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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the world’s most trusted and highest-rated global leader. He topped the latest global list of ‘Democratic Leader Approval Ratings’ with a 75% approval score. The latest data released by US-based business intelligence firm Morning Consult put Modi ahead of leaders such as Lee Jae-myung (59 per cent) of South Korea, &nbsp;Argentina’s Javier Milei (57 per cent), and Canada’s Mark Carney (56 per cent), who were second, third and fourth on the list, respectively.&nbsp;A rolling seven-day average of adult opinions across the countries was done by Morning Consult between 4 and 10 July 2025 for the latest Global Leader Approval Rating.&nbsp;According to the survey, 75 per cent of participants approved of PM Modi as a democratic world leader, seven per cent were not sure while 18 per cent disapproved.&nbsp;Notably, US President Donald Trump has been ranked eighth in the list with a 44 per cent approval rating.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position as the world’s most trusted leader was celebrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP leader Amit Malviya praising Modi for his achievement on X wrote, “Loved by over a billion Indians and respected by millions across the globe, PM Narendra Modi tops the Morning Consult Global Leader Approval Tracker once again — the highest-rated and most trusted leader worldwide. Strong leadership. Global respect. Bharat is in safe hands".&nbsp;This is not the first time that the Indian Prime Minister has featured in Morning Consult’s Global Leader Approval Rating. In fact, Modi has held the top position since at least September 2021, when h got an approval rating of 70 per cent. By early 2022, his rating shot up to around 71 per cent, topping a survey of 13 world leaders.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A rolling seven-day average of adult opinions across the countries was done by Morning Consult between 4 and 10 July 2025 for the latest Global Leader Approval Rating.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the world’s most trusted and highest-rated global leader. He topped the latest global list of ‘Democratic Leader Approval Ratings’ with a 75% approval score. The latest data released by US-based business intelligence firm Morning Consult put Modi ahead of leaders such as Lee Jae-myung (59 per cent) of South Korea, Argentina’s Javier Milei (57 per cent), and Canada’s Mark Carney (56 per cent), who were second, third and fourth on the list, respectively. A rolling seven-day average of adult opinions across the countries was done by Morning Consult between 4 and 10 July 2025 for the latest Global Leader Approval Rating. According to the survey, 75 per cent of participants approved of PM Modi as a democratic world leader, seven per cent were not sure while 18 per cent disapproved. Notably, US President Donald Trump has been ranked eighth in the list with a 44 per cent approval rating. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position as the world’s most trusted leader was celebrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP leader Amit Malviya praising Modi for his achievement on X wrote, “Loved by over a billion Indians and respected by millions across the globe, PM Narendra Modi tops the Morning Consult Global Leader Approval Tracker once again — the highest-rated and most trusted leader worldwide. Strong leadership. Global respect. Bharat is in safe hands". This is not the first time that the Indian Prime Minister has featured in Morning Consult’s Global Leader Approval Rating. In fact, Modi has held the top position since at least September 2021, when h got an approval rating of 70 per cent. By early 2022, his rating shot up to around 71 per cent, topping a survey of 13 world leaders.

A rolling seven-day average of adult opinions across the countries was done by Morning Consult between 4 and 10 July 2025 for the latest Global Leader Approval Rating.

Narendra Modi tops ‘Democratic Leader Approval Ratings’ again, leaves Donald Trump far behind in survey

India looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, as he met prominent Maldivian leaders, including Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed.&nbsp;Modi is in the Maldives on a two-day visit.&nbsp;His discussions with Latheef touched upon key pillars of the India-Maldives ties.&nbsp;“Our nations continue to work closely in sectors like infrastructure, technology, climate change, energy and more. This is greatly beneficial to our people. We look forward to deepening this partnership in the years to come,” Modi posted on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Had a very good meeting with Vice President Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef. Our discussion touched upon key pillars of the India-Maldives friendship. Our nations continue to work closely in sectors like infrastructure, technology, climate change, energy and more. This is greatly… <a href="https://t.co/QR60E7wLJ2">pic.twitter.com/QR60E7wLJ2</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1948991132152873221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;He also met Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People’s Majlis (the Maldivian Parliament).&nbsp;“Talked about the deep-rooted India-Maldives friendship, including the close relationship between our respective Parliaments,” Modi said.&nbsp;He also welcomed the formation of the India-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group in the 20th Majlis.&nbsp;“India remains committed to supporting capacity building in the Maldives,” the prime minister said.&nbsp;He also met former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed.&nbsp;“He (Nasheed) has always been a strong advocate of a deeper India-Maldives friendship. Spoke about how the Maldives will always be a valued pillar of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Mahasagar vision,” he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Met the former President of Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Nasheed. He has always been a strong advocate of deeper India-Maldives friendship. Spoke about how the Maldives will always be a valued pillar of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Mahasagar vision. India will keep supporting… <a href="https://t.co/4N33p4qn9l">pic.twitter.com/4N33p4qn9l</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1948993022819205544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nasheed served as president of the Maldives from November 11, 2008 to February 7, 2012.India will keep supporting the Maldives through capacity building and developmental cooperation, the prime minister said. On Friday, Modi held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and announced a Rs 4,850 crore line of credit to the island nation. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

On Friday, Modi held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and announced a Rs 4,850 crore line of credit to the island nation.

India looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, as he met prominent Maldivian leaders, including Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed. Modi is in the Maldives on a two-day visit. His discussions with Latheef touched upon key pillars of the India-Maldives ties. “Our nations continue to work closely in sectors like infrastructure, technology, climate change, energy and more. This is greatly beneficial to our people. We look forward to deepening this partnership in the years to come,” Modi posted on X.

On Friday, Modi held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and announced a Rs 4,850 crore line of credit to the island nation.

‘India looks forward to deepening partnership’ with Maldives, says PM Modi

The United States Justice Department has granted 'limited immunity' to Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as per a report by ABC News quoting sources. The report stated that the immunity given to Maxwell allows her to speak freely to the Justice Department officials. However, David Markus, Maxwell's lawyer, said that there have been no asks or promises. Markus said that Maxwell was asked about 100 different people related to Epstein, to which she reportedly 'didn't hold back anything'. 'Limited immunity' refers to proffer immunity that is granted to individuals who can be made cooperators in a criminal case. Maxwell has already been tried, convicted and sentenced for sex trafficking underage girls. The involvement of United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the questioning of Maxwell has raised questions, as he previously served as a personal attorney to US President Donald Trump.<h2>Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell's pardon</h2>US President Donald Trump, on Friday (July 26) was asked by reporters if he had thought about clemency for Maxwell. The US president said that he has not thought about it yet, even though he is allowed to do it. “It’s something I haven’t thought about. I’m allowed to do it, but I haven’t thought about it.” Pressed again, he declined to comment further, saying, “I don’t want to talk about that.” Meanwhile, Maxwell's lawyer Markus said, "We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet," adding, “We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.”&nbsp;This comes after it was reported that Trump might strike a " hidden pardon deal" with Maxwell. Dave Aronberg, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s aide and a former state attorney for Palm Beach County, spoke to CNN and said that Maxwell's grilling might be a plot to "protect the president." He also claimed that Trump was keen to distance himself from the controversy, which is why he had sent Blanche, his former defence attorney and now the DOJ’s second-in-command, to handle the Maxwell meeting.&nbsp;<h2>Day 1 of the interview between Maxwell and Blanche</h2>United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met Maxwell &nbsp;on Thursday and Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, said that she “answered questions truthfully.” The interrogation is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s MAGA base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. Markus reiterated that she is cooperating fully: “She’s got no reason to lie. The truth will come out.” Meanwhile, in a social media post, Blanche said that he met Ghislaine Maxwell and the DOJ will share additional information about what they learned “at the appropriate time.” Earlier on Tuesday, he said that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the Justice Department “will hear what she has to say.”

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been questioned by US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. His involvement in the case has raised questions about pardoning and limited immunity, as he served as Trump's personal attorney previously

The United States Justice Department has granted 'limited immunity' to Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as per a report by ABC News quoting sources. The report stated that the immunity given to Maxwell allows her to speak freely to the Justice Department officials. However, David Markus, Maxwell's lawyer, said that there have been no asks or promises. Markus said that Maxwell was asked about 100 different people related to Epstein, to which she reportedly 'didn't hold back anything'. 'Limited immunity' refers to proffer immunity that is granted to individuals who can be made cooperators in a criminal case. Maxwell has already been tried, convicted and sentenced for sex trafficking underage girls. The involvement of United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the questioning of Maxwell has raised questions, as he previously served as a personal attorney to US President Donald Trump. Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell's pardon US President Donald Trump, on Friday (July 26) was asked by reporters if he had thought about clemency for Maxwell. The US president said that he has not thought about it yet, even though he is allowed to do it. “It’s something I haven’t thought about. I’m allowed to do it, but I haven’t thought about it.” Pressed again, he declined to comment further, saying, “I don’t want to talk about that.” Meanwhile, Maxwell's lawyer Markus said, "We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet," adding, “We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.” This comes after it was reported that Trump might strike a " hidden pardon deal" with Maxwell. Dave Aronberg, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s aide and a former state attorney for Palm Beach County, spoke to CNN and said that Maxwell's grilling might be a plot to "protect the president." He also claimed that Trump was keen to distance himself from the controversy, which is why he had sent Blanche, his former defence attorney and now the DOJ’s second-in-command, to handle the Maxwell meeting. Day 1 of the interview between Maxwell and Blanche United States Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met Maxwell on Thursday and Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, said that she “answered questions truthfully.” The interrogation is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s MAGA base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. Markus reiterated that she is cooperating fully: “She’s got no reason to lie. The truth will come out.” Meanwhile, in a social media post, Blanche said that he met Ghislaine Maxwell and the DOJ will share additional information about what they learned “at the appropriate time.” Earlier on Tuesday, he said that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the Justice Department “will hear what she has to say.”

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been questioned by US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. His involvement in the case has raised questions about pardoning and limited immunity, as he served as Trump's personal attorney previously

Trump's pardon, DOJ's 'limited immunity' and more: What we know about Ghislaine Maxwell and her interviews regarding Epstein Files

A 16-year-old perfectly healthy boy was left fighting for his life after a spider bite in Iowa. The bite area got infected, and multiple visits to the doctor didn't help. Antibiotics didn't work, and he was finally hospitalised, after which his kidneys also went into failure. Noah Johnson of Slater, Iowa, was working at his brother’s fence-building company over the summer to save up for a new truck. On June 18, he felt something bite him. Noah told his mother, Brandy Johnson, that he felt something crawl on him and then a sting, People reported. The spider had bitten him on his lower left butt cheek. It started paining badly, after which Brandy told him to keep an eye on the bite and inform her if it gets worse. Over the next few days, the bite mark grew in size and had two black puncture marks. It was so painful that he couldn't even sit. Brandy took him to Urgent Care on June 23. The doctors noticed the "fang bites" and suspected it was a spider bite that had gotten infected. Brandy was assured that the spiders in Iowa could not kill anyone, although the risk of infection remains high. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/man-dies-after-consuming-nothing-but-beer-for-a-month-following-divorce-1753425374104">Thailand: Man dies after consuming only beer without a morsel of food for a month</a><h2>Antibiotics didn't heal the spider bite</h2>Noah was prescribed antibiotics and tested for MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that is often resistant to antibiotics. The medicines did not help ease the condition, and the wound now started oozing, with excretions from two other areas. Brandy took him to the Emergency room, where he was given more antibiotics. Noah had developed a 103-degree fever but was sent home. She was told to wait 48 hours before returning to the hospital. But when things didn't improve, she rushed him to the Mary Greeley Medical Centre in Ames, Iowa. The doctors saw the infection and performed an emergency surgery to remove the infected areas. A day later, his kidneys started malfunctioning. Noah was rushed to the Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. A biopsy of the kidneys showed that he had a severe allergic reaction to the pain medication prescribed by the first doctors who treated him. He remained in the Pediatric ICU for two weeks.&nbsp;A colonoscopy showed a small infection in his intestines. Chastity Schonhorst, his aunt, told People, "It was heartbreaking" to see him in this condition. "Every day they thought he might get a little better, he went back downhill." His mother says Noah is extremely strong, has played baseball for years, and could lift weights for three hours before the bite. However, he lost 15 kg at the hospital. On July 16, he talked to his mother and told her he was scared that he was dying. Brandy told him he was fine and asked everyone at the hospital to say only positive things around him. Brandy decided to take Noah outside for a change, and it worked. The next day, his vitals improved. He was moved out of the ICU in mid-July after his kidneys started working again. Noah’s friends' mothers started a GoFundMe page for him. He was finally released from the hospital on July 21 but will undergo physical therapy.

