Iran Says Hormuz Shipping Deal With Oman 'Very Close', But Sets Conditions For Reopening

<p>Iran and Oman are "very close" to reaching an agreement on a new shipping arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran has said the strategic waterway will reopen only after the United States meets a set of conditions.</p> <p>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two countries were nearing a deal on a new protocol governing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while adding that additional conditions would have to be fulfilled before commercial maritime traffic could resume.</p> <p>The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately said reopening the strait would depend on "specific mechanisms and conditions" and would require the US to "fully" accept Iran's demands, Al Jazeer reported.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Xan4IZZmqg?si=nzoUKL5KJlA6T-zU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <h3>Tehran Sets Conditions For Reopening</h3> <p>IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebi said the conditions for reopening the waterway were separate from the ongoing negotiations with Oman.</p> <p>He said Iran expected the US to end what Tehran considers interference in regional negotiations before the strait could be reopened.</p> <p>According to the report, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr outlined several other demands, including an end to US threats against Iran, a halt to military action against Iran and its regional allies, and the withdrawal of US naval and air forces involved in the blockade.</p> <p>Tehran is also seeking compensation for damage caused during the conflict, along with the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets, according to Al Jazeera.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/airstrikes-won-t-work-us-general-dan-kane-warns-trump-over-iran-war-strategy-1861097">'Airstrikes Won't Work': US General Dan Kane Warns Trump Over Iran War Strategy</a></strong></p> <h3>Pezeshkian Says 'Best Time' For Agreement</h3> <p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday described the current situation as the "best time to reach an agreement", while saying Tehran would not compromise on what he called the rights of the Iranian people.</p> <p>In a post on X, Pezeshkian said his government would continue to rely on domestic capabilities and the Iranian people and stressed the need for a compassionate approach towards citizens.</p> <p>"The best time to reach an agreement is the current situation. On the path to peace, we will not compromise on the rights of the Iranian nation. The government's main reliance is on domestic capacities and the people. The necessity of a compassionate approach toward the people | People are in two categories; either they are your religious brothers, or they are equal to you in creation," he wrote.</p> <p>Pezeshkian had earlier accused Israel and the US of attempting to turn Persian Gulf countries against Tehran while exploiting Iran's internal challenges amid the continuing West Asia conflict.</p> <p>The restoration of commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of contention as negotiations continue.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-s-former-lawyer-todd-blanche-confirmed-as-us-attorney-general-in-50-49-senate-vote-1861113">Trump's Former Lawyer Todd Blanche Confirmed As US Attorney General In 50-49 Senate Vote</a></strong></p>

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What Happens If Al-Aqsa Status Quo Is Changed? Muslim Nations Issue Stark Warning

<p><em>Edited by: M Gagnon</em></p> <p>The statement issued after this week's meeting in Jordan was blunt about what might happen next.</p> <p>Israeli infringements on one of Islam's holiest sites, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem, could lead to "a religious conflict with repercussions that will extend beyond the region and threaten regional and international peace and security," the foreign ministers of 10 countries belonging to the Arab League said after Wednesday's emergency meeting in Amman, Jordan. The statement was also signed by ministers from Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Malaysia.</p> <p>Jordan's foreign minister called the meeting because of mounting evidence that the Israeli government is surreptitiously changing a decades-old agreement meant to ensure intercommunal peace at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, an area of great religious significance to Muslims, Jews, and Christians.</p> <p>"We warn that tampering with the status quo &hellip; could trigger a religious conflict that will reverberate beyond Palestine and Jordan into the whole Muslim world," Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told the UK newspaper the <em>Guardian</em> before the meeting.</p> <p>Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a response, saying the statement was inaccurate and Jerusalem "has never been more open and accessible to worshippers of all faiths."</p> <h2>Why is Al-Aqsa such a big issue?