A reportedly heated phone call occurred between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 28, following Netanyahu's public assertion that there was no starvation in Gaza. Trump reportedly yelled at Netanyahu during the call, rejecting the Israeli leader's claim that reports of widespread hunger were fabricated by Hamas, and insisted he had been shown photographic evidence of malnourished children.

The call was reportedly initiated by Netanyahu after Trump publicly challenged his statements the previous day, saying children in Gaza "look very hungry" and that there was "real starvation" there that "you can’t fake." The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has dismissed the reports of a shouting match as "complete fake news."

The conflict arose after Netanyahu stated at a Jerusalem event on July 27 that "there is no policy of starvation in Gaza. And there is no starvation in Gaza," claiming the reports were invented by Hamas.

Trump, while in Scotland, responded the next day by telling reporters he was "not particularly convinced," and emphasized the visible signs of starvation.

Netanyahu then requested a call, which took place hours later, where he reportedly reiterated his position that the starvation claims were false.

According to multiple sources citing senior and former US officials, Trump interrupted Netanyahu, raised his voice, and stated he did not want to hear the claims dismissed as fake, citing evidence from his aides. A former US official described the exchange as "a direct, mostly one-way conversation" where Trump did most of the talking.

The diplomatic tension coincides with Israeli military's years-long campaign in Gaza, which has severely restricted food access for civilians. The Israeli military operation has left the territory with limited food access, save for a handful of aid distribution points.

The dire situation has led to growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning that famine in Gaza is imminent, as two out of three famine thresholds have already been reached.

The Israeli government is preparing for a new ground offensive into Gaza City, a plan approved by the Israeli security cabinet. This plan reportedly faces opposition from the IDF Chief of Staff. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid program, is also facing criticism for limited distribution and its proximity to Israeli forces.

Gaza’s Health Minister reported that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food from GHF.

President Donald Trump demanded the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan in a post on Truth Social Thursday, calling him "highly CONFLICTED" and stating there is "no other solution to this problem."

This call for resignation follows concerns raised by Senator Tom Cotton regarding Tan's extensive business ties to China, including investments in hundreds of Chinese firms, some linked to the Chinese military, and his past leadership at Cadence Design Systems, which pleaded guilty to violating U.S. export controls by selling technology to a Chinese military university.

The demand came shortly after Senator Cotton sent a letter to Intel's board chair, Frank Yeary, expressing concerns about the security and integrity of Intel's operations and Tan's connections to China.

Tan, a Malaysian-born American businessman, was appointed Intel's CEO in March 2025 to lead the company's turnaround, which includes significant cost-cutting and restructuring efforts. His past investments, made through his venture capital firm and other entities, reportedly totaled over $200 million in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms, some with links to the Chinese military.

He also served as CEO of Cadence Design Systems from 2009 to 2021, during which time the company faced a criminal case over export control violations.

Intel in a statement, said that both the company and Tan are "deeply committed to the national security of the United States and the integrity of our role in the U.S. defense ecosystem" and that they would address the questions raised by Senator Cotton directly. The company has not issued a public statement on Tan's future or the resignation demand.

Intel's stock price fell significantly in pre-market and early trading on Thursday, following Trump's post.

The company is grappling with a severe crisis, struggling to keep pace with competitors’ superior products while reeling from a leadership overhaul and significant layoffs.

Trump administration emphasizes boosting U.S. manufacturing, particularly in the semiconductor industry. Intel has received federal funding to build massive new chip fabrication plants in Ohio, alongside its existing facilities in Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico. These investments are critical to Intel’s strategy to revitalize its manufacturing capabilities.

However, Intel’s foundry ambitions are faltering. In July, the company alarmed markets by suggesting it might exit chip manufacturing if it cannot secure customers for its upcoming 14A process, set for 2028 or 2029.

The lack of major clients for Intel’s foundry operations has raised doubts about the viability of its strategy, with former board members urging a drastic rethink, including a proposed “Operation Warp Speed II” to nationalize Intel’s fabs through a public-private partnership.

Other companies are moving to increase manufacturing footprint in the U.S. to comply with Trump's America first policy 'MAGA' policies. Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday, presented Trump with a golden plaque after announcing $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing investments. Nvidia, an Intel rival, committed $500 billion to U.S. production amid soaring AI-driven profits, and its CEO Jensen Huang secured relaxed export restrictions on AI chips.

Iranian authorities executed Roozbeh Vadi on Wednesday, for spying for Israel by passing information about a nuclear scientist killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel in June. The judiciary confirmed the execution followed judicial proceedings and Supreme Court approval, with the conviction stemming from his alleged role in leaking classified information from one of Iran's "key and sensitive organizations."

Vadi was reportedly a nuclear scientist employed at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the country's top nuclear body, and held a PhD in nuclear engineering from Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran. Iranian state media, including IRIB, reported he had co-authored academic papers with two other nuclear scientists who were killed in the June Israeli strikes.

According to a video confession aired by IRIB, Vadi admitted to providing information on key nuclear facilities like Fordo and Natanz, as well as details on the movement of nuclear material. He was allegedly recruited online by Israel's Mossad spy agency and met with Mossad officers five times in Vienna, Austria.

The 12-day war in June 2025 began with an unprecedented Israeli bombing campaign targeting Iran's military sites, senior commanders, and nuclear scientists, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals, including several nuclear scientists.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes. In the aftermath, Iran has vowed swift trials for individuals arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, leading to a significant increase in executions for espionage, with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months.

The execution of Vadi was announced on the same day as the execution of another man convicted of being a member of the Islamic State group. He was allegedly planning terrorist operations inside Iran, as reported by Mizan.

Vadi’s execution is part of a broader crackdown, with authorities announcing multiple arrests and several executions of individuals convicted of working with Mossad.

Iran is noted as the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, according to human rights organizations like Amnesty International. The country frequently uses the death penalty for offenses ranging from espionage to other security-related crimes, drawing international scrutiny.