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As tensions in West Asia intensified following Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait in response to US attacks on surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon despite a Washington-brokered conditional ceasefire reached earlier this week.&nbsp;The Lebanese army said two officers and a soldier were killed when a military vehicle was hit on the road between Khardali and the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.&nbsp;The Israeli military said the targeted vehicle was "moving suspiciously" in "an active combat zone" within an area that had been ordered evacuated ahead of military operations.&nbsp;However, it maintained that it "operates against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese army", and said it was "reviewing the incident".<h2>Lebanon condemns strike, Hezbollah blames government</h2>Hezbollah condemned the attack, calling it a "heinous crime" and accusing the Lebanese government of exposing the country to further violence through its "complete surrender to the enemy's demands in Washington".&nbsp;The Lebanese army also criticised the strike, saying on Saturday that "the continuation of the deliberate and repeated brutal Israeli aggression... is aimed at thwarting all efforts to reach a solution".&nbsp;Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the attack as a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty".&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the deaths of two of its soldiers who had been engaged in combat operations in southern Lebanon.&nbsp;Official figures show that Israel has lost 29 soldiers and one civilian contractor since the start of the latest conflict in Lebanon.&nbsp;According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israel's military campaign and ground offensive in southern Lebanon have killed more than 3,500 people.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-multiple-people-injured-in-shooting-near-toledo-festival-in-ohio-1780788337045">US: Multiple people injured in shooting near Toledo festival in Ohio</a><h2>Gaza strikes leave 10 dead</h2>In Gaza, the civil defence service reported that Israeli strikes killed 10 people on Saturday as the Israeli military said one of those killed was a Hamas "terrorist cell commander".&nbsp;According to Gaza's civil defence authorities, a drone strike in Gaza City hit the Jawazat camp for displaced people, killing eight people and injuring 15 others.&nbsp;At least 951 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to Gaza's health ministry.&nbsp;The developments underscore the continuing instability across the region, with hostilities persisting in both Lebanon and Gaza even as diplomatic efforts struggle to prevent a broader escalation.

In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed 10 people on Saturday, according to the civil defence service, while the Israeli military said one of the dead was a Hamas "terrorist cell commander".

As tensions in West Asia intensified following Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait in response to US attacks on surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon despite a Washington-brokered conditional ceasefire reached earlier this week. The Lebanese army said two officers and a soldier were killed when a military vehicle was hit on the road between Khardali and the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said the targeted vehicle was "moving suspiciously" in "an active combat zone" within an area that had been ordered evacuated ahead of military operations. However, it maintained that it "operates against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese army", and said it was "reviewing the incident". Lebanon condemns strike, Hezbollah blames government Hezbollah condemned the attack, calling it a "heinous crime" and accusing the Lebanese government of exposing the country to further violence through its "complete surrender to the enemy's demands in Washington". The Lebanese army also criticised the strike, saying on Saturday that "the continuation of the deliberate and repeated brutal Israeli aggression... is aimed at thwarting all efforts to reach a solution". Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the attack as a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty". Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the deaths of two of its soldiers who had been engaged in combat operations in southern Lebanon. Official figures show that Israel has lost 29 soldiers and one civilian contractor since the start of the latest conflict in Lebanon. According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israel's military campaign and ground offensive in southern Lebanon have killed more than 3,500 people. Also Read: US: Multiple people injured in shooting near Toledo festival in Ohio Gaza strikes leave 10 dead In Gaza, the civil defence service reported that Israeli strikes killed 10 people on Saturday as the Israeli military said one of those killed was a Hamas "terrorist cell commander". According to Gaza's civil defence authorities, a drone strike in Gaza City hit the Jawazat camp for displaced people, killing eight people and injuring 15 others. At least 951 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to Gaza's health ministry. The developments underscore the continuing instability across the region, with hostilities persisting in both Lebanon and Gaza even as diplomatic efforts struggle to prevent a broader escalation.

In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed 10 people on Saturday, according to the civil defence service, while the Israeli military said one of the dead was a Hamas "terrorist cell commander".

Israeli strike kills three Lebanese soldiers as tensions escalate across West Asia

At least 12 people were shot Saturday when gunmen, possibly aiming for each other, opened fire near a summer festival in Toledo, Ohio, authorities said.&nbsp;The Toledo Police Department said the shooting occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time near the Old West End Festival.&nbsp;Responding officers found multiple gunshot victims at the scene, police said. Several injured people were taken to nearby hospitals, though officials did not immediately disclose the number of victims or their conditions.&nbsp;Police said investigators were searching for the suspect or suspects involved. Authorities have not released details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or a possible motive.&nbsp;"The Toledo Police Department is actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved.The investigation currently includes scenes in the area of Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue. Residents and visitors are asked to avoid the area and expect a significant police presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident," it said in a post on X.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At approximately 5:37 p.m., Toledo Police officers responded to a report of a person shot in the area of Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue near the Old West End Festival. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple shooting victims. Many victims have been transported to nearby… <a href="https://t.co/Ev6Wbkv40f">pic.twitter.com/Ev6Wbkv40f</a>&mdash; Toledo Police (@Toledo_PD) <a href="https://x.com/Toledo_PD/status/2063388025954902353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight. Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.&nbsp;According to its website, the Old West End Festival, now in its 53rd year, features a parade, food markets and live music. The event is held in Toledo, a city of about 270,000 people in northwest Ohio.

The Toledo Police Department is searching for the suspect or suspects involved, while the victims have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

At least 12 people were shot Saturday when gunmen, possibly aiming for each other, opened fire near a summer festival in Toledo, Ohio, authorities said. The Toledo Police Department said the shooting occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time near the Old West End Festival. Responding officers found multiple gunshot victims at the scene, police said. Several injured people were taken to nearby hospitals, though officials did not immediately disclose the number of victims or their conditions. Police said investigators were searching for the suspect or suspects involved. Authorities have not released details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or a possible motive. "The Toledo Police Department is actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved. The investigation currently includes scenes in the area of Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue. Residents and visitors are asked to avoid the area and expect a significant police presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident," it said in a post on X.

The Toledo Police Department is searching for the suspect or suspects involved, while the victims have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

At least 12 people injured in shooting near Ohio festival; gunman still at large

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy to urge European nations to take stronger action against migration and increase their contribution to the continent’s defence.&nbsp;Speaking on Saturday at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, Hegseth drew a parallel between the challenges Europe faced during World War II and what he described as present-day threats stemming from migration.&nbsp;"Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies," Hegseth said.&nbsp;Referring to migrant arrivals along Europe's southern coastline, he added: "On beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive."&nbsp;"When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?"His remarks reflect the position frequently advanced by US President Donald Trump's administration, which argues that large-scale migration poses a threat to European civilisation and security.&nbsp;The US Defence Secretary also called on European allies to play a larger role in ensuring their own security and defence capabilities. "May we learn from this past," Hegseth said while commemorating the Allied landings that helped liberate Nazi-occupied France during World War II.&nbsp;Addressing attendees gathered among the 9,387 white crosses marking American soldiers killed during the Battle of Normandy, he praised the commitment shown by Allied nations during the war.&nbsp;"The men buried here fought in a war-fighting alliance where every partner... brought its full measure of industry, courage and sacrifice," he said&nbsp;His comments come as the Trump administration continues to press NATO allies to increase defence spending and assume a greater share of responsibility for European security.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wonderful-world-a-once-in-a-century-celestial-event-the-6-minute-solar-eclipse-that-will-turn-day-into-night-1780776951200">Wonderful World | A once-in-a-century celestial event: The 6-minute solar eclipse that will turn day into night</a>&nbsp;Hegseth reiterated that while the United States remains committed to leadership, allies must be prepared to contribute equally when required.&nbsp;"America will lead," he said, but added that its "capable allies must be right there with us, shoulder-to-shoulder in the breach when it matters".&nbsp;The administration has repeatedly criticised European nations for relying heavily on US military support and has at times questioned Washington's long-term commitment to the NATO alliance.&nbsp;The D-Day landings of June 6, 1944, remain the largest seaborne military operation in history, involving tens of thousands of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada landing on five beaches along the Normandy coast in a decisive operation against Nazi Germany.

Marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels between the Allied fight against Nazi aggression and what he described as Europe's current migration challenge.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy to urge European nations to take stronger action against migration and increase their contribution to the continent’s defence. Speaking on Saturday at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, Hegseth drew a parallel between the challenges Europe faced during World War II and what he described as present-day threats stemming from migration. "Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies," Hegseth said. Referring to migrant arrivals along Europe's southern coastline, he added: "On beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive." "When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?" His remarks reflect the position frequently advanced by US President Donald Trump's administration, which argues that large-scale migration poses a threat to European civilisation and security. The US Defence Secretary also called on European allies to play a larger role in ensuring their own security and defence capabilities. "May we learn from this past," Hegseth said while commemorating the Allied landings that helped liberate Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Addressing attendees gathered among the 9,387 white crosses marking American soldiers killed during the Battle of Normandy, he praised the commitment shown by Allied nations during the war. "The men buried here fought in a war-fighting alliance where every partner... brought its full measure of industry, courage and sacrifice," he said His comments come as the Trump administration continues to press NATO allies to increase defence spending and assume a greater share of responsibility for European security. Also Read: Wonderful World | A once-in-a-century celestial event: The 6-minute solar eclipse that will turn day into night Hegseth reiterated that while the United States remains committed to leadership, allies must be prepared to contribute equally when required. "America will lead," he said, but added that its "capable allies must be right there with us, shoulder-to-shoulder in the breach when it matters". The administration has repeatedly criticised European nations for relying heavily on US military support and has at times questioned Washington's long-term commitment to the NATO alliance. The D-Day landings of June 6, 1944, remain the largest seaborne military operation in history, involving tens of thousands of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada landing on five beaches along the Normandy coast in a decisive operation against Nazi Germany.

Marking the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels between the Allied fight against Nazi aggression and what he described as Europe's current migration challenge.

‘When will Europe do something about the invasion?’: Hegseth urges action against migration in D-Day speech

A once-in-a-century celestial event: the 6-minute solar eclipse that will turn day into nightThe longest total solar eclipse visible from accessible landmasses in the 21st century will take place on August 2, 2027, giving millions of people a chance to witness more than six minutes of daytime darkness.&nbsp;At its peak, the Moon will completely cover the Sun for about 6 minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest total solar eclipse visible from land this century. The rare event will be seen across parts of Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, and is expected to attract astronomers, eclipse enthusiasts and tourists from around the world.&nbsp;Scientists say the eclipse's extraordinary duration is the result of a rare alignment between the Earth, Moon and Sun. People located within the path of totality will experience the sky darkening in the middle of the day, while the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, becomes visible.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-decodes-why-is-india-switching-to-plastic-notes-rbi-plans-to-introduce-polymer-currency-1780711885639">WION Decodes | Why is India switching to plastic notes? RBI plans to introduce polymer currency</a><h2>Why will the eclipse last so long</h2>A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on Earth. However, the duration of totality varies depending on the positions of the three celestial bodies.&nbsp;According to calculations cited on NASA's eclipse resources and data published by Eclipsophile, the August 2027 eclipse will last unusually long because the Moon will be relatively close to Earth at the time of the event, making it appear larger in the sky.&nbsp;At the same time, Earth will be near aphelion, the point in its orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. This makes the Sun appear slightly smaller than usual. The combination allows the Moon to cover the Sun completely for a longer period, extending the duration of totality to more than six minutes.&nbsp;Astronomers note that such a favourable alignment is uncommon, which is why eclipses of this length are rarely seen.&nbsp;<h2>Where it will be visible and what people will see</h2>The path of totality will begin over the Atlantic Ocean before moving across southern Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East.&nbsp;According to official eclipse calculations, totality will be visible from parts of Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia.&nbsp;Egypt is expected to provide some of the best viewing conditions. Areas near Luxor and parts of the New Valley Governorate could experience nearly the full 6 minutes and 23 seconds of darkness. Astronomical calculations indicate that the point of greatest eclipse will occur over Egypt.&nbsp;During totality, daylight will briefly turn into twilight-like darkness. Temperatures may drop slightly, while bright planets and stars could become visible. According to NASA, totality is the only phase of a solar eclipse during which the Sun's corona can be viewed with the naked eye.&nbsp;Observers may also witness rare phenomena such as Bailey's Beads and the Diamond Ring Effect, caused by sunlight passing through valleys on the Moon's surface before and after totality.&nbsp;Experts advise viewers to use certified solar eclipse glasses during all stages of the eclipse except the brief period of totality. According to estimates from Time and Date, more than four billion people across Africa, Europe and western Asia could witness at least a partial eclipse, making it one of the most widely observed astronomical events of the century.

The longest total solar eclipse visible from land in the 21st century will occur on August 2, 2027, when the Moon will completely obscure the Sun for up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds.

A once-in-a-century celestial event: the 6-minute solar eclipse that will turn day into night The longest total solar eclipse visible from accessible landmasses in the 21st century will take place on August 2, 2027, giving millions of people a chance to witness more than six minutes of daytime darkness. At its peak, the Moon will completely cover the Sun for about 6 minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest total solar eclipse visible from land this century. The rare event will be seen across parts of Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, and is expected to attract astronomers, eclipse enthusiasts and tourists from around the world. Scientists say the eclipse's extraordinary duration is the result of a rare alignment between the Earth, Moon and Sun. People located within the path of totality will experience the sky darkening in the middle of the day, while the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, becomes visible. Also Read: WION Decodes | Why is India switching to plastic notes? RBI plans to introduce polymer currency Why will the eclipse last so long A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on Earth. However, the duration of totality varies depending on the positions of the three celestial bodies. According to calculations cited on NASA's eclipse resources and data published by Eclipsophile, the August 2027 eclipse will last unusually long because the Moon will be relatively close to Earth at the time of the event, making it appear larger in the sky. At the same time, Earth will be near aphelion, the point in its orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. This makes the Sun appear slightly smaller than usual. The combination allows the Moon to cover the Sun completely for a longer period, extending the duration of totality to more than six minutes. Astronomers note that such a favourable alignment is uncommon, which is why eclipses of this length are rarely seen. Where it will be visible and what people will see The path of totality will begin over the Atlantic Ocean before moving across southern Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. According to official eclipse calculations, totality will be visible from parts of Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. Egypt is expected to provide some of the best viewing conditions. Areas near Luxor and parts of the New Valley Governorate could experience nearly the full 6 minutes and 23 seconds of darkness. Astronomical calculations indicate that the point of greatest eclipse will occur over Egypt. During totality, daylight will briefly turn into twilight-like darkness. Temperatures may drop slightly, while bright planets and stars could become visible. According to NASA, totality is the only phase of a solar eclipse during which the Sun's corona can be viewed with the naked eye. Observers may also witness rare phenomena such as Bailey's Beads and the Diamond Ring Effect, caused by sunlight passing through valleys on the Moon's surface before and after totality. Experts advise viewers to use certified solar eclipse glasses during all stages of the eclipse except the brief period of totality. According to estimates from Time and Date, more than four billion people across Africa, Europe and western Asia could witness at least a partial eclipse, making it one of the most widely observed astronomical events of the century.