</h2> <p>Al-Aqsa is considered the third-holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The compound, also known as the Temple Mount, is also Judaism's holiest site &mdash; two Jewish temples are thought to have stood there &mdash; and it is also of significance to Christians for its biblical connections to Jesus Christ's life.</p> <p>Al-Aqsa also bears a lot of political weight because the mosque is seen by many as the embodiment of Palestinian identity, a flashpoint in a city sought as the capital of any eventual Palestinian state.</p> <p>Because of the site's importance, when Israel first occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, it was deemed in the interests of Israeli national security to keep allowing Muslims to worship there. Jews could only visit and would not be allowed to pray there. Instead Jewish visitors perform religious rituals at the wall below the mosque, known as the Western or Wailing Wall.</p> <p>Jordan was also allowed to continue its century-old custodianship of the site, and today the mosque is administered by a religious trust called the Islamic Waqf, paid for by Jordan at about $20 million (&euro;17 million) annually. Israeli authorities still take care of security there.</p> <p>This delicate compromise is known as the "status quo." But recent reports indicate that the situation has been changing.</p> <p>Residents of Jerusalem say dozens of mosque officials employed by Jordan have been prevented from entering Al-Aqsa this year.</p> <p>The number of Muslim worshipers halved during 2025, according to Jerusalem-based monitors. More Jewish worshipers are being allowed in and are increasingly overtly performing rituals, something forbidden for decades, including by Jewish religious authorities. The <em>Times of Israel</em> reported in January that police openly let Jewish visitors take printed prayer sheets onto the site for the first time.</p> <p>In June, there were also reports of an Israeli-US plan to turn the mosque area into a "multifaith center," although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied any knowledge of such a plan.</p> <h2>Why is this happening now?</h2> <p>This is not the first time that the governments of Muslim-majority countries and activists in Jerusalem have issued such warnings.</p> <p>For decades, Jewish fringe groups, often referred to as the Temple Mount movement, have demanded that they be allowed to pray at the site. The most extremist of these groups say they want to demolish the mosque and construct a new Jewish temple.</p> <p>At first they were mostly ignored, Jerusalem-based lawyer Daniel Seidemann wrote in 2025. Seidemann is the founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, an organization that tracks such developments in the city. But, he said, that "radical fringe" has become more mainstream. "Over time, the Temple Mount movements, backed by more than 100 rabbis associated with the settler movement in the West Bank, became more visible, more vocal and more provocative," Seidemann said.</p> <p>"This crisis has been decades in the making," said Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. "There's been an effort from religious extremists to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque since at least the 1980s, when plots to do that were uncovered. But those groups and those ideologies have gained more representation within the Israeli [parliament] Knesset today."</p> <p>An October 2025 report by the Ir Amim Association, which focuses on Israeli-Palestinian issues in Jerusalem, found that politicians, including from within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national-conservative Likud party, frequently break rules around the Al-Aqsa status quo but never face consequences from authorities.</p> <p>"In practice, Netanyahu allows and normalizes grave breaches of the status quo," the association reported. Yet Netanyahu "continues to declare that his government remains committed to the status quo and nothing has changed."</p> <h2>What happens if erosion of Al Aqsa status quo continues?</h2> <p>"It would be very unwise to make any sort of prediction," Joost Hiltermann, a special adviser for the Middle East and North Africa at the Crisis Group think tank, told DW.</p> <p>But, Hiltermann said, it's essential to consider that "while the fate of Jerusalem as a city may be an overriding Palestinian concern, the fate of the holy sites of Islam in Jerusalem is an abiding global Muslim concern. Not just for the Arab world but also for the largest Muslim countries: Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh. So any Israeli attempt to change the status quo would face a global backlash."</p> <p>In the past, changes have led to violence. In 2000, Ariel Sharon, an Israeli right-wing opposition leader at the time, visited Al-Aqsa &mdash; an event that was seen as one reason for the Palestinian uprising known as the Second Intifada. In 2017, when Israeli authorities erected cameras and metal detectors at the site, it led to deadly protests.