Your helper

Friday, August 14, 2026

Trump Vows To Claim Strait Of Hormuz As US Territory ‘Pretty Soon’; Iran Hits Back

US President Donald Trump has intensified his warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington could seek control of the strategically vital waterway once its confrontation with Iran comes to an end. His latest statement comes as shipping activity through the strait has fallen sharply amid the escalating US-Iran standoff. <h3>Trump Floats US Claim Over Key Waterway</h3> Addressing supporters at a rally in New York on Friday, Trump said the United States could take an unprecedented step after the conflict with Iran. He said, "After we finish defeating Iran... I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States." Trump did not outline how such a declaration could be implemented or what legal authority Washington would rely upon. His comments, however, add to increasingly forceful statements from the US president about the waterway, which is a crucial route for international energy supplies. Earlier this week, Trump claimed the United States had "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and described the American naval blockade as a "WALL OF STEEL." <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EcVtBycWPt0?si=bjipHX1xSZ2JUYeX" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a title="'Their Dreams Inspire Us': PM Modi Pays Tribute To Freedom Fighters On Independence Day" href="https://ift.tt/02gWeSy" target="_self">'Their Dreams Inspire Us': PM Modi Pays Tribute To Freedom Fighters On Independence Day</a> <h3>Iran Rejects Trump's Claim</h3> Tehran swiftly dismissed Trump's remarks, maintaining that Iran retains authority over the strait and that decisions concerning its passage remain under Iranian control. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on X, arguing that Washington should recognise what he described as its losses in the confrontation. He said: "Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade." ALSO READ: <a title="Who Will Succeed Chandrasekaran? Neville Tata, Top Tata Executives Emerge As Contenders, Says Report" href="https://ift.tt/4UgLm2n" target="_self">Who Will Succeed Chandrasekaran? Neville Tata, Top Tata Executives Emerge As Contenders, Says Report</a> <h3>Vessel Movement Through Strait Plunges</h3> The impact of the standoff is increasingly visible in commercial shipping data. Kpler tracking indicated that only two vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, and neither was a crude oil tanker. The figure followed nine crossings on Thursday and five on Wednesday. Those numbers are considerably lower than the August daily average of 12 crossings and dramatically below the roughly 130 vessels that previously travelled through the waterway each day before the US-Israeli campaign against Iran began in February. <h3>US Details Blockade Operations</h3> US Central Command said that by August 14, American forces had redirected 62 commercial vessels, disabled three vessels and boarded two as part of efforts to enforce the blockade. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States could continue the operation "indefinitely", with naval vessels being rotated through the region. <h3>Iran Says No New Talks Decided</h3> Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran had not decided to resume negotiations with Washington, according to semi-official ISNA. He acknowledged that Qatar and Pakistan were maintaining contact with Iran as intermediaries, but cautioned that this "does not mean negotiations." Araghchi also disputed interpretations of an Islamabad memorandum, saying it referred to an "end to the war" rather than a ceasefire. He rejected suggestions that a 60-day truce was in place and would require renewal. According to Araghchi, Iran is instead working towards a temporary arrangement that could eventually develop into a more permanent framework. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz already severely reduced, Trump's latest territorial claim adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile confrontation.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-trump-vows-to-claim-strait-of-hormuz-us-territory-pretty-soon-iran-hits-back-tehran-1862128

7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Eastern Indonesia, Tsunami Warning Issued

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia early Saturday, followed by several aftershocks, the country's geophysics agency BMKG said. Tsunami waves measuring less than 1 metre (3 feet) were recorded in several areas. The earthquake prompted people to flee their homes, although there were no initial reports of widespread damage, Reuters reported, citing Dodi Yuleova, spokesperson for the national disaster mitigation agency. The tremor was felt strongly for about a minute in areas including Nagekeo and Bima, he said. <h3>Building Collapses Reported In Maumere</h3> According to Reuters, a video posted on Facebook filmed at a port in Maumere, the main town in Sikka Regency on Flores Island in eastern Indonesia, showed part of a building collapsing amid dust and rubble as people screamed and ran through the streets. Footage aired by Kompas TV also showed a hospital in the Ende district of East Nusa Tenggara province moving patients outside, the report said. <h3>Earthquake Followed By Aftershocks</h3> BMKG said the initial earthquake was recorded at 4:58 a.m. local time at a depth of 15 kilometres (9 miles). Several aftershocks were subsequently recorded. The earthquake occurred offshore in eastern Indonesia, according to the agency. Australia's tsunami warning centre said the undersea earthquake posed "no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories".

