Amid the Israel-Iran conflict, tensions in the Middle East surged as Iran launched over 200 projectiles at Israel, purportedly in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria. Iran issued warnings of even stronger actions against Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel pledged both defensive and offensive responses, citing years of preparedness for direct Iranian aggression. Israel claimed to have successfully intercepted 99% of the 300 drones and missiles fired at them. Additionally, Israel urged the UN Security Council to promptly convene and designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the Iranian strike as a dangerous escalation and expressed intent to work with allies to de-escalate tensions, seeking meetings with G7 leaders. Amidst the deepening crisis in the Middle East, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders expressed solidarity with Israel. UN Chief António Guterres and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the attack. However, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, Iran later announced the conclusion of military operations against Israel, cautioning that US support for Israel could jeopardize American bases in the region, as reported by CNN.
24 April,2024 08:03 PM IST
Israel and Iran exchanged condemnations during a tense United Nations Security Council session on April 14, following a series of provocative actions in recent weeks. Iran's unprecedented direct attack on Israeli territory, involving a swarm of explosive drones and missile fire, risked a significant escalation of hostilities. This attack came as retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of top Revolutionary Guards commanders. These events unfolded against the backdrop of months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies, sparked by the conflict in Gaza.
15 April,2024 02:09 PM IST
Israel has put in a request with the UN Security Council to immediately convene a meeting to unequivocally condemn Iran. Soon after Israeli missiles hit the Iranian consulate in Syria, Iran vowed revenge on Israel. The attack claimed the lives of Iran’s top three Military Generals which added ‘fuel to the fire’ in the war in the Middle East. In a retaliatory move, Iran struck hundreds of UAVs, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles on Israeli soil. Israeli Envoy to UN Gilad Erdan demanded Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGP) to be designated as a “Terrorist Organisation”. Israel said that Iran poses a direct threat to international peace and violated the UN Charter. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu on April 13 said that the country has prepared for an attack by Iran and is ready “for any scenario”.
14 April,2024 02:46 PM IST
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources have learnt that there are 17 Indian nationals onboard cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’ has been taken control by Iran. India is in touch with the Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure security, welfare and early release of Indian nationals, the sources added. The conflict has intensified in West Asia after suspected Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s consulate in Syria's capital Damascus and Tehran’s warning of retaliation. A map showed the path of an Israeli-linked cargo ship, the MSC Aries, that had been seized between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, in the Persian Gulf, situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, on Saturday (April 13). The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) posted a warning on social media after having received a report on the vessel and said it had been “seized by regional authorities”. This after Iran warned earlier this week that it could close the Strait of Hormuz if necessary. The Aries is leased by international shipping line MSC from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all vessel activities. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
14 April,2024 12:40 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his latest interview with the US-based Magazine ‘Newsweek’ talked about the India-China relations. PM Modi stressed the ‘prolonged situation’ on the disputed India-China border should be discussed ‘urgently’ to normalize the bilateral ties. The PM emphasized that the stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for the entire region and world. PM Modi on the topic of competing with China highlighted that the country has an edge when being pitted against China which is currently engulfed in economic woes. Reacting to this, China also ‘noted’ PM Modi's remarks on the border ties between the two countries. Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning said that ‘sound and stable’ ties would serve the interests of both countries. Meanwhile, Congress also reacted to PM Modi’s interview with the magazine and said that the PM has crossed "all limits of cowardice". Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted on his X account and said the ‘PM was at his cowardly worst’ while talking about the China border dispute.Jairam Ramesh demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi quoting his statement ‘Na Koi Ghusa Hai, Na Hi Koi GhusAayahai’
12 April,2024 05:03 PM IST
Former Pakistani diplomat Husain Haqqani has given advice to Pak government to improve relations with India. In a post on X, Haqqani wrote about the attacks that had been carried out against India. He addressed the people complaining about India’s hardening attitude towards Pakistan. Haqqani reminded them of Kargil War, Kashmir insurgency, attack on Indian Parliament, and horrors of 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Former Pak Ambassador to US, Husain advised Pakistan to ‘accept’ the results to make dialogue honest with India. “Some in Pakistan are complaining about hardening Indian attitudes towards Pakistan. It is result of Kashmir insurgency (1989-2019), Kargil (1999), Parliament attack (2001), Mumbai terror attack (2008), & much more. Accepting that might make dialogue honest & easier,” Husain Haqqani wrote in a post on X. Both the nuclear-armed countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. On several instances, like Mumbai attacks, 2001 Parliament attack, the ties between the two nations have worsened. Also, the Kashmir conflict and Pakistan’s continuous terror-sponsoring have fueled enmity between the countries.
30 March,2024 06:01 PM IST
Vladimir Putin won the Russian Presidential Elections with nearly 88 per cent votes. While addressing Russian citizens, the newly elected President Putin warned of World War III. Direct conflict between Russia, NATO would mean the world would be “one step away” from World War III. The Ukraine conflict has triggered deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with West since 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Putin has often warned of the risks of nuclear war but says he has never felt the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Elections in Russia came just over two years since the full-scale conflict broke out between Ukraine, Russia. It has been considered as one of the Europe’s deadliest conflict since the World War II. The chair of the central election commission in Moscow said Putin won a record 88 pc of the vote. He received more votes in comparison to the 2018 Elections where he bagged 76.69 per cent of the total votes counted. Vladimir Putin was first elected as the President in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, 2012, 2018 and 2024 respectively.
18 March,2024 12:32 PM IST
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), an organisation based in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala, released a report revealing Chinese authorities' surveillance of exiled Tibetans to collect personal information. TCHRD Spokesperson Tenzin Dawa on February 18 claimed that the Chinese Communist Party targeted the Tibetan diaspora using family members back inside Tibet to control.
19 February,2024 03:37 PM IST
Reacting to the India-Maldives row, the Maldives Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim called on Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu to formally apologize to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, Voice of Maldives, a Maldivian digital news outlet, reported. “Regarding any country, especially a neighbouring one, we shouldn't speak in a way that affects the relationship. We have an obligation to our state that must be considered. President Solih did consider this obligation and issued a Presidential Decree banning the "India Out" campaign. Now, Yameen is questioning why Muizzu, who participated with him in the India Out Campaign, has not nullified the Presidential Decree,” he said. He added, “The Decree should not be nullified, as it would only result in a loss to the nation. That cannot be done. I would tell Muizzu that it shouldn't be done. Also, I call on President Muizzu to formally apologize to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi regarding his remarks after the China trip.” The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign plank of Muizzu's party during the presidential elections. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed. On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives. Apart from the call for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, a massive row erupted after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging and unsavoury references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Lakshadweep visit and call to development the Indian archipelago as a global retreat for beach tourism. The Maldives government, however, distanced itself from the remarks.
31 January,2024 11:22 AM IST
After concluding his China visit, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu said that “Maldives may be small, but it does not give countries the license to bully it,” reported Maldives-based Sun.mv. President Muizzu’s comments came amid India-Maldives Row. Mohamed Muizzu visited China amid the controversy around the disparaging remarks by Maldivian ministers and government officials against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a state banquet for Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Wednesday. Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking at the Great Hall of the People, called Muizzu "an old friend", Reuters reported. Recently, Maldives Envoy to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb was spotted at Ministry of External Affairs in the national capital's South Block.
17 January,2024 11:41 AM ISTADVERTISEMENT