</p> <p>One likely outcome of further infringements of the status quo would be major public protests in Muslim-majority countries. "While the Arab regimes would be reluctant to engage in any sort of confrontation with Israel, their publics will be outraged," Hiltermann said. "The regimes will have to manage that, and they will try to do so by launching vigorous criticism of Israel, not followed by any action &mdash; they've become very good at that. The same will be true for Indonesia and others. But all of them may have a hard time controlling domestic fury."</p> <p>Rahman said the consequences of further Israeli infringement would depend on how radically things changed at Al-Aqsa. "It would trigger a fairly significant reaction, but the extent of it is hard to say," he said. "It could spark a catastrophic religious war or maybe just a diplomatic reaction, or maybe it simply adds to the well of grievance against Israel," he added.</p> <p>Because Al Aqsa is so important in Islam, it could also make it hard for some countries to resist an upsurge in anti-Israel feeling, even if they might want to, he adds. For example, countries like Morocco and the United Arab Emirates that normalized relations with Israel might feel forced to reverse that.</p> <p>Because of Al Aqsa's significance to Palestinian identity, the Gaza-based militant group Hamas often says it is defending the mosque. Extremist groups with an Islamist background have also used defense of Al Aqsa to recruit members.</p> <p><em>Disclaimer: This report first appeared on <strong>Deutsche Welle</strong>, and has been republished on<strong> ABP Live</strong> as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by <strong>ABP Live.</strong></em></p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/what-happens-if-al-aqsa-status-quo-is-changed-muslim-nations-issue-stark-warning-1861108

Germany Exports Hit Record As Industrial Output Rises For Third Month

<ul> <li>German industrial output rose again in June, for a thirf month in succession</li> <li>German exports hit a record high in June</li> <li>German court upholds detention of left-wing extremist Lina E.</li> <li>A major fire destroyed a pig barn near Augsburg, killing more than 1,000 animals</li> </ul> <h2>German court upholds detention of left-wing extremist Lina E.</h2> <p>Germany's Federal Court of Justice has upheld the detention of convicted left-wing extremist Lina E. after she refused to testify in a separate trial.</p> <p>The Karlsruhe court rejected her appeal against six months of coercive detention ordered by the Higher Regional Court in Dresden to compel her to give evidence.</p> <p>The judges found that E. could not invoke a blanket right to refuse to answer questions because she had already been definitively convicted over the acts she was being asked about.</p> <p>Giving evidence, therefore, posed no risk of her being prosecuted again for the same offenses, the court said.</p> <p>Lina E. and three co-defendants were sentenced to several years in prison in 2023 over attacks on actual or suspected right-wing extremists in Germany. The remainder of her sentence was suspended on probation in May.</p> <p>At the end of June, she was called to testify in a separate Dresden trial involving seven suspected left-wing extremists accused of offenses including membership in or support for a criminal organization.</p> <p>E. refused to give evidence, prompting the court to order six months of coercive detention and take her into custody immediately.</p> <p>The Federal Court's rejection of her appeal means that the detention order is now final.</p> <hr /> <h2>Bayern urges Bundesliga clubs to travel more</h2> <p>Bayern Munich has renewed its call for other Bundesliga clubs to do more to build the league's profile abroad as the German champions wrap up a tour of South Korea and Hong Kong.</p> <p>"Internationalization cannot be a solo effort by one club. We all have to do it together in the Bundesliga, and the Bundesliga has to step up significantly," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in Hong Kong.</p> <p>"It cannot be that Bayern alone is pulling the cart," he added, calling for much more active support from across the league.</p> <p>RB Leipzig travelled to South Africa after last season, Borussia Dortmund visited Japan this summer and second-tier Paderborn is due to travel to the United States in September.</p> <p>However, Bayern board member for marketing and sales Rouven Kasper pointed to attendance at the league's internationalization commission, saying only 19 of 36 clubs turned up to its annual meeting.</p> <p>"That already shows that many simply have no interest," he said.</p> <hr /> <h2>German security council meets over Leipzig drone incident</h2> <p>Germany's National Security Council has met to discuss the explosive-laden drone found at Leipzig/Halle Airport earlier this week.</p> <p>The talks were held by telephone on Friday and chaired by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said.</p> <p>Merz, who is currently on holiday, has remained in "constant contact" with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and other members of the government over the incident.