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Several senior Trump administration officials have described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “madman” following a series of airstrikes in Syria that caught the White House by surprise. “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” one official told Axios, adding, “This could undermine what Trump is trying to do.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-one-year-ago-us-was-dead-trump-marks-6-months-in-office-says-america-is-now-the-hottest-country-in-world-1753022570531">'One year ago US was dead': Trump marks 6 months in office, says America is now the ‘hottest’ country in world</a>Another official told Axios that frustration over the recent shelling of a church in Gaza led President Trump to phone Netanyahu directly. “The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f*?” the official said. A third US official told Axios there’s growing doubt inside the administration over Netanyahu’s judgment. “Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won’t behave.”<h2>Why is the US alarmed over Netanyahu’s actions in Syria?</h2>Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in Syria, Israel launched a strike on Tuesday targeting Syrian army tanks heading to Suwayda. The attack followed deadly clashes in the area between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribesmen, with over 700 people reported dead. Israel said the convoy entered a demilitarised zone and that Syria was targeting the Druze minority. Syria denied this.US envoy Tom Barrack had asked Israel to hold back and seek a diplomatic solution, which Israeli officials agreed to. But within a day, Israel escalated the strikes, hitting Syria’s military HQ and areas near the presidential palace. “The bombing in Syria caught the president and the White House by surprise,” said one US official. “The president doesn’t like turning on the television and seeing bombs dropped in a country he is seeking peace in,” he added.<h2>Trump officials tried to rein Netanyahu in</h2>Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told Netanyahu to stop the bombings on Wednesday. Netanyahu agreed, on the condition that Syria withdraw from Suwayda. But by that point, regional backlash had already grown. Turkey and Saudi Arabia had voiced concerns to Washington, and several top officials, including Barrack and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, complained to Trump about Netanyahu’s actions. “Bibi’s political agenda is driving his senses. It will turn out to be a big mistake for him long-term,” one official said. Another added, “The Israelis need to get their head out of their asses.”<h2>US pushback grows after Gaza church shelling and settler violence</h2>The Syria strikes came days after Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he and Trump appeared united following the war with Iran. But tensions have since flared. Apart from the airstrikes, US officials were angered by the church shelling in Gaza and the killing of Palestinian American Saif Musallet by Israeli settlers last week.Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a longtime ally of Netanyahu, criticised the attack and called it “terrorism.” He also raised concerns about how Israeli policy was affecting Christian communities and even visa access for American evangelicals.<h2>Israel insists it acted to protect the Druze</h2>A senior Israeli official pushed back on US criticism, claiming the Syrian military had targeted the Druze and that Israel intervened out of obligation to its own Druze citizens. “The US wants to keep the new Syrian government stable and doesn’t understand why we attack in Syria,” the official said.<h2>Could Netanyahu push things too far?</h2>A senior US official warned that Israeli policy in Syria risked destabilising the region. “The current Israeli policy would lead to an unstable Syria. Both the Druze community and Israel will lose in such a scenario,” the official added.While Trump has not publicly criticised Netanyahu, the White House is growing more frustrated. Some officials believe Netanyahu has repeatedly gambled on Trump’s support, first with strikes on Iran, then by prolonging the Gaza war, and now in Syria. “Netanyahu’s luck, and Trump’s goodwill, could run out,” warned one&nbsp;US&nbsp;official.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in Syria, Israel launched a strike on Tuesday targeting Syrian army tanks heading to Suwayda. The attack followed deadly clashes in the area between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribesmen, with over 700 people reported dead.

Several senior Trump administration officials have described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “madman” following a series of airstrikes in Syria that caught the White House by surprise. “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” one official told Axios, adding, “This could undermine what Trump is trying to do.” Also read: 'One year ago US was dead': Trump marks 6 months in office, says America is now the ‘hottest’ country in world Another official told Axios that frustration over the recent shelling of a church in Gaza led President Trump to phone Netanyahu directly. “The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f*?” the official said. A third US official told Axios there’s growing doubt inside the administration over Netanyahu’s judgment. “Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won’t behave.” Why is the US alarmed over Netanyahu’s actions in Syria? Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in Syria, Israel launched a strike on Tuesday targeting Syrian army tanks heading to Suwayda. The attack followed deadly clashes in the area between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribesmen, with over 700 people reported dead. Israel said the convoy entered a demilitarised zone and that Syria was targeting the Druze minority. Syria denied this. US envoy Tom Barrack had asked Israel to hold back and seek a diplomatic solution, which Israeli officials agreed to. But within a day, Israel escalated the strikes, hitting Syria’s military HQ and areas near the presidential palace. “The bombing in Syria caught the president and the White House by surprise,” said one US official. “The president doesn’t like turning on the television and seeing bombs dropped in a country he is seeking peace in,” he added. Trump officials tried to rein Netanyahu in Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told Netanyahu to stop the bombings on Wednesday. Netanyahu agreed, on the condition that Syria withdraw from Suwayda. But by that point, regional backlash had already grown. Turkey and Saudi Arabia had voiced concerns to Washington, and several top officials, including Barrack and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, complained to Trump about Netanyahu’s actions. “Bibi’s political agenda is driving his senses. It will turn out to be a big mistake for him long-term,” one official said. Another added, “The Israelis need to get their head out of their asses.” US pushback grows after Gaza church shelling and settler violence The Syria strikes came days after Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he and Trump appeared united following the war with Iran. But tensions have since flared. Apart from the airstrikes, US officials were angered by the church shelling in Gaza and the killing of Palestinian American Saif Musallet by Israeli settlers last week. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a longtime ally of Netanyahu, criticised the attack and called it “terrorism.” He also raised concerns about how Israeli policy was affecting Christian communities and even visa access for American evangelicals. Israel insists it acted to protect the Druze A senior Israeli official pushed back on US criticism, claiming the Syrian military had targeted the Druze and that Israel intervened out of obligation to its own Druze citizens. “The US wants to keep the new Syrian government stable and doesn’t understand why we attack in Syria,” the official said. Could Netanyahu push things too far? A senior US official warned that Israeli policy in Syria risked destabilising the region. “The current Israeli policy would lead to an unstable Syria. Both the Druze community and Israel will lose in such a scenario,” the official added. While Trump has not publicly criticised Netanyahu, the White House is growing more frustrated. Some officials believe Netanyahu has repeatedly gambled on Trump’s support, first with strikes on Iran, then by prolonging the Gaza war, and now in Syria. “Netanyahu’s luck, and Trump’s goodwill, could run out,” warned one US official.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire in Syria, Israel launched a strike on Tuesday targeting Syrian army tanks heading to Suwayda. The attack followed deadly clashes in the area between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribesmen, with over 700 people reported dead.

'Child who won’t behave': White House frustrated by ‘madman’ Netanyahu’s behaviour; US official warns 'Trump’s goodwill could run out'

A fire broke out on an Indonesian ferry carrying hundreds of people on Sunday (July 20), killing at least five people. According to the officials, more than 200 were rescued, as many people jumped overboard to flee the huge blaze. Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency said that the KM Barcelona 5 ferry was engulfed in flames off the coast of Sulawesi island. This comes weeks after at least 19 people were killed after a ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali.&nbsp;“Five people were reported dead, two of whom have yet to be identified. Meanwhile, 284 people have been evacuated safely,” the agency said in a statement.&nbsp;The passenger ferry was on its way to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the fire broke out. According to the statement, some passengers jumped overboard with life jackets. Fishermen also helped evacuate the passengers to nearby islands. The injured were taken to the nearest health facility, it added.&nbsp;The incident happened when the ferry was about an hour away from the resort town of Likupang, in the northern tip of Sulawesi, Manado search and rescue agency head George Leo Mercy Randang told AFP.&nbsp;A video released by the Manado agency showed the ferry emitting black smoke as a Bakamla vessel sprayed water on it. “What is important is that we are prioritising rescue before nightfall,” George said. He did not confirm the total number of people aboard the ferry. The authorities did not say what was the cause of the incident. &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: A fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time today on the KM Barcelona VA ferry off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The vessel, carrying over 280 people from the Talaud Islands to Manado City, forced passengers to leap into the sea. No confirmed casualties… <a href="https://t.co/7zkSEk3ZMB">pic.twitter.com/7zkSEk3ZMB</a>&mdash; Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) <a href="https://twitter.com/volcaholic1/status/1946889006215549379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Earlier this month, a boat carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members sank en route to tourist island of Bali from Banyuwangi on the eastern coast of Java island, killing at least six. Dozens others were also missing in the incident, which happened at the time of bad weather conditions.

The incident happened when the ferry was about an hour away from the resort town of Likupang, in the northern tip of Sulawesi

A fire broke out on an Indonesian ferry carrying hundreds of people on Sunday (July 20), killing at least five people. According to the officials, more than 200 were rescued, as many people jumped overboard to flee the huge blaze. Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency said that the KM Barcelona 5 ferry was engulfed in flames off the coast of Sulawesi island. This comes weeks after at least 19 people were killed after a ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali. “Five people were reported dead, two of whom have yet to be identified. Meanwhile, 284 people have been evacuated safely,” the agency said in a statement. The passenger ferry was on its way to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, when the fire broke out. According to the statement, some passengers jumped overboard with life jackets. Fishermen also helped evacuate the passengers to nearby islands. The injured were taken to the nearest health facility, it added. The incident happened when the ferry was about an hour away from the resort town of Likupang, in the northern tip of Sulawesi, Manado search and rescue agency head George Leo Mercy Randang told AFP. A video released by the Manado agency showed the ferry emitting black smoke as a Bakamla vessel sprayed water on it. “What is important is that we are prioritising rescue before nightfall,” George said. He did not confirm the total number of people aboard the ferry. The authorities did not say what was the cause of the incident.

The incident happened when the ferry was about an hour away from the resort town of Likupang, in the northern tip of Sulawesi.

