Your helper

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Trump Hints At Seizing Kharg Island, Says 'Favourite Thing Is To Take Iran's Oil'

<p>US President Donald Trump has hinted that the United States could “take the oil in Iran” and potentially seize Kharg Island, Tehran’s primary oil export terminal, as the conflict in the Middle East entered its fifth week.</p> <p>Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump said his “preference would be to take the oil,” drawing comparisons with US actions in Venezuela earlier this year, where Washington gained control of the country’s oil sector following the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro.</p> <p>"To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say, 'Why are you doing that?' But they're stupid people,” Trump told the FT.</p> <p>He suggested that such a move could involve capturing Kharg Island, a critical hub through which most of Iran’s oil exports pass, making it strategically significant in the ongoing conflict.</p> <p>“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options...It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while,” he added.</p> <p>On being asked about Iran's defence capabilities on the Kharg Island, the US President said: "I don't think they have any defence. We could take it very easily".</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-signals-kharg-island-seizure-us-could-do-it-easily-west-asia-conflict-iran-war-1833601

Mojtaba Khamenei Thanks Iraqis In New Message After Trump Claims He May Be Dead

<p>Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a written message thanking the people of Iraq for their support during the ongoing war against the United States and Israel, according to Iranian media reports on Sunday.</p> <p>In the message, Khamenei “expressed his appreciation to the supreme religious authority (in Iraq) and the people of Iraq for their clear stance against aggression against Iran and their support for our country,” the ISNA news agency reported. The reference was to Iraq-based cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, one of the most revered figures in Shia Islam.</p> <p>The message was delivered following a meeting between the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a Shia political party, and the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad. However, no further details were provided on how the communication was transmitted, AFP reported.</p> <h3>Absence Fuels Speculation</h3> <p>Khamenei, the son of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has not appeared in public since being named to the post after his father was killed in an airstrike at the start of the war on February 28.</p> <p>His continued absence has led to intense speculation about his condition and whereabouts. State television and some Iranian officials have indicated that he is recovering from wounds sustained in an airstrike, though this has not been independently verified.</p> <p>Since assuming office, Khamenei has issued only a handful of written statements, including one marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz. Both messages were read out on television by another speaker and predicted victory in the conflict.</p> <p>State media have published images of Khamenei, but without confirming whether they are recent. He is also reported to maintain official accounts on Telegram and X.</p> <h3>Trump Questions Leader’s Status</h3> <p>The development comes days after US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader was either dead or in critical condition following recent US military operations.</p> <p>“Their leaders are dead. Their supreme leader is no longer supreme. He’s dead. His son is either dead or in very bad shape, because nobody’s heard from him. I think he says, ‘Just keep me out of this,’” Trump said earlier.</p> <p>Last week, Trump also stated that Washington was engaging with a “top person” in talks with Iran but clarified it was not the supreme leader.</p> <p>“We have not heard from the son... We don't know if he is living,” he added.</p> <p>Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s third supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, succeeding both his father and the revolution’s founding leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/mojtaba-khamenei-thanks-iraqis-in-new-message-after-trump-claims-he-may-be-dead-iran-war-west-asia-conflict-1833596

‘Will Become Food For Sharks’: Iran Warns US Against Ground Invasion Amid War Escalation

<p>Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Iran and the United States continue to exchange sharp rhetoric alongside battlefield tensions.</p> <p>On Sunday, March 29, Iran’s military released a video in which spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that any US ground invasion would have severe consequences.</p> <p>Zolfaghari said US troops would become “good food for the sharks of the Persian Gulf” if they attempted to enter Iranian territory.</p> <h2><strong>Remarks Amid Troop Deployment Reports</strong></h2> <p>The statement comes against the backdrop of reports that the United States is considering deploying around 10,000 troops to the Middle East, potentially as part of preparations for a ground operation.</p> <p>Taking aim at US President Donald Trump, Zolfaghari described him as a pawn of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused him of pushing American forces into “a deadly quagmire”.</p> <p>He also dismissed any attempt to capture Iranian territory as unrealistic, stating that Iran’s armed forces are prepared to respond and that aggression would result in “humiliating captivity, dismemberment, and the disappearance of the aggressors”.</p> <h2><strong>Iranian Leadership Echoes Warning</strong></h2> <p>Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also issued a strong warning, saying Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever”, according to Iranian state media cited by AP.</p> <p>He further characterised talks as a cover, referencing the reported arrival of around 2,500 US Marines in the region trained in amphibious landings.</p> <h2><strong>War Of Optics Intensifies</strong></h2> <p>The rhetoric forms part of a broader battle of messaging between the two sides. Earlier, Iran’s English-language daily Tehran Times carried a front-page warning to the US with the caption, “Welcome to Hell. US troops who step foot on Iranian soil will leave only in a coffin.”</p> <h2><strong>US Signals Timeline, Keeps Options Open</strong></h2> <p>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the conflict may not extend for “months” and could instead conclude within “weeks”. However, he added that all options remain open for President Donald Trump, defending the deployment of troops to the region.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/will-become-food-for-sharks-iran-warns-us-against-ground-invasion-amid-war-escalation-1833585