</p> <p>The drone was discovered by an airport employee overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in a secure cargo area. Federal police specialists defused an explosive device attached to it.</p> <p>Several Ukrainian cargo aircraft were nearby at the time. Leipzig/Halle Airport is used as a hub for military aid shipments to Ukraine.</p> <p>Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation on Thursday because of what it described as the case's "particular significance."</p> <p>Suspicion has focused on Russia, but investigators have so far presented no evidence linking Moscow to the incident.</p> <hr /> <h2>More than 1,000 pigs killed in Bavaria farm fire</h2> <p>A huge fire at a farm near the city of Augsburg in the southern German state of Bavaria has killed more than 1,000 pigs.</p> <p>The pig barn and a second building were fully engulfed in flames on Thursday evening, fire officials said.</p> <p>Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night and continued to extinguish hotspots on Friday morning. Local farmers joined the response, using tractors to bring large water tanks to the scene.</p> <p>Heavy smoke initially prompted authorities to tell nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed, although police later said there was no longer any danger to the public.</p> <p>A nearby state road remained closed, and motorists were asked to avoid the area.</p> <p>Investigators have not yet worked out what caused the blaze and said there were no initial signs of arson.</p> <p>The remains of the barn were initially too dangerous to enter, but officials said they believed none of the animals inside had survived.</p> <p>Police, citing the farmer, said around 1,600 pigs had been housed there, while the fire service put the number at between 1,200 and 1,300.</p> <hr /> <h2>RWE drops US offshore wind projects in deal with Trump</h2> <p>German energy giant RWE has abandoned several planned offshore wind projects in the United States after reaching a $1.22 billion (just over &euro;1 billion) settlement with the Trump administration.</p> <p>Under the agreement with the US Interior Department, RWE's American wind subsidiary will drop claims against the government and return offshore lease rights for sites off New York, California and Louisiana.</p> <p>The Essen-based company said it had already invested more than $1 billion in developing the projects.</p> <p>"After careful consideration, it was determined that these projects in the US have no realistic prospect of obtaining permits for the foreseeable future," RWE said.</p> <p>The company now plans to redirect investment toward liquefied natural gas and other gas projects in the United States.</p> <p>US President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked wind power, calling turbines ugly and describing green energy policies as a "green scam."</p> <hr /> <h2>German exports hit record high in June</h2> <p>German exports have climbed to a record high, with companies shipping goods worth &euro;139.3 billion ($160.5 billion) abroad in June.</p> <p>That narrowly beat the previous peak set in September 2022, according to preliminary figures from the Federal Statistical Office.</p> <p>Imports also rose strongly, leaving Germany with a trade surplus of &euro;15.4 billion.</p> <p>The United States remained Germany's biggest export market, but shipments there fell sharply from May.</p> <p>Exports to the UK increased, while those to China were broadly stable.</p> <p>China remained Germany's biggest source of imports, with purchases from the country rising strongly during the month.</p> <p>Across the first six months of 2026, German exports were 3.7% higher than a year earlier, while imports rose 4.4%.</p> <p>Germany still recorded a sizeable trade surplus of &euro;105 billion over the period.</p> <hr /> <h2>German industrial output rises for third straight month</h2> <p>Germany's industrial production has risen for a third consecutive month, adding to signs that the country's struggling manufacturing sector may be stabilizing.</p> <p>Output increased by 0.2% in June from the previous month, following a revised 0.7% rise in May, according to the Federal Statistical Office.</p> <p>Economists had expected production to remain unchanged.</p> <p>The automotive industry provided much of the boost, with output rising 3.6% from May.</p> <p>Production of other transport equipment, including aircraft, ships, trains and military vehicles, jumped 8.4%, while mechanical engineering output fell 3.9%.</p> <p>Overall industrial production was still 0.1% lower than in June last year.</p> <p>"The industrial downturn now appears to be over," said Jens-Oliver Niklasch, an economist at German regional bank LBBW. "We have achieved a certain degree of stability."</p> <p>Niklasch said recent economic data provided grounds for cautious optimism heading into the second half of the year, although energy supplies, geopolitical tensions and low river levels remained risks.</p> <p>"All in all, however, things looked worse four or five months ago than they do today," he said.</p> <p>Disclaimer: This report first appeared on <strong><em>Deutsche Welle</em></strong>, and has been republished on <em><strong>ABP Live</strong></em> as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by <em><strong>ABP Live</strong></em>.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/lina-e-left-wing-extremist-coercive-detention-federal-court-justice-1860947

