'

The West Bengal government has formally submitted a proposal to the Union government, insisting that the interests of the state's rivers, ports and industries must not be compromised in any way as India prepares to renegotiate the 30-year Ganga-Padma water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh. The landmark agreement, first signed in 1996, is set to expire in December this year. Ahead of the deadline, representatives of the state government presented a detailed report on the matter before an internal committee of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, flagging a series of concerns that officials say could have far-reaching consequences for North Bengal and the state's riverine economy if left unaddressed in the new pact.<h2>Farakka flow critical for Kolkata port operations</h2>At the heart of the state's submission is the demand that adequate water flow be maintained through the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river via the Farakka Barrage during the dry season months. "Any reduction in the lean-season flow at Farakka does not remain a localised issue- it directly threatens the navigability of the Hooghly, which in turn puts shipping operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port at risk. The port is a critical gateway for eastern India's trade, and its viability depends on the river being kept navigable through the year," a senior state government official said, explaining why the flow issue has been placed at the centre of West Bengal's proposal.<h2>Erosion and flood risk in upstream districts</h2>The state has also warned that a diminished water flow could aggravate riverbank erosion and silt accumulation, worsening flood conditions in districts on both the upstream and downstream sides of the barrage. "Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia are already vulnerable to erosion and seasonal flooding. If the flow regime is altered without factoring in these districts' ground realities, we could see accelerated land loss and more frequent flood distress in these areas. This is not a hypothetical risk, it is something these districts have lived with for decades," the official added, underlining why the state wants erosion management written into the treaty framework itself.<h2>Arsenic contamination adds urgency to drinking water concerns</h2>Officials pointed out that the stakes extend beyond navigation and erosion. With groundwater levels declining and arsenic contamination affecting parts of the state, treated Ganga water has increasingly become a primary source for both drinking water supply and industrial use. Given how dependent our public health infrastructure has become on treated river water, especially in arsenic-affected belts, any compromise on the quantum or quality of flow in the new agreement will have consequences that go far beyond agriculture or shipping, it becomes a direct public health and industrial security issue for the state. &nbsp;Taking this into account, the state has urged that the renewed agreement accord ‘special importance’ to environmental risk assessment, erosion prevention, and long-term water security for the region.<h2>Call for consultation through Joint Rivers Commission</h2>West Bengal has additionally pressed for detailed discussions at the administrative level of the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission before the Centre arrives at any final decision on the treaty's terms. "A treaty of this scale and duration needs to be negotiated with full participation of the state that bears its direct consequences. We have asked that no conclusions be finalised without a thorough round of administrative-level deliberations through the Joint Rivers Commission," the official said.<h2>Technical assessments already underway</h2>Meanwhile, technical teams from India and Bangladesh have already begun on-ground measurement of water flow and data collection along the Ganga-Padma system, focusing on the Farakka and Hardinge Bridge areas, a process expected to feed into the eventual terms of the renewed agreement.

The landmark agreement, first signed in 1996, is set to expire in December this year