The longest total solar eclipse visible from land in the 21st century will occur on August 2, 2027, when the Moon will completely obscure the Sun for up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds.

Wonderful World | A once-in-a-century celestial event: The 6-minute solar eclipse that will turn day into night

Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal reportedly departed for Pakistan on Saturday (June 6) for talks with Pakistan's military leadership, and the visit is connected to wider diplomatic efforts surrounding ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, as per reports. In a statement, the Lebanese army said Haykal left Lebanon for Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.&nbsp;While the military statement did not provide further details on the agenda of the visit, a source familiar with the matter told AFP that the trip is linked to Pakistan's mediation efforts aimed at resolving issues between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spying-among-friends-pentagon-s-secret-israel-alert-revives-explosive-snowden-claims-1780767454185">‘Spying among friends’? Pentagon’s SECRET Israel alert revives explosive Snowden claims</a>&nbsp;The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the visit was "linked to the Pakistani mediation to resolve" outstanding matters between the United States and Iran, which are engaged in negotiations to bring an end to the broader conflict that has engulfed West Asia. "Lebanon is a critical part of the negotiations," the source added, without elaborating on the country's specific role in the diplomatic process. According to the source, Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as Islamabad's principal negotiator in contacts between the United States and Iran.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-should-be-realistic-iranian-fm-crushes-trump-s-desire-to-meet-mojtaba-khamenei-know-details-1780748378190">‘We should be realistic’: Iranian FM crushes Trump’s desire to meet Khamenei</a>&nbsp;The visit comes as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to reduce tensions across the region and secure a lasting settlement to the conflict, with multiple regional actors reportedly involved in discussions aimed at preventing further escalation. Neither Pakistani nor Lebanese officials have publicly commented on the reported connection between Haykal's visit and the US-Iran talks beyond the official announcement of the military chief's trip. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-attack-a-dangerous-escalation-kuwait-warns-after-tehran-again-fires-missiles-1780747962865">'Iranian attack a dangerous escalation', Kuwait warns after Iran fires missiles</a>

Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal arrived in Pakistan to meet Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, reportedly to support Pakistan-led mediation efforts aimed at resolving ongoing US-Iran tensions and West Asia conflicts.

Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal reportedly departed for Pakistan on Saturday (June 6) for talks with Pakistan's military leadership, and the visit is connected to wider diplomatic efforts surrounding ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, as per reports. In a statement, the Lebanese army said Haykal left Lebanon for Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. While the military statement did not provide further details on the agenda of the visit, a source familiar with the matter told AFP that the trip is linked to Pakistan's mediation efforts aimed at resolving issues between Washington and Tehran. Also read: ‘Spying among friends’? Pentagon’s SECRET Israel alert revives explosive Snowden claims The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the visit was "linked to the Pakistani mediation to resolve" outstanding matters between the United States and Iran, which are engaged in negotiations to bring an end to the broader conflict that has engulfed West Asia. "Lebanon is a critical part of the negotiations," the source added, without elaborating on the country's specific role in the diplomatic process. According to the source, Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as Islamabad's principal negotiator in contacts between the United States and Iran. Also read: ‘We should be realistic’: Iranian FM crushes Trump’s desire to meet Khamenei The visit comes as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to reduce tensions across the region and secure a lasting settlement to the conflict, with multiple regional actors reportedly involved in discussions aimed at preventing further escalation. Neither Pakistani nor Lebanese officials have publicly commented on the reported connection between Haykal's visit and the US-Iran talks beyond the official announcement of the military chief's trip. Also read: 'Iranian attack a dangerous escalation', Kuwait warns after Iran fires missiles

Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal arrived in Pakistan to meet Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, reportedly to support Pakistan-led mediation efforts aimed at resolving ongoing US-Iran tensions and West Asia conflicts.

Something big ahead? Lebanese army chief visits Pakistan amid reports of link to US-Iran negotiations

The US Department of Defence has raised its internal counterintelligence threat level concerning Israel to the highest possible tier, according to two current US officials and one former official familiar with the matter. The move follows what officials described as a significant escalation in espionage activity targeting American federal systems and reflects growing concern within the US national security establishment over surveillance operations attributed to its closest West Asia ally.&nbsp;The officials said the policy shift highlights the increasingly fraught balance between public strategic cooperation and private counterintelligence competition. Although Washington and Tel Aviv continue to present a close security partnership built on intelligence sharing and joint counter-terrorism efforts, the Pentagon has reportedly intensified defensive measures against Israeli intelligence activity on US networks.<h2>Snowden-era documents cited as historical backdrop</h2>The latest alarm has also revived debate over the extent of Israeli espionage against the United States. Declassified NSA documents from 2007, later made public through disclosures associated with whistleblower Edward Snowden, identified Israel as one of the most aggressive foreign intelligence threats targeting US government systems, according to officials and analysts familiar with the material.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-should-be-realistic-iranian-fm-crushes-trump-s-desire-to-meet-mojtaba-khamenei-know-details-1780748378190">‘We should be realistic’: Iranian FM crushes Trump’s desire to meet Khamenei</a>&nbsp;Those records indicated that US counterintelligence agencies were already tracking sophisticated efforts to penetrate sensitive government infrastructure nearly two decades ago, establishing what security officials describe as a long-running pattern of unauthorised intelligence collection directed at American targets.<h2>Defence systems and banking networks seen as key targets</h2>Current and historical assessments point to the Defence Department as a primary target of the alleged espionage campaign. Officials said the operations have focused on obtaining military technology, communications records and strategic logistics information from internal defence networks.&nbsp;Analysts also cited concern about intrusions into financial-sector systems. Access to banking databases could provide foreign operatives with visibility into international transaction flows, economic telemetry and other data valuable for trade and policy intelligence, according to security specialists familiar with the threat assessments.<h2>A zero-trust alliance</h2>The decision to place Israel-related counterintelligence concerns at the Pentagon’s top internal threat tier underscores what officials describe as a dual-track relationship: close diplomatic and military cooperation on one hand, and aggressive cyber-defence measures on the other. US cyber-security teams are said to operate under a “zero-trust” posture when protecting defence communications and federal networks, applying stringent safeguards regardless of alliance status.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-deepmind-ceo-says-we-don-t-have-much-time-to-prepare-for-the-new-human-era-what-are-agi-capabilities-he-is-warning-about-agi-debate-1780740577596">Why is Google DeepMind CEO warning about Artificial General Intelligence?</a>&nbsp;Neither the Pentagon nor Israeli authorities have publicly confirmed the reported threat-level change. The officials who discussed the matter did so on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak about internal counterintelligence assessments.

The Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat level regarding Israel to the highest tier following escalated espionage targeting US networks, reviving historic Edward Snowden-era concerns about the ally’s surveillance operations.

The US Department of Defence has raised its internal counterintelligence threat level concerning Israel to the highest possible tier, according to two current US officials and one former official familiar with the matter. The move follows what officials described as a significant escalation in espionage activity targeting American federal systems and reflects growing concern within the US national security establishment over surveillance operations attributed to its closest West Asia ally. The officials said the policy shift highlights the increasingly fraught balance between public strategic cooperation and private counterintelligence competition. Although Washington and Tel Aviv continue to present a close security partnership built on intelligence sharing and joint counter-terrorism efforts, the Pentagon has reportedly intensified defensive measures against Israeli intelligence activity on US networks. Snowden-era documents cited as historical backdrop The latest alarm has also revived debate over the extent of Israeli espionage against the United States. Declassified NSA documents from 2007, later made public through disclosures associated with whistleblower Edward Snowden, identified Israel as one of the most aggressive foreign intelligence threats targeting US government systems, according to officials and analysts familiar with the material. Also read: ‘We should be realistic’: Iranian FM crushes Trump’s desire to meet Khamenei Those records indicated that US counterintelligence agencies were already tracking sophisticated efforts to penetrate sensitive government infrastructure nearly two decades ago, establishing what security officials describe as a long-running pattern of unauthorised intelligence collection directed at American targets. Defence systems and banking networks seen as key targets Current and historical assessments point to the Defence Department as a primary target of the alleged espionage campaign. Officials said the operations have focused on obtaining military technology, communications records and strategic logistics information from internal defence networks. Analysts also cited concern about intrusions into financial-sector systems. Access to banking databases could provide foreign operatives with visibility into international transaction flows, economic telemetry and other data valuable for trade and policy intelligence, according to security specialists familiar with the threat assessments. A zero-trust alliance The decision to place Israel-related counterintelligence concerns at the Pentagon’s top internal threat tier underscores what officials describe as a dual-track relationship: close diplomatic and military cooperation on one hand, and aggressive cyber-defence measures on the other. US cyber-security teams are said to operate under a “zero-trust” posture when protecting defence communications and federal networks, applying stringent safeguards regardless of alliance status. Also read: Why is Google DeepMind CEO warning about Artificial General Intelligence? Neither the Pentagon nor Israeli authorities have publicly confirmed the reported threat-level change. The officials who discussed the matter did so on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak about internal counterintelligence assessments.

The Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat level regarding Israel to the highest tier following escalated espionage targeting US networks, reviving historic Edward Snowden-era concerns about the ally’s surveillance operations.

‘Spying among friends’? Pentagon’s SECRET Israel alert revives explosive Snowden claims

Hours after the US military struck radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the Sirik region and Qeshm Island, Iran condemned the attack saying it is "a clear violation of the ceasefire of April 19 and a military aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran."&nbsp;Hitting out at US further Tehran said," The repeated violation of the ceasefire by the United States proves once again that this country not only does not have the will to reduce tensions and return to the path of stability, but also poses serious risks to the security of the region with its adventurous actions, and the responsibility for all the effects and consequences of these illegal actions, as well as any possible escalation of tension, will lie with the US government."<h2>Iran retaliates, attacks Kuwait, Bahrain</h2>&nbsp;In retaliation of US attack, Iran launched missile attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain early Saturday.&nbsp;Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a statement, said that it has targeted US bases in region with air-launched missiles in response to attack on the islands of Sirik and Qeshm.&nbsp;“Following the invasion by the child-killing and terrorist US army of Sirik and Qeshm islands, enemy bases in the area were hit by aerospace missiles,” IRGC said.&nbsp;In the wake of the US attacks, Iran has called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to intervene.&nbsp;"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also calls on the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council, and other responsible international bodies to respond immediately and effectively to the continued flagrant violation of the ceasefire and the illegal US action, and to prevent the increasing normalization of violations of the UN Charter and actions that threaten regional and international peace and security," a statement released by Iran read.&nbsp;A formal ceasefire in the war is in place since April 8. A joint airstrike by US and Israel on Tehran on February 8 in which several top Iranian leaders were killed, including its supreme leader Ayahtollah Ali Khamenei ignited the war.

Irans Revolutionary Guards, in a statement, said that it has targeted US bases in region with air-launched missiles in response to attack on the islands of Sirik and Qeshm.

Hours after the US military struck radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the Sirik region and Qeshm Island, Iran condemned the attack saying it is "a clear violation of the ceasefire of April 19 and a military aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Hitting out at US further Tehran said," The repeated violation of the ceasefire by the United States proves once again that this country not only does not have the will to reduce tensions and return to the path of stability, but also poses serious risks to the security of the region with its adventurous actions, and the responsibility for all the effects and consequences of these illegal actions, as well as any possible escalation of tension, will lie with the US government." Iran retaliates, attacks Kuwait, Bahrain In retaliation of US attack, Iran launched missile attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain early Saturday. Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a statement, said that it has targeted US bases in region with air-launched missiles in response to attack on the islands of Sirik and Qeshm. “Following the invasion by the child-killing and terrorist US army of Sirik and Qeshm islands, enemy bases in the area were hit by aerospace missiles,” IRGC said. In the wake of the US attacks, Iran has called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to intervene. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also calls on the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council, and other responsible international bodies to respond immediately and effectively to the continued flagrant violation of the ceasefire and the illegal US action, and to prevent the increasing normalization of violations of the UN Charter and actions that threaten regional and international peace and security," a statement released by Iran read. A formal ceasefire in the war is in place since April 8. A joint airstrike by US and Israel on Tehran on February 8 in which several top Iranian leaders were killed, including its supreme leader Ayahtollah Ali Khamenei ignited the war.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a statement, said that it has targeted US bases in region with air-launched missiles in response to attack on the islands of Sirik and Qeshm.

