Iran Claims Strike On US Fifth Fleet In Bahrain After US Retaliation Over Apache Downing

<p>A dramatic new chapter has unfolded in the confrontation between the United States and Iran after Tehran claimed responsibility for a drone strike targeting the US Navy&rsquo;s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The alleged attack, described by Iranian authorities as a retaliatory measure against recent American military action. The announcement came just hours after US forces carried out strikes on multiple locations in southern Iran.</p> <h3>Iran Announces Retaliatory Drone Operation</h3> <p>Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched a drone attack against the American naval presence in Bahrain during the early hours of the morning. According to Iranian media reports, the operation began at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time.</p> <p>The Guards declared in a statement that&nbsp;in response to the enemy&rsquo;s vicious move, the IRGC naval fighters launched a drone strike on the Bahraini 5th Navy at 2.30 am, as per reports. The IRGC portrayed the strike as a direct response to US military operations conducted earlier in the day and warned that further escalation could follow. Iranian officials cautioned that &ldquo;heavier responses&rdquo; would be forthcoming if Washington continued its military campaign.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://ift.tt/26DLVi8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asim Munir Sends 'Butcher Of Lahore' To PoK; 11 Dead, 15 Injured In Clashes</a></strong></p> <h3>US-Iran Tensions Intensify After Southern Iran Strikes</h3> <p>The reported drone attack follows American strikes on several sites in southern Iran, including Jask, Sirik and Qeshm Island. Those operations were launched after a US Army Apache helicopter was brought down near the Strait of Hormuz.</p> <p>US officials said the targets included radar and air defence installations, describing the action as a military response to Iranian aggression. Iranian media, however, reported that civilian infrastructure was also affected. Among the facilities allegedly damaged were a telecommunications tower and water tanks located in Sirik&rsquo;s Bemani district.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a title="US Launches Fresh Strike On Iran After Tehran Downs Apache Helicopter In Strait Of Hormuz" href="https://ift.tt/OZV2iHB" target="_self">US Launches Fresh Strike On Iran After Tehran Downs Apache Helicopter In Strait Of Hormuz</a></strong></p> <h3>Tehran Issues Fresh Warning To Washington</h3> <p>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the American strikes and signalled that Tehran was prepared to continue responding militarily if necessary.</p> <p>&ldquo;Leave our region if you want to be safe,&rdquo; he warned, vowing that Iran&rsquo;s armed forces would &ldquo;leave no attack or threat unanswered.&rdquo;</p> <p>Iranian media also reported that the retaliatory operation involved coordination between the IRGC and Iran&rsquo;s regular military forces. Khatam al-Anbiya agency claimed that American military facilities across the region were among the intended targets.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Bahrain&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior acknowledged the attacks and urged residents to remain calm while following safety instructions issued by authorities.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-tehran-claims-strike-on-us-fifth-fleet-in-bahrain-washington-retaliation-over-apache-downing-1849250

US Launches Fresh Strike On Iran After Tehran Downs Apache Helicopter In Strait Of Hormuz

<p>The United States on Tuesday launched fresh strikes on Iran after Donald Trump said Tehran downed a US Apache Helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, weakening the possibility of a potential peace deal and further straining a fragile ceasefire.&nbsp;</p> <p>"I believe the response should be &zwnj;very strong, very powerful, and that's what this one is," Trump told ABC News.</p>

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Indian American school students among Presidential AI award winners