'It Would Be A Dangerous Mistake': US Senator Wyden Opposes 100% Tariffs On India

<div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-is-intersecting="true"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-testid="conversation-turn-106" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--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" data-conversation-screenshot-content=""> <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+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="d82dedb9-34bf-430c-a0c7-725568d57cbb" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-5" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start">Democratic Senator Ron Wyden voiced strong opposition to a proposed US sanctions bill that could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India, China and several other countries, warning that the legislation would hand President Donald Trump sweeping tariff powers while driving up costs for American consumers.</div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="pointer-events-none -mt-px h-px translate-y-(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom)" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-is-intersecting="true"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-52" data-testid="conversation-turn-106" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--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" data-conversation-screenshot-content=""> <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+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="d82dedb9-34bf-430c-a0c7-725568d57cbb" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-5" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling"> <p data-start="1046" data-end="1310">Speaking on the Senate floor, Wyden said he supported tougher action against Russia over its war in Ukraine but argued that the legislation went far beyond sanctions and would effectively grant the President broad authority to reshape global trade through tariffs.</p> <h2 data-section-id="46zrr9" data-start="1312" data-end="1374"><span role="text">'Support Strong Sanctions, Not Sweeping Tariff Powers'</span></h2> <p data-start="1376" data-end="1506">"I rise in opposition to this legislation, but make no mistake, I fully support taking tougher action against Russia," <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/wyden-remarks-on-the-sanctioning-russia-act">Wyden said</a>.</p> <p data-start="1508" data-end="1693">He argued that countries purchasing Russian oil and gas should face stronger sanctions to cut off Moscow's revenue, but maintained that the current bill was "not just a sanctions bill."</p> <p data-start="1695" data-end="1861">According to Wyden, the legislation would allow Trump to decide which countries face tariffs, which receive exemptions, and even alter tariff rates at his discretion.</p> <p data-start="1863" data-end="2012">"This bill gives him massive new tariff authority that he can use to threaten our trading partners and raise prices on the American people," he said.</p> <h2 data-section-id="1prl9a3" data-start="2014" data-end="2077"><span role="text">Warns Of 100% Tariffs On India, China </span></h2> <p data-section-id="1prl9a3" data-start="2014" data-end="2077">Wyden cautioned that the legislation would authorise tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods imported from major US trading partners, including India and China, as well as countries such as Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.</p> <p data-start="2315" data-end="2493">He said the tariffs could affect a wide range of products, including food, medicines, machinery, electronics and toys, ultimately increasing living costs for American households.</p> <p data-start="2495" data-end="2705">The senator also criticised the bill for lacking any mechanism that would allow Congress to reverse tariffs once imposed, while enabling the President to increase or reduce duties simply by notifying lawmakers.</p> <h2 data-section-id="1eqly5c" data-start="2707" data-end="2759"><span role="text">'Tariff Chaos' Hurting Businesses And Allies</span></h2> <p data-start="2761" data-end="2913">Wyden argued that Trump's tariff policies had already increased prices, disrupted supply chains and made it difficult for businesses to invest and hire.</p> <p data-start="2915" data-end="3131">He said small businesses and family farms had struggled with rising costs, while US allies such as Canada and members of the European Union had begun questioning Washington's reliability as a trading partner.</p> <p data-start="3133" data-end="3248">"Donald Trump's tariffs are raising prices, hurting our alliances, and opening the door to corruption," Wyden said.</p> <p data-start="3250" data-end="3407">Calling the legislation a "blank cheque", he warned that granting additional tariff authority would worsen the affordability crisis facing American families.