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Friday, July 24, 2026

Russia Warns Black Sea Is Unsafe For Navigation After Spike In Ukrainian Strikes

Russia has warned that its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea is no longer safe for navigation following a rise in Ukrainian strikes on vessels, according to a Bloomberg report. The warning comes as shipping companies have suspended services to Black Sea ports amid escalating attacks in the region. <h2>Russia Issues Navigation Warning</h2> According to a weekly bulletin published on the website of Russia's Defence Ministry, the advisory was issued to all vessels operating within the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. The notice cited potential threats from Ukraine's unmanned aerial and marine vehicles. ALSO READ:  <h2>Attacks On Vessels Intensify</h2> The warning followed an escalation in Ukraine's attacks on ships operating in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. According to statements from Ukraine's General Staff, at least 124 Russia-linked vessels, including 89 tankers, were targeted between July 8 and July 20. The reported number of attacked vessels could not be independently verified. <h2>UN Raises Concerns Over Seafarer Safety</h2> UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed concern over the safety of seafarers operating in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The UN human rights office said it had verified at least four attacks on civilian vessels in Ukraine's Odesa region this month, in which 34 vessel workers were killed or injured. <h2>UN Urges Protection For Seafarers</h2> Highlighting the risks faced by maritime workers, Volker Turk's spokeswoman, Shabia Mantoo, said: "Seafarers should not be forced or compelled to endanger their lives by sailing through conflict zones. Nor should they face the risk of reprisal by shipowners if they decline these assignments." ALSO READ: 

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/russia-warning-black-sea-unsafe-for-navigation-ukraine-strikes-un-sea-of-azov-1858454

'My Partner Is Half-Indian': Musk Rubbishes Racism Claims, Says Son Named After Physicist Chandrasekhar

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has rejected allegations that he is racist, saying his partner is half-Indian and that the companies he leads employ people of diverse backgrounds in senior positions. In an interview with The Economist, Musk was asked about criticism that labels him a "racist." "My partner is half-Indian. I have four children with her, one of them was named after a famous Indian phycisit," he said. Musk argued that the diversity within his companies contradicted such allegations. "So I would say I'm not a racist. If you look at people that are employed at my companies, we have senior executives of all races. I don't think there is any racism there," he added. <h3>Musk On Claims Of Being 'Anti-Muslim'</h3> When asked whether he was "anti-Muslim," Musk did not directly answer the question but said his opposition was directed at people who sought to impose values incompatible with those of Western societies. "If people are coming to a country with antithetical views, I am against that. I'm against rape and murder. I'm against the imposition of rules and laws that are contrary to what we've come to accept in the West." ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/business/us-tariff-on-india-us-imposes-10-tariff-on-indian-imports-over-forced-labour-amid-trade-deal-1858270">US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue</a> <h3>Musk Defends Remarks On European Politics</h3> The interview also touched on Musk's interventions in European politics despite not living in Europe. Asked why he believed he should influence political debates there, Musk said he viewed Western countries collectively. "I think of it as sort of the West collectively," Musk replied. When told that many people objected to the political influence wielded by someone with his wealth and reach, Musk said he was unconcerned by criticism. "Yes, some people do. Maybe some people do loathe me. And that's probably true. I don't care. But the fact that, as you pointed out, a quarter billion people follow me is that I think a lot more people actually like me than don't." Musk has more than 240 million followers on X, the social media platform he owns. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/saudi-prince-found-dead-in-london-hotel-after-consuming-party-drug-alcohol-prescription-medicine-1858307">Saudi Prince Found Dead In London Hotel After Consuming Party Drugs, Alcohol Overdose</a> <h3>Tesla CEO Calls For AI Safety Collaboration</h3> During the interview, Musk also urged leading artificial intelligence companies to cooperate more closely on safety and security issues. He proposed regular meetings between major AI firms to discuss potential risks associated with advanced AI models. "The most immediate thing that we could do is to have the leading AI companies ... have some sort of call once every few weeks and just discuss any safety and security issues," Musk said. He also suggested that competing AI firms should review each other's most advanced models before public release to identify potential safety concerns. According to Musk, if a company failed to address significant risks identified during such reviews, "that would be the moment for government to step in and take action."