Derby Crash: Indian-Origin Man Arrested After Car Hits Pedestrians; What We Know So Far

<div class="flex flex-col text-sm pb-25"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&:has([data-writing-block])>*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:c0bed16d-dcdf-457d-9dc2-ff91f68e4363-49" data-testid="conversation-turn-98" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)"> <div class="[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn"> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="858c9b31-f431-448e-865e-2c15a1ddcd8c" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-3" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling"> <p data-start="523" data-end="750">A 36-year-old man, originally from India and living in the UK for several years, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car struck pedestrians in Derby city centre.</p> <p data-start="752" data-end="995">Police said the suspect was detained shortly after the incident and remains in custody. He is also being held on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving.</p> <h2 data-start="997" data-end="1186"><strong data-start="997" data-end="1031">Incident At Busy Nightlife Hub</strong></h2> <p data-start="997" data-end="1186">The incident took place at around 9:30 pm on Saturday on Friar Gate, a popular city centre stretch known for its restaurants, bars and student footfall, BBC reported.</p> <p data-start="1188" data-end="1320">“The car, a black Suzuki Swift, struck several people in Friar Gate at about 9:30 pm on Saturday, 28 March,” Derbyshire Police said.</p> <p data-start="1322" data-end="1582">Seven people were injured and taken to Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. Police said the victims suffered “serious but not life-threatening” injuries and confirmed that “contrary to online speculation, no one died in the incident”.</p> <h2 data-start="1584" data-end="1757"><strong data-start="1584" data-end="1609">Swift Police Response</strong></h2> <p data-start="1584" data-end="1757">Officers were at the scene within seconds of the crash, and the suspect was arrested within seven minutes on a bridge leading towards Pride Park.</p> <p data-start="1759" data-end="1900">Police said the vehicle was driven away from the scene and credited eyewitnesses for alerting authorities quickly, enabling a rapid response.</p> <h2 data-start="1902" data-end="2166"><strong data-start="1902" data-end="1944">Investigation Underway, Motive Unclear</strong></h2> <p data-start="1902" data-end="2166">Derbyshire Police said detectives are working with counter-terrorism officers, stressing that this is “common practice for an incident of this nature”. Authorities are “keeping an open mind about the potential motives”.</p> <p data-start="2168" data-end="2281">The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism, and police said there is no ongoing risk to the public.</p> <p data-start="2283" data-end="2460">“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing, and we are keeping an open mind as to the motives,” police said, urging witnesses to come forward.</p> <h2 data-start="2462" data-end="2574"><strong data-start="2462" data-end="2494">Eyewitness Accounts Of Chaos</strong></h2> <p data-start="2462" data-end="2574">Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion in the immediate aftermath.</p> <p data-start="2576" data-end="2717">Mark Lucas said he saw people lying injured on the road. “People were over the floor and there were a lot of police and ambulances,” he said.</p> <p data-start="2719" data-end="2837">Another eyewitness told local media: “People have been crying, I just can’t believe something like this has happened.”</p> <p data-start="2839" data-end="2991">Shop worker Eren Celebi said he heard “screaming and shouting” and later saw people lying on the pavement and road, with others trying to call for help.</p> <h2 data-start="2993" data-end="3182"><strong data-start="2993" data-end="3010">City In Shock</strong></h2> <p data-start="2993" data-end="3182">Officials and residents expressed shock at the incident. Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred described it as a “horrific incident that has understandably shocked the city”.</p> <p data-start="3184" data-end="3319">Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the home secretary is being kept updated, adding there was no wider cause for public alarm.</p> <p data-start="3321" data-end="3443" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Local MPs and civic leaders said the focus remains on supporting those injured, while police continue their investigation.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/derby-crash-indian-origin-man-arrested-after-car-hits-pedestrians-what-we-know-so-far-1833582

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Iran Sends Chilling Message To US As War Escalates: ‘Leave Only in A Coffin’