</p> <h2 data-section-id="yo0ptg" data-start="3409" data-end="3457"><span role="text">Russia Sanctions Bill Advances In Senate</span></h2> <p data-start="3459" data-end="3599">Wyden's remarks came as the US Senate advanced legislation aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.</p> <p data-start="3601" data-end="3819">The bill, originally introduced in April 2025 by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, cleared a procedural vote 86-12 on July 28 during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the US Capitol.</p> <p data-start="3821" data-end="4053">If enacted in its current form, the legislation would authorise sanctions on Russian officials and permit tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that continue trading with Russia, particularly those importing Russian energy.</p> <h2 data-section-id="1slkngk" data-start="4055" data-end="4107"><span role="text">India Among Countries That Could Be Affected</span></h2> <p data-start="4109" data-end="4257">India is among the countries that could be significantly affected by the proposed legislation because of its continued imports of Russian crude oil.</p> <p data-start="4259" data-end="4486" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">India's reliance on Russian energy has grown amid disruptions to global oil supplies caused by conflict in West Asia, with refiners increasingly turning to Russian crude after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was affected.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div>

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'Paper Agreement Won't Bring Security': Iran MP Slams Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Defence Pact

<div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-45" data-is-intersecting="true"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-45" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:a94c13ba-31cd-4bee-aa70-dae7d507eab3-45" data-testid="conversation-turn-92" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-8 [--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" data-conversation-screenshot-content=""> <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+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="3139ab20-d732-4452-8520-8f8c66af6140" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-5" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling"> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="82" data-end="299">Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei issued a sharp warning to Saudi Arabia following the signing of a trilateral defence agreement with Pakistan and Turkey, claiming the new pact would not guarantee Riyadh's security.</p> <p data-start="301" data-end="575">"The Saudis must know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan will not bring them security, just as years of one-sided dependence on the Americans did not bring them security. Reform your policies so that you do not need to beg others for security," Rezaei said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="rtl" lang="fa">سعودی&zwnj;ها باید بدانند که توافق کاغذی با ترکیه و پاکستان برای آنها امنیت&zwnj;آور نیست، همان&zwnj;طور که سال&zwnj;ها شیردهی یکطرفه به آمریکایی&zwnj;ها برایشان امنیت نیاورد. سیاست&zwnj;هایتان را اصلاح کنید تا نیاز نباشد از دیگران <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%DA%AF%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#گدایی_امنیت</a> کنید.</p> &mdash; ابراهیم رضایی (@EbrahimRezaei14) <a href="https://ift.tt/lYStim7 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/eycGJ7o" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <p data-start="577" data-end="850">His remarks came after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca on Friday, bringing together three Sunni Muslim nations that are key US partners amid escalating regional tensions following the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.</p> <p data-start="577" data-end="850"><em><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/cities/delhi-rains-safdarjung-hospital-parking-flooded-imd-issues-red-alert-after-heavy-shower-floods-roads-1860955">Delhi Rains: Safdarjung Hospital Parking Flooded, IMD Issues Red Alert</a></strong></em></p> <h2 data-section-id="4qupmo" data-start="852" data-end="901"><span role="text">What Is Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?</span></h2> <p data-start="903" data-end="1201">The agreement was signed as the Middle East continues to grapple with heightened instability. Iran and its regional allies have been launching attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, while also disrupting energy shipments, following the large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.</p> <p data-start="1203" data-end="1483">In a joint statement, the three countries said the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression. The pact states that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all.