A perfectly healthy teenager in Iowa was bitten by a spider, which left him in great pain, leading to doctor visits. It got infected and he had to be hospitalised. His kidneys went into failure, and he moved to another hospital. 

A 16-year-old perfectly healthy boy was left fighting for his life after a spider bite in Iowa. The bite area got infected, and multiple visits to the doctor didn't help. Antibiotics didn't work, and he was finally hospitalised, after which his kidneys also went into failure. Noah Johnson of Slater, Iowa, was working at his brother’s fence-building company over the summer to save up for a new truck. On June 18, he felt something bite him. Noah told his mother, Brandy Johnson, that he felt something crawl on him and then a sting, People reported. The spider had bitten him on his lower left butt cheek. It started paining badly, after which Brandy told him to keep an eye on the bite and inform her if it gets worse. Over the next few days, the bite mark grew in size and had two black puncture marks. It was so painful that he couldn't even sit. Brandy took him to Urgent Care on June 23. The doctors noticed the "fang bites" and suspected it was a spider bite that had gotten infected. Brandy was assured that the spiders in Iowa could not kill anyone, although the risk of infection remains high. Also Read: Thailand: Man dies after consuming only beer without a morsel of food for a month Antibiotics didn't heal the spider bite Noah was prescribed antibiotics and tested for MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that is often resistant to antibiotics. The medicines did not help ease the condition, and the wound now started oozing, with excretions from two other areas. Brandy took him to the Emergency room, where he was given more antibiotics. Noah had developed a 103-degree fever but was sent home. She was told to wait 48 hours before returning to the hospital. But when things didn't improve, she rushed him to the Mary Greeley Medical Centre in Ames, Iowa. The doctors saw the infection and performed an emergency surgery to remove the infected areas. A day later, his kidneys started malfunctioning. Noah was rushed to the Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. A biopsy of the kidneys showed that he had a severe allergic reaction to the pain medication prescribed by the first doctors who treated him. He remained in the Pediatric ICU for two weeks. A colonoscopy showed a small infection in his intestines. Chastity Schonhorst, his aunt, told People, "It was heartbreaking" to see him in this condition. "Every day they thought he might get a little better, he went back downhill." His mother says Noah is extremely strong, has played baseball for years, and could lift weights for three hours before the bite. However, he lost 15 kg at the hospital. On July 16, he talked to his mother and told her he was scared that he was dying. Brandy told him he was fine and asked everyone at the hospital to say only positive things around him. Brandy decided to take Noah outside for a change, and it worked. The next day, his vitals improved. He was moved out of the ICU in mid-July after his kidneys started working again. Noah’s friends' mothers started a GoFundMe page for him. He was finally released from the hospital on July 21 but will undergo physical therapy.

A perfectly healthy teenager in Iowa was bitten by a spider, which left him in great pain, leading to doctor visits. It got infected and he had to be hospitalised. His kidneys went into failure, and he moved to another hospital.&nbsp;

Spider bite leaves Iowa teen with kidney failure, unable to speak

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia on Saturday (July 26) issued a new advisory to its citizens living in the country, asking them to avoid border areas. The Indian Embassy has also shared a helpline number and an email ID for its citizens to contact in case of emergency. This advisory follows another notice by the Indian authorities in Thailand, asking citizens to avoid a list of places embroiled in the ongoing conflicts. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday (July 24), prompting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis. This comes even after the Cambodian ambassador Chhea Keo called for a ceasefire with Thailand after UNSC meeting.&nbsp;The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh said, “In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid traveling to the border areas. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In view of the situation near Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travelers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom. As per Tourism Authority of Thailand places mentioned in the following link are not recommended for… <a href="https://t.co/ToeHLSQUYi">https://t.co/ToeHLSQUYi</a>&mdash; India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainThailand/status/1948575181972406742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">📢 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚 Due to ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, the Indian Embassy has advised citizens to avoid travel to border areas. In case of emergency, contact: 📞 +855 92881676 📧… <a href="https://t.co/y70JVokj0e">pic.twitter.com/y70JVokj0e</a>— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts/status/1948962249252524398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Thailand-Cambodia conflict</h2>Thailand and Cambodia engaged in their worst fighting in over a decade this week, exchanging heavy artillery fire across their disputed border. Clashes broke out between the two countries early on Thursday (July 24) along a disputed area abutting an ancient temple, rapidly spilling over to other areas along the contested frontier and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second straight day. Tensions began rising between the Southeast Asian neighbours since May this year, following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire. The incident triggered diplomatic spats, ultimately leading to armed clashes.

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued a new advisory to its citizens living in the country, asking them to avoid border areas. The Indian Embassy has also shared a helpline number and an email ID for its citizens to contact in case of emergency.

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia on Saturday (July 26) issued a new advisory to its citizens living in the country, asking them to avoid border areas. The Indian Embassy has also shared a helpline number and an email ID for its citizens to contact in case of emergency. This advisory follows another notice by the Indian authorities in Thailand, asking citizens to avoid a list of places embroiled in the ongoing conflicts. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday (July 24), prompting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis. This comes even after the Cambodian ambassador Chhea Keo called for a ceasefire with Thailand after UNSC meeting. The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh said, “In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid traveling to the border areas. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in”

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued a new advisory to its citizens living in the country, asking them to avoid border areas. The Indian Embassy has also shared a helpline number and an email ID for its citizens to contact in case of emergency.

India launches helpline numbers in Cambodia amid conflict with Thailand: Details here

Three Indian tourists called the police on a sex worker in Pattaya, Thailand, as they were unhappy with her physical appearance, specifically her "chest size," and asked her to leave. She asked them to make the full payment, but they refused. They left the hotel room and returned with the police. They told the officers that the woman was not getting out of their room as asked. However, she told the police that the men had hired her to provide sexual services. But now they were not ready to give her the money she said she was rightly owed, and there was no reason for the police to be involved. Pattaya is famous for its nightlife. Meanwhile, the police stated that they are accustomed to such incidents and deal with them regularly. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/google-searches-reveal-american-states-with-best-and-worst-sex-lives-1753352554780">Online search data reveals American states with best and worst sex lives</a> &nbsp;<h2>The Indian men in Pattaya&nbsp;were unhappy with the woman's chest size&nbsp;</h2>According to Pattaya Mail, the men met the woman at a popular bar and struck a deal with her for sexual services. She was to be paid 3,000 baht for each man and was given an initial deposit of 1.000 baht. They spent some time at the bar and then returned to a hotel room on Soi Pattaya Beach 11. However, the men changed their minds and asked her to leave. They were not happy with her physical appearance and her body figure, especially her chest size. They said it didn't meet their expectations. The woman refused to go out quietly and asked the men to pay the full amount. The men left their room on the pretext of withdrawing more money from the ATM. After some time, they returned with the police and complained that the woman was refusing to leave their room. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-reveal-why-dating-apps-are-failing-to-give-successful-matches-1753354418142">Scientists reveal why dating apps have become a total bust. Hint: It's got to do with men</a><h2>The Indian men in Pattaya claimed they didn't get what they wanted</h2>Meanwhile, the woman stood her ground and clarified what had happened and that she only wanted the full amount she was promised. The tourists claimed they felt misled by the woman’s appearance, and that the service did not match what had been promised. The woman denied she had done anything wrong and stated that both parties had mutually agreed to the services. The matter escalated quickly, and the police warned the tourists that mutual understanding in business transactions was important, particularly in places like Pattaya. They told them if it wasn't settled mutually, it could lead to further charges related to public nuisance, misrepresentation, and more serious accusations under Thai law. Both parties agreed to settle the matter, with the woman being allowed to retain a portion of the deposit and the men not having to pay the total amount. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ashley-madison-india-data-extramarital-affair-cheating-delhi-mumbai-kanchipuram-1753248635305">Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai...</a>&nbsp;Pattaya and several other parts of Thailand have an open social scene, and tourists often go there for such services. However, prostitution remains illegal in Thailand. Since the country heavily depends on tourism, with sexual services being a major part of the attraction, the Pheu Thai-led government is looking into legalising prostitution in Thailand.&nbsp;

Three Indian men hired a sex worker for the night, paid her an initial deposit of 1,000 baht and brought her to their room. However, they later asked her to leave because they claim they were misled by her figure, and she did not look like what they had imagined.

Three Indian tourists called the police on a sex worker in Pattaya, Thailand, as they were unhappy with her physical appearance, specifically her "chest size," and asked her to leave. She asked them to make the full payment, but they refused. They left the hotel room and returned with the police. They told the officers that the woman was not getting out of their room as asked. However, she told the police that the men had hired her to provide sexual services. But now they were not ready to give her the money she said she was rightly owed, and there was no reason for the police to be involved. Pattaya is famous for its nightlife. Meanwhile, the police stated that they are accustomed to such incidents and deal with them regularly. Also Read: Online search data reveals American states with best and worst sex lives The Indian men in Pattaya were unhappy with the woman's chest size According to Pattaya Mail, the men met the woman at a popular bar and struck a deal with her for sexual services. She was to be paid 3,000 baht for each man and was given an initial deposit of 1.000 baht. They spent some time at the bar and then returned to a hotel room on Soi Pattaya Beach 11. However, the men changed their minds and asked her to leave. They were not happy with her physical appearance and her body figure, especially her chest size. They said it didn't meet their expectations. The woman refused to go out quietly and asked the men to pay the full amount. The men left their room on the pretext of withdrawing more money from the ATM. After some time, they returned with the police and complained that the woman was refusing to leave their room. Also Read: Scientists reveal why dating apps have become a total bust. Hint: It's got to do with men The Indian men in Pattaya claimed they didn't get what they wanted Meanwhile, the woman stood her ground and clarified what had happened and that she only wanted the full amount she was promised. The tourists claimed they felt misled by the woman’s appearance, and that the service did not match what had been promised. The woman denied she had done anything wrong and stated that both parties had mutually agreed to the services. The matter escalated quickly, and the police warned the tourists that mutual understanding in business transactions was important, particularly in places like Pattaya. They told them if it wasn't settled mutually, it could lead to further charges related to public nuisance, misrepresentation, and more serious accusations under Thai law. Both parties agreed to settle the matter, with the woman being allowed to retain a portion of the deposit and the men not having to pay the total amount. Also Read: Ashley Madison reveals EXTRA-MARITAL AFFAIR capital of India; Delhi covers most bases, and Mumbai... Pattaya and several other parts of Thailand have an open social scene, and tourists often go there for such services. However, prostitution remains illegal in Thailand. Since the country heavily depends on tourism, with sexual services being a major part of the attraction, the Pheu Thai-led government is looking into legalising prostitution in Thailand.

Three Indian men hired a sex worker for the night, paid her an initial deposit of 1,000 baht and brought her to their room. However, they later asked her to leave because they claim they were misled by her figure, and she did not look like what they had imagined.

Indian men refuse to pay sex worker in Pattaya claiming she misled them about her figure

Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, during his conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that his country has no issues with The Resistance Front (TRF) being designated as a terrorist organisation. However, Dar added Pakistan would only take action against the group if there is evidence of their being involved in terror activity. He also shockingly stated that linking TRF with Hafiz Saeed-led Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is wrong. Notably, the statement by Dar comes even after TRF's own admission of the Pahalgam terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir in April this year that killed 26 civilians.&nbsp;“It is obviously a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved. Linking the TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba is wrong. That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed,” said Dar at an event in Washington DC.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar <a href="https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MIshaqDar50</a>, met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>, today in Washington D.C. The two sides acknowledged the positive trajectory of the Pak-U.S. bilateral relations. They discussed and… <a href="https://t.co/iGJdGI9YDj">pic.twitter.com/iGJdGI9YDj</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1948847196998435058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It must be recalled that earlier this month, Dar in the Pakistani Parliament revealed that Islamabad blocked TRF's mention in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement on Pahalgam terror attacks. “We opposed the mention of TRF in the UNSC statement. I got calls from global capitals, but Pakistan will not accept. TRF was deleted, and Pakistan prevailed," said Dar in April. After the US designated TRF as terrorist orgnaisation, Dar said that Pakistan does not consider the TRF illegal and asked for proof that it carried out the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.&nbsp;Dar met Rubio in Washington on Friday, and both leaders spoke on a range of issues, including trade and security. Rubio also discussed the UK-Pakistan counterterrorism dialogue. Taking to X, Rubio thanked Dar for Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MIshaqDar50</a> today to discuss expanding bilateral trade and enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals sector. I also thanked him for Pakistan’s partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional… <a href="https://t.co/QZB9RZwIA8">pic.twitter.com/QZB9RZwIA8</a>— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1948807676496150888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>US designates TRF as a terrorist organisation</h2>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that TRF would be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and would face financial sanctions, restricting its access to support from individuals and entities under American jurisdiction. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed the US decision and termed the move strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. "TRF, a Lashkar-e-Taiba front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024," the State Department said.