<p>After reports that the United States was considering deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to intensify attacks on Iran, an English daily from the Islamic Republic carried a strong warning for Washington.</p> <p>The Tehran Times featured a photograph of US troops boarding a carrier with the headline: “Welcome to Hell”. The accompanying caption read: “US troops who step foot on Iranian soil will leave only in a coffin”.</p> <h2><strong>War Of Words Amid Claims Of Talks</strong></h2> <p>The warning comes even as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he is engaged in ongoing peace talks with Tehran to end the conflict. Iran has denied that any such talks have taken place.</p> <p>On March 26, Trump posted on Truth Social that “Talks are ongoing” with Iran. In another statement, he said Iran had gifted him a “present” by allowing some Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.</p> <p>He had earlier announced a pause on strikes targeting Iran’s energy sector, extending the deadline by 10 days to April 6 to allow room for negotiations beyond his previous Friday cutoff, Bloomberg reported.</p> <h2><strong>Conflict Intensifies On The Ground</strong></h2> <p>Despite these claims, hostilities in West Asia continue to escalate. Late on Saturday (March 28), the US Central Command released footage of airstrikes targeting Iranian naval vessels.</p> <p>“For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global shipping in regional waters, but those days are over,” the command said in a post on X.</p> <h2><strong>Iran Claims US Casualties</strong></h2> <p>Iran, however, claimed that US forces had suffered “heavy casualties” in strikes on two American military “hideouts” in Dubai, according to state-run Tasnim News Agency.</p> <p>A spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya said more than 500 US personnel were present at the locations, around 400 at one site and 100 at the other. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly carried out precision missile and drone strikes after identifying the targets, inflicting significant casualties, the report said, according to ANI.</p> <h2><strong>Regional Warning From Iranian President</strong></h2> <p>Amid rising tensions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned neighbouring countries against allowing the US and Israel to use their territory for attacks on Iran.</p> <p>“We have said many times that Iran does not carry out preemptive attacks, but we will respond strongly if our infrastructure or economic centres are targeted,” Pezeshkian said in a post on X.</p> <p>“Countries in the region must not allow our enemies to wage war from their soil if they seek stability and growth,” he added.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-sends-chilling-message-to-us-as-war-escalates-leave-only-in-a-coffin-1833460

Friday, March 27, 2026

Iran Turns Back Three Ships, Declares Strait Of Hormuz Closed

<p>Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said three ships were turned back while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran reiterated that the strategic waterway remains closed.</p> <p>In a statement carried on the Sepah News website, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, “This morning, following the lies of the corrupt US president (Donald Trump) claiming that the Strait of Hormuz was open, three container ships of different nationalities... were turned back after a warning from the IRGC Navy.”</p> <p>The development comes amid heightened tensions over access to the crucial maritime route.</p> <h2><strong>Transit Ban For ‘Allies And Supporters’</strong></h2> <p>The IRGC further stated that vessels linked to ports “belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies” would not be allowed passage.</p> <p>“The movement of any vessel ‘to and from’ ports of origin belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination and through any corridor, is prohibited,” the statement said.</p> <h2><strong>Iran Rejects US Claim, Reasserts Control</strong></h2> <p>The statement followed remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that the Strait of Hormuz was open for transit.</p> <p>Rejecting the claim, the IRGC said it maintains full control over the chokepoint.</p> <p>“The Strait of Hormuz has been closed, and any movement through the strait will be met with a harsh response,” the IRGC Navy said.</p> <h2><strong>Warning Amid Escalating Regional Tensions</strong></h2> <p>Iran said the move reflects its stance amid ongoing tensions, asserting that it will protect its maritime boundaries.</p> <p>The IRGC reiterated that “any movement through the strait will be met with a harsh response,” issuing a direct warning to international shipping and foreign military forces operating in or near the Persian Gulf.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-turns-back-three-ships-declares-strait-of-hormuz-closed-1833296

Thursday, March 26, 2026

FCC seeks public comments on bringing call centres back to US

<p>Washington, Mar 27 (PTI): The Federal Communications Commission has mooted proposals to encourage businesses to bring call centre jobs back to the US and require call-takers to be proficient in American Standard English.</p><p>In a statement here, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said that over the past few decades many corporations shifted their customer service and call centre operations from America to a range of foreign countries – with nearly 70 per cent of US companies outsourcing at least one department.</p><p>“American consumers deserve call centres that speak proficient English, provide clear answers, and are based here at home—not halfway around the world,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement.</p><p>The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), adopted by the FCC on Thursday, has sought comments from the public on ways to encourage and facilitate the onshoring of call centres; steps that can be taken to improve customer service and data security and ways to combat illegal robocall scams that originate inside foreign call centres.</p><p>“I welcome today’s NPRM to address risks to Americans that originate from call centres located overseas,” Commissioner Olivia Trusty said in a statement on Thursday.</p><p>The FCC has sought comments from the public about ideas such as empowering consumers to transfer calls to a US-based location and requiring that calls involving certain types of sensitive information be handled domestically.</p><p>It also sought views on requiring covered providers to disclose the location of the call centre during the customer interaction; requiring disclosure to consumers of the extent of a provider’s use of US call centres; and requiring workers at call centres to be proficient in American Standard English and otherwise be trained appropriately for resolving issues with US customers.</p><p>“Specifically, we are identifying ways to address illegal robocall scams that originate inside foreign call centres, such as ways we can take the profit out of those operations,” Carr said.</p><p> Last year, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Keep Call Centres in America Act to discourage companies from moving customer service operations offshore or replacing live agents with AI.</p><p>From a cost perspective, onshore call centres in the United States face significantly higher operating expenses, primarily wages, compliance, and real estate.</p><p>According to industry benchmarks, US customer service agents earn three to five times more than their offshore counterparts. These higher costs inevitably flow through to the consumer.</p><p>The Philippines, India, Colombia, South Africa are the leading countries that US businesses outsource their customer service call centre jobs to. PTI SKU PRK</p><p><i>(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.)</i></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/fcc-seeks-public-comments-on-bringing-call-centres-back-to-us-1833152