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 ISTIsrael 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 ISTSeven individuals tragically perished as a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3. Reports from Taiwan's state media, cited by Reuters, highlight this as the most intense earthquake witnessed in the past 25 years. Sana Hashmi, a Fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, shared her firsthand experience of the quake's devastation in an exclusive interview with ANI. She provided insights into the current situation in Taiwan post-earthquake and elaborated on the responses from both Indian authorities in Taiwan and the Indian community. The Government of Taiwan has confirmed four fatalities and reported 711 injuries as a result of the disaster.
03 April,2024 05:33 PM ISTBaltimore'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 ISTReuters 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 ISTVladimir 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 ISTUS President Joe Biden has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Alexei Navalny who was a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was found dead in Arctic Jail. As per the Russian Prison service, Navalny died after a walk at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony. US President Joe Biden said that he was “not surprised” by the news of Navalny’s death. Alexei Navalny, serving death sentence on multiple corruption charges, was seen as the leading opposition figure against President Putin. Navalny rose to prominence more than a decade ago by speaking publicly against corruption in Russia and used to organise major anti-Kremlin protests.
17 February,2024 12:41 PM IST | MumbaiProminent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny died in a prison on Feb 16. The 47-year-old Russian Opposition leader was serving a three-decade jail term was found dead at the Artic jail. As per the Russian Prison service, Navalny died after a walk at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District said in a statement that Navalny felt unwell after a walk. Raising suspicion over Navalny’s death news, his wife Yulia Navalnaya said that it is difficult for her to believe the reports as ‘Putin and his govt lie incessantly’. Navalny’s death news comes as President Putin prepares for Russian Presidential Elections aiming to extend his rule till 2030. Earlier in 2020, Navalny was poisoned during a flight to Moscow in 2020 and was rushed to Germany for urgent treatment. Navalny returned to Russia in 2021 and got arrested over fraud and extremism charges and was sentenced to 9 years in jail. Alexei Navalny, serving death sentence on multiple corruption charges was seen as the leading opposition figure against President Putin. Navalny rose to prominence more than a decade ago by speaking publicly against corruption in Russia and used to organise major anti-Kremlin protests.
17 February,2024 11:28 AM ISTThe State Department of the United States has issued a travel advisory for its citizens in or traveling to Pakistan. The US has advised its citizens to be vigilant ahead of Pakistan general elections 2024 scheduled for Feb 08. In the advisory, the State Department has highlighted potential disruptions and safety concerns during political activities of Pakistan Elections 2024. It also mentioned that in some instances, political activities in Pakistan have been targeted for violence.
04 February,2024 02:33 PM ISTA day after Iran launched airstrike in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Pakistan military conducts retaliatory strikes against Iran. As per Pakistan Foreign Ministry, the armed forces conducted ‘Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar’ in Iranian territory. “This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during Intelligence-based operation- codenamed Marg Bar Sarmachar,” said Foreign Ministry of Pakistan. Iran recently targeted a terror outfit Jaish al-Adl’s headquarters and launched airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balochistan. Pakistan claimed that two children lost their lives, two sustained serious injuries in the airstrikes by Iran. Pakistan also strongly condemned the attacks and termed it as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace. However, India has taken a pro-Iranian stance in the Pakistan-Iran Attack and emphasised ‘actions countries take for self-defense’.
18 January,2024 05:18 PM ISTIndia’s External Affairs Ministry has finally reacted to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Pakistan. Deadly airstrikes were carried out by Iran on terror outfit’s headquarters in Pakistan’s Balochistan. Pakistan claimed that two children lost their lives, two sustained serious injuries in the airstrikes by Iran. India took a pro-Iranian stance and emphasised ‘actions countries take for self-defense’. Pakistan condemned Iran’s actions and termed the attack as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace. In 2019, India carried out airstrikes in Balakot in retaliation to the suicide attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group in Pulwama.
18 January,2024 11:32 AM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