'Possible escalation of tension, will lie with US', warns Iran after US strikes

A draft legislation was introduced in the US Congress on Thursday (June 4) seeking to overhaul the H-1B visa programme, including ending its use as a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. The bill titled “American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act of 2026” has been proposed by Republican lawmaker Chip Roy.<h2>So, what does the bill seeking to bring changes to the H-1B visa programme actually proposes</h2>&nbsp;<ul><li>H-1B visa, is one of the most utilized pathways for skilled workers to reside and work in the United States. The implementation is going to impact Indian nationals in a big way as close to 70% of H-1B visa holders in the US are of Indian origin.</li><li>The bill also aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program which allows foreign students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation.</li><li>Chip Roy, who introduced the bill in the US Congress argues that “For its nearly forty-year history, the H-1B visa has been abused, allowing employers to routinely sideline American STEM workers in favour of cheap foreign labour, while masking layoffs and wage suppression as ‘shortages.’”</li><li>The bill's motive is to replace the current lottery system with a merit-and-wage-based approach. It also focuses on mandating employers make genuine efforts to hire American workers first, and prohibits companies that have recently laid off employees from hiring H-1B workers.</li><li>It also proposes to shorten the maximum duration of the visa from six years to two years so that applicants don't intend to stay in US, rather return to their country.</li><li>The bill also aims at eliminating the extension provisions that are currently available while awaiting a Green Card.</li><li>Under the earlier provision, visa holders could pursue permanent residency while working in the United States.</li></ul>The bill has been introduced in the US Congress at a time when the Trump administration has launched a crackdown on legal migration programmes by tightening restrictions, prioritising higher wages for H-1B applicants, and imposing a fee of USD 1,00,000 &nbsp;on new petitions.&nbsp;Notably, Roy is retiring from Congress and was one of the frontrunners for the post of Texas attorney general.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The draft legislation introduced in the US Congress also aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program which allows foreign students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation.

A draft legislation was introduced in the US Congress on Thursday (June 4) seeking to overhaul the H-1B visa programme, including ending its use as a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. The bill titled “American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act of 2026” has been proposed by Republican lawmaker Chip Roy. So, what does the bill seeking to bring changes to the H-1B visa programme actually proposes H-1B visa, is one of the most utilized pathways for skilled workers to reside and work in the United States. The implementation is going to impact Indian nationals in a big way as close to 70% of H-1B visa holders in the US are of Indian origin. The bill also aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program which allows foreign students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation. Chip Roy, who introduced the bill in the US Congress argues that “For its nearly forty-year history, the H-1B visa has been abused, allowing employers to routinely sideline American STEM workers in favour of cheap foreign labour, while masking layoffs and wage suppression as ‘shortages.’” The bill's motive is to replace the current lottery system with a merit-and-wage-based approach. It also focuses on mandating employers make genuine efforts to hire American workers first, and prohibits companies that have recently laid off employees from hiring H-1B workers. It also proposes to shorten the maximum duration of the visa from six years to two years so that applicants don't intend to stay in US, rather return to their country. The bill also aims at eliminating the extension provisions that are currently available while awaiting a Green Card. Under the earlier provision, visa holders could pursue permanent residency while working in the United States. The bill has been introduced in the US Congress at a time when the Trump administration has launched a crackdown on legal migration programmes by tightening restrictions, prioritising higher wages for H-1B applicants, and imposing a fee of USD 1,00,000 on new petitions. Notably, Roy is retiring from Congress and was one of the frontrunners for the post of Texas attorney general.

The draft legislation introduced in the US Congress also aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program which allows foreign students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation.

What American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act introduced in US Congress proposes? WION Decodes

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed education by making learning more accessible, personalised, and efficient with virtual tutors and highly efficient research tools creating amazing opportunities for students.&nbsp;However, the increasing use of AI, which makes complex tasks easy for students, is creating dependence on it. Increasing reliance on AI can stunt students’ mathematical and critical thinking skills and impede their overall development, consequently affecting their academic performance and ‘real learning’.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the major concerns is the decline in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as AI tools instantly provide answers, summaries, and solutions to complex questions, and as a result, students do not engage deeply with the subject matter.Over time, this reliance on AI can weaken their ability to think critically and make informed decisions.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/time-for-pause-humans-may-lose-control-on-ai-as-it-starts-building-itself-warns-anthropic-1780660343107">‘Time for pause’: Humans may lose control on AI as it starts building itself, warns Anthropic</a><h2>AI overuse undermines the very purpose of education</h2>&nbsp;Students are using large language models, like Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini, to produce essays and reports within seconds without understanding the concepts involved. This undermines the purpose of education, which is to develop knowledge, skills, and creativity. Students may submit AI-generated work as their own, but they miss the valuable learning opportunities and may ultimately struggle in examinations or real-world situations that require independent thinking.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hotel-owner-helped-bangladeshi-nationals-get-fake-indian-documents-was-arrested-booked-last-year-1780654502514">Delhi hotel owner helped Bangladeshi nationals get fake Indian documents, was arrested, booked last year</a>&nbsp;Creative thinking emerges from brainstorming and overcoming challenges, but when students rely on AI to generate ideas, write content, or solve problems, they become passive learners. Excessive dependence on technology can discourage students from developing perspectives and innovative abilities.AI tools may contribute to reduced motivation and effort as learning requires persistence, practice, and patience. Students are tempted to take shortcuts, and this prevents them from developing a strong work ethic. As a result, students may perform poorly when faced with tasks that require independent effort.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-withdraws-z-plus-cover-of-lalu-yadav-rabri-devi-how-much-does-the-vip-protection-cost-taxpayers-1780746937908">Govt withdraws Z-plus cover of Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi. How much does the VIP protection cost taxpayers?</a><h2>AI misuse negatively affects intellectual growth, creativity, and ethics</h2>&nbsp;Besides, excessive use of AI and digital tools can reduce human interaction in education. Discussions with teachers and classmates play a crucial role in developing communication skills, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. In conclusion, while AI offers numerous advantages in education, its misuse and overdependence can negatively affect students' intellectual growth, creativity, ethics, motivation, privacy, and social development.Therefore, AI should be used as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for genuine learning. By maintaining a balanced approach, students can benefit from technological advancements while continuing to develop essential life skills.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-using-lebanon-as-bargaining-chip-in-negotiations-with-us-says-lebanese-president-joseph-aoun-1780672889045">‘Iran using Lebanon as bargaining chip in negotiations with US,’ says Lebanese President Joseph Aoun</a>&nbsp;Professors at the University of California, Berkeley, have also reported a rise in failing grades in some computer science courses as the use of AI tools among students has increased.&nbsp;They say many students generate code, complete assignments and get solutions with the help of AI but struggle when asked to solve problems independently during examinations or technical interviews.

Students are using Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini to produce essays and reports within seconds without understanding the concepts involved. This undermines the purpose of education, which is to develop knowledge, skills, and creativity.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed education by making learning more accessible, personalised, and efficient with virtual tutors and highly efficient research tools creating amazing opportunities for students. However, the increasing use of AI, which makes complex tasks easy for students, is creating dependence on it. Increasing reliance on AI can stunt students’ mathematical and critical thinking skills and impede their overall development, consequently affecting their academic performance and ‘real learning’. One of the major concerns is the decline in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as AI tools instantly provide answers, summaries, and solutions to complex questions, and as a result, students do not engage deeply with the subject matter. Over time, this reliance on AI can weaken their ability to think critically and make informed decisions. Also Read: ‘Time for pause’: Humans may lose control on AI as it starts building itself, warns Anthropic AI overuse undermines the very purpose of education Students are using large language models, like Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini, to produce essays and reports within seconds without understanding the concepts involved. This undermines the purpose of education, which is to develop knowledge, skills, and creativity. Students may submit AI-generated work as their own, but they miss the valuable learning opportunities and may ultimately struggle in examinations or real-world situations that require independent thinking. Also Read: Delhi hotel owner helped Bangladeshi nationals get fake Indian documents, was arrested, booked last year Creative thinking emerges from brainstorming and overcoming challenges, but when students rely on AI to generate ideas, write content, or solve problems, they become passive learners. Excessive dependence on technology can discourage students from developing perspectives and innovative abilities. AI tools may contribute to reduced motivation and effort as learning requires persistence, practice, and patience. Students are tempted to take shortcuts, and this prevents them from developing a strong work ethic. As a result, students may perform poorly when faced with tasks that require independent effort. Also Read: Govt withdraws Z-plus cover of Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi. How much does the VIP protection cost taxpayers? AI misuse negatively affects intellectual growth, creativity, and ethics Besides, excessive use of AI and digital tools can reduce human interaction in education. Discussions with teachers and classmates play a crucial role in developing communication skills, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. In conclusion, while AI offers numerous advantages in education, its misuse and overdependence can negatively affect students' intellectual growth, creativity, ethics, motivation, privacy, and social development. Therefore, AI should be used as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for genuine learning. By maintaining a balanced approach, students can benefit from technological advancements while continuing to develop essential life skills. Also Read: ‘Iran using Lebanon as bargaining chip in negotiations with US,’ says Lebanese President Joseph Aoun Professors at the University of California, Berkeley, have also reported a rise in failing grades in some computer science courses as the use of AI tools among students has increased. They say many students generate code, complete assignments and get solutions with the help of AI but struggle when asked to solve problems independently during examinations or technical interviews.

Students are using Claude, ChatGPT and Google Gemini to produce essays and reports within seconds without understanding the concepts involved. This undermines the purpose of education, which is to develop knowledge, skills, and creativity.

Is AI making students dumb? Concerns grow over learning, development of cognitive skills

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the Trump administration are considering a possible government stake at the artificial intelligence start-up, reported CNBC. Earlier reports have surfaced that White House has held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about the potential for the government to buy some shares in their firms. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump stated that his administration is exploring concepts where pieces of these companies could be given to the federal government to establish a "partnership with the American public."The report comes as the AI giants SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are planning for an IPO. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has discussed the idea of selling equity to the government at the start of Trump's second term. It had also sought a US government loan to build chip factories ​in the US. Earlier this week, Altman met with a range of lawmakers and officials in Washington about regulation and the latest developments in AI.&nbsp;“There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner,” said US President Donald Trump to the reporter.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tova-noel-denies-orange-figure-jeffrey-epstein-jail-footage-1780741329354">Who is Tova Noel? Former Epstein guard denies being orange figure seen on staircase</a>As part of the deal, OpenAI will donate equity to the US government to seed something like the “Public Wealth Fund”. Open AI said that the government c could “invest in diversified, long-term assets” and would enable citizens to participate in the “upside” of AI growth.&nbsp;The decision could have implications both domestically and globally. As the government could effectively become a partner of the companies, this means the government would need to keep the AI companies' stock price high to fund public programs. Further, we could see softening of regulations to break up tech monopolies or enforce data privacy rules. It could also be a hedge against public backlash for job loss and resource allocation.Sen Bernie Sanders proposed that the US government take a 50 per cent ownership stake in the AI companies. If the government becomes the majority stakeholder, focus might shift to national security and defence. It would force the government to look away from profit; countries like Russia and China would perceive this as an extension of the US military.&nbsp;As news in Washington circulated, whether the government should take an ownership stake in individual AI companies, tech and chip stocks saw a bloodbath. Tech stocks plummeted on Friday, as the NASDAQ was down by 4.2 per cent on Friday, and the PHLX Semiconductor Sector index dropped over 10 per cent. Brodcom was down by 13 per cent, NVIDIA was down 6.2 per cent on Friday, falling below the $5 trillion market cap threshold, and Meta declined 5.5 per cent along with other companies like Marvell Technology, Micron Technology, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.&nbsp;

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring a potential government stake in OpenAI and other AI firms, raising questions about regulation, public ownership and the future of the artificial intelligence industry.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the Trump administration are considering a possible government stake at the artificial intelligence start-up, reported CNBC. Earlier reports have surfaced that White House has held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about the potential for the government to buy some shares in their firms. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump stated that his administration is exploring concepts where pieces of these companies could be given to the federal government to establish a "partnership with the American public." The report comes as the AI giants SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are planning for an IPO. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has discussed the idea of selling equity to the government at the start of Trump's second term. It had also sought a US government loan to build chip factories in the US. Earlier this week, Altman met with a range of lawmakers and officials in Washington about regulation and the latest developments in AI. “There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner,” said US President Donald Trump to the reporter. Also Read: Who is Tova Noel? Former Epstein guard denies being orange figure seen on staircase As part of the deal, OpenAI will donate equity to the US government to seed something like the “Public Wealth Fund”. Open AI said that the government c could “invest in diversified, long-term assets” and would enable citizens to participate in the “upside” of AI growth. The decision could have implications both domestically and globally. As the government could effectively become a partner of the companies, this means the government would need to keep the AI companies' stock price high to fund public programs. Further, we could see softening of regulations to break up tech monopolies or enforce data privacy rules. It could also be a hedge against public backlash for job loss and resource allocation. Sen Bernie Sanders proposed that the US government take a 50 per cent ownership stake in the AI companies. If the government becomes the majority stakeholder, focus might shift to national security and defence. It would force the government to look away from profit; countries like Russia and China would perceive this as an extension of the US military. As news in Washington circulated, whether the government should take an ownership stake in individual AI companies, tech and chip stocks saw a bloodbath. Tech stocks plummeted on Friday, as the NASDAQ was down by 4.2 per cent on Friday, and the PHLX Semiconductor Sector index dropped over 10 per cent. Brodcom was down by 13 per cent, NVIDIA was down 6.2 per cent on Friday, falling below the $5 trillion market cap threshold, and Meta declined 5.5 per cent along with other companies like Marvell Technology, Micron Technology, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring a potential government stake in OpenAI and other AI firms, raising questions about regulation, public ownership and the future of the artificial intelligence industry.