The West Bengal government has formally submitted a proposal to the Union government, insisting that the interests of the state's rivers, ports and industries must not be compromised in any way as India prepares to renegotiate the 30-year Ganga-Padma water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh. The landmark agreement, first signed in 1996, is set to expire in December this year. Ahead of the deadline, representatives of the state government presented a detailed report on the matter before an internal committee of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, flagging a series of concerns that officials say could have far-reaching consequences for North Bengal and the state's riverine economy if left unaddressed in the new pact. Farakka flow critical for Kolkata port operations At the heart of the state's submission is the demand that adequate water flow be maintained through the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river via the Farakka Barrage during the dry season months. "Any reduction in the lean-season flow at Farakka does not remain a localised issue- it directly threatens the navigability of the Hooghly, which in turn puts shipping operations at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port at risk. The port is a critical gateway for eastern India's trade, and its viability depends on the river being kept navigable through the year," a senior state government official said, explaining why the flow issue has been placed at the centre of West Bengal's proposal. Erosion and flood risk in upstream districts The state has also warned that a diminished water flow could aggravate riverbank erosion and silt accumulation, worsening flood conditions in districts on both the upstream and downstream sides of the barrage. "Malda, Murshidabad and Nadia are already vulnerable to erosion and seasonal flooding. If the flow regime is altered without factoring in these districts' ground realities, we could see accelerated land loss and more frequent flood distress in these areas. This is not a hypothetical risk, it is something these districts have lived with for decades," the official added, underlining why the state wants erosion management written into the treaty framework itself. Arsenic contamination adds urgency to drinking water concerns Officials pointed out that the stakes extend beyond navigation and erosion. With groundwater levels declining and arsenic contamination affecting parts of the state, treated Ganga water has increasingly become a primary source for both drinking water supply and industrial use. Given how dependent our public health infrastructure has become on treated river water, especially in arsenic-affected belts, any compromise on the quantum or quality of flow in the new agreement will have consequences that go far beyond agriculture or shipping, it becomes a direct public health and industrial security issue for the state. Taking this into account, the state has urged that the renewed agreement accord ‘special importance’ to environmental risk assessment, erosion prevention, and long-term water security for the region. Call for consultation through Joint Rivers Commission West Bengal has additionally pressed for detailed discussions at the administrative level of the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission before the Centre arrives at any final decision on the treaty's terms. "A treaty of this scale and duration needs to be negotiated with full participation of the state that bears its direct consequences. We have asked that no conclusions be finalised without a thorough round of administrative-level deliberations through the Joint Rivers Commission," the official said. Technical assessments already underway Meanwhile, technical teams from India and Bangladesh have already begun on-ground measurement of water flow and data collection along the Ganga-Padma system, focusing on the Farakka and Hardinge Bridge areas, a process expected to feed into the eventual terms of the renewed agreement.

Ahead of the deadline, representatives of the state government presented a detailed report on the matter before an internal committee of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti

West Bengal urges Centre to safeguard state's rivers, ports before Ganga-Padma Treaty renewal

A popular restaurant in Bali caught fire on Sunday after balloons filled with hydrogen exploded inside. Videos show people running for their lives with the flames raging behind them. The scary incident happened at the Chez Gado Gado restaurant in Seminyak. The eatery was witnessing the dinner rush at the time, leaving hundreds of them scrambling to safety.<h2>Cause of fire at Bali restaurant</h2>According to reports, a birthday party was on at the restaurant when a sparkler lit a balloon that was filled with hydrogen. One explosion led to another, ultimately setting the thatched roof on fire. A person who was there told 9News, “There are the balloons, a lot of explosions, explosion and explosion and explosion; it was just, yeah, it was terrible.”<h2>People recall horrific scenes</h2>Other witnesses recalled a chaotic scene as people did not know what to do. A light from the ceiling fell down on a woman, "and she got like blown back from the table," a witness said. The main exit route got congested, and the staff rushed in with fire extinguishers. A woman told Perth Now, “The waiters were trying to put it out with serviettes and napkins . . . one grabbed a fire extinguisher and was trying to put it out, which obviously didn’t do anything.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fire at Chez Gado Gado in Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia. This is one of my favorite places to go for Sunset I hope everybody&#39;s okay. <a href="https://t.co/Tv2c1GHyIW">pic.twitter.com/Tv2c1GHyIW</a>&mdash; Civil Society Lost (@CivilLost) <a href="https://x.com/CivilLost/status/2094030686806257709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Everyone who escaped stood at the beach as the restaurant continued to burn. Heath Nelson, one of the people who escaped the inferno, said there were about 1,000 people on the beach. “Everyone was just in shock, didn’t know what to do. People were running around; they’d lost relatives, yelling people’s names. It was pretty horrific to see,” he said.&nbsp;There were reportedly no grievous injuries. One staff member suffered burn injuries to her hand. A boy from Australia who was very close to the balloon was being treated for burns to his face and arms. The restaurant was gone by daytime. Four motorcycles at the scene were also charred.&nbsp;

A popular restaurant in Bali was burnt down following a fire that was reportedly triggered by a balloon that burst at a birthday party. Guests escaped the inferno through the only exit as staff members tried to put out the flames but failed.  

