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Friday, June 26, 2026

US, Iran Trade Fire After Tehran Attacks Cargo Ship In Strait Of Hormuz, Raising Fresh Concern Over Ceasefire

The United States carried out military strikes on Iran on Friday, a day after a drone attack targeted a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most serious challenge yet to the understanding reached between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate their months-long conflict and restore security in the strategically vital waterway. The situation escalated further hours later after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that it had launched retaliatory strikes against US military positions in the region in response to the American operation, intensifying fears that the fragile ceasefire could unravel. US President Donald Trump said the drone strike amounted to a violation of the ceasefire. The military action came shortly after he hinted at a possible response while speaking to reporters, Associated Press reported. “You’ll find out,” Trump said when asked whether the United States would retaliate. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZiPN-7ZC7I?si=zUmqpUJgcBOf6tUh" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Missile, Drone And Radar Sites Targeted</h2> The US Central Command said American forces struck missile and drone storage positions, along with coastal radar installations inside Iran in response to a one-way drone attack on M/V Ever Lovely on June 25. "The Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Iran’s attack," CENTCOM said. Speaking at the White House before the operation, Trump criticised Tehran over the previous day's attack. “I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday, actually four of them,” Trump said. When questioned about authorising military action despite repeatedly saying negotiations with Tehran were progressing well, Trump replied: “They’re a little bit different.” ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/foolish-ceasefire-violation-trump-alleges-iran-fired-four-attack-drones-at-ships-1852920">'Foolish Ceasefire Violation': Trump Alleges Iran Fired Four Attack Drones At Ships</a> <h2>Iran Defends Its Position</h2> Earlier on Friday, Ebrahim Azizi, who chairs the Iranian parliament's national security commission, responded to Trump's remarks through social media. He wrote that “the Strait of Hormuz is governed by Iran, so: Respect the rules” and urged Washington to “not mistake control for escalation.” “This is not a violation of the ceasefire; it is ceasefire management,” Azizi wrote. US Vice President JD Vance took to X to warn Iran against violation of ceasefire agreement. He urged Tehran to "pick up the phone" to talk if there are disagreements about the peace deal.  "Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone," he wrote on X. "But violence will be met with violence," Vance warned. <h3>Iran Announces Retaliatory Strikes</h3> Following the US operation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said it had targeted US military positions in the region in retaliation for the American strikes on Iranian coastal facilities. Iran's state-run IRNA News Agency reported that the retaliatory operation was launched shortly after the US attack. Ebrahim Azizi accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and acting in bad faith during ongoing diplomatic efforts. "The U.S. attacked Iran in the middle of negotiations once again. The failed U.S. President has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire. This reckless violation of the ceasefire will, as always, lead to retreat and regret on their part. The blame game does not work anymore," Azizi said in a post on X. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-peace-deal-live-updates-marco-rubio-announces-framework-agreement-between-israel-and-lebanon-1852928">US Announces Framework Agreement Between Israel And Lebanon</a> <h2>Operation Ends Within An Hour</h2> According to a US official familiar with the matter, the strikes concluded about an hour after the US Central Command announced the operation on social media. The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the military operation was still ongoing, confirmed the action had ended shortly after it began.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-strikes-iran-after-drone-attack-on-cargo-ship-in-strait-of-hormuz-ceasefire-deal-violation-trump-1852935