Trump administration explores potential government stake in OpenAI

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed US President Donald Trump's suggestion that he could one day meet Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, saying such expectations are not grounded in present realities amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;The remarks came after Trump said earlier this week that he would like to meet Khamenei and suggested such an encounter could take place in the future if ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran produce positive results.&nbsp;Speaking in an interview with Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen, Araghchi downplayed the prospect of any high-level meeting between the two leaders. "I think we should be realistic and think and live in the real world," Araghchi said when asked about Trump's comments.&nbsp;Trump has repeatedly signalled his willingness to engage directly with Iranian leaders as part of efforts to secure a broader agreement covering regional security issues and Iran's nuclear programme. The US president recently expressed optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough and said talks between Washington and Tehran were continuing.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-attack-a-dangerous-escalation-kuwait-warns-after-tehran-again-fires-missiles-1780747962865">'Iranian attack a dangerous escalation', Kuwait warns after Tehran again fires missiles</a>&nbsp;However, Araghchi's remarks suggest that Tehran remains sceptical about the prospects of a landmark meeting in the near future.&nbsp;The exchange comes amid fragile contacts between the two countries following months of conflict and instability across the Middle East. Despite public statements supporting diplomacy, both sides remain divided on key issues, including sanctions, regional security arrangements and the future of Iran's nuclear activities.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-immigration-curbs-on-39-countries-struck-down-is-it-good-news-for-indians-1780733677611">Trump's immigration curbs on 39 countries struck down: Good news for Indians?</a>&nbsp;Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader in March following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Since taking over the country's highest political and religious office, Khamenei has largely maintained a limited public profile, although officials in both Iran and the United States say he continues to play an active role in state affairs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion of a future meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, calling it unrealistic amid ongoing, deep-seated diplomatic tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed US President Donald Trump's suggestion that he could one day meet Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, saying such expectations are not grounded in present realities amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran. The remarks came after Trump said earlier this week that he would like to meet Khamenei and suggested such an encounter could take place in the future if ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran produce positive results. Speaking in an interview with Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen, Araghchi downplayed the prospect of any high-level meeting between the two leaders. "I think we should be realistic and think and live in the real world," Araghchi said when asked about Trump's comments. Trump has repeatedly signalled his willingness to engage directly with Iranian leaders as part of efforts to secure a broader agreement covering regional security issues and Iran's nuclear programme. The US president recently expressed optimism about a diplomatic breakthrough and said talks between Washington and Tehran were continuing. Also read: 'Iranian attack a dangerous escalation', Kuwait warns after Tehran again fires missiles However, Araghchi's remarks suggest that Tehran remains sceptical about the prospects of a landmark meeting in the near future. The exchange comes amid fragile contacts between the two countries following months of conflict and instability across the Middle East. Despite public statements supporting diplomacy, both sides remain divided on key issues, including sanctions, regional security arrangements and the future of Iran's nuclear activities. Also read: Trump's immigration curbs on 39 countries struck down: Good news for Indians? Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader in March following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Since taking over the country's highest political and religious office, Khamenei has largely maintained a limited public profile, although officials in both Iran and the United States say he continues to play an active role in state affairs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion of a future meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, calling it unrealistic amid ongoing, deep-seated diplomatic tensions.

‘We should be realistic’: Iranian FM crushes Trump’s desire to meet Mojtaba Khamenei. Know details

Kuwait on Saturday condemned fresh missile attacks by Iran calling it a "direct threat" to the "lives of citizens and residents". Kuwait foreign ministry in a statement after the attack said, "these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the state, they represent a dangerous escalation".&nbsp;Neighbouring Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet also claimed attacks by Iran. Manama described the attack as a "blatant aggression" and "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries".&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-immigration-curbs-on-39-countries-struck-down-is-it-good-news-for-indians-1780733677611">Trump's immigration curbs on 39 countries struck down: Is it good news for Indians? WION Decodes</a>&nbsp;US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;A ceasefire is in place between Iran and the US but tensions rose after the US military on Friday said it struck radar sites in Iran after downing drones headed towards the strait.<h2>Iran targets “enemy bases”</h2>&nbsp;Early Saturday Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they retaliated by targeting "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US operation in Sirik and Qeshm islands.&nbsp;After the IRGC claims, CENTCOM in a statement said, "There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false."&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran says that peace talks between US and Tehran have hit an impasse. According to Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the “ball is in Trump's court” and it is for him to take the first step to break the current deadlock.&nbsp;In an interview to CNN Rezaei also warned that if the United States resumes strikes, it would “enter into a dark corridor."&nbsp;A formal ceasefire in the war is in place since April 8. A joint airstrike by US and Israel on Tehran on February 8 in which several top Iranian leaders were killed, including its supreme leader Ayahtollah Ali Khamenei ignited the war.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Early Saturday Irans Revolutionary Guards said they retaliated by targeting enemy bases in the area with missiles in response to a US operation in Sirik and Qeshm islands.

Kuwait on Saturday condemned fresh missile attacks by Iran calling it a "direct threat" to the "lives of citizens and residents". Kuwait foreign ministry in a statement after the attack said, "these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the state, they represent a dangerous escalation". Neighbouring Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet also claimed attacks by Iran. Manama described the attack as a "blatant aggression" and "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries". ALSO READ: Trump's immigration curbs on 39 countries struck down: Is it good news for Indians? WION Decodes US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain, as reported by AFP. A ceasefire is in place between Iran and the US but tensions rose after the US military on Friday said it struck radar sites in Iran after downing drones headed towards the strait. Iran targets “enemy bases” Early Saturday Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they retaliated by targeting "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US operation in Sirik and Qeshm islands. After the IRGC claims, CENTCOM in a statement said, "There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false." Meanwhile, Iran says that peace talks between US and Tehran have hit an impasse. According to Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the “ball is in Trump's court” and it is for him to take the first step to break the current deadlock. In an interview to CNN Rezaei also warned that if the United States resumes strikes, it would “enter into a dark corridor." A formal ceasefire in the war is in place since April 8. A joint airstrike by US and Israel on Tehran on February 8 in which several top Iranian leaders were killed, including its supreme leader Ayahtollah Ali Khamenei ignited the war.

Early Saturday Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they retaliated by targeting "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US operation in Sirik and Qeshm islands.

'Iranian attack a dangerous escalation', Kuwait warns after Tehran again fires missiles

H-1B visa restrictions in the US are hitting the Indian IT companies that send tech professionals in large numbers. But an ironic twist is happening in some American states: the end of the housing boom created by these Indians relocating to American cities. A recent Bloomberg article highlighted this in Texas, where, in addition to federal curbs and hefty fees, the state also cut fresh applications and some racists there made the H-1B holders the targets of their attacks. The entire suburban boom north of Dallas in Texas was built by Indian H-1B workers, who paid rent and taxes, bought houses, and became consumers. But with increasing populism, xenophobic rhetoric, and openly racist attacks caught on camera, the H-1B visa programme has become a political target. The housing market that those same Indian and South Asian workers built, bought into, and sustained, is collapsing. Here is a deeper look.<h2>How Indians in Texas built "Dallaspuram"</h2>The Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs transformed from rural farmland into a booming tech corridor over the past two decades, driven overwhelmingly by Indian skilled workers on H-1B visas. During the four-year period ending 30 September 2024, nearly 32,000 new H-1B approvals were issued in the Dallas area, exceeding Silicon Valley, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC, and trailing only the New York metro area. Texas is now home to 544,641 Indian residents, with Collin County containing the largest Indian community in the state, at 103,194. The Dallas-Fort Worth area as a whole is home to an estimated 235,000 Indian Americans—spanning generations of early and new arrivals—making it one of the largest Indian populations in the United States. Collin County recorded the largest percentage increase in Indian residents among major US counties, with the average Indian population rising from about 70,000 to more than 116,000 over the five-year period ending in 2024.In Frisco, meanwhile, Asians now make up 28 per cent of the population, with Indians dominating that figure. Indian workers were the engine of the area's real estate market. For instance, Tradition Homes, a builder north of Dallas, saw its South Asian buyer share peak at 70 per cent of all sales, according to the Bloomberg report. Builders designed homes with puja rooms—Hindu prayer spaces—and spice kitchens. Locally nicknamed "Dallaspuram", the suburbs of Frisco, Prosper, and Celina became the physical expression of this community's ambition and purchasing power.<h2>Success brings trouble: The political crackdown on H-1B</h2>This economic success story caught the attention of racists and populists, as well as federal and state governments. The very visa pipeline that made American technological progress and local economic prosperity possible is now under attack. At the federal level, the H-1B visa application fee was hiked steeply. Donald Trump's presidential proclamation of 19 September 2025 mandated that new H-1B petitions carry a $100,000 fee, creating a barrier that falls on employers and indirectly on workers. The random H-1B lottery was replaced with a salary-weighted selection system that took effect on 27 February 2026, favouring higher-paid applicants. The result: FY2027 H-1B registrations have plummeted by 38.5 per cent, as Indian IT firms are simply not applying.At the state level, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an immediate freeze on all new H-1B visa petitions by state agencies and public universities, requiring institutions to document every foreign worker they currently sponsor. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an H-1B probe and expanded it in late April 2026, issuing civil investigative demands to almost 30 North Texas businesses suspected of visa fraud.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-republicans-introduce-bill-to-pause-h-1b-visas-for-3-years-propose-major-overhaul-1777127100494">US Republicans introduce bill to pause H-1B visas for 3 years, propose major overhaul&nbsp;</a><h2>H-1B crackdown leads to housing collapse in Texas</h2>Home prices in Collin County's northern suburbs fell nearly 9 per cent in February from a year earlier. This is more than double the 4 per cent decline across the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Tradition Homes' South Asian buyer share has dropped from 70 per cent to below 30 per cent, leaving the company with a backlog of 125 luxury homes under construction.Falling home prices, slowing demand, and growing inventories of unsold houses have hit the region, just as AI-driven tech layoffs compounded the damage caused by visa policy changes.Fewer people receiving H-1B visas meant an immediate negative shock to the housing sector, which had been built around those arriving on such visas.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-h-1b-visa-registration-drops-30-50-after-new-rules-what-it-means-for-industry-1774337854393">US H-1B visa registration drops 30–50% after new rules: What does it mean for industry?</a><h2>Xenophobia, racism, and political populism add to the economic poison</h2>There have been a number of racially motivated attacks and slurs targeting Indians. In Irving, masked men held signs during a roadside protest in 2025 reading, "Don't India My Texas: Deport H-1B Visa Scammers." At Frisco City Council meetings, activists regularly denounce an "Indian invasion", accusing residents of H-1B fraud without any evidence. In 2024, a woman in Plano pleaded guilty to four hate-crime charges after being filmed using racial slurs against a group of South Asian women. YouTube documentaries with titles like "I Exposed Texas' Indian Invasion" have attracted millions of views. Clips of anti-Indian city council tirades and videos denouncing Hindu rituals are circulating widely, scaring away the very buyers that home builders desperately need.Beyond the morality of it, this racism is directly costing the local economy, as such viral videos suppress buyer interest.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-s-100-000-h-1-b-visa-fee-what-it-means-and-what-it-doesn-t-explained-1758415588544">Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee: What it means and what it doesn't&nbsp;</a><h2>The human toll on H-1B visa holders</h2>The Bloomberg report shared the story of Priya Narayanaswamy, who bought a home in Keller in 2023 for $435,000. Her husband, Anand, an IT worker on an H-1B visa, was suddenly laid off and died by suicide, fearing he could not compete with AI. Priya's dependent visa reverted to a six-month visitor visa, and she could no longer legally work in the US. Her house went into foreclosure, and she boarded a one-way flight to India on 20 April this year with her children. The neighbours who helped her most were White American families, not the politicians or racists who demonised people like her husband.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-explained-what-the-new-100k-fee-means-1758447341880/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-explained-what-the-new-100k-fee-means-1758447341880/embed</a><h2>Texas: The first case of what local economies will face if visas are curbed</h2>The economy of northern suburbs of Texas was transformed by Indian H-1B workers who built the tax base, bought million-dollar homes, filled schools, and created the cultural vitality of an entire region. But now, the state is watching that investment drain away because of politics and policy.Texas is a textbook case of what could happen to local economies if these factors make people on professional visas like H-1B feel unwelcome, unstable, and unsafe. How will this economy survive? Texas is about to find out. So are many other American states.

Texas suburbs that were once transformed by Indian H-1B workers are now facing falling home prices and weaker housing demand as visa restrictions, political backlash and tech layoffs reduce new arrivals. This could repeat in other American states too