<p> Washington, Jun 9 (PTI): A chatbot to prevent bullying, developed by a group largely comprising Indian-American students, won the first Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge National Champion Awards given away by First Lady Melania Trump at the White House on Tuesday.</p><p> A five-member community from Aldie, Virginia comprising Aarna Jaiswal, Eshani Khatri, Riva Madda, Samhitha Pinnamareddy and Sanuli Rathnayake won the Award in the Elementary School Track 2 category for developing the "Friendzone Chatbot Bullying Prevention App".</p><p> A group of students from NorthStar Middle School in Sammamish, Washington comprising Viha Iyer, Arya Pratap and Shrimayi Shetty won the Middle School Track 1 category for their project “Skillup”.</p><p> In the high school division, Khandakar Mahin of Upper Darby Senior High School in Pennsylvania captured the national title in Track 1 for his project, "Utilising Computer Vision for Hotel Room Identification in Criminal Investigations".</p><p> Mahin will graduate from high school this week and attend Harvard University in the autumn.</p><p> Among other winners were students from Alcoa Intermediate School from Tennessee who won the award for their project “Homework Helper”. The team comprised Ryker Cochran, Emma Connor, Aaron Gallagher and Ayden Taverna and won the prize in the Elementary Track 1 category.</p><p> In the Middle School Track 2 category, Shan Vance from Julia Landon College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Florida, won “Using AI Models to Detect Urban Blight using Street-view Images”.</p><p> In the High School Track 2 category, Alexander Du from North Allegheny High School, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, won the award for his project “IRIS: A Low-Cost Spatiotemporal AI Framework for Visually Impaired Navigation in Complex Urban Environments”.</p><p> Speaking at the awards ceremony, the First Lady praised the students and described them as America's future innovators.</p><p> "It is wonderful to see this very impressive group of innovators at the White House. I'm proud that you represent the best of America. You are our future," she said.</p><p> The Presidential AI Challenge attracted entries from all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Department of Defence schools overseas.</p><p> "The first Presidential AI Challenge was broadly welcomed across our nation. More than 20,000 students participated across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 49 Department of War schools in 10 countries around the world," Melania Trump said.</p><p> The First Lady said the competition was designed to encourage innovation and help young people explore the possibilities of artificial intelligence. PTI SKU GRS GRS</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>

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Xi Jinping Visits North Korea For First Time Since 2019 Amid Growing Russia Ties

<p><em>Edited by: Wesley Rahn </em></p> <p>Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to North Korea since 2019, at a time when an emboldened Kim Jong Un has expanded his regime's trade and military relationship with Russia.</p> <p>In a letter published in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper ahead of his visit, Xi wrote, "no matter how times change or how the international situation evolves, the traditional friendship between China and North Korea remains unbreakable, enduring, and constantly radiates vitality."</p> <p>Since the North Korean dictatorship emerged out of the ashes of the Korean War, China has been Pyongyang's primary geopolitical and financial benefactor.</p> <p>However, as North Korea provides military support to Russia's war in Ukraine, Xi will be motivated to "consolidate and reconfirm the relationship with the North," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at South Korea's Kyung Hee University's department of Chinese studies.</p> <p>Kim and Xi last met in September 2025 at a military parade in Beijing.</p> <h2>North Korea Gets Closer To Russia</h2> <p>"Kim has been very active in improving his relationship with Russia in the last few years and China clearly feels that it is lagging behind," Choo told DW.</p> <p>Choo said it was significant that Xi's visit comes ahead of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-North Korea "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance."</p> <p>"The expectation was that Xi could go to Pyongyang on the anniversary, but I think it is significant that he has gone a month earlier," Choo said.</p> <p>"It would have been more appropriate for him to go on the July 11 anniversary, but going early shows that Xi is anxious about North Korea getting too close to Russia," he added.</p> <p>Choo also points out that China has, in recent months, permitted large-scale exports across the border into North Korea, while many of Kim's tourist resort projects are seeing large numbers of big-spending Chinese visitors.</p> <p>Kim is likely to trumpet bilateral ties and seek greater connections to China's vast economic power to bolster North Korea's economy, which has already reported a respectable 3% GDP growth in both of the last two years.</p> <h2>North Korea's Desire To Be 'Normal State'</h2> <p>Choo added that the visit by the Chinese leader also provides Kim an opportunity to boost North Korea's legitimacy and international respect on the global stage.</p> <p>"Kim wants the North to be seen as a 'normal state' and to use this visit to start to expand the scope and reach of his diplomatic efforts, such as by becoming part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or part of the BRICS alliance," he said.</p> <p>Set up by China in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) brings together 10 full member states in central and eastern Asia to promote security and economic cooperation. The BRICS is similarly made up of 11 major emerging markets and developing countries around the world, acting as a political and economic coordination forum for the "Global South."</p> <p>"Kim wants to piggyback on China and Russia so North Korea can become part of these multilateral programs that the two countries founded, giving him standing and a position as a full member of international society," Choo said.</p> <h2>Xi And Kim In Spotlight</h2> <p>Kim Sang-woo, a former politician with the left-leaning South Korean Congress for New Politics and now a member of the board of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation, said Xi's visit also intends to "emphasize that China is now one of the two leading countries in the world, alongside the US."</p> <p>"He wants to demonstrate that China is the hegemon of the Indo-Pacific region and to point out that the commitment and reliability of the US to the region is becoming less and less certain," he told DW.</p> <p>"That is a message to countries in the region that are increasingly banding together &mdash; including South Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines, Australia and beyond," Kim added.</p> <p>Pyongyang also wants "to show that North Korea is a country that others need to take notice of," an ambition that is assisted by showing that China is extending "100% support and renewed recognition of the alliance," he said.</p> <p>Xi may also be stepping in at an opportune time as it increasingly appears that Russia is flailing in its attempts to seize more land in Ukraine and defeat Kyiv, Kim Sang-woo added.</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>