</p> <p data-start="1485" data-end="1736">However, the statement stopped short of detailing the precise military commitments undertaken by each country, leaving unanswered questions over the extent to which the agreement would require direct military intervention in defence of another member.</p> <h2 data-section-id="epowk7" data-start="1738" data-end="1792"><span role="text">Turkey Says Pact Is Not Directed At Any Country</span></h2> <p data-start="1794" data-end="2113">Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz stressed that the agreement was not aimed at any specific country. A Turkish official also clarified that the pact is purely defensive in nature and does not replace or override any existing defence agreements that Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan have with other countries.</p> <p data-start="2115" data-end="2400">The three nations have increasingly expressed concern over the growing military assertiveness of both Israel and Iran, while their long-standing ally, the United States, has struggled to contain the regional crisis, which has contributed to volatility in global energy markets.</p> <h2 data-section-id="12ox6t4" data-start="2402" data-end="2460"><span role="text">'Powerful Political Symbolism' Amid Regional Crisis</span></h2> <p data-start="2462" data-end="2598">Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, described the agreement as carrying significant political weight.</p> <p data-start="2600" data-end="2835">"Three of the Muslim world's most influential states are convening at a moment of heightened uncertainty, demonstrating a growing willingness among regional and middle powers to coordinate more closely on security matters," Sager said.</p> <p data-start="2837" data-end="3041">He added that the trilateral framework could enhance the three countries' collective diplomatic and defence influence while contributing to the emergence of a more regionally driven security architecture.</p> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KckFaVww30g?si=_szxqvlfocRNhE6I" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p data-start="3043" data-end="3326">Turkey possesses NATO's second-largest military, Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's holiest sites and remains one of the world's leading oil exporters, while Pakistan is the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear weapons, making the partnership strategically significant.</p> <h2 data-section-id="1eo8vcm" data-start="3328" data-end="3379"><span role="text">Saudi Arabia Rejects Military Bloc Narrative</span></h2> <p data-start="3381" data-end="3547">Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly dismissed suggestions that the agreement was intended to create a new military alliance or sectarian bloc.</p> <p data-start="3549" data-end="3718">In a social media post, he said the accord does not represent an attempt to establish a military axis and is not linked to any nuclear ambitions or an arms race.</p> <p data-start="3720" data-end="4093">Although Pakistan signed a bilateral mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia last year, it has refrained from responding militarily to Iranian attacks on the kingdom. Islamabad has also downplayed speculation that its nuclear deterrent could be extended to allies, previously stating that nuclear weapons were "not on the radar" under its defence cooperation with Riyadh.</p> <p data-start="4095" data-end="4261">Both Pakistan and Turkey have also endorsed Saudi Arabia's proposed maritime defence coalition aimed at protecting shipping lanes and energy routes across the region.</p> <p data-start="4263" data-end="4523">The agreement was formally signed in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following nearly a year of negotiations first reported by Reuters in January.</p> <h2 data-section-id="134lltz" data-start="4525" data-end="4585"><span role="text">Agreement Builds On Longstanding Military Cooperation</span></h2> <p data-start="4587" data-end="4690">The Middle East has remained engulfed in conflict since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.</p> <p data-start="4692" data-end="4982">Since then, Israel has carried out military operations in Gaza, invaded southern Lebanon, seized territory in Syria and launched two air campaigns against Iran. Tehran, in turn, has launched attacks on Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan and Israel.</p> <p data-start="4692" data-end="4982"><em><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-s-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-in-extremely-critical-condition-report-1860949">Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei In 'Extremely Critical Condition': Report</a></strong></em></p> <p data-start="4984" data-end="5213">Although Turkey and Pakistan have largely avoided becoming direct targets, both countries have sought to reduce regional tensions amid growing concerns over the impact of prolonged instability on their own security and economies.</p> <p data-start="5215" data-end="5428">For Saudi Arabia, years of regional conflict have threatened oil exports, disrupted ambitious economic diversification plans and raised fresh doubts about the reliability of the long-standing US security umbrella.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div>