Pakistan made a U-turn on its stance on The Resistance Front (TRF) being listed as a global terror organisation. While meeting Marco Rubio, Pak foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that it's the sovereign right of the US to make the decision, but added that TRF should not be linked with LeT

Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, during his conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said that his country has no issues with The Resistance Front (TRF) being designated as a terrorist organisation. However, Dar added Pakistan would only take action against the group if there is evidence of their being involved in terror activity. He also shockingly stated that linking TRF with Hafiz Saeed-led Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is wrong. Notably, the statement by Dar comes even after TRF's own admission of the Pahalgam terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir in April this year that killed 26 civilians. “It is obviously a sovereign decision of the United States to designate the TRF. We have no issue. And we welcome, if they have any evidence, that they are involved. Linking the TRF to the Lashkar-e-Taiba is wrong. That outfit was dismantled years ago by Pakistan. The actors were prosecuted, arrested and jailed, and the entire outfit was destroyed,” said Dar at an event in Washington DC.

Pakistan made a U-turn on its stance on The Resistance Front (TRF) being listed as a global terror organisation. While meeting Marco Rubio, Pak foreign minister Ishaq Dar said that it's the sovereign right of the US to make the decision, but added that TRF should not be linked with LeT

Pakistan's U-turn in US on TRF: Ishaq Dar says no objection to America listing it as terror group, but adds THIS about Lashkar-e-Taiba

Cambodia's envoy to the United Nations (UN) said on Friday (July 25) that it wants an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, after the neighbours traded deadly strikes for a second day, with Bangkok also signalling an openness to talks. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday (July 24), prompting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis. Cambodia's UN envoy's announcement came after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. “Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” Chhea Keo said. More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, according to details provided by the country's Health Ministry. It also reported 15 fatalities — 14 civilians and a soldier — with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops.<h2>Thailand-Cambodia conflict</h2>Thailand and Cambodia engaged in their worst fighting in over a decade this week, exchanging heavy artillery fire across their disputed border. Clashes broke out between the two countries early on Thursday (July 24) along a disputed area abutting an ancient temple, rapidly spilling over to other areas along the contested frontier and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second straight day. Tensions began rising between the Southeast Asian neighbours since May this year, following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire. The incident triggered diplomatic spats ultimately leading to armed clashes.&nbsp;Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Wednesday and expelled Cambodia's envoy in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. Cambodia called that accusation baseless. Both sides accuse each other of firing the first shots that started the conflict on Thursday, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 15 civilians, most of them on the Thai side.&nbsp;Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. That map, which Thailand later contested, was based on an agreement that the border would be demarcated along the natural watershed line between the two countries. In 2000, the two countries agreed to establish a Joint Boundary Commission to peacefully address overlapping claims, but little progress has been made towards settling disputes. Claims over ownership of historical sites have raised nationalist tension between the two countries, notably in 2003 when rioters torched the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in Phnom Penh over an alleged remark by a Thai celebrity questioning jurisdiction over Cambodia's World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple.&nbsp;&nbsp;An 11th-century Hindu temple called Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, has been at the heart of the dispute for decades, with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh claiming historical ownership. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand has continued to lay claim to the surrounding land. Tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list the Preah Vihear temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011.Two years later, Cambodia sought an interpretation of the 1962 verdict, and the ICJ again ruled in its favour, saying the land around the temple was also part of Cambodia and ordering Thai troops to withdraw.&nbsp; &nbsp;

After Cambodia and Thailand exchanged heavy artillery fire across their disputed border for two days in a row, Cambodia's envoy Phnom Penh to the United Nations (UN) said on Friday (July 25) that it wants an immediate ceasefire with Thailand

Cambodia's envoy to the United Nations (UN) said on Friday (July 25) that it wants an “immediate ceasefire” with Thailand, after the neighbours traded deadly strikes for a second day, with Bangkok also signalling an openness to talks. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday (July 24), prompting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis. Cambodia's UN envoy's announcement came after a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. “Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,” Chhea Keo said. More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, according to details provided by the country's Health Ministry. It also reported 15 fatalities — 14 civilians and a soldier — with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops. Thailand-Cambodia conflict Thailand and Cambodia engaged in their worst fighting in over a decade this week, exchanging heavy artillery fire across their disputed border. Clashes broke out between the two countries early on Thursday (July 24) along a disputed area abutting an ancient temple, rapidly spilling over to other areas along the contested frontier and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second straight day. Tensions began rising between the Southeast Asian neighbours since May this year, following the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief exchange of gunfire. The incident triggered diplomatic spats ultimately leading to armed clashes. Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Wednesday and expelled Cambodia's envoy in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. Cambodia called that accusation baseless. Both sides accuse each other of firing the first shots that started the conflict on Thursday, which has so far claimed the lives of at least 15 civilians, most of them on the Thai side. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. That map, which Thailand later contested, was based on an agreement that the border would be demarcated along the natural watershed line between the two countries. In 2000, the two countries agreed to establish a Joint Boundary Commission to peacefully address overlapping claims, but little progress has been made towards settling disputes. Claims over ownership of historical sites have raised nationalist tension between the two countries, notably in 2003 when rioters torched the Thai embassy and Thai businesses in Phnom Penh over an alleged remark by a Thai celebrity questioning jurisdiction over Cambodia's World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple. An 11th-century Hindu temple called Preah Vihear, or Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, has been at the heart of the dispute for decades, with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh claiming historical ownership. The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but Thailand has continued to lay claim to the surrounding land. Tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list the Preah Vihear temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011.Two years later, Cambodia sought an interpretation of the 1962 verdict, and the ICJ again ruled in its favour, saying the land around the temple was also part of Cambodia and ordering Thai troops to withdraw.

After Cambodia and Thailand exchanged heavy artillery fire across their disputed border for two days in a row, Cambodia's envoy Chhea Keo to the United Nations (UN) said on Friday (July 25) that it wants an immediate ceasefire with Thailand

Cambodia calls for 'immediate ceasefire' with Thailand after deadly clashes: What we know so far

A severe and fast-worsening hunger crisis is sweeping Gaza, where rates of malnutrition among children under five have tripled in just two weeks, revealed Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The medical charity in a statement on Friday (Jul 25) warned that a quarter of all young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women it screened last week were malnourished. At its Gaza City clinic alone, MSF said the number of patients seeking treatment for malnutrition has quadrupled since May.The organisation directly blamed Israel for what it described as a “deliberate policy of starvation” for the hunger crisis. In a statement, the group said that “Israeli authorities’ deliberate use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with patients and healthcare workers themselves now fighting to survive.”<h2>People dying of hunger</h2>At least 122 people have died of hunger in Gaza, with nine deaths reported in the past 24 hours alone, according to local health officials. However, many believe the true death toll is higher — and growing. The World Food Programme on Friday, echoed the alarm, saying nearly one in three people in Gaza are now going without food for days at a time. The hunger crisis had reached "new and astonishing levels of desperation" it said, adding, "Nearly one person in three is not eating for days. Malnutrition is surging, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment".Talking to AFP, Naji al-Qurashali, an obstetrician-gynaecologist in Gaza, said that the reported statistics underestimate the harrowing reality. He estimated that at least 50 per cent of the hundreds of pregnant women he saw every day were suffering from malnutrition."The malnutrition situation is unimaginable. Throughout my entire medical career, I never expected, not even in my wildest dreams, that things would reach this level," he said. According to the Gaza doctor the number of miscarriages has increased as starving women struggled to find food to feed themselves.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has directly blamed Israel for what it described as a “deliberate policy of starvation” for the hunger crisis.

A severe and fast-worsening hunger crisis is sweeping Gaza, where rates of malnutrition among children under five have tripled in just two weeks, revealed Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The medical charity in a statement on Friday (Jul 25) warned that a quarter of all young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women it screened last week were malnourished. At its Gaza City clinic alone, MSF said the number of patients seeking treatment for malnutrition has quadrupled since May. The organisation directly blamed Israel for what it described as a “deliberate policy of starvation” for the hunger crisis. In a statement, the group said that “Israeli authorities’ deliberate use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with patients and healthcare workers themselves now fighting to survive.” People dying of hunger At least 122 people have died of hunger in Gaza, with nine deaths reported in the past 24 hours alone, according to local health officials. However, many believe the true death toll is higher — and growing. The World Food Programme on Friday, echoed the alarm, saying nearly one in three people in Gaza are now going without food for days at a time. The hunger crisis had reached "new and astonishing levels of desperation" it said, adding, "Nearly one person in three is not eating for days. Malnutrition is surging, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment". Talking to AFP, Naji al-Qurashali, an obstetrician-gynaecologist in Gaza, said that the reported statistics underestimate the harrowing reality. He estimated that at least 50 per cent of the hundreds of pregnant women he saw every day were suffering from malnutrition. "The malnutrition situation is unimaginable. Throughout my entire medical career, I never expected, not even in my wildest dreams, that things would reach this level," he said. According to the Gaza doctor the number of miscarriages has increased as starving women struggled to find food to feed themselves.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has directly blamed Israel for what it described as a “deliberate policy of starvation” for the hunger crisis.

'Unimaginable' hunger crisis grips Gaza: In just two weeks, malnutrition tripled among children under 5 years

The United States military, in a high-stakes ground operation in Syria on Friday (Jul 25), eliminated a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader and two of his sons, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). The raid marks a rare deviation from the US military's usual reliance on airstrikes in the region. The senior ISIS leader has been identified as Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, his two adult sons, also killed in the raid, are Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. CENTCOM said the three "posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian Government."<h2>US will continue to ‘relentlessly’ pursue ISIS terrorists</h2>In a statement, General Michael Erik Kurilla, US Central Command Commander, said that they “will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, US Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland.” Notably, three children and three women present at the location were unharmed, according to CENTCOM. However, the organisation didn't share any further operational details — including the precise location of the raid.<h2>Why was this a rare operation?</h2>The US military in recent months has primarily conducted anti-ISIS operations in recent years using air power or with support from partner forces on the ground. Direct US ground raids instead of airstrikes have been far less common.The operation comes as over recent months and years the US has carried out and supported a steady tempo of anti-ISIS missions in Syria and Iraq. In May, CENTCOM reported six such operations — five in Iraq and one in Syria — which resulted in the deaths of two ISIS operatives and the capture of two others, including a senior leader.

The senior ISIS leader has been identified as Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, his two adult sons also killed in the raid are Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. CENTCOM said they "posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian Government."

The United States military, in a high-stakes ground operation in Syria on Friday (Jul 25), eliminated a senior Islamic State (ISIS) leader and two of his sons, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). The raid marks a rare deviation from the US military's usual reliance on airstrikes in the region. The senior ISIS leader has been identified as Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, his two adult sons, also killed in the raid, are Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. CENTCOM said the three "posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian Government." US will continue to ‘relentlessly’ pursue ISIS terrorists In a statement, General Michael Erik Kurilla, US Central Command Commander, said that they “will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, US Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland.” Notably, three children and three women present at the location were unharmed, according to CENTCOM. However, the organisation didn't share any further operational details — including the precise location of the raid. Why was this a rare operation? The US military in recent months has primarily conducted anti-ISIS operations in recent years using air power or with support from partner forces on the ground. Direct US ground raids instead of airstrikes have been far less common. The operation comes as over recent months and years the US has carried out and supported a steady tempo of anti-ISIS missions in Syria and Iraq. In May, CENTCOM reported six such operations — five in Iraq and one in Syria — which resulted in the deaths of two ISIS operatives and the capture of two others, including a senior leader.

The senior ISIS leader has been identified as Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, his two adult sons as Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. CENTCOM said they "posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian Government."

US forces eliminate top ISIS leader and his two sons in rare ground raid in Syria

The Thailand-Cambodia clashes continued escalating as over 4,000 people took shelter at a Thai university near the Cambodia border on Friday (July 25). The situation got worse during the day, and Thailand declared martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia. The Vice Admiral Apichart Sapprasert, Commander of the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense, announced to impose martial law in some areas, following the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy’s order to impose martial law throughout the Kingdom from 19 September, before a royal decree was issued to “revoke” it in many areas later, but it was still open to additional enforcement in some areas if there was a necessity for security reasons.&nbsp;The country declared martial law by the powers under Section 176, paragraph two of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, together with Section 4 of the Martial Law Act BE 2557.<h2>India issues travel advisory for citizens</h2>The Indian Embassy in Thailand issued an advisory for its citizens on Friday (July 25) and suggested avoiding visits to several areas in the country. India advised its nationals to avoid visiting seven provinces: Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat in Thailand. The Indian Embassy took to the social media platform X and wrote a statement saying, "In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom."<h2>US issues advisory</h2>Moreover, the Donald Trump government also advised the US citizens to avoid travelling within 50 km of the Thailand-Cambodia border.<h2>Thailand is open to Malaysia mediating</h2>After denying any foreign mediation in the ongoing conflict, Thailand said that it is open to letting Malaysia mediate dialogue with Cambodia. Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.<h2>Thai gas station was damaged by Cambodia</h2>Amid the escalating clashes, a roadside gas station in Sisaket province was hit by Cambodian artillery shelling and is now abandoned. Following the blast, the Thai Bomb Squad launched an investigation into the blast.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amid the Thailand-Cambodia clashes, Thailand imposed martial law in the border areas. Meanwhile, a roadside gas station in Sisaket province was hit by Cambodian artillery shelling and is now abandoned.