A popular restaurant in Bali caught fire on Sunday after balloons filled with hydrogen exploded inside. Videos show people running for their lives with the flames raging behind them. The scary incident happened at the Chez Gado Gado restaurant in Seminyak. The eatery was witnessing the dinner rush at the time, leaving hundreds of them scrambling to safety. Cause of fire at Bali restaurant According to reports, a birthday party was on at the restaurant when a sparkler lit a balloon that was filled with hydrogen. One explosion led to another, ultimately setting the thatched roof on fire. A person who was there told 9News, “There are the balloons, a lot of explosions, explosion and explosion and explosion; it was just, yeah, it was terrible.” People recall horrific scenes Other witnesses recalled a chaotic scene as people did not know what to do. A light from the ceiling fell down on a woman, "and she got like blown back from the table," a witness said. The main exit route got congested, and the staff rushed in with fire extinguishers. A woman told Perth Now, “The waiters were trying to put it out with serviettes and napkins . . . one grabbed a fire extinguisher and was trying to put it out, which obviously didn’t do anything.”

A popular restaurant in Bali was burnt down following a fire that was reportedly triggered by a balloon that burst at a birthday party. Guests escaped the inferno through the only exit as staff members tried to put out the flames but failed. &nbsp;

Balloons explode setting popular Bali restaurant on fire and burning it down to the ground

President Donald Trump has vowed retaliation after Iran launched missile strikes targeting US forces in Jordan, saying Washington will respond forcefully while leaving open the possibility of renewed talks with Tehran. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump was quoted as saying to Fox News' Trey Yingst in a phone call on Monday. “There will be a response.” Trump said US forces intercepted most of the missiles fired overnight, with one missile allowed to pass through air defenses because it was not expected to strike a target.&nbsp;According to a US source cited by Fox News, Iran fired at least eight ballistic missiles at US forces in Jordan on Sunday. The attack reportedly caused no significant impact. The Iranian missile barrage came after US forces carried out a strike against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps launchers on Larak Island. American officials said the operation followed the identification of preparations for an IRGC rocket launch intended to deploy new sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iranian-president-masoud-pezeshkian-asks-pm-narendra-modi-to-use-india-s-influence-to-end-west-asia-war-1788179170273">Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asks PM Narendra Modi to use India’s influence to end West Asia war</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump says the United States will respond to the Iranian missile attack on U.S. forces overnight. &quot;We&#39;re going to hit them hard,&quot; President Trump told Fox News. &quot;There will be a response.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/sjLOLSxm4g">pic.twitter.com/sjLOLSxm4g</a>&mdash; Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) <a href="https://x.com/TreyYingst/status/2094402295517622376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

US Central Command described the operation as ‘limited, precise action’ against minelaying forces that posed an ‘imminent threat’ to commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce. Despite the escalating military confrontation, Trump indicated that there could still be an opening for negotiations. "They want to meet so badly," Trump said. "I just don't know if you can count on a deal with them. The sanctions are kicking in really strongly."&nbsp;Iran is also facing increasing economic pressure as US sanctions weigh on the country's oil exports and broader economy. Iranian officials have increasingly acknowledged the impact of the sanctions, while regional intelligence sources have warned that worsening economic conditions could fuel renewed unrest. The Iranian rial has fallen to about 2.1 million per US dollar, marking a historic low and underscoring the depth of the country's economic difficulties.&nbsp;Although Tehran is facing mounting financial pressure, Iranian officials have shown no clear indication that they are prepared to alter their position or reach an agreement with Washington. The latest exchange of strikes has therefore heightened fears of a broader regional escalation, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and commercial shipping.