100% Tariff Threat: Trump Draws Red Line On Digital Services Tax

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned that any country imposing a Digital Services Tax (DST) on American companies would face a 100 per cent tariff on all goods exported to the United States, adding that such a move would override any existing or future trade agreement with Washington. In a post on Truth Social, Trump singled out European countries that he said were considering the imminent implementation of digital taxes targeting American technology firms. <h2>Trump Warns Of Immediate Tariff</h2> Issuing a strong warning, Trump said countries proceeding with a Digital Services Tax would face immediate trade consequences. “Numerous European Countries have been discussing the imminent implementation of a Digital Services Tax on American Companies. Some of these Countries are close to actually doing this. Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America. This TARIFF will supersede Trade Deals made with the Country, whether implemented, signed, or not. Additionally, the 100% TARIFF will be immediately imposed if they proceed,” he wrote. <h2>India Unlikely To Be Affected</h2> Trump's latest warning is unlikely to affect India. New Delhi had already withdrawn some of its Digital Services Tax levies in 2024 and 2025. According to the White House, India will completely remove the DST under the trade agreement currently being negotiated with the United States. <h2>Long-Running Opposition To Digital Taxes</h2> Trump has consistently opposed foreign governments imposing digital taxes or regulatory measures on American technology companies. Supporters of Digital Services Taxes argue that they ensure large technology firms pay taxes in the countries where they generate revenue and help address tax optimisation practices. Last August, Trump warned of retaliatory tariffs against countries introducing such taxes, saying digital taxes and related regulations “are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology.” <h2>France, Canada Previously In Trump's Crosshairs</h2> Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on French wine and champagne unless France withdrew its digital services tax on technology companies. France introduced a three per cent levy in 2019 on revenues earned within the country by major technology firms, including Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Google parent Alphabet. Canada also scrapped its Digital Services Tax last year in an effort to preserve trade negotiations with the United States following pressure from Trump.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/100-tariff-threat-trump-draws-red-line-on-digital-services-tax-1852927

'Darling, Please Don't Dance': Melania Warned Trump But He Did It Anyway

Donald Trump brought up transgender athletes once again during a rally-style speech in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, June 23, even after admitting that First Lady Melania Trump had asked him multiple times to stop making such remarks in public. Speaking to a crowd at the Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, the US President revealed that his wife had specifically asked him not to dance on stage or act out his usual bits about transgender athletes in women's sports. Minutes later, he did both anyway. <h2>What Did Trump Say Melania Told Him?</h2> Trump told the audience that Melania had pleaded with him over his stage habits, recalling her words: "Darling, please, please don't dance. It's not presidential."  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> WATCH: President Trump once again imitates a transgender in weightlifting during his speech in Pennsylvania. <a href="https://t.co/MrAgBI06k0">pic.twitter.com/MrAgBI06k0</a> — Tabz (@TabzLIVE) <a href="https://ift.tt/N6OfRy8 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/vyGbCU7" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> He said she had gone a step further, asking him to drop his go-to examples involving women's weightlifting and swimming events when discussing transgender participation in sports. According to Trump, she said, "Please, please, the men and women's sports, please don't do the weightlifting thing. And don't do the swimming thing." ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/india/didis-distinct-path-why-losing-tmc-symbol-won-t-replicate-shiv-sena-ncp-fate-for-mamata-1852798">Didi’s Distinct Path: Why Losing TMC Symbol Won’t Replicate Shiv Sena-NCP Fate For Mamata</a> Despite sharing this, Trump went on to act out a detailed story about a female weightlifter chasing a long-standing record. He physically mimicked her effort on stage, then introduced a fictional transgender competitor who, in his version of events, broke the record with ease. Parts of the crowd responded with laughter as he performed the bit. <h2>Why Does Trump's Rhetoric On Transgender Athletes Keep Sparking Debate?</h2> This isn't new territory for Trump, who has repeatedly used transgender participation in women's sports as a talking point at rallies and public events. His supporters say the issue boils down to fairness in athletic competition, arguing that physical differences create an uneven playing field.  LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and transgender rights organisations, however, have consistently pushed back, calling his comments misleading and harmful. They argue that such rhetoric oversimplifies the realities of transgender participation in sport and singles out a community that is already vulnerable to discrimination. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/india/mahesh-dixit-appointed-intelligence-bureau-chief-senior-ips-officer-andhra-pradesh-cadre-1852713">Senior IPS Officer Mahesh Dixit Appointed Intelligence Bureau Chief</a> The Pennsylvania speech adds to a long list of similar comments from Trump on the subject, keeping the issue firmly in the political spotlight as the debate over transgender athletes in sports continues nationally.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-melania-please-dont-dance-not-presidential-transgender-athletes-rally-1852806