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'Pakistani Army Go Back': Protests Erupt In London & PoK Ahead Of Shutdown; 26 Dead, 190 Injured

<p>Tensions have intensified across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) ahead of a region-wide shutdown and protest called by the Awami Action Committee (AAC). The unrest comes amid growing opposition to Islamabad's policies in the region and escalating confrontations between local residents and Pakistani security forces. While members of the PoK diaspora staged protests outside the Pakistani High Commission in London, demanding freedom for the region and criticising the Pakistani military, fresh clashes were reported from Rawalakot. The situation has raised concerns over further violence as authorities continue to enforce restrictions across several parts of PoK.</p> <h2>Deadly Clashes</h2> <p>According to reports and visuals accessed by ABP Live, Pakistani Army personnel and Rangers allegedly opened fire and used pellet guns against protesters in Rawalakot. The clashes have resulted in significant casualties, with reports claiming at least 26 people have been killed and more than 190 injured since the crackdown began.</p> <p>Several of those injured reportedly suffered pellet gun wounds. However, some local residents have disputed the official figures, claiming in video statements that the actual death toll could be much higher, with estimates ranging between 100 and 150 fatalities. These claims have not been independently verified.</p> <p>During the confrontations, residents reportedly resisted security personnel using sticks and timber. PoK Police said four police officers were also killed in the violence.</p> <h2>Protests Spread</h2> <p>The unrest has extended beyond PoK. In London, members of the PoK diaspora gathered outside the Pakistani High Commission, raising slogans against the Pakistani government and military while calling for greater autonomy and freedom for the region.</p> <p>In a symbolic act of protest, residents in Rawalakot reportedly detained three Rangers personnel and publicly displayed their uniforms. The move was presented by protesters as a message against what they described as military repression.</p> <p>Meanwhile, a curfew remains in place in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, bringing daily life to a halt. Internet services have also remained suspended across the region since Friday.</p> <p>With the indefinite shutdown set to begin, videos circulating on social media show protesters warning of a prolonged confrontation if security forces take further action against demonstrators. The evolving situation has heightened fears of further instability in the region in the coming days.</p>

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Iran Reopens Airspace After Israeli Strikes Halt; US Disables Tanker Near Hormuz