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/powerful-7-7-magnitude-earthquake-jolts-eastern-indonesia-tsunami-warning-issued-1862124

Taliban Faces Growing Insurgent Threat Five Years After Seizing Power

Edited by: Darko Janjevic Less than a month before the five-year anniversary of the Taliban retaking power in Afghanistan, the Islamist regime lost control of the Yaftal-e Payeen district capital in the northeastern province of Badakhshan. The disruption was temporary, but it nevertheless marked the first time the Taliban lost control of a district center since returning to power in August 2021. Reports from Badakhshan also indicated internal clashes among Taliban fighters and fatal attacks on high-ranking Taliban officials. On August 2, some two weeks after the brief loss of the district center, former Afghan army general Sami Sadat ordered his forces to launch attacks against the Taliban across the country. "Today at 5:00 AM, I ordered all military members of the United Front to begin military operations," General Sadat said in a video message released from the US, where he has lived since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. Other armed groups, including the National Resistance Front led by the son of the late commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, have been engaged in a continuous armed struggle against the Taliban since 2021. While armed insurgents have not been able to pose a major threat to the Taliban's overall grip on power, experts are questioning whether the clashes in Badakhshan could pave the way for more impactful resistance. "In these five years, this opposition existed in two forms: political and military... As the five-year mark approaches, both forms of opposition have taken shape," former Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Umer Daudzai told DW. <h2>Fear of new proxy wars in Afghanistan</h2> The Taliban have reigned with an iron fist since the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government five years ago. The Islamist regime denied basic human rights and imposed strict restrictions on women, banning them from work and education beyond the sixth grade. Women are mostly banned from public life in Afghanistan as well, and have few rights at all. Most former government officials are in exile. While the Taliban maintain that all Afghans are free to return and lead ordinary lives, opponents counter that return is only viable if political activity is permitted. While the regime managed to cultivate some contacts internationally, they are still viewed as illegitimate by most of the world's governments. To date, only Russia has acknowledged the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan. Facing pressures both within and outside of the country, the Taliban repeatedly pointed to the restoration of nationwide security as their primary claim to legitimacy. However, experts warn that their governing style could in fact enable armed rebels to challenge them in various parts of Afghanistan. "If this policy of the Taliban continues, armed forces will emerge against them, opposition will emerge, interference from neighbors will arise, and ultimately the ground will be prepared for proxy wars," former Acting Minister of Defense Shahmohammad Miakhel told DW. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/gunfire-targets-balochistan-minister-s-convoy-on-pakistan-s-independence-day-6-injured-minister-unhurt-1862095">Gunfire Targets Balochistan Minister’s Convoy On Pakistan’s Independence Day, 6 Injured; Minister Unhurt</a> Beyond political opposition, the regional branch of the "Islamic State" (IS) remains active in Afghanistan. The group has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks against Taliban officials, including a January explosion at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul that killed at least seven people, and a December 2024 suicide bombing in Kabul that killed the regime's Minister of Refugees Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani. <h2>Taliban claim Pakistan supports insurgents in Afghanistan</h2> The strongest challenge to Taliban control could originate from outside Afghanistan's borders. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan — once considered one of the Taliban's closest allies — have been fraught with tension since 2021, erupting in full on clashes this year. According to a United Nations report from May, cross-border hostilities during the first three months of 2026 resulted in at least 372 Afghan civilian deaths and nearly 400 injuries. "When Mr. Sami Sadat issues such an order from America to those who must fight the Taliban, he has certainly seen a green light. And remember that in Afghanistan, no group and no one can carry out any activity without the support of one or more foreign countries," former defense ministry spokesperson Mohammad Radmanish told DW. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38Vj7xwF7yg?si=6GUXEELR8SCrSh0Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> While the Taliban publicly downplay the threat posed by rebel groups, they also allege that external support for armed resistance is rising. "We are aware that lame ducks were invited to Pakistan [...] A large group has been invited to Islamabad who are now discussing where they can have an office and center and refuge," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told DW in an interview. When pressed by DW to provide evidence for these claims, Mujahid offered no proof. <h2>'Islamabad has used all its options'</h2> Pakistan accuses the Taliban of providing safe havens to militants executing attacks inside Pakistani territory, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban deny these charges, in turn accusing Pakistan of harboring hostile elements and violating Afghan sovereignty. Qamar Cheema, an Islamabad-based security expert, told DW in February that it is Pakistan that is targeting the militant groups. "Pakistan wants the Afghan people to understand that the Taliban are harboring terrorists. Therefore, Pakistan will continue targeting military sites associated with the Taliban, TTP and ISIS-K hideouts," Cheema said. "Islamabad has used all its options, including regional diplomacy and direct communication, but nothing has been honored," he added. "As a neighboring Muslim country, Pakistan appears to inflict damage in an attempt to alter Taliban behavior." ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/drone-enters-latvia-airspace-nato-jets-scrambled-italian-fighter-shoots-it-down-1862099">Drone Enters Latvia Airspace, NATO Jets Scrambled; Italian Fighter Shoots It Down</a> 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.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/taliban-faces-growing-insurgent-threat-five-years-after-seizing-power-1862105