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NASA astronauts Anil Menon, Jessica Meir undertake spacewalk to upgrade space station

<p> Washington, Aug 7 (PTI): NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir on Friday concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station to assemble the modification kit for its power channel that would allow addition of solar arrays.</p><p> The spacewalk – 281st in support of the space station – sixth for Meir and first for Menon began at 8:33 am EDT (6:03 pm IST) on Thursday and concluded at 3:00 pm EDT (12:30 am IST Friday).</p><p> Menon and Meir exited the Quest airlock and carried out structural upgrades on the exterior of the orbital laboratory during the six-hour, 27-minute spacewalk.</p><p> Their primary objective centred on installing mounting hardware on the station’s 3B power channel, located on the Starboard 6 truss segment.</p><p> “This work will enable the future installation of roll-out solar arrays, called IROSA, to provide additional power for the orbiting laboratory, supporting critical systems and the safe, controlled deorbit of the space station,” NASA said in a statement.</p><p> Since 2021, astronauts on prior spacewalks have deployed six of the International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) assemblies, leaving now just two awaiting delivery to the station later this year.</p><p> Menon was positioned on an articulating portable foot restraint atop a worksite interface, providing a stable angle to work from the truss.</p><p> The two astronauts later routed cabling that will carry the electricity from the future iROSA into the 3B power channel and then covered the struts with multi-layer insulation.</p><p> “Anil, you can see the moon to the — well, I am not sure what way you’re facing, but…,” said Meir, taking a short break during the spacewalk.</p><p> “To my right. Yeah, I see it — thanks for the heads-up. I can see a future moon base there,” Menon said.</p><p> This was the first of the three spacewalks for the space station’s Expedition 75 crew this month.</p><p> During the second spacewalk on August 13, two astronauts will replace a Space-to-Ground antenna on the orbital complex. The antenna is a critical communication system NASA uses to transmit data and high speed communication between the Mission Control Centre in Houston and the space station.</p><p> During the spacewalk on August 25, the crew members will connect power channel cables and data relay systems as part of ongoing maintenance, including preparations for the space station’s future deorbit. The astronauts also will replace a navigational aid used for spacecraft docking on the Harmony module’s forward port, NASA said. PTI SKU GSP GSP</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/nasa-astronauts-anil-menon-jessica-meir-undertake-spacewalk-to-upgrade-space-station-1860794

'Very Difficult' To Communicate With Supreme Leader Now: President Pezeshkian

<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday said it was currently "very difficult" to communicate with the country's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was wounded in the US-Israeli strike that triggered the Middle East war. Despite the communication challenges, Pezeshkian said Khamenei's presence remained a major source of strength for the country. His remarks come as the younger Khamenei has kept a low public profile since succeeding his father, who was killed in the same attack.</p> <h2>'Very Difficult' To Communicate</h2> <p>Pezeshkian said communication with Mojtaba Khamenei was "very difficult at the moment".</p> <p>"It is very difficult to communicate with him at the moment, but in any case, his presence is a very great source of strength for us so that we can continue," he said.</p> <p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-news-update-tehran-warns-gulf-states-of-strikes-on-energy-infrastructure-if-united-states-attacks-continue-1860770">Iran Warns Gulf States Of Strikes On Energy Infrastructure If US Attacks Continue: Report</a></p> <h2>Defends Khamenei</h2> <p>The younger Khamenei has communicated through written statements but has not appeared in public since taking over as supreme leader.</p> <p>His absence during the conflict with the United States has fuelled speculation about his relationship with other senior officials. He also did not attend his father's funeral ceremonies last month.</p> <p>Pezeshkian, however, defended Khamenei, saying he had been able to hold productive meetings with him and had been met with "kindness and very sound logic".</p> <p>"Unfortunately, the current situation allows some malicious people to describe him differently and to present a different image of him," the Iranian President said.</p> <p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/pm-modi-speaks-to-netanyahu-reaffirms-commitment-to-stronger-india-israel-ties-1860773">PM Modi Speaks To Netanyahu, Reaffirms Commitment To Stronger India-Israel Ties</a></p>

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