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
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.
15 April,2024 12:15 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
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 jolted Taiwan’s eastern coasts on April 03. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake knocked out power services in parts of Taiwan. It also sparked tsunami warnings for the southern part of Japan and the Philippines. Due to the quake, metro systems in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung were suspended. Several buildings collapsed near the eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter. As per Taiwan’s weather forecast agency, quake hit at a depth of 15.5 km off the eastern coast of Taiwan. Quoting Taiwan’s state media, Reuters reported that it was the strongest quake to hit the island in 25 years. Meanwhile, Japan issued an evacuation advisory for the coastal areas of the southern prefecture of Okinawa. Tsunami waves of up to 3 meters were expected to reach large areas of Japan's southwestern coast.
03 April,2024 10:45 AM IST
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed and vehicles plunged into the river on Mar 26 after a ship collided with one of the pillars. Daylight drone visuals showed the extent of damage the bridge suffered sending cars and people into the river. Following the incident, US Secretary of Transportation emphasised that the path to normalcy after the bridge collapse would not be easy. Meanwhile, locals recalled the moment of collapse and one of them said the noise was felt in the house. The Maryland state police on March 27 informed that six people who were missing after the bridge collapsed incident have been presumed dead. The ship was identified as a Singapore-flagged container ship, the Dali which was bound for Sri Lanka.
27 March,2024 03:43 PM IST
In a shocking incident, Russia witnessed a deadly terrorist attack at a jam-packed concert hall in Moscow on March 22. The heinous attack claimed the lives of at least 60 people leaving 145 injured, reported CNN. The terrorist outfit, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack at the concert venue complex in Moscow. Meanwhile, PM Modi “strongly” condemned the Moscow shooting attack and affirmed India’s solidarity with the Russian govt. As per reports, a group of armed men stormed into the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and opened fire. Several pictures have emerged showing the Crocus City Hall concert venue on fire, with thick, black smoke filling the air. It also showed scared locals huddling, screaming and ducking behind cushioned seats as gunshots rang out in the vast hall.
23 March,2024 01:13 PM IST
Reuters has reported that at least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when as many as 5 gunmen dressed in camouflage clothing opened fire at people at a concert hall in Moscow on March 22. Armed attackers with automatic weapons targeted Moscow’s Crocus City Hall music venue. Flames leaped into the sky and plumes of black smoke rose above the venue after the deadly attack. It was not immediately clear who the gunmen were. The shooting began days after President Vladimir Putin was re-elected and as Russia is prosecuting a war with Ukraine. NSC coordinator for strategic communication of United States of America, John Kirby has expressed concern over the Moscow shooting incident.
23 March,2024 12:07 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 Indian Navy once again displayed its heroics and intercepted a ship hijacked by Somali pirates. From a Indian Navy vs Somali Pirates scenario, Navy shared a video of its encounter with Somali pirates who were using a hijacked merchant vessel. The Indian Navy thwarted designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The navy intercepted the hijacked ex-MV Ruen which was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship on high seas. The vessel opened fire on the warship and the Indian Navy retaliated to neutralise the pirates. The pirates onboard the vessel were called upon to surrender and release the vessel. In recent times, Indian Navy has proved its mettle by averting piracy bids in high seas.
16 March,2024 06:09 PM IST
On the India-Maldives row that soured the relations between two nations, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has voiced significant concerns regarding the ramifications of India's boycott call on the Maldives, particularly in the context of tourism. Nasheed, currently in India, conveyed apologies on behalf of the Maldivian people and emphasised their wish for Indian tourists to continue visiting the country. Nasheed highlighted the impact of the boycott on the Maldives, stating, "It has impacted the Maldives a lot, and I am actually here in India. I'm very worried about this. I want to say the people of the Maldives are sorry, we are sorry that this has happened. We want Indian people to come on their holidays to the Maldives, and there will not be any change in our hospitality."
09 March,2024 01:12 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