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Indian-origin man pleads guilty to accessing child sexual abuse material, faces 20 years in jail

Washington, Aug 14 (PTI): An Indian-origin man has pleaded guilty in a federal court in New Jersey to accessing child sexual exploitation material involving a prepubescent minor, the Department of Justice said in a statement.Abhishek Vijaykumar, a resident of Hasbrouck Heights in New Jersey, knowingly accessed the illicit material in March 2024, it said.Investigators found more than 200 images, including one depicting the sexual abuse of a three-year-old child by an adult male, while reviewing his electronic devices. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said the guilty plea entered Wednesday was another step forward in the continued fight against child sexual exploitation. “The FBI will continue its relentless quest to identify and stop those who abuse and exploit children,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy of the FBI’s Newark Field Office. Roddy said the guilty plea was a bittersweet victory as it acknowledged the victimisation of the children depicted in the material possessed by Vijayakumar.Vijayakumar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 6, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI's Newark Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit in New Jersey, the department said. PTI SKU RHL(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/indian-origin-man-pleads-guilty-to-accessing-child-sexual-abuse-material-faces-20-years-in-jail-1861966

First India-Israel Hackathon draws huge response from young innovators

Jerusalem, Aug 14 (PTI): The first India-Israel Hackathon, organised on the theme “Restorative Healthcare,” has drawn a huge response from young innovators from both countries seeking to develop technology-driven solutions to challenges in healthcare and rehabilitation. Ambassador of India to Israel JP Singh felicitated the winners of the Hackathon this week. Among the winning solutions in Israel was a wheelchair-mounted limb mobilisation system that harnesses the natural rotation of a wheelchair’s front wheel to enable controlled leg movement without the use of electricity.The solution seeks to provide a simple and potentially accessible approach to assisted limb mobilisation and rehabilitation. The winning solutions in India included a system that uses real-time video processing and automated movement analysis to assess the limb movements of injured patients. By comparing their movements with those of healthy individuals, the system can objectively monitor rehabilitation progress, identify areas requiring improvement, and support more personalised and effective recovery. Ori Kadvil, a member of the Indian Jewish community in Israel, conceived the Hackathon as an initiative, while other community members actively participated in organising it, the Indian mission said."The initiative provided a platform for the community to strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Israel while harnessing the creativity and technical skills of young students for solutions with wider societal impact," the mission said in a statement. The theme of “Restorative Healthcare” was selected with a focus on developing practical and accessible solutions for rehabilitation and improved quality of life. Problem statements for the Hackathon were sourced from hospitals, start-ups and universities in both countries. Four problem statements were identified on the Israeli side, while 10 were taken up on the Indian side, with Thapar University serving as the nodal partner in India. The Hackathon brought 1300 students and individuals from both countries to address the 14 problem statements, the mission said. The initiative also facilitated the formation of mixed India-Israel teams. The Hackathon was conducted through a series of rounds. The first round focused on introducing the problem statements, familiarising participants with the healthcare ecosystems of India and Israel, and facilitating the formation of teams. In the subsequent round, the teams developed and refined their proposed solutions with guidance from mentors and experts. The final round culminated in an intensive innovation marathon, during which the teams presented their solutions for evaluation.The solutions developed during the Hackathon showed significant potential for piloting and further development, with participating teams exploring pathways towards commercialisation and wider deployment. The initiative demonstrated the potential of student-led innovation to translate real-world healthcare challenges into practical solutions with social impact. "The First India-Israel Hackathon, conceived as a platform for community engagement and innovation, evolved into a meaningful celebration of India-Israel friendship, youth-led innovation and technology for social good," the Indian embassy said. "The initiative demonstrated how collaboration between young people and communities across the two countries can generate solutions with the potential to contribute to the welfare of society and the global good. The Embassy of India looks forward to supporting and strengthening such initiatives and to the next edition of the India-Israel Hackathon," it said. HM RHL(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/first-india-israel-hackathon-draws-huge-response-from-young-innovators-1861965

Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises To 265 As Rescuers Race Against Time To Find Survivors

Edited by: Rob Turner Rescuers worked through a third straight night with time ticking towards the 72-hour mark since a powerful earthquake hit Colombia. That's the period aid agencies consider most critical for finding survivors alive, though it can stretch longer if trapped people have access to food and water. "We're entering the final phase," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said, adding that survivors could still be found afterward but that the odds grow steadily worse. He said crews were still detecting signs of life beneath the rubble and urged speed: "Every minute is vital." <h2>The latest on the Colombia earthquake</h2> The death toll from the quake has climbed to 265, President Abelardo de la Espriella said Wednesday. De la Espriella said roughly 3,500 people have been injured and nearly 500 remain unaccounted for, though a crowdsourced tracking site used by families put the number of missing far higher, at more than 4,100. More than 25,800 families have been affected in total, he said. The magnitude 7.4 quake — the strongest to hit Colombia in decades — struck on Monday morning near San Jose del Palmar in the northwestern Choco region. It tore through cities across western Colombia, with Cali and Pereira among the hardest hit, along with Manizales and Quibdo. In Cali, volunteer rescuer Johana Sanchez described teams pausing every 30 minutes to listen for survivors. "So far, three people have been pulled out alive and three dead," she told AFP. Officials say 140 buildings collapsed entirely and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. <h2>Families grapple with human toll</h2> In Palmira, Santiago Lloreda told Reuters the quake killed his mother and his 13-month-old daughter, Salma, who was too young to have fingerprints on file and would need to be identified through DNA testing. He described his mother as the family's caretaker, saying she "gave everything up to look after the baby." A man who only gave the news agency his first name, Ricardo, traveled from Miami to recover his sister's body and said his niece was awaiting surgery for a fractured skull, jaw and leg, and a collapsed lung: "She's alive. We know she's going to get better." Thousands have been left homeless, with many sleeping outdoors in parks or emergency shelters set up in schools and sports arenas, either because their homes were destroyed or out of fear of aftershocks. Colombia's geological service has recorded 130 aftershocks since Monday's quake. <h2>International aid set to pour in</h2> Response efforts have been especially difficult in Choco, the quake's epicenter, a remote and impoverished region already strained by decades of conflict and displacement. Additionally, lost cell service has made it hard to assess damage in communities reachable only by river. "This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response," said Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. And UN resident coordinator María Jose Torres said in a statement Tuesday that aid groups already working in the region on an earlier peace effort were able to pivot quickly to disaster relief. The United States has pledged more than $15 million and sent response teams. Mexico has sent military aircraft carrying nearly 20 tons of food along with security personnel, with more aid and rescue specialists on standby. El Salvador's president offered two planes carrying 100 tons of supplies, and a search-and-rescue team from Mexico said it arrived directly from Venezuela, which faced its own major earthquakes in June. <h2>Quake response provides test for new Colombian president</h2> De la Espriella, inaugurated just three days before the earthquake struck, declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, and pledged to establish a fund to rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure. "This is undoubtedly a tragedy of immense proportions," he said. "Our efforts are focused on those who remain missing." He has not yet detailed what the economic emergency measures will involve. Notably, de la Espriella won office on a platform of reduced public spending and a tougher security approach. Analyst Tiziano Breda, of the conflict-monitoring group ACLED, told Reuters that de la Espriella had campaigned in part on cutting funding to the country's disaster-response agency — the same unit now leading the emergency effort. Experts have cautioned that more seismic activity is possible, if not imminent. "Let's remember that Colombia is full of active fault lines," Rodrigo Leon Loya, a seismologist at the University of the Andes, told AP. "The question isn't whether it can happen again. The question is rather when an earthquake of similar magnitude will occur at another of Colombia’s seismic sources," he warned. 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.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/colombia-earthquake-rescuers-search-survivors-death-toll-affected-families-1861940