Thursday, June 25, 2026

UN Pauses Hormuz Maritime Escorts After Fresh Strike; UK Says Vessel Was Hit

A fresh security scare in the Strait of Hormuz has cast doubt over the durability of the tentative peace process between the United States and Iran after a cargo vessel was struck near Oman, prompting the United Nations' International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to suspend its newly launched escort initiative. <h3>Cargo Ship Damaged As Maritime Security Concerns Resurface</h3> According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a cargo ship sustained damage after being struck near the coast of Oman on Thursday. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries among the crew and no environmental pollution resulting from the incident. Four sources identified the vessel as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely. One security official indicated that the ship was likely targeted by a drone. Meanwhile, two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran was responsible for firing on the vessel. Tehran, however, did not directly acknowledge the allegation. Instead, Iran's newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority maintained that ships operating outside its designated navigation corridors would not receive security assurances. The authority warned that “consequences arising from passage through unauthorized routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander.” ALSO READ: <a title="Death Toll Could Surpass 10,000 After Twin Quakes Rock Venezuela's Caracas, USGS Warn" href="https://ift.tt/pqQvSyP" target="_self">Death Toll Could Surpass 10,000 After Twin Quakes Rock Venezuela's Caracas, USGS Warn</a> <h3>IMO Suspends Escort Programme Pending Safety Review</h3> In response to the attack, the IMO announced that it would temporarily halt its escort programme, which had only been launched earlier this week as a voluntary measure to facilitate safer passage through the Strait of Hormuz. IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez explained the decision, saying the organisation had chosen “to temporarily pause its implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region.” The IMO also clarified that the Ever Lovely was not participating in its escort programme. The initiative had offered two optional transit routes—one through Iranian-controlled waters and another via Omani waters under U.S. oversight. <h3>Fragile US-Iran Peace Process Faces Fresh Test</h3> The maritime incident comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington and Tehran working under a memorandum of understanding signed last week that provides a 60-day window to negotiate the terms of an interim peace agreement. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if Iran failed to comply with the deal, the United States would “probably go back to bombing the country again.” During a visit to the Gulf region, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also underscored the importance of maintaining uninterrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, stating: “If that stops, then we’re going to have a problem.” ALSO READ: <a title="Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: 7 Detained For Questioning After FIR; Action Against Big Names Likely Today" href="https://ift.tt/iPSN0G2" target="_self">Ram Temple Donation Theft Case: 7 Detained For Questioning After FIR; Action Against Big Names Likely Today</a> <h3>Oil Markets React To Renewed Uncertainty</h3> The latest attack quickly reverberated through global energy markets. Benchmark crude oil prices climbed about 2% as traders weighed the possibility of renewed disruptions to shipping through the Gulf. Although vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has gradually recovered in recent days, shipping volumes remain below levels seen before the conflict. Oil prices had briefly slipped below the prewar benchmark of $73 per barrel, reflecting cautious optimism that normal trade could resume. However, Thursday's incident has once again raised concerns that instability in the region may continue to threaten one of the world's most critical maritime trade routes.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-hormuz-un-pauses-maritime-escorts-after-fresh-strike-uk-says-vessel-was-hit-oman-1852719

Venezuela Twin Quake Tragedy Deepens As Death Toll Reaches 235, Thousands Still Missing