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/elon-musk-rubbishes-racism-claims-says-partner-is-half-indian-son-named-after-indian-physicist-chandrasekhar-1858380

US Tariff Shake-Up Explained: Why Section 301 Replaces Section 122 And What It Means For India

The United States has replaced its temporary tariff regime under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 with a new framework under Section 301, ensuring that additional duties on many imports, including those from India, continue beyond July 24. For India, the immediate impact on most exports is limited as the tariff remains at 10 per cent. However, the shift is significant because it replaces a temporary emergency provision with a legal mechanism that allows Washington to maintain tariffs for a much longer period. The move follows the expiry of the 10 per cent tariff imposed under Section 122, which automatically lapsed after completing its statutory 150-day period. Instead of allowing those duties to end, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) introduced fresh tariffs under Section 301 after concluding investigations into 60 economies over their handling of imports produced using forced labour. <h2>India Gets Lower Tariff Than Most Countries</h2> On July 23, the USTR, acting on President Donald Trump's direction, announced the outcome of its investigations into imports allegedly produced with forced labour, reported Moneycontrol. Under the final determination, India is among 17 economies that will face a 10 per cent tariff under Section 301, compared with the 12.5 per cent duty imposed on most of the investigated economies. According to the USTR, India qualified for the lower tariff because it has introduced measures to restrict imports made using forced labour. For Indian exporters, the practical impact is largely unchanged. The earlier 10 per cent surcharge under Section 122 has simply been replaced by a 10 per cent Section 301 tariff, which will continue to apply in addition to the normal US most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oH57fZTfyX0?si=z1b2sISpLSQWzJMn" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Why The US Switched To Section 301</h2> Section 122 allows the US President to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 per cent to address balance-of-payments concerns, but only for a maximum of 150 days unless Congress approves an extension. President Trump invoked the provision in February after the US Supreme Court ruled that reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) lacked legal authority. With the Section 122 tariffs expiring on July 24, Washington shifted to Section 301, which permits tariffs following formal trade investigations and does not carry the same statutory time limit. Unlike the temporary emergency powers under Section 122, Section 301 provides the Trump administration with a longer-lasting legal basis to maintain tariffs. Also Read : <a title="US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue" href="https://ift.tt/3jvtdSG" target="_self">US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue</a> <h2>What Changes For Indian Exporters</h2> Although the legal framework has changed, the tariff burden on most Indian exports remains broadly the same. Affected goods will continue to attract a 10 per cent tariff in addition to the applicable MFN duty under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. MFN duties vary across sectors. Pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and several electronic products generally attract low or zero tariffs, while textiles, garments, leather products and certain engineering goods continue to face higher baseline duties. The USTR has also exempted several categories of imports, including raw materials critical to US supply chains, products likely to cause wider economic disruption if taxed, goods that are not readily available from US or alternative suppliers, and certain imports from countries including India aimed at encouraging stronger enforcement of forced labour restrictions. The latest measures also leave Section 232 national security tariffs unchanged. These products account for around 8 per cent of India's exports to the United States and include steel, aluminium, certain copper products, automobiles and specified auto components. According to Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), steel products continue to face total duties of 52.5 per cent, aluminium products 55 per cent and covered auto components 27.5 per cent. <h2>More Tariff Risks Could Follow</h2> The forced labour investigation represents only the first completed Section 301 probe. According to the USTR, the review involved consultations with more than 45 governments, public hearings and over 3,700 public submissions before concluding that 60 economies had failed to effectively prevent imports produced using forced labour. The final tariff structure includes: 10 per cent tariff: India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and other economies that have enacted or committed to restrictions on forced labour imports. 10-12.5 per cent tariff: Selected products from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland. 12.5 per cent tariff: Remaining investigated economies. Separately, the USTR is conducting another Section 301 investigation into structural excess manufacturing capacity in around 15 economies, including India. If it concludes that government policies have distorted global trade through industrial overcapacity, additional tariffs could follow. The tariff changes also come as India and the United States continue negotiating an interim trade agreement that could eventually expand into a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). According to GTRI, between August 27, 2025 and February 23, 2026, nearly 55 per cent of India's exports to the US, including engineering goods, textiles, chemicals, machinery, plastics, leather products, gems and jewellery, were subject to the applicable MFN tariff along with an additional 50 per cent duty. That included a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and another 25 per cent surcharge linked to India's purchases of Russian crude oil. Another 37 per cent of exports, including smartphones, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and energy products, remained outside the reciprocal tariff regime and continued to pay only the applicable MFN tariff. <h2>Pharmaceutical Exports Face A Separate Challenge</h2> The latest Section 301 tariffs do not directly affect India's pharmaceutical exports. However, the sector faces a separate long-term challenge. The Trump administration has proposed imposing a 100 per cent tariff on imported generic medicines from August 2028, rising to 200 per cent from August 2029, as part of efforts to boost pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States. India is the largest exporter of finished generic medicines to the US. Industry estimates based on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and trade data suggest Indian companies account for around 40-50 per cent of generic prescriptions dispensed there. China, meanwhile, remains the world's largest producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are widely used in medicine manufacturing. The proposal gives manufacturers a two-year window before duties begin but could have significant implications for Indian drugmakers that rely heavily on the US market. The proposed tariffs on generic medicines are separate from earlier measures covering branded pharmaceutical products. In April, President Trump signed an executive order imposing 100 per cent tariffs on branded drug imports unless manufacturers agreed to government-backed pricing arrangements or committed to producing medicines within the US. Several multinational pharmaceutical companies had already secured exemptions from those tariffs last year, and the latest proposal does not alter those arrangements. Also Read : <a title="Centre Defends E20 Fuel In Parliament, Says No Verified Evidence Of Widespread Engine Failure" href="https://ift.tt/wagpzBO" target="_self">Centre Defends E20 Fuel In Parliament, Says No Verified Evidence Of Widespread Engine Failure</a> <h2>What It Means For India</h2> For India, the immediate tariff impact is limited because most exports covered under the earlier Section 122 measure will continue to face a 10 per cent duty under Section 301. The more significant change is that Washington now has a stronger legal framework to maintain these tariffs beyond the 150-day limit that applied under Section 122. With another Section 301 investigation already underway and proposed duties on generic medicines still under consideration, Indian exporters could continue to face evolving trade risks even as New Delhi and Washington pursue a broader bilateral trade agreement.