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Trump’s Last-Minute Plane Switch In Turkey Was Triggered By Missile Threat: Report

A shoulder-fired missile threat targeting US President Donald Trump prompted the Secret Service to make a last-minute change to his travel arrangements during his visit to Turkey last month, according to a Reuters report. The threat emerged on the final day of Trump’s trip to Ankara for the NATO summit, at a time when tensions with Iran were intensifying. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Secret Service considered the threat “credible and imminent” and had little time to put an alternative plan in place. “They were scrambling to head off what they thought was a credible, imminent threat,” the source said, while declining to disclose where the intelligence had originated. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-knew-trump-s-exact-ankara-location-during-nato-summit-nyt-report-1861780">Iran Knew Trump’s Exact Ankara Location During NATO Summit: Report</a> <h2>Trump Secretly Switched To Smaller Government Jet</h2> Officials decided it was in Trump’s best interest to keep the operation secret as tensions with Iran remained high, the source said. Iran borders Turkey, adding to concerns surrounding the president’s movements. On July 8, Trump and a small group of aides quietly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A government jet before departing Turkey. The transfer was carried out using a catering truck, while Air Force One left separately carrying senior officials, White House staff and journalists. A second source told Reuters there was no definite plan to launch an attack, but there appeared to be an intention to target Trump. That assessment allowed both aircraft to continue flying rather than grounding the presidential aircraft. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/48YAGeepsSc?si=9E7XEG9sXMqH3zlo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Trump Confirms Secret Service Ordered Plane Switch</h2> Trump confirmed on Tuesday that the Secret Service had instructed him to change aircraft. He said he believed the plane he ultimately flew on was actually at greater risk. “I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for,” Trump said, without providing evidence for the assessment. The president did not provide further details about the nature of the threat or the intelligence behind the decision. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-news-live-iran-update-praise-be-to-allah-trump-claims-us-has-total-control-of-strait-of-hormuz-1861775">‘Praise Be To Allah!’: Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ Of Strait Of Hormuz</a> <h2>Heat-Seeking Missile May Have Been Considered</h2> The reported threat may have involved a newer type of heat-seeking missile capable of locking on to an aircraft’s hot engines, Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Reuters. Such weapons can be more difficult to detect because they do not emit radio signals, Birkey said. He cited the Iranian SA-67 and Russian-made 9K333 Verba as examples of shoulder-fired systems that use heat-seeking technology.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-plane-switch-triggered-by-shoulder-fired-missile-threat-1861787