H-1B visa restrictions in the US are hitting the Indian IT companies that send tech professionals in large numbers. But an ironic twist is happening in some American states: the end of the housing boom created by these Indians relocating to American cities. A recent Bloomberg article highlighted this in Texas, where, in addition to federal curbs and hefty fees, the state also cut fresh applications and some racists there made the H-1B holders the targets of their attacks. The entire suburban boom north of Dallas in Texas was built by Indian H-1B workers, who paid rent and taxes, bought houses, and became consumers. But with increasing populism, xenophobic rhetoric, and openly racist attacks caught on camera, the H-1B visa programme has become a political target. The housing market that those same Indian and South Asian workers built, bought into, and sustained, is collapsing. Here is a deeper look. How Indians in Texas built "Dallaspuram" The Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs transformed from rural farmland into a booming tech corridor over the past two decades, driven overwhelmingly by Indian skilled workers on H-1B visas. During the four-year period ending 30 September 2024, nearly 32,000 new H-1B approvals were issued in the Dallas area, exceeding Silicon Valley, Seattle, San Francisco, and Washington DC, and trailing only the New York metro area. Texas is now home to 544,641 Indian residents, with Collin County containing the largest Indian community in the state, at 103,194. The Dallas-Fort Worth area as a whole is home to an estimated 235,000 Indian Americans—spanning generations of early and new arrivals—making it one of the largest Indian populations in the United States. Collin County recorded the largest percentage increase in Indian residents among major US counties, with the average Indian population rising from about 70,000 to more than 116,000 over the five-year period ending in 2024. In Frisco, meanwhile, Asians now make up 28 per cent of the population, with Indians dominating that figure. Indian workers were the engine of the area's real estate market. For instance, Tradition Homes, a builder north of Dallas, saw its South Asian buyer share peak at 70 per cent of all sales, according to the Bloomberg report. Builders designed homes with puja rooms—Hindu prayer spaces—and spice kitchens. Locally nicknamed "Dallaspuram", the suburbs of Frisco, Prosper, and Celina became the physical expression of this community's ambition and purchasing power. Success brings trouble: The political crackdown on H-1B This economic success story caught the attention of racists and populists, as well as federal and state governments. The very visa pipeline that made American technological progress and local economic prosperity possible is now under attack. At the federal level, the H-1B visa application fee was hiked steeply. Donald Trump's presidential proclamation of 19 September 2025 mandated that new H-1B petitions carry a $100,000 fee, creating a barrier that falls on employers and indirectly on workers. The random H-1B lottery was replaced with a salary-weighted selection system that took effect on 27 February 2026, favouring higher-paid applicants. The result: FY2027 H-1B registrations have plummeted by 38.5 per cent, as Indian IT firms are simply not applying. At the state level, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an immediate freeze on all new H-1B visa petitions by state agencies and public universities, requiring institutions to document every foreign worker they currently sponsor. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an H-1B probe and expanded it in late April 2026, issuing civil investigative demands to almost 30 North Texas businesses suspected of visa fraud. Also read: US Republicans introduce bill to pause H-1B visas for 3 years, propose major overhaul H-1B crackdown leads to housing collapse in Texas Home prices in Collin County's northern suburbs fell nearly 9 per cent in February from a year earlier. This is more than double the 4 per cent decline across the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Tradition Homes' South Asian buyer share has dropped from 70 per cent to below 30 per cent, leaving the company with a backlog of 125 luxury homes under construction. Falling home prices, slowing demand, and growing inventories of unsold houses have hit the region, just as AI-driven tech layoffs compounded the damage caused by visa policy changes. Fewer people receiving H-1B visas meant an immediate negative shock to the housing sector, which had been built around those arriving on such visas. Also read: US H-1B visa registration drops 30–50% after new rules: What does it mean for industry? Xenophobia, racism, and political populism add to the economic poison There have been a number of racially motivated attacks and slurs targeting Indians. In Irving, masked men held signs during a roadside protest in 2025 reading, "Don't India My Texas: Deport H-1B Visa Scammers." At Frisco City Council meetings, activists regularly denounce an "Indian invasion", accusing residents of H-1B fraud without any evidence. In 2024, a woman in Plano pleaded guilty to four hate-crime charges after being filmed using racial slurs against a group of South Asian women. YouTube documentaries with titles like "I Exposed Texas' Indian Invasion" have attracted millions of views. Clips of anti-Indian city council tirades and videos denouncing Hindu rituals are circulating widely, scaring away the very buyers that home builders desperately need. Beyond the morality of it, this racism is directly costing the local economy, as such viral videos suppress buyer interest. Also read: Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee: What it means and what it doesn't The human toll on H-1B visa holders The Bloomberg report shared the story of Priya Narayanaswamy, who bought a home in Keller in 2023 for $435,000. Her husband, Anand, an IT worker on an H-1B visa, was suddenly laid off and died by suicide, fearing he could not compete with AI. Priya's dependent visa reverted to a six-month visitor visa, and she could no longer legally work in the US. Her house went into foreclosure, and she boarded a one-way flight to India on 20 April this year with her children. The neighbours who helped her most were White American families, not the politicians or racists who demonised people like her husband. https://www.wionews.com/videos/h-1b-visa-fee-hike-explained-what-the-new-100k-fee-means-1758447341880/embed Texas: The first case of what local economies will face if visas are curbed The economy of northern suburbs of Texas was transformed by Indian H-1B workers who built the tax base, bought million-dollar homes, filled schools, and created the cultural vitality of an entire region. But now, the state is watching that investment drain away because of politics and policy. Texas is a textbook case of what could happen to local economies if these factors make people on professional visas like H-1B feel unwelcome, unstable, and unsafe. How will this economy survive? Texas is about to find out. So are many other American states.

Texas suburbs that were once transformed by Indian H-1B workers are now facing falling home prices and weaker housing demand as visa restrictions, political backlash and tech layoffs reduce new arrivals. This could repeat in other American states too

Indians on H-1B visas exit Texas and its housing boom is dying. Other states could see similar decline

Tova Noel, a former correction officer who had previously said that she was the last person to see Jeffrey Epstein alive, has denied that she was the orange shape spotted moving up the stairs of Epstein's tier, further clouding the mystery of what happened that night. During a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee, Noel testified under oath that she was not present on the stairs at that time, never carried anything orange, and did not issue orange garments to any inmates. The footage near Epstein's cell showed an orange-colored figure moving up a staircase at approximately 10:39 pm on August 9, 2019, just the day before Epstein was declared dead."To be very honest, I don't know what it is, who it is, because I never went back to the tier, and I was never carrying anything orange at all, and I never issued anything orange to anyone in the SHU — not just only Epstein, just anyone," said Noel.<h2>Tova Noel was involved in tempering prison footage&nbsp;</h2>Tova Noel was initially charged with falsifying records to cover up missed 30-minute inmate checks. She has denied having any involvement in Epstein's death and blamed some of the problems that came to light following the death of Epstein on the "dysfunctional culture" at Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Centre. The Department of Justice dropped charges against her and other guards after they completed community service. Tova Noel was the last person to have direct interaction with Epstein, during an inmate count around 10:00 pm, who was discovered dead on the next morning at 6.30.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-mexican-teachers-are-protesting-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2026-1780736833505">Why Mexican teachers are protesting ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener</a>"My responsibility to conduct counts and rounds was improperly executed because of severe understaffing, a lack of adequate training, inadequate communication between management and frontline correctional officers, and other systemic failures," said Noel.Noel testified that Epstein received unusual privileges at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre (MCC). This included access to extra bed linens, medications, and a CPAP machine. When asked if she had any reason to believe Epstein did not die by suicide, Noel said, “No.”<h2>What was the orange object?</h2>The investigators have previously claimed that the orange object might have been someone carrying inmate clothing upstairs. While video forensic analysts cited by CBS News dispute this claim, they say that the figure's movement looks like an individual in orange clothing moving up the stairs. The two security cameras outside his cell malfunctioned according to official accounts. Despite this ongoing scrutiny, the ruling remains that Epstein died by suicide.

Former correction officer Tova Noel testified she was not the orange figure seen moving up the stairs near Jeffrey Epstein's cell on the night before his death, adding to questions surrounding the jail footage.

Tova Noel, a former correction officer who had previously said that she was the last person to see Jeffrey Epstein alive, has denied that she was the orange shape spotted moving up the stairs of Epstein's tier, further clouding the mystery of what happened that night. During a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee, Noel testified under oath that she was not present on the stairs at that time, never carried anything orange, and did not issue orange garments to any inmates. The footage near Epstein's cell showed an orange-colored figure moving up a staircase at approximately 10:39 pm on August 9, 2019, just the day before Epstein was declared dead. "To be very honest, I don't know what it is, who it is, because I never went back to the tier, and I was never carrying anything orange at all, and I never issued anything orange to anyone in the SHU — not just only Epstein, just anyone," said Noel. Tova Noel was involved in tempering prison footage Tova Noel was initially charged with falsifying records to cover up missed 30-minute inmate checks. She has denied having any involvement in Epstein's death and blamed some of the problems that came to light following the death of Epstein on the "dysfunctional culture" at Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Centre. The Department of Justice dropped charges against her and other guards after they completed community service. Tova Noel was the last person to have direct interaction with Epstein, during an inmate count around 10:00 pm, who was discovered dead on the next morning at 6.30. Also Read: Why Mexican teachers are protesting ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener "My responsibility to conduct counts and rounds was improperly executed because of severe understaffing, a lack of adequate training, inadequate communication between management and frontline correctional officers, and other systemic failures," said Noel. Noel testified that Epstein received unusual privileges at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre (MCC). This included access to extra bed linens, medications, and a CPAP machine. When asked if she had any reason to believe Epstein did not die by suicide, Noel said, “No.” What was the orange object? The investigators have previously claimed that the orange object might have been someone carrying inmate clothing upstairs. While video forensic analysts cited by CBS News dispute this claim, they say that the figure's movement looks like an individual in orange clothing moving up the stairs. The two security cameras outside his cell malfunctioned according to official accounts. Despite this ongoing scrutiny, the ruling remains that Epstein died by suicide.

Former correction officer Tova Noel testified she was not the orange figure seen moving up the stairs near Jeffrey Epstein's cell on the night before his death, adding to questions surrounding the jail footage.

Who is Tova Noel? Former Epstein guard denies being orange figure seen on staircase

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a meeting with the members of the PM-Economic Advisory Council. PM Modi and the members of the Economic Advisory Council discussed various ideas and measures to further boost India's economic growth in times of global turmoil. Various reforms to improve ease of living and ease of doing business were also discussed. The Members also gave their assessment of the impact of the West Asia Conflict on India and the world. The meeting comes at a time when economies across the world continue to grapple with geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties and uneven growth trends. Last month, PM Modi made seven appeals to citizens to contribute towards economic resilience by reducing dependence on imported fuel and adopting environmentally sustainable alternatives amid the West Asia conflict. PM Modi urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases. To combat the volatility of fuel prices, PM Modi urged a shift in how India moves. He requested citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for carpooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible. Meanwhile, India's economy has outperformed market expectations in the fourth quarter of FY 2025-26, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated to grow 7.8 per cent year-on-year, while full-year growth is pegged at 7.7 per cent, according to official data released on June 5. Real GDP at constant prices is estimated at Rs 87.77 lakh crore in Q4 FY26, up from Rs 81.40 lakh crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Nominal GDP for the quarter is estimated at Rs 94.65 lakh crore, registering a growth of 9.1 per cent. For the full financial year 2025-26, real GDP is estimated to attain Rs 323.12 lakh crore, compared with the First Revised Estimate of Rs 299.89 lakh crore in FY25, reflecting a growth rate of 7.7 per cent. Nominal GDP is estimated at Rs 346.36 lakh crore, growing 8.9 per cent over the previous year. Gross Value Added (GVA), a key measure of economic activity, is estimated to grow 7.9 per cent in FY26, while nominal GVA is projected to rise 9.1 per cent. In the fourth quarter, real GVA growth stood at 7.9 per cent, while nominal GVA expanded 9.9 per cent. The data showed that the secondary and tertiary sectors remained the key drivers of growth. For FY26, the secondary sector is estimated to grow 8.8 per cent and the tertiary sector 9.3 per cent at constant prices. The primary sector registered growth of 3.2 per cent, supported mainly by agriculture and fisheries.&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.

PM Modi urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a meeting with the members of the PM-Economic Advisory Council. PM Modi and the members of the Economic Advisory Council discussed various ideas and measures to further boost India's economic growth in times of global turmoil. Various reforms to improve ease of living and ease of doing business were also discussed. The Members also gave their assessment of the impact of the West Asia Conflict on India and the world. The meeting comes at a time when economies across the world continue to grapple with geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainties and uneven growth trends. Last month, PM Modi made seven appeals to citizens to contribute towards economic resilience by reducing dependence on imported fuel and adopting environmentally sustainable alternatives amid the West Asia conflict. PM Modi urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases. To combat the volatility of fuel prices, PM Modi urged a shift in how India moves. He requested citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for carpooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible. Meanwhile, India's economy has outperformed market expectations in the fourth quarter of FY 2025-26, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated to grow 7.8 per cent year-on-year, while full-year growth is pegged at 7.7 per cent, according to official data released on June 5. Real GDP at constant prices is estimated at Rs 87.77 lakh crore in Q4 FY26, up from Rs 81.40 lakh crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Nominal GDP for the quarter is estimated at Rs 94.65 lakh crore, registering a growth of 9.1 per cent. For the full financial year 2025-26, real GDP is estimated to attain Rs 323.12 lakh crore, compared with the First Revised Estimate of Rs 299.89 lakh crore in FY25, reflecting a growth rate of 7.7 per cent. Nominal GDP is estimated at Rs 346.36 lakh crore, growing 8.9 per cent over the previous year. Gross Value Added (GVA), a key measure of economic activity, is estimated to grow 7.9 per cent in FY26, while nominal GVA is projected to rise 9.1 per cent. In the fourth quarter, real GVA growth stood at 7.9 per cent, while nominal GVA expanded 9.9 per cent. The data showed that the secondary and tertiary sectors remained the key drivers of growth. For FY26, the secondary sector is estimated to grow 8.8 per cent and the tertiary sector 9.3 per cent at constant prices. The primary sector registered growth of 3.2 per cent, supported mainly by agriculture and fisheries. 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.

PM Modi urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases.

PM Modi holds key meeting with Economic Advisory Council amid West Asia crisis

Recently, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — the point at which AI can perform at or beyond human levels — is no longer a distant goal, but could happen as early as 2030, plus or minus a year. The winner of Nobel Prize for chemistry called this the beginning of a "new human era," and added that humanity has only a few years left to prepare. His warning was that society risks squandering that window on hype and backlash rather than genuine readiness.What does Demis Hassabis mean? Is it going to create the ‘robots taking over humans’ era? What kind of AGI is dangerous?Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/nvidia-s-next-ai-push-5-biggest-announcements-from-ceo-jensen-huang-s-gtc-taipei-2026-keynote-1780298627531">Nvidia's next AI push: 5 biggest announcements from CEO Jensen Huang's GTC Taipei 2026 keynote&nbsp;</a><h2>AGI will be a civilizational inflection point for humanity</h2>&nbsp;Hassabis appears to envision a "golden era" of radical abundance — AGI solving what he calls "root-node problems" like diseases, and finding new energy sources. But he also is warning that the transition will be so fast and so sweeping that societies, governments, and institutions won't have time to adapt unless they start preparing now. He sees 2026 itself as a turning point, with AI agents and tool-use capabilities already becoming genuinely useful in everyday work.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-ai-solves-decades-old-maths-problems-but-deepmind-ceo-says-agi-is-still-far-away-1779695717629">Google AI solves decades-old maths problems, but DeepMind CEO says AGI is still far away</a><h2>What are AGI capabilities now?&nbsp;</h2>Today's frontier AI models can write code, pass exams, conduct research, and reason across complex domains — but they still lack true general reasoning and autonomous learning. Sceptics point to benchmarks like ARC-AGI-3 as evidence that current systems remain far from human-level general reasoning. But some tech founders believe AGI thresholds have already been crossed, while mainstream researchers say we're close but not there yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/agi-vs-artificial-intelligence-what-s-the-real-difference-1775397711605">AGI vs Artificial Intelligence: What's the real difference</a>&nbsp;<h2>Why is Artificial General Intelligence dangerous?</h2>A recent DeepMind research paper warned that AGI could "permanently destroy humanity", listing existential risks as clear examples of harm if the technology develops without safeguards. Near-term risks include economic disruption. Anthropic, the firm behind the Claude AI model, has predicted that unemployment could hit 10 to 20 per cent as up to half of entry-level jobs will get automated. A technology this powerful arriving before alignment, regulation, and social safety nets could cause irreversible harm before anyone can course-correct.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis thinks Artificial General Intelligence could arrive by 2030, transforming humanity with major benefits. But he also warned of risks such as economic disruption, unemployment and existential threats.