<div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:11a763ae-396b-42da-ac28-62d89147e76e-41" 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:11a763ae-396b-42da-ac28-62d89147e76e-41" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:11a763ae-396b-42da-ac28-62d89147e76e-41" data-testid="conversation-turn-84" data-scroll-anchor="false" 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" 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="02eeee30-1098-4764-a82b-3f0e97df8458" 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>Iranian state media says flight restrictions in the country have been lifted, with airspace returning to normal conditions.&nbsp;Reports earlier said all flights to and from Iranian airports were halted until further notice amid fears of further Israeli attacks.</p> <p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a short while ago that attacks on Iran have been halted, while threatening to resume them if Iran attacks it again.</p> <h2 data-start="0" data-end="218">US Disables Oil Tanker</h2> <p data-start="0" data-end="218">US forces said on Monday that they had disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman. According to Reuters, the vessel was not carrying cargo at the time and was reportedly heading towards Iran.</p> <p data-start="220" data-end="496">Separately, Israel's government agency COGAT announced that the Rafah crossing would reopen for limited movement of people in both directions, while the Kerem Shalom crossing is set to resume operations on Tuesday for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.</p> <p data-start="498" data-end="976" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said a missile detected earlier in the day had been launched from Yemen and was heading towards a &ldquo;regional country,&rdquo; though it did not identify the destination. The ministry said the missile veered off course and landed in an open area near the Saudi-Yemeni border. Iran denied carrying out any attack on Saudi Arabia, while the Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Israel, according to Reuters.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mt-3 w-full empty:hidden"> <div class="text-center"> <h1>Indians Asked to Leave</h1> <p class="isSelectedEnd">All airports in western Iran have been closed until further notice, and Indian citizens have been advised to leave the country at the earliest by any available means. Meanwhile, sirens have continued to sound across parts of Israel since Monday morning amid ongoing attacks.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Within just 24 hours, the situation in the Middle East has changed dramatically, with widespread destruction on the ground and heightened military activity in the skies.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">At the same time, US President Donald Trump, who initiated the war against Iran, appears increasingly constrained by the unfolding crisis. Reports suggest that even close ally and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not fully aligned with Washington's position. Trump has repeatedly appealed for an end to the fighting through social media posts directed at both Iran and Israel.</p> <h2>Fresh Tensions Grip West Asia</h2> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Iran's response to Israel went beyond missile strikes. According to reports, messages were written on the missiles, including one stating, "We will not leave Lebanon alone."</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Iran later launched a series of attacks using powerful missiles, including the Khyber Shekan, triggering panic in several parts of Israel.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The conflict intensified after Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Iran had previously warned that it would not remain silent if Hezbollah came under attack. Following Israel's strikes, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks, turning the confrontation into a direct conflict between Iran and Israel.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Images from Tehran showed a contrasting scene. While the region remains gripped by war and uncertainty, large crowds gathered in public squares to express support for Iran's military and celebrate the country's response to Israel.</p> <h2>Trump Calls for Ceasefire</h2> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Throughout the crisis, Trump has continued to call for a ceasefire on social media. He said both sides wanted a truce and that final negotiations for peace were underway.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Iran, however, has made it clear that it does not view Israel's actions separately from US policies. Israel, on the other hand, has defended its military action in Lebanon, saying attacks were launched because its citizens were being targeted from there.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Meanwhile, opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified within Israel. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding an end to the conflict. Protesters say they do not want future generations to inherit a prolonged war.</p> <h2>Economic Impact and Hormuz Concerns</h2> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The conflict, which began on February 28, has continued for months. Although a temporary ceasefire was reached on April 8, tensions have persisted. Strategic differences between the United States and Israel have also become more visible, with Washington favouring dialogue and diplomacy while Israel continues to support military pressure.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">The war has also affected the global economy. International crude oil prices have risen, while Indian stock markets witnessed sharp declines. The Sensex fell by nearly 800 points and the Nifty dropped around 250 points. The Indian rupee also weakened against the US dollar.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Concerns over energy supplies are growing. Institutions such as the European Central Bank have warned that a prolonged conflict could fuel inflation and slow economic growth.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">At the centre of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. Iran's control over the passage has raised concerns about disruptions to international energy supplies.</p> <p class="isSelectedEnd">Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, military tensions continue to dominate the situation. Iran has claimed that it has halted attacks on Israel for now but warned that any renewed strike on Lebanon would provoke a stronger response.</p> <p>The international community is now closely watching whether a new agreement can be reached and whether the Strait of Hormuz can reopen fully, easing concerns over the global energy crisis.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-reopens-airspace-after-israeli-strikes-halt-us-disables-tanker-near-hormuz-1848948

Nigeria Rescues 360 Kidnap Victims From Boko Haram Captivity In Borno

<p><em>Edited by: Saim Du&scaron;an Inayatullah</em></p> <p>Nigeria's security forces freed 360 people kidnapped by Boko Haram in the northeastern state of Borno over the weekend, the army said on Sunday.</p> <p>The victims had been held "under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities," it said.</p> <p>Two infants "succumbed to exhaustion" due to the harsh environment and the hardship they endured during their prolonged captivity, according to an army spokesperson, Haruna Sani.</p> <p>"The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group," Sani added.</p> <h2>What Else Do We Know About Nigeria's Rescue Operation?</h2> <p>The rescue operation was conducted in the Mandara mountains in &zwnj;the southern part of the state, which forms a part of the Boko Haram militants' stronghold, according to the military statement.</p> <p>It also said troops had gathered intelligence and used "psychological operations" to sow "mistrust within the insurgent ranks" before "the commencement of the assault phase."</p> <p>A joint task force, including special forces, drove the militants from their positions, the military added.</p> <h2>Insecurity Remains One Of Nigeria's Most Pressing Issues</h2> <p>Nigeria has struggled for years to tackle security challenges.</p> <p>Various armed groups, including jihadists, carry out kidnappings for ransom across the West African nation.</p> <p>The insurgency in the country's northeast has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.</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>

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