The Thailand-Cambodia clashes continued escalating as over 4,000 people took shelter at a Thai university near the Cambodia border on Friday (July 25). The situation got worse during the day, and Thailand declared martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia. The Vice Admiral Apichart Sapprasert, Commander of the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense, announced to impose martial law in some areas, following the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy’s order to impose martial law throughout the Kingdom from 19 September, before a royal decree was issued to “revoke” it in many areas later, but it was still open to additional enforcement in some areas if there was a necessity for security reasons. The country declared martial law by the powers under Section 176, paragraph two of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, together with Section 4 of the Martial Law Act BE 2557. India issues travel advisory for citizens The Indian Embassy in Thailand issued an advisory for its citizens on Friday (July 25) and suggested avoiding visits to several areas in the country. India advised its nationals to avoid visiting seven provinces: Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat in Thailand. The Indian Embassy took to the social media platform X and wrote a statement saying, "In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including TAT Newsroom." US issues advisory Moreover, the Donald Trump government also advised the US citizens to avoid travelling within 50 km of the Thailand-Cambodia border. Thailand is open to Malaysia mediating After denying any foreign mediation in the ongoing conflict, Thailand said that it is open to letting Malaysia mediate dialogue with Cambodia. Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia. Thai gas station was damaged by Cambodia Amid the escalating clashes, a roadside gas station in Sisaket province was hit by Cambodian artillery shelling and is now abandoned. Following the blast, the Thai Bomb Squad launched an investigation into the blast.

Amid the Thailand-Cambodia clashes, Thailand imposed martial law in the border areas. Meanwhile, a roadside gas station in Sisaket province was hit by Cambodian artillery shelling and is now abandoned.

Cambodia-Thailand clash highlights: Gas station hit, martial law declared in Thailand. Here’s all you need to know

US President Donald Trump, while speaking at the White House before heading to Scotland on a private visit and to meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said that there was a 50-50 chance of Washington being able to strike a deal with the European Union to reduce import tariffs. "I would say that we have a 50/50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50/50 chance of making a deal with the EU," Trump told reporters. Trump, with an aim to slash his country's trade deficits, has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs by August 1. This came a day after the European Commission said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse.<h2>Germany demands an end to uncertainty in the US tariffs dispute</h2>Meanwhile, Germany wants to remove the “great uncertainty weighing on our industries” due to the current trade dispute between the United States and the European Union, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on Friday (July 25).<h2>EU chief says to meet Trump</h2>Moreover, the EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said that she will meet the American president in Scotland this weekend to address the EU-US tariffs standoff, with a week to go until an August 1 negotiating deadline."Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong," she wrote on the social media platform X.<h2>Trump on Epstein Files</h2>Trump also talked about the ongoing controversy around the Epstein Files and once again dodged the claims of his involvement in the Epstein Files and called out Bill Clinton. When reporters asked him about the Epstein Files, the American president said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island." When a reporter asked him if he wrote a letter to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump said, “I don't even know what they are talking about. Now, anybody could have written the letter and used my name. That's happened a lot.”&nbsp;Trump also said that he hasn’t thought about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn as he departed for Scotland, Trump said he’s allowed to do it but hasn’t considered granting a pardon to Maxwell.&nbsp;Trump added that he “certainly can’t talk about pardons now.” The Justice Department’s No. 2 official met with Maxwell on Thursday as the department promises transparency following backlash over an earlier refusal to release more records in the Epstein investigation.

Donald Trump, before heading to Scotland on a private visit, said on July 25 that there is a 50-50 chance of a trade deal between Washington with the European Union. 

US President Donald Trump, while speaking at the White House before heading to Scotland on a private visit and to meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said that there was a 50-50 chance of Washington being able to strike a deal with the European Union to reduce import tariffs. "I would say that we have a 50/50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50/50 chance of making a deal with the EU," Trump told reporters. Trump, with an aim to slash his country's trade deficits, has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariffs by August 1. This came a day after the European Commission said a negotiated trade solution with the United States was within reach, even as EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. Germany demands an end to uncertainty in the US tariffs dispute Meanwhile, Germany wants to remove the “great uncertainty weighing on our industries” due to the current trade dispute between the United States and the European Union, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on Friday (July 25). EU chief says to meet Trump Moreover, the EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said that she will meet the American president in Scotland this weekend to address the EU-US tariffs standoff, with a week to go until an August 1 negotiating deadline. "Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong," she wrote on the social media platform X. Trump on Epstein Files Trump also talked about the ongoing controversy around the Epstein Files and once again dodged the claims of his involvement in the Epstein Files and called out Bill Clinton. When reporters asked him about the Epstein Files, the American president said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island." When a reporter asked him if he wrote a letter to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump said, “I don't even know what they are talking about. Now, anybody could have written the letter and used my name. That's happened a lot.” Trump also said that he hasn’t thought about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn as he departed for Scotland, Trump said he’s allowed to do it but hasn’t considered granting a pardon to Maxwell. Trump added that he “certainly can’t talk about pardons now.” The Justice Department’s No. 2 official met with Maxwell on Thursday as the department promises transparency following backlash over an earlier refusal to release more records in the Epstein investigation.

Donald Trump, before heading to Scotland on a private visit, said on July 25 that there is a 50-50 chance of a trade deal between Washington with the European Union.&nbsp;

'50/50 chance, maybe less than that': Trump on tariff deal with EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the drone factory on Friday (July 25) and said that Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe. He said this government is working constantly to prevent any funding shortages. Taking to the social media platform X, Zelensky wrote, "Today I spoke with the manufacturers of interceptor drones. I visited the facility, thanked the team, and saw firsthand how protection for our cities and villages, for our people, is being produced. Ukraine knows how to create outstanding things and maintains its technological leadership in saving lives."&nbsp;"A clear task has been set for the manufacturers: Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe. Government officials are ensuring contracting is in place, and we are also working constantly with our partners to prevent any funding shortages," the Ukrainian president added."Ukraine’s production potential is part of Europe’s collective strength. I thank everyone who is helping to build this strength," he said in his post.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today I spoke with the manufacturers of interceptor drones. I visited the facility, thanked the team, and saw firsthand how protection for our cities and villages, for our people, is being produced. Ukraine knows how to create outstanding things and maintains its technological… <a href="https://t.co/PHVKbwGVCY">pic.twitter.com/PHVKbwGVCY</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1948752124906467655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This came after the Ukrainian president said that his country has secured three new Patriot air defence systems but has requested a total of ten. The Patriots are made in the US and are an essential part of Ukraine's layered air defence, and are the only system in the country capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Russia frequently uses in its escalating mass aerial attacks.&nbsp;"We have requested ten," Zelensky said, adding Kyiv was “working with partners to secure these.” "I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems, and from Norway for one," he said. This came after the reports that the US President Donald Trump would “probably” meet his Ukrainian counterpart, probably to discuss a truce with Russia in the ongoing war.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One last month, Trump confirmed the possibility when asked about a meeting. “Yeah, probably I’ll see him,” he said. When asked what he intended to say to the Ukrainian leader, Trump replied, “I’ll say ‘how you doing?’ He’s in a tough situation; should never have been there.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Zelensky visited a Ukrainian drone factory on Friday (July 25) and said his country must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the drone factory on Friday (July 25) and said that Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe. He said this government is working constantly to prevent any funding shortages. Taking to the social media platform X, Zelensky wrote, "Today I spoke with the manufacturers of interceptor drones. I visited the facility, thanked the team, and saw firsthand how protection for our cities and villages, for our people, is being produced. Ukraine knows how to create outstanding things and maintains its technological leadership in saving lives." "A clear task has been set for the manufacturers: Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe. Government officials are ensuring contracting is in place, and we are also working constantly with our partners to prevent any funding shortages," the Ukrainian president added. "Ukraine’s production potential is part of Europe’s collective strength. I thank everyone who is helping to build this strength," he said in his post.

Zelensky visited a Ukrainian drone factory on Friday (July 25) and said his country must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 interceptors per day within a defined timeframe.

'Ukraine must be capable of deploying at least 1,000 INTERCEPTORS per day': Zelensky

A bus crash in central Vietnam killed 10 people early Friday, the government said, a week after dozens were killed in a boat accident in the tourist site of Ha Long Bay. The overnight sleeper bus was travelling on a national highway from Hanoi to the central city of Da Nang when it veered off the road, hit the roadside markers and overturned, the government said in a statement.&nbsp;The crash killed 10 people, including two children -- all of them Vietnamese. Another 12 people were injured and taken to hospital, the statement said. Five of those killed were domestic tourists travelling to Da Nang for holidays, state media said. "The bus overturned... I couldn't sit up as my body and my hands were smashed into the side of the bed," a passenger told the Dan Tri news site.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-cost-of-progress-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-in-memo-progress-isn-t-linear-it-s-dynamic-1753448882219">The cost of progress? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo, 'Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic'</a>&nbsp;Several of those killed and seriously injured had been occupying the bunks towards the front of the bus and "suffered from the strong impact", the passenger said. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for an investigation into the accident. The crash comes a week after a boat capsized in the UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay, killing 38 Vietnamese tourists and crew members.&nbsp;Rescuers are still searching for one missing victim. Only 10 passengers survived the country's worst boat accident in the popular tourist destination.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deportation-flights-from-florida-s-alligator-alcatraz-detention-facility-begins-1753455374330">Deportation flights from Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility begins</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Vietnam bus crash kills 10 passengers, several injured

A bus crash in central Vietnam killed 10 people early Friday, the government said, a week after dozens were killed in a boat accident in the tourist site of Ha Long Bay. The overnight sleeper bus was travelling on a national highway from Hanoi to the central city of Da Nang when it veered off the road, hit the roadside markers and overturned, the government said in a statement. The crash killed 10 people, including two children -- all of them Vietnamese. Another 12 people were injured and taken to hospital, the statement said. Five of those killed were domestic tourists travelling to Da Nang for holidays, state media said. "The bus overturned... I couldn't sit up as my body and my hands were smashed into the side of the bed," a passenger told the Dan Tri news site. Also Read: The cost of progress? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo, 'Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic' Several of those killed and seriously injured had been occupying the bunks towards the front of the bus and "suffered from the strong impact", the passenger said. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for an investigation into the accident. The crash comes a week after a boat capsized in the UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay, killing 38 Vietnamese tourists and crew members. Rescuers are still searching for one missing victim. Only 10 passengers survived the country's worst boat accident in the popular tourist destination. Also Read: Deportation flights from Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility begins Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The overnight sleeper bus was travelling on a national highway from Hanoi to the central city of Da Nang when it veered off the road

Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Friday that deportation flights from the makeshift South Florida immigration detention facility, called Alligator Alcatraz, have commenced.&nbsp;&nbsp;"What has been done here has been remarkable," he was quoted as saying by CNN.&nbsp;&nbsp;The temporary detention facility is located in the Everglades, just 50 miles from US President Donald Trump's resort in Miami.&nbsp;DeSantis said they had sent several flights over the past few days. He said it can hold 2000 detainees, adding that the capacity can be expanded.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this month, Donald Trump toured the Alligator Alcatraz, where he joked that alligators would serve as guards. The $450 million camp has been built on an abandoned airfield deep in the Florida Everglades and is surrounded by swamps that are home to creatures including alligators and poisonous snakes.&nbsp;"Very soon this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet," Donald Trump had told reporters.&nbsp;"We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is deportation," he added.&nbsp;The name ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is inspired by Alcatraz Island, the former prison in San Francisco, that Donald Trump recently said he wanted to reopen.&nbsp;“A lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators -- you don't have to pay them so much,” Donald Trump said on July 1.&nbsp;"I wouldn't want to run through the Everglades for long. It will keep people where they're supposed to be," he added.&nbsp;The facility is built to hold illegal immigrants. Deporting illegal immigrants is one of the prime focuses of Donald Trump's second presidency.&nbsp;"Alligator Alcatraz" is the latest in a series of measures designed to portray the Trump administration as tough on migration.

Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Friday that deportation flights from the makeshift South Florida immigration detention facility, called Alligator Alcatraz, have commenced. 

Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Friday that deportation flights from the makeshift South Florida immigration detention facility, called Alligator Alcatraz, have commenced. "What has been done here has been remarkable," he was quoted as saying by CNN. The temporary detention facility is located in the Everglades, just 50 miles from US President Donald Trump's resort in Miami. DeSantis said they had sent several flights over the past few days. He said it can hold 2000 detainees, adding that the capacity can be expanded. Earlier this month, Donald Trump toured the Alligator Alcatraz, where he joked that alligators would serve as guards. The $450 million camp has been built on an abandoned airfield deep in the Florida Everglades and is surrounded by swamps that are home to creatures including alligators and poisonous snakes. "Very soon this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet," Donald Trump had told reporters. "We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is deportation," he added. The name ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is inspired by Alcatraz Island, the former prison in San Francisco, that Donald Trump recently said he wanted to reopen. “A lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators -- you don't have to pay them so much,” Donald Trump said on July 1. "I wouldn't want to run through the Everglades for long. It will keep people where they're supposed to be," he added. The facility is built to hold illegal immigrants. Deporting illegal immigrants is one of the prime focuses of Donald Trump's second presidency. "Alligator Alcatraz" is the latest in a series of measures designed to portray the Trump administration as tough on migration.

Florida governor DeSantis said they had sent several flights over the past few days.

Deportation flights from Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility begins

On Thursday (July 24), Britain said it would deepen its AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership with Australia. A new 50-year treaty through which it is expected to create jobs and boost British exports. Australia, Britain and the US agreed the AUKUS pact in 2021 to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific from the coming decade.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, US President Donald Trump launched a formal review of the pact last month to examine whether it met his "America First" criteria. Australia has said it is confident the partnership will proceed.&nbsp;The new British-Australian treaty will underpin each country's submarine programmes and is expected to be worth up to $27.1 billion to Britain in exports over the next 25 years, its ministry of defence said.&nbsp;The bilateral treaty comes as UK's defence and foreign ministers travel to Australia to meet their counterparts as well as visit the northern garrison city of Darwin, as Australia hosts its largest-ever military exercise. At its peak, there will be over 21,000 people in Britain working on the AUKUS programme, Britain said.&nbsp;&nbsp;UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, said, “AUKUS is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home. This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century. Through the Treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the UK and Australia, delivering on our Plan for Change today and for the generations to come. There are people not yet born who will benefit from the jobs secured through this defence deal.”&nbsp;He added, “Our deep defence relationship with Australia – from our work together to support Ukraine, share vital intelligence, and develop innovative technology – makes us secure at home and strong abroad.”&nbsp;(With agency input)

UK said on Thursday, it would deepen its AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership with Australia. With a new 50-year treaty it is expected to create jobs and boost British exports. 

On Thursday (July 24), Britain said it would deepen its AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership with Australia. A new 50-year treaty through which it is expected to create jobs and boost British exports. Australia, Britain and the US agreed the AUKUS pact in 2021 to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific from the coming decade. However, US President Donald Trump launched a formal review of the pact last month to examine whether it met his "America First" criteria. Australia has said it is confident the partnership will proceed. The new British-Australian treaty will underpin each country's submarine programmes and is expected to be worth up to $27.1 billion to Britain in exports over the next 25 years, its ministry of defence said. The bilateral treaty comes as UK's defence and foreign ministers travel to Australia to meet their counterparts as well as visit the northern garrison city of Darwin, as Australia hosts its largest-ever military exercise. At its peak, there will be over 21,000 people in Britain working on the AUKUS programme, Britain said. UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, said, “AUKUS is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home. This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century. Through the Treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the UK and Australia, delivering on our Plan for Change today and for the generations to come. There are people not yet born who will benefit from the jobs secured through this defence deal.” He added, “Our deep defence relationship with Australia – from our work together to support Ukraine, share vital intelligence, and develop innovative technology – makes us secure at home and strong abroad.” (With agency input)

UK said on Thursday, it would deepen its AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership with Australia. With a new 50-year treaty it is expected to create jobs and boost British exports.&nbsp;

Australia and UK deepen AUKUS nuclear partnership with 50-year pact

US President Donald Trump, once again dodged the claims of his involvement in the Epstein Files and called out Bill Clinton. When reporters asked him about the Epstein Files, the American president said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island." When a reporter asked him if he wrote a letter to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump said, “I don't even know what they are talking about. Now, anybody could have written the letter and used my name. That's happened a lot.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨BREAKING: President Trump just REMOVED THE GLOVES on the Epstein haox, calling out BILL CLINTON! &quot;You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton, who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island.&quot; Trump is playing the FAKE NEWS like a FIDDLE! <a href="https://t.co/ZR9FLxupns">pic.twitter.com/ZR9FLxupns</a>&mdash; Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoLoudon/status/1948742620051583395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Hasn't thought about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell&nbsp;Trump also said that he hasn’t thought about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn as he departed for Scotland, Trump said he’s allowed to do it but hasn’t considered granting a pardon to Maxwell.&nbsp;Trump added that he “certainly can’t talk about pardons now.” The Justice Department’s No. 2 official met with Maxwell on Thursday as the department promises transparency following backlash over an earlier refusal to release more records in the Epstein investigation.&nbsp;'Hamas didn't really want to make a deal'&nbsp;Trump also talked about the Israel-Hamas war and said, “Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die. They're gonna have to finish the job. They're gonna have to fight and they're gonna have to clean it up. You're gonna have to get rid of it.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is going to Scotland as his family business gets ready for the August 13 opening of a new golf course in Aberdeenshire that is advertised as “the greatest 36 holes in golf.” While in the United Kingdom, Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss trade, he has said a meeting will occur at “probably one of my properties”.&nbsp;The US president also talked about the decision by France's Emmanuel Macron to recognise a Palestinian state as pointless. “He's a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight.” South Park grills Trump over Epstein files&nbsp;The American animated series - South Park - returned on TV after 2.5 years on Wednesday (July 23) with Season 27. But what grabbed eyeballs was the premiere of its first episode that showed US President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. This holds significance as the American president is facing trouble amid the investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein sexual offence cases. The key theme of the series included government censorship, the death of wokeness, ChatGPT, and religion in the nation’s public schools, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The primer was titled Sermon on the Mount and showed Cartman upset over his favourite radio show coming to an end, NPR. Amid this, Donald Trump was busy scaring his enemies to notice what was happening around, as reported by Variety. Further, the primer showed Trump in the Oval Office in a heated argument with Canada's Prime Minister. The Canadian president was seen asking in the premiere, "Why are you placing these new tariffs on Canada? What are you, some kind of dictator from the Middle East?”&nbsp;

Donald Trump continues rejecting his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein case as he told reporters that they must be talking about Bill Clinton, who went to the island 28 times. 

US President Donald Trump, once again dodged the claims of his involvement in the Epstein Files and called out Bill Clinton. When reporters asked him about the Epstein Files, the American president said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island." When a reporter asked him if he wrote a letter to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump said, “I don't even know what they are talking about. Now, anybody could have written the letter and used my name. That's happened a lot.”

Donald Trump continues rejecting his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein case as he told reporters that they must be talking about Bill Clinton, who went to the island 28 times.&nbsp;

‘You ought to be talking about BILL CLINTON! I NEVER went to the island’: Trump on Epstein Files

US President Donald Trump, who is on his way to Scotland to inaugurate his family business’s new golf course in Aberdeenshire addressed the reporters. He said, “Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die. They're gonna have to finish the job. They're gonna have to fight and they're gonna have to clean it up. You're gonna have to get rid of it.”&nbsp;Trump made the comments to reporters at the White House a day after his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the Trump administration had decided to bring its negotiating team home for consultations following Hamas' latest proposal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-cost-of-progress-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-says-in-memo-progress-isn-t-linear-it-s-dynamic-1753448882219">The cost of progress? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo, 'Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic'</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is going to Scotland as his family business gets ready for the August 13 opening of a new golf course in Aberdeenshire that is advertised as “the greatest 36 holes in golf.” While in the United Kingdom, Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss trade, he has said a meeting which will occur at “probably one of my properties”.&nbsp;Using this week’s presidential overseas trip— with its extensive entourage of aides, White House and support staff, Secret Service agents, and journalists — to assist in displaying Trump-brand golf resorts is an example of how the president has become more at ease mixing his governing agenda with selling his family business interests.&nbsp;Trump, on being asked over the Epstein Files, he said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island.". The US president also dismissed the decision by France's Emmanuel Macron to recognise a Palestinian state as pointless. “He's a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georges-abdallah-the-longest-prisoner-of-israeli-palestinian-conflict-freed-by-france-after-41-years-1753441947489">Georges Abdallah, 'the longest prisoner of Israeli-Palestinian conflict', freed by France after 41 years</a>

Hamas didnt want to make Gaza ceasefire deal I think they want to says Trump

US President Donald Trump, who is on his way to Scotland to inaugurate his family business’s new golf course in Aberdeenshire addressed the reporters. He said, “Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die. They're gonna have to finish the job. They're gonna have to fight and they're gonna have to clean it up. You're gonna have to get rid of it.” Trump made the comments to reporters at the White House a day after his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the Trump administration had decided to bring its negotiating team home for consultations following Hamas' latest proposal. Also Read: The cost of progress? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo, 'Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic' Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is going to Scotland as his family business gets ready for the August 13 opening of a new golf course in Aberdeenshire that is advertised as “the greatest 36 holes in golf.” While in the United Kingdom, Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss trade, he has said a meeting which will occur at “probably one of my properties”. Using this week’s presidential overseas trip— with its extensive entourage of aides, White House and support staff, Secret Service agents, and journalists — to assist in displaying Trump-brand golf resorts is an example of how the president has become more at ease mixing his governing agenda with selling his family business interests. Trump, on being asked over the Epstein Files, he said, "You ought to be talking about Bill Clinton. Who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island.". The US president also dismissed the decision by France's Emmanuel Macron to recognise a Palestinian state as pointless. “He's a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight.” Also Read: Georges Abdallah, 'the longest prisoner of Israeli-Palestinian conflict', freed by France after 41 years

Prior to leaving for Scotland to inaugurate his family business’s new golf course in Aberdeenshire, US President Donald Trump addressed the reporters and said that Hamas doesn't want to make Gaza ceasefire deal

'Hamas didn’t want to make Gaza ceasefire deal, I think they want to...', says Trump

A series of explosions killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 at a weapons depot in northwestern Syria on Thursday, a monitor said."Multiple blasts at a weapons and ammunition warehouse belonging to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 in Maaret Misrin, in northern Idlib province," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Those killed included a woman and a child, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources on the ground.The TIP is a jihadist group active in the Idlib region made up of Uighur fighters who joined the Syrian civil war to fight against former president Bashar al-Assad.Syria's health ministry reported seven deaths and 157 wounded in the blasts, in a toll published by the official news agency SANA.Authorities did not immediately say what may have caused the explosions.AFP images showed a huge plume of white smoke over the town, with several children visible among the injured.The interior ministry said in a statement it had opened "an urgent and deep investigation to determine the circumstances and causes of the explosion and hold those responsible to account".It added it was "taking all necessary measures to avoid such incidents reoccurring in future".&nbsp;

The TIP is a jihadist group active in the Idlib region made up of Uighur fighters who joined the Syrian civil war to fight against former president Bashar al-Assad.

A series of explosions killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 at a weapons depot in northwestern Syria on Thursday, a monitor said. "Multiple blasts at a weapons and ammunition warehouse belonging to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 in Maaret Misrin, in northern Idlib province," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Those killed included a woman and a child, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources on the ground. The TIP is a jihadist group active in the Idlib region made up of Uighur fighters who joined the Syrian civil war to fight against former president Bashar al-Assad. Syria's health ministry reported seven deaths and 157 wounded in the blasts, in a toll published by the official news agency SANA. Authorities did not immediately say what may have caused the explosions. AFP images showed a huge plume of white smoke over the town, with several children visible among the injured. The interior ministry said in a statement it had opened "an urgent and deep investigation to determine the circumstances and causes of the explosion and hold those responsible to account". It added it was "taking all necessary measures to avoid such incidents reoccurring in future".

The TIP is a jihadist group active in the Idlib region made up of Uighur fighters who joined the Syrian civil war to fight against former president Bashar al-Assad.