Trump vows retaliation after Iran strikes US forces in Jordan as sanctions deepen Iran's economic crisis and uncertainty over US-Iran talks grows

President Donald Trump has vowed retaliation after Iran launched missile strikes targeting US forces in Jordan, saying Washington will respond forcefully while leaving open the possibility of renewed talks with Tehran. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump was quoted as saying to Fox News' Trey Yingst in a phone call on Monday. “There will be a response.” Trump said US forces intercepted most of the missiles fired overnight, with one missile allowed to pass through air defenses because it was not expected to strike a target. According to a US source cited by Fox News, Iran fired at least eight ballistic missiles at US forces in Jordan on Sunday. The attack reportedly caused no significant impact. The Iranian missile barrage came after US forces carried out a strike against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps launchers on Larak Island. American officials said the operation followed the identification of preparations for an IRGC rocket launch intended to deploy new sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Also Read: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asks PM Narendra Modi to use India’s influence to end West Asia war

Trump vows retaliation after Iran's missile strikes on US forces in Jordan, while sanctions deepen Iran's economic crisis and talks remain uncertain

'We are going to hit Iran 'hard'. There will be a response': Trump after Tehran's strikes on US bases in Jordan

Iran is looking for a negotiated end to the war with the US, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday. While speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan, Iran's President accused Washington of failing to fulfil ​its commitments under past agreements."Nevertheless, we are still trying to achieve an agreement and understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is in no one's interest, neither ours, nor the region's, nor humanity's," Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying. "We ​believe the solution to the existing issues is dialogue and cooperation and that every capacity must be used to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict."These statements come a day after the US and Iran exchanged attacks, the first time since late July, driving up oil prices roughly 3.5 per cent to $91/barrel. US President Donald Trump also posted an AI video of an attack on Iran's oil hub Kharg Island with the caption “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-retired-army-serviceman-dies-chinese-manja-kite-string-1788174173102">Retired Army serviceman dies after banned Chinese 'manjha' slits throat while riding bike in Jammu</a>An Iranian official dismissed this post as “laughable”. "Trump’s tweets are laughable, and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate," Hamid ​Bovard, chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co, said on Monday.A US official said on Monday that the military had not targeted Kharg Island in overnight strikes; rather, they attacked Larak Island. According to Washington, "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz". According to Iran's IRNA news agency, two people were killed, and others were injured in the attack.Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Economic Outcast” targetting Iranian economic interests across the globe. He also said that new secondary sanctions were likely to be unveiled weekly in the effort to pressure Iran, with an initial focus on banks. Trump has so far failed in all his major objectives when he set out to achieve them with Iran: overthrowing Iran's Clerical rulers, curbing Iran's ability to launch attacks on regional rivals and dismantling Iran's nuclear programme.&nbsp;

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is seeking a negotiated end to the war with the US, calling for dialogue to prevent further conflict.

Iran is looking for a negotiated end to the war with the US, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday. While speaking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan, Iran's President accused Washington of failing to fulfil its commitments under past agreements. "Nevertheless, we are still trying to achieve an agreement and understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is in no one's interest, neither ours, nor the region's, nor humanity's," Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying. "We believe the solution to the existing issues is dialogue and cooperation and that every capacity must be used to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict." These statements come a day after the US and Iran exchanged attacks, the first time since late July, driving up oil prices roughly 3.5 per cent to $91/barrel. US President Donald Trump also posted an AI video of an attack on Iran's oil hub Kharg Island with the caption “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT.” Also Read: Retired Army serviceman dies after banned Chinese 'manjha' slits throat while riding bike in Jammu An Iranian official dismissed this post as “laughable”. "Trump’s tweets are laughable, and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate," Hamid Bovard, chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co, said on Monday. A US official said on Monday that the military had not targeted Kharg Island in overnight strikes; rather, they attacked Larak Island. According to Washington, "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz". According to Iran's IRNA news agency, two people were killed, and others were injured in the attack. Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Economic Outcast” targetting Iranian economic interests across the globe. He also said that new secondary sanctions were likely to be unveiled weekly in the effort to pressure Iran, with an initial focus on banks. Trump has so far failed in all his major objectives when he set out to achieve them with Iran: overthrowing Iran's Clerical rulers, curbing Iran's ability to launch attacks on regional rivals and dismantling Iran's nuclear programme.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is seeking a negotiated end to the war with the US, calling for dialogue to prevent further conflict.

Iran seeks negotiated end to US war as Pezeshkian calls for dialogue

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