Recently, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — the point at which AI can perform at or beyond human levels — is no longer a distant goal, but could happen as early as 2030, plus or minus a year. The winner of Nobel Prize for chemistry called this the beginning of a "new human era," and added that humanity has only a few years left to prepare. His warning was that society risks squandering that window on hype and backlash rather than genuine readiness. What does Demis Hassabis mean? Is it going to create the ‘robots taking over humans’ era? What kind of AGI is dangerous? Also read: Nvidia's next AI push: 5 biggest announcements from CEO Jensen Huang's GTC Taipei 2026 keynote AGI will be a civilizational inflection point for humanity Hassabis appears to envision a "golden era" of radical abundance — AGI solving what he calls "root-node problems" like diseases, and finding new energy sources. But he also is warning that the transition will be so fast and so sweeping that societies, governments, and institutions won't have time to adapt unless they start preparing now. He sees 2026 itself as a turning point, with AI agents and tool-use capabilities already becoming genuinely useful in everyday work. Also read: Google AI solves decades-old maths problems, but DeepMind CEO says AGI is still far away What are AGI capabilities now? Today's frontier AI models can write code, pass exams, conduct research, and reason across complex domains — but they still lack true general reasoning and autonomous learning. Sceptics point to benchmarks like ARC-AGI-3 as evidence that current systems remain far from human-level general reasoning. But some tech founders believe AGI thresholds have already been crossed, while mainstream researchers say we're close but not there yet. Also read: AGI vs Artificial Intelligence: What's the real difference Why is Artificial General Intelligence dangerous? A recent DeepMind research paper warned that AGI could "permanently destroy humanity", listing existential risks as clear examples of harm if the technology develops without safeguards. Near-term risks include economic disruption. Anthropic, the firm behind the Claude AI model, has predicted that unemployment could hit 10 to 20 per cent as up to half of entry-level jobs will get automated. A technology this powerful arriving before alignment, regulation, and social safety nets could cause irreversible harm before anyone can course-correct.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis thinks Artificial General Intelligence could arrive by 2030, transforming humanity with major benefits. But he also warned of risks such as economic disruption, unemployment and existential threats.

Google DeepMind CEO says we don't have much time to prepare for the 'new human era'.  What are AGI capabilities he is warning about?

As visitors across the world are flooding into Mexico for the kickoff fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026, protests have engulfed the city. The country will host the first match of the FIFA World Cup on June 11, between ‌Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. Meanwhile, protestors have blocked major thoroughfares, burnt soccer balls, ripped off clothes, and set them on fire on the city’s main Paseo de la Reforma. They brought down statues of football players, broke into the government building and played football on the blockaded street. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will not “fall into the trap” of confronting protestors.<h2>Why are Mexican teachers protesting?</h2>A breakaway segment of the National Coordination of Education Workers blocked main arteries connecting to Mexico City, in an effort to extract concessions from the Mexican Government. Some 12000 teachers, according to the union estimate, have set up semi permanent expansive camps with tents and tarpaulins across the city. Mexican teachers have accused the government of de-prioritising education and focusing on football and tourism revenue.&nbsp;The protestors are demanding fulfilment of the campaign promises by the former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President Sheinbaum. They want a complete repeal of the ISSSTE law reform of 2007, and return to the pre-2007 defined-benefit system. The teachers argue that the law itself is fundamentally unjust and harms the public sector workers. They are also demanding a 100 per cent increase on their base wage to properly reflect the financial reality of the contemporary time.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-nuclear-capability-larry-johnson-pakistan-marco-rubio-claims-1780567133509">Former CIA analyst claims Iran is on verge of becoming a nuclear power</a>The ISSSTE law reform dismantled the older public solidarity-based pension system. It introduced UMA or inflation-indexed Measurement and Update Units by shifting away from the national minimum wage, reducing their retirement payouts and effectively capped their retirement purchasing power. Further, each of the public sector employees hired after 2008 into an individual account system managed by private administrators known as Afores. As Afores invest all the pension funds into the financial market, it increases the volatility of the payout. Teachers' union want to remove the cap on retirement age of 65 and return to the previous system, where teachers can retire according to necessity with a fixed pension which is entirely backed by the state, calculated based on years of service rather than their age alone.<h2>How did the Sheinbaum administration react?</h2>Sheinbaum's administration said it sympathises with the demands of the protestors and maintained that it is keeping channels open for dialogue. However, two major consecutive attempts at dialogue have completely collapsed, plunging the capital into an even deeper deadlock. The government has offered a 9 per cent wage hike and other concessions like lowering the retirement age for certain teaching tracks. The CNTE publicly blasted it as "crumbs" and “crumbs of crumbs” and called it an insult. The officials argue that a complete return to the pre-2007 defined benefit system is fiscally impossible as it will put pressure on the government budget.

Thousands of Mexican teachers have staged protests in Mexico City ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, demanding pension reforms, higher wages and the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law.

As visitors across the world are flooding into Mexico for the kickoff fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026, protests have engulfed the city. The country will host the first match of the FIFA World Cup on June 11, between ‌Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. Meanwhile, protestors have blocked major thoroughfares, burnt soccer balls, ripped off clothes, and set them on fire on the city’s main Paseo de la Reforma. They brought down statues of football players, broke into the government building and played football on the blockaded street. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will not “fall into the trap” of confronting protestors. Why are Mexican teachers protesting? A breakaway segment of the National Coordination of Education Workers blocked main arteries connecting to Mexico City, in an effort to extract concessions from the Mexican Government. Some 12000 teachers, according to the union estimate, have set up semi permanent expansive camps with tents and tarpaulins across the city. Mexican teachers have accused the government of de-prioritising education and focusing on football and tourism revenue. The protestors are demanding fulfilment of the campaign promises by the former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President Sheinbaum. They want a complete repeal of the ISSSTE law reform of 2007, and return to the pre-2007 defined-benefit system. The teachers argue that the law itself is fundamentally unjust and harms the public sector workers. They are also demanding a 100 per cent increase on their base wage to properly reflect the financial reality of the contemporary time. Also Read: Former CIA analyst claims Iran is on verge of becoming a nuclear power The ISSSTE law reform dismantled the older public solidarity-based pension system. It introduced UMA or inflation-indexed Measurement and Update Units by shifting away from the national minimum wage, reducing their retirement payouts and effectively capped their retirement purchasing power. Further, each of the public sector employees hired after 2008 into an individual account system managed by private administrators known as Afores. As Afores invest all the pension funds into the financial market, it increases the volatility of the payout. Teachers' union want to remove the cap on retirement age of 65 and return to the previous system, where teachers can retire according to necessity with a fixed pension which is entirely backed by the state, calculated based on years of service rather than their age alone. How did the Sheinbaum administration react? Sheinbaum's administration said it sympathises with the demands of the protestors and maintained that it is keeping channels open for dialogue. However, two major consecutive attempts at dialogue have completely collapsed, plunging the capital into an even deeper deadlock. The government has offered a 9 per cent wage hike and other concessions like lowering the retirement age for certain teaching tracks. The CNTE publicly blasted it as "crumbs" and “crumbs of crumbs” and called it an insult. The officials argue that a complete return to the pre-2007 defined benefit system is fiscally impossible as it will put pressure on the government budget.

Thousands of Mexican teachers have staged protests in Mexico City ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, demanding pension reforms, higher wages and the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law.

Why Mexican teachers are protesting ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener

US President Donald Trump's administration curbs immigration following last year's shooting of members of the National Guard by an Afghan immigrant has been struck down by a federal court. District Judge John McConnell said the restrictions on processing of asylum, work permit, green card and citizen applications from nationals of 39 African, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries were unlawful. The curbs were imposed after the November 26, 2025 shooting in Washington of two National Guard soldiers by an Afghan man who immigrated to the US following the Taliban takeover in Kabul. One of the National Guard members was killed in the attack. The administration also began mass deportations after the &nbsp;incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even as the judgement is not directly related to India, here's how Indians will be impacted:

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-you-from-india-trump-s-dig-at-indian-journalist-s-triggers-racism-debate-video-1780722105294/amp">'Are you from India?': Trump's dig at Indian journalist triggers racism debate - VIDEO</a><h3>Indirect implications for India</h3>Analysts say that Indian citizens are not directly affected by this US court ruling because India was never part of the list of 39 countries targeted by Trump's immigration restrictions. The judgement mainly helps applicants from those countries whose visa, green card, asylum, and citizenship processes were paused. However, there are some indirect implications for India as the country faces several other immigration related issues in America. “It is largely symbolic but it brings hope for us,” Jennifer D'Souza from Mumbai, who currently in in US on student visa says. She adds that the Trump administration will only expand its immigration curbs if such verdict do not act as a roadblock. She also said that H-1B workers and students are dealing with excessive anxiety because of Trump administration's immigration policies. “It is uncertain…They will do things whenever they want to," D'Souza claims.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-promised-pm-modi-it-won-t-let-its-territory-be-used-against-india-can-it-deliver-wion-decodes-1780395076740">Myanmar promised PM Modi it won't let its territory be used against India. Can it deliver? | WION Decodes</a>&nbsp;D'Souza's remarks are true as the ruling sets an important legal principle that immigration decisions cannot be paused or delayed only based on nationality. This could help prevent similar blanket restrictions in the future, which is positive for Indian professionals as well. At the same time, it does not change existing issues faced by Indian applicants, specially H-1B workers and students, who still deal with strict rules like mandatory consular processing for green cards. These long-standing delays and backlogs remain in place. There is also a possibility of continued uncertainty because the Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling. This means US immigration policy could keep shifting, indirectly affecting planning and job mobility for Indian workers in the US.&nbsp;

A US federal judge struck down Trump-era restrictions that had paused asylum, visa, green card, and citizenship processing for nationals of 39 countries. The court ruled the policy unlawful and based on nationality rather than conduct, calling it arbitrary 

US President Donald Trump's administration curbs immigration following last year's shooting of members of the National Guard by an Afghan immigrant has been struck down by a federal court. District Judge John McConnell said the restrictions on processing of asylum, work permit, green card and citizen applications from nationals of 39 African, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries were unlawful. The curbs were imposed after the November 26, 2025 shooting in Washington of two National Guard soldiers by an Afghan man who immigrated to the US following the Taliban takeover in Kabul. One of the National Guard members was killed in the attack. The administration also began mass deportations after the incident. Even as the judgement is not directly related to India, here's how Indians will be impacted:

A US federal judge struck down Trump-era restrictions that had paused asylum, visa, green card, and citizenship processing for nationals of 39 countries. The court ruled the policy unlawful and based on nationality rather than conduct, calling it arbitrary&nbsp;

Trump's immigration curbs on 39 countries struck down: Is it good news for Indians?

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, who has alleged that Iran is on the absolute verge of declaring itself a nuclear power, has threatened to detonate a nuclear bomb. In the Judging Freedom podcast hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and prominent libertarian legal analyst, Larry Johnson claimed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar personally passed a "red alert" message to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.This put the May 29 meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in focus, raising questions about the nature of the talks, even though the official explanation was about bilateral cooperation. Pakistan's &nbsp;Foreign Office categorically denied claims that it has shared a confidential report about nuclear activity, and called these reports speculative and false.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🇺🇸 An intelligence source claims that Iran plans to withdraw from negotiations, exit the nonproliferation treaty, and detonate a nuclear device acquired from a third country. Fmr. CIA Analyst Larry Johnson &quot;Leave us alone like North Korea. We got a weapon now.&quot; That intel… <a href="https://t.co/nYxfvYjrBB">https://t.co/nYxfvYjrBB</a> <a href="https://t.co/rf7z9h0K6U">pic.twitter.com/rf7z9h0K6U</a>&mdash; Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2061672418154807573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-petro-accuses-trump-election-interference-abelardo-espriella-1780643071265">Colombia's Gustavo Petro accuses Trump of interfering in presidential election</a>However, according to Larry Johnson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has informed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about this development. A similar claim was repeated by geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar, stating that Iran would demonstrate its nuclear capability through a domestic test explosion.&nbsp;Johnson said that the recent shift in the US tone, specifically towards Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei and the verbal spat with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was a result of this development. Furthermore, Johnson posited that Iranian authorities might have purposefully conducted this phone call over an unsecured line to allow Western and Israeli intelligence as a calculated strategic risk.&nbsp;Larry Johnson previously made another viral claim on April 20, 2026, where he first alleged that President Trump had a blowup with General Dan Caine over accessing nuclear codes on April 18.&nbsp;Former Fox News anchor, Andrew Napolitano, pressed prominent Iranian academic and advisor Dr Seyed Mohammad Marandi in his podcast to provide verification about the phone call. He neither acknowledged nor denied the speculation; he suggested that while there is a theocretic decree, late Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba could alter that by issuing a fatwa. But he added that there was no current sign indicating a change in Iran's nuclear doctrine. Traditionally, under the decree of the late Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, production and stockpiling of weapon of mass destruction was “haram”.&nbsp;

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson claims Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power and alleges Pakistan relayed a warning to the US. Islamabad has denied the reports, while experts urge caution over the speculation.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson, who has alleged that Iran is on the absolute verge of declaring itself a nuclear power, has threatened to detonate a nuclear bomb. In the Judging Freedom podcast hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and prominent libertarian legal analyst, Larry Johnson claimed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar personally passed a "red alert" message to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This put the May 29 meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in focus, raising questions about the nature of the talks, even though the official explanation was about bilateral cooperation. Pakistan's Foreign Office categorically denied claims that it has shared a confidential report about nuclear activity, and called these reports speculative and false.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson claims Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power and alleges Pakistan relayed a warning to the US. Islamabad has denied the reports, while experts urge caution over the speculation.

Former CIA analyst claims Iran is on verge of becoming a nuclear power

A celebration of India's famed mango varieties drew importers, retailers and state officials to Seattle on Friday, highlighting the fruit's growing popularity in the American Pacific Northwest. The second edition of "Mango Magic" featured a tasting and promotion event showcasing seven premium Indian mangoes: Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganpalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh, and Ripe Rajapuri from Gujarat.Nearly 100 leading importers of Indian fruits attended, including senior executives from US retail giant Costco. Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck welcomed the expanded availability of Indian mangoes, particularly through major retailers like Costco, which is headquartered in the Seattle area.State Senators Tina Orwell, Manka Dhingra and Vandana Slatter, along with consuls general from Japan and Uzbekistan, also sampled the varieties and attended a special luncheon featuring Indian dishes prepared with the mangoes.The event, organised by the Indian Consulate in Seattle in partnership with India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), builds on efforts to introduce high-quality Indian mangoes to American consumers.India's consulate first facilitated mango introductions in Seattle in July 2025. Momentum accelerated after a meeting with Costco's CEO in April 2026, which led to the launch of Bhagwa pomegranates from Maharashtra, followed by Kesar mangoes in May.In the third week of May, Costco rolled out its first shipment of Indian Kesar mangoes across stores in Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Greater Los Angeles. Representatives reported that stocks sold out within two hours of hitting the shelves, signalling strong consumer demand.India produces more than 26 million metric tons of mangoes annually across over 1,000 varieties, making it the world's largest producer. Exports to the United States resumed in 2007 after an 18-year gap and have grown rapidly. The export value reached $10 million in FY 2023-24, a 130 per cent increase from the previous year. US mango imports overall surpassed $1 billion in 2025 and are projected to grow by another 7 per cent in 2026.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted the global journey of Indian mangoes in his Mann Ki Baat address, praising farmers for bringing varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Dussehri, Langra, Banganapalli and others to international markets.Organisers see events like "Mango Magic" shows the potential for regional Indian fruits in the US, strengthening agricultural ties and offering American consumers a taste of India's rich horticultural diversity.

The event, organised by the Indian Consulate in Seattle in partnership with India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), builds on efforts to introduce high-quality Indian mangoes to American consumers.

A celebration of India's famed mango varieties drew importers, retailers and state officials to Seattle on Friday, highlighting the fruit's growing popularity in the American Pacific Northwest. The second edition of "Mango Magic" featured a tasting and promotion event showcasing seven premium Indian mangoes: Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganpalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh, and Ripe Rajapuri from Gujarat. Nearly 100 leading importers of Indian fruits attended, including senior executives from US retail giant Costco. Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck welcomed the expanded availability of Indian mangoes, particularly through major retailers like Costco, which is headquartered in the Seattle area. State Senators Tina Orwell, Manka Dhingra and Vandana Slatter, along with consuls general from Japan and Uzbekistan, also sampled the varieties and attended a special luncheon featuring Indian dishes prepared with the mangoes. The event, organised by the Indian Consulate in Seattle in partnership with India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), builds on efforts to introduce high-quality Indian mangoes to American consumers. India's consulate first facilitated mango introductions in Seattle in July 2025. Momentum accelerated after a meeting with Costco's CEO in April 2026, which led to the launch of Bhagwa pomegranates from Maharashtra, followed by Kesar mangoes in May. In the third week of May, Costco rolled out its first shipment of Indian Kesar mangoes across stores in Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Greater Los Angeles. Representatives reported that stocks sold out within two hours of hitting the shelves, signalling strong consumer demand. India produces more than 26 million metric tons of mangoes annually across over 1,000 varieties, making it the world's largest producer. Exports to the United States resumed in 2007 after an 18-year gap and have grown rapidly. The export value reached $10 million in FY 2023-24, a 130 per cent increase from the previous year. US mango imports overall surpassed $1 billion in 2025 and are projected to grow by another 7 per cent in 2026. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted the global journey of Indian mangoes in his Mann Ki Baat address, praising farmers for bringing varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Dussehri, Langra, Banganapalli and others to international markets. Organisers see events like "Mango Magic" shows the potential for regional Indian fruits in the US, strengthening agricultural ties and offering American consumers a taste of India's rich horticultural diversity.

The event, organised by the Indian Consulate in Seattle in partnership with India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), builds on efforts to introduce high-quality Indian mangoes to American consumers.

Indian mangoes make inroads into the US market with Seattle event

Russian air defence systems intercepted 25 drones over the Leningrad region on Saturday (June 6), according to local authorities. This comes as St Petersburg hosted Russia’s flagship economic forum. The reported drone activity took place near Russia’s second-largest city, which is currently hosting the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Providing an update on the situation, Leningrad region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said air defence units were continuing operations in the area. The latest incidents come amid a sharp increase in drone attacks by both Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have stepped up aerial strikes in recent months as diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the war have failed to make significant progress. The conflict is now in its fifth year.&nbsp;“Twenty-five UAVs have been shot down over Leningrad region. Combat operations are continuing," Drozdenko wrote on Telegram. Authorities did not immediately report any casualties or damage linked to the intercepted drones<h2>Drone activity also reported near Moscow</h2>The development comes as Russian officials also reported drone activity near the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence units intercepted nine Ukrainian drones that were heading towards the city on Saturday. No immediate details were provided on casualties or damage resulting from these additional interceptions.<h2>Attacks come amid SPIEF gathering in St Petersburg</h2>The drone activity occurred while St Petersburg hosted SPIEF, a key annual economic event attended by political and business leaders. The forum is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed participants. The reported incidents took place just days after Ukrainian drones struck an oil complex and a military base in St Petersburg on Wednesday, the opening day of the forum.&nbsp;

Russian air defence systems intercepted 25 drones over the Leningrad region as St Petersburg hosted the SPIEF economic forum. Moscow also reported nine Ukrainian drones shot down near the capital. 

Russian air defence systems intercepted 25 drones over the Leningrad region on Saturday (June 6), according to local authorities. This comes as St Petersburg hosted Russia’s flagship economic forum. The reported drone activity took place near Russia’s second-largest city, which is currently hosting the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Providing an update on the situation, Leningrad region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said air defence units were continuing operations in the area. The latest incidents come amid a sharp increase in drone attacks by both Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have stepped up aerial strikes in recent months as diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the war have failed to make significant progress. The conflict is now in its fifth year. “Twenty-five UAVs have been shot down over Leningrad region. Combat operations are continuing," Drozdenko wrote on Telegram. Authorities did not immediately report any casualties or damage linked to the intercepted drones Drone activity also reported near Moscow The development comes as Russian officials also reported drone activity near the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence units intercepted nine Ukrainian drones that were heading towards the city on Saturday. No immediate details were provided on casualties or damage resulting from these additional interceptions. Attacks come amid SPIEF gathering in St Petersburg The drone activity occurred while St Petersburg hosted SPIEF, a key annual economic event attended by political and business leaders. The forum is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed participants. The reported incidents took place just days after Ukrainian drones struck an oil complex and a military base in St Petersburg on Wednesday, the opening day of the forum.

Russian air defence systems intercepted 25 drones over the Leningrad region as St Petersburg hosted the SPIEF economic forum. Moscow also reported nine Ukrainian drones shot down near the capital.&nbsp;

Russian air defence intercepts 25 drones over Leningrad region amid key economic forum

A video of a 27-year-old Indian man, caught by a group of citizens in the UK, while allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old girl, has gone viral. The man is seen crying and begging for mercy when he was confronted at the meeting spot. He has been identified as Pravna Bhatt, who moved to the UK three years ago on a student visa. As per reports, after graduating from the University of Leeds, he stayed in the country on a post-study work visa. In the video, a group calling themselves “British patriots" confronted Bhatt. It is not yet clear how the group caught him, but Bhatt admitted to sending explicit messages to someone he thought was a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-every-violent-or-sexual-offence-in-england-wales-went-unsolved-in-2024-report-8618637">Amid spotlight on grooming gang menace in UK, report says most violent or sexual offences went unsolved in 2024</a>&nbsp;WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Pravna Bhatt, 27, from India, currently living in Stoke-on-Trent, attempted to sexually abuse a 14-year-old British girl, caught by British patriots. He said, “It’s my first time, please forgive me, I will never do this again.” He told the girl, “Please send some money, I want… <a href="https://t.co/L55PBJdXGL">pic.twitter.com/L55PBJdXGL</a>&mdash; Shunya (@Shunyaa00) <a href="https://x.com/Shunyaa00/status/2061928765660541372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-mp-reveals-disturbing-grooming-gang-testimonies-in-parliament-rape-racism-and-torture-put-cigarette-on-face-raped-by-600-700-different-men-1780383349441">'Put cigarette on face, raped by 600-700 different men..': UK MP reveals disturbing grooming gang testimonies in Parliament</a>&nbsp;The video revealed that Bhatt sent explicit text to a 14-year old girl. When she first told him she was 14, he texted back, “I will go to jail," along with laughing emojis. In the video, he is seen begging to the group to not call the police, claiming this was his first offence and promising he would never do it again. In the clip, he pleaded with them and asked for a final chance because he was truly sorry. Even though he knew it was a crime, he kept messaging her. He also asked the girl to sneak into his room so they could be together, and he even tried to borrow money from her to pay for a hotel room.

A 27-year-old Indian man living in the UK was caught in a vigilante sting after allegedly attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl he had sent explicit messages to online. The viral video shows him pleading with the group not to call police. 

A video of a 27-year-old Indian man, caught by a group of citizens in the UK, while allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old girl, has gone viral. The man is seen crying and begging for mercy when he was confronted at the meeting spot. He has been identified as Pravna Bhatt, who moved to the UK three years ago on a student visa. As per reports, after graduating from the University of Leeds, he stayed in the country on a post-study work visa. In the video, a group calling themselves “British patriots" confronted Bhatt. It is not yet clear how the group caught him, but Bhatt admitted to sending explicit messages to someone he thought was a child. Also Read: Amid spotlight on grooming gang menace in UK, report says most violent or sexual offences went unsolved in 2024 WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video below:

A 27-year-old Indian man living in the UK was caught in a vigilante sting after allegedly attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl he had sent explicit messages to online. The viral video shows him pleading with the group not to call police.&nbsp;

Indian man sends explicit text to 14-year-old in UK, gets caught while trying to meet her: VIDEO

Colombian outgoing President Gustavo Petro has accused the US President Donald Trump of intervening in the country's election after Trump endorsed him in Colombia's election. In an interview with CBS News, Petro said that Washington's endorsement of far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella abandons its purported mission against drug trafficking. He accused Washington of supporting narco-paramilitarism, underscoring Trump's support of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in the U.S. of trafficking and recently pardoned by Trump.&nbsp;"Their (US) allies in Colombia come from the narco-paramilitary regime; they are genocidal and drug traffickers," Petro told AFP in an interview at the presidential palace.47-year-old De la Espriella had a controversial decades-long career as a high-profile criminal defence attorney representing notorious underworld figures, drug traffickers and soccer players. US President Donald Trump's endorsement came exactly two days after the May 31 first-round election results, where Abelardo de la Espriella shocked pollsters by winning 43.74 per cent of the vote. Trump posted a "complete and total endorsement" for De la Espriella as a "smart, strong, and tough leader" who would bring back law and order. Espriella has promised to deepen US-Colombian relations "like never before" if elected.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anna-estevao-nicolas-maduro-defence-team-diddy-lawyer-1780643556825">Who is Anna Estevao? Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawyer joins Nicolas Maduro’s defence team</a>De la Espriella is followed by leftist Iván Cepeda with 40.9 per cent. While Cepeda has the backing of Petro, Espriella has the backing of former President Alvaro Uribe, who is accused of colluding with paramilitaries behind the massacres of thousands of civilians during the worst years of Colombia's more-than-six-decade conflict. Both Cepeda and Petro accused the paramilitaries of "genocide" of leftist political activists and politicians.&nbsp;"In Colombia, hatred immediately produces deaths," he said. "Promoting a discourse of hatred, as is happening these days, 'gut the progressives…' is inciting a violence that could become unstoppable in this country," Petro admitted to the increase in organised crimes, but said that the social crimes or crimes due to erosion of the social fabric have decreased.&nbsp;Petro said that the point of difference between the Trump administration and the Cuban government is that they are “progressives, because we are on the left, and because we disagree on issues like Gaza.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Donald Trump of interfering in Colombia's election after endorsing right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, warning of rising political violence and narco-paramilitary influence.

Colombian outgoing President Gustavo Petro has accused the US President Donald Trump of intervening in the country's election after Trump endorsed him in Colombia's election. In an interview with CBS News, Petro said that Washington's endorsement of far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella abandons its purported mission against drug trafficking. He accused Washington of supporting narco-paramilitarism, underscoring Trump's support of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in the U.S. of trafficking and recently pardoned by Trump. "Their (US) allies in Colombia come from the narco-paramilitary regime; they are genocidal and drug traffickers," Petro told AFP in an interview at the presidential palace. 47-year-old De la Espriella had a controversial decades-long career as a high-profile criminal defence attorney representing notorious underworld figures, drug traffickers and soccer players. US President Donald Trump's endorsement came exactly two days after the May 31 first-round election results, where Abelardo de la Espriella shocked pollsters by winning 43.74 per cent of the vote. Trump posted a "complete and total endorsement" for De la Espriella as a "smart, strong, and tough leader" who would bring back law and order. Espriella has promised to deepen US-Colombian relations "like never before" if elected. Also Read: Who is Anna Estevao? Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawyer joins Nicolas Maduro’s defence team De la Espriella is followed by leftist Iván Cepeda with 40.9 per cent. While Cepeda has the backing of Petro, Espriella has the backing of former President Alvaro Uribe, who is accused of colluding with paramilitaries behind the massacres of thousands of civilians during the worst years of Colombia's more-than-six-decade conflict. Both Cepeda and Petro accused the paramilitaries of "genocide" of leftist political activists and politicians. "In Colombia, hatred immediately produces deaths," he said. "Promoting a discourse of hatred, as is happening these days, 'gut the progressives…' is inciting a violence that could become unstoppable in this country," Petro admitted to the increase in organised crimes, but said that the social crimes or crimes due to erosion of the social fabric have decreased. Petro said that the point of difference between the Trump administration and the Cuban government is that they are “progressives, because we are on the left, and because we disagree on issues like Gaza.”

Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Donald Trump of interfering in Colombia's election after endorsing right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, warning of rising political violence and narco-paramilitary influence.

Colombia's Gustavo Petro accuses Trump of interfering in presidential election

If you have Amazon Prime, you have been getting music for free. Ad-free music. Music you could download and play on a flight. That ends on July 2, 2026.&nbsp;Amazon sent out notifications this week confirming that its Prime Music benefit is changing. Starting July 2, Prime members will hear ads while streaming music. Downloads for offline playback will no longer be available. HD audio and Spatial Audio, which were quietly bundled into Prime, will also be removed. The features are not disappearing, they are being moved behind a separate paywall called Amazon Music Unlimited.&nbsp;Amazon Music Unlimited costs Rs 99 per month in India for Prime members who want to stay ad-free. In markets like the United States, that upgrade costs $9.99 per month. As a transition offer, Prime members are being given a six-month free trial of Music Unlimited. After that, the bill starts.&nbsp;This Is the Amazon Prime Video Playbook, Again&nbsp;Amazon did this with Prime Video in 2024. Ads were introduced to the streaming service that was already bundled with Prime subscriptions. Users who did not want ads had to pay extra for an ad-free tier. The backlash was loud. Amazon ran the ads anyway.&nbsp;The music version follows the same logic. Prime has become a loss-leader bundle that Amazon periodically reprices by quietly degrading what is inside it. Each time a feature that was once included gets moved to a premium tier, the effective cost of Prime goes up even if the headline subscription price does not change.&nbsp;The distinction Amazon is drawing is between streaming and ownership. Prime Music will still let you stream over 100 million songs on demand, but only while you have an internet connection, and only with ads playing between them. Downloads, the ability to queue up music before a flight, listen without burning mobile data, or play without a connection, are gone from the base tier entirely.&nbsp;What Stays, What Goes, and What Costs More&nbsp;Prime members will keep access to over 100 million songs and 15 million podcast episodes on demand. They will keep shuffle play for stations and playlists. What they lose: the ability to download any of it, the ability to skip ads, HD audio quality, and Spatial Audio support.&nbsp;Amazon Music Unlimited, the paid upgrade, keeps all of those features. It also includes lossless audio, ultra-HD tracks where available, and the full offline listening experience. For users who were using Prime Music regularly, especially for commutes, travel, or offline use, the upgrade is effectively mandatory if they want the same experience they had yesterday.&nbsp;In India, Amazon has officially launched Amazon Music Unlimited, at Rs 119 per month for non-Prime members or Rs 99 per month for Prime subscribers.&nbsp;The Broader Pattern Nobody Is Talking About&nbsp;Amazon Prime started as a shipping benefit. Over the years it absorbed Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, early access to deals, and a growing list of regional perks. The bundling was the point, each added feature made the subscription feel more valuable and harder to cancel.&nbsp;The reversal of that strategy is now underway. Prime Video added ads. Prime Music is adding ads. The bundle is being unbundled, feature by feature, each feature re-emerging as a separate charge. The consumer who signed up for one consolidated subscription is now being asked to maintain a constellation of sub-subscriptions to maintain the same level of service.&nbsp;Spotify charges Rs 119 per month in India for its individual ad-free plan. YouTube Music is Rs 99 per month. Apple Music is Rs 99 per month. Amazon Music Unlimited, at Rs 99 per month for Prime members, is priced to compete but it is priced to replace something that was already included, not to add something new.&nbsp;The July 2 date is firm. If you rely on downloaded music through Amazon Prime, you have less than a month to decide whether to upgrade, switch platforms, or start streaming with ads. Amazon is betting most people will pay the extra Rs 99 and move on. Based on what happened with Prime Video, they are probably right.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amazon Prime Music is adding ads and removing offline downloads starting July 2, 2026. Here is what Prime members are losing, what Amazon Music Unlimited costs, and how this compares to the Prime Video ad move.

If you have Amazon Prime, you have been getting music for free. Ad-free music. Music you could download and play on a flight. That ends on July 2, 2026. Amazon sent out notifications this week confirming that its Prime Music benefit is changing. Starting July 2, Prime members will hear ads while streaming music. Downloads for offline playback will no longer be available. HD audio and Spatial Audio, which were quietly bundled into Prime, will also be removed. The features are not disappearing, they are being moved behind a separate paywall called Amazon Music Unlimited. Amazon Music Unlimited costs Rs 99 per month in India for Prime members who want to stay ad-free. In markets like the United States, that upgrade costs $9.99 per month. As a transition offer, Prime members are being given a six-month free trial of Music Unlimited. After that, the bill starts. This Is the Amazon Prime Video Playbook, Again Amazon did this with Prime Video in 2024. Ads were introduced to the streaming service that was already bundled with Prime subscriptions. Users who did not want ads had to pay extra for an ad-free tier. The backlash was loud. Amazon ran the ads anyway. The music version follows the same logic. Prime has become a loss-leader bundle that Amazon periodically reprices by quietly degrading what is inside it. Each time a feature that was once included gets moved to a premium tier, the effective cost of Prime goes up even if the headline subscription price does not change. The distinction Amazon is drawing is between streaming and ownership. Prime Music will still let you stream over 100 million songs on demand, but only while you have an internet connection, and only with ads playing between them. Downloads, the ability to queue up music before a flight, listen without burning mobile data, or play without a connection, are gone from the base tier entirely. What Stays, What Goes, and What Costs More Prime members will keep access to over 100 million songs and 15 million podcast episodes on demand. They will keep shuffle play for stations and playlists. What they lose: the ability to download any of it, the ability to skip ads, HD audio quality, and Spatial Audio support. Amazon Music Unlimited, the paid upgrade, keeps all of those features. It also includes lossless audio, ultra-HD tracks where available, and the full offline listening experience. For users who were using Prime Music regularly, especially for commutes, travel, or offline use, the upgrade is effectively mandatory if they want the same experience they had yesterday. In India, Amazon has officially launched Amazon Music Unlimited, at Rs 119 per month for non-Prime members or Rs 99 per month for Prime subscribers. The Broader Pattern Nobody Is Talking About Amazon Prime started as a shipping benefit. Over the years it absorbed Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, early access to deals, and a growing list of regional perks. The bundling was the point, each added feature made the subscription feel more valuable and harder to cancel. The reversal of that strategy is now underway. Prime Video added ads. Prime Music is adding ads. The bundle is being unbundled, feature by feature, each feature re-emerging as a separate charge. The consumer who signed up for one consolidated subscription is now being asked to maintain a constellation of sub-subscriptions to maintain the same level of service. Spotify charges Rs 119 per month in India for its individual ad-free plan. YouTube Music is Rs 99 per month. Apple Music is Rs 99 per month. Amazon Music Unlimited, at Rs 99 per month for Prime members, is priced to compete but it is priced to replace something that was already included, not to add something new. The July 2 date is firm. If you rely on downloaded music through Amazon Prime, you have less than a month to decide whether to upgrade, switch platforms, or start streaming with ads. Amazon is betting most people will pay the extra Rs 99 and move on. Based on what happened with Prime Video, they are probably right.

Starting July 2, 2026, Amazon Prime Music will play ads and drop offline downloads — quietly stripping features millions of Prime subscribers have been using for years without knowing they could lose them.

Your Amazon Prime Music is getting ads and losing downloads! Here is what changes from July 2

India on Saturday (Jun 6) slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), over “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, accused Islamabad of repeatedly misusing UN platfowms to push its political agenda and spreading misleading narratives on what New Delhi considers its internal matters.“The unwarranted reference by Pakistan to a matter strictly internal to India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has compelled me to respond,” Harish said, speaking at the UNGA plenary meeting on the Annual Report of the UN Security Council.His remarks come after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, mentioned Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad’s position that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.In a sharp reply, Harish said, “Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of august UN platforms for their divisive political interests. I’d like to remind Pakistan that being a member of the UN Security Council is a huge responsibility. It’s not a forum for peddling biased and false narratives.”He also accused Pakistan of spreading “misinformed and misleading communications” at the UN Security Council. Reaffirming India’s long-standing position, Harish said that there was no ambiguity regarding the status of the region.“Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of and inconsistent with historical facts,” he said.“Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality,” Harish added.Harish also called for reforms, urging expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of Security Council membership, stressing that retaining the status quo would undermine the body’s effectiveness in the future.During his address, he also congratulated Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe on their election to the UN Security Council for the 2027-28 term.

India rebuked Pakistan at the UNGA for raising Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an internal matter. New Delhi accused Islamabad of spreading false narratives and reaffirmed J&K as an integral part of India.

India on Saturday (Jun 6) slammed Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), over “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, accused Islamabad of repeatedly misusing UN platfowms to push its political agenda and spreading misleading narratives on what New Delhi considers its internal matters. “The unwarranted reference by Pakistan to a matter strictly internal to India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has compelled me to respond,” Harish said, speaking at the UNGA plenary meeting on the Annual Report of the UN Security Council. His remarks come after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, mentioned Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Islamabad’s position that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. In a sharp reply, Harish said, “Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of august UN platforms for their divisive political interests. I’d like to remind Pakistan that being a member of the UN Security Council is a huge responsibility. It’s not a forum for peddling biased and false narratives.” He also accused Pakistan of spreading “misinformed and misleading communications” at the UN Security Council. Reaffirming India’s long-standing position, Harish said that there was no ambiguity regarding the status of the region. “Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of and inconsistent with historical facts,” he said. “Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality,” Harish added. Harish also called for reforms, urging expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of Security Council membership, stressing that retaining the status quo would undermine the body’s effectiveness in the future. During his address, he also congratulated Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe on their election to the UN Security Council for the 2027-28 term.

India rebuked Pakistan at the UNGA for raising Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an internal matter. New Delhi accused Islamabad of spreading false narratives and reaffirmed J&amp;K as an integral part of India.

‘J&K was, is, and will always remain integral part of India’: New Delhi Slams Pakistan at UNGA

US President Donald Trump, during a press conference at the White House Oval Office interrupted an Indian journalist as he began to speak. The reporter was asking about Trump's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump looked disinterested for very long time and then he asked if he was from India. Amid controversy on racism remarks, Trump quickly added that he was “only kidding.”&nbsp;“Are you from India, by any chance? Huh? I thought you were from Germany?” he stated with an unpleasant smile. "I was only kidding," Trump quickly added after the journalist verified his origin from India. Trump commented, "You’re Central Casting. That’s a good thing.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump yesterday, a reporter asked him about a trade deal with India. Trump responded: &quot;Are you from India by any chance? I thought you were from Germany... I&#39;m only kidding.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/kGoaY6VvEi">pic.twitter.com/kGoaY6VvEi</a>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2062875935825702965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>'You’re Central Casting'</h2>Not fully addressing the journalist's inquiry, Trump commented, "You’re Central Casting. That’s a good thing.” Trump often uses the phrase “Central Casting” to mean someone looks like a typical example of a certain job or role, like an actor chosen for a movie. Several users criticised Donald Trump’s remarks, accusing him of racism and insensitivity. Some described his comments as “racism at best” and “racist talk,” while others dismissed them as “meaningless statements.” One user went further, calling him “elitist” and making harsh comparisons, while another said the US had “elected a joker as president,” reflecting strong backlash and divided reactions online.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-dept-deletes-x-post-featuring-wion-question-to-rubio-on-racism-against-indians-1779646649248">US State Dept deletes X post featuring WION question&nbsp;</a><h2>Rubio on racism</h2>During his New Delhi visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was caught off guard as WION's Sidhant Sibal asked him about racism against Asians in America. Responding to the question, Rubio said that such remarks were made by “stupid people” and did not represent the broader American society. “I’m sure that there are people that have made comments online and other places, because every country in the world has stupid people,” Rubio said. “I’m sure there’s stupid people here. There are stupid people in the United States that make dumb comments all the time,” he added. <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2058477359523917919">WATCH here</a>&nbsp;A day later, when he realised that the question was asked over Trump's 'hellhole' remark, he walked back on his statement. in April 2026 shared a four-page transcript of remarks made by podcaster Michael Savage on America's birthright citizenship where he accused people from India and China of abusing the privilege. "A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet," the transcript documents Savage as saying.&nbsp;

Trump sparked controversy after telling an Indian journalist he thought he was from Germany before calling him “Central Casting” during an Oval Office briefing. The remarks triggered accusations of racism online. .

US President Donald Trump, during a press conference at the White House Oval Office interrupted an Indian journalist as he began to speak. The reporter was asking about Trump's relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump looked disinterested for very long time and then he asked if he was from India. Amid controversy on racism remarks, Trump quickly added that he was “only kidding.” “Are you from India, by any chance? Huh? I thought you were from Germany?” he stated with an unpleasant smile. "I was only kidding," Trump quickly added after the journalist verified his origin from India. Trump commented, "You’re Central Casting. That’s a good thing.”

Trump sparked controversy after telling an Indian journalist he thought he was from Germany before calling him ‘Central Casting’ during an Oval Office briefing. The remarks triggered accusations of racism online.&nbsp;

'Are you from India?': Trump's dig at Indian journalist triggers racism debate - VIDEO

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Your Amazon Prime Music is getting ads and losing downloads

‘J&K was, is, and will always remain integral part’: India slams Pak at UN

'Are you from India?': Trump's dig at journalist triggers racism debate - VIDEO