source https://news.abplive.com/business/us-tariff-regime-shift-trump-tariffs-impact-on-india-section-301-means-for-indian-exporters-1858305

Thursday, July 23, 2026

US slaps 10 per cent tariffs on goods imported from India on issue forced labour

Washington, Jul 24 (PTI): The US imposed 10 per cent tariffs on goods purchased from India and 16 other countries over the issue of the use of forced labour in the production of such items. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act on Friday, a day before the expiration of 10 per cent additional levies on all countries. The USTR statement said that Greer had taken the final action, at President Donald Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 economies for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour. The action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement here. The 10 per cent tariff rate applies to 17 countries, including India, Canada, the UK, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Earlier, India was bracketed in countries attracting 12.5 per cent tariffs. A Federal Note in this regard took note of India's adoption of a forced labour import prohibition after the unveiling of the proposed tariffs in June. On June 14, India amended its foreign trade policy to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour. The Trump administration had initiated the two investigations after the US Supreme Court, in February, dismissed last year's "reciprocal tariffs" using emergency powers as illegal. The administration responded by levying 10 per cent tariffs on all countries that expire on Friday. India has contested both the investigations initiated by the USTR and insisted that these issues can be discussed as part of the bilateral trade agreement that is under discussion. The US is India's second largest trade partner and the largest destination for exports. In 2025, bilateral goods trade was pegged at nearly USD 141 billion, with India's exports pegged at USD 87.3 billion, according to commerce department data. PTI SKU MPL MPL(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-slaps-10-per-cent-tariffs-on-goods-imported-from-india-on-issue-forced-labour-1858257

Saudi Oil Tanker Hit By Houthi Missile As US Pounds Iran For 12th Straight Night

A Saudi oil tanker was reportedly struck by a Houthi missile near Yemen on Wednesday, triggering a fire aboard the vessel in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Yemeni group is reported to have carried out the attack as tensions across the region continued to escalate. The incident came as the United States launched its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, with President Donald Trump issuing another warning to Tehran over attacks on commercial shipping. The conflict has also continued to roil global energy markets, with Brent crude rising above $93 a barrel and briefly crossing the $95 mark in after-hours trading. <h2>US Continues Military Campaign Against Iran</h2> The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets during the latest operation. According to CENTCOM, the strikes hit maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defence systems. "The mission will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," CENTCOM said. The US military said the operation lasted around five hours and added that American forces have struck dozens of Iranian military sites throughout July while maintaining a naval blockade against Iran. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/5DpumgR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'Attack Ships In Hormuz And We'll Blow Up Bridges, Power Plants': Trump's Open Threat To Iran</a> <h2>Trump Issues Fresh Warning to Tehran</h2> As military operations continued, President Donald Trump warned Iran that attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would invite direct retaliation against the country's infrastructure. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media. The latest warning comes amid continuing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime trade routes. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/8T4x12B" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran Draws Red Line On Oil Exports, Warns US Of Regional Fallout: 'If We Don't Sell Oil, No One Will'</a> <h2>'They'll Be Ready Very Soon': Trump</h2> Speaking later at a rally in Georgia, Trump said Iran was continuing to resist a deal despite facing sustained military pressure. "They're not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal, they want to change it and everything. They're not ready. They'll be ready very soon," Trump said, according to the Associated Press. He also expressed confidence that oil prices would eventually decline despite the recent surge linked to the escalating conflict in the region.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-saudi-oil-tanker-hit-by-houthi-missile-us-pounds-iran-for-12th-straight-night-1858141