Syria arms depot blast: At least 12 killed, over 100 injured

Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella wrote a letter to staff on Thursday (July 25) discussing why the company has laid off thousands of employees while reporting massive profits and investing billions in AI. "This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value," Nadella wrote. "Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before." &nbsp;Microsoft this year has announced it would lay off around 15,000 workers and cut nearly 2,000 more employees considered underperformers. The firm's net profit has meanwhile amounted to around $75 billion in the past three fiscal quarters. Microsoft is also investing $80 billion in AI infrastructure spend. The stock is 21% higher this year and reached an all-time high earlier in July. Nadella recognised what he referred to as the "uncertainty and apparent incongruence of the times in which we live."&nbsp;"By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving—our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right," Nadella wrote. "We're investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we've undergone layoffs." &nbsp;Nadella penned an identical note in 2023. In that year, Microsoft made its first gigantic layoff post-pandemic and also suspended raises. On the occasion, certain employees criticised the CEO for thanking the company for its achievements without recognising those difficult steps. This time around, the CEO was more even-handed.<h2>Read Nadella's full memo here:</h2>As we begin a new fiscal year, I've been reflecting on the road we've traveled together and the path ahead. Before anything else, I want to speak to what's been weighing heavily on me, and what I know many of you are thinking about: the recent job eliminations. These decisions are among the most difficult we have to make. They affect people we've worked alongside, learned from, and shared countless moments with—our colleagues, teammates, and friends. I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have left. Their contributions have shaped who we are as a company, helping build the foundation we stand on today. And for that, I am deeply grateful.I also want to acknowledge the uncertainty and seeming incongruence of the times we're in. By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving—our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right. We're investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we've undergone layoffs.&nbsp;This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value. Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before. The success we want to achieve will be defined by our ability to go through this difficult process of "unlearning" and "learning." It requires us to meet changing customer needs, by continuing to maintain and scale our current business, while also creating new categories with new business models and a new production function. This is inherently hard, and few companies can do both. But I have full confidence that we can, and we will once again find the resolve, courage, and clarity to deliver on our mission in this new paradigm.&nbsp;With that context, I want to re-ground ourselves in our why, what, and how: our mission, our priorities, and our culture.<h3>Our why: mission</h3>What does achieving our mission look like and feel like for us as a company? When Microsoft is succeeding, the world around us must succeed too. This is why each of us chose to be here, and as a company it's how we earn our social permission to operate. When Bill founded Microsoft, he envisioned not just a software company, but a software factory, unconstrained by any single product or category. That idea has guided us for decades. But today, it's no longer enough. We must reimagine our mission for a new era. What does empowerment look like in the era of AI? It's not just about building tools for specific roles or tasks. It's about building tools that empower everyone to create their own tools. That's the shift we are driving—from a software factory to an intelligence engine empowering every person and organization to build whatever they need to achieve.&nbsp;Just imagine if all 8 billion people could summon a researcher, an analyst, or a coding agent at their fingertips, not just to get information but use their expertise to get things done that benefit them. And consider how organizations, empowered with AI, could unlock entirely new levels of agility and innovation by transforming decision-making, streamlining operations, and enabling every team to achieve more together than ever before. That's the empowerment our mission enables, creating local surplus in every company, community, and country. And that's our opportunity ahead.<h3>Our what: priorities</h3>To deliver on our mission, we need to stay focused on our three business priorities: security, quality, and AI transformation. We are doubling down on the fundamentals while continuing to define new frontiers in AI. Security and quality are non-negotiable. Our infrastructure and services are mission critical for the world, and without them we don't have permission to move forward. We've made substantial progress across SFI, QEI, and Engineering Thrive this year, and they remain top priorities to ensure that we continuously improve our innovation velocity and our operational metrics.&nbsp;We will reimagine every layer of the tech stack for AI—infrastructure, to the app platform, to apps and agents. The key is to get the platform primitives right for these new workloads and for the next order of magnitude of scale. Our differentiation will come from how we bring these layers together to deliver end-to-end experiences and products, with the core ethos of a platform company that fosters ecosystem opportunity broadly. Getting both the product and platform right for the AI wave is our North Star! Our performance this past year has positioned us well. And we must move forward with the intentionality and intensity that these industry shifts demand.<h3>Our how: culture</h3>Growth mindset has served us well over the last decade—the everyday practice of being a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all. It has reshaped our culture and helped us lead with greater humility and empathy. We need to keep that. It starts with each of us as individuals and our personal drive to learn, improve, and get better every day. Professional rewards, growth, and pride in our craft will always be the prime drivers. Beyond that, we each have the opportunity to connect our personal passion and philosophy of how we derive meaning from the work we do with Microsoft's mission to empower the world. This is what makes it all worthwhile.&nbsp;This platform shift is reshaping not only the products we build and the business models we operate under, but also how we are structured and how we work together every day. It might feel messy at times, but transformation always is. Teams are reorganizing. Scopes are expanding. New opportunities are everywhere. It reminds me of the early '90s, when PCs and productivity software became standard in every home and every desk! That's exactly where we are now with AI. Years from now, when you look back at your time here, I hope you'll say: "That's when I learned the most. That's when I made my biggest impact. That's when I was part of something transformational."&nbsp;What we've learned over the past five decades is that success is not about longevity. It's about relevance. Our future won't be defined by what we've built before, but by what we empower others to build now. And I know that with your dedication, drive, and hard work we can go win together, and change the world in the process. I look forward to sharing more at Earnings next week and addressing your questions at our next Town Hall.

The cost of progress Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo Progress isnt linear Its dynamic

Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella wrote a letter to staff on Thursday (July 25) discussing why the company has laid off thousands of employees while reporting massive profits and investing billions in AI. "This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value," Nadella wrote. "Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before." Microsoft this year has announced it would lay off around 15,000 workers and cut nearly 2,000 more employees considered underperformers. The firm's net profit has meanwhile amounted to around $75 billion in the past three fiscal quarters. Microsoft is also investing $80 billion in AI infrastructure spend. The stock is 21% higher this year and reached an all-time high earlier in July. Nadella recognised what he referred to as the "uncertainty and apparent incongruence of the times in which we live." "By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving—our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right," Nadella wrote. "We're investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we've undergone layoffs." Nadella penned an identical note in 2023. In that year, Microsoft made its first gigantic layoff post-pandemic and also suspended raises. On the occasion, certain employees criticised the CEO for thanking the company for its achievements without recognising those difficult steps. This time around, the CEO was more even-handed. Read Nadella's full memo here: As we begin a new fiscal year, I've been reflecting on the road we've traveled together and the path ahead. Before anything else, I want to speak to what's been weighing heavily on me, and what I know many of you are thinking about: the recent job eliminations. These decisions are among the most difficult we have to make. They affect people we've worked alongside, learned from, and shared countless moments with—our colleagues, teammates, and friends. I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have left. Their contributions have shaped who we are as a company, helping build the foundation we stand on today. And for that, I am deeply grateful. I also want to acknowledge the uncertainty and seeming incongruence of the times we're in. By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving—our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right. We're investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognized and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we've undergone layoffs. This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value. Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic, sometimes dissonant, and always demanding. But it's also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before. The success we want to achieve will be defined by our ability to go through this difficult process of "unlearning" and "learning." It requires us to meet changing customer needs, by continuing to maintain and scale our current business, while also creating new categories with new business models and a new production function. This is inherently hard, and few companies can do both. But I have full confidence that we can, and we will once again find the resolve, courage, and clarity to deliver on our mission in this new paradigm. With that context, I want to re-ground ourselves in our why, what, and how: our mission, our priorities, and our culture. Our why: mission What does achieving our mission look like and feel like for us as a company? When Microsoft is succeeding, the world around us must succeed too. This is why each of us chose to be here, and as a company it's how we earn our social permission to operate. When Bill founded Microsoft, he envisioned not just a software company, but a software factory, unconstrained by any single product or category. That idea has guided us for decades. But today, it's no longer enough. We must reimagine our mission for a new era. What does empowerment look like in the era of AI? It's not just about building tools for specific roles or tasks. It's about building tools that empower everyone to create their own tools. That's the shift we are driving—from a software factory to an intelligence engine empowering every person and organization to build whatever they need to achieve. Just imagine if all 8 billion people could summon a researcher, an analyst, or a coding agent at their fingertips, not just to get information but use their expertise to get things done that benefit them. And consider how organizations, empowered with AI, could unlock entirely new levels of agility and innovation by transforming decision-making, streamlining operations, and enabling every team to achieve more together than ever before. That's the empowerment our mission enables, creating local surplus in every company, community, and country. And that's our opportunity ahead. Our what: priorities To deliver on our mission, we need to stay focused on our three business priorities: security, quality, and AI transformation. We are doubling down on the fundamentals while continuing to define new frontiers in AI. Security and quality are non-negotiable. Our infrastructure and services are mission critical for the world, and without them we don't have permission to move forward. We've made substantial progress across SFI, QEI, and Engineering Thrive this year, and they remain top priorities to ensure that we continuously improve our innovation velocity and our operational metrics. We will reimagine every layer of the tech stack for AI—infrastructure, to the app platform, to apps and agents. The key is to get the platform primitives right for these new workloads and for the next order of magnitude of scale. Our differentiation will come from how we bring these layers together to deliver end-to-end experiences and products, with the core ethos of a platform company that fosters ecosystem opportunity broadly. Getting both the product and platform right for the AI wave is our North Star! Our performance this past year has positioned us well. And we must move forward with the intentionality and intensity that these industry shifts demand. Our how: culture Growth mindset has served us well over the last decade—the everyday practice of being a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all. It has reshaped our culture and helped us lead with greater humility and empathy. We need to keep that. It starts with each of us as individuals and our personal drive to learn, improve, and get better every day. Professional rewards, growth, and pride in our craft will always be the prime drivers. Beyond that, we each have the opportunity to connect our personal passion and philosophy of how we derive meaning from the work we do with Microsoft's mission to empower the world. This is what makes it all worthwhile. This platform shift is reshaping not only the products we build and the business models we operate under, but also how we are structured and how we work together every day. It might feel messy at times, but transformation always is. Teams are reorganizing. Scopes are expanding. New opportunities are everywhere. It reminds me of the early '90s, when PCs and productivity software became standard in every home and every desk! That's exactly where we are now with AI. Years from now, when you look back at your time here, I hope you'll say: "That's when I learned the most. That's when I made my biggest impact. That's when I was part of something transformational." What we've learned over the past five decades is that success is not about longevity. It's about relevance. Our future won't be defined by what we've built before, but by what we empower others to build now. And I know that with your dedication, drive, and hard work we can go win together, and change the world in the process. I look forward to sharing more at Earnings next week and addressing your questions at our next Town Hall.

Microsoft this year has announced it would lay off around 15,000 workers and cut nearly 2,000 more employees considered underperformers

The cost of progress? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says in memo, 'Progress isn't linear. It's dynamic'

A man from Hefei, in China’s Anhui province, has stunned social media after revealing he spent over 4.3 million yuan (around US $6,00,000) at a local hair salon on unlicensed detox and wellness treatments over two years. Reported by the South China Morning Post, the story began in April 2023 when the man, identified by his surname Cheng, was invited by salon manager Chen to the launch of a new branch.&nbsp;During the visit, another manager, surnamed Zhou, coaxed Cheng upstairs to try what was described as a 'beautician’s massage'. This visit marked the start of a pattern of persistent emotional and sales pressure. Cheng told SCMP that staff repeatedly persuaded him to top up his account, often through emotional manipulation. “They were all young boys and girls, kneeling and saying they were poor and couldn’t even afford rent, relying on customers to help support their parents,” Cheng recalled, wrote SCMP. Older beauticians, he said, would urge him to deposit more funds, arguing that the staff earned commissions based on performance.&nbsp;<h2>Expensive unlicensed treatments and health decline</h2>&nbsp;Over two years, Cheng paid for a series of costly 'wellness' procedures, including 'skin-breaking needle detox' and multiple enema sessions promoted as 'bowel cleansing'. One enema course alone cost around 3,00,000 yuan (US $42,000). Other treatments included massages priced at 500–600 yuan per body part and 'belly dampness removal' sessions that cost up to 2,000 yuan each.&nbsp;Salon staff assured Cheng that these treatments would help him lose weight and regain a youthful appearance. His account balance kept rising, with a single top-up of 3,88,000 yuan (US $54,000) in January, and by the end of March, records showed the balance had surpassed 1.7 million yuan.However, instead of the promised rejuvenation, Cheng’s health deteriorated. He developed chronic diarrhoea and unhealed needle marks across his skin. According to Chongqing Daily News Group, after realising the salon lacked the necessary medical qualifications to perform such procedures, Cheng demanded a refund, only to be refused.&nbsp;<h2>Official investigation launched after viral outrage</h2>&nbsp;Cheng eventually reported the matter to the authorities. On July 9, Hefei police confirmed in an official statement that they had launched a joint investigation with market supervision into allegations of unlicensed medical practices at the salon. The story has since gone viral on Chinese social media, sparking disbelief over how such large sums were spent under high-pressure sales tactics.&nbsp;

This visit marked the start of a pattern of persistent emotional and sales pressure. Cheng told SCMP that staff repeatedly persuaded him to top up his account, often through emotional manipulation.