At least five killed after fire breaks out on Indonesian passenger ferry; 284 people evacuated safely

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition lost its upper house majority in elections on Sunday, local media projected, in a debacle that could end his short premiership.&nbsp;Ishiba's governing coalition was already humiliatingly forced into a minority government after lower house elections in October, shortly after he became prime minister and called the snap vote.&nbsp;Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito won around 41 of the 125 upper house seats contested on Sunday, short of the 50 needed to retain a majority, Nippon TV and TBS projected, based on exit polls.&nbsp;National broadcaster NHK projected that the LDP could win anything between 27 and 41 seats and Komeito between five and 12, making retaining a majority "difficult".&nbsp;The right-wing populist party Sanseito was meanwhile projected to have made strong gains, winning between 10 and 22 seats, adding to the two it already holds in the 248-seat chamber.&nbsp;Ishiba, 68, a self-avowed policy "geek" seen as a safe pair of hands when he won the LDP leadership in September, was tight-lipped late Sunday about his future.&nbsp;"It's a difficult situation, and we have to take it very humbly and seriously," Ishiba told broadcaster NHK. Asked about his future, he said only that he "cannot speak lightly of it".&nbsp;"We can't do anything until we see the final results, but we want to be very aware of our responsibility," Ishiba added.&nbsp;"Ishiba may be replaced by someone else, but it's not clear who will be the successor," Hidehiro Yamamoto, politics and sociology professor at the University of Tsukuba, told AFP.&nbsp;Ishiba's centre-right LDP has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader.&nbsp;Ishiba took over in September on his fifth attempt and immediately called elections.&nbsp;But this backfired and the vote left the LDP and its small coalition partner Komeito needing support from opposition parties, stymying its legislative agenda.&nbsp;<h2>Trumped</h2>&nbsp;Many voters are angry about rising prices and falling living standards.At one Tokyo polling station on Sunday, 54-year-old voter Atsushi Matsuura told AFP: "Commodity prices are going up, but I am more worried that salaries aren't increasing."&nbsp;Not helping is lingering resentment about an LDP funding scandal, and US tariffs of 25 percent due to bite from August 1.&nbsp;Japanese imports are already subject to a 10-percent tariff, while the auto industry, which accounts for eight percent of jobs, is reeling from a 25-percent levy.&nbsp;Despite Ishiba securing an early meeting with US President Donald Trump in February, and sending his trade envoy to Washington seven times, there has been no trade accord.&nbsp;Trump poured cold water on the prospects of an agreement last week, saying Japan won't "open up their country".&nbsp;"We will not easily compromise," Ishiba said this month.&nbsp;<h2>‘Japanese first’</h2>&nbsp;The last time the LDP lost power was in 2009, when the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan governed for a rocky three years.&nbsp;Today, the opposition is fragmented, and chances are slim that the parties can form an alternative government.&nbsp;The "Japanese-first" Sanseito wants "stricter rules and limits" on immigration, opposes "globalism" and "radical" gender policies, and wants a rethink on decarbonisation and vaccines.&nbsp;Last week, it was forced to deny any links to Moscow -- which has backed populist parties elsewhere -- after a candidate was interviewed by Russian state media.&nbsp;"They put into words what I had been thinking about but couldn't put into words for many years," one voter told AFP at a Sanseito rally.&nbsp;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.

The right-wing populist party Sanseito was meanwhile projected to have made strong gains, winning between 10 and 22 seats, adding to the two it already holds in the 248-seat chamber.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition lost its upper house majority in elections on Sunday, local media projected, in a debacle that could end his short premiership. Ishiba's governing coalition was already humiliatingly forced into a minority government after lower house elections in October, shortly after he became prime minister and called the snap vote. Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito won around 41 of the 125 upper house seats contested on Sunday, short of the 50 needed to retain a majority, Nippon TV and TBS projected, based on exit polls. National broadcaster NHK projected that the LDP could win anything between 27 and 41 seats and Komeito between five and 12, making retaining a majority "difficult". The right-wing populist party Sanseito was meanwhile projected to have made strong gains, winning between 10 and 22 seats, adding to the two it already holds in the 248-seat chamber. Ishiba, 68, a self-avowed policy "geek" seen as a safe pair of hands when he won the LDP leadership in September, was tight-lipped late Sunday about his future. "It's a difficult situation, and we have to take it very humbly and seriously," Ishiba told broadcaster NHK. Asked about his future, he said only that he "cannot speak lightly of it". "We can't do anything until we see the final results, but we want to be very aware of our responsibility," Ishiba added. "Ishiba may be replaced by someone else, but it's not clear who will be the successor," Hidehiro Yamamoto, politics and sociology professor at the University of Tsukuba, told AFP. Ishiba's centre-right LDP has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader. Ishiba took over in September on his fifth attempt and immediately called elections. But this backfired and the vote left the LDP and its small coalition partner Komeito needing support from opposition parties, stymying its legislative agenda. Trumped Many voters are angry about rising prices and falling living standards. At one Tokyo polling station on Sunday, 54-year-old voter Atsushi Matsuura told AFP: "Commodity prices are going up, but I am more worried that salaries aren't increasing." Not helping is lingering resentment about an LDP funding scandal, and US tariffs of 25 percent due to bite from August 1. Japanese imports are already subject to a 10-percent tariff, while the auto industry, which accounts for eight percent of jobs, is reeling from a 25-percent levy. Despite Ishiba securing an early meeting with US President Donald Trump in February, and sending his trade envoy to Washington seven times, there has been no trade accord. Trump poured cold water on the prospects of an agreement last week, saying Japan won't "open up their country". "We will not easily compromise," Ishiba said this month. ‘Japanese first’ The last time the LDP lost power was in 2009, when the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan governed for a rocky three years. Today, the opposition is fragmented, and chances are slim that the parties can form an alternative government. The "Japanese-first" Sanseito wants "stricter rules and limits" on immigration, opposes "globalism" and "radical" gender policies, and wants a rethink on decarbonisation and vaccines. Last week, it was forced to deny any links to Moscow -- which has backed populist parties elsewhere -- after a candidate was interviewed by Russian state media. "They put into words what I had been thinking about but couldn't put into words for many years," one voter told AFP at a Sanseito rally. 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.

The right-wing populist party Sanseito was meanwhile projected to have made strong gains, winning between 10 and 22 seats, adding to the two it already holds in the 248-seat chamber.

Japan’s ruling coalition set to lose upper house majority, exit polls suggest

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US President Donald Trump on Sunday (July 20) marked what he called the six-month anniversary of his second term, celebrating it as one of the “most consequential periods of any president.” He wrote, “Wow, time flies! Today is the Sixth Month Anniversary of my Second Term. We got a lot of good and great things done, including ending numerous wars of countries not related to us other than through trade and/or, in certain cases, friendship.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-help-israel-relocate-palestinians-out-of-gaza-ethiopia-indonesia-and-libya-named-as-options-1752949276026">Trump to help Israel relocate Palestinians out of Gaza? Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya named as options</a>He added, “One year ago our country was dead, with almost no hope of revival. Today the USA is the ‘hottest’ and most respected country anywhere in the World.”<h2>Trump says Epstein case boosted his popularity</h2>Despite some setbacks, including Republican divisions and legal delays in releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files, Trump claimed his popularity within the GOP had reached record levels. “My poll numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up significantly since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and, just plain ‘troublemakers’,” he wrote. Trump said his approval ratings within the party were at “90%, 92%, 93%, and 95%” across different polls, calling them Republican records.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-much-better-off-starting-anew-trump-tells-iran-to-rebuild-nuclear-sites-elsewhere-so-they-can-be-obliterated-again-1752940619494">'Much better off starting anew': Trump tells Iran to rebuild nuclear sites elsewhere so they can be ‘obliterated’ again</a>“The general election numbers are my highest, ever! People like strong borders, and all of the many other things I have done. GOD BLESS AMERICA. MAGA!” Trump also applauded Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, for revealing new details about the Russia investigation under Barack Obama. “Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!!” Trump said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-demands-release-of-epstein-court-documents-1752937113800">'Nothing will be good enough for troublemakers': Trump demands release of Epstein court documents</a>

Despite some setbacks, including Republican divisions and legal delays in releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files, Trump claimed his popularity within the GOP had reached record levels. 

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (July 20) marked what he called the six-month anniversary of his second term, celebrating it as one of the “most consequential periods of any president.” He wrote, “Wow, time flies! Today is the Sixth Month Anniversary of my Second Term. We got a lot of good and great things done, including ending numerous wars of countries not related to us other than through trade and/or, in certain cases, friendship.” Also read: Trump to help Israel relocate Palestinians out of Gaza? Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya named as options He added, “One year ago our country was dead, with almost no hope of revival. Today the USA is the ‘hottest’ and most respected country anywhere in the World.” Trump says Epstein case boosted his popularity Despite some setbacks, including Republican divisions and legal delays in releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files, Trump claimed his popularity within the GOP had reached record levels. “My poll numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up significantly since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and, just plain ‘troublemakers’,” he wrote. Trump said his approval ratings within the party were at “90%, 92%, 93%, and 95%” across different polls, calling them Republican records. Also read: 'Much better off starting anew': Trump tells Iran to rebuild nuclear sites elsewhere so they can be ‘obliterated’ again “The general election numbers are my highest, ever! People like strong borders, and all of the many other things I have done. GOD BLESS AMERICA. MAGA!” Trump also applauded Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, for revealing new details about the Russia investigation under Barack Obama. “Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!!” Trump said. Also read: 'Nothing will be good enough for troublemakers': Trump demands release of Epstein court documents

Despite some setbacks, including Republican divisions and legal delays in releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files, Trump claimed his popularity within the GOP had reached record levels.&nbsp;

'One year ago US was dead': Trump marks 6 months in office, says America is now the ‘hottest’ country in world

This week, reports claiming that US President Donald Trump was considering giving Kyiv Tomahawk cruise missiles dominated the Ukrainian and US media cycle. The speculation grew when it was said Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Ukraine could target Russian cities if such weapons were provided. The White House did not confirm or deny the conversation but tried to calm the growing buzz. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-are-germany-s-taurus-missiles-here-s-why-ukraine-keeps-asking-for-them-1752489150206">'Game-changer on battlefield': What are Germany’s Taurus missiles? Here's why Ukraine keeps asking for them</a><h2>What makes Tomahawk missiles different?</h2>Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range, subsonic weapons made for precise strikes on land targets. They can fly between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometres and are known for their low-altitude travel and evasive flight paths that help avoid interception.Each missile costs about $2 million and is produced by Raytheon. These weapons were first used in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm and remain a key part of the US military’s arsenal. The latest version can even be reprogrammed mid-flight and hover over targets before striking.<h2>Why does Ukraine want Tomahawk missiles?</h2>Ukraine has long been asking for Tomahawks. They were part of Zelensky’s “Victory Plan” presented to then-President Joe Biden in October 2024. Russia still has a big edge when it comes to missiles. It uses cruise systems like Kalibr and ballistic ones like Iskander to hit Ukrainian cities. Ukraine currently relies on Western systems like the Storm Shadow, which are effective but limited to about 250 kilometres in range. For deeper strikes, Ukraine uses drones like the Palianytsia, but these are not as precise or powerful.<h2>What could Ukraine target with Tomahawks?</h2>Tomahawks would give Ukraine the ability to hit major Russian cities like Moscow and St Petersburg with much greater force and accuracy. While Ukrainian drones have already reached Moscow, they mostly cause psychological disruption and airport closures rather than damage. Tomahawks could change that, allowing direct and powerful strikes on key sites. Another likely target would be Russian airbases such as Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. These are usually out of reach for Ukraine’s current weapons. Tomahawks could help Ukraine hit them more often and more effectively.<h2>What challenges can Ukraine face while using Tomahawks?</h2>Ukraine faces serious difficulties in actually using Tomahawks. Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, told The Guardian on 15 July that the missiles are “not easy to use.” He explained that Tomahawks are usually launched from warships or strategic bombers, platforms Ukraine doesn’t have. Ukraine also lacks the naval set-up for sea launches. Using ground-based versions would require the US to send not only the missiles but also complex launch systems, which may not be practical right now.<h2>Are there other options for Ukraine?</h2>There are alternatives. Germany is preparing to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, though the specific system hasn’t been named. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 17 July that the weapons would arrive “very shortly, very soon.” He added that Ukraine would be better positioned with these new systems “in the weeks and months to come.”

Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range, subsonic weapons made for precise strikes on land targets. They can fly between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometres and are known for their low-altitude travel and evasive flight paths that help avoid interception.

This week, reports claiming that US President Donald Trump was considering giving Kyiv Tomahawk cruise missiles dominated the Ukrainian and US media cycle. The speculation grew when it was said Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether Ukraine could target Russian cities if such weapons were provided. The White House did not confirm or deny the conversation but tried to calm the growing buzz. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was “merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing.” Also read: 'Game-changer on battlefield': What are Germany’s Taurus missiles? Here's why Ukraine keeps asking for them What makes Tomahawk missiles different? Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range, subsonic weapons made for precise strikes on land targets. They can fly between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometres and are known for their low-altitude travel and evasive flight paths that help avoid interception. Each missile costs about $2 million and is produced by Raytheon. These weapons were first used in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm and remain a key part of the US military’s arsenal. The latest version can even be reprogrammed mid-flight and hover over targets before striking. Why does Ukraine want Tomahawk missiles? Ukraine has long been asking for Tomahawks. They were part of Zelensky’s “Victory Plan” presented to then-President Joe Biden in October 2024. Russia still has a big edge when it comes to missiles. It uses cruise systems like Kalibr and ballistic ones like Iskander to hit Ukrainian cities. Ukraine currently relies on Western systems like the Storm Shadow, which are effective but limited to about 250 kilometres in range. For deeper strikes, Ukraine uses drones like the Palianytsia, but these are not as precise or powerful. What could Ukraine target with Tomahawks? Tomahawks would give Ukraine the ability to hit major Russian cities like Moscow and St Petersburg with much greater force and accuracy. While Ukrainian drones have already reached Moscow, they mostly cause psychological disruption and airport closures rather than damage. Tomahawks could change that, allowing direct and powerful strikes on key sites. Another likely target would be Russian airbases such as Olenya in Murmansk Oblast, used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. These are usually out of reach for Ukraine’s current weapons. Tomahawks could help Ukraine hit them more often and more effectively. What challenges can Ukraine face while using Tomahawks? Ukraine faces serious difficulties in actually using Tomahawks. Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, told The Guardian on 15 July that the missiles are “not easy to use.” He explained that Tomahawks are usually launched from warships or strategic bombers, platforms Ukraine doesn’t have. Ukraine also lacks the naval set-up for sea launches. Using ground-based versions would require the US to send not only the missiles but also complex launch systems, which may not be practical right now. Are there other options for Ukraine? There are alternatives. Germany is preparing to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, though the specific system hasn’t been named. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 17 July that the weapons would arrive “very shortly, very soon.” He added that Ukraine would be better positioned with these new systems “in the weeks and months to come.”

Tomahawk cruise missiles are long-range, subsonic weapons made for precise strikes on land targets. They can fly between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometres and are known for their low-altitude travel and evasive flight paths that help avoid interception.

Ukraine’s missile wish list: Why does Zelensky want US Tomahawk missiles? What can Kyiv do with them, and how far can it hit?

Heavy rain in South Korea has killed at least 17 people in recent days, government records showed Sunday, while 11 remain unaccounted for in the intense downpours. South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July and is usually well-prepared. But this week, the country's southern regions were hit with some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record, according to official data.&nbsp;There was also a dangerous deluge in the north early Sunday, with close to 170 millimetres (6.7 inches) of rain hitting Gapyeong county in Gyeonggi province, east of the capital Seoul, leaving at least two dead and five missing. The number of casualties rose throughout the day as bodies of those previously reported missing -- many swept away in landslides -- were recovered. &nbsp;&nbsp;A woman in her 70s was killed when her house collapsed in a landslide, while the body of a man in his 40s was found near a bridge after he drowned, Yonhap news agency reported. The total number of deaths from the five-day deluge now stands at at least 17, with 11 missing, according to interior ministry data as of Sunday evening. Most of the deaths occurred in the southern county of Sancheong, which has seen nearly 800 millimetres of rain since Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the bodies of those who had gone missing retrieved on Sunday, the number of deaths in the rural county of 33,000 rose to 10, with four still unaccounted for. Scientists say climate change has made extreme weather events more frequent and intense around the world.&nbsp;In 2022, South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding, which killed at least 11 people.They included three people who died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment of the kind that became internationally known because of the Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite". The government said at the time that the rainfall was the heaviest since records began, blaming climate change for the extreme weather.&nbsp;&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.

At least 17 dead, 11 missing as torrential rains lash South Korea

Heavy rain in South Korea has killed at least 17 people in recent days, government records showed Sunday, while 11 remain unaccounted for in the intense downpours. South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July and is usually well-prepared. But this week, the country's southern regions were hit with some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record, according to official data. There was also a dangerous deluge in the north early Sunday, with close to 170 millimetres (6.7 inches) of rain hitting Gapyeong county in Gyeonggi province, east of the capital Seoul, leaving at least two dead and five missing. The number of casualties rose throughout the day as bodies of those previously reported missing -- many swept away in landslides -- were recovered. A woman in her 70s was killed when her house collapsed in a landslide, while the body of a man in his 40s was found near a bridge after he drowned, Yonhap news agency reported. The total number of deaths from the five-day deluge now stands at at least 17, with 11 missing, according to interior ministry data as of Sunday evening. Most of the deaths occurred in the southern county of Sancheong, which has seen nearly 800 millimetres of rain since Wednesday. With the bodies of those who had gone missing retrieved on Sunday, the number of deaths in the rural county of 33,000 rose to 10, with four still unaccounted for. Scientists say climate change has made extreme weather events more frequent and intense around the world. In 2022, South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding, which killed at least 11 people. They included three people who died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment of the kind that became internationally known because of the Oscar-winning Korean film "Parasite". The government said at the time that the rainfall was the heaviest since records began, blaming climate change for the extreme weather. 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.

South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July and is usually well-prepared. But this week, the country's southern regions were hit with some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record, according to official data

A boy survived the sinking of a tourist boat in Vietnam which killed dozens of people by sheltering in an air pocket of the overturned vessel, it has emerged. The boy, 10, was with his family visiting Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay when the boat they were on was caught in a surprise storm. Stranded in the boat as it overturned, the boy took shelter in an underwater air pocket, where he huddled and waited for rescuers. He was later discovered by rescue forces relatively intact, though he was under psychological trauma. He was eventually found by rescue teams relatively unharmed, although he was suffering from mental distress. He was warmed up and transferred to a nearby hospital, local media outlet VietnamNet reported. &nbsp;"Everything happened very quickly," the boy said. “I tried to leave, and then the soldiers rescued me.” Rescue operations are ongoing for missing crew and passengers after sightseeing vessel the Wonder Sea capsized in a squall on Saturday but have been delayed by poor weather.&nbsp;At least 37 are confirmed dead from the sinking, state media said. State media reported there were 53 passengers and crew on board and that 10 had been rescued. Another survivor, a 36-year-old Vietnamese man, said he survived the capsized boat by tossing aside his life jacket and swimming through a submerged window.&nbsp;Fire extinguisher salesman Dang Anh Tuan explained the instant the ship capsized unexpectedly in poor weather, not leaving much time for its occupants to react. “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,” Tuan was quoted saying to the Associated Press. “I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help,” he added. &nbsp;Tuan, and a number of others who were also on board, clung to the capsized vessel and waited for a further two hours until the emergency crews came. He had been on holiday in Vietnam's tourist bay with 11 university friends. Just three of their group survived. The majority of the passengers were from Vietnamese capital city Hanoi and were traveling as families, according to VN Express. Ha Long Bay is a popular tourist destination and an UNESCO world heritage including approximately 1,600 limestone islands and islets.

Miracle survival: Boy, 10, survives Vietnam boat tragedy by hiding in air pocket

A boy survived the sinking of a tourist boat in Vietnam which killed dozens of people by sheltering in an air pocket of the overturned vessel, it has emerged. The boy, 10, was with his family visiting Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay when the boat they were on was caught in a surprise storm. Stranded in the boat as it overturned, the boy took shelter in an underwater air pocket, where he huddled and waited for rescuers. He was later discovered by rescue forces relatively intact, though he was under psychological trauma. He was eventually found by rescue teams relatively unharmed, although he was suffering from mental distress. He was warmed up and transferred to a nearby hospital, local media outlet VietnamNet reported. "Everything happened very quickly," the boy said. “I tried to leave, and then the soldiers rescued me.” Rescue operations are ongoing for missing crew and passengers after sightseeing vessel the Wonder Sea capsized in a squall on Saturday but have been delayed by poor weather. At least 37 are confirmed dead from the sinking, state media said. State media reported there were 53 passengers and crew on board and that 10 had been rescued. Another survivor, a 36-year-old Vietnamese man, said he survived the capsized boat by tossing aside his life jacket and swimming through a submerged window. Fire extinguisher salesman Dang Anh Tuan explained the instant the ship capsized unexpectedly in poor weather, not leaving much time for its occupants to react. “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,” Tuan was quoted saying to the Associated Press. “I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help,” he added. Tuan, and a number of others who were also on board, clung to the capsized vessel and waited for a further two hours until the emergency crews came. He had been on holiday in Vietnam's tourist bay with 11 university friends. Just three of their group survived. The majority of the passengers were from Vietnamese capital city Hanoi and were traveling as families, according to VN Express. Ha Long Bay is a popular tourist destination and an UNESCO world heritage including approximately 1,600 limestone islands and islets.

He was finally found by rescue teams relatively unharmed, although he was suffering from mental distress. He was then transferred to a nearby hospital, state media reported

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday (Jul 20) announced plans to launch Baby Grok, a new kid-friendly version of his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. The application is expected to be a simplified version of Grok AI, developed by his AI startup xAI, and will be tailored for safe and educational content for children.&nbsp;In a statement on X, the former head of DOGE wrote, “We’re going to make Baby Grok @xAI, an app dedicated to kid-friendly content.” Replying to another, Musk said that the chatbot is “inspired by Baby Groot,” a comic character from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.&nbsp;This comes shortly after his AI startup launched Grok4, which includes features like advanced training capabilities. “I think it may discover new technologies as soon as later this year. And I would be shocked if it has not done so next year. So I would expect Grok to literally discover new technologies that are actually useful no later than next year and maybe [the] end of this year,” Musk said during a livestream.&nbsp;The update follows criticism of Musk’s chatbot after it shared multiple unprompted antisemitic comments on X. The billionaire has earlier faced backlash over Ani, one of Grok’s earlier user modes, for using flirtatious dialogue and a suggestive avatar. This raised concerns that children can still interact with the bot in “kids mode”.&nbsp;Last Year in May, Musk shared his views on kids using social media, saying it is “bad” for them. “A lot of social media is bad for kids, as there is extreme competition between social media AIs to maximize dopamine!” he wrote on X, sharing a clip from an interview. In the clip, he says, “I would urge parents to limit the amount of social media that children can see because they're being programmed by a dopamine-maximizing AI.”