Venezuela Death Toll: The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has intensified after the death toll from the country's catastrophic twin earthquakes climbed to 235, while thousands of people remain unaccounted for amid an ongoing search-and-rescue operation. <h3>Venezuela Twin Quake Tragedy </h3> According to Venezuela's Health Ministry, at least 235 people have lost their lives and more than 1,500 others have sustained injuries following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday. Health Minister Carlos Alvarado confirmed the updated casualty figures as emergency workers continued to search through collapsed buildings in hopes of finding survivors, as per reports. The two powerful tremors, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurred within seconds of one another, causing extensive destruction across Caracas, La Guaira and several surrounding regions. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the shallow depth of the earthquakes significantly amplified their impact. The first quake struck approximately 20.3 kilometres below the surface, while the second followed moments later at a depth of just 10 kilometres. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> 🇻🇪 Imágenes que nos llegan tras el terremoto en Venezuela: <a href="https://t.co/sTL3MjpTqT">pic.twitter.com/sTL3MjpTqT</a> — Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) <a href="https://ift.tt/DlPZvUT 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/vyGbCU7" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> ALSO READ: <a title="Venezuela Earthquake Leaves 164 Dead, Nearly 1,000 Injured; Rescue Efforts Underway" href="https://ift.tt/3aPuFyD" target="_self">Venezuela Earthquake Leaves 164 Dead, Nearly 1,000 Injured; Rescue Efforts Underway</a> <h3>Families Search Through Rubble As Survivors Sleep Outdoors</h3> Heartbreaking scenes have emerged from the affected areas, where desperate families have been digging through debris with their bare hands, calling out for relatives feared trapped beneath collapsed structures. Footage circulating from the disaster zone showed large clouds of dust filling Simón Bolívar International Airport after parts of the ceiling collapsed, sending frightened passengers scrambling for safety. Another verified video captured the complete destruction of a hotel in Tucacas, northwest of Caracas, highlighting the scale of devastation caused by the back-to-back quakes. The earthquakes struck at 18:04 local time (22:04 GMT) during a national holiday, when many families were inside their homes. Since then, many survivors have chosen to spend the nights in open spaces, fearing damaged buildings could collapse due to aftershocks. ALSO READ: <a title="On Cam: Videos Show Chaos As Twin Quakes Rock Venezuela; 32 Dead, Airport Shut, Rescue Ops On" href="https://ift.tt/YcmVkNG" target="_self">On Cam: Videos Show Chaos As Twin Quakes Rock Venezuela; 32 Dead, Airport Shut, Rescue Ops On</a> <h3>Govt Declares Emergency As Global Aid Arrives</h3> Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the disaster. Authorities have suspended classes, with schools being converted into temporary shelters and collection centres for relief supplies. Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, acknowledged the growing death toll and stressed that rescue operations remain the government's highest priority as teams continue searching for those still missing. International assistance has begun reaching Venezuela from across the Americas. The United States has pledged $150 million in aid and is dispatching military transport ships and aircraft to support relief efforts. Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Panama and Ecuador have also extended humanitarian assistance to help the country respond to one of its worst natural disasters in recent history.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/venezuela-earthquake-death-toll-live-updates-reaches-235-thousands-still-missing-caracas-video-1852709

Nepal Earthquake: Mild Quake Strikes Jumla District

Kathmandu: Jumla in western Nepal was hit by a mild earthquake early Thursday morning, officials said here. The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Kalikot and Mugu districts, all in Karnali province of the Himalayan nation. The earthquake of magnitude 4.1 was recorded at 5.36 am with its epicentre located at Tamti in Jumla district, about 700 kilometres west of Kathmandu, according to the Nepal Earthquake Research and Monitoring Centre (NERMC). However, there was no immediate report of any damage caused by the tremor, officials said. Earlier on June 21, an earthquake of similar (4.1) magnitude had occurred in Shrinagar of Humla district in the western province. Nepal, which experiences multiple quakes in any given year, lies in one of the most active tectonic zones (Seismic zones IV and V), which makes the Himalayan nation extremely vulnerable to earthquakes.  (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/earthquake-hits-jumla-district-in-western-nepal-1852661

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Powerful Twin Quakes Jolt Venezuela, Many Casualties Feared As Buildings Reduce To Rubble

Back-to-back powerful earthquakes jolted Venezuela on Thursday, prompting fears of mass casualties, and buildings were reduced to rubble in the capital Caracas.  The epicentre of the first tremor of 7.2 magnitude was located near San Felipe, about 284km (176 miles) west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT on Wednesday, immediately followed by another powerful quake of 7.5 magnitude near Yumare, about 293km (182 miles) west of the capital, the US Geological Survey said.   

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/venezuela-earthquake-7-2-magnitude-earthquake-hit-caracas-multiple-casualties-buildings-collapse-video-1852478