A man from Hefei, in China’s Anhui province, has stunned social media after revealing he spent over 4.3 million yuan (around US $6,00,000) at a local hair salon on unlicensed detox and wellness treatments over two years. Reported by the South China Morning Post, the story began in April 2023 when the man, identified by his surname Cheng, was invited by salon manager Chen to the launch of a new branch. During the visit, another manager, surnamed Zhou, coaxed Cheng upstairs to try what was described as a 'beautician’s massage'. This visit marked the start of a pattern of persistent emotional and sales pressure. Cheng told SCMP that staff repeatedly persuaded him to top up his account, often through emotional manipulation. “They were all young boys and girls, kneeling and saying they were poor and couldn’t even afford rent, relying on customers to help support their parents,” Cheng recalled, wrote SCMP. Older beauticians, he said, would urge him to deposit more funds, arguing that the staff earned commissions based on performance. Expensive unlicensed treatments and health decline Over two years, Cheng paid for a series of costly 'wellness' procedures, including 'skin-breaking needle detox' and multiple enema sessions promoted as 'bowel cleansing'. One enema course alone cost around 3,00,000 yuan (US $42,000). Other treatments included massages priced at 500–600 yuan per body part and 'belly dampness removal' sessions that cost up to 2,000 yuan each. Salon staff assured Cheng that these treatments would help him lose weight and regain a youthful appearance. His account balance kept rising, with a single top-up of 3,88,000 yuan (US $54,000) in January, and by the end of March, records showed the balance had surpassed 1.7 million yuan. However, instead of the promised rejuvenation, Cheng’s health deteriorated. He developed chronic diarrhoea and unhealed needle marks across his skin. According to Chongqing Daily News Group, after realising the salon lacked the necessary medical qualifications to perform such procedures, Cheng demanded a refund, only to be refused. Official investigation launched after viral outrage Cheng eventually reported the matter to the authorities. On July 9, Hefei police confirmed in an official statement that they had launched a joint investigation with market supervision into allegations of unlicensed medical practices at the salon. The story has since gone viral on Chinese social media, sparking disbelief over how such large sums were spent under high-pressure sales tactics.

This visit marked the start of a pattern of persistent emotional and sales pressure. Cheng told SCMP that staff repeatedly persuaded him to top up his account, often through emotional manipulation.

Hair salon horror: Chinese man spends $ 6,00,000 for ‘detox’, ends up sick and denied refund!

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Maldives on Friday (July 25) for a two-day state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic tensions. The Indian PM was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the Maldives during his state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic clashes. The Indian PM is attending the event as a guest of honour at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. The visit is PM Modi's third trip to the Maldives as Prime Minister and the first by any foreign head of state or government since President Muizzu assumed office.&nbsp;The Defence Ministry of the Maldives displayed a giant portrait of PM Modi to honour his visit. The poster sent people in a flashback to 2023 when the country has displayed a giant "India out" poster during the diplomatic clashes. That was part of the poll promises of the parliamentary elections by Muizzu, where he had promised to send back the Indian troops from the Maldives. Muizzu promised that he would send back Indian troops to make sure that there is no “Indian influence.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GwskhbzXcAAg-WK?format=jpg&amp;name=small" alt="Image"></figure>

'India Out' poster in 2023 in Maldives

Muizzu, along with his senior cabinet members, received PM Modi at the Male airport on Friday for his state visit to the Maldives on July 25-26. PM Modi is scheduled to hold wide-ranging discussions with President Mohamed Muizzu and inaugurate several development projects supported by India across the island nation. The Maldivian capital Male was decked up with colourful banners, giant posters and the Indian national flag lining the streets.&nbsp;'Making significant efforts'&nbsp;The Indian prime minister expressed gratitude to the Indian community for their warm and rousing welcome."India and the Maldives are making significant efforts to further strengthen their mutual relations. The people of India play a very important role in this journey. During this visit, the interactions between the people of India living in the Maldives were delightful. Heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome," PM Modi wrote on the social media platform X.&nbsp;

As the Indian PM Modi visited the Maldives for his two-day state visit, the defence ministry of the island nation welcomed him with his giant poster on the ministry building. This reminded people of the India out poster in 2023 during diplomatic tensions. 

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Maldives on Friday (July 25) for a two-day state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic tensions. The Indian PM was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the Maldives during his state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic clashes. The Indian PM is attending the event as a guest of honour at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. The visit is PM Modi's third trip to the Maldives as Prime Minister and the first by any foreign head of state or government since President Muizzu assumed office. The Defence Ministry of the Maldives displayed a giant portrait of PM Modi to honour his visit. The poster sent people in a flashback to 2023 when the country has displayed a giant "India out" poster during the diplomatic clashes. That was part of the poll promises of the parliamentary elections by Muizzu, where he had promised to send back the Indian troops from the Maldives. Muizzu promised that he would send back Indian troops to make sure that there is no “Indian influence.”

As the Indian PM Modi visited the Maldives for his two-day state visit, the defence ministry of the island nation welcomed him with his giant poster on the ministry's building. This reminded people of the ‘India out’ poster in 2023 during diplomatic tensions.&nbsp;

From 'India out' to Modi in Male: These 2 posters narrate a tale of India-Maldives ties over time

Pressure is increasing on Britain to recognise the state of Palestine, just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron made the historic announcement to do so. While the UK continues to support a two-state solution since 1980 in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the war and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza are forcing the hand of the Labour Prime Minister Kier Starmer to make the bold deicision.<h2>UK recognising Palestine state: What are Starmer's choices?</h2>Starmer and several member of his cabinet are of the view that a recognition of the Palestinian state should be ‘strategically timed’ within a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. But criticis argue that waiting for a perfect moment could lead to &nbsp;missing the opportunity altogether, warning that ultimately there would not be a Palestinian state left to recognise. Amid the Gaza war, the UK has taken limited steps like sanctioning hardliner Israeli ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for inciting violence. But Labour governemnt's is being slammed for being overly cautious to avoid offending allies like the US.<h2>France’s recognition of Palestinian state</h2>On Thursday (July 24), French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood by the UN General Assembly in September. France’s commitment to recognise Palestinian statehood has intensified scrutiny of the UK’s position. &nbsp;With this histoic move, France will become the first G7 member to recognise Palestine. Macron’s initiative has increased expectations for UK alignment, since the two nations have pledged to coordinate on the Israel-Palestine issue.&nbsp;Palestinian officials as well as countries like Saudi Arabia welcomed Macron's decision, while the US and Israel condemned it.Starmer is expected to speak to Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as early as Friday.<h2>Starmer is facing pressure from both inside and outside his party</h2>If UK recognises Palestine, it would be a watershed moment. Already, more than 125 British MPs, including from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, supported the immediate recognition of Palestine, calling it an inalienable right, not conditional on a broader peace process. Labour MP Sarah Champion recently organised a cross-party letter signed by more than 100 MPs, citing the UK’s historical responsibility stemming from the Balfour Declaration, to recognise Palestine. Some members of Starmer cabinet such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn have publically called for Palestine recognition. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour-supporingng Trades Union Congress have also joined the call.More than 30 former diplomats and ambassadors, the Archbishop of York have asked for recognition, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.<h2>What is Starmer's position on Palestinian statehood?</h2>The British prime inister has acknowledged Palestinian statehood as an “inalienable right”, and condemned the 'unspeakable and indefensible' situation in Gaza, where mass starvation is being reported due to Israel’s aid blockade. But Starmer maintains that a recognition of Palestine must come within a peace process to ensure maximum impact, a view backed by some of his cabinet members like Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.<h2>Starmer recognising Palestine could jeapordise ties with US amid Trump’s visit</h2>Trump is visiting Scotland on a private trip, but is expected to either meet or talk to Starmer when he is in UK on Friday. Starmer is supporting efforts led by the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Trump, &nbsp;a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is likely to pressure Starmer against recognising Palestine. Starmer, for his part, is likely to raise the Gaza humanitarian crisis with Trump. Netanyahu opposes the &nbsp;recognition of Palestine, calling it a launch pad to annihilate Israel.<h2>Starmer's dilemma on recognising Palestine</h2>As mentioned, there is internal division in Starmer's Labour Party, where pro-Israel voices have warned that a unilateral recognition of Palestine could undermine the UK’s diplomatic credibility, violate the Oslo Accords’ requirement for negotiated solutions to the issue. At the same time, ideologically, it is only a Labour government that can take te bold move of recognising the state of Palestine, failing which would be a loss of historic opportunity. Which side of history would Starmer want to be, is the question.&nbsp;

Critics argue that waiting for a perfect moment could lead to  missing the opportunity altogether, warning that ultimately there would not be a Palestinian state left to recognise.

Pressure is increasing on Britain to recognise the state of Palestine, just a day after French President Emmanuel Macron made the historic announcement to do so. While the UK continues to support a two-state solution since 1980 in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the war and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza are forcing the hand of the Labour Prime Minister Kier Starmer to make the bold deicision. UK recognising Palestine state: What are Starmer's choices? Starmer and several member of his cabinet are of the view that a recognition of the Palestinian state should be ‘strategically timed’ within a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. But criticis argue that waiting for a perfect moment could lead to missing the opportunity altogether, warning that ultimately there would not be a Palestinian state left to recognise. Amid the Gaza war, the UK has taken limited steps like sanctioning hardliner Israeli ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for inciting violence. But Labour governemnt's is being slammed for being overly cautious to avoid offending allies like the US. France’s recognition of Palestinian state On Thursday (July 24), French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood by the UN General Assembly in September. France’s commitment to recognise Palestinian statehood has intensified scrutiny of the UK’s position. With this histoic move, France will become the first G7 member to recognise Palestine. Macron’s initiative has increased expectations for UK alignment, since the two nations have pledged to coordinate on the Israel-Palestine issue. Palestinian officials as well as countries like Saudi Arabia welcomed Macron's decision, while the US and Israel condemned it. Starmer is expected to speak to Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as early as Friday. Starmer is facing pressure from both inside and outside his party If UK recognises Palestine, it would be a watershed moment. Already, more than 125 British MPs, including from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, supported the immediate recognition of Palestine, calling it an inalienable right, not conditional on a broader peace process. Labour MP Sarah Champion recently organised a cross-party letter signed by more than 100 MPs, citing the UK’s historical responsibility stemming from the Balfour Declaration, to recognise Palestine. Some members of Starmer cabinet such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn have publically called for Palestine recognition. London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour-supporingng Trades Union Congress have also joined the call. More than 30 former diplomats and ambassadors, the Archbishop of York have asked for recognition, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. What is Starmer's position on Palestinian statehood? The British prime inister has acknowledged Palestinian statehood as an “inalienable right”, and condemned the 'unspeakable and indefensible' situation in Gaza, where mass starvation is being reported due to Israel’s aid blockade. But Starmer maintains that a recognition of Palestine must come within a peace process to ensure maximum impact, a view backed by some of his cabinet members like Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Starmer recognising Palestine could jeapordise ties with US amid Trump’s visit Trump is visiting Scotland on a private trip, but is expected to either meet or talk to Starmer when he is in UK on Friday. Starmer is supporting efforts led by the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Trump, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is likely to pressure Starmer against recognising Palestine. Starmer, for his part, is likely to raise the Gaza humanitarian crisis with Trump. Netanyahu opposes the recognition of Palestine, calling it a launch pad to annihilate Israel. Starmer's dilemma on recognising Palestine As mentioned, there is internal division in Starmer's Labour Party, where pro-Israel voices have warned that a unilateral recognition of Palestine could undermine the UK’s diplomatic credibility, violate the Oslo Accords’ requirement for negotiated solutions to the issue. At the same time, ideologically, it is only a Labour government that can take te bold move of recognising the state of Palestine, failing which would be a loss of historic opportunity. Which side of history would Starmer want to be, is the question.

Critics argue that waiting for a perfect moment could lead to &nbsp;missing the opportunity altogether, warning that ultimately there would not be a Palestinian state left to recognise.

Will UK recognise Palestine state? Pressure mounts on PM Starmer to follow France as Trump comes calling

Georges Abdallah, a 74-year-old Lebanese schoolteacher who became a left-wing symbol for the Palestinian cause, has been released by France on Friday (July 25) after spending 41 years behind bars. Described by his lawyer as "the man who has spent the longest time in prison for events connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Abdallah left jail in the south of France on Friday morning and was set to be placed on a flight directly to Beirut.&nbsp;Abdallah was convicted in 1987 of complicity in the murders, in France, of two diplomats – one American, one Israeli. Still, his release remained a cause celebre among activists in the Marxist-Leninist left with whom he still identifies.&nbsp;His bearded face, scowling behind banners, still looked out over left-wing protests; and every year demonstrators would assemble to call for his liberty outside his Pyrenean prison. Three left-wing French municipalities declared him an "honorary citizen".&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-george-ibrahim-abdallah-and-why-is-his-case-unique-lebanese-militant-who-spent-40-years-in-jail-released-by-french-court-1752741155229">Lebanese militant who spent 40 years in jail released by French court. Who is Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and why is his case unique?</a>&nbsp;Though eligible for parole since 1999, he had successive applications for freedom being turned down. This, according to his supporters, was due to pressure exerted by the US and Israel on the French government. Interviewed recently by the French news agency AFP at his cell in Lannemazan jail, he said he had kept sane by focusing on the Palestinian "struggle". "If I had not had that… well, 40 years – it can turn your brain to mush," he was quoted saying. &nbsp;On the walls of his prison cell, Abdallah had a photo of Che Guevara, a 1960s revolutionary, and postcards from admirers everywhere. A desk was piled with stacks of newspapers. Born in 1951 to a Christian family in northern Lebanon, in the late 1970s Abdallah assisted in establishing the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF) – a tiny Marxist organisation committed to fighting Israel and its closest ally, the United States.&nbsp;Lebanon was mired in a civil war at the time. In 1978 and once more in 1982 Israel occupied south Lebanon to fight Palestinian militants based there. Abdallah's group planned to attack Israeli and American targets in Europe, and attempted five attacks in France. In 1982, members of the group shot and murdered US diplomat Charles Ray in Strasbourg, and Israeli diplomat Yakov Barsimantov in Paris.Further, a car bomb attributed to LARF killed two French bomb-disposal technicians.&nbsp;Abdallah was arrested in Lyon in 1984. Tailled by French intelligence agents, he believed he was being pursued by Israeli hitmen and turned himself in at a police station. At first, he was charged with merely possessing false passports and criminal association. Soon after a French national was taken hostage in northern Lebanon, and the French secret service moved into a negotiation through Algeria to stage an exchange.&nbsp;The French citizen was released, but the night before Abdallah was to be released police in Paris discovered a stash of weapons at his apartment, including the gun that had been used to murder the diplomats. This rendered his release impossible.&nbsp;Two years on during the build up to his trial, Paris was targeted by a series of terrorist attacks which claimed 13 lives. These were attributed by politicians and the media to supporters of Abdallah attempting to bully France into releasing him. It later transpired that in reality they were carried out by the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, on behalf of Iran.&nbsp;At the trial, Abdallah had insisted on not being involved in the killings but rationalised their rightness. He was sentenced to life.&nbsp;"This is a triumph for justice but also a political scandal that he was not let go before, due to the conduct of the United States and successive French presidents," said his lawyer Jean-Louis Chalanset. One of those who lobbied for his release was 2022 Nobel literature prize winner Annie Ernaux, who described him as a "victim of state justice of which France should be ashamed".

Georges Abdallah the longest prisoner of Israeli Palestinian conflict freed by France after 41 years

Georges Abdallah, a 74-year-old Lebanese schoolteacher who became a left-wing symbol for the Palestinian cause, has been released by France on Friday (July 25) after spending 41 years behind bars. Described by his lawyer as "the man who has spent the longest time in prison for events connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Abdallah left jail in the south of France on Friday morning and was set to be placed on a flight directly to Beirut. Abdallah was convicted in 1987 of complicity in the murders, in France, of two diplomats – one American, one Israeli. Still, his release remained a cause celebre among activists in the Marxist-Leninist left with whom he still identifies. His bearded face, scowling behind banners, still looked out over left-wing protests; and every year demonstrators would assemble to call for his liberty outside his Pyrenean prison. Three left-wing French municipalities declared him an "honorary citizen". Also Read: Lebanese militant who spent 40 years in jail released by French court. Who is Georges Ibrahim Abdallah and why is his case unique? Though eligible for parole since 1999, he had successive applications for freedom being turned down. This, according to his supporters, was due to pressure exerted by the US and Israel on the French government. Interviewed recently by the French news agency AFP at his cell in Lannemazan jail, he said he had kept sane by focusing on the Palestinian "struggle". "If I had not had that… well, 40 years – it can turn your brain to mush," he was quoted saying. On the walls of his prison cell, Abdallah had a photo of Che Guevara, a 1960s revolutionary, and postcards from admirers everywhere. A desk was piled with stacks of newspapers. Born in 1951 to a Christian family in northern Lebanon, in the late 1970s Abdallah assisted in establishing the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF) – a tiny Marxist organisation committed to fighting Israel and its closest ally, the United States. Lebanon was mired in a civil war at the time. In 1978 and once more in 1982 Israel occupied south Lebanon to fight Palestinian militants based there. Abdallah's group planned to attack Israeli and American targets in Europe, and attempted five attacks in France. In 1982, members of the group shot and murdered US diplomat Charles Ray in Strasbourg, and Israeli diplomat Yakov Barsimantov in Paris. Further, a car bomb attributed to LARF killed two French bomb-disposal technicians. Abdallah was arrested in Lyon in 1984. Tailled by French intelligence agents, he believed he was being pursued by Israeli hitmen and turned himself in at a police station. At first, he was charged with merely possessing false passports and criminal association. Soon after a French national was taken hostage in northern Lebanon, and the French secret service moved into a negotiation through Algeria to stage an exchange. The French citizen was released, but the night before Abdallah was to be released police in Paris discovered a stash of weapons at his apartment, including the gun that had been used to murder the diplomats. This rendered his release impossible. Two years on during the build up to his trial, Paris was targeted by a series of terrorist attacks which claimed 13 lives. These were attributed by politicians and the media to supporters of Abdallah attempting to bully France into releasing him. It later transpired that in reality they were carried out by the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, on behalf of Iran. At the trial, Abdallah had insisted on not being involved in the killings but rationalised their rightness. He was sentenced to life. "This is a triumph for justice but also a political scandal that he was not let go before, due to the conduct of the United States and successive French presidents," said his lawyer Jean-Louis Chalanset. One of those who lobbied for his release was 2022 Nobel literature prize winner Annie Ernaux, who described him as a "victim of state justice of which France should be ashamed".

Georges Abdallah was convicted in 1987 for complicity in the murders in France of two diplomats – one American, one Israeli

Georges Abdallah, 'the longest prisoner of Israeli-Palestinian conflict', freed by France after 41 years

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with a 21-gun salute ahead of the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the Maldives (July 26) during his state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic clashes. The Indian PM is attending the event as a guest of honour at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. The visit is PM Modi's third trip to the Maldives as Prime Minister and the first by any foreign head of state or government since President Muizzu assumed office.&nbsp;

Muizzu, along with his senior cabinet members, received PM Modi at the Male airport on Friday for his state visit to the Maldives on July 25-26. PM Modi is scheduled to hold wide-ranging discussions with President Mohamed Muizzu and inaugurate several development projects supported by India across the island nation. The Maldivian capital Male was decked up with colourful banners, giant posters and the Indian national flag lining the streets.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/modi-arrives-in-maldives-as-chief-guest-for-60th-independence-day-1753431270446/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/modi-arrives-in-maldives-as-chief-guest-for-60th-independence-day-1753431270446/embed</a>&nbsp;The Indian prime minister expressed gratitude to the Indian community for their warm and rousing welcome."India and the Maldives are making significant efforts to further strengthen their mutual relations. The people of India play a very important role in this journey. During this visit, the interactions between the people of India living in the Maldives were delightful. Heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome," PM Modi wrote on the social media platform X.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry of the Maldives displayed a giant portrait of PM Modi to honour his visit. The poster sent people in a flashback to 2023 when the country displayed a giant "India out" poster during the diplomatic clashes. That was part of the poll promises of the parliamentary elections by Muizzu, where he had promised to send back the Indian troops from the Maldives. Muizzu promised that he would send back Indian troops to make sure that there is no “Indian influence.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Glimpses from the ceremonial welcome at Republic Square in Malé…<a href="https://twitter.com/MMuizzu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MMuizzu</a> <a href="https://t.co/2MAaT1PXxB">pic.twitter.com/2MAaT1PXxB</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1948708763554205951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As PM Modi is on a state visit to the Maldives, the Indian PM gets a 21-gun salute at the Independence Day event of the country, with President Mohamed Muizzu by his side. 

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with a 21-gun salute ahead of the 60th Independence Day celebrations in the Maldives (July 26) during his state visit to the country for the first time after diplomatic clashes. The Indian PM is attending the event as a guest of honour at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. The visit is PM Modi's third trip to the Maldives as Prime Minister and the first by any foreign head of state or government since President Muizzu assumed office.

As PM Modi is on a state visit to the Maldives, the Indian PM gets a 21-gun salute at the Independence Day event of the country, with President Mohamed Muizzu by his side.&nbsp;

PM Modi in Maldives: Indian PM gets 21-gun salute at Independence Day event

Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday (July 24). The relationship between the 'ironclad' brothers was highlighted during this meeting, which underscored fighting terrorism and maintaining stability in the region. Not too long ago, the US designated a terrorist outfit - The Resistance Front (TRF), which operates on Pakistani soil. And now, a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry states, “China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.”<h2> October 2024 attack on Chinese nationals &nbsp;</h2>&nbsp; The statement, which mentions the safety of Chinese nationals, comes less than a year after the terrorist attack targeting them in Karachi on October 7, 2024. Two Chinese nationals were killed, one Chinese national injured in the attack, which has triggered safety concerns. A convoy moving from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked by terrorists near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The recent statement added, "The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist act, express deep condolences to the victims of the two countries, and extend sincere condolences to the injured and their relatives." Further assuring that the Chinese side has been working with the Pakistani side to do their best to deal with the aftermath of the incident. &nbsp;<h2> 'Ironclad' brothers to fight terrorism together &nbsp;</h2> During his China visit, Syed Asim Munir said that the brotherly friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China have weathered tests and remain rock-solid. In a statement, Munir was quoted: "China is Pakistan's ironclad brother, and developing friendly cooperation with China is the consensus of the entire Pakistani society. He expressed heartfelt thanks to China for its long-standing, valuable support for Pakistan's economic and social development. The Pakistani military will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan and is willing to actively advance stronger counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries." &nbsp;<h2> Terrorism emanating from Pakistan &nbsp;</h2> Terrorism emanating from Pakistan didn't stop there; on April 22, India's Kashmir witnessed an attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. The attack was orchestrated by TRF, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Islamabad's inaction towards thwarting terrorism forced India to launch Operation Sindoor as an response to the dastardly attack. It was New Delhi's effort to dismantle Pakistan's terrorist infrastructure.

Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The two leaders discuss bilateral matters and also unscore the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday (July 24). The relationship between the 'ironclad' brothers was highlighted during this meeting, which underscored fighting terrorism and maintaining stability in the region. Not too long ago, the US designated a terrorist outfit - The Resistance Front (TRF), which operates on Pakistani soil. And now, a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry states, “China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.” October 2024 attack on Chinese nationals The statement, which mentions the safety of Chinese nationals, comes less than a year after the terrorist attack targeting them in Karachi on October 7, 2024. Two Chinese nationals were killed, one Chinese national injured in the attack, which has triggered safety concerns. A convoy moving from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked by terrorists near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The recent statement added, "The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist act, express deep condolences to the victims of the two countries, and extend sincere condolences to the injured and their relatives." Further assuring that the Chinese side has been working with the Pakistani side to do their best to deal with the aftermath of the incident. 'Ironclad' brothers to fight terrorism together During his China visit, Syed Asim Munir said that the brotherly friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China have weathered tests and remain rock-solid. In a statement, Munir was quoted: "China is Pakistan's ironclad brother, and developing friendly cooperation with China is the consensus of the entire Pakistani society. He expressed heartfelt thanks to China for its long-standing, valuable support for Pakistan's economic and social development. The Pakistani military will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan and is willing to actively advance stronger counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries." Terrorism emanating from Pakistan Terrorism emanating from Pakistan didn't stop there; on April 22, India's Kashmir witnessed an attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. The attack was orchestrated by TRF, an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Islamabad's inaction towards thwarting terrorism forced India to launch Operation Sindoor as an response to the dastardly attack. It was New Delhi's effort to dismantle Pakistan's terrorist infrastructure.

Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The two leaders discuss bilateral matters and also unscore the fight against terrorism.

'China supports Pakistan in combating terrorism' less than a year after attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi

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