The update follows criticism of Musk’s chatbot after it shared multiple unprompted antisemitic comments on X. The billionaire has earlier faced backlash over Ani, one of Grok’s earlier user modes.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday (Jul 20) announced plans to launch Baby Grok, a new kid-friendly version of his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. The application is expected to be a simplified version of Grok AI, developed by his AI startup xAI, and will be tailored for safe and educational content for children. In a statement on X, the former head of DOGE wrote, “We’re going to make Baby Grok @xAI, an app dedicated to kid-friendly content.” Replying to another, Musk said that the chatbot is “inspired by Baby Groot,” a comic character from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. This comes shortly after his AI startup launched Grok4, which includes features like advanced training capabilities. “I think it may discover new technologies as soon as later this year. And I would be shocked if it has not done so next year. So I would expect Grok to literally discover new technologies that are actually useful no later than next year and maybe [the] end of this year,” Musk said during a livestream. The update follows criticism of Musk’s chatbot after it shared multiple unprompted antisemitic comments on X. The billionaire has earlier faced backlash over Ani, one of Grok’s earlier user modes, for using flirtatious dialogue and a suggestive avatar. This raised concerns that children can still interact with the bot in “kids mode”. Last Year in May, Musk shared his views on kids using social media, saying it is “bad” for them. “A lot of social media is bad for kids, as there is extreme competition between social media AIs to maximize dopamine!” he wrote on X, sharing a clip from an interview. In the clip, he says, “I would urge parents to limit the amount of social media that children can see because they're being programmed by a dopamine-maximizing AI.”

The update follows criticism of Musk’s chatbot after it shared multiple unprompted antisemitic comments on X. The billionaire has earlier faced backlash over Ani, one of Grok’s earlier user modes.

Musk announces Baby Grok, kid-friendly version of his chatbot – What will this AI app do?

US President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to cancel government contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX after their relationship turned sour. But now that the Trump team is looking into it, they’re realising it’s not that straightforward. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration staffers have reviewed SpaceX’s agreements with NASA and the Pentagon. They concluded that cancelling them could seriously damage key US space and defence programmes.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-russia-about-to-ban-whatsapp-putin-orders-crackdown-on-social-media-apps-from-unfriendly-countries-1753009335811">Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp? Putin orders crackdown on social media apps from 'unfriendly countries'</a><h2>What did the review of SpaceX contracts reveal?</h2>The review found that only a few of SpaceX’s current deals might be open to further scrutiny. None have actually been cancelled. That’s because there’s no alternative company that can do the same job as well or as cheaply. SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia. So far, Musk’s company has received at least $21 billion from US taxpayers, and another $13 billion is expected.<h2>Isn’t there any competitor to SpaceX?</h2>Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is one of the few rivals. In the last round of Trump-era contract awards, it secured seven deals, compared to 28 for SpaceX. But experts say that’s not enough to challenge SpaceX’s dominance. “There’s no replacing SpaceX. You just do not have the capacity in our other launch options,” defence and space expert Todd Harrison told Forbes.<h2>What about Musk’s other companies?</h2>SpaceX isn’t the only Musk firm linked to the government. The Pentagon recently signed a $200 million deal with xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, to work on AI for military use. This happened just after xAI’s chatbot “Grok” sparked controversy by calling itself “MechaHitler” on X. Altogether, Musk has secured $38 billion in US government contracts. That includes $15.7 billion for Tesla alone, many of which were approved during Joe Biden’s presidency.

SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to cancel government contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX after their relationship turned sour. But now that the Trump team is looking into it, they’re realising it’s not that straightforward. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration staffers have reviewed SpaceX’s agreements with NASA and the Pentagon. They concluded that cancelling them could seriously damage key US space and defence programmes. Also read: Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp? Putin orders crackdown on social media apps from 'unfriendly countries' What did the review of SpaceX contracts reveal? The review found that only a few of SpaceX’s current deals might be open to further scrutiny. None have actually been cancelled. That’s because there’s no alternative company that can do the same job as well or as cheaply. SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia. So far, Musk’s company has received at least $21 billion from US taxpayers, and another $13 billion is expected. Isn’t there any competitor to SpaceX? Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is one of the few rivals. In the last round of Trump-era contract awards, it secured seven deals, compared to 28 for SpaceX. But experts say that’s not enough to challenge SpaceX’s dominance. “There’s no replacing SpaceX. You just do not have the capacity in our other launch options,” defence and space expert Todd Harrison told Forbes. What about Musk’s other companies? SpaceX isn’t the only Musk firm linked to the government. The Pentagon recently signed a $200 million deal with xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, to work on AI for military use. This happened just after xAI’s chatbot “Grok” sparked controversy by calling itself “MechaHitler” on X. Altogether, Musk has secured $38 billion in US government contracts. That includes $15.7 billion for Tesla alone, many of which were approved during Joe Biden’s presidency.

SpaceX is the world’s leading launch provider. Last year, it was behind 83% of all satellite launches globally. It’s been a long-time contractor for the US government and plays a vital role in helping Ukraine maintain communications in its war with Russia.

Can Trump really cut Elon Musk’s contracts? Pentagon says breaking up with Musk isn’t easy - Here's why

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to come up with new rules limiting the use of foreign messaging apps and software. The order targets platforms from what Moscow calls “unfriendly countries”, according to a report by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service on 20 July. The Kremlin published the directive earlier this week as part of its wider effort to reduce Russia’s reliance on technology developed in the West.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-ready-for-direct-talks-with-putin-ukraine-proposes-fresh-peace-talks-amid-massive-russian-strikes-1752950823145">Zelensky ready for direct talks with Putin? Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks amid massive Russian strikes</a><h2>Could WhatsApp be the next to go?</h2>Ukraine’s intelligence service believes WhatsApp is a likely candidate for a ban. The messaging app, owned by Meta, is one of the few services from the company still working in Russia. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, was declared an “extremist organisation” by Russian authorities back in 2022. While the other platforms have already been blocked, WhatsApp has so far escaped the crackdown. Last year, Russian Senator Artem Sheikin said WhatsApp could face a ban in 2025 if it doesn’t follow Russian laws.<h2>What about Telegram?</h2>The status of Telegram, a messaging app created by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, is less clear. Ukrainian intelligence says it’s unsure what will happen to the app, even though it has close ties to Russian users. Telegram insists it is independent from the Russian government or any security services. But several investigative reports have raised concerns about possible links.<h2>What is Max, Russia’s replacement for WhatsApp?</h2>Russian authorities have introduced a new messaging app called Max, developed by VK, the tech company behind the Russian social media site Vkontakte. According to Ukrainian intelligence, all Russian officials have now been ordered to switch to Max. The app reportedly has full access to the user’s microphone, camera, contacts, files, and location. The collected data is said to be sent to servers connected to VK, which is now largely controlled by the Russian government. VK itself was originally launched by Durov in 2006, before he left Russia and lost control of the company.

Ukraine’s intelligence service believes WhatsApp is a likely candidate for a ban. The messaging app, owned by Meta, is one of the few services from the company still working in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to come up with new rules limiting the use of foreign messaging apps and software. The order targets platforms from what Moscow calls “unfriendly countries”, according to a report by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service on 20 July. The Kremlin published the directive earlier this week as part of its wider effort to reduce Russia’s reliance on technology developed in the West. Also read: Zelensky ready for direct talks with Putin? Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks amid massive Russian strikes Could WhatsApp be the next to go? Ukraine’s intelligence service believes WhatsApp is a likely candidate for a ban. The messaging app, owned by Meta, is one of the few services from the company still working in Russia. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, was declared an “extremist organisation” by Russian authorities back in 2022. While the other platforms have already been blocked, WhatsApp has so far escaped the crackdown. Last year, Russian Senator Artem Sheikin said WhatsApp could face a ban in 2025 if it doesn’t follow Russian laws. What about Telegram? The status of Telegram, a messaging app created by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov, is less clear. Ukrainian intelligence says it’s unsure what will happen to the app, even though it has close ties to Russian users. Telegram insists it is independent from the Russian government or any security services. But several investigative reports have raised concerns about possible links. What is Max, Russia’s replacement for WhatsApp? Russian authorities have introduced a new messaging app called Max, developed by VK, the tech company behind the Russian social media site Vkontakte. According to Ukrainian intelligence, all Russian officials have now been ordered to switch to Max. The app reportedly has full access to the user’s microphone, camera, contacts, files, and location. The collected data is said to be sent to servers connected to VK, which is now largely controlled by the Russian government. VK itself was originally launched by Durov in 2006, before he left Russia and lost control of the company.

Ukraine’s intelligence service believes WhatsApp is a likely candidate for a ban. The messaging app, owned by Meta, is one of the few services from the company still working in Russia.

Is Russia about to ban WhatsApp? Putin orders crackdown on social media apps from 'unfriendly countries'

Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal, known globally as the ‘Sleeping Prince,’ passed away on Saturday, July 19, at the age of 36 after spending nearly 20 years in a coma. His father expressed the family's deep sorrow on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, "With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today."<h3>Who was Prince Alwaleed Bin Khaled Bin Talal?</h3>He was born in April 1990 as the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, and he was also the nephew of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;A devastating turn took place in his life in 2005 when, at the age of 15, while studying as a military cadet in London, he suffered severe brain injuries and internal bleeding after he was involved in a serious car accident. The incident also led to a brain haemorrhage, resulting in a complete coma.&nbsp;Following the tragedy, he was rushed to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he was placed on a ventilator and feeding tube. Despite intensive care and facilities from both American and Spanish medical specialists, Prince Al-Waleed never returned from the coma.&nbsp;For over 20 years, he remained in a coma under constant medical care in Riyadh, with occasional involuntary movements that offered glimmers of hope, but consciousness couldn't return. Meanwhile, doctors advised the family to consider ending life support in 2015, but his father, Prince Khaled, refused, keeping a ray of hope in recovery.&nbsp;Surprisingly, minor physical responses such as finger movements and head turns were witnessed in 2019, but his condition did not improve. However, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, never gave up hope on him and highlighted that life and death are solely in the hands of God.

While studying as a military cadet in London, he suffered severe brain injuries and internal bleeding after he was involved in a serious car accident in 2005 when he was 15 years old.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal, known globally as the ‘Sleeping Prince,’ passed away on Saturday, July 19, at the age of 36 after spending nearly 20 years in a coma. His father expressed the family's deep sorrow on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, "With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today." Who was Prince Alwaleed Bin Khaled Bin Talal? He was born in April 1990 as the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, and he was also the nephew of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the great-grandson of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. A devastating turn took place in his life in 2005 when, at the age of 15, while studying as a military cadet in London, he suffered severe brain injuries and internal bleeding after he was involved in a serious car accident. The incident also led to a brain haemorrhage, resulting in a complete coma. Following the tragedy, he was rushed to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he was placed on a ventilator and feeding tube. Despite intensive care and facilities from both American and Spanish medical specialists, Prince Al-Waleed never returned from the coma. For over 20 years, he remained in a coma under constant medical care in Riyadh, with occasional involuntary movements that offered glimmers of hope, but consciousness couldn't return. Meanwhile, doctors advised the family to consider ending life support in 2015, but his father, Prince Khaled, refused, keeping a ray of hope in recovery. Surprisingly, minor physical responses such as finger movements and head turns were witnessed in 2019, but his condition did not improve. However, his father, Prince Khaled bin Talal, never gave up hope on him and highlighted that life and death are solely in the hands of God.