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Iran Draws Red Line On Oil Exports, Warns US Of Regional Fallout: 'If We Don't Sell Oil, No One Will'

Iran's Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has declared that Tehran will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to return to its pre-war status, signalling that the strategically vital waterway will remain a key point of contention with the United States. His remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated further, with US President Donald Trump warning of military retaliation against Iranian infrastructure if ships transiting the strait come under attack. <h3>Ghalibaf Says Strait's Security Hinges On US Withdrawal</h3> In a post on X, Ghalibaf said the regional confrontation had reached what he described as an "all or none equation," arguing that the future security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the departure of American forces from the region. "In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil. If our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe, and the security of the strait is in the absence of American forces. We have repeatedly said that the situation of the strait will not return to pre-war conditions," he wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> معادلهٔ این جنگ مشخص است: یا همه یا هیچکس! در منطقه&zwnj;ای که ما نفت نفروشیم، کسی نفت نخواهد فروخت. اگر امنیت ما تأمین نشود، هیچ زیرساختی ایمن نخواهد بود و امنیت تنگه در نبود نیروهای آمریکایی است. بارها گفته&zwnj;ایم که وضعیت تنگه به قبل از جنگ باز نمی&zwnj;گردد. — محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) <a href="https://ift.tt/vkhzjGb 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/vBATRLr" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>   ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/ukraine-kerala-sailor-family-awaits-information-on-return-of-his-mortal-remains-russia-1857739">Kerala Sailor's Family Awaits Information On Return Of His Mortal Remains From Ukraine</a> The statement also underscored Iran's position that if its crude oil exports are prevented, it would not permit other Gulf nations to continue exporting oil through the strategic waterway. <h3>Trump Threatens Strikes On Iranian Infrastructure</h3> Ghalibaf's comments followed a fresh warning from Trump, who said the United States would target Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tfx69oYogP0?si=DyC6f1Bib8SY3Y5s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Trump repeated the warning on Wednesday, saying that any Iranian attack on vessels using missiles, rockets, drones or other weapons would prompt US strikes on bridges, power plants and other infrastructure. He added that potential targets could include facilities "next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran." <h3>Strait oOf Hormuz Remains Centre Of Escalating Conflict</h3> The latest exchange comes after nearly two weeks of escalating military action between the United States and Iran following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire linked to disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz. Since then, US forces have carried out multiple strikes inside Iranian territory, while Iran has responded by targeting American military installations across the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil supply passes, remains at the heart of the dispute. Iran maintains that recent understandings give it a greater role in determining how the waterway is managed. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that American missile strikes hit locations near the western cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk. State media also said two people were killed in a US missile strike on the border town of Shalamcheh early on Thursday.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-tehran-draws-red-line-on-oil-exports-warns-us-of-regional-fallout-trump-1858098

France's Environment Minister Resigns In Protest Over Harmful Pesticides

Edited by: Rob Turner French Minister of Ecological Transition Monique Barbut announced Wednesday that she would "submit her resignation today" to President Emmanuel Macron in protest to the reintroduction of harmful pesticides. However, Macron did not accept her resignation, and Barbut will stay in her post due to the "urgency to address the consequences of climate change," her team said in comments carried by the AFP news agency. <h2>What Barbut Said About Her Resignation</h2> In a post on LinkedIn, Barbut wrote that "contrary to the commitments that had been made to me, the government prevented any debate on the removal of this measure," adding that there had been "one environmental setback too many," since was appointed last October. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">'Iran Not Serious About Talks': Marco Rubio Warns Tehran Of Consequences</a> "Politics is not my world, and if this is what politics is about, it definitely never will be," said the former head of WWF France and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). <h2>What Is In France's Pesticide Bill?</h2> Barbut's statement comes just after lawmakers appoved a bill that will allow the pesticides acetamiprid and flupyradifurone to come back into use. They have been banned in France since 2018 and 2019, respectively. Scientists say that the chemicals are dangerous to human health and are harmful to the bee populations that make agriculture possible in the first place. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">Pakistan: 6 Children Dead, 94 Infected In HIV Outbreak At Karachi Hospital</a> Proponents of the bill argued that France's beet, apple, and hazlenut farmers need the pesticides to compete against their EU counterparts. The substances are not banned in the EU but some member states limit their use. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. for DW

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/monique-barbut-protest-harmful-pesticides-acetamiprid-flupyradifurone-france-1858019