While studying as a military cadet in London, he suffered severe brain injuries and internal bleeding after he was involved in a serious car accident in 2005 when he was 15 years old.

Who was Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sleeping Prince’? Passes away at 36 after two decades in coma

More than 200 people have died in Pakistan, including nearly 100 children, since the onset of the monsoon in late June, Geo TV reported on Saturday, citing the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Referring to the official data, Geo TV confirmed 123 total deaths in Pakistan's Punjab, followed by 40 deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, 1 in Islamabad, and 1 in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;Several factors were cited for the death of reason during the monsoon. At least 118 people lost their lives due to the collapse of houses, and 30 due to flash floods, while others lost their lives to drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes, and landslides. In addition, rains have injured more than 560 people, including 182 children, Geo TV reported.&nbsp;As per the report, Rawalpindi witnessed flash floods that swept through homes, streets, and markets, submerging entire neighbourhoods. Floods also prompted the water level to rise dangerously, resulting in some areas reaching rooftops, forcing residents to leave their belongings behind and flee.&nbsp;Additionally, Faisalabad has also experienced major damage, resulting in 11 deaths and 60 injuries in 33 incidents over just two days. Most of the casualties took place due to the collapse of weakened structures.<h3>Pakistan's Punjab witnesses major infrastructure damage</h3>Pakistan's Punjab also saw landslides triggered by heavy rainfall that destroyed infrastructure. At least 32 roads in Chakwal were washed away after more than 450 mm of rainfall, Geo TV reported. Along with infrastructure damage, communication links also got affected, and the power supply is yet to be restored in multiple areas of the cities.&nbsp;A recent report by UN News confirmed fears of glacier lake outburst floods in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan regions. UN News highlighted how these floods show the potential vulnerability of Pakistan to climate disaster.&nbsp;In 2022, over 1,700 people died and millions were displaced due to monsoon floods. It had also resulted in economic damage costing around USD 40 billion.&nbsp;(With ANI inputs)

At least 118 people died due to the collapse of houses, and 30 due to flash floods, while others lost their lives to drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes, and landslides.

More than 200 people have died in Pakistan, including nearly 100 children, since the onset of the monsoon in late June, Geo TV reported on Saturday, citing the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Referring to the official data, Geo TV confirmed 123 total deaths in Pakistan's Punjab, followed by 40 deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, 1 in Islamabad, and 1 in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Several factors were cited for the death of reason during the monsoon. At least 118 people lost their lives due to the collapse of houses, and 30 due to flash floods, while others lost their lives to drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes, and landslides. In addition, rains have injured more than 560 people, including 182 children, Geo TV reported. As per the report, Rawalpindi witnessed flash floods that swept through homes, streets, and markets, submerging entire neighbourhoods. Floods also prompted the water level to rise dangerously, resulting in some areas reaching rooftops, forcing residents to leave their belongings behind and flee. Additionally, Faisalabad has also experienced major damage, resulting in 11 deaths and 60 injuries in 33 incidents over just two days. Most of the casualties took place due to the collapse of weakened structures. Pakistan's Punjab witnesses major infrastructure damage Pakistan's Punjab also saw landslides triggered by heavy rainfall that destroyed infrastructure. At least 32 roads in Chakwal were washed away after more than 450 mm of rainfall, Geo TV reported. Along with infrastructure damage, communication links also got affected, and the power supply is yet to be restored in multiple areas of the cities. A recent report by UN News confirmed fears of glacier lake outburst floods in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan regions. UN News highlighted how these floods show the potential vulnerability of Pakistan to climate disaster. In 2022, over 1,700 people died and millions were displaced due to monsoon floods. It had also resulted in economic damage costing around USD 40 billion. (With ANI inputs)

At least 118 people died due to the collapse of houses, and 30 due to flash floods, while others lost their lives to drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes, and landslides.

Over 200, including nearly 100 children died, 560 injured as continuous rain wrecks havoc in Pakistan—Check details

Meta has been working day and night to recruit the best AI talent for its new Superintelligence team, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally spearheading the search. While recruiting aggressively, Meta is said to have attempted to poach talent from prominent companies such as OpenAI and Apple. A social media user has now posted a 44-employee list of employees in detail, which he says he received from a company employee who wished to remain anonymous. Posting the unofficial list on X, the user captioned, “All of these individuals are probably being paid $10-$100M/yr.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 BREAKING: Detailed list of all 44 people in Meta&#39;s Superintelligence team. — 50% from China — 75% have PhDs, 70% Researchers — 40% from OpenAI, 20% DeepMind, 15% Scale — 20% L8+ level — 75% 1st gen immigrants Each of these people are likely getting paid $10-$100M/yr. <a href="https://t.co/LmlAk6ceu9">pic.twitter.com/LmlAk6ceu9</a>&mdash; Deedy (@deedydas) <a href="https://twitter.com/deedydas/status/1946597162068091177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to the post, 50% of the recruits are Chinese, out of which 75% are PhDs and 70%are researchers. OpenAI contributes the most at 40%. Next is Google's DeepMind at 20%, followed by 15% from Scale. Though this has appeared on social media, WION cannot verified about the claim independently.<h2>What we know about the new joiners?</h2>Just two Indian-origin researchers have made it to the list – Trapit Bansal and Hammad Syed. Bansal is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur who did postgraduate research at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). He had worked with Meta in 2018. Bansal had worked in four of the world's top AI institutions – OpenAI, Microsoft Research, Google Research and Facebook.&nbsp;Syed, who came on board Meta last week, co-founded voice startup PlayAI with Mahmoud Felfel in 2021. The firm is now able to create realistic text-to-speech models and voice agents for over 30 languages. According to a report in Bloomberg, it said the "entire PlayAI team" would join the Meta team, according to an internal memo. Apple AI researchers Mark Lee and Tom Gunter joined Meta Superintelligence AI team as the latest members. Earlier, Ruoming Pang, who headed Apple AI models team earlier, was reportedly poached with a compensation package of over $200 million. Lee and Gunter were reportedly close colleagues with Pang at Apple.

Meta’s 44-member AI super team revealed; only two Indians on the list

Meta has been working day and night to recruit the best AI talent for its new Superintelligence team, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally spearheading the search. While recruiting aggressively, Meta is said to have attempted to poach talent from prominent companies such as OpenAI and Apple. A social media user has now posted a 44-employee list of employees in detail, which he says he received from a company employee who wished to remain anonymous. Posting the unofficial list on X, the user captioned, “All of these individuals are probably being paid $10-$100M/yr.”

During the hiring spree, Meta is believed to have tried to headhunt from well-known companies, including OpenAI and Apple.

Three quakes with one measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale has hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula prompting a tsunami warning by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The larger quake hit 144 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 20 kilometers.&nbsp;All three quakes occurred within a span of 32 minutes in the same area off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).&nbsp;Two of the other tremors measuring 6.7 and 5.0 magnitude hit about 30 minutes before the larger quake, said USGS.&nbsp;The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has a population of over 163,152 people and is located in the Kamchatka Region facing the Pacific.&nbsp;The Kamchatka peninsula is a strong seismic zone as it is the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates&nbsp;As of now, there are no reports of significant damage or casualties from the earthquakes.&nbsp;After the second quake a tsunami warning was also issued by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry that urging residents living along the coast to stay away from the shore.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three quakes with one measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale has hit Russias Kamchatka Peninsula

Three quakes with one measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale has hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula prompting a tsunami warning by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The larger quake hit 144 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 20 kilometers. All three quakes occurred within a span of 32 minutes in the same area off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Two of the other tremors measuring 6.7 and 5.0 magnitude hit about 30 minutes before the larger quake, said USGS. The city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has a population of over 163,152 people and is located in the Kamchatka Region facing the Pacific. The Kamchatka peninsula is a strong seismic zone as it is the meeting point of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates As of now, there are no reports of significant damage or casualties from the earthquakes. After the second quake a tsunami warning was also issued by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry that urging residents living along the coast to stay away from the shore.

Three quakes with one measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale has hit Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula

7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Russia's Pacific coast, tsunami warning sounded

A tourist boat capsized in a squall in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination, killing at least 38 people and leaving five others missing, reported the state media. Divers are searching beneath the waves for missing passengers and crew.&nbsp;The sightseeing ship by the name Wonder Sea Boat carrying 53 people – 48 tourists and five crew members - capsized due to a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;Divers have searched much of the ship’s passenger area. The cockpit and engine room are the places where search is yet to be carried out as the portion is stuck in mud making it difficult for the divers to reach there, reported CNN, citing state media outlet Vietnamnet.&nbsp;“As of now, I am certain there are no more bodies in the passenger cabin,” said diver Đinh Khắc Giông.&nbsp;"I only worry that some bodies may have drifted outside," Giông added.&nbsp;According to news outlet VNExpress most of those on board were Vietnamese families visiting from the capital, Hanoi. The eldest passenger on the ship was 53 years old and the youngest was just 3. Notably, over 20 children were on board when the incident happened.&nbsp;The ship was caught in a storm around 1.30 p.m. local time (2.30 a.m. ET) and capsized due to torrential rain, lightning and fierce winds. It also lost GPS signal.&nbsp;“The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting attributed the extreme weather to a convergence zone sweeping through the region, which, combined with three days of scorching temperatures, created unstable atmospheric conditions ripe for severe storms,” said the Vietnam Law Magazine.&nbsp;One of the survivors Dang Thuy Linh spoke to State broadcaster VTV and said, “I have lost contact with my son, my husband and my friend’s whole family, what I am asking now is for everyone to speed up the rescue mission, to save all of them."&nbsp;Halong Bay that comprises of about 1,600 limestone islands and islets is a popular tourist hotspot and a UNESCO world heritage site.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The cockpit and engine room of the ship are the places where search is yet to be carried out as the portion is stuck in mud.

A tourist boat capsized in a squall in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination, killing at least 38 people and leaving five others missing, reported the state media. Divers are searching beneath the waves for missing passengers and crew. The sightseeing ship by the name Wonder Sea Boat carrying 53 people – 48 tourists and five crew members - capsized due to a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon. Divers have searched much of the ship’s passenger area. The cockpit and engine room are the places where search is yet to be carried out as the portion is stuck in mud making it difficult for the divers to reach there, reported CNN, citing state media outlet Vietnamnet. “As of now, I am certain there are no more bodies in the passenger cabin,” said diver Đinh Khắc Giông. "I only worry that some bodies may have drifted outside," Giông added. According to news outlet VNExpress most of those on board were Vietnamese families visiting from the capital, Hanoi. The eldest passenger on the ship was 53 years old and the youngest was just 3. Notably, over 20 children were on board when the incident happened. The ship was caught in a storm around 1.30 p.m. local time (2.30 a.m. ET) and capsized due to torrential rain, lightning and fierce winds. It also lost GPS signal. “The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting attributed the extreme weather to a convergence zone sweeping through the region, which, combined with three days of scorching temperatures, created unstable atmospheric conditions ripe for severe storms,” said the Vietnam Law Magazine. One of the survivors Dang Thuy Linh spoke to State broadcaster VTV and said, “I have lost contact with my son, my husband and my friend’s whole family, what I am asking now is for everyone to speed up the rescue mission, to save all of them." Halong Bay that comprises of about 1,600 limestone islands and islets is a popular tourist hotspot and a UNESCO world heritage site.

The cockpit and engine room of the ship are the places where search is yet to be carried out as the portion is stuck in mud.

Boat capsizes in Vietnam’s popular tourist spot Ha Long Bay, 38 dead

US Senator Bernie Sanders called for a stop on American military aid to Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza on Saturday (July 19). The Senator took to the social media platform X and said, "NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL." Sanders, who called the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" last week during his visit to the White House, once again criticised him for his war in Gaza. The Senator said, "Netanyahu's atrocities are not limited to Gaza. He has also unleashed terrorist settlers in the West Bank who attack civilians and recently beat a young American to death."&nbsp;"Even Trump's ambassador, Mike Huckabee, called this a 'terrorist act'," &nbsp;added in his statement. This was in the context of Huckbee's statement on the same, in which he lambasted Israeli settlers for an attack on a Palestinian church in the West Bank.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Netanyahu’s atrocities are not limited to Gaza. He has also unleashed terrorist settlers in the West Bank who attack civilians and recently beat a young American to death. Even Trump’s ambassador, Mike Huckabee, called this a “terrorist act.” NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.&mdash; Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1946618882426347572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It is an act of terror, and it is a crime," Huckabee said in a statement, "Those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh – or anywhere – (should) be found and be prosecuted. Not just reprimanded, that’s not enough," Trump's ambassador said.&nbsp;'Netanyahu’s extremist government has killed...'&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed</a>&nbsp;Last week, Sanders posted on X, saying, “As President Trump &amp; Congress roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, let’s remember that Netanyahu has been indicted as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court for overseeing the systematic killing and starvation of civilians in Gaza."The senator also issued a video message in which he reminded followers of Netanyahu’s involvement in the conflict in Gaza.&nbsp;“These war crimes continue to this day,” he said in the clip. “Netanyahu’s extremist government has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded almost 135,000, 60% of whom are women, children or elderly people," he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sanders, who called the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal last week during his visit to the White House, once again criticised him for his war in Gaza and called for a stop on American military aid to Israel. 

US Senator Bernie Sanders called for a stop on American military aid to Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza on Saturday (July 19). The Senator took to the social media platform X and said, "NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL." Sanders, who called the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" last week during his visit to the White House, once again criticised him for his war in Gaza. The Senator said, "Netanyahu's atrocities are not limited to Gaza. He has also unleashed terrorist settlers in the West Bank who attack civilians and recently beat a young American to death." "Even Trump's ambassador, Mike Huckabee, called this a 'terrorist act'," added in his statement. This was in the context of Huckbee's statement on the same, in which he lambasted Israeli settlers for an attack on a Palestinian church in the West Bank.

Sanders, who called the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" last week during his visit to the White House, once again criticised him for his war in Gaza and called for a stop on American military aid to Israel.&nbsp;

'NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL': US Senator says Netanyahu’s atrocities are 'not limited to Gaza'

After spending nearly 20 years in coma, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal died on Saturday (July 19) at the age of 36. Prince Alwaleed had met with a car accident in London in 2005 after which he was in coma. The news of his demise was confirmed by his father, who wrote, "With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today."&nbsp;The Global Imams Council condoled the passing away of the prince and released a statement that read, “The Global Imams Council extends its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to....His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who passed away after a long struggle that lasted nearly twenty years following a tragic accident.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement On the Passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud <a href="https://t.co/st19kxb7lC">pic.twitter.com/st19kxb7lC</a>&mdash; Global Imams Council (GIC) (@ImamsOrg) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImamsOrg/status/1946672120232075749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prince Alwaleed was only 15 and was studying at a military college in the UK when the accident happened in 2005. Critical brain injuries and internal bleeding due to the accident left the prince in a state of complete coma. He was later moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support and medical care for the entire 20 years.&nbsp;He later came to be called as 'The Sleeping Prince'. He did at occasions show some movement in his body like &nbsp;lifting of fingers that gave some hope of revival. But he never regained full consciousness despite receiving top treatment by American and Spanish specialists.&nbsp;Prince Alwaleed's father always refused to remove life support being given to his son and said that only God will determine his time of death.&nbsp;Prince Alwaleed was born in April 1990 and was the eldest son of Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud and a nephew of billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. &nbsp;

Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal was only 15 and was studying at a military college in the UK when the accident happened.

After spending nearly 20 years in coma, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal died on Saturday (July 19) at the age of 36. Prince Alwaleed had met with a car accident in London in 2005 after which he was in coma. The news of his demise was confirmed by his father, who wrote, "With hearts full of faith in Allah’s decree and destiny, and with profound sadness and sorrow, we mourn our beloved son Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away to Allah’s mercy today." The Global Imams Council condoled the passing away of the prince and released a statement that read, “The Global Imams Council extends its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to....His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the esteemed Royal Family, on the passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, who passed away after a long struggle that lasted nearly twenty years following a tragic accident.”

Prince Alwaleed bin Khaled bin Talal was only 15 and was studying at a military college in the UK when the accident happened.

'Sleeping Prince' of Saudi Arabia Alwaleed bin Khaled dies at 36, after spending 20 years in coma

The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Saturday (July 19) said that no power on the planet can dictate to the country how to handle its affairs. Dhankar suggested that people not be guided by the narratives outside. "Don't be guided by narratives outside. All decisions in this country as a sovereign nation are taken by its leadership. There is no power on the planet to dictate to India how to handle its affairs," he said while addressing the officer trainees of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) 2024 batch at the Vice-President's Enclave. "We do live in a nation and nations that are a comity. We work in togetherness, we work in tandem. We have mutual respect, diplomatic dialogues, but at the end of the day, we are sovereign. We take our own decisions.Is it required to play every bad ball? Is it required to have wrestling sessions as to who said what?" the VP questioned.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Watch: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar says, &quot;Don&#39;t be guided by narratives outside. All decisions in this country as sovereign nation are taken by its leadership. There is no power on the planet to dictate India how to handle its affairs. We do live in a nation and nations that… <a href="https://t.co/UgQaPR5dpW">pic.twitter.com/UgQaPR5dpW</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://twitter.com/ians_india/status/1946574588672192728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"One who scores good runs on the cricket pitch always leaves bad balls. They are tempting, but not to be attempted. And those who attempt, you have to have safe gloves of the wicket keeper and someone in the gully," Dhankar added.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed</a>&nbsp;The VP's remarks came after the opposition demanded a clarification from the BJP-led central government over US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering a "ceasefire" in the recent India and Pakistan conflict.&nbsp;Since the conflict between India and Pakistan was lightened following the Pahlagam terror attack, Trump has multiple times tried stealing the credit for a "ceasefire" between the two nations. The claim was consistently rejected by India. However, Pakistan had previously thanked the US president for brokering a "ceasefire" with India following Operation Sindoor.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Trump claimed that five fighter jets were shot down during clashes that took place in May. There has been no official confirmation or evidence supporting Trump’s specific claim regarding the downing of five aircraft. &nbsp;

Jagdeep Dhankar said that there is no power on the planet to dictate to India how to handle its affairs. The remarks came after the opposition demanded a clarification from the government over Donald Trump claims of brokering a ceasefire in the India-Pakistan conflict.

The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Saturday (July 19) said that no power on the planet can dictate to the country how to handle its affairs. Dhankar suggested that people not be guided by the narratives outside. "Don't be guided by narratives outside. All decisions in this country as a sovereign nation are taken by its leadership. There is no power on the planet to dictate to India how to handle its affairs," he said while addressing the officer trainees of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) 2024 batch at the Vice-President's Enclave. "We do live in a nation and nations that are a comity. We work in togetherness, we work in tandem. We have mutual respect, diplomatic dialogues, but at the end of the day, we are sovereign. We take our own decisions. Is it required to play every bad ball? Is it required to have wrestling sessions as to who said what?" the VP questioned.

Jagdeep Dhankar said, “There is no power on the planet to dictate to India how to handle its affairs.” The VP's remarks came after the opposition demanded a clarification from the government over Donald Trump's claims of brokering a "ceasefire" in India-Pakistan conflict.&nbsp;

‘NO POWER can dictate India’: Jagdeep Dhankhar's bold message after opposition seeks clarity on Trump’s claim over Pakistan ceasefire

At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured in firing by Israeli troops on crowds of Palestinians seeking food from two aid distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed &nbsp;Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in southern Gaza on Saturday (July 19) morning, reported the Associated Press, citing witnesses and hospital officials. The majority of the victims were reported young men making their way towards the aid distribution hubs.&nbsp;Most of the deaths happened in the Teina area, about two miles from a GHF aid distribution centre east of Khan Younis. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that many of the wounded that include children and teenagers are in a serious condition.&nbsp;The GHF sites - four in total - are in military-controlled zones. And though, the Israeli army is not at the sites - it secures them from a distance - it said that warning shots were fired near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after calls to keep distance was ignored by a group.&nbsp;The GHF denied any incident near its sites and said, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, one of the witnesses of the firing said that he was walking toward the hub when troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire at a crowd that were mostly young men, reported AP.&nbsp;Akram Aker, another witness, claimed that troops fired at them with machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.&nbsp;“They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Aker said to AP and added, he saw many casualties on the ground.&nbsp;Distribution at GHF sites often witness chaos. In videos released by GHF, crowds are usually seen running towards boxes of food stacked on the ground and grab whatever they can.&nbsp;The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The GHF denied any incident near its sites and said, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”

At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured in firing by Israeli troops on crowds of Palestinians seeking food from two aid distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in southern Gaza on Saturday (July 19) morning, reported the Associated Press, citing witnesses and hospital officials. The majority of the victims were reported young men making their way towards the aid distribution hubs. Most of the deaths happened in the Teina area, about two miles from a GHF aid distribution centre east of Khan Younis. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that many of the wounded that include children and teenagers are in a serious condition. The GHF sites - four in total - are in military-controlled zones. And though, the Israeli army is not at the sites - it secures them from a distance - it said that warning shots were fired near Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah after calls to keep distance was ignored by a group. The GHF denied any incident near its sites and said, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.” Meanwhile, one of the witnesses of the firing said that he was walking toward the hub when troops fired warning shots, and then opened fire at a crowd that were mostly young men, reported AP. Akram Aker, another witness, claimed that troops fired at them with machine guns mounted on tanks and drones between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. “They encircled us and started firing directly at us,” Aker said to AP and added, he saw many casualties on the ground. Distribution at GHF sites often witness chaos. In videos released by GHF, crowds are usually seen running towards boxes of food stacked on the ground and grab whatever they can. The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The GHF denied any incident near its sites and said, “we have repeatedly warned aid seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours.”

At least 32 Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs killed in firing

A Delta Air Lines flight en route to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency return to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and fire crews extinguished the fire soon after landing.&nbsp;Video footage of Flight DL446, operated by a Boeing 767-400 (tail number N836MH), has surfaced on social media, showing flames shooting from the left engine of the aircraft while it was in the air.&nbsp;As per the Aviation A2Z report, the engine ignited shortly after takeoff, prompting the flight crew to declare an emergency and return the flight to the airport. Amid the incident, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordinated with the aircraft, guiding the plane back, and alerted the emergency services.&nbsp;According to Flightradar24 data, the plane, DL446, initially climbed over the Pacific Ocean before looping back over the Downey and Paramount regions. This gave the crew enough time to complete checklists and prepare for a safe landing. During the manoeuvre, the aircraft maintained a controlled altitude and speed.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">❗️Boeing 787 Makes Emergency Landing in LA 🇺🇸 - Engine ON FIRE 🔥 Video claims to show a Delta Airlines flight bound for Atlanta on Friday making an emergency landing at LAX. The engine reportedly caught fire shortly after take-off. 📹 <a href="https://twitter.com/LAFlightsLIVE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAFlightsLIVE</a> <a href="https://t.co/t1HBVLDi0P">https://t.co/t1HBVLDi0P</a> <a href="https://t.co/vYNgkpZJcq">pic.twitter.com/vYNgkpZJcq</a>&mdash; RT_India (@RT_India_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_India_news/status/1946609270113411471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>What is the cause of the incident?</h3>Passengers said the captain confirmed that fire crews were "verifying that the engine fire is out." The Federal Aviation Administration initiated an investigation into the incident, and the cause of the fire is still unknown. The aircraft, which is powered by two General Electric CF6 engines, is almost 25 years old.&nbsp;"Delta flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft's left engine," a Delta Air Lines spokesperson told the BBC.&nbsp;The incident is not the first time Delta has encountered such an issue this year. Similarly, a Delta aircraft caught fire at Orlando International Airport in April 2025. The engine of Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 caught fire on the ramp when it was preparing to depart for Atlanta.&nbsp;The aircraft was an Airbus A330 and was carrying 282 passengers, with 10 flight attendants and two pilots at the time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.&nbsp;

The engine caught fire soon after it took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In response, the flight crew declared an emergency return to the airport. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordinated with the aircraft, guiding the plane back, and alerted the emergency services.

A Delta Air Lines flight en route to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency return to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and fire crews extinguished the fire soon after landing. Video footage of Flight DL446, operated by a Boeing 767-400 (tail number N836MH), has surfaced on social media, showing flames shooting from the left engine of the aircraft while it was in the air. As per the Aviation A2Z report, the engine ignited shortly after takeoff, prompting the flight crew to declare an emergency and return the flight to the airport. Amid the incident, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordinated with the aircraft, guiding the plane back, and alerted the emergency services. According to Flightradar24 data, the plane, DL446, initially climbed over the Pacific Ocean before looping back over the Downey and Paramount regions. This gave the crew enough time to complete checklists and prepare for a safe landing. During the manoeuvre, the aircraft maintained a controlled altitude and speed.

The engine caught fire soon after it took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In response, the flight crew declared an emergency return to the airport. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordinated with the aircraft, guiding the plane back, and alerted the emergency services.

WATCH: Delta flight Boeing 767 makes emergency landing at Los Angeles airport after engine catches fire

Andy Byron, the Astronomer Chief Executive Officer (CEO), resigned after he was caught having an extramarital affair with his company's HR during a Coldplay concert. Byron and the Astronirner HR chief, Kristin Cabot, were caught having intimate moments during the musical concert in Boston when the kiss-cam suddenly captured them on the big screen. This came after the company stated on LinkedIn, saying that recently, their "standards were not met".&nbsp;"As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO," the statement said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed</a>&nbsp;Astronomer also assured that while their awareness may have changed overnight, their product and work for customers have not.&nbsp;"Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems," it said.&nbsp;The incident&nbsp;Byron and Cabot were caught on the kiss cam sharing an intimate moment. The video set the internet on fire, and everyone has been talking about the incident. The video showed the duo enjoying the concert in an intimate pose when the camera zoomed in on them, and they panicked and hid. That's when everyone came to know that both of them were having an extramarital affair. An X user revealed online that Megan dropped her husband's last name from her Facebook profile as netizens came to her support.&nbsp;“Andy Byron‘s wife has now dropped her married name on Facebook and left comments open on her Facebook! What a class act! Go Megan. Get that divorce lawyer and get the money," wrote the user called Mrs SpaceX.Kerrigan deleted her Facebook page on Thursday, but screenshots show she removed her married name, Byron, from it earlier in the day. She also deleted her Instagram account. &nbsp;

Byron and the Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot were caught having intimate moments during the musical concert in Boston when the kiss-cam suddenly captured them on the big screen. 

Andy Byron, the Astronomer Chief Executive Officer (CEO), resigned after he was caught having an extramarital affair with his company's HR during a Coldplay concert. Byron and the Astronirner HR chief, Kristin Cabot, were caught having intimate moments during the musical concert in Boston when the kiss-cam suddenly captured them on the big screen. This came after the company stated on LinkedIn, saying that recently, their "standards were not met". "As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO," the statement said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/uttarkashi-chopper-hit-cable-during-emergency-landing-crashed-preliminary-probe-wion-1752986671619/embed Astronomer also assured that while their awareness may have changed overnight, their product and work for customers have not. "Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems," it said. The incident Byron and Cabot were caught on the kiss cam sharing an intimate moment. The video set the internet on fire, and everyone has been talking about the incident. The video showed the duo enjoying the concert in an intimate pose when the camera zoomed in on them, and they panicked and hid. That's when everyone came to know that both of them were having an extramarital affair. An X user revealed online that Megan dropped her husband's last name from her Facebook profile as netizens came to her support. “Andy Byron‘s wife has now dropped her married name on Facebook and left comments open on her Facebook! What a class act! Go Megan. Get that divorce lawyer and get the money," wrote the user called Mrs SpaceX. Kerrigan deleted her Facebook page on Thursday, but screenshots show she removed her married name, Byron, from it earlier in the day. She also deleted her Instagram account.

Byron and the Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot were caught having intimate moments during the musical concert in Boston when the kiss-cam suddenly captured them on the big screen.&nbsp;

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after being caught having affair with HR, company says 'standards were not met'

Shooting in Washington: A shooting was reported in Washington's Renton early on Sunday (July 20), and reports claimed there could be “multiple victims”. As per the &nbsp;KOMO News, three people have been killed in the shooting, but there's no official police confirmation on the toll yet. The Renton Police Department posted on the social media platform X, “Officers are investigating a shooting with multiple victims near Kirkland Ave NE and NE 18th St that occurred just after 7:30 pm. This is an active scene, so expect a heavy police presence. Please avoid the area. PIO is en route.” As per the reports, two women and a young girl were shot in the incident.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Officers are investigating a shooting with multiple victims near Kirkland Ave NE and NE 18th St that occurred just after 7:30 pm. This is an active scene, so expect a heavy police presence. Please avoid the area. PIO is en route. <a href="https://t.co/En4iaM2D3I">pic.twitter.com/En4iaM2D3I</a>&mdash; Renton Police Dept. (@RentonpdWA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RentonpdWA/status/1946772482356281391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;The incident came just a week after a man was shot five times at a transit centre in Renton. However, the previous incident followed a scuffle between a group in the area, and the prosecutors do not plan to press charges, Fox13 Seattle had reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is unclear what led up to the shooting. The suspect has been identified but is still at large. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab will be processing the scene.&nbsp;This is a developing story. More information to come.&nbsp;

A shooting was reported in Washington Renton early on Sunday (July 20), and reports claimed there could be multiple victims. As per the  KOMO News, three people have been killed in the shooting, but there's no official police confirmation on the toll yet.

Shooting in Washington: A shooting was reported in Washington's Renton early on Sunday (July 20), and reports claimed there could be “multiple victims”. As per the KOMO News, three people have been killed in the shooting, but there's no official police confirmation on the toll yet. The Renton Police Department posted on the social media platform X, “Officers are investigating a shooting with multiple victims near Kirkland Ave NE and NE 18th St that occurred just after 7:30 pm. This is an active scene, so expect a heavy police presence. Please avoid the area. PIO is en route.” As per the reports, two women and a young girl were shot in the incident.

A shooting was reported in Washington's Renton early on Sunday (July 20), and reports claimed there could be “multiple victims”. As per the &nbsp;KOMO News, three people have been killed in the shooting, but there's no official police confirmation on the toll yet.

Three people killed in Renton after shooting in Washington: Probe on as police say there could be 'multiple victims'

Typhoon Wipha: Amid the worsening situation due to Typhoon Wipha, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 10 hurricane signal on Sunday (July 20). The organisation warned that the typhoon was “posing a considerable threat” to the region and was expected to skirt about 50km to the south around noon. The No. 10 signal is the highest level warning of Hong Kong and is issued when winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last time the No. 10 signal was issued was during the Super Typhoon Saola in 2023. At that time, the storm caused 86 injuries, landslides, and thousands of trees to fall.&nbsp;The top signal will remain enforced until Sunday afternoon, the forecaster said, South Vina Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The Typhoon Wipha resulted in one reported injury involving a man and 15 reports of uprooted trees, while 214 people have sought refuge in government shelters. The typhoon also led to the cancellation of around 500 weekend flights. later on, the authority said 400 of them could resume in the afternoon at the earliest - after the typhoon leaves the city. It was also expected that the airport would be “very busy” on Sunday night to disperse up to 100,000 passengers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-jamaat-e-islami-party-holds-massive-rally-in-bangladesh-wion-1752985736568/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-jamaat-e-islami-party-holds-massive-rally-in-bangladesh-wion-1752985736568/embed</a>&nbsp;Moreover, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has also cancelled all high-speed rail services to and from Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station before 3 pm on Sunday, in coordination with mainland Chinese railway operators, SCMP reported. The forecaster said that Typhoon Wipha is now about 50km from Hong Kong and is posing a “considerable threat” to the city.&nbsp;"Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed. Members of the public should stay on high alert, stay where they are sheltered and beware of destructive winds,” , the Hong Kong Observatory said.Also, two people so far have been reported seeking medical assistance following an accident due to the typhoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The No. 10 signal is the highest level warning of Hong Kong and is issued when winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last time the No. 10 signal was issued was during the Super Typhoon Saola in 2023.

Typhoon Wipha: Amid the worsening situation due to Typhoon Wipha, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 10 hurricane signal on Sunday (July 20). The organisation warned that the typhoon was “posing a considerable threat” to the region and was expected to skirt about 50km to the south around noon. The No. 10 signal is the highest level warning of Hong Kong and is issued when winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last time the No. 10 signal was issued was during the Super Typhoon Saola in 2023. At that time, the storm caused 86 injuries, landslides, and thousands of trees to fall. The top signal will remain enforced until Sunday afternoon, the forecaster said, South Vina Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The Typhoon Wipha resulted in one reported injury involving a man and 15 reports of uprooted trees, while 214 people have sought refuge in government shelters. The typhoon also led to the cancellation of around 500 weekend flights. later on, the authority said 400 of them could resume in the afternoon at the earliest - after the typhoon leaves the city. It was also expected that the airport would be “very busy” on Sunday night to disperse up to 100,000 passengers. https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-jamaat-e-islami-party-holds-massive-rally-in-bangladesh-wion-1752985736568/embed Moreover, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has also cancelled all high-speed rail services to and from Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station before 3 pm on Sunday, in coordination with mainland Chinese railway operators, SCMP reported. The forecaster said that Typhoon Wipha is now about 50km from Hong Kong and is posing a “considerable threat” to the city. "Areas which were previously sheltered may become exposed. Members of the public should stay on high alert, stay where they are sheltered and beware of destructive winds,” , the Hong Kong Observatory said. Also, two people so far have been reported seeking medical assistance following an accident due to the typhoon.

The No. 10 signal is the highest level warning of Hong Kong and is issued when winds with mean speeds of 118km/h or more are expected. The last time the No. 10 signal was issued was during the Super Typhoon Saola in 2023.

Typhoon Wipha: Hong Kong issues its 'highest level warning' T10 signal, 500 flights cancelled. Here's all you need to know

China started the controversial hydroelectric dam over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as the downstream of the Brahmaputra in Tibet’s Nyingchi prefecture, just a few km north of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is being developed by a newly state-backed entity called China Yajiang Group. The $167.8 billion project is expected to generate 300 billion kWh of electricity annually. The location and timing should have rung alarms at New Delhi.<h2>Why does this dam worry India and Bangladesh?</h2>The Brahmaputra is not just any river; it's a lifeline for millions in India's northeast region. The massive new dam is not the first dam to be built over the Brahmaputra. China has already built several smaller ones, and these dams “should be considered as one of the major flashpoints between India and China,” said B Deepak, a professor at JNU, Delhi.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma stated in June that the Brahmaputra is a river that expands as it flows through India, due to the country's geography and topography. China contributes only 30-35 per cent of the water in the Brahmaputra. He was responding to Pakistan's threat of a hypothetical scenario, “What if China stops the water of Brahmaputra”, calling it another baseless "scare tactic".Experts in India fear that Beijing’s unilateral control over the river’s upper reaches could give it the ability to manipulate water flow, especially during the monsoon or periods of heightened geopolitical tension. Environmentalists called it a ticking time bomb. The dam, being situated in a seismic zone, can trigger massive floods and landslides, not only in Tibet but also in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and even in Bangladesh. On January 7, a 7.1-scale earthquake killed at least 126 people. The pattern of earthquakes continues in Tibet, and this should also concern India. Following the earthquake, at least five out of the 14 existing dams showed cracks.The Indian government had previously conveyed its objections during bilateral talks in January, demanding transparency, data sharing, and environmental assessment. However, with China breaking ground on the project, New Delhi’s alarm bells are ringing louder. Throughout Beijing, the crucial turning point of the river is called the ‘Great Bend', from where they say the “river goes rogue”.&nbsp;India and China do not have a water sharing agreement; it has a hydrological data (water level, rainfall) sharing agreement, which China have previously suspended. The Memorandum of Understanding expired in June 2023, since it is not a treaty, so it is non-binding.Beijing maintains that the dam will not adversely affect downstream countries, claiming its intent is clean energy generation and regional development. However, the dam is not just a technical tool for power generation; it has significant implications. As Himalayan glaciers recede, whoever holds control over the hardwater source will have a massive advantage in the diplomatic talks. The threat from Pakistan about China's influence over the Brahmaputra is not completely unfounded. Its location also makes this dam one of the most difficult and dangerous engineering feats in the world, keeping northeastern India in a chokehold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

China officially began construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet on July 19, 2025. The colossal project was launched under the newly formed ‘China Yajiang Group Co’. What does it mean for India? 

China started the controversial hydroelectric dam over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as the downstream of the Brahmaputra in Tibet’s Nyingchi prefecture, just a few km north of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is being developed by a newly state-backed entity called China Yajiang Group. The $167.8 billion project is expected to generate 300 billion kWh of electricity annually. The location and timing should have rung alarms at New Delhi. Why does this dam worry India and Bangladesh? The Brahmaputra is not just any river; it's a lifeline for millions in India's northeast region. The massive new dam is not the first dam to be built over the Brahmaputra. China has already built several smaller ones, and these dams “should be considered as one of the major flashpoints between India and China,” said B Deepak, a professor at JNU, Delhi. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma stated in June that the Brahmaputra is a river that expands as it flows through India, due to the country's geography and topography. China contributes only 30-35 per cent of the water in the Brahmaputra. He was responding to Pakistan's threat of a hypothetical scenario, “What if China stops the water of Brahmaputra”, calling it another baseless "scare tactic". Experts in India fear that Beijing’s unilateral control over the river’s upper reaches could give it the ability to manipulate water flow, especially during the monsoon or periods of heightened geopolitical tension. Environmentalists called it a ticking time bomb. The dam, being situated in a seismic zone, can trigger massive floods and landslides, not only in Tibet but also in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and even in Bangladesh. On January 7, a 7.1-scale earthquake killed at least 126 people. The pattern of earthquakes continues in Tibet, and this should also concern India. Following the earthquake, at least five out of the 14 existing dams showed cracks. The Indian government had previously conveyed its objections during bilateral talks in January, demanding transparency, data sharing, and environmental assessment. However, with China breaking ground on the project, New Delhi’s alarm bells are ringing louder. Throughout Beijing, the crucial turning point of the river is called the ‘Great Bend', from where they say the “river goes rogue”. India and China do not have a water sharing agreement; it has a hydrological data (water level, rainfall) sharing agreement, which China have previously suspended. The Memorandum of Understanding expired in June 2023, since it is not a treaty, so it is non-binding. Beijing maintains that the dam will not adversely affect downstream countries, claiming its intent is clean energy generation and regional development. However, the dam is not just a technical tool for power generation; it has significant implications. As Himalayan glaciers recede, whoever holds control over the hardwater source will have a massive advantage in the diplomatic talks. The threat from Pakistan about China's influence over the Brahmaputra is not completely unfounded. Its location also makes this dam one of the most difficult and dangerous engineering feats in the world, keeping northeastern India in a chokehold.

China officially began construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet on July 19, 2025. The colossal project was launched under the newly formed ‘China Yajiang Group Co’. What does it mean for India?&nbsp;

China begins world's largest dam on Brahmaputra: A ticking water bomb for India?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday (July 19) that Kyiv has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia next week, after negotiations came to a halt in early June. In his evening address, Zelensky said, “Security Council Secretary Umerov… reported that he had proposed the next meeting with the Russian side for next week. The momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up.” He also restated his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace–lasting peace.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-300-strike-drones-30-missiles-russia-launches-massive-attack-on-ukraine-despite-trump-s-ultimatum-and-eu-sanctions-1752947748781">'300 strike drones, 30 missiles': Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine, despite Trump's ULTIMATUM and EU sanctions</a><h2>What happened at the last round of talks?</h2>The last two rounds of negotiations, held in Istanbul, did not lead to any breakthroughs. Instead of reaching a ceasefire, both sides agreed to carry out prisoner exchanges and return the bodies of fallen soldiers. Last month, Russia presented a list of demands, which included Ukraine giving up more territory and rejecting all Western military aid. Kyiv rejected the proposals outright, saying they were unacceptable and raised doubts about the purpose of further talks.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-to-get-patriots-sooner-us-skips-switzerland-sends-patriot-system-to-germany-to-speed-up-kyiv-delivery-1752928133649">Ukraine to get Patriots sooner? US skips Switzerland, sends Patriot system to Germany to speed up Kyiv delivery</a><h2>What is Russia’s response?</h2>The Kremlin has said it is open to continuing discussions. Earlier this month, it expressed readiness to talk again following pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned Russia to reach a deal within 50 days or face new sanctions. Trump also pledged military aid to Ukraine, backed by NATO countries, to support Kyiv as Russian aerial attacks continue to escalate.<h2>Russian airstrikes kill civilians</h2>On Saturday, Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least three people across Ukraine. Two people died in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a key industrial area recently targeted by Russian advances. Another person was killed in a separate drone strike on the port city of Odesa overnight. Meanwhile, Russia faced disruption when Ukrainian drones attacked the southern Rostov region, injuring a railway worker and halting train services for four hours. Both sides now rely heavily on drones to conduct daily attacks and to try to overwhelm each other’s air defences.<h2>Bodies returned as part of Istanbul deal</h2>As part of the Istanbul agreements, Ukraine on Thursday received the bodies of 1,000 soldiers. Russia said it received 19 bodies from Ukraine. Despite the absence of a ceasefire, such exchanges have continued as humanitarian efforts on both sides try to maintain some level of cooperation.

The last two rounds of negotiations, held in Istanbul, did not lead to any breakthroughs. Instead of reaching a ceasefire, both sides agreed to carry out prisoner exchanges and return the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday (July 19) that Kyiv has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia next week, after negotiations came to a halt in early June. In his evening address, Zelensky said, “Security Council Secretary Umerov… reported that he had proposed the next meeting with the Russian side for next week. The momentum of the negotiations must be stepped up.” He also restated his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace–lasting peace.” Also read: '300 strike drones, 30 missiles': Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine, despite Trump's ULTIMATUM and EU sanctions What happened at the last round of talks? The last two rounds of negotiations, held in Istanbul, did not lead to any breakthroughs. Instead of reaching a ceasefire, both sides agreed to carry out prisoner exchanges and return the bodies of fallen soldiers. Last month, Russia presented a list of demands, which included Ukraine giving up more territory and rejecting all Western military aid. Kyiv rejected the proposals outright, saying they were unacceptable and raised doubts about the purpose of further talks. Also read: Ukraine to get Patriots sooner? US skips Switzerland, sends Patriot system to Germany to speed up Kyiv delivery What is Russia’s response? The Kremlin has said it is open to continuing discussions. Earlier this month, it expressed readiness to talk again following pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned Russia to reach a deal within 50 days or face new sanctions. Trump also pledged military aid to Ukraine, backed by NATO countries, to support Kyiv as Russian aerial attacks continue to escalate. Russian airstrikes kill civilians On Saturday, Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least three people across Ukraine. Two people died in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a key industrial area recently targeted by Russian advances. Another person was killed in a separate drone strike on the port city of Odesa overnight. Meanwhile, Russia faced disruption when Ukrainian drones attacked the southern Rostov region, injuring a railway worker and halting train services for four hours. Both sides now rely heavily on drones to conduct daily attacks and to try to overwhelm each other’s air defences. Bodies returned as part of Istanbul deal As part of the Istanbul agreements, Ukraine on Thursday received the bodies of 1,000 soldiers. Russia said it received 19 bodies from Ukraine. Despite the absence of a ceasefire, such exchanges have continued as humanitarian efforts on both sides try to maintain some level of cooperation.

The last two rounds of negotiations, held in Istanbul, did not lead to any breakthroughs. Instead of reaching a ceasefire, both sides agreed to carry out prisoner exchanges and return the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Zelensky ready for direct talks with Putin? Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks amid massive Russian strikes

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China begins world's largest dam on Brahmaputra: A ticking water bomb for India?

Zelensky ready for direct talks